Destiny 2 Escalation Protocol Armor

Okay, picture this: it’s 2018, Mars is the place to be (or at least, that’s what Bungie was telling us), and I’m desperately trying to coordinate with five other random Guardians to get past wave seven of Escalation Protocol. The sweat was real. The frustration? Palpable. And the loot? Mostly blues. But… there was this mythical armor. The IKELOS set. Oh, the whispers of its power…

It felt like chasing a unicorn that had learned how to phase shift through walls. Anyone else remember those days? Good times… good times… (Mostly good… mostly.)

So, what’s the deal with Escalation Protocol armor anyway? Well, for those who weren't around back then, or maybe just blocked the whole experience from their memory (I wouldn’t blame you), let's break it down.

What Was Escalation Protocol?

Escalation Protocol was a Horde mode activity on Mars. Waves of Hive would spawn, each tougher than the last, culminating in a ridiculously challenging final boss on wave seven. The goal? Survive, blast everything that moves, and hopefully, snag some sweet, sweet loot.

And the armor… the armor was the real draw. The IKELOS armor set wasn’t just about looking cool (although, let's be honest, it did look pretty sweet). It was about power. About completing your Guardian's space-ninja fantasy.

The IKELOS Armor: The Breakdown

Each piece of the IKELOS armor was unique and dropped from specific bosses on specific weeks. This meant you had to grind… a lot. We’re talking repeating the same waves of Hive multiple times, hoping RNGesus was on your side. (Spoiler alert: He usually wasn’t.)

Here’s the kicker: the armor pieces rotated weekly. So, if you needed the helmet, and it wasn’t the right week, you were SOL. Back to the drawing board, Guardian.

The set consisted of:

• Helmet
• Gauntlets
• Chest Armor
• Leg Armor
• Class Item

Each class had its own version, of course, all adhering to that sleek, futuristic, slightly Hive-corrupted aesthetic. Very Mars-y, if you know what I mean.

Why Was It So Desirable?

Okay, so why all the fuss? Besides the awesome look, the IKELOS armor had some hidden perks (literally – mod slots!). It wasn’t just about the base stats; it was about the potential. You could slot in mods that buffed your abilities, improved your weapon handling, and generally made you a more formidable force on the battlefield.

Remember mods? Those little squares that gave you +5 to resilience? Ah, simpler times. (Were they really simpler, though? Debatable.)

The Grind, Oh the Grind!

Let's not sugarcoat it: getting the full IKELOS set was a serious grind. The drop rates were… let’s just say “low.” And with the weekly rotation of armor pieces, you could spend weeks, even months, trying to complete the set. I'm sure there are Guardians still out there who never managed to get everything. Tragic, really.

Trying to coordinate with a consistent group was also a challenge. Back in the day, finding six Guardians who were all willing to repeatedly smash their faces against wave seven for hours on end was… well, it was a task worthy of a Guardian, that's for sure. (Remember LFG?)

Escalation Protocol Armor Today

So, where does the IKELOS armor stand in the grand scheme of Destiny 2 2024? Well, the original Escalation Protocol activity is no longer directly accessible in the game, though the armor has returned via other means. You can now earn the armor through Xur's inventory, or through Engrams. The activity may be gone, but the memories of Hive slaughter and the pursuit of that sweet, sweet armor? Those live on in the hearts (and maybe in the vaults) of veteran Guardians everywhere.

And hey, at least you don't have to spend hours coordinating with random strangers on Mars anymore. Progress, right?

So, there you have it. A little stroll down memory lane, revisiting the glory (and the grind) of the Escalation Protocol armor. What are your memories of chasing this set? Let me know in the comments!