Ice Breaker is one of the most iconic and mythical Exotic weapons in Destiny history and, with the arrival of the Vesper’s Host Dungeon in Episode: Revenant, it has returned to Destiny 2. With a revamped perk which still retains – and even improves – on the weapon’s original ammo regeneration abilities, Ice Breaker is back and better than ever and one of those reasons is its brand new Exotic Catalyst. While Ice Breaker works excellently on its own, its Catalyst adds a third Exotic perk which only improves the weapon’s synergy with Stasis.
Of course, like most Dungeon or Raid-related Catalysts, getting your hands on it won’t be easy. Not only do you have to complete almost all of the hidden puzzles and quests related to Vesper’s Host, but you also need to track down a series of special Stasis crystals and remember a unique code to even have a shot at getting it. Fortunately, we’re here to give you a hand and walk you through the whole process.
Here’s how to unlock the Ice Breaker Catalyst from Vesper’s Host in Destiny 2.
If you’d like more up-to-date Destiny 2 guides, you can find more here on KeenGamer:
- Destiny 2 Vesper’s Host Dungeon Guide | All Encounters Explained
- Destiny 2 | All Vesper’s Host Hidden Message Locations (Rogue Network Guide)
- Destiny 2 Episode: Revenant | How It Works
- Destiny 2: The Final Shape | How to Unlock the Legendary Khvostov 7G-02
- Destiny 2: The Final Shape | How to Unlock the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X
A Legend Returns
Find All the Hidden Messages and Complete Rogue Network Quest
First and foremost, before anything else, you need to have two things done if you want to get your hands on the Ice Breaker Catalyst in Destiny 2. Firstly, you need to actually have Ice Breaker as the Catalyst won’t drop without it being in your inventory: you can still complete the Masterwork Objective for Ice Breaker without having the Exotic yourself, though, so be aware of that.
Secondly, you need to have unlocked the fourth digit on the second secret chest keypad as the Ice Breaker Catalyst requires you to enter a four-digit code. The only way to do this is to complete the long Rogue Network quest from Spider – which will unlock access to the keypad as well as give you the code for the Vesper’s Host Class Item – and then complete the puzzles tied to the Access Override and Director Access Triumphs.
The Final Mega Puzzle
The Director Access Triumph is especially important as the puzzle tied to that triumph is the longest and most complicated. Solving this puzzle will not only unlock the fourth digit on the keypad, allowing you to spawn in Vesper’s Host weapons and the Ice Breaker Catalyst, but you’ll also complete the Ice Breaker Catalyst Masterwork Objective, letting you start using it as soon as you unlock the Catalyst.
If you’d like a detailed guide on every step and puzzle in the Rogue Network quest and the Access Override and Director Access puzzles, you can find our Vesper’s Host message guide here on KeenGamer.
Director Access Triumph
All Ice Breaker Catalyst Stasis Crystal Locations
With the Director Access puzzle complete and Ice Breaker successfully obtained, head back into a fresh run of Vesper’s Host with Ice Breaker equipped. The only thing standing between you and the Catalyst are four special Stasis crystals hidden around the BrayTech space station which you should use Ice Breaker to destroy.
Breaking these crystals will reveal a panel with a number between one and four. The specific numbers shown is unique to each dungeon instance, meaning that you cannot just remember the code and skip straight to the end. You need to remember all four digits and the order you found them in as they will make your unique code: punch that code into the keypad by the second secret chest and the Ice Breaker Catalyst will be yours.
However, there is one important caveat. Wiping does have a chance to reset at least a portion of the code. For example, if you wipe in the Servitor Maze, the first two Stasis crystals will reset, meaning that you’ll need to go back, shoot them again, and mark down their new numbers. This doesn’t seem to happen if you get far enough along in the Dungeon – the first two digits won’t reset if you reach the second encounter – but keep it in mind and try not to wipe for the best odds possible.
Break Stasis Crystals With Ice Breaker
Stasis Crystal 1 Location
The first Stasis crystal in Vesper’s Host can be found right after the first encounter. Once you reboot the station and claim your loot, make your way towards the Servitor Maze. On your way there, you’ll pass through a room with a glass ceiling and, if you take a look at the wall, there will be a chunky Stasis crystal on the wall.
Destroying the crystal will cause a chain reaction, breaking a series of other crystals. This will reveal the first digit of the Ice Breaker Catalyst code, which you can find on the ceiling.
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- First Stasis Crystal Location
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- First Number Location
Stasis Crystal 2 Location
The second Stasis crystal you need to break for the Ice Breaker Catalyst can be found midway through the Servitor Maze. After dunking the third nuke, you’ll unlock the second half of the maze, which is predominately yellow in colour. Immediately after, you’ll be met by the next Captain carrying a nuke as well as an electric divider you need to turn off.
Instead of turning off the divider, turn around and look behind a stack of boxes to find the second Stasis crystal. Break it and follow the chain of destruction to the second digit in the code, which is on the nearby wall.
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- Second Stasis Crystal Location
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- Second Number Location
Stasis Crystal 3 Location
The third Stasis crystal can be found soon after the second encounter boss battle against Raneiks Unified. After defeating Raneiks, you’ll drop down from a part of the space station straight into the vast reaches of space itself.
Once you touch down on this floating platform, turn around and you should spy the next Stasis crystal off in the distance. Destroying it with Ice Breaker will reveal the third digit right underneath the giant crystallised chunk.
Third Stasis Crystal Location
Stasis Crystal 4 Location
Lastly, the final Stasis crystal you’ll need to break for the Ice Breaker Catalyst is in the tripmine room right next to the second secret chest. Upon reaching the tripmine room, make your way through it as usual until you reach the door leading to the secret chest.
Then, turn around and look up the nearby stairs and you’ll find the start of the Stasis trail. The fourth Stasis crystal itself is tucked into the corner.
Fourth Stasis Crystal Location
Input the Code Into the Second Secret Chest
With all four digits of the code in hand, head on over to the second secret chest. If you shoot all of the oval screens throughout the dungeon – the locations of which we detail in our Vesper’s Host message guide – the Operator buff will appear in the terminal and the keypad will be active.
Next, simply pick up Operator, walk over to the keypad, activate it, and enter the unique four-digit code you received. Upon entering it, wait a few moments and then open the chest. If all goes well, the Ice Breaker Catalyst should now be yours.
If you open the chest and the Catalyst doesn’t drop for you, there are a few explanations. Firstly, ensure that you’re opening the chest with a character who hasn’t generated a piece of loot from it in that week: for example, if you’ve already input a code with your Hunter, make sure to open it on one of your other two characters who hasn’t generated anything. Secondly, as we explained earlier, the code may have reset if you wiped during the Servitor Maze, so make sure to avoid wiping as much as you can during your Catalyst run.
Ice Breaker Catalyst Acquired
Ice Breaker Catalyst in Destiny 2
So, now that you have it, what does the Ice Breaker Catalyst actually do in Destiny 2?
The Ice Breaker Catalyst gives the beloved Sniper Rifle a new perk, Icing Breaker. This perk gives you a chance to return a round to the magazine whenever you hit a Frozen or Slowed target with Ice Breaker. Ice Breaker’s main identity is already about conserving and regenerating ammo as quickly and efficiently as possible and this Catalyst only adds to that while also making the weapon’s synergy with Stasis even stronger.
The Ice Breaker perk already incentives you to hit a Frozen target by giving you a free Ignition on those shots: with Icing Breaker also in play, those shots will now prock Ignition and directly refund a bullet back into the mag, making Ice Breaker a superb pick for boss DPS if you pair with certain Stasis abilities. In particular, Ice Breaker and its Catalyst can pair superbly with the Hunter’s Silence and Squall Super – which can Freeze targets at range, perfect for a Sniper like Ice Breaker – or even a Bleak Watcher Warlock.
Icing Breaker Perk
That was how to unlock the Ice Breaker Catalyst from the Vesper’s Host Dungeon in Destiny 2.
