For any Guardian looking to conquer the most challenging endgame content in Destiny 2, understanding and mastering the game's buff system is non-negotiable. The right combination of buffs can turn a struggling fireteam into an unstoppable force, transforming difficult encounters into manageable challenges. In 2026, the landscape of powerful buffs has evolved, but the core principles remain: maximize damage, enhance survivability, and optimize your neutral game. From the raw power of supers to the subtle utility of subclass keywords, here’s the ultimate breakdown of the ten most essential buffs every player should know how to utilize.

1. Amplified: The Speed Demon

The Arc subclass's signature buff, Amplified, is all about mobility. 🤸‍♂️ It doesn't directly increase your damage output, but what it offers is arguably just as valuable for navigating complex encounters. When Amplified, you gain:

• Increased movement speed

• Higher jumps

• Longer slides

• Faster weapon handling

It's the perfect buff for traversing large arenas, escaping dangerous situations, or simply making platforming sections less tedious. What makes it even better in the current meta is its synergy with several exotic weapons and legendary perks that activate or are enhanced while Amplified. Building an entire loadout around maintaining this buff is not only viable but highly effective for aggressive playstyles.

2. Frost Armor: The Icy Fortress

Introduced with the major Stasis rework in The Final Shape, Frost Armor is the newcomer that has carved out a solid niche. This is a stacking defensive buff, where each stack (up to a maximum of 5) grants increasing damage resistance, capping out at a respectable 22.5% damage reduction. 🧊 You primarily gain stacks by picking up Stasis shards, which also provide a small heal and melee energy.

While it might not single-handedly carry you through a Grandmaster Nightfall, Frost Armor is an incredible supplement to a well-built Stasis setup. Think of an Osmiomancy Gloves Warlock weaving in and out of combat, constantly refreshing their icy defenses. It turns a potent crowd-control subclass into a surprisingly tanky one.

3. Invisibility: The Ultimate Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card

Sometimes, the best defense is not being seen at all. Invisibility is unique on this list—it doesn't boost a single stat. Instead, it breaks enemy targeting, making you effectively untouchable for its duration. This is invaluable for:

• Making risky revives

• Repositioning during intense enemy phases

• Activating exotic perks tied to going invisible (like those on Gyrfalcon's Hauberk or Omnioculus)

Hunters, especially, have built entire identities around this buff, using it to control the flow of high-stakes PvE encounters. In a game where a single mistake can mean a wipe, the ability to simply disappear is priceless.

4. Empowering Rift: The Warlock's Damage Platform

The age-old Warlock debate: Healing Rift or Empowering Rift? In 2026's endgame, where healing sources are abundant, Empowering Rift often takes the prize. Placing this rift on the ground grants you and any allies standing in it a 20% weapon damage boost. 💥 This is a massive, consistent increase that's perfect for boss damage phases or clearing rooms of high-health enemies.

Its power is further amplified by exotics like The Stag (for damage resistance) or Secant Filaments (which can grant Devour). This turns the simple rift into a multifunctional powerhouse that boosts damage and survivability.

5. Devour: The Sustain King

Ah, Devour. The Void (and Prismatic) subclass's iconic ability that makes you feel unstoppable. Upon activation, every kill you secure:

• Fully restores your health

• Grants grenade energy

• Refreshes the Devour timer

It's a perfect feedback loop of aggression and survival. The major caveat? You need to secure kills to keep it going. In high-end content where enemies are tanky, maintaining Devour can be a challenge, but mastering it is a hallmark of a skilled Guardian. When it's active, you can play with a level of aggression that other subclasses can only dream of.

6. Song of Flame: The Ultimate Support Super

The newest Warlock Super on the block, Song of Flame, is a buffing machine. As a roaming Super, it grants the caster a whopping 90% damage resistance and drastically reduces all ability cooldowns. But its real power is in its team support:

• Allies nearby gain 30% damage resistance.

• Allies' weapons apply Scorch.

• Allies' abilities recharge 15% faster per second.

It's an incredible tool for sustained team-wide damage and survivability during extended combat sequences. While it might not output the raw burst damage of other supers, the utility it provides to the entire fireteam is unparalleled.

7. Radiant: The Champion Slayer

Accessible to Solar and Prismatic subclasses, Radiant is arguably the most versatile and important damage buff in the game. It provides a 25% weapon damage increase and, crucially, makes all your weapons pierce Barrier Champion shields. 🛡️➡️💥

Its accessibility and dual utility make it a staple in almost every high-level PvE loadout. Whether you're proccing it with a melee ability, a fragment, or an exotic, having Radiant active simplifies champion mechanics and significantly boosts your damage rotation. It's a non-negotiable for any serious build.

8. Well of Radiance: The Classic Pillar

Even after numerous adjustments, Well of Radiance remains a cornerstone of Destiny 2's endgame PvE meta. This stationary Super creates a zone of immense power that provides:

Buff	Effect
Empowered	25% weapon damage boost
Damage Resist	20% damage reduction
Healing	50 health per second
Shield Piercing	Weapons pierce Barrier shields
Stasis Immunity	Cannot be frozen or slowed

Additionally, leaving the Well grants 8 seconds of Radiant. With the right build, you can have your Well back incredibly fast, making it the ultimate "safe spot" for boss DPS phases and a must-have for raid teams.

9. Blessing of the Sky: The Hidden Gem

Often overlooked by the general player base but beloved by speedrunners and challenge enthusiasts, Blessing of the Sky is a monster of a buff. Provided by the exotic hand cannon Lumina or the Warlock exotic Boots of the Assembler, it does two things:

1. Restores 90 health to the target (and you).

2. Grants a massive 35% weapon damage boost.

This makes it the second-highest damage buff in the entire game, and it's surprisingly easy to maintain. Having just one player on your team dedicated to providing this buff can dramatically increase your team's overall damage output.

10. Sentinel Shield (Banner Shield): The Protective Powerhouse

We end with another Super, the Void Titan's Sentinel Shield in its blocking mode (often called Banner Shield). While holding guard, this shield:

• Protects allies behind it from incoming fire.

• Grants allies shooting through it a 40% weapon damage buff.

Yes, you read that right—40%. 🔥 This is the highest team weapon damage buff available. The trade-off is that the Titan using it isn't dealing damage themselves. While the meta of chaining these supers back-to-back has faded, in specific, coordinated damage phases or for protecting against deadly boss attacks, a well-timed Banner Shield is still an incredible tactical tool that can save a run.

Building Around Buffs in 2026

The key to mastering Destiny 2's endgame isn't just knowing these buffs exist; it's learning how to layer them. For example, a team could have a Titan providing Blessing of the Sky (35%), a Warlock drop a Well of Radiance (25%), and have everyone proc Radiant (25%). Understanding how these buffs interact (most don't stack, the highest usually takes priority) is crucial. In 2026, the most successful Guardians are those who weave these powerful effects into their team's strategy, creating a symphony of enhanced power that can overcome any challenge the game throws at them. Remember, it's not just about your gunplay—it's about how you empower it.