Man, I still can't believe I finally got my hands on the Praxic Blade in Destiny 2: Renegades! 🔥 It's like wielding a real lightsaber, and honestly, it's the most fun I've had in the game since the expansion dropped last year. The sheer power and customization options are insane—over 20 upgrade parts to hunt down, from Catalysts to Dark Matter Crystals. I remember jumping into the Fire and Ice mission for the first time, feeling that rush as I sliced through enemies. But let's not get ahead of ourselves; it all starts with those Taken Knights. You know, the Imbalance Wardens? They're right there in the starting area, one in the Imperator Cannon spot to the right of spawn, and the other in a left hallway room in the Abandoned Yard. Take 'em out fast, and you're on your way. Oh, and don't forget to grab the Praxic Blade itself early on—it's a game-changer for sure.

After dealing with those knights, you'll need to balance the four Blights later in the mission. I mean, it sounds straightforward, but it's easy to mess up. Once you do it, a portal pops up, whisking you back to the Courtyard. Interact with the Pyramid Node to invert the Ascendant Plane—but hold up! Don't go through yet. Instead, backtrack to where you killed those Taken Knights. Now, you'll see small Taken Blights in their place. Destroy them with your Praxic Blade (so satisfying!), then hop into the portal for the Disciple of Harrow boss fight. In the final phase, peek through the floor gaps to spot two White Blights at the back. Fill 'em by killing Centurions—either Cabal or Taken—to get Paired Energy orbs. Once full, finish the fight by handling the Black Blights and taking down the boss. Boom! A gold chest appears at the Praxic Blade altar, giving you the Upper Hand Catalyst. Easy, right? Well, not always—I died a few times figuring this out, but it's worth it for that extra damage boost.

Now, let's talk Oddities. There are seven hidden ones in the Fire and Ice mission, and you gotta destroy them all with your blade. But first, you need to activate them by shooting four Pyramid Nodes in the room where you pick up the Imbalanced Octant. Here's a quick rundown of where to find each one:

• Oddity #1: Head to the central pillar for the jumping puzzle, but detour left while falling. Land on a ledge, trek through ice caverns, and throw your blade at the Oddity near a special ammo crate. Took me a couple tries to nail the timing!

• Oddity #2: After destroying the first, drop down and go right to find a disappearing wall. Jump up, crouch-walk through, and bam—another target.

For the Hyperblade Catalyst, things get trickier. Progress until the four Taken Blights encounter. Kill Centurions to get Paired or Opposite Energy, but here's the kicker: mess it up on purpose! Overfill one Blight while ignoring the other. Like, if you have Black Orbs, kill two of the same Centurion and dump all orbs into one Blight. This imbalance resets it and spawns an Imbalanced Warden. Do this for all four Blights, defeat the wardens, and smaller blights appear in the room's center. Smash 'em with your Praxic Blade to summon the Catalyst of Imbalance Taken Ogre boss. Beat him, and another gold chest at the altar gives you the Hyperblade Catalyst. Honestly, this part felt chaotic—I overfilled the wrong blight once and had to restart. 😅 But the payoff? Totally epic.

Dark Matter Crystals are pure eye candy—they just change your blade's color, no stat boosts. But hey, looking cool is half the battle! Here's how to snag them all:

• Red Crystal: Complete the weekly bounty from Zavala.

• Blue Crystal: Farm Lost Sectors on Europa.

• Green Crystal: Random drop from Nightfall strikes.

I love mixing and matching colors; it makes my Guardian stand out in the Tower.

Moving to Praxic Blade Forms—these actually change how the weapon behaves, like ammo regen or damage output. There are three main forms:

1. Vanguard Form: Boosts health regeneration. Perfect for solo runs.

2. Renegade Form: Enhances free ammo drops. Great for ammo-hungry builds.

3. Ascendant Form: Increases raw damage. My go-to for boss fights.

Each form drops from specific activities, like raids or seasonal events. I switch between them based on the mission—flexibility is key!

Focus Mods are where the real min-maxing happens. They improve stats like Impact or Guard Resistance. Here's a table of the main ones and how to get them:

Mod Type	Effect	How to Obtain
Impact Booster	Increases damage per hit	Complete Crucible matches
Charge Rate Up	Faster energy buildup	Drop from Gambit bosses
Ammo Capacity	Holds more ammo	Vanguard playlist rewards
Guard Resistance	Reduces incoming damage	Found in dungeon chests
Guard Endurance	Longer defensive holds	Seasonal activity completions

One last thing: the Refraction Core upgrade. It's a pain, I won't lie. Head to Tharsis Outpost in the southern Bazaar area. Look for a Fallen Vandal sleeping in garbage—his spawn shifts daily, so check community spots. Pay him 100 Credits for 'Junk,' and hope you get the core. It's totally random; I blew through about 4,000 Credits before scoring it. 💸 Frustrating? Yes. But it amps up your blade's efficiency, so grind those bounties for credits!

Overall, mastering the Praxic Blade feels like a journey—full of trial and error, but oh so rewarding. If you're diving into Renegades this year, start with this exotic; it's the heart of the expansion. Now, onto some FAQs based on my own blunders and triumphs...

FAQ

• How do I get the Praxic Blade in the first place?

Simple: complete the introductory quest in the Renegades campaign. It unlocks early, so just follow the story missions!

• What's the best upgrade for beginners?

Focus on the Upper Hand Catalyst first—it's easier to get and boosts damage significantly without complex steps.

• How to beat the Disciple of Harrow boss?

Fill the White Blights with Paired Energy from Centurions, then handle the Black Blights. Stay mobile and use cover!

• Where can I find all Dark Matter Crystals?

They drop from various activities like bounties or strikes—no fixed location, just grind and pray to RNGesus. 🎲

• Any tips for the Oddities hunt?

Bring a fireteam! Some are in tricky spots, like Oddity #6 where you need to bounce your blade off a wall. Communication helps.

• Is the Refraction Core worth the credits?

Absolutely, but save up first. Do daily bounties to farm credits efficiently.