TL;DR
- Vanguard Ciphers drop from activities in the Vanguard Ops playlist, but the drop rate is inconsistent.
- Arena Ops is currently the most reliable farm for Vanguard Ciphers in Monument of Triumph.
- You don’t need to run Ultimate difficulty. Regular difficulty Arena Ops already drops Ciphers at a solid rate.
- Vanguard Ciphers are spent at Zavala’s Focused Decoding, alongside Vanguard Engrams and Glimmer.
- Vanguard Ciphers are different from Exotic Ciphers, which are used at the Monument to Lost Lights instead.
What Are Vanguard Ciphers Used For?
Vanguard Ciphers are a currency spent with Commander Zavala at the Tower. You’ll need them, alongside Vanguard Engrams and Glimmer, to focus and purchase gear through his Focused Decoding menu. This includes returning armor sets like Bushido, which costs 1 Vanguard Engram, 3 Vanguard Ciphers, and 15,000 Glimmer per piece. A full five-piece set runs 5 Engrams, 15 Ciphers, and 75,000 Glimmer total.
How to Get Vanguard Ciphers
Vanguard Ciphers drop from activities in the Vanguard Ops playlist, but the drop rate is inconsistent across the board. You might walk away from a few easy missions with several Ciphers, or run the hardest content available and get none at all. This is because Ciphers are weighted rewards tied to activity completion rather than guaranteed drops, and shorter or lower-difficulty missions tend to have lower weighting for rare currency.
Best Method: Farm Arena Ops
The most consistent way to get Vanguard Ciphers right now is running Arena Ops. These are 6-player matchmade activities that send you through replayable missions pulled from previous seasons, and they drop Vanguard Ciphers more reliably than the standard Vanguard Ops playlist. Arena Ops also drops Black Armory weapons, so you’ll likely pick up extra loot while farming.
You don’t need to push Ultimate difficulty to see results. Regular difficulty Arena Ops already has a solid chance of dropping Ciphers, which makes speed-running shorter sessions the most time-efficient approach if you’re playing solo or with a casual group. Higher difficulties can improve your odds further, but they aren’t required.
Tips to Improve Your Farm
- Clear out your inventory before farming. Full Engram or material slots can sometimes prevent loot from showing up properly.
- Stick with Arena Ops over standard Vanguard Ops missions, since the activity weighting favors longer, more involved content.
- Don’t expect a guaranteed number of Ciphers per run. The drop rate is random, so build in extra time for this part of the grind.
Vanguard Ciphers vs. Exotic Ciphers
These are two separate currencies. Vanguard Ciphers are specific to Zavala’s Focused Decoding at the Tower, while Exotic Ciphers are used at the Monument to Lost Lights to purchase old Exotic weapons and armor. Don’t confuse the two when planning your farming sessions, since they come from different sources and are spent in completely different places.
If you’re also working on your loadout while farming Ciphers, check out the best raid Exotics ranked guide to plan what to chase next alongside your vendor purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fastest way to farm Vanguard Ciphers?
Running Arena Ops repeatedly on regular difficulty is currently the most consistent method, since it has a higher drop weighting than standard Vanguard Ops missions.
Do I need to run Ultimate difficulty to get Vanguard Ciphers?
No. Vanguard Ciphers can drop from regular difficulty Arena Ops runs, so speed-running standard difficulty is often more time-efficient than chasing harder modifiers.
Are Vanguard Ciphers the same as Exotic Ciphers?
No. Vanguard Ciphers are used at Zavala’s Focused Decoding, while Exotic Ciphers are a separate currency used at the Monument to Lost Lights.
What can I buy with Vanguard Ciphers?
You can use them alongside Vanguard Engrams and Glimmer to purchase and focus gear through Zavala’s Focused Decoding menu, including returning armor sets like Bushido.
