Pyramid Ships
Dormant leviathans beneath the Moon that awaken Nightmares and reshape reality through the Darkness.
Pyramid Ships represent the physical manifestation of the Darkness, appearing as massive, dormant vessels beneath the surface of Earth's Moon in Destiny 2: Shadowkeep. First encountered by Eris Morn after she interacted with one of these structures, they are central to the expansion's narrative involving 'Nightmares' that terrorize the Solar System. While the original Destiny featured a similar ship known as the Dreadnaught, the ships in Shadowkeep are distinct entities tied directly to the ancient enemy of the Traveler. These vessels were not active warships but sleeping monuments until Eris accidentally released their influence, unleashing spectral manifestations of the Guardian's past trauma across the system.
- Origin
- The Darkness
- First Major Appearance in Shadowkeep
- October 1, 2019
- Key Locations
- Beneath Earth's Moon, Io, Titan, Mercury, Mars
- Distinctive Feature
- Dormant status until interaction; source of 'Nightmares'
- Status
- Active threat in Season of Arrivals (June 2020); consumed destinations
Lore & Background
The lore of Pyramid Ships in Shadowkeep centers on the Moon, where a dormant vessel lies buried beneath the surface. Eris Morn, a character absent since Destiny 2's original base campaign, returned to guide Guardians against 'Nightmares' she accidentally released after interacting with this ship. These Nightmares are not random monsters but specific manifestations of the Guardian's past adversaries, resurrected by the Darkness to haunt the Solar System. The ships serve as the source of this madness, twisting history and memory into tangible threats. Throughout Shadowkeep, Eris and the Guardian work together to understand the cause of this unleashed chaos. The narrative reveals that these Pyramid Ships are intrinsically linked to the Darkness, acting as anchors for its power. Unlike previous encounters with enemy factions like the Hive or Vex, the threat here is psychological and temporal, forcing players to confront their own history. The ships remain a silent but overwhelming presence on the Moon, driving the expansion's core conflict until Eris and the Guardian take steps to stop the madness they unleashed.
In Their Own Story
The story of Shadowkeep begins when Eris Morn seeks the Guardian's help after interacting with a dormant Pyramid Ship beneath the Moon's surface. This interaction accidentally released 'Nightmares' into the Solar System, spectral entities that manifest the Guardian's past traumas and resurrect previous adversaries. These Nightmares, powered by the Darkness, force players to face enemies from their history as they attempt to restore order. As the campaign progresses, Eris and the Guardian investigate the source of this madness, navigating the expanded Moon environment which now features a massive Hive fortress known as the Scarlet Keep. The narrative follows their efforts to contain the Nightmares and understand the ship's influence. Later, during Season of Arrivals in June 2020, the story expands beyond the Moon when the Black Fleet of the Darkness arrives in the Solar System. This event sees Pyramid ships positioning themselves over Io, Titan, Mercury, and Mars. As Eris Morn and the Drifter decode the Darkness's messages, the Traveler reawakens, only to be consumed by the darkness as these destinations are taken.
Reader's Guide
For players engaging with the content of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Pyramid Ships are the catalyst for the entire expansion. The primary location is Earth's Moon, which serves as a playable destination reprised and expanded from the original game. Upon entering the campaign, Guardians must help Eris Morn defeat Nightmares—powerful enemies that regenerate health and include major story bosses from both Destiny and Destiny 2. Key activities tied to these ships include 'Nightmare Hunts,' unlocked after the main campaign, which feature powerful Nightmare enemies and major bosses across four difficulty modes: Adept, Hero, Legend, and Master. Players can also explore a new dungeon called 'Pit of Heresy' located underneath the Scarlet Keep on the Moon. The expansion also introduces the 'Garden of Salvation' raid in the Black Garden on Mars, released on October 5, 2019, which ties into the Vex invasion triggered by player actions. Understanding that these ships are dormant until interacted with is crucial for navigating the story and accessing specific seasonal content like Season of Arrivals.
Did You Know?
- The Pyramid Ship beneath the Moon was interacted with by Eris Morn, accidentally releasing 'Nightmares' that are manifestations of the Guardian's past.
- During Season of Arrivals in June 2020, the Black Fleet positioned Pyramid ships over Io, Titan, Mercury, and Mars before consuming these destinations.
- The Nightmare enemies found near the ships can regenerate their health and include resurrected versions of previous adversaries from Destiny history.
- Shadowkeep was the first major expansion published independently by Bungie after acquiring rights from Activision in early 2019.
More in History & The Traveler
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