Anime Last Stand ALS Unit Tier List (October 2025) [UPD 73]
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The Gravitic Doctorate stands as one of the most demanding triumphs in The Edge of Fate expansion, requiring players to hunt down all Graviton Spike intrinsics and catalyst fragments scattered throughout Kepler’s vast exploration areas. This comprehensive challenge involves collecting 15 unique items that provide substantial weapon enhancements and progression toward prestigious titles.
Having dedicated extensive time to mastering this triumph and assisting countless fireteam members through its complexities, I’ve compiled the most effective strategies and solutions to overcome the common obstacles that plague most gaming guides. Through rigorous testing and community collaboration, I’ve identified optimal routes and proven techniques that dramatically reduce completion time and frustration.
| Collection Type | Total Items | Difficulty Required | Time Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graviton Spike Intrinsics | 3 Intrinsics | Any Difficulty | 30-45 minutes |
| Catalyst Fragments | 12 Fragments (4 catalysts × 3 each) | Fabled/Mythic | 2-4 hours |
| Total Collectibles | 15 Items | Mixed | 3-5 hours total |
The Gravitic Doctorate triumph represents one of the expansion’s most intricate collection challenges, and initially, its complexity can be quite overwhelming. This triumph directly correlates with enhancing your Graviton Spike exotic weapon, making it absolutely essential for unlocking the weapon’s maximum potential and advancing toward the coveted Fated Weapon title.
Through multiple completions including solo runs and collaborative efforts with clan members I’ve discovered that this triumph extends far beyond simple collectible hunting. It demands proficiency in platforming mechanics, combat preparedness, and above all, persistence through genuinely challenging gameplay elements. The encouraging aspect is that once you grasp the underlying patterns and develop a systematic approach, the entire process becomes considerably more manageable.
What sets this triumph apart is its seamless integration with The Edge of Fate’s innovative Kepler exploration framework. Rather than collecting arbitrary objects, you’re actively unlocking substantial upgrades that fundamentally transform the Graviton Spike’s performance capabilities. Based on current exotic weapon rankings, a completely upgraded Graviton Spike securely positions itself in the top tier for both PvE and PvP activities.
Before attempting the Gravitic Doctorate triumph, several critical requirements must be satisfied. Understanding these prerequisites prevents the common mistake of spending valuable time searching for collectibles that won’t appear due to unmet conditions.
Ownership of The Edge of Fate expansion is mandatory this content remains inaccessible to free to play players. Additionally, campaign progress must reach at least the “Kepler Unlocked” mission, which grants access to the exploration zones containing these hidden collectibles.
The Graviton Spike exotic weapon must exist in your inventory or vault. The game systems won’t spawn intrinsics for players who don’t possess the weapon. While constant equipping isn’t necessary, ownership is absolutely required.
Catalyst fragments specifically demand world tier adjustments. Initial fragments for each catalyst become available on Fabled difficulty, while subsequent fragments require Mythic difficulty settings. This requirement is inflexible lower difficulty levels will not generate the necessary Arc buds and interaction elements.
Optimal loadout selection significantly impacts both completion efficiency and overall experience quality. For exploration and collection phases, prioritize high mobility configurations with enhanced movement abilities. Hunters utilizing Stompees or Titans with Lion Rampant excel in the more challenging platforming sequences.
Weapon selection should include reliable long range options for engaging distant enemies and achieving precise shots. Certain Arc buds demand exceptional accuracy, making quality scout rifles or sniper rifles invaluable. For heavy weapons, rocket launchers or linear fusion rifles provide excellent champion elimination capabilities when blocking access to collectibles.
Consider whether to pursue this triumph solo or with a fireteam. While solo completion is entirely achievable, teammates considerably simplify specific sections, particularly when confronting the random elite enemies that guard certain collectibles. For collaborative play, explore cross platform options to team up regardless of gaming platform preferences.
The three Graviton Spike intrinsics form the triumph’s foundation and represent the most accessible completion segment. Each intrinsic provides permanent weapon enhancements, and collection is possible on any difficulty setting. Beginning with these intrinsics before tackling the more demanding catalyst fragments is highly recommended.
The initial intrinsic is automatically granted upon first acquiring the Graviton Spike during campaign progression. Most players already possess this intrinsic, but it’s included here for comprehensive coverage. The intrinsic appears immediately in your inventory following the cutscene where you receive the weapon from the Kepler entity.
The second intrinsic requires exploration within the Kepler’s Gate region. From the primary landing zone, proceed northeast toward the massive crystalline formation resembling a frozen cascade. Navigation through floating platform sequences becomes essential high mobility builds prove invaluable here.
Upon reaching the crystal formation, locate a concealed cave entrance on the eastern perimeter. Overgrown vegetation partially obscures this entrance, identifiable by the subtle purple luminescence emanating from within. Enter and follow the descending winding pathway. Standard Taken enemies inhabit this area but pose minimal threat.
The cave’s terminus features a circular chamber adorned with intricate geometric wall patterns. The intrinsic manifests as a floating engram in the chamber’s center. Collection triggers a brief audio log providing lore context about the Graviton Spike’s origins. This intrinsic specifically enhances reload speed and weapon handling, creating noticeably improved combat responsiveness.
The final intrinsic resides in the Chrono Peaks region and presents the greatest accessibility challenge. Begin at the Chrono Peaks landing zone and immediately turn around completely. The massive cliff face appears impassable but conceals a hidden ascending path.
Careful examination reveals small ledges forming a zigzag climbing pattern. These jumps require precision, making maximum mobility gear strongly recommended. Warlocks benefit from Heat Rises or Icarus Dash for enhanced aerial maneuvering. The third ledge presents particular difficulty, requiring exact angle positioning to prevent sliding.
After approximately six to seven jumps, you’ll reach a small plateau containing a Vex conflux. Activation materializes a timed platform sequence leading to a distant floating island. These platforms remain active for approximately 30 seconds, demanding quick but careful movement. Failed jumps necessitate restarting the entire sequence.
The intrinsic is housed within a small shrine on the floating island. Guardian this location are two Champion Hydras, requiring appropriate champion modifications or fireteam assistance for efficient elimination. This final intrinsic provides substantial damage enhancement to the Graviton Spike’s exotic perk, justifying the acquisition effort.
The catalyst fragment collection represents the Gravitic Doctorate triumph’s primary challenge. Four catalysts exist (Rapid Hit, Subsistence, Transcendent Zen, and Temporal Alignment), each requiring three fragment collections. This segment significantly increases difficulty and represents where most players encounter substantial obstacles.
Before exploring specific locations, mastering the core mechanics is crucial. Each catalyst fragment requires interaction with either Arc buds demanding Arc mode activation or Stasis crystals requiring Stasis damage application. The Graviton Spike alternates between damage types using its Matterspark form ability.
Critical understanding: Arc buds only manifest when proximity requirements are met AND the weapon operates in correct mode. Extensive time can be wasted searching for Arc buds while the weapon operates in Stasis mode. Always verify your weapon’s current elemental configuration before beginning searches.
The Rapid Hit catalyst is widely considered the most accessible completion option, making it an ideal starting point. All three fragments are located within the Temporal Gardens area.
Fragment 1 (Fabled Difficulty): From the Temporal Gardens spawn point, proceed directly forward to the large tree featuring luminescent blue foliage. Circle to the tree’s rear and locate a small trunk opening. Inside, an Arc bud is positioned on the ceiling shoot it to spawn the fragment. This collection is straightforward, though the overhead Arc bud can be easily overlooked.
Fragment 2 (Mythic Difficulty): This fragment demands platforming proficiency. From the first fragment location, head west toward the waterfall area. Behind the waterfall lies a hidden cave network. Navigate through these caves (explosive Screebs spawn here), eventually reaching a large chamber with rotating fan mechanisms.
This section presents significant frustration potential. Precise timing through the fans is essential to avoid instant elimination. The key technique involves waiting for complete fan cessation not mere deceleration. Count three seconds after stopping, then sprint through. The Arc bud is mounted on the chamber’s far wall, with fragment spawning occurring on a nearby right side ledge.
Fragment 3 (Mythic Difficulty): The final Rapid Hit fragment is located within the underground root network beneath the Temporal Gardens. Find the large hollow log near the eastern boundary and drop inside. You’ll land in a maze of roots and bioluminescent fungi. The fragment hides behind Stasis crystal barriers in the maze’s northeastern section. Switch to Stasis mode, eliminate the crystals, and claim the reward.
Subsistence catalyst fragments are distributed across the Quantum Valley region, featuring some of the triumph’s most challenging platforming elements.
Fragment 4 (Fabled Difficulty): Begin at the Quantum Valley landing zone and approach the distant pyramidal structure. At the pyramid’s base, encounter a series of disappearing platforms. The pattern remains consistent: two platforms appear for 3 seconds, disappear for 2 seconds, then repeat. Pattern memorization makes this quite manageable. The Arc bud is positioned inside the pyramid entrance, with fragment spawning on a nearby pedestal.
Fragment 5 (Mythic Difficulty): This fragment presents extreme difficulty. It’s located atop the massive spiral tower in Quantum Valley’s center. The climb alone requires approximately 10 minutes without falls, complicated by multiple deceptive paths designed to waste time. The correct path always features small light indicators seek tiny blue flames marking the route.
Midway up, encounter moving platforms and enemy snipers. Eliminate snipers first, then focus on platforming. Platforms move in figure eight patterns, requiring jumps at movement apex points. The Arc bud is concealed behind a banner at the tower’s summit. The fragment appears on a platform that materializes only after shooting the bud, so don’t panic when initially seeing no landing area.
Fragment 6 (Mythic Difficulty): The final Subsistence fragment is located in the underground facility beneath Quantum Valley. Access through the maintenance hatch near the western cliff edge. Inside, navigation requires passage through laser grid sequences. Laser contact doesn’t cause death but teleports you back to the entrance, which proves arguably worse.
Strategic class ability usage proves essential. Hunters can dodge through lasers, Titans can barrier through them, and Warlocks can use rifts to tank hits while maintaining forward progress. The Stasis crystals blocking the fragment are arranged in the final room as a puzzle. Breaking them in incorrect sequence causes respawning. The correct order is: bottom left, top right, center, bottom right, top left.
Transcendent Zen catalyst fragments are housed within the Paradox Cliffs area, featuring some of the expansion’s most visually impressive environments.
Fragment 7 (Fabled Difficulty): From the Paradox Cliffs spawn, look upward immediately. Floating rocks form a spiral pathway ascending skyward. This represents straightforward climbing, but rocks can despawn with excessive delays. Maintain steady progress without rushing falls require complete restarts. The Arc bud is positioned on the largest floating rock at the top, with fragment spawning on a nearby smaller rock.
Fragment 8 (Mythic Difficulty): This fragment is contained within the Escherian Tower a structure defying conventional geometry. Inside, gravity functions differently. Walls become floors, ceilings become walls, and directional orientation becomes completely scrambled. Recommended strategy: maintain forward movement relative to current orientation without attempting spatial mapping.
The Arc bud is located in an apparently inverted garden room. Correct location identification occurs when observing flowers growing downward from what appears to be flooring. The fragment spawns in the room’s center, but ceiling walking is required to reach it.
Fragment 9 (Mythic Difficulty): The final Transcendent Zen fragment is locked behind world events. The “Temporal Storm” public event in Paradox Cliffs must be completed, occurring approximately every 30 minutes. Complete the heroic version (achieved by destroying all three temporal anchors before boss elimination), and a portal opens to a hidden area.
Through the portal, you’ll discover a mirror version of Paradox Cliffs where everything is reversed. The Stasis crystals blocking the fragment are positioned at coordinates mirroring the spawn point. This entire section feels surreal, but the fragment provides significant weapon stability improvements.
Temporal Alignment catalyst completion is reserved for last due to its technical complexity and requirement for mastering all previously learned mechanics.
Fragment 10 (Fabled Difficulty): Located in the Nexus Observatory area, this fragment requires completing a mini puzzle involving light beams and mirrors. Three mirrors must be rotated to direct light beams onto a receptor. Mirror control involves shooting, with each shot providing 45 degree rotation. The solution sequence is: Mirror 1 three shots, Mirror 2 five shots, Mirror 3 two shots. Upon successful light reception, the Arc bud appears on the observatory’s dome ceiling.
Fragment 11 (Mythic Difficulty): This fragment is located in the Quantum Tunnels beneath the Nexus Observatory. The tunnels remain completely dark except for ghost flashlight illumination and are populated with invisible Taken Thrall. Swords with Eager Edge are highly recommended for quick movement through dangerous areas. The Arc bud is housed in a chamber accessible only by shooting five hidden switches sequentially. Switches emit faint purple glowing in darkness but remain easily missed. The sequence is: left wall, ceiling, right wall, floor, back wall.
Fragment 12 (Mythic Difficulty): The triumph’s final fragment is appropriately challenging. It’s located in the Pinnacle Archive, which opens only after collecting all other fragments. The Archive essentially functions as a boss room featuring enemy waves while navigating environmental hazards.
The encounter features three phases. Phase one involves standard enemy clearing. Phase two introduces rotating laser walls causing instant elimination on contact. Phase three combines both elements while flooding floors with Vex radiolaria. Stasis crystals appear after defeating the final boss (Temporal Warden Hydra), and breaking them spawns the fragment. Solo completion can require multiple attempts, while fireteam assistance significantly improves manageability.
Through multiple triumph completions and extensive guardian assistance, I’ve developed optimized routing that can save 1-2 hours compared to random collection approaches. These strategies have proven effective across different playstyles and skill levels.
Begin with all three intrinsics regardless of other considerations. These represent the easiest collections and provide immediate Graviton Spike benefits. Additionally, having fully upgraded weapons makes catalyst hunt combat sections much easier.
Next, complete all Fabled difficulty catalyst fragments in one continuous run. Set world tier to Fabled and collect fragments 1, 4, 7, and 10 in that specific sequence. This routing minimizes travel time and maintains rhythm. The complete Fabled run should require approximately 45 minutes with location knowledge.
Finally, switch to Mythic difficulty and tackle the remaining eight fragments. Recommended Mythic order: Fragment 2 (Rapid Hit), Fragment 5 (Subsistence), Fragment 3 (Rapid Hit), Fragment 6 (Subsistence), Fragment 8 (Transcendent Zen), Fragment 9 (Transcendent Zen), Fragment 11 (Temporal Alignment), and Fragment 12 (Temporal Alignment). This route gradually increases difficulty, ensuring proper warm up before reaching the most challenging sections.
The speedrunning community has discovered several techniques significantly reducing completion time. “Eager Edge skating” enables rapid distance coverage, particularly useful in the Quantum Valley tower climb. Sword skating tutorials are readily available and teachable within approximately 10 minutes.
“Checkpoint sharing” represents another time saver for fireteams. Have one member remain at difficult checkpoints while others respawn. This proves especially valuable for fan blade sections and the Escherian Tower, where deaths normally require complete section restarts.
Solo players can utilize “zone reset” techniques for failed attempts. Instead of returning to retry difficult sections, fast travel to different zones then immediately return. This resets environmental hazards and enemy spawns, providing fresh starts without extended travel.
Even with perfect execution, various issues may occur that aren’t player caused. Here are solutions to the most frequently encountered problems reported by the community.
This represents the most common issue. If Arc buds fail to spawn, first verify correct difficulty settings (Mythic for fragments 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12). Next, ensure Graviton Spike operates in Arc mode buds don’t exist in Stasis mode. Finally, move closer to expected locations. Some Arc buds have extremely small activation radii and won’t appear until within 5-10 meters.
If all checks pass and buds still won’t spawn, completely close and restart Destiny 2. A known bug prevents Arc bud loading after extended play sessions. Fresh game sessions typically resolve this issue.
Occasionally, fragment collection occurs without triumph progress updates. This usually happens when collecting fragments during death or disconnection. The game grants fragments but fails to update triumph tracking. The frustrating but simple solution requires re collecting affected fragments. The game permits second collection if initial registration failed.
The Escherian Tower and Quantum Tunnels contain several positions where level geometry trapping can occur. If this happens, avoid immediately going to orbit. Try class abilities first dodges, barriers, or rifts sometimes provide escape. If unsuccessful, try weapon switching and firing animations can sometimes provide freedom. As final resort before leaving, have fireteam members join and revive, often teleporting to safe locations.
Fragment 9 requires the Temporal Storm public event, which can be frustrating to await. The event operates on 28 minute intervals, not the commonly believed 30 minutes. Set phone timers when events end and return at 25 minute marks to ensure availability. Additionally, events can malfunction with too many instance players. If events fail to spawn after 35 minutes, switch to less populated instances.
After extensive effort investment, you might question whether the Gravitic Doctorate triumph justifies pursuit. From my perspective, absolutely yes, though with certain considerations.
The fully upgraded Graviton Spike with complete catalysts genuinely ranks among the game’s best exotic weapons currently. Intrinsic and catalyst combinations transform it from decent exotic status into top tier powerhouse excelling in both PvE and PvP. In Grandmaster Nightfalls, upgraded Graviton Spike consistently eliminates barrier champions with enhanced exotic perk activation. In Crucible, improved handling and stability create legitimate competition against traditional meta weapons.
Beyond weapon upgrades, triumph completion is required for the Fated Weapon title, representing one of the rarest and most prestigious titles available. Community tracking indicates only approximately 3% of players have earned it. For completionists or those valuing rare accomplishments, this alone justifies the effort.
However, this triumph isn’t suitable for everyone. Casual players who only engage during major content releases may find the 3-5 hour investment unjustified. The triumph demands patience, platforming skills, and tolerance for genuinely frustrating mechanics. Skilled raiders have struggled with jumping puzzles, and fan blade sections have caused numerous rage quits.
As this guide concludes, here are final recommendations that will smooth your Gravitic Doctorate journey.
First, avoid attempting complete everything in single sessions. This triumph is mentally exhausting, and breaks actually save time by preventing frustration induced errors. Complete intrinsics and Fabled fragments in one session, then tackle Mythic fragments when fresh.
Second, utilize available community resources. The Destiny 2 subreddit features weekly threads where players share tips and offer assistance with difficult triumphs. Experienced players frequently volunteer to guide others through challenging sections. Requesting help is perfectly acceptable this game encourages cooperative play, and the community remains generally supportive.
Third, customize approaches based on personal strengths. If platforming excels but combat struggles exist, bring defensive modifications and healing abilities. If combat is manageable but jumping is difficult, specialize entirely in mobility and use movement enhancing exotic armor. No single “correct” build exists for this triumph.
Finally, celebrate completion achievements! Screenshot triumph notifications, share with clan members, and proudly equip Fated Weapon titles. You’ve accomplished something most Destiny 2 players will never achieve. The Gravitic Doctorate triumph genuinely tests skill, patience, and dedication, placing completers among the game’s elite players.
Yes, the entire triumph can be completed solo, though some sections are significantly easier with fireteams. Solo completion is absolutely achievable with patience and appropriate loadouts. The most challenging solo sections are Fragment 12’s boss encounter and the Temporal Storm heroic event for Fragment 9.
No, progress saves after each fragment collection. You can spread triumph completion across multiple sessions, which is actually recommended to prevent burnout. Progress saves immediately upon fragment collection, allowing safe logout and later return.
The triumph tracker displays exactly which fragments remain missing, enabling easy return collection for skipped items. Fragments can be collected in any order (though routing efficiency varies), and missing fragments don’t prevent others from being collected. Use the triumph page to identify specific needed fragments.
Graviton Spike must exist in inventory or vault but doesn’t require constant equipping except when shooting Arc buds or breaking Stasis crystals. For difficult platforming sections, switching to other weapons is often preferable, only equipping Graviton Spike when mechanics require it.
No, the Gravitic Doctorate triumph is character specific. All 15 collectibles (3 intrinsics and 12 fragments) must be collected on the same character. Multiple character triumph completion requires repeating the entire collection process on each character separately.
While no strict Power Level requirement exists, being at least 20 Power above the current season’s soft cap is recommended. This ensures combat encounters won’t cause struggles, especially the Fragment 12 boss fight and Temporal Storm heroic event. Being under leveled makes Mythic difficulty sections unnecessarily punishing.
Yes! Current season artifact modifications include several that provide significant assistance. “Precision Amplification” improves precision weapon accuracy, making distant Arc bud hits easier. “Enhanced Mobility Matrix” provides additional jump height and air control, invaluable for platforming sections. Check each season’s artifact for helpful modifications.
The Gravitic Doctorate triumph embodies everything exceptional about Destiny 2’s endgame content challenging without unfairness, rewarding without mandatory participation, and complex enough to create memorable experiences. After guiding numerous players through this triumph, I’ve witnessed the complete reaction spectrum from pure elation to intense frustration, but every completer experiences genuine accomplishment.
Whether pursuing the Fated Weapon title, wanting complete Graviton Spike upgrades, or simply enjoying comprehensive collection activities, this triumph offers unique challenges testing multiple skill sets. Success requires more than accurate aim or precise jumping it demands persistence, problem solving abilities, and sometimes recognizing when breaks are necessary.
Remember, no timer exists on this triumph beyond Destiny 2’s seasonal framework. Take appropriate time, utilize outlined strategies, and don’t hesitate to seek community assistance. Some of the best Destiny memories emerge from helping random players through difficult content, and the Gravitic Doctorate triumph has created numerous such moments.
For those finding this guide helpful and seeking additional challenging content, explore other engaging endgame content options. The journey toward Fated Weapon title achievement is just beginning, and the Gravitic Doctorate triumph represents your first major step on that path.
Good luck, Guardian. May your Arc buds consistently spawn, your platforms never despawn, and your fragments register successfully on first attempts. See you starside!
