Clever Destiny 2 Fan Makes Playable Versions of the Vanguard

Clever Destiny 2 Fan Makes Playable Versions of the Vanguard

Key Takeaways

  • Destiny 2 player pays homage by creating Vanguard-inspired armor sets for Zavala, Cayde, and Ikora.
  • Custom costumes use versatile transmogrification system and an array of cosmetic upgrades.
  • Fans appreciate the effort to capture iconic character essence, despite Bungie’s uniqueness efforts.

As a long-time Destiny 2 player and someone who’s grown attached to the Vanguard over the years, I must say that Alternative_Wait_420’s tribute to our beloved leaders is nothing short of impressive. It’s not every day we see such dedication to capturing the essence of these iconic characters through the game’s versatile transmogrification system.


A dedicated player of “Destiny 2” has shown their allegiance to the Vanguard by designing unique armor sets, modeled after the leaders of the organization – Commander Zavala, Ikora Rey, and Cayde-6. The distinctive costumes for the fireteam are meticulously put together using an extensive range of armor choices offered within “Destiny 2”.

The Destiny series isn’t particularly famous for creating a multitude of deeply etched characters, but the ones it does produce are staples in the gaming world and cherished by their followers. Prominent among these are the heads of the Vanguard, the governing body that controls and commands the Guardians of the Last City. Characters such as Hunter Cayde-6, Warlock Ikora Rey, and Titan Commander Zavala have been part of Destiny and Destiny 2 since their debut, and in many aspects, they serve as the narrative’s face. Notably, actor Lance Reddick provided Zavala’s voice until his passing in 2023; however, the character’s significance to the story was so profound that Bungie decided to re-cast the role for The Final Shape, with actor Keith David taking on the responsibility to honor his deceased counterpart.

Currently, a Destiny enthusiast under the handle Alternative_Wait_420 has crafted a heartfelt homage to the Vanguard by skillfully utilizing the versatile customization system in Destiny 2. By combining various elements from the expanding array of cosmetic enhancements, they’ve designed three unique outfits that mirror the distinct appearances of the Vanguard leaders. These custom armor sets have been shared with the DestinyFashion subreddit community, each one representing a different member of the Vanguard fireteam.

Destiny 2 Vanguard Costumes Bring Ikora, Cayde, and Zavala to Life

Cayde-6 Custom Costume Parts and Shaders

  • Head: Machined Skirmisher Mask (Vanguard Marshal Shader)
  • Arms: Vanguard Dare Grips (Calus’s Elite Shader)
  • Chest: Intrepid Discovery Vest (Chitin Slate Shader)
  • Legs: Lucky Pants Exotic Legs (Fortunate Beast Ornament, Mercury Prophetic Shader)
  • Class Item: Vanguard Dare Cloak (Cayde’s Duds Shader)

Ikora Rey Custom Costume Parts and Shaders

All items in the Ikora Rey custom costume use the Mediator Shader

  • Head: Prodigal Hood
  • Arms: Tangled Web Gloves
  • Chest: Starfarer’s Robes
  • Legs: Prodigal Steps
  • Class Item: Solipsism Warlock Exotic Class Item

Commander Zavala Custom Costume Parts and Shaders

  • Head: Eternal Warrior Exotic Helm (Default Ornament, no Shader)
  • Arms: Legatus Gauntlets (Combative Tanager Shader)
  • Chest: Veteran Legend Plate (Melting Point Shader)
  • Legs: Veteran Legend Greaves (Melting Point Shader)
  • Class Item: Wildwood Mark (War Cult Endgame Shader)

420_Alternative Wait explained that they made an effort to select not just visually fitting armor pieces and shaders, but also Exotics, Sparrows, and Emblems that complemented each character’s unique look. For instance, since Cayde and Zavala are never seen wearing masks or helmets in-game, they used the Machined Skirmisher Mask for Cayde and the blue-tinted Eternal Warrior Titan Exotic armor for Zavala to represent their faces. Ikora often appears without a mask, but is occasionally close to the Prodigal Hood mask, so they included this mask in her costume representation.

Players commended the attempt to embody some of Destiny 2’s legendary figures in the game. Since Bungie is cautious about allowing players to recreate identical appearances with easily obtainable in-game items, maintaining each named character as distinct, some players humorously suggested that the custom costumes resembled stand-ins or substitutes for the Vanguard leaders instead of the characters themselves.

It’s been noted that Cayde-6 has a large number of items directly linked to him within the game, such as the Ace of Spades Exotic hand cannon, Lucky Pants Hunter armor, and the Gambler’s Palm legendary sparrow. In contrast, Ikora and Zavala have fewer connections to items in the game. Interestingly, Ikora’s signature weapon, the Invective Exotic Shotgun, has yet to be added from the original Destiny into Destiny 2.

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2024-10-07 05:43