[b]Best time to queue:[/b] 19:00 - 23:00 UK time or peak US evening hours. That's when you'll actually find people online who speak English. [b]Where to find groups:[/b] ⚪️ [b]Discord[/b] - yeah this is your best bet. Find a clan Discord or a dedicated raiding server. Organise runs ahead of time and make sure you bag at least one Sherpa (someone who actually knows the raid) to hold your hand through it. Servers like Devourers run scheduled raids daily with folks who actually teach. ⚪️ [b]Fireteam Finder[/b] - works during peak hours but it's a coin flip. Look for posts saying "calling all guardians," "newbie friendly," or "no experience necessary" especially for your first few runs. Avoid the "KWTD 50+ clears" clowns. ------------------ [b]What the hell is a Raid Banner?[/b] A Raid Banner (or Rally Banner if you're fancy) is a consumable you buy from Suraya Hawthorne in the Tower. [b]What it does[/b]: Slam it down at a rally point (usually before a boss fight) and anyone who touches it gets: ⚪️ Full ammo (yes even Heavy) ⚪️ Full Super ⚪️ All your abilities back [b]How to use it[/b]: ⚪️ Buy Raid Banners from Hawthorne (Glimmer or whatever) ⚪️ At the start of an encounter, look for the round rally flag symbol on the ground ⚪️ Pop the banner from your inventory ⚪️ Your team touches it and everyone's ready to party [b]Pro tip[/b]: Wait until everyone's actually loaded in before placing the banner. If someone joins late, they might get locked out. A team wipe resets the rally point but you'll burn another banner. [b]Campaign Banners[/b]: Some story missions give you free ones. Don't get used to it. ------------------ [b]Eager Edge Thrust: How to Not Eat Floor (Simple Version)[/b] Parkour kicking your bum? Eager Edge is your lifeline. It's a sword perk that yeets you forward when you pull the blade out. Learn this trick and you'll stop embarrassing yourself on jumping puzzles. [b]The Basic Pull-Out Method (Works on EVERY class)[/b]: [b]What you need[/b]: ⚪️ A sword with Eager Edge (non-negotiable) ⚪️ At least 1 sword ammo [b]The Button Sequence (don't overthink it)[/b]: ⚪️ You're mid-air and realize you're about to miss the jump (we've all been there) ⚪️ Swap to your Eager Edge sword ⚪️ Swing toward the ledge like your life depends on it (it does) ⚪️ Swap back to your primary mid-swing ⚪️ Glide or double-jump to safety [b]What this does[/b]: Eager Edge lunges you forward. Swapping weapons cancels the sword animation but keeps the momentum. Congrats, you just Yeeted yourself across a gap you were about to fall into. [b]Controller friend note[/b]: You don't need to be a speedrunner. Just get the rhythm down: swap → swing → swap back. Takes about a second. [b]Practice spot[/b]: Load into EDZ and yeet yourself off low ledges until you get it. The Tower shooting range is useless for this. ------------------ [b]Loadout Recommendations (Keep It Simple, Stupid)[/b]: [b]Heavy Weapons (This is where your damage comes from)[/b]: ⚪️ [b]Linear Fusion Rifles[/b] - still king for boss damage. Cataclysmic with Fourth Time's Charm + Bait and Switch is brain-dead easy and hits like a truck. Doomed Petitioner with Reconstruction + Surrounded also slaps. Briar's Contempt from Root of Nightmares is a solid backup. ⚪️ [b]Rocket Launchers[/b] - Apex Predator with Reconstruction + Bait and Switch. Get it. Use it. Stop asking questions. ⚪️ Look, if all this min-maxing gives you a headache, just grab Thunderlord and hold the trigger. You'll be fine. ------------------ [b]Exotic Armor That Won't Let You Down[/b]: [b]Hunter[/b]: ⚪️ Celestial Nighthawk (big funny golden gun number) ⚪️ Orpheus Rig (more tethers = more orbs = happy team) ⚪️ Star-Eater Scales (super damage go brrr) [b]Titan[/b]: ⚪️ Cuirass of the Falling Star (missile go boom) ⚪️ Helm of Saint-14 (bubble daddy protects the team) ⚪️ Loreley Splendor Helm (you just won't die) [b]Warlock[/b]: ⚪️ Necrotic Grips - pairs with Osteo Striga to turn everything into green goo ⚪️ Lunafaction Boots (team reloads faster, everyone loves you) ⚪️ Phoenix Protocol (more Wells = more survival) ------------------ [b]Subclass Tips (Don't Be That Guy)[/b]: ⚪️ [b]Warlocks[/b]: Well of Radiance. Just run it. Your team will thank you. Nova Bomb and Strand work too but Well is always welcome. ⚪️ [b]Titans[/b]: Bubble for protection, Thundercrash for damage, or Strand for fun. All solid. ⚪️ [b]Hunters[/b]: Void tether or Strand. Both slap for damage and add clear. ------------------ [b]Raid Etiquette (Don't Be a Menace)[/b]: ⚪️ [b]Have a mic[/b] - and actually use it. Callouts save runs. Nobody wants a mute. ⚪️ [b]Be honest about your experience[/b] - say it's your first time. Lying wastes everyone's time and makes you look like a clown. ⚪️ [b]Don't beg for carries[/b] - ask for help, not a free ride. Big difference. ⚪️ [b]Listen to the Sherpa[/b] - they're teaching for a reason. Shut up and learn. ⚪️ [b]Own your mistakes[/b] - "my bad" costs nothing. Blaming others gets you kicked. ⚪️ [b]Don't rage quit[/b] - wipes happen. If you're getting tilted, say you need a minute. Don't just dip. ⚪️ [b]Ask questions[/b] - if you don't get a mechanic, speak up. Silent confusion wipes more teams than bad aim ever will. ⚪️ [b]Stay until the end[/b] - don't bail after one wipe or right before the final boss. That's how you catch a blacklist. ------------------ [b]What to avoid like the plague[/b]: ⚪️ Toxic comms (screaming, insults, blame games) ⚪️ Going AFK without saying anything ⚪️ Ignoring chat/mic entirely ⚪️ Trying to secretly cheese mechanics without telling the team ⚪️ Joining "KWTD" posts when you absolutely do not KWTD ------------------ [b]Green flags (join these)[/b]: ⚪️ "Calling all guardians," "hello friends," "no experience necessary," "newbie friendly" ⚪️ Groups that actually mention explaining mechanics ⚪️ Chill vibes in the post [b]Red flags (run away)[/b]: ⚪️ Posts demanding 50+ clears or god roll exotics ⚪️ "No mic required" - raids need comms, full stop ⚪️ Aggressive energy in the post (if they're mad before it starts, imagine how they'll be after a wipe) ------------------ [b]Raids for Beginners (Start Here)[/b]: Start with [b]Vault of Glass[/b] or [b]Root of Nightmares[/b]. The mechanics are straightforward and people actually know how to teach them. Once you've got a few clears under your belt, move on to [b]Crota's End[/b] and [b]Deep Stone Crypt[/b]. Save [b]Last Wish[/b] and [b]King's Fall[/b] for when you hate yourself and have 4 hours to burn.