Quick Links
Destiny 2: The Final Shapehas a new episodic model that has replaced quarterly seasons. An episode is similar to a season but lasts slightly longer, has a more consistent content cadence, and has additional activities for players to experience.
This episodic model has also changed the seasonal progression model slightly. Failsafe’s upgrades in Episode: Echoes are now tied to quests that unlock throughout the episode instead of through a 3x7 grid or Seasonal Challenges. In this short guide, we’ll go over how upgrades work in Echoes, and we’ll give a brief overview of what each upgrade does in this episode.
How To Unlock Upgrades In Episode: Echoes
Most upgrades tied to Echoes are unlocked through Specimen quests, which are obtained from Failsafe in the HELM.You can unlock the first set of seasonal upgrades by completing the “Specimen ID: NES001” quest. Completeyour first Arena: Breach Executable runand speak with Failsafe to start this quest.
Specimen Samples
At each weekly reset, Failsafe will have a new specimen quest you can complete to unlock additional upgrades at the HELM. The first quest you’ll receive is “Specimen ID: NES001,” which will ask you to complete a run of Arena: Breach Executable and destroy a Planetary Assimilation Piston.You can find a Planetary Assimilation Piston just before you start the second combat encounter.Head slightly left of the marked path and look for a star-shaped icon on your HUD.
Once this quest is complete, return to the HELM and display your new specimen. This will unlock most upgrades from Failsafe. Any locked upgrades will become available in future weekly specimen quests. These quests don’t disappear until the end of the year, so don’t worry about them expiring.
Upgrade or Item
Research And Fabrication
Specimen: NES001 Quest
Munitions Deployment Apparatus
Special delivery buffs found in Echoes content also spawn extra ammo or relic armaments.
Specimen: NES003 Quest
Planetary Piston Hammer
Partway through acquiring your first specimen, you’ll earn the Planetary Piston Hammer.This hammer is used to destroy Planetary Assimilation Pistons on Nessus, some of which are found in the Arena Executable activity. This hammer hasfive chargeswhich recharge as you complete Echoes content (Arena Executable and Enigma Protocol).
If your hammer has zero charges, a free charge is earned each day.
Destroying a piston will drain one energy, awarding you with a chest worth of loot. This is a great way to earn bonus seasonal gear while progressing through certain quests and Seasonal Challenges.
