Last updated: 2026-06-22.
If you are looking for an anime destiny leveling guide, the confirmed reference information available here is for Destiny’s leveling and grinding systems, not a separate Anime Destiny game. The safest leveling path is to clear early Story Missions, add Patrols and Crucible as they unlock, use Bounties heavily from the middle levels onward, then switch your focus after level 20 from XP to Light, Legendary Gear, Marks, Reputation, and endgame materials.
Quick answer
Leveling changes by phase:
| Level range | Main goal | Best confirmed activities |
|---|---|---|
| Levels 1–8 | Gain XP quickly and learn modes | Story Missions, Earth Patrols, Crucible, replaying Missions with friends |
| Levels 9–20 | Stack XP more efficiently | Bounties, Strike Missions, Crucible, single-player Bounties |
| Levels 21–24 | Raise Light instead of normal level | Legendary Gear, Engrams, Crucible Marks, Vanguard Marks, Raids |
| Level 25+ | Upgrade and farm endgame materials | Public Events, Daily Heroic Missions, Crucible, Raids |
The biggest shift happens after level 20. XP still helps develop abilities and improve weapons, but it no longer directly raises your character level. From that point, your level is tied to Light from gear.
Anime Destiny leveling guide basics
There is no confirmed Anime Destiny-specific leveling system in the provided information. The confirmed system described here is Destiny’s progression structure, where early levels come from XP and later levels depend on Light.
Use this as a progression checklist:
- Clear Story Missions while they scale well with your level.
- Try new modes as they unlock instead of repeating only one activity.
- Add Bounties as soon as they become practical.
- Use Strike Missions and Crucible for stronger XP gains in the middle levels.
- After level 20, prioritize gear with Light.
- Farm Marks, Reputation, and materials to unlock or improve higher-level gear.
Levels 1–8: follow the campaign and sample modes
The first few levels progress quickly. Story Missions are the cleanest starting point because difficulty scales well alongside your early character growth.
Good early options include:
- Playing Story Missions
- Trying Patrols on Earth once available
- Joining Crucible match modes
- Replaying Missions with friends to build skill and XP
At this point, do not overthink farming. The main goal is to unlock more activities and get comfortable with your character.
Levels 9–20: use Bounties, Strikes, and Crucible
After level 9, Story Mission rewards scale less favorably, so Bounties become much more important.
A confirmed example is the Death or Glory bounty, which requires completing 5 Clash matches and rewards 5000 XP. Victory is not required for that bounty, so even weaker Crucible players can still make progress.
Useful activities in this range:
- Bounties: Strong XP value and renewed in the Tower
- Strike Missions: XP comes from enemies and the Strike completion itself
- Crucible: Multiplayer XP transfers back into character progression
- Single-player Bounties: More practical as your character gets stronger
The best approach is to combine Bounties with whatever activity you were already planning to run.
Levels 21–24: switch from XP to Light
After level 20, Destiny’s leveling changes. XP still contributes to abilities and weapon development, but it no longer directly increases your character level.
Instead, you need Light, which is tied to certain Legendary equipment and weapons. Light is a numeric value on gear and can increase as that item’s abilities are developed through use.
How to get Legendary Gear after level 20
Confirmed ways to obtain Legendary Gear include:
| Method | What it gives or supports | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular play and Engrams | Random gear drops | Largely random |
| Crucible Marks | Currency for Legendary Gear | Earned from some Crucible modes |
| Vanguard Marks | Currency for Legendary Gear | Earned from Daily Heroic Story and Weekly Heroic Strike |
| Special event Missions | Kill Order rewards | Queen’s Wrath is listed as an example |
| Raids | High-level gear opportunities | Vault of Glass is listed as an example |
Crucible Marks and Vanguard Marks each have a confirmed cap of 100 marks per week.
Crucible Marks and Vanguard Marks
Crucible Marks can be earned through Crucible modes and spent in the Tower for Legendary Gear. The confirmed modes listed for equal Crucible Marks and Reputation are:
- Control
- Clash
- Rumble
- Skirmish
Vanguard Marks are tied to Daily Heroic Story and Weekly Heroic Strike activities. These can also be spent in the Tower for Legendary Gear.
Daily and weekly activities
Daily Heroic Strikes unlock for post-game players after reaching level 20. They are harder versions of Story Missions and include modifiers that increase the challenge.
Weekly Heroic Stories rotate weekly for level 20 characters and grant notable rewards. The confirmed reward listed is:
| Activity | Confirmed reward |
|---|---|
| Weekly Heroic Stories | 3 Vanguard Marks, 150 Vanguard Reputation, 3 Strange Coins |
Strange Coins are used to buy gear from a vendor who appears only on weekends.
Earning Reputation
Marks are not the only requirement for high-level vendor items. You also need Reputation.
Confirmed Reputation sources include:
- Completing Bounties
- Crucible events
- Weekly Heroic Strikes
- Queen’s Wrath events
Reputation types listed include Vanguard, Crucible, and Queen’s Favor. Raising Reputation within a faction unlocks products from higher-level vendors.
Exotic Bounties
Characters above level 20 may encounter Exotic Bounties. These are high-level, multi-stage Bounties that can reward powerful Exotic Gear.
How they work:
- Exotic Bounties can appear when high-level players turn in standard Bounties.
- Players may see three gold-colored bounty choices.
- Choosing one makes the other Exotic Bounties disappear.
- Each Exotic Bounty has multiple conditions.
- Completing one condition reveals the next.
- Some stages may unlock harder variants of Strike Missions.
Because the exact Exotic Bounty options are not listed here, treat specific bounty names and current availability as needing in-game confirmation.
Level 25 and beyond: farm materials and raids
At level 25 and beyond, Ascendant Crafting Materials become important.
Confirmed ways to get Ascendant Crafting Materials include:
| Source | Confirmed details |
|---|---|
| Public Events | Completing a public event on Gold rewards materials the first time that day and may reward more on later Gold completions that day |
| Daily Heroic Missions | Completing one level higher than the default usually grants an Ascendant Crafting Material |
| Crucible | Completing matches can sometimes reward Ascendant Crafting Materials |
| Raids | Characters can harvest materials from raids such as Vault of Glass |
Common mistakes
Avoid these leveling mistakes:
- Staying only on Story Missions after level 9, when Bounties start becoming more valuable.
- Ignoring Crucible if you can complete bounty requirements there.
- Treating XP as your main level source after level 20.
- Forgetting that Marks have weekly caps.
- Spending time farming without also building Reputation for vendor unlocks.
- Choosing an Exotic Bounty without understanding that the other options disappear.
FAQ
Is this an Anime Destiny leveling guide or a Destiny guide?
The confirmed information available is for Destiny. Anime Destiny-specific leveling details are not listed, so any Anime Destiny-only systems would need in-game or official confirmation.
What is the fastest way to level early?
For levels 1–8, use Story Missions, Patrols on Earth when available, Crucible, and replayed Missions with friends.
What should I do after level 9?
Start leaning harder on Bounties, Strike Missions, Crucible, and single-player Bounties. Story Mission rewards become less favorable after level 9.
What changes after level 20?
XP no longer directly raises your character level. Your level becomes tied to Light from Legendary equipment and weapons.
How many Marks can I earn per week?
The confirmed cap is 100 Crucible Marks per week and 100 Vanguard Marks per week.
How do I get Ascendant Crafting Materials?
Confirmed sources include Gold Public Events, Daily Heroic Missions completed above the default level, Crucible match rewards, and raids such as Vault of Glass.
Update note
Details can change after updates. If a code, price, event, stock item, ability, schedule, or feature behaves differently, treat the newest official or in-context source as the current version.