Destiny 2 Trials of the Nine: how to get Flawless rating, enter The Third Spire and earn Legendary Weapons

Guide by Stephany Nunneley-Jackson News Editor

Published on Sept. 16, 2017

Trials of the Nine is live: here's everything you need to meet the Emissaries of the Nine and earn Legendary weapons and gear.

Destiny 2's Trials of the Nine event went live yesterday, offering players the change to go 4v4 against other Guardians.

If you need a little more power in your Guardian before attempting Trials of the Nine, get yourself over to our Destiny 2 guide for advice on levelling fast, and check out the best legendary weapons you should be using in PvE.

Before you begin Trials of the Nine, you have to fulfil these conditions:

You must have completed the Homecoming campaign
Hit the Call to Arms milestone at least once
Have a Power level of 260

If all conditions are met, go to the Destiny 2 Director, pull up Crucible, and Trials of the Nine will be listed. It if is not listed, one of the conditions has not been met. (Need a bit of a Power boost? Here're our suggestions for levelling up and getting more Power fast in Destiny 2.)

Not into PvP or not quite on the Flawless level? No worries - if your clanmates enjoy success in Trials of the Nine, Hawthorne will have some goodies for you regardless of your own efforts. You won't miss out on the weapons and armour described below.

Trials of the Nine basics

Trials of the Nine is played in one of two competitive modes which rotate along with the map on a weekly basis.

This week the mode is Countdown on the Eternity map. Unlike Trials of Osiris, this is 4v4 competitive instead of 3v3 like it was in Destiny 1.

In addition, players will no longer need to acquire a Trials Passage scorecard as every player has one by default. To look at the card just hover over Trials in the Director. The card can also be reset from within the director after three losses, which makes things more streamlined than it ever was in the original Destiny.

Players don't need to be at max Power either, as everyone will be on a level playing field, at least this week. Loadouts are also locked so once a weapon or gear selection is made, the player will have to stick with it for the duration of the match - even between individual rounds. In other words, plan your gear and weapon loadout well ahead of time.

At present, there doesn't appear to be any Boons like with Trials of Osiris. Boons were handed out after winning matches which could be used to remove losses off the scorecard or double up on wins.

Another new addition to Trials is team introduction. Before a match, there's basically a short intro for each of the four players where they perform emotes. The game uses whichever emote is slotted to the left d-pad. You can also see a players' loadout - even the opposing team.

Trials of the Nine reward tiers

Now, in Destiny 2, to reach Flawless (which grants more loot), players will need to win seven matches in a row. This is less than in Destiny, where players had to win nine match in a row in order to get Flawless in Trials of Osiris - but was because boons were in play.

However, even if losses occur in Trials of the Nine, players will still be handed loot, as there are four win tiers to earning said loot: at Three wins, Five, Seven and Flawless.

Winning the first match grants access to the social space called The Third Spire where Emissaries of the Nine will be present. These vendors stand on their own platform located in the social space.

A reputation system is in place here too, as the vendors accept Tokens of the Nine which are dropped upon winning a Crucible match. Once the player has turned in enough tokens to gain a set reputation level, they will be handed an engram as a reward. Upon opening it, the player will find a piece of Trials gear.

Once three matches have been won, the next vendor will make themselves available to the player. The next vendor is available after five matches, and the fourth vendor after seven matches.

The vendor at the top of the spire is who the player will visit after winning seven matches. This reward tier features a list of three weapons and the player can choose one. It should be pointed out, that these rewards are different from Flawless, because even if the player has lost some matches, providing they have won at least seven, they are eligible for tier seven rewards.

Flawless rewards are offered by the fourth vendor encountered. To reach this emissary, the player will need to jump on the glowing platform next to the third vendor, which takes the player through a dimensional portal. This is the vendor who hands out the Flawless rewards.

To recap: tiers three and five offer trials engrams as a reward which contain random trials gear, and seventh tier grants a weapon choice.

Flawless tiers offer two items to choose from Flawless gear. Additionally, completing a Flawless run will hand the player an Emblem, and a aura.

Legendary Weapons

Below, you will find some of the weapons you can earn by handing in tokens to the emissary vendors. This is not complete list and doesn't feature tier seven weapons. As with most weapons, you have perk columns, and all Trials weapons feature perks which revolve around sliding.

Judgment (kinetic hand cannon)

The weapon’s intrinsic perk is Adaptive Frame which gives the gun a well rounded grip which is reliable and sturdy.

In the first column, you can choose from three different sights:

Steadyhand: stable sight increases stability and handling speed.
True Sights: stable, balanced sight which slightly increases range, stability and handling speed.
Hitmark: accurate sight that slightly increases range.

The second column gives you the choice between two traits:

Slideshot: sliding partially reloads this weapon's magazine and temporarily boots range and stability.
Opening Shot: improved accuracy and range on the opening shot of attack.

The default trait in the final column is Moving Target, which increases movement speed and target acquisition when moving while aiming down sights.

Relentless (kinetic pulse rifle)

The weapon’s intrinsic perk is High-Impact Frame, which while slow firing, has high damage. This weapon is more accurate when stationary and aiming down sights.

In the first column, you can choose from three different barrels:

Chambered Compensator: increases stability, moderately controls recoil and slightly decreases handling speed.
Full Bore: optimized for distance, this barrel greatly increases range, but you'll see a decrease in stability and a slight decrease in handling speed.
Extended Barrel: weighty, but increases range while decreasing handling speed.

The second column gives you the choice between two traits:

Slideways: sliding partially reloads the magazine and temporarily boosts handling and stability.
Snapshot Sights: faster time to aim down sights.

The default trait in the final column is Headseeker, which increases precision damage for a short time after making a body shot.

The End (arc scout rifle)

The weapon’s intrinsic perk is Precision Frame which provides a more predictably vertical recoil pattern.

In the first column, you can choose from three different barrels:

Chambered Compensator: increases stability, moderately controls recoil and slightly decreases handling speed.
Corkscrew Rifling: a balanced barrel which slightly increases range, stability and handling speed.
Polygonal Rifling: optimized for recoil reduction, this barrel also increases stability.

Like Relentless, this rifle features the Slideways trait, and its default trait is Pulse Monitor. This trait auto-reloads part of the magazine when wielder is critically wounded.

A Sudden Death (solar shotgun)

This weapon's intrinsic perk is Aggressive Frame which deals out high damage, but high recoil as well.

In the first column, you can choose from three different barrels:

Chambered Compensator: increases stability, moderately controls recoil and slightly decreases handling speed.
Barrel Shroud: a balanced barrel which increases handling speed and stability.
Hammer Forged Rifling: durable and increases range.

The second column gives you the choice between two traits:

Slideshot: sliding partially reloads this weapon's magazine and temporarily boots range and stability.
Snapshot Sights: faster time to aim down sights.

The End's default trait is Threat Detector which provides increased reload, stability, and handling when enemies are in close proximity.

The Long Walk (void sniper rifle)

The Long Walk's intrinsic perk, like A Sudden Death, is Aggressive Frame which deals out high damage, but high recoil as well.

The first column gives you three different barrels to choose from:

Chambered Compensator: increases stability, moderately controls recoil and slightly decreases handling speed.
Corkscrew Rifling: a balanced barrel which slightly increases range, stability and handling speed.
Polygonal Rifling: optimized for recoil reduction, this barrel also increases stability.

The second column gives you the choice between two traits:

Slideshot: sliding partially reloads this weapon's magazine and temporarily boots range and stability.
Outlaw: precision kills greatly decrease reload time.

This weapon can be drawn unbelievably fast thanks its default trait, Quickdraw.

A Swift Verdict (void sidearm)

In the first column gives you three sights to choose from:

Tactic SAS: accurate and slightly increases range.
Target SAS: sharp sight which increases range, but slightly decreases stability and handling speed.

The second column gives you the choice between two traits:

Slideshot: sliding partially reloads this weapon's magazine and temporarily boots range and stability.
Threat Detector: provides increased reload, stability, and handling when enemies are in close proximity.

Zen Moment is the default trait for the sidearm, and it increased stability when causing damage to an enemy.

Adjudicator (kinetic submachine gun)

Another weapon with the intrinsic trait Precision Frame, it gives the weapon's recoil pattern more predictably when vertical.

In the first column, you can choose from three different barrels:

Chambered Compensator: increases stability, moderately controls recoil and slightly decreases handling speed.
Corkscrew Rifling: a balanced barrel which slightly increases range, stability and handling speed.
Polygonal Rifling: optimized for recoil reduction, this barrel also increases stability.

The two traits in the second column to choose from are:

Slideways: sliding partially reloads the magazine and temporarily boosts handling and stability.
Hip-fire Grip: this weapon has an ergonomic grip that increases accuracy and stability when firing from the hip.

Dynamic Sway Reduction is the default trait on this weapon which causes its sway-reduction system to boost accuracy over time when holding down on the trigger.

You can also pick up a stack of armour from Trials of the Nine. As usual, there's a set of armour for each class. In the video you'll get a look at the Titan set, which is composed of the following: