History of Crown of Sorrow

Overview

Crown of Sorrow is a six-player Raid released in June 2019 with Season of Opulence, the final raid of the Forsaken Annual Pass. It is set aboard the Leviathan, which orbits Nessus (launch it from the Nessus Orbit node), and it is the first Hive-focused raid of Destiny 2: you fight Hive forces and a Cabal-looking final boss, Gahlran, who is actually a Hive-corrupted Cabal. Recommended power was 740 at launch (the first encounter is tuned to about 720); the Destiny Game Wiki lists 750. Sources differ slightly, and the raid has since been moved into the Destiny Content Vault with Beyond Light (sunset November 2020), so it is not currently playable as a standard raid. Check the in-game director before relying on this.

The whole raid revolves around the Witch's Blessing: a 60-second buff that lets the carrier damage Blessed enemies but prevents them damaging non-Blessed ones (and vice versa). The buff is passed between teammates using Witch's Vessels, so someone must always be swapping.

Encounters

1. Witch's Ritual (Hive Ritual)

The introductory encounter teaches the Blessing. Over four ritual phases, split into Blessed and non-Blessed players, destroy the crystals and kill the Ogres that match your buff state, then swap the buff before it expires.

2. Kingdom of Sorrow (The Bridge / Chasm)

A timed jumping puzzle. Platforms and pillars rise using the Blessing and Vessel mechanic, and the pistons drop away behind you, so speed matters. Blessed players raise pillars and break shielded crystals while others cross.

3. Gahlran's Deception

An arena divided into three quadrants, each with an illusion of the boss; two of them are Deceptions and only players without the Blessing can damage the real Gahlran. Teams split, trade the Blessing and remove walls section by section while damaging him; the first damage phase starts with four Blessed and two non-Blessed players.

4. Gahlran, the Sorrow-Bearer

The final fight combines everything: Blessed and non-Blessed add waves, passing the Blessing, rotating crystals that must be destroyed, three Deceptions roaming the arena and the genuine boss throwing fireballs. Identify the real Gahlran among the copies and burst him while the crystals are down.

Loadout tips

Shacknews suggests Outbreak Perfected as a primary, a Grenade Launcher with Spike Grenades such as Wendigo-GL3 for heavy, and a Warlock running Well of Radiance.

Rewards

• Exotic Tarrabah (Solar SMG).
• Legendary raid weapons themed on Gahlran and the Cabal, plus class armor sets (Shadow of Silence, Judgment, War sets).
• Raid emblems and shaders; special recognition for clearing within 24 hours of launch.

Related triumphs

Crown of Sorrow Raid, Crown of Sorrow (triumph), Clan Night: Crown of Sorrow.

Trivia

The raid is Hive-themed even though the final boss is Cabal, which makes it unusual among raids.