In Destiny 2 (especially after the Renegades expansion), “Deathmarks” are a special in-game currency used in the territory known as Lawless Frontier. They act as a kind of entry ticket for certain high-risk, high-reward activities — most notably “Invasions,” where you fight other Guardians.
You also have the option to wager Deathmarks before launching an Invasion: wagering more increases the potential loot and reward, but losing the invasion means you lose the Deathmarks staked.
Because Deathmarks unlock access and boost rewards, many players aim to accumulate them — but getting them efficiently is not always obvious.
How to Obtain Deathmarks
Here are the main ways to earn Deathmarks in Destiny 2:
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Completing Lawless Frontier Jobs and Contracts: The Frontier offers various “jobs” or contracts. Playing these jobs can reward you with Deathmarks. Contracts come in different quality levels, with higher-tier contracts offering better chances for rewards.
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From Invasions and Successful Runs: Running Invasion-enabled jobs — whether you succeed or even sometimes fail — may drop Deathmarks. Several players say that extraction from contested zones yields at least one Deathmark.
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Weekly Stipend / Syndicate Rewards: The NPC overseer of the Frontier, Spider, gives a regular Deathmark stipend weekly. This adds a steady, predictable source of Deathmarks if you check in.
Because drop rates are not always generous, most players treat Deathmarks as a limited resource and use them carefully. One comment captures the sentiment:
“I have been farming invadable frontiers all day, and I’ve only had like two drops. Are the drop rates super low…”
How to Wager Deathmarks for Invasion
If you want to use your Deathmarks to get better loot, here’s how to wager them before starting an Invasion:
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Open your map and navigate to the Lawless Frontier area.
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In the menu, go to the Contracts section and then switch to the Wallet tab — this shows your current Deathmark count.
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Highlight the Invasion node you want to join. Hover over your Deathmarks — you’ll get an option to increase the wager. By default, you stake one, but you can add more to raise the stakes.
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Launch the Invasion. If you complete it, you receive better loot than standard runs. If you fail or quit, you lose the Deathmarks you wagered.
Tips and Realities: Why Deathmarks Are Hard to Acquire
Because Deathmarks are a limited, semi-rare currency, here are some practical tips and cautions:
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Expect low drop rates: Players often report that even after multiple runs, you might only get a single Deathmark. Farming them demands patience.
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Prioritize higher-tier jobs / contracts: Better contract quality improves the chance of hitting a Deathmark reward.
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Use Deathmarks wisely: Since they’re scarce and invasions consume them, only wager high when you feel confident about winning — otherwise, you risk wasting them.
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Check in with Spider weekly: Don’t forget the weekly “stipend” drop from Spider — it’s a low-effort way to get some Deathmarks consistently.
Common Mistakes New Players Make
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Not realizing the need to go into the Wallet tab before wagering — the system is easy to overlook.
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Jumping into low-reward or easy jobs and expecting frequent Deathmark drops.
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Wagering too many Deathmarks impulsively; losing an Invasion in that case can set you back significantly.
Why Deathmarks Matter
Deathmarks give lawless-frontier players strategic flexibility:
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They grant access to invasion-based content, which often has the highest-tier loot and rewards.
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Wagering Deathmarks — when done with care — can yield greater returns (better weapons, gear, reputation, resources).
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They act as a kind of progress gating: managing Deathmarks becomes part of your broader strategy to optimize gains in the Frontier.
