Here is a guide to the requirements for the last few light levels in terms of armor and crafting materials, since it can get really confusing. Level 27 requires 87 light: Translation: A full set of legendary missing just the shards-dependent upgrades (4 * 22 = 88). Level 28 requires 98 light. Translation: A full set of legendary, missing the last upgrade on each, and another upgrade on one (3 * 25 + 23 = 98). This will require 42 ascendant shards. DO NOT UPGRADE ALL YOUR LEGENDARY ARMOR ALL THE WAY (see level 29) Level 29 requires 109 light. Translation: Two fully-leveled legendary pieces (27 + 27), one fully leveled exotic (30) and one legendary with all but one upgrade (25). Note that four fully-leveled legendary pieces will not do the trick (27 * 4 = 108). This will require 64 shards. Level 30 requires 120 light, which is the maximum currently possible. Translation: One exotic and three raid set pieces (dropped only in Vault of Glass), fully leveled. This will require 79 shards.