I just did a guide on how to run Sword on Normal and Hard Mode for Crota you can see it here: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/110465411 Ever since the patch that changed the VoG Atheon Encounter to teleport 3 random players instead of the 3 that were behind the other 3, everyone was actually forced to learn how to use the Relic. Let me tell you, I always "feared" the Relic, didn't know how to use it properly, but when they introduced this patch I had to learn and I quickly learned and now that's the most fun part of the Raid for me, carrying the Relic, on the Templar, soloing the first Relic at the Gatekeeper, and being teleported at Atheon to use the Relic. The mechachics of using the Shield and th sword are about the same, the main change is that the sword is obviously longer, and with the Shield with R2 you will not do a slash attack instead you will like push the enemy with the Relic, so, I'll be focusing on how to use the Relic properly on Atheon. On the video that you see(I have some others that are better and I will upload them later), we had to wipe like 20 times because only 2 of us knew how to use the Relic and sometimes nobody picked it up, died with it or they didn't know where the Oracles always spawn to take them down in time so I took matter into my own hands, on this run finally I got teleported on each time and I was able to help them out and clear it. First know the attacks, the best attacks and the most you'll do is with R2, if you get teleported to Mars, quickly grab the relic by holding the square button (PS4), if you see the enemies distracted go thru the middle and try to kill more than one at once, if they're grouped together just go with a little jump and R2 on them and that should take them down, if there are still some alive, just quickly run to them and R2 them and they should die, if they are looking straight at you take the right path and surprise them, then see your meter on the screen to clean your temmates when needed, make sure they are grouped together so all of you can get cleaned at the same time, to clean them press L1, don't hold it for too long, just clean them and continue, you can also help them kill the Oracles. and you and Super them (L1+R1), but remember to clean them like every 4-6 seconds, you can leave them inside to kill the last two Oracles or help them kill them, then get out to your left side and go middle, as Relic Holder if you get out early you can Super Atheon twice and then, stand as close as you can to the front and to the right, that way you won't get splash damage and won't interfere with a Titan Bubble, quickly hold L1 so your teammates won't get hurt. Watch the timer and get out when there are about to be 3 seconds left, someone should be on the lookout for near supplicants to take them down before the timer runs out, the Relic Holder should be the last one out, or the others will die. If you get teleported into Venus, there will be a Praetorian, it is always helpful to the Relic Holder if the other 2 threw at least 1 rocket and/or grenade to the Praetorian to kill him easier, so just kill the mobs quickly, and the same thing as before, keep cleaning your teammates, and kill Oracles if you can to help them out, then when you're going out you;ll go to your right side to stand in the middle platform. Keep doing this until you kill him, if everything is done right it should not take you more than 3 portal runs, Remember don't fear the Relic, try it, it amazes me to this day how many people still don't know how to use the Relic after all this time, but it's never too late to learn, I hope I've helped you into at least trying to run the Relic. The same method applies to Normal Mode, it's just easier. Post any questions or opinions here.