Destiny guide: Consumables - where to find them and how to use them

Destiny isn't just about loot and XP, its Consumables can be just as useful to Guardians. This is what they do and how best to use them.

Destiny has plenty of loot and items to improve your Guardian, as well as XP for levelling up, but it also has a system built around consumables which shouldn't be ignored.

What are Consumables?

Consumables can only be used once and give you instant ammo, weapon experience or Glimmer, the game's currency. You activate them as you play for an in-game boost and better reward during play. You can see all your consumables on your inventory screen, just tab right of the main character customisation screen.

Types of Consumables

Ammo Synthesis: buy this form the Gunsmith in the Tower Plaza. It basically resupplies your ammo for the primary weapon. It can only be used once every five minutes, so you still need to use it strategically.

Special Ammo Synthesis: As above, but this is for your special ammo. Get it from the Gunsmith.

Heavy Ammo Synthesis: As before, this is for your heavy ammo weapon. The Gunsmith stocks it, and it can only be used every five minutes to refill your weapon.

Weapon Telemetry: This is used to level up a specific weapon quickly. You can't buy it unfortunately, but you sometimes receive it when you dismantle high-end or upgraded weapons. You may not have noticed you have some of this when you've reached the higher levels, so check you inventory.

Ether Seeds: You'll find this gets dropped often after you've killed high ranked Fallen enemies, or in Fallen loot chests. It helps generate more Glimmer from dead Fallen, so use as you're about to go into battle against them.

Black Wax Idol: Similar to Ether Seeds, use this when fighting the Hive to generate more Glimmer.

Blue Polyphage: This is dropped by high-ranking Vex and found in Vex loot chests. Use it to generate more Glimmer from dead Vex. Go get those Goblins.

Resupply Codes: Kill high-ranking members of the Cabal to bag yourself Resupply Codes, or find it in Cabal loot caches. Again, it increases the amount of Glimmer from dead Cabal.

Using Consumables to your advantage

How you use Consumables is up to you, but as you play Destiny you'll feel the ebb and flow of battle. During normal missions ammo isn't in short supply, so save your Ammo Synthesis for bosses, larger enemies and raids. During the later levels on Venus and Mars Heavy Ammo and Special Ammo Synthesis are always handy for resupplies during drawn-out encounters.

To make the most of the Black Wax Idol, head to the loot farming location on Earth in Patrol mode. Equip in before you get stuck in to the Hive running out of the cave and you'll rack up stacks of Glimmer.

With Ether Seeds, Resupply Codes and Blue Polyphage, holds on to them until you hit a boss battle or any other location where respawns are limited. It's at these points you'll be attacked by waves of enemies, so make the most of the situation and remember that it's not just about grabbing XP.