You cannot currently pledge to a faction in Destiny 2. The old Faction Rally system, where Guardians could choose between Dead Orbit, Future War Cult, and New Monarchy, is no longer active.
If you've found an older guide telling you to visit a faction leader in the Tower and pledge allegiance, that information comes from the early years of Destiny 2. Bungie's 2017 update confirms that pledging originally associated your character with a faction for the duration of a Faction Rally.
From a player's perspective, this is worth knowing before spending time searching the Tower for a pledge option that simply isn't there anymore.
How Pledging Originally Worked
During a Faction Rally, you would choose one of the three available factions and pledge to its vendor.
After pledging, you could earn faction reputation tokens by playing activities such as:
Strikes
Crucible matches
Public Events
Lost Sectors
Raids
You could then turn those tokens in for faction-themed reward packages. Your participation also contributed toward your faction's overall performance in the Rally.
The system was basically part loyalty choice, part loot grind, and part community competition.
Former Factions
Destiny 2's Faction Rallies revolved around three groups:
Faction | Leader | Basic philosophy |
|---|---|---|
Dead Orbit | Arach Jalaal | Humanity should leave Earth and spread beyond the solar system. |
Future War Cult | Lakshmi-2 | Conflict is inevitable, so humanity must prepare for future wars |
New Monarchy | Executor Hideo | Favored stronger, centralized leadership for the Last City |
Each faction offered its own themed weapons, armor, shaders, and other rewards during the old system. Bungie's Faction Rally updates specifically featured all three factions and their competing rewards.
Why Pledging Was Removed
Faction Rallies did not become a permanent recurring part of Destiny 2.
After the final Year 1 rallies, the system went on hiatus. Bungie later confirmed that Faction Rallies were not returning, with the developers choosing to move away from that reward structure.
The factions themselves also became part of later story developments rather than continuing as traditional Tower vendors.
One thing I would keep separate here is gameplay and lore. The pledge mechanic disappeared as a gameplay system, while the factions continued to have significance within Destiny's story for some time afterwards.
Legacy Rewards
Older players may still recognize faction weapons, armor, ornaments, shaders, emblems, and other cosmetics earned during the Faction Rally era.
Historically, faction tokens were exchanged for reward packages, while the winning faction offered a special weapon whose price depended on whether you had pledged to that faction.
However, owning old faction equipment does not mean you are currently pledged to that faction.
Old vs. Current System
The difference is pretty straightforward:
Old Destiny 2 | Current Destiny 2 |
|---|---|
Choose a faction | No faction pledge system |
Visit faction vendors | Former vendors are not used for pledging |
Earn faction tokens | The faction-token loop is gone |
Compete in Faction Rallies | Faction Rallies are discontinued |
Earn faction-specific rewards | Old rewards are legacy content |
So if you're following an old YouTube tutorial or article, always check its publication date. Destiny 2 has changed enormously since the original Faction Rally system launched.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I join Dead Orbit in Destiny 2 now?
No. There is currently no gameplay system that lets you pledge to Dead Orbit.
2. Can I pledge to the Future War Cult?
No. Future War Cult was one of the original Faction Rally choices, but the pledge system is no longer available.
3. Can I join New Monarchy?
Not through the old faction-pledging mechanic. New Monarchy no longer operates as a pledgeable faction vendor.
4. When were Faction Rallies introduced?
Faction Rallies were introduced shortly after Destiny 2's original 2017 launch. Bungie's September 25, 2017, update formally detailed pledging, tokens, rewards, and faction competition.
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