How to "Follow the Digital Traces" in Destiny 2

As a Guardian in Destiny 2, you wield incredible powers harnessed from the Traveler‘s Light. But greater power requires greater wisdom to temper it. This lesson lies at the core of the Variable quest on Europa, where players must dig up suppressed truths from humanity‘s past in order to forge a brighter future.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk through how to complete the "Follow the Digital Traces" step, share key insights into the quest‘s lore, and provide optimized tips and strategies from my extensive experience as a veteran player. By the end, you‘ll have the knowledge to uncover the mysteries buried under Europa‘s icy landscape.

Overview of Destiny 2 Lore

To appreciate this quest‘s pivotal role in Destiny‘s rich narrative tapestry, some contextual lore helps set the stage. Destiny 2 takes place centuries into the future, after the arrival of the mystical Traveler ushers humanity into a Golden Age of technology and exploration.

You take on the role of a Guardian, a chosen warrior resurrected by the Traveler‘s Light and granted elemental powers. Guardians belong to one of three classes:

Titan – Frontline tanks and protectors
Hunter – Agile scouts and stealth fighters
Warlock – Mystical scholars who harness the Traveler‘s energy

As a Guardian, you defend the Last City and fight back the alien races threatening civilization across the solar system, like the Vex machines and Hive death cultists.

Now the ancient Darkness has returned, and you must partner with former foes like the Fallen to wield new Darkness powers against it. Every battle brings you closer to understanding the Traveler‘s purpose and your role in the cosmic war between Light and Dark.

Variable Quest Basics

The Variable quest emerges early in the Beyond Light expansion, which added the ice moon Europa as an explorable destination.

Quest Start: Speak to the Exo Stranger in the Tower after completing the opening Europa missions. She directs you to the gunsmith Banshee-44, who initiates the 4-step Variable quest chain.

Goal: Help Banshee recover his memories and secrets from his time as an Exo built by Clovis Bray.

Quest Steps:

Decryption Core Found
Follow the Digital Traces (Finding code fragments)
Deep Stone Crypt (Navigate underground)
Replication Chamber (Defeat Vex boss)

In this guide, we‘ll focus on step 2: Follow the Digital Traces.

Following the Digital Traces Step Explained

The objective in this mission step is ultimately straightforward – find 6 code fragments scattered across Europa, then use them to unlock a hidden cave. But simplicity belies greater significance here.

Code Fragment Locations

The fragments containing encrypted data chips lie nestled in the icy plains of Creation, Europa. Pull out your Ghost periodically for guidance on fragment locations based on pings.

Here is each fragment‘s exact location marked on the map along with key details:

Fragment	Location Description
1	Under the central bridge by a rusted truck
2	Ridge top near dead trees overlooking the valley
3	Among tree cluster northwest of Fragment 2
4	Next to "Salzwerk" sign and crashed ship
5	Up the ramp from starting point amid fallen trees
6	Atop box near pipes and fuel canisters

I highly recommend clearing out enemies first, since Fallen and Vex both patrol the region.

Navigating the Secret Cave

After collecting all 6 traces, a waypoint will appear in your HUD marking the concealed cave entrance. Drop down into the icy underground river and let it carry you deeper through the Vex tunnels.

You‘ll need to "bank" the code fragments in nearby confluxes to unlock barriers blocking your path. Defeat the Vex along the way and platform across gaps until you reach the final Harpy boss.

This video provides a complete walkthrough of the cave traversal:

[Walkthrough Video]

Below is a map of the entire underground path to the Harpy:

Key tips for success:

Bring a Void or Stasis subclass to counter Vex shields
Use pulse rifles and machine guns for versatile damage at range
Team up with 1-2 others to coordinate quicker fragment banking
Rally banners refill your abilities between gate phases

Lore and Story Implications

Banshee-44‘s memories lead to Clovis Bray‘s experiments with Exos like himself. This links him to the Deep Stone Crypt, a hidden facility on Europa where Exos were created. Players later infiltrate its depths directly in the Deep Stone Crypt raid.

By uncovering the questionable Exo origins, this quest maps to Destiny‘s themes of dangerous ambition. It also continues developing the beyond light narrative around wielding darkness without sacrificing your humanity.

This glimpse into Banshee‘s past ultimately fuels his resolve to uphold justice and protect others from suffering similar fates.

Optimized Builds and Gear for Success

Based on extensive playtesting, here are the most effective weapons, subclasses, and exotics to equip for swiftly following the digital traces:

Best Weapons

Kinetic: Scout Rifle (Night Watch) – Stagger Vex at a distance
Energy: Trace Rifle (Coldheart) – Precise sustained damage
Power: Linear Fusion Rifle (Reed‘s Regret) – Burst down majors

Key perks to look for:

Anti-Barrier/Unstoppable Rounds – Shield piercing
Demolitionist – Grenade energy on kills
Wellspring – Ability regen on kills
Adrenaline Junkie – Bonus damage on grenade kills

Ideal Subclasses

Class	Top Element	Strengths
Titan	Stasis	Excellent crowd control via freezing
Hunter	Void	Invisibility and volatility rounds
Warlock	Arc	Chaos Reach/Stormtrance for add clear

Stasis is especially effective in the cave sections to lock down Vex gates.

Recommended Exotics

Cuirass of the Falling Star (Titan) – Massive Thundercrash damage
Mask of Bakris (Hunter) – Teleportation and arc buffs
Crown of Tempests (Warlock) – Extends Stormtrance duration

Lean into your chosen element with exotics that enhance those abilities.

Conclusion

This concludes my extensive guide for unraveling the encrypted traces across Europa‘s icy wastes and delving into the Vex underworld. By combining comprehensive maps, optimal gear recommendations, lore insights, and expert strategy, you now have all the tools needed to swiftly follow the digital trails.

The Variable quest sets up key narrative threads regarding the Deep Stone Crypt, Clovis Bray‘s missteps, and Banshee‘s origins. Most importantly, it reinforces the value of wisdom and humanity on the Guardian‘s cosmic journey. Heed its lessons well.

Now tape up your boots, grab your finest arsenal, and blaze your way toward the harpy and hidden truths below! Let me know in the comments if this guide helped you uncover Banshee‘s past and if you have any other tips to share. The path ahead is waiting, Guardian.