Destiny: The Taken King – Sparrow Racing League Guide

Destiny has been a growing and evolving gaming echo system since it launched over a year ago. With the latest 2.1.0 update, the Sparrow Racing League (SRL) was introduced. This new addition allows players to venture out to Venus and Mars in new Sparrows on a quest to obtain new gear and reputation. We’ve got a few tips and tricks to help you get a jump on the other Sparrow Racers and earn some sweet new gear.

Unlock Sparrow Racing League

To obtain your SRL license you need to complete a quest given to you by Amanda Holliday. She gives you the SRL License Quest and offers daily and weekly SRL Bounties to upgrade your reputation as well. Part of the quest allows you to earn a new Sparrow to use for racing, and with the potential to earn SRL gear and Shaders with every race, a new Sparrow is just what the doctor ordered. Any legendary gear you purchase from Amanda starts off at low light levels and costs 75 Legendary Marks for a helmet and 50 Legendary Marks for various other items.

Sparrow Racing Basics

Up to six players can compete in a single race, with the ability to go in alone or with your friends. Each race consists of three laps, with the winner completing the laps in the shortest time (you know, like any normal race). While you’ll need to be on the lookout for the other Guardians in the race, you’ll also have to deal with a variety of deadly obstacles on your way to the finish line.

Guardians will have to deal with mines, fan blades, and even a few enemies while on the path to victory. Mines won’t end your racing career but they will slow you down, which is almost as bad. It’s important to avoid these obstacles as often as possible if you want to take first place in any given race. Taking a nod from Mario Kart, it’s possible to fall off the map in certain areas, causing instant death in most cases.

You won’t have an array of weapons with you, so your only defense against other Guardians and enemies are the various course obstacles. When you see an obstacle coming up, get in position to ram an opposing player or enemy into one of them to either slow them down or knock them out of the race. Once again, just like Mario Kart, if you die or cause someone to die during a race, they’ll resurrect around the point where they died, losing a considerable amount of time.

Sparrow Racing Quick Tips

• Increase your reputation by completing SRL Bounties (provided by Amanda Holliday).
• The higher your reputation gets, the better your post-race drops will be.
• Class Items and helmets can drop with up to 320 Light in S-Class.
• Helmets and Class Items with Light can also be used for Infusion.
• Hit boost gates to replenish your fuel and maintain your top speed.
• It some cases it’s more beneficial to hug a corner or perform a jump instead of moving through a gate.
• Performing tricks will increase your boost power.
• It’s best to perform tricks during jumps.
• Use the Sparrow Boost to gain ground on Guardians ahead of you or extend your lead.
• On straight-aways use overdrive to reach maximum speed.

Campus Martius Track Tips (Mars)

If you have a tough time staying on the track, Campus Martius should be your focus. There aren’t many places to fall of this track, but there are plenty of enemies to contend with and a few mines and giant fan blades that you’ll want to avoid. The fan blades are found on the straight-away so be ready for them as you hit max speed with your overdrive. There are also boost gates between the fans, but don’t get too greedy if you’re having trouble avoiding the obstacles.

Infinite Descent Track Tips (Venus)

On Infinite Descent you’ll have to deal with the Fallen and plenty of places in which you can fall off the track. You’ll have to contend with Vex Hydras and a Fallen Spider Tank so this won’t be an easy track to run. If that weren’t enough, there are a number of jumps which can be very dangerous if you’re grouped together with several other Guardians. However, you can use this to your advantage by knocking them off the track during these situations.

SRL Record Book

At the Eververse Trading Company booth you will find Tess Everis selling new emotes and the SRL Record Book (Volume One). Purchase the Record Book for 1,000 Silver (or $10) and can use it to track your stats as you progress through the event. You can save your best times to earn exclusive rewards, including the Momentum Shield, Sign of Momentum emblem, Momentum’s Pride shader, Defense, and a bevy of gloves and boots.

If you’re just not digging the items that are dropping, fear not! You can purchase Custom Horn Kits for 100 Silver that allow you to obtain a random Legendary Horn, or pick up a Sparrow Toolkit for 500 Silver to obtain a Legendary Sparrow. In some cases you may not need to spend the Silver on the Custom Horn Kit as it is possible to get them as drops from Nightfall. There’s even a chance to score the EV-43 Lightrunner vehicle.

Rewards

Destiny is an MMO at heart and that means any little additions like the Sparrow Racing League come with the option to earn some loot. Guardians will find SRL-exclusive loot in addition to Crucible rewards and you can even grab Exotic Engrams using 3oC.

You can earn Legendary Sparrows, Sparrow Horns, racing gear, emblems and shaders by completing racing activities, bounties and quests. Activate the horns with Circle (PS4) or B (Xbox). Sparrow Horns are also rewarded by picking up a Custom Horn Kit from the Eververse Trading Company.

The rewards are earned at the conclusion of each race, and by completing your daily and weekly bounties (via Amanda Holliday) you can rank up to earn better rewards. You’ll need to complete 10 daily bounties within a week to complete the weekly bounty, which guarantees a legendary item drop.

Bounties

Item Bonuses

For more tips and advice on Destiny: The Taken King be sure to head back to our free walkthrough and guide!