Key recommendations
- The Destiny 2 player pays homage by creating Vanguard-inspired armor sets for Zavala, Cayde, and Ikora.
- Custom costumes use a versatile transmogrification system and a number of cosmetic enhancements.
- Fans appreciate the effort to capture the essence of the iconic character despite Bungie's efforts at uniqueness.
A Destiny 2 the player demonstrated his loyalty to the Vanguard by creating custom armor sets closely inspired by the organization's leaders, Commander Zavala, Ikora Rey, and Cayde-6. The Vanguard Fire Squad suits come thanks to careful selection from the wide range of armor options available in Destiny 2.
The Destiny the games aren't best known for having many memorable characters, but the ones it does have are basically fixtures in the games and beloved by their fans. Prime examples of this are the leaders of the Vanguard, the organization that administers and commands the Guardians of the Last City. Hunter Cayde-6, Warlock Ikora Rey and Titan Commander Zavala were present Destiny and Destiny 2 since launch and in many ways are the face of its story. Zavala was also voiced by actor Lance Reddick, who died in 2023, but the character's importance to the story was such that Bungie chose to recast the role for The final formwith actor Keith David stepping in to make amends for his late colleague.
Now Destiny fan Alternative_Wait_420 created an homage to Vanguard using the versatile Destiny 2 transmogrification system to come with three custom outfits that emulate the unique appearances of Vanguard leaders. Using pieces from the game's ever-growing selection of cosmetic upgrades, they created three sets of armor to share with the DestinyFashion Reddit community, one for each member of the Vanguard Fire Squad.
Destiny 2 Vanguard costumes bring Ikora, Cayde, and Zavala to life
Cayde-6 Custom costume pieces and shades
- Head: Crafted Squad Mask (Vanguard Marshal Shader)
- Weapons: Vanguard Dare Grips (Calus' Elite Shader)
- Chest: Intrepid Discovery Vest (Chitin Slate Shader)
- Legs: Lucky Pants Exotic Legs (Lucky Beast Ornament, Mercury Prophetic Shader)
- Class item: Vanguard Dare Cloak (Cayde's Duds Shader)
Ikora Rey Custom Costume Parts and Shaders
All items in the Ikora Rey custom costume use the Mediator Shader
- Head: Wasteful hood
- Weapons: Tangled Web Gloves
- Chest: Robes of the Starfarer
- Legs: Wasteful steps
- Class item: Solipsism Warlock Exotic Class Item
Commander Zavala Custom Costume Parts and Shaders
- Head: Eternal Warrior Exotic Winery (Default Ornament, No Shader)
- Weapons: Legatus Gauntlets (Battle Tanager Shade)
- Chest: Veteran Legend Plate (Melting Point Shader)
- Legs: Veteran Legend Shader (Melting Point Shader)
- Class item: Wildwood Mark (War Cult Endgame Shader)
Alternative_Wait_420 said that they went out of their way to not only use the most appropriate armor parts and shaders to recreate the Vanguard Fire Squad, but also to use Exotics, Sparrows, and Emblems that seemed to fit each character. For example, for Cayde and Zavala, who are never shown wearing masks or helmets, they attempted to mimic their faces using the Machine Gun Mask and blue-tinted Eternal Warrior Titan exotic armor respectively. Ikora is also usually bare-faced, but is sometimes shown standing next to a Prodigal Hood mask and thus wears it in her costume.
Fellow players praised the effort to capture the essence of some of them Destiny 2his most emblematic characters. Given that Bungie was quite careful not to let players replicate the exact same looks using accessible in-game items to keep the named characters unique, several players joked that the custom suits were more like “stunt doubles” for Vanguard leaders. than the characters themselves.
Others have also noted how many items available directly in the game are only associated with Cayde-6, such as the exotic Ace of Spades hand cannon and Lucky Pants Hunter armor, as well as the legendary sparrow in Gambler's palm tree. By comparison, Ikora and Zavala are connected to much less. In fact, Ikora's signature weapon, the exotic invective rifle, still languishes in the original version. Destiny arsenal, which has not yet been implemented in Destiny 2.
