Note: Some of the information is the video is incorrect. Keys are needed in level 28, and you won’t get them from the final boss.
Treasure Keys are used to obtain the ultimate loot after finishing any given Prison of Elders run. Obtaining the Keys (after your first one from the story) is all based on RNG.
There are multiple chests in the Treasure room, and only one requires a Treasure Key to unlock. This ultimate chest will have the chance at rewarding Exotics, Legendary Queen gear, Fallen-themed cosmetics, Strange Coins, & Motes of Light.
The smaller chests, which do not require anything to unlock, have the chance at rewarding Strange Coins, Motes of Light, Planetary materials, & even Treasure Keys on occasion.
You can use 1 Key per chest, and there’s only 1 “Treasure Key Chest” per run.
IGN was able to get confirmation from Bungie that the chests – even the chest that requires a Treasure Key to open, isn’t on a reset.
If you have keys, you can beat it and access the rewards in the chests. So there is no weekly lockout or anything on the chests.
Acquiring the loot from the big chest is only limited by the Treasure Key – and you’re able to carry 5 in your inventory, so you have 5+ chances at loot each week – or even each day, depending on how dedicated you are!
Even though the chests aren’t on a reset, the guaranteed rewards are. The Armor Cores, Weapon Cores, & Etheric Light will drop per once per week, per character, the first time you complete that difficulty each week.
Assuming you complete the level 32, 34, and 35 challenge mode, you’ll be guaranteed a minimum of 1,000 Judgment reputation, 2 Armor Cores, 2 Weapon Cores, & 2 Etheric Light. That’s not including the extra loot you’ll undoubtedly get from the Treasure room!
Challenge mode loot is separated per mode, so to get all of it, you’ll need to do each difficulty. Unlike the Weekly Heroic, you won’t be able to do the level 35 to get the level 32 & 34 rewards.
There’s no weekly reset of any kind for the level matchmade 28 mode. However, there’s also no chance at getting endgame (Fallen-themed) gear on this mode.
Your guaranteed rewards will be limited to Vanguard Marks/Reputation & an Engram. You’ll also be able to get Queen’s Armaments & have a chance at Exotics from the level 28 Treasure room.
Queen’s Armaments include Legendary 331/365 and Reforge-Ready weapons, plus a full set of 36/42 Legendary armor.
For a recap of the activity, our first impressions from playing it, and what you need to know before going in, check out this article.