If you’ve ever grinded a Void Intercept or Supply Run mission in The First Descendant and hit a glowing purple wall that won’t budge no matter how many bullets you pump into it, you’ve run into the exact problem we’re solving today: how do you destroy void fragments in the first descendant. These odd, alien structures block access to rare loot, boss arenas, and quest objectives, and a lot of new players waste 10+ minutes of mission time shooting them with the wrong gear before they figure out the trick. I’ve spent over 120 hours running endgame Void missions with random squads and my regular playgroup, and I’ve had full squads disband entirely because no one remembered to bring the right damage type for these fragments. We’ll cover everything from the right gear to use, common mistakes to avoid, and how to speed up the process even if you’re running solo without a coordinated team.
What Makes Void Fragments So Hard to Break?
First, you have to understand why regular weapons don’t work on these structures. Void fragments are made of condensed Void energy, so they’re immune to all standard physical and elemental damage unless you meet a very specific condition. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a new player unload an entire rocket launcher mag into a fragment, only to get zero damage numbers popping up. That’s because you need Void damage to even register a hit on these fragments. No other damage type works, period.
That means if your entire loadout is fire, cryo, or toxic focused, you won’t be able to make a dent no matter how high your gear score is. Most players first run into these fragments in mid-game Void missions, right after they unlock their first secondary weapon slot, so it’s easy to miss the memo that you need to carry a Void damage weapon with you for these runs. Even high-level players sometimes forget to swap their loadout before queuing for a Void mission, leaving the whole squad stuck until someone can switch to a Void weapon or find one as a drop from nearby mobs.
How Do You Destroy Void Fragments in The First Descendant Step-by-Step
The process is actually really simple once you know the rules, and you can break even the highest health void fragments in under 30 seconds if you do it right. I’ve tested this method across every difficulty level from Normal to Extreme, and it works for both solo and squad play. Here’s the exact process I use every run:
- First, equip at least one weapon that deals Void elemental damage before you queue for any Void-themed mission, including Void Intercept, Void Supply Run, and Boss Invasion missions that take place in Void-corrupted zones.
- When you reach the void fragment, switch to your Void damage weapon and aim for the glowing purple core in the center of the structure. Hitting the outer edges of the fragment only deals 20% of the damage you get from hitting the core, so aim carefully even if you’re under attack from nearby mobs.
- Deal consistent damage to the core until the fragment’s health bar drops to zero. If you’re in a squad, have all members switch to Void damage weapons to speed up the process, even if their Void weapon is lower level than their main loadout.
A lot of players make the mistake of using their ultimate ability on the fragment, but that only works if your descendant’s ultimate deals Void damage. For example, Viessa’s ice ultimate won’t do anything, but Ajax’s Void-based ultimate will melt the core in seconds if you time it right. If you don’t have a Void weapon on you during a mission, you can sometimes find a random Void damage weapon drop from nearby mobs, but it’s way better to plan ahead so you don’t waste time waiting for a drop. I always keep a leveled-up Void SMG in my secondary slot for all Void missions, so I don’t have to swap my main weapon out just to break fragments.
Best Loadouts to Speed Up Void Fragment Destruction
If you want to cut down the time you spend breaking fragments to a minimum, you can build your loadout specifically for this task, especially if you run a lot of endgame Void missions. The first thing you want is a Void damage weapon with high rate of fire – SMGs, assault rifles, and light machine guns work way better than slow weapons like sniper rifles or rocket launchers, because the core is a small target and you want to land as many hits as possible quickly. You also want to mod your Void weapon with damage boost mods that apply to elemental damage, not just physical damage.
I run a 4-star Void SMG with +35% elemental damage and +20% critical hit chance, and I can break a tier 3 void fragment in about 15 seconds solo. If you’re playing a descendant that has Void damage buffs, like Ajax or Kairi, you can use their passive buffs to increase your Void damage even more. For squads, it’s helpful to have at least one player running a support build that boosts elemental damage for the whole team, so everyone’s Void weapons hit harder. The only time you want to use a slow Void weapon is if you’re running solo and the fragment is surrounded by mobs – a Void rocket launcher can clear the mobs and damage the core at the same time, which saves you from having to switch weapons mid-fight.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Breaking Void Fragments
Even if you know the basic process, there are a few common mistakes that can slow you down or leave you stuck mid-mission. First, don’t waste ammo on non-Void weapons even if you’re panicking because a wave of mobs is coming. It’s better to clear the mobs first with your main weapon, then switch to your Void weapon to break the fragment, instead of wasting both ammo and time shooting the fragment with a useless damage type. Another mistake is ignoring the adds that spawn when you start attacking the fragment. Most of the time, when you start damaging a void fragment, a small wave of Void mobs will spawn to defend it, and if you ignore them, they’ll knock you out of your aim or even down you mid-attack.
I always clear the nearby mobs first before I start hitting the fragment, even if I’m in a hurry to get to the loot. You also don’t want to forget that some void fragments are hidden behind walls or under platforms, so if you’re stuck on a mission objective that says “destroy void fragments” and you can’t find the last one, check around the area for hidden paths or destructible walls that might be hiding it. I once spent 20 minutes running around a Void Supply Run map looking for the last fragment, only to find it hidden under a metal platform that I had to jump down to reach. The last common mistake is assuming you can only break fragments with weapons – if you have a Void-based reactive skill or ultimate, you can use that to break the fragment without wasting any ammo at all, which is perfect for endgame missions where ammo is scarce.
At the end of the day, the trick to dealing with these annoying purple obstacles is all about preparation and knowing what damage type works. Once you get in the habit of carrying a Void damage weapon with you for all Void-themed missions, you won’t even have to think twice about how do you destroy void fragments in the first descendant. You’ll be able to blow through them fast, grab the rare loot behind them, and move on to the next part of the mission without wasting time. If you’re still struggling, try teaming up with other players who have Void-focused builds – even a single extra player with a good Void weapon can cut the time you spend breaking fragments in half. Next time you queue for a Void mission, double check your loadout before you hit ready, and you won’t end up being the player holding the whole squad back.