How to Get Deathmarks in Destiny 2 — TL;DR
- Deathmarks are a Renegades-exclusive currency used to enter and wager on Invasions in the Lawless Frontier.
- The main way to farm them is by completing Lawless Frontier jobs and contracts — drops are RNG, not guaranteed.
- Invadable jobs on Master and Grandmaster difficulty have a higher Deathmark drop chance.
- Spider at Tharsis Outpost gives a free weekly Deathmark stipend — check him every reset.
- You can trade Deathmarks to Spider for Dark Matter Ingots, but it costs 2 Deathmarks per Ingot — poor value.
- You need at least 1 Deathmark to enter an Invasion. You can wager up to 3 to multiply rewards.
- The Red Dark Matter Crystal for the Praxic Blade requires you to use at least 1 Deathmark per Invasion run — wagering more does not improve the drop rate.
Knowing how to get Deathmarks in Destiny 2 is essential if you want to run Invasions in the Lawless Frontier. This currency is introduced in the Renegades expansion and is required to enter Invasion mode, where some of the best rewards in the activity — including Praxic Blade color crystals — can drop. Here is everything you need to know about farming and spending Deathmarks in 2026.
What Are Deathmarks in Destiny 2?
Deathmarks are a special currency tied exclusively to the Lawless Frontier activity in Destiny 2: Renegades. You need them to participate in Invasion — a high-risk PvE mode where you hunt opposing Guardians for bonus loot.
They work like a wager. You spend at least one Deathmark to enter an Invasion. You lose those Deathmarks whether you succeed or fail. In return, you have a chance to earn more Deathmarks back alongside other rewards.
They are also the only way to unlock the Red Dark Matter Crystal for the Praxic Blade.
How to Get Deathmarks in Destiny 2 — All Sources
1. Complete Lawless Frontier Jobs and Contracts
This is the primary way to farm Deathmarks. Play any job or contract in the Lawless Frontier and Deathmarks can drop as a completion reward. The drop is not guaranteed on every run.
Deathmark drop rate is not tied to how well you perform. You can finish a run poorly and still get one. That said, playing efficiently means more runs per hour, which means more chances.
2. Target Invadable Jobs on Master and Grandmaster Difficulty
This is the fastest farming method. On the Lawless Frontier Holomap, look for jobs marked with a yellow icon — these are invadable activities. Any job where an invader can join has a noticeably higher chance of dropping Deathmarks at the end.
Prioritise Master and Grandmaster difficulty invadable jobs when farming. These have the best Deathmark drop rate of any non-Invasion activity.
3. Play Invasions
Invasions themselves can reward Deathmarks. If you run an Invasion and complete it, you may get one or more Deathmarks back alongside your other loot — even if you spent one to enter.
This makes Invasion a reasonable self-sustaining loop if you are active and consistent. A successful Invasion will generally net more rewards than a failed one, but the Deathmark drop is not tied directly to success or failure.
4. Weekly Stipend from Spider at Tharsis Outpost
Spider at the Tharsis Outpost Cantina gives out a free Deathmark stipend on a weekly basis. Check his inventory every weekly reset to collect it. This is a small but reliable source — especially useful early in the week before you have farmed enough from jobs.
Spider is also the vendor you interact with for Syndicate progression, Dark Matter Ingot trades, and other Lawless Frontier rewards. Make visiting him part of your weekly routine.
How to Wager Deathmarks in Destiny 2
The wagering interface is not obvious — many players launch Invasions without realising they can stake more Deathmarks upfront.
How to Access the Deathmark Wager Menu
- Open your Director and navigate to the Lawless Frontier map.
- Press left on the D-pad (or the equivalent PC input) to open the Holomap wallet options.
- Select the Invasion node.
- From here, hover over your Deathmarks and hold the Wager button to increase the stake.
- By default, one Deathmark is wagered. You can add up to three.
- Once you increase the wager, it cannot be removed before launching.
- After each Invasion run, the wager resets back to one Deathmark automatically.
Is It Worth Wagering More Than One Deathmark?
Wagering more Deathmarks multiplies your potential rewards if the Invasion goes well. However, you lose all wagered Deathmarks regardless of outcome.
For most rewards — including general loot and extra Deathmarks — wagering two or three can be worth it if you are confident in your Invasion performance.
For the Red Praxic Blade crystal specifically, wagering more does not improve the drop rate. You only need one Deathmark per run when farming for it. Save the extras.
What Can You Spend Deathmarks On?
Invasions — Main Use
This is the primary reason to farm Deathmarks. Invasions reward strong loot including weapons, Dark Matter Crystals for the Praxic Blade, and Triumph progress. One Deathmark is the minimum entry cost.
Red Dark Matter Crystal for the Praxic Blade
The Red crystal for the Praxic Blade drops exclusively from Invasion reward chests. You must use at least one Deathmark during your run. The Invasion does not have to be a full success — the chest still appears and the crystal can still drop even if you fail.
Expect to run Invasion multiple times before it drops. It is pure RNG with no confirmed rate. Once you have the Red crystal, you may also want to farm the other colors — see the full Praxic Blade Dark Matter Crystals guide for every source.
Dark Matter Ingots — Low-Value Trade with Spider
You can trade Deathmarks to Spider for Dark Matter Ingots. The exchange rate is 2 Deathmarks per 1 Ingot. This is poor value. Even a failed Invasion will generally return more than one Ingot’s worth of rewards, so this trade is rarely the right call.
Only use this exchange if you have a surplus of Deathmarks and need Ingots for Syndicate reputation or Praxic Blade Focus mod unlocks.
Destiny 2 Deathmarks Fast Farm Tips for 2026
- Run invadable jobs first. Yellow-icon jobs on the Holomap are your best source outside of Invasion itself.
- Prioritise Master and Grandmaster difficulty. Higher difficulty invadable jobs drop Deathmarks more often.
- Collect from Spider every reset. The weekly stipend is free and takes 10 seconds to claim.
- Do not trade Deathmarks to Spider unless you have more than you need. Use them for Invasions instead.
- Wager only one Deathmark when farming the Red Crystal. More Deathmarks do not increase that specific drop.
- Play Invasions back to back. Each run has a chance to return at least one Deathmark, making the loop partially self-sustaining.
Deathmarks and the Renegades Progression System
Deathmarks sit at the centre of the Lawless Frontier economy. Mastering when to spend them versus when to save them is one of the first things to figure out when starting Renegades in 2026.
If you are working on Equilibrium dungeon loot, Invasion rewards can supplement your gear chase with additional rolls and currency. The two activities run well together if you alternate between them during a session.
For players building out the Praxic Blade fully, Invasions are mandatory — not just optional content. The Red crystal has no other source. You can also earn Syndicate reputation through Invasion completions, which unlocks Focus mods like Forceful Blade and Crystal Strength from the respective Syndicate dens at Tharsis Outpost.
If you are working on Exotic weapon acquisition alongside Deathmark farming, check out the Exotic Orders guide for additional methods running in parallel.
