As a veteran Guardian with over 200 hours fishing the many lakes, rivers, and oceans of our Solar System, I‘ve landed massive hauls of exotic fish from Destiny 2‘s waterways. The Cistern on Nessus stands among the best fishing spots with its unique radiolaria fluid and abundant populations of rare Vex-converting fish.
In this extensive guide, you‘ll discover everything an expert angler needs to know to master fishing The Cistern, including:
- An in-depth look at fishing mechanics in Destiny 2
- The Cistern‘s location and fishing overview
- Step-by-step catching techniques
- Suggested fishing loadouts and subclasses
- A comparison table of all catchable fish
- 20+ tips from professional fishers
- The many rewards and benefits of catches
- And much more!
So grab your favorite pole and bait, and let‘s reel in some awesome loot!
An Introduction to the Art of Fishing in Destiny 2
Fishing entered the world of Destiny in mid-2022 with the Season of the Haunted expansion. While Guardians spend most of their time shooting aliens and gathering epic loot, fishing offers a relaxing change of pace with compelling rewards across various progression systems.
To start fishing, you first need to complete a short quest that rewards the Arc Fishing Pole and Vex Milk Bait items. This unlocks access to fishing spots on most open world destinations.
When fishing, you cast your line into the water and wait for controller rumbling indicating a fish biting the lure. Quickly press the interact button to hook the fish and start reeling it in, balancing pulling back and letting the line run out to avoid snapping it or the catch escaping.
Successfully reeled-in fish are added to your Collections tab for achievements, crafting materials, and various perks. Let‘s look closer at fishing‘s intricacies.
Fishing Mechanics Overview
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Bait – Special consumables that enhance bite frequency or rare catch chances when equipped. Earned through activities and vendors.
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Bobbers – Cosmetic floats that sit atop the water and shake when a fish bites. No gameplay effects.
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Perks – Special abilities that can be slotted onto your fishing pole via materials earned from dismantling gear. Examples: Faster reeling speed, extra stability, increased bait effectiveness.
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Rarity – Fish have Common, Uncommon, Rare, Legendary, and Exotic rarities with different catch rates. Higher chance for Rare to Exotic in challenging areas.
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Rewards – Fish provide crafting materials, Triumphs/titles, lore/world-building, and moment-to-moment enjoyment from the fishing mini-game.
Veteran Guardian Tip: Maximize your fishing Luck stat for better catches. Stack gear mods, subclass buffs, and consumables for high Luck.
Now that you understand the core of Destiny 2 fishing, let‘s dive into the best spot that is The Cistern.
Locating The Cistern‘s Pristine Fishing Waters
The Cistern is situated in the northern part of the Arcadian Valley region of Nessus, the partially converted machine world the Vex have overrun with their strange technology.
Zone map showing The Cistern‘s location in Arcadian Valley, Nessus
Arcadian Valley features huge sheer cliffs with giant Vex structures and networks of caves dotting the walls. Flowing rivers feed into The Cistern‘s lake basin which sits tucked against the cliffs.
When transmatting into the area, head north following the river path. You‘ll soon see a spectacular waterfall cascading down the cliffs into The Cistern below.
A gorgeous vista of The Cistern‘s Vex structures and fishing dock
Take a moment to appreciate the scenery – it‘s a breathtaking juxtaposition of nature and technology you‘ll only find on Nessus. Once you‘ve cleared out any patrolling Fallen or Vex, you‘re ready to cast your line into The Cistern‘s radiolaria-rich waters.
Mastering The Intricacies of Fishing The Cistern
Fishing in The Cistern works similarly to other destinations, but it has some unique quirks and plenty of rare fish only found in this spot. Let‘s break down everything you need to know about techniques, gear, and strategy for maximizing your Cistern catches.
Overview of Fishing The Cistern:
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Equip your favored Fishing Pole and select bait like Lunar Scallions for enhanced Exotic chances.
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Cast into the radiolaria fluid pools around Vex structures. Re-cast often to find the fish.
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Wait for rumbling controller and bobber sinking, then quickly press interact to hook the fish.
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Reel in the fish by pulling back on the stick, easing tension when the line starts to strain.
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Repeat process until you hit the 6 fish per spot cap or need to turn in materials.
Suggested Gear and Loadouts:
Your equipment choices can drastically improve Cistern fishing:
Fishing Poles – The Hastilude or Cardboard Boat poles offer faster reeling perks for quick hook sets.
Armor – Stack total Luck stat as high as possible with mods like Recuperation and Perpetuation.
Subclass – Arc or Solar for more frequent bites. Warlock‘s Divine Protection buffs entire fireteam‘s luck.
Weapons – Sniper Rifle to quietly clear enemies from distance without scaring fish.
Ghosts – Ghosts like Solstice Shell 3.0 boost resource gains like fillets from catches.
Loadout Tip: Maximize your odds by combining high Luck gear, useful perks/mods, helpful consumables, and optimal subclasses.
Comparison of All Fish Found in The Cistern:
| Fish Name | Rarity | Bait Preference | Catch Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreaming City Byssus | Common | Wormspore | Very Easy |
| Nessus Needlefish | Common | EDZ Worm | Easy |
| Arcadian Chestnut | Uncommon | Cabal Oil | Easy |
| Bronze Cyclops Minnow | Uncommon | Chitin Powder | Moderate |
| Vex Milk Pike | Rare | Alkane Spores | Hard |
| Radiolaric Brook Trout | Rare | Phaseglass Needle | Very Hard |
| Hydraspawn | Exotic | Lunar Scallions | Extremely Hard |
Note the special Nessus-exclusive fish like the Bronze Cyclops Minnow and Hydraspawn
Expert Tips and Strategies for Fishing The Cistern:
I‘ve spent countless hours honing techniques for catching Cistern fish. Here are over 20 tips to maximize your success:
- Fish the nooks and crannies around Vex structures – less open water equals more fish fights.
- Prioritize Lunar Scallions or Phaseglass Needle bait for better chances at unique catches.
- Wait 2-3 seconds before reeling when a fish first bites – gives it time to get the bait deep.
- If the line snaps, don‘t rapidly re-cast in the same spot. Fish tend to scatter after breaks.
- Exploit the brief "boosted bite" window after catching Legendary and Exotic fish.
- Head to The Cistern when Nessus is the weekly Flashpoint for increased activity and spawns.
- Turn up game volume to better hear subtle bite sound effects for precise timing.
- Patrol the entire shoreline until you learn the most active areas, then focus those zones.
- Start on the right side by the Vex waterfall – an area many anglers overlook.
- Vex Milk Pike seem to favor the left side cove‘s radiolaria pools.
- Higher difficulty fish become more likely after 2-3 catches, so be ready for intense fights.
- If struggling, take a quick break to reset mental focus, stretch your fingers, and sip a cold beverage.
- Recast every 1-2 minutes – fish location shifts based on unclear conditions.
- Watch for the Vex simulation public event and keep fishing – it‘s eerie but effective.
- Sneak up slowly if other Guardians are fishing your spot – avoid scaring away their potential catches.
- Stay alert for the sneakier fish like Vex Milk Pike that bite softly. Easy to miss the rumble.
- Quit while you‘re ahead after an Exotic catch rather than risking the bad luck Protection loss from further casts.
- Celebrate new personal record hauls by performing an emote dance. You‘ve earned it!
Follow these tips and soon you‘ll be hauling in Exotic Hydraspawn left and right from The Cistern‘s radiolaria-rich waters.
The Satisfying Rewards of Catching Cistern Fish
"Why bother fishing this strange Vex lake?" you may ask. Here are the compelling incentives:
Crafting Materials – Filleted fish parts are key ingredients for crafting weapons, tools, and armor. The Hydraspawn in particular drops a rare element.
Triumphs & Collections – Catching all the various Cistern fish grants Triumph points and fills Collections badges needed for seasonal titles and exclusives like sparrows.
Masterworking – Certain catches like the Vex Milk Pike contain materials that upgrade gear power.
Lore – Some fish entries expand on Nessus and Vex backstory through flavor text and artifact scannables.
Seals & Titles – Unique fish are required for gilding the Fisher of Fables seal, unlocking associated bragging rights.
Cosmetics – Fish can be displayed as trophies in your quarters or converted into holographic Shaders.
Gameplay Enjoyment – It‘s a relaxing, rewarding alternative to battle that builds mastery.
Community Connection – Fishing tales and tips shared between friends enhance the social experience.
Reeling in Cistern catches means everything from power gains to crafting prizes to prestige status is on the hook. Now get out there and start filling your collection!
Cast Off into The Cistern‘s Fishing Grounds
The Cistern‘s radiolaria lake on the machine world of Nessus offers one of Destiny‘s most striking and bountiful fishing holes for experts willing to master its challenges. Follow my in-depth advice on optimal mechanics, gear, techniques, and rewards, and you‘ll be landing record catches of exotic Hydraspawn and beyond in no time.
See you out there on the waters, fellow fishers of fables. May the fishing gods smile upon your lures, and your reel sing with the euphoric hum of fulfillment that comes with landing the big ones. Tight lines!
