The Gleaming Depths raid has quickly become a favorite among end-game players, but it has also introduced a frustrating reset glitch that locks fireteams out of progress. At the same time, the encounter mechanics demand smart loadout choices to survive and deal consistent damage. This guide breaks down exactly what causes the raid reset issue and how to work around it, then walks you through the strongest builds for every role in the raid.
Whether you are chasing a first clear or farming for god rolls, understanding these two aspects will save you hours of wasted time and help your team perform at its best.
Understanding the Gleaming Depths Raid Reset Glitch
The raid reset glitch in Gleaming Depths occurs when a fireteam attempts to relaunch the activity after a previous session has not fully concluded. Instead of starting fresh at the first encounter, the game sometimes loads players into a bugged instance where checkpoints are missing, doors remain locked, and enemies do not spawn correctly. In severe cases, the raid acts as if it has already been partially completed, preventing loot from dropping and blocking progression entirely.
This issue appears most often when a fireteam leader changes between sessions or when players leave and rejoin during the orbit loading screen. The server seems to hold onto stale data from the prior run, causing the new instance to inherit a broken state. It is not an exploitable glitch, but rather a desync between the client and the backend that can brick a raid run.
How to Fix and Avoid the Reset Glitch
While Bungie has acknowledged the problem in patch notes, a permanent fix is still in the works. In the meantime, several workarounds have proven reliable for most fireteams. Follow these steps in order until the glitch resolves.
Full Fireteam Hard Reset
The most effective method is to have every member of the fireteam close the game completely and relaunch it. Do not simply go to the title screen; force quit the application on consoles or PC. After restarting, the original fireteam leader should form the party again and launch the raid from the Director, making sure no one has an old checkpoint lingering. This clears local cache and forces a fresh connection to the server.
Rotate the Fireteam Leader
If a hard reset does not work, promote another player to fireteam leader and have them launch the raid. Sometimes the leader’s account is flagged with the bugged checkpoint, and passing leadership to a player who was not present during the glitch can bypass the corrupted state. After launching successfully, the original leader can be promoted back if needed.
Clear Checkpoint Manually
Occasionally, a hidden checkpoint data persists. To wipe it, load into any other activity (a strike or a quick Crucible match) and then return to orbit. Then relaunch the raid. This forces the game to overwrite the raid checkpoint with a fresh one. Ensure no one in the fireteam resumes from a checkpoint when prompted.
Avoid Rapid Re-Launches
Prevention is simpler than the cure. Always wait at least 60 seconds after leaving a raid session before starting a new one. Do not rapidly cycle the Director or switch characters during the orbit transition. Let the game fully return to orbit and the “Searching for Guardians” prompt disappear before relaunching.
Best Builds for Gleaming Depths Raid
Success in the Gleaming Depths hinges on balancing add clear, survivability, and boss damage. Encounters throw waves of Overload and Unstoppable Champions, tight damage phases, and a final boss with a massive health pool. The builds below cover each subclass element and class, with gear options for both free-to-play and endgame players.
Solar Warlock – Well of Radiance Support
This build is the backbone of almost every encounter. Phoenix Protocol exotic chest piece returns Super energy, ensuring a Well of Radiance for every damage phase. Use Ember of Benevolence, Ember of Solace, and Ember of Empyrean fragments. Weapons: a Solar SMG with Incandescent for add clear, a fusion rifle for Champions, and Gjallarhorn to buff team rocket damage. Stats: 100 Resilience, 100 Recovery.
Void Hunter – Omnioculus Invis Support
For encounters with high enemy density and dangerous mechanics, having a permanent invisibility loop saves runs. Omnioculus chest piece grants damage resistance while invisible and refunds melee energy when you make allies invisible. Use Trapper’s Ambush and Vanishing Step aspects. Fragments: Echo of Persistence, Echo of Obscurity. Weapons: a Void shotgun for burst damage, a Void SMG with Repulsor Brace, and a heavy Linear Fusion Rifle for boss DPS. Stats: 100 Mobility, 100 Strength.
Arc Titan – Heart of Inmost Light Ability Spam
Ideal for add-heavy encounters and the first encounter’s phase, this build leverages Storm Grenades and Thundercrash. Heart of Inmost Light exotic chest empowers abilities. Use Touch of Thunder and Knockout aspects. Fragments: Spark of Shock, Spark of Magnitude, Spark of Feedback. Weapons: a Voltshot riskrunner or SMG, a one-two punch shotgun, and an Arc rocket launcher. Stats: 100 Resilience, 100 Discipline.
Stasis Warlock – Osmiomancy Turret Control
When you need to lock down entire rooms, Bleak Watchers are unmatched. Osmiomancy Gloves give double Coldsnap grenades and refund energy on direct hits. Use Bleak Watcher and Iceflare Bolts aspects. Fragments: Whisper of Durance, Whisper of Torment, Whisper of Chains. Weapons: a Stasis fusion rifle with Chill Clip, a wave frame grenade launcher, and a Linear Fusion Rifle. Stats: 100 Recovery, 100 Discipline.
Solar Hunter – Celestial Nighthawk Burst DPS
For the final boss, this build delivers one-shot precision damage. Celestial Nighthawk helmet turns Golden Gun into a single high-damage shot. Pair with Marksman Golden Gun. Fragments: Ember of Torches, Ember of Wonder. Weapons: an energy scout or pulse for long-range add clear, a sniper rifle for backup damage, and a crafted heavy grenade launcher with Explosive Light. Stats: 100 Mobility, 100 Intellect.
Void Titan – Sentinel Shield Tank
In encounters where you hold a plate or soak damage, this build excels. Ursa Furiosa gauntlets generate Orbs of Power and reduce super cooldown when absorbing damage with Sentinel Shield. Use Bastion and Controlled Demolition aspects. Fragments: Echo of Starvation, Echo of Leeching. Weapons: a Void auto rifle with Demolitionist, a blinding grenade launcher, and a machine gun for sustained fire. Stats: 100 Resilience, 100 Strength.
General Mod and Armor Advice
For all builds, ensure your armor has the appropriate resistance mods. Run double Void resistance on the chest for the final boss’s AoE attacks. Every player should equip a way to stun Overload and Unstoppable Champions; coordinate with your team to cover all elements. Use the Resilience stat to reach 100 for a 40% damage reduction in PvE. Don’t sleep on the seasonal artifact mods—they can make or break a build in Contest mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the raid reset glitch only happen sometimes?
The glitch is tied to server-side instance caching. When you leave a raid, the server may not immediately discard your progress data. If you re-enter too quickly, it loads the old instance. Network conditions, player count, and even which platform you play on can affect the frequency, making it seem random.
Will the reset glitch cause me to lose loot?
No, the glitch does not retroactively delete loot you already earned. However, if you complete an encounter in a bugged instance, you may not receive the normal drops because the game thinks the encounter is already cleared. Always check the encounter completion status in the Director before spending time in a bugged run.
Can I use the reset glitch to farm encounters?
No, this glitch is not farmable. It blocks access to encounters rather than resetting them for repeated rewards. Attempting to exploit it will only result in wasted time. If you want to farm a specific encounter, use the intended checkpoint sharing or the weekly featured raid rotation.
What is the most important stat for the Gleaming Depths raid?
Resilience is universally the most important stat. It reduces incoming damage in PvE by up to 40% at tier 10. Recovery and Discipline are secondary, depending on your build. For Hunters, Mobility also matters for dodge cooldown, but never sacrifice Resilience.
Are there any exotic weapons that are must-haves?
Gjallarhorn is extremely strong because it buffs allies’ rocket launchers, making it a top pick for boss damage phases. Divinity remains excellent for debuffing the final boss if your team struggles with crit shots. For add clear, Sunshot or Trinity Ghoul are top tier. Always have a good Champion-stun weapon ready.
With the reset glitch under control and a set of optimized builds, your fireteam can confidently push through the Gleaming Depths. Adapt your loadout to each encounter, communicate champion stuns, and never rush the relaunch process. Good luck, Guardian.
