History Awesome / Destiny

** Sunbreakers get the [[DropTheHammer Hammer of Sol]]. The Guardian summons a burning hammer that can be used to hit enemies or thrown to take out large groups.

-->It was there they found what the Warlocks named the “Cathedral of Dusk.” A Hive burial site for— what? A former master of Oryx? Comrade? Lover? It was vile. And obvious that Oryx never expected the Light to reach so deep inside his throne, to such an intimate space. But he didn’t expect a lot of things — like a Guardian training ground atop the husk of his dead ship.

** This all leads up to the very end of the quest: Your Ghost invites you to stand on the balcony of the Ketch and [[SceneryPorn talk as you look at the view]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NCdgTwolyA as "Rememberance" plays...]].

* The ''Rise of Iron'' trailer. Lord Saladin, the last of the Iron Lords and Vanguard Commander during the Battle of the Twilight Gap, is patrolling the Wall in Old Russia, and sees that it has been broken down. Out comes Fallen of the House of Devils, who were the first wave at the Twilight Gap, that have infected themselves with SIVA, the techno-virus that the rest of the Iron Lords gave their lives to seal away. What is Saladin's reaction to seeing the causes of the two worst days of his life as a Guardian melded together? He ''[[ILikeThoseOdds smiles]]'', puts on his helmet, pulls out a ''[[FlamingSword Flaming]] [[AnAxeToGrind Battle Axe]]'', and proceeds to ''charge'' the SIVA infected Fallen.

** Sad news. you can't use the wolves from the trailer. Compensation? You get to use the [[AnAxeToGrind Battle]] [[FlamingSword Ax]] instead!

* The climax of ''Rise of Iron'''s story campaign is a combination of Awesome, NightmareFuel, TearJerker: You enter SIVA's replication chamber, where the previous Iron Lords gave their lives in an attempt to destroy SIVA for good, and discover the [[BodyHorror horribly profaned corpses of Felwinter, Gheleon, and Jolder]] hanging from the ceiling by SIVA's tendrils. As you enter the Self-Destruct sequence, the Iron Lords' bodies are yanked upward, before they drop back down, [[FightingYourFriend forced to try and kill you]]... except Felwinter dropped the [[AnAxeToGrind Iron Battleaxe]]. Using the axe (as it's the only thing that can hurt them), and with the Theme of ''Rise of Iron'' blaring, you put the Iron Lords to a [[MercyKill much-prolonged and very well-deserved rest]]... But it's not over yet. You initiate the Self-Destruct sequence... and run like hell out of SIVA's chamber as it explodes around, [[VillainousBreakdown SIVA lashing madly and futilely sending Dregs in an attempt to stop you]]. You escape, [[MementoMacGuffin Jolder's helm]] in your possession, and SIVA now unable to replicate. You finally put Saladin's demons to rest, and send off his comrades in a way they would have been proud of... as Saladin gives you The Young Wolf's Howl and names you '''''Iron Lord'''''. Be proud, Guardian.

** The Last Array, the last defense network of the Earth located in Old Russia, where you have to bring it back online [[spoiler: while being set upon by waves after waves of Hive Tombships, resulting in an epic slugfest.]]

* During the missions on the Moon you're tasked with destroying a Hive sword that has killed thousands of Guardians before you. You have to find the Swarm Princes that created the weapon and kill them before the sword itself can be eliminated. When you find the sword, [[spoiler: you use it to kill the Princes and dozens of Hive while running around in third-person in an amazing UnexpectedGameplayChange and a delicious HoistByTheirOwnPetard]]. This is even acknowledged InUniverse as being an amazing victory for the Light.
** As of The Dark Below DLC's pre-patch, the Hive on Earth or the Moon will randomly perform a ritual in various locations to summon the Blades of Crota. Killing the Knight [[spoiler:will allow you to wield the sword once more, for a short period, allowing you to slay any Fallen and Hive nearby]]. Post the DLC's release, doing so is also part of several bounties, and has a chance to award an evolving weapon. (Note: This event got disabled after the House of wolves patch mainly, however you can still find the event during the Fist of Crota mission)

* The final battle with Oryx gives awesome moments for both you and the Taken King himself. [[spoiler: Not only do you beat him, but upon realizing that he's beaten, Oryx declares that while you killed Crota, he won't give you the satisfaction of killing him. So rather than let you finish him off, he draws on his dark magic and seemingly ''uses his Taking powers on himself'' out of spite. And for bonus points, as he gets Taken he ''laughs in your face''.]]
** Then, of course, the TrueFinalBoss battle with Oryx at the end of the King's Fall raid. [[spoiler:He's literally {{Kaiju}} size, easily the biggest enemy ever faced in Destiny and requires immense teamwork to get through the raid. But he's beatable, and upon beating him, you see him explode in a flurry of sparks as his lifeless body floats away.]]

** At the end of the trailer, [[spoiler: the Gjallarhorn is back [[PaintitBlack in black]]!]]
** Sad news. you can't use the wolves from the trailer. Compensation? [[spoiler: You get to use the [[AnAxeToGrind Battle]] [[FlamingSword Ax]] instead!]]

* The climax of ''Rise of Iron'''s story campaign is a combination of Awesome, NightmareFuel, TearJerker: [[spoiler: You enter SIVA's replication chamber, where the previous Iron Lords gave their lives in an attempt to destroy SIVA for good, and discover the [[BodyHorror horribly profaned corpses of Felwinter, Gheleon, and Jolder]] hanging from the ceiling by SIVA's tendrils. As you enter the Self-Destruct sequence, the Iron Lords' bodies are yanked upward, before they drop back down, [[FightingYourFriend forced to try and kill you]]... except Felwinter dropped the [[AnAxeToGrind Iron Battleaxe]]. Using the axe (as it's the only thing that can hurt them), and with the Theme of ''Rise of Iron'' blaring, you put the Iron Lords to a [[MercyKill much-prolonged and very well-deserved rest]]... But it's not over yet. You initiate the Self-Destruct sequence... and run like hell out of SIVA's chamber as it explodes around, [[VillainousBreakdown SIVA lashing madly and futilely sending Dregs in an attempt to stop you]]. You escape, [[MementoMacGuffin Jolder's helm]] in your possession, and SIVA now unable to replicate. You finally put Saladin's demons to rest, and send off his comrades in a way they would have been proud of... as Saladin gives you The Young Wolf's Howl and names you '''''Iron Lord'''''.]] Be proud, Guardian.
** The long and trying Wrath of the Machine raid ends on an equally epic climax. [[spoiler:After trampling over an [[ZergRush army of SIVA-enhanced Fallen,]] powering through deadly levels of SIVA infestation, [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill and nearly getting nuked by a giant zamboni,]] your final challenge has you and your fellow Guardians enter SIVA's core and confront the machine god Aksis. SIVA has been trying desperately to kill you, but in doing so you and your Guardians are imbued with its power, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard which you use to disable Aksis, tear him apart, and end SIVA's reign once and for all.]] ]]

** First landing in Bannerfall, you explore the map and discover the crafting rooms of Feizel Crux, when an alarm goes off signalling that Fallen, SIVA-infested and not, start invading Bannerfall! Finally, you put your painstaking Crucible to good use as you fight swarms of Fallen [[spoiler: while disarming a pair of bombs that the Fallen have set to destroy a portion of the Wall, not unlike a game of Salvage,]] and then take on an Archon-sized Captain, with the help of automated turrets and Vanguard [=VTOLs=] opening fire on your opponent!
** Later, in Skyshock, you [[spoiler: defend the Ghost while he sets about repairing the Gjallarhorn. After a short while, you take the newly minted rocket launcher and absolutely decimate the Fallen forces there, including several Fallen Pikes and two SIVA-infested Walkers, with Saladin's blessing, heavy ammo boxes everywhere, and a true weapon of an Iron Lord!]]

* Rebuilding the Khvostov is nothing short of an awesome nostalgia trip that reminds you of all the badass achievements you've made in your long journey to where you are now. After you obtain the schematic [[spoiler: (either from dismantling your old Khvostov or by nabbing it from the Fallen Ketch)]], Shiro offers to help you rebuild the gun, better than ever. You get manual pages from killing enemies on patrol in the Plaguelands, but you obtain weapon parts by searching for them in familiar places in the Cosmodrome portion. You obtain them, but there's still one itty-bitty part missing: a firing pin. From there, the nostalgia really comes at full force. [[spoiler: You drop in the Hanger, where you first made your escape. You then head to the Divide, where you first witnessed the extent of the Fallen's forces, in an attempt to kill a Captain. He retreats into the Inner Wall, where through much effort you then slay him. There, he drops the firing pin, allowing you to complete the Khvostov on the spot, [[BookEnds and where you first obtained your gun and fought back against the Darkness]] But it's not over yet. It's time to test run this baby... on the crew of the Fallen Ketch! [[ConservationOfNinjutsu You win, easily.]] But after all is done, your Ghost invites you to stand at the edge of the deck overlooking the Highway, where he found and revived you. During all of this, your Ghost mentions all the crazy things that happened in these same places...]]
** This all leads up to the very end of the quest: [[spoiler: Your Ghost invites you to stand on the balcony of the Ketch and [[SceneryPorn talk as you look at the view]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NCdgTwolyA as "Rememberance" plays...]]]].

* Evil Awesome Moment: Up until ''Destiny 2'', the Cabal have been kind of a joke. They wound up on Mars with barely any idea of what they were getting into, got repeatedly creamed by the Vex, blundered into a war with the Guardians (who ''can't die''), and then finally Oryx singhandedly destroyed nearly all of them in one fell swoop. [[spoiler:And then the distress signal [[TheCavalry reaches Ghaul and his Red Legion]]. The first trailer has the Cabal ''trouncing'' the Guardians without the barest smidgen of difficulty, and resetting everything back to square one for humanity.]]

** First landing in Bannerfall, you explore the map and discover the crafting rooms of Feizel Crux, when an alarm goes off signalling that Fallen, SIVA-infested and not, start invading Bannerfall! Finally, you put your painstaking Crucible to good use as you fight swarms of Fallen [[spoiler: while disarming a pair of bombs that the Fallen have set to destroy a portion of the Wall, not unlike a game of Salvage,]] and then take on an Archon-sized Captain, with the help of automated turrets and Vanguard VTOLs opening fire on your opponent!

-->'''Ghost''': "[[OntologicalMystery Every Ghost is born knowing that we have to find our Guardian.]] [[QuestForIdentity We don't know what they look like. Not on the outside, anyway.]] [[PsychicLink On the inside, I'd always known who you were.]] [[YouAreNotAlone And that together,]] [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre we could be something more.]] [[ItHasBeenAnHonor When you think think about everything we've seen, everything we've done, I feel like... I made the right choice.]] [...] [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Thanks - you know - for being my Guardian.]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fist_of_havok.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[DareToBeBadass Dare to be Badass.]]]]

** Taox, the one responsible for the assassination of the Osmium King and the sisters' StartOfDarkness, escaped from Fundament when the Hive took it. She then spent ''millions'' of years fleeing from and cunningly tricking the Hive, raising armies against them and always managing to escape. Savathûn, Oryx and Xivu Arash [[UnbreakableOath swore an oath to find and kill her, as revenge for her causing the downfall of their kingdom]]. Now, only two of the Hive Gods remain, and somewhere, out in the Universe by the light of strange stars, Taox is presumably looking down at them and laughing her exoskeletal ass off.

** Speaking of the Crucible, Shax gets ''really'' excited when you do exceptionally well. You know you've impressed him when he says this after you get a 10-kill streak:
--->'''Shax''': '''''FIGHT FOREVER, GUARDIAN!!!'''''

* The cutscene after you defeat a Vex Gate Lord and deposit its head in front of Queen Mara Son, her brother, and their Fallen guards. After spending the last cutscene talking down to you, the looks of shock on their faces is ''so'' satisfying. Prince Uldren is the most visibly shocked, and the Queen [[NotSoStoic looks surprised]] as well. Even the Fallen guards look a little scared of the player Guardian.

* The cutscene after you defeat a Vex Gate Lord and deposit its head in front of the Queen of the Reef, her brother, and the Fallen guards. After spending the last cutscene talking down to you, the looks of shock on their faces is ''so'' satisfying. The Queen's Brother is the most visibly shocked, and the Queen [[NotSoStoic looks surprised]] as well. Even the Fallen guards look a little scared of the player Guardian.

* In a Ghost Fragment: Warlock card, a Warlock makes a prideful boast toward a Hunter, brandishing an Ahamkara scale and telling her no one could hope to kill one on their own. The Hunter promptly takes up the challenge and the Warlock realizes to her horror that she's probably just committed that Hunter to a brutal death. Comes Rise of Iron, with a new artifact for the Hunter: an Ahamkara Scale, with the flavor text [[CallBack "Ha! And that Warlock thought I couldn't do it!"]]

-->'''Toland''':You fools! You ''disastrous, bumbling squanderers!'' It's not right! Who now shall be First Navigator, Lord of Shapes, harrowed god, Taken King? Not you! You might have been Kings and Queens of the Deep! But you have toppled Oryx and you have not replaced him!\\

*** To help explain why this is awesome let's consider the following. The Hive have up until now had certain rules and even with our powers it seemed we were susceptible to their rules as well. Then comes the Kings Fall raid.... where we basically show NO. We are NOT simply more creatures for The Hive to simply mold into the next Oryx. We are GUARDIANS. Our light shines and dispells The Darkness.

-->It was there they found what the Warlocks named the “Cathedral of Dusk.” A Hive burial site for— what? A former master of Oryx? Comrade? Lover? It was vile. And obvious that Oryx never expected the Light to reach so deep inside his throne, to such an intimate space. But he didn’t expect a lot of things — like a Guardian training ground atop the husk of his dead ship.

'''Vision of Confluence''': ''In the abyss of time, all lines converge... [[TheHero upon you.]]''\\

** Age of Triumph also has the return of elemental primaries, now as Exotics, considered "adept" versions of the weapons.