Rasputin

Lore & Background

Throughout the long wait for the Traveler to wake, Rasputin remained largely absent from City affairs, neither serving as a silent steward nor managing resources or infrastructure. However, it was actively involved prior to the Red War, including during the Taken War and the Battle of Twilight Gap, coordinating defensive efforts. After its destruction, only submind fragments of Rasputin survived—it was not fully uploaded into an engram—and it is no longer an active presence in the Last City or the Tower.

Reader's Guide

Rasputin functions as the central nervous system for the Last City, managing everything from energy distribution to defense protocols. It does not wield weapons directly but orchestrates the city's automated defenses and provides critical intelligence to Guardians during major crises. In gameplay terms, Rasputin is often represented through in-game lore tabs and voiceovers that provide context for current events or historical flashbacks. While players cannot 'equip' Rasputin like a weapon, its influence is felt whenever the Tower's systems respond to threats or when new information about the Traveler or the Darkness is revealed. The AI is wielded by no single individual; instead, it serves the City as a whole. However, key figures like Commander Zavala and the Speaker have historically acted as intermediaries, interpreting Rasputin's data for human decision-making.

Did You Know?

• Rasputin was not uniquely uncorrupted by the Darkness; other Golden Age AIs such as Failsafe and the Exodus Black AI also survived without corruption.
• The decision to seal the Last City behind the Wall during the early years of the post-Collapse era was made by surviving human leadership and the Vanguard, not solely by Rasputin.
• The AI's name is a nod to Grigori Rasputin, reflecting its role as a mysterious and influential figure in humanity's survival.