As the year 2026 unfolds, Destiny 2 continues its legacy of evolution, with Bungie's latest update, version 8.0.5.4, rolling out to address lingering frustrations and refine the gameplay experience. This patch arrives as Guardians wrap up the final Act of Episode: Echoes, marking another chapter in the game's decade-long journey. The update zeroes in on the exotic mission Encore, which had become a bit of a headache for players chasing its secrets and the coveted Choir of One auto rifle. Beyond that, it brings significant adjustments to Hunter abilities and fulfills a community request by integrating Encore into the Fireteam Finder. Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of what this update changes.

🛠️ Encore Mission Gets Some Much-Needed TLC

The Encore mission was a centerpiece of Episode: Echoes, tasking players with multiple runs to unlock secret chests, collect specimens for Failsafe, and upgrade the Choir of One auto rifle. This weapon, by the way, has been a total game-changer, letting players unleash void bolts that melt enemies faster than a Vex Wyvern on a rampage. However, the mission launched with more bugs than a Hive nest, sometimes blocking progression entirely or denying players their hard-earned loot. Bungie has finally stepped in to clean house with three critical fixes:

• Final Boss Immunity Glitch: Fixed an issue where the final boss could become immune to all damage, halting progression. Talk about a buzzkill!

• Premature Module Deposit: Resolved a problem where depositing a Connection Module too early during a specific section could trigger a full team wipe. Oops.

• Improved Clarity: Added persistent on-screen text and waypoints during the final boss sequence to clarify that players need to restart the sequence after a damage window ends. No more guesswork!

Perhaps the biggest quality-of-life improvement is that Encore is now a selectable option in the Fireteam Finder. This was a highly requested feature, making it easier for Guardians to team up and tackle the mission without jumping through hoops.

🏹 Hunter Ability Adjustments: A Mixed Bag

Hunters received the most attention in this update, with significant tweaks to Strand and Void abilities. Bungie is clearly trying to balance the power fantasy with fair gameplay.

Threaded Specter (Strand Aspect)

This dodge-based Aspect, which creates a decoy clone, got a comprehensive rework:

Change	Impact
Increased Dodge Cooldown	Marksman's and Gambler's Dodge cooldowns are longer when Threaded Specter is equipped.
Removed Penalty	The additional dodge cooldown penalty after creating a clone is gone. Phew!
No More Threadlings	If the clone is destroyed by attacks, it no longer spawns Threadlings.
Longer Distraction	The clone now distracts nearby enemies for a longer duration before exploding.

The goal here seems to be making the decoy more of a strategic, survivability tool rather than a source of free area damage. It's a trade-off, but one that might feel better in the long run.

Snare Bomb & Swarm Grenade

• Snare Bomb: The Smoke Bomb projectile now lingers for only 3.5 seconds (down from 10), and the movement speed penalty it inflicts on players has been reduced by 25%. It's less of a lingering nuisance now.

• Swarm Grenade: Its base cooldown has been increased by 15%, and it's been moved to a slower recharge tier for non-passive grenade energy gains. This grenade was getting a little too spammy.

⚔️ Titan Fix and Weapon Tuning

Titans weren't left out. A bug preventing the Twilight Arsenal Super from being unlocked for both Prismatic and Void subclasses has been fixed. Now Titans can fully wield this powerful new addition.

On the weapon front, a notable fix addresses Eriana's Vow. It now correctly deals its intended 67% increased damage to Barrier Champions. This exotic hand cannon is back to being a reliable champion-stopper in high-level content.

🔮 The Road Ahead: Codename Frontiers

This update dropped alongside major news about Destiny 2's future. Bungie outlined Codename Frontiers, a long-term plan featuring:

• Two medium-sized expansions, the first slated for Summer 2025.

• Four major updates for all players, refreshing the game with new content and systems.

• New Reward Passes to keep the loot chase exciting.

It's a roadmap designed to sustain the game well into 2026 and beyond, proving that the Light (and Darkness) still has many stories to tell.

💬 Final Thoughts

Update 8.0.5.4 is a classic Destiny 2 patch: it smooths out rough edges, rebalances overpowered tools, and adds convenient features the community has been asking for. Fixing the Encore mission bugs alone is a huge relief for players who just wanted to enjoy the content without technical hiccups. The Hunter changes... well, they might take some getting used to, but that's the nature of the game's ever-shifting meta. With the Fireteam Finder integration and a clear future on the horizon, Guardians have plenty of reasons to keep their Ghosts charged and their weapons ready. The universe, as always, awaits.