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My fellow Guardians, I have compiled a list of To-Dos for the Vault of Glass and have tested my methods in the Hard mode. The following strategies have worked for my group, but require a lot of skill and trust to pull off. This is by no means a full-proof guide to completing this and it took us 3 hours to master each of our roles (3 hours total, not 3 hours on each role).
While this guide is titled, "Everything You Need to Know" it is impossible to tell you every single detail of the Vault and it is not my duty to do so. Every single encounter will be slightly different from the last and each squad needs to feel out each fight and adjust (as is the nature of raids in general).
Another slight note: While this guide was tested and tilted to help players in Hard Mode, the advice within is good for all players attempting the Vault of Glass. Levels for the Normal raid should be adjusted accordingly (where you would need to be 29 for the Hard Mode raid, you can afford to be 26-27 in the Normal raid).
EDIT: I have also gotten a few questions regarding the difference between Hard and Normal Mode. To be honest, the difficulty all comes down to enemy level, damage, and numbers. Aside from the final fight with Atheon, nothing is truely that different.
The Pregame
This is what you need to do before even loading up the VoG.
1. Grab ammo synthesis. A lot of them. I suggest a minimum of 20 each to ensure that you can always resupply if you find yourself out of ammo.
2. Gather your best gear. Your armor should bring you up to a minimum level of 29 and your weapons should either be exotics, upgraded legendaries, or VoG loot drops (Atheon's Epilogue, Praedyth's Revenge, etc). Remember, all of the enemies that have shields in the Vault will be Void-Based.
3. Ensure that your team does the same and each has a "Wingman" in mind that they have played with before and know their playstyle. A lot of the work in the Vault can be broken up into groups of two or three and having this unit cohesion in mind before tackling this challenge is a good idea.
Opening the Gates
This is the first challenge you will face after loading into the game.
1. Split up into three teams of equal skill and strength. Lower team (far left), Middle team, and Upper team (far right).
2. Capture the Plates. If ever one should fall, you NEED to re-capture it as fast as possible. Remember, you can respawn and revive in this section so use that to your advantage. You won't have it much longer.
3. Call out if help is needed. If they do their job right, Middle team should be able to assist upper and lower with larger enemies or far-away enemies if they also have snipers. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed. Chances are that is exactly what is happening.
NOTE: There is/are (1) chest(s) between this stage and the next. Find it/them for a chance at an amazing loot drop.
The Templar
If you have done the VoG at all before attempting this (which you should since you're in for a world of hurt anyway), then you know the Templar boss fight has three distinct stages, two of which can be made easy so long as everyone does their job correctly. However, if even one of your squadmates dies, your whole team needs to wipe. Without the ability to revive, you will easily be overtaken without your sixth. Just start from scratch and plan to improve for next time. Your goal is to be flawless, aim for it and you will be surprised how close you can get.
Stage One: The Confluxes
Set up teams of two and locate enemy spawn positions, gain line of sight on them from a secure location, and pretend you're farming the Cave of Wonders in Old Russia (RIP). Like before, you must make callouts whenever possible and assist when you can afford to. Feel out your enemies and make adjustments to teams when needed.
Stage Two: The Oracles
Remember those pillars the Hobgoblins had been shooting you from in your previous run? Yea, they had the right idea. Locate a pillar floating away from the main platform and make sure it has Line of Signt (Going to be abreviated to LoS from now on) of at least two oracles. Post up with your coffee and a rifle cause this is where you are going to be for the rest of this stage. Just watch out for Hobgoblins since they will still be spawning on those platforms as well as others around the arena.
Stage Three: The Templar. AKA The EASIEST Part of this Fight
I hope you can jump like a jackrabbit cause this part is a little tricky. Leave your most competent jumper in the senter to grab the Relic and head over to the left side of the stadium. There you will see two platforms jutting out far from the arena. make your way over to the one with the large wall since you and your team will need to hide behind it for cover. After everyone is there safe and sound, signal for the Relic holder to grab the Relic and make their way over to you. Remeber, as soon as the Relic is picked up, The Templar will spawn dead center of the arena. If the Relic is dropped for more than five seconds, you will fail either from the game wiping you or you sucumbing to the Templar's Ritual of Negation. Use the platform to safely engage the Templar with Snipers and Rifles. Do not even risk using Rockets unless you are sure you can hit him and not the Detain shield that will be placed around your team. Take care of him before Enrage otherwise your poor Relic holder won't be able to cleanse the team fast enough (unless he is a generous God like myself Huehuehue). Rinse and repeat until the boss dies. Then, proceed onto the next challange.
NOTE: There is/are (3) chest(s) between this stage and the next. Find it/them for a chance at an amazing loot drop.
The Gorgon's Labrynth
Ok, now this is a tad tricky. The Gorgons do not move durring this section on hard difficulty. You need to first locate the exit to the next stage and make sure your whole team knows where it is. From there, you will need to locate the gaps in the Gorgons' surveilence routes and carefully make your way through them. If you are going to double jump, make sure you are far enough away from the enemy before attempting to do so. They will move if they hear you and it can easily screw your teammates that are following you. This is all trial and error, but the Bladedancer Hunters can clear this section easily... Damn sneaky sneaks with their camo and stuff.
The Pit of Dispair
This section has flashing platforms... That are nifty I guess. You can actually clear this section without touching a single one of these things. All you need to do is make your way to the right-most starting platform available and locate the ledge on the wall across the chasm. Once you have found it use your super hardcore parkour jumping skills to make your way to this ledge. Once you land with a sliver of health, shimmy your way to the entrence to the final area. Once again, this will take a lot of trial and error to find the right way. Striker Titans with Shoulder Charge can easily perform the jumps as I just described, but Hunters and Warlocks have a harder time finding their way across.
The Glass Throne
Thrones, yea. Game of.... Oh, wait. Wrong Throne.
Anyway, like the Iron Throne, the Glass Throne only seats one champion: Atheon, the Devourer of Hours and Ruiner of Friendships. Before you can face him, however, you must clear away the filth at his feet.
Stage One: The Conflux of DOOM
Once you enter the room, kill the Gatekeeper and anyone stupid enough to keep you from an audinece with Atheon. After the Gatekeeper is down, you will be able to open the portals to Mars and Venus (Left and Right respectively). Split up into teams of two and tackle each portal at once. Why both at once? Well, you can do it one at a time, but should any Minotaurs sacrifice themselves to the Conflux, you will most likely be destroyed by the beefed-up Oracle that will spawn shortly there-after. After your teams emerge from the portals with the Relics in hand, they will have to super the center conflux together while assisting the team in keeping the minotaurs from reaching it. Two charges a peice should take down the Conflux and move you on to the final battle.
Stage Two: Taking the Throne
Surely you know what to do here. Many strategies work, but it is whichever you can execute with the greatest percision that will triumph in the end. Just keep in mind these few things;
1. Split up into two teams of three. Home team opens portals and kills Supplicants as fast as possible. Away team is pulled into the portal and must destroy the ADS and Oracles within before they are destroyed and consumed by the Darkness. Both jobs are difficult in their own way, so make sure to change up the teams as needed.
2. Atheon takes bonus damage during Time's Vengance. Light him the hell up as long as you can.
3. During Time's Vengance Supers, Grenades, and other special abilities will have extremely short cooldowns. The Relic is also affected (Keep in mind that the Relic's Cleanse is also a deflective shield that will allow you to shoot out, but keep enemies from shooting in).
4. Upon being sent into the portal, your teams will encounter a detainment shield. Take care of it quickly because the rest of the fight will still happen just as blindingly fast as before.
Dance Party at the End of the World
IF you have gotten this far, then congrats, ya lovable scamp! You've won! Feel free to take your party favors, show them off to your friends, and dance till all the frustration from the previous fight drains away