Let’s be real for a second. Most people head into the Cosmodrome’s most infamous loot cave because they want that sweet, sweet nostalgia fix of the Gjallarhorn. But if you're actually sticking around to farm the Grasp of Avarice loot table, you’re likely hunting for a god-roll Matador 64 or trying to complete that thorny set of Echoed Fury armor. It’s a weird dungeon. It’s goofy, filled with literal deathtraps, and deeply obsessed with the color gold.
But if you don't know which boss drops what, you’re going to waste hours.
Destiny 2 is a game of efficiency. Or at least, it’s a game of trying to be efficient while the RNG gods laugh in your face. Grasp of Avarice is unique because it’s a direct homage to the original loot cave from 2014, and the rewards reflect that era of the franchise. We're talking about reworked classics that actually hold their own in the current sandbox.
The First Hurdle: Phry’zhia the Insatiable
Phry’zhia is basically an Ogre with a serious hunger problem and a lot of health. You'll find him after you navigate the initial trap-filled hallways and survive the Sparrow race—well, actually, the Sparrow race is later, my bad. Phry’zhia is the first actual "boss" encounter where the chest spawns.
If you’re looking for a specific shotgun, this is your stop. The Matador 64 lives here. Honestly, even years after the dungeon dropped, a Matador with Opening Shot and Threat Detector is still the gold standard for many Trials of Osiris sweats. It feels crisp. It maps people.
Aside from the shotgun, Phry’zhia is where you start seeing the Echoed Fury armor pieces. Specifically, you’re looking at the Legs and the Class Item. It’s a bit of a bummer if you’re fishing for a helmet, but that’s the way the loot table crumbles. You have to kill the big guy to get the boots.
Interestingly, some players find this encounter the easiest to farm solo. Once you get the rhythm of the burden motes down, Phry’zhia goes down relatively fast. If you're on a Titan with a good Lorely Splendor build or a Warlock with a Well of Radiance, you can just sit there and face-tank most of the adds while you wait for the damage phase.
Moving Fast: The Fallen Shield Encounter
This isn't really a boss in the traditional "shoot the big guy until he explodes" sense. It’s more of a giant physics puzzle involving cannons and a lot of exploding servitors. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s also the place where most players lose their flawless runs because they mistimed a gravity lift or got smacked into a wall by a stray piece of geometry.
The Grasp of Avarice loot table for the Fallen Shield is a bit more varied. This is where the Eyasluna can drop, though it shares that spot with the final boss. You’re also looking at the Chest armor and the Gauntlets.
Wait, I should clarify. Most people ignore the Fallen Shield when farming. It’s tedious. But if you need those specific armor pieces to round out your Artifice set—assuming you’re running on Master difficulty—you can’t skip it. The Eyasluna is the real prize here. It’s a Stasis hand cannon that feels like a dream. If you get a roll with Headstone, it becomes a crystal-shattering machine that’s perfect for Behemoth or Revenant builds.
The Big Payoff: Captain Avarokk the Covetous
This is the end of the line. Avarokk is a greedy jerk sitting on a pile of gold, and he’s got the best stuff in the dungeon. Because it's the final encounter, the loot pool is significantly wider. You aren't just getting one drop; you’re getting two.
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The final chest can drop anything from the dungeon.
That includes the 1000 Yard Stare sniper rifle and the Hero of Ages sword. The sword is a Vortex frame, which means it has that satisfying spin attack that clears out groups of dregs in a heartbeat. But let’s be honest, you’re probably here for the Eyasluna or the Matador 64 rolls you missed earlier.
Avarokk also drops the Helmet. If you want the full set of Echoed Fury armor, you have to finish the fight. There’s no way around it.
Breaking Down the Drops (The No-Nonsense List)
Instead of a fancy chart, let’s just look at the raw reality of what drops where.
- Phry’zhia (The Ogre): You’re getting the Matador 64 (Shotgun), Echoed Fury Boots, and the Class Item.
- The Fallen Shield: This encounter gives you the Hero of Ages (Sword), the Echoed Fury Chest piece, and the Gauntlets.
- Captain Avarokk: He can drop the Eyasluna (Hand Cannon), 1000 Yard Stare (Sniper), and the Echoed Fury Helmet. Plus, as mentioned, he can double-drop items from the earlier encounters.
Why Farming Master Difficulty Changes Everything
If you’re just in it for the transmog or a basic roll, Normal difficulty is fine. It’s chill. You can run it with a group of friends and a few beers. But if you’re a min-maxer, you’re looking at Master difficulty.
Master Grasp of Avarice is a different beast entirely. It introduces Champions—mostly Overload and Barrier—and the elemental shields are much more punishing. But the reward is Artifice Armor.
Artifice armor is basically the end-game for gear. It features an extra mod slot specifically for stat boosts. This is how you hit those triple-100 stat tiers that look so good on a character screen. The Grasp of Avarice loot table remains the same in terms of which items drop, but the quality of the armor is vastly superior on Master.
One thing to keep in mind: farming Avarokk on Master is one of the most popular ways to get high-stat armor in the entire game. Since the encounter can be "cheesed" or at least finished very quickly with a coordinated team using Gjallarhorn and legendary rockets, people will spend entire weekends just killing Avarokk over and over.
The Gjallarhorn Factor
You can't talk about Grasp of Avarice without mentioning the big rocket launcher in the room. Gjallarhorn doesn't actually drop from the loot table. It’s a quest reward.
You pick up the "And Out Fly the Wolves" quest from Shaw Han, do a few steps, run the dungeon once, and boom—you have the most iconic weapon in Destiny history. However, the Catalyst for Gjallarhorn does require you to interact with the dungeon in a specific way. You have to find three hidden chests guarded by Reaver Vandals while the "Burden by Riches" debuff is active.
It’s not hard, but it’s a one-and-done thing. Once you have the catalyst, you never have to worry about those specific chests again. They don't give you weapons or armor; they just give you the progress for the gold-plated rocket launcher.
Common Misconceptions About the Loot Pool
I see people get frustrated all the time because they think the dungeon is bugged. It’s usually not. Destiny 2 dungeons have a "lockout" mechanic that works differently depending on whether the dungeon is the "Featured" one for the week.
If Grasp of Avarice is the featured dungeon, you can farm it endlessly. You can kill Phry’zhia 50 times in a row and get a Matador every single time.
If it is not the featured dungeon, you only get loot once per character, per week. After that first run, the chests will be empty (or just give you some glimmer and disappointment). This is the biggest mistake people make. They spend three hours on a Tuesday night farming a boss only to realize they’re getting nothing because they already cleared it earlier that day.
Also, the "hidden" chests—the ones tucked away in the pipes or behind the buildings—only drop items you have already unlocked in your collection. If you’ve never seen the Eyasluna drop from a boss, you will never find it in a hidden chest. Use those chests to hunt for better rolls on stuff you already own, not to find new gear.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you’re planning to dive back in, here’s how to actually make it worth your while:
- Check the Rotator: Make sure Grasp of Avarice is the weekly featured dungeon before you commit to a long farming session. If it’s not, just do one run and move on.
- Focus on Avarokk: If you have a limited amount of time, the final boss is the most "efficient" use of your energy because he can drop the Eyasluna and the 1000 Yard Stare, which are the two most coveted weapons for PVP players.
- Bring a Precision Weapon: For Phry’zhia, a Linear Fusion Rifle or a sniper is great, but honestly, the current meta usually favors Lament or a high-damage Sword if you have a Well of Radiance to keep you alive at his feet.
- Master the Sparrow Race: Don't be the person who holds up the group. Practice the route to hit the buttons that extend your timer. If you fail the race, you don't get the loot chest at the end of the tunnel, and that’s just a waste of a good run.
- Check your Postmaster: The loot in this dungeon flies everywhere. Because of the "Burden by Riches" mechanic, things can get chaotic, and engrams often fall off the map. They’ll be waiting for you at the Tower.
Grasp of Avarice is arguably the most "fun" dungeon Bungie has made, mostly because it doesn't take itself too seriously. The loot is nostalgic, the mechanics are straightforward, and the environment is great. Just remember that RNG is a cruel mistress. You might get five Class Items in a row before you see a single Matador. That’s just the Destiny life. Keep your head down, grab those gold engrams, and eventually, the god roll will show up.