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Best Titan Builds For Destiny 2 Lightfall - Lightfall screenshot.
Image via Bungie

Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares Guide – How to Beat Zo’Aurc, Explicator of Planets

Defeat this powerful boss!

Destiny 2 is starting off its brand-new season with a bang, and one of the newest introductions to the space combat FPS game is the Root of Nightmares raid, which you’ll be able to begin in the game after finishing both the difficult Cataclysm encounter and the Scission encounter. There are plenty of different challenges and objectives you’ll have to complete along the way, so make sure that you make use of the best build you can in order to increase your odds of success.

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One of the bosses you will face along the Root of Nightmares raid is named Zo’Aurc, Explicator of Planets. This powerful enemy fights you in a planetarium, and some of the aspects of this fight require you to do certain things within the room. Therefore, since this boss fight may be difficult for most players, we created this guide which will show you how to defeat Zo’Aurc in Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares!

Related: How to Complete Nightmare Seraph Before Dawning in Destiny 2

How Do You Defeat Zo’Aurc in Destiny 2 Root of Nightmares?

destiny 2 root of nightmares
Image via Bungie

The Explicator of Planets can only be fought once you have done other objectives inside the planetarium room. Your end goal to begin the actual fighting stage of the battle is to achieve the correct planetary alignment, which you can do by checking the interactions that are underneath every planet and must be completed in order to properly align them. Planets will turn light or dark once you have dealt damage, but make sure that you know where they all are! Some are on the left side of the room, while others are on the right, and this is an important distinction since the alignment for these two sides is different.

To align a planet, you need to match it with one that is of the same light type (dark or light) as it. For example, if there is a planet on the left side that is dark, you need to pick a light platform on the other side to swap with it and make the planets align. This will require a lot of time to do, since it can be confusing and get more complicated especially when you’re under pressure. However, once you have successfully aligned the planets be sure to shoot the pyramid shard in the middle and you will also align those middle planets.

Now you can fight Zo’Aurc in a regular battle, so be sure that you’re prepared for the boss to come and attack you. However, keep in mind that you will need to stand in the light circle in order to actually hurt the Explicator of Planets. Even more frustrating, this circle of light will move around so don’t lose it! Camp it out and lure the boss towards you so that your attacks will hit and you can hurt Zo’Aurc. Good luck in the fight, Guardian!


We hope that your stress levels aren’t too out of alignment after this planetary puzzle! If you are looking to read more of our work, be sure to check out the official Gamer Journalist Facebook page to see all the latest content on the games that you know and love to play! To see other Destiny 2 tutorials make sure that you don’t miss Destiny 2’s Lightfall Exotic Armor Has Been Revealed and also Destiny 2 How to Complete Abhorrent Imperative – Activity Guide!

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Sullivan Pearson
Sullivan is a longtime gamer with a special passion for MMORPG games and single-player classics. He is always looking for a new game to play, and loves to share his interests and expertise with the gaming world.