Umbral Engrams can be decoded in the Umbral Decoder, at least that was true in previous Seasons of Destiny 2. The new Hammer of Proving in Season of the Chosen has changed things a bit. The new season has added the PvE playlists and a bunch of new features. The game’s loot system has been rebalanced and refined in some ways, and that includes how you can now focus engrams. Along with all of that, comes Cabal Gold; which you need to farm to actually do anything. You need to spend Gold to socket the new Challenger Medallions in the Hammer. These will allow you to actually play the new playlists. So anyway, here’s what you need to do to obtain and focus an Umbral Engram in Destiny 2.
How to Get Umbral Engrams
To familiarize yourself with the other ways to get Umbral Engrams, we have a guide on farming them. You can still get them as a rare drop from just playing the game. You can get an Umbral Engram from Strikes, Gambit, and any other normal game mode. These can then be rolled for loot. The new season has something else as well.
And with this new season, comes a new way to get them. For Season of the Chosen, you can spend Hammer Charges in the Hammer of Proving to get more of them. You first need to complete a match within the Battlegrounds playlists, then you earn a Hammer Charge. That will allow you to spend 14 Cabal Gold to consume the charge and bash open a chest at the end of a Battleground. You need to complete the match and break Tribute Chests with the Hammer of Proving to get the rewards.
This is now the preferred way to get an Umbral Engram, as the old drops have been nerfed by Bungie. Once you have one, it’s time to work on it.
How to decode Umbral Engrams in Destiny 2
Umbral Engrams can be decoded in the Umbral Decoder in the H.E.L.M, Once you complete both A Challenger’s Rising and A Challenger’s Proving, you will have access to the Prismatic Recaster. You can also Focus your engrams if you want to improve the odds of getting a better roll.
How to Focus an Umbral Engram
In order to focus your Umbral Engrams, you’ll need to first complete a series of missions that have randomized requirements. The tier of rewards will affect the task you need to complete. Getting a task done will unlock the ability to Focus the Engram. You will then need to spend Legendary Shards and Hammer Charges to create a Focused Engram.
You do this at the H.E.L.M. table via the Prismatic Recaster. You will want to head to the hub in the Tower and find the War Table Seasonal vendor. Look in the area called the Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers. You can also use the Prismatic Recaster in this area to decode Engrams.
Umbral Focusing Requirements
Tier 1 Focusing
| Focus Name | Rewards | How to unlock |
| Worldly Weapons | Legendary weapons from several activities and destinations | Complete the Challengers’s Proving quest |
| Worldly Armor | Legendary armors from several activities and destinations | Complete the Challengers’s Proving quest |
| Chosen Implements | Season of the Chosen weapons or armors | Complete the Challengers’s Proving quest |
| Chosen Arms | Season of the Chosen weapons | Complete the Challengers’s Proving quest |
| Chosen Regalia | Season of the Chosen armors | Complete the Challengers’s Proving quest |
Tier 2 Focusing
| Focus Name | Rewards | How to unlock |
| Near And Deadly | Season of the Chosen Submachine Gun or Sidearm | 750 kills with Submachine Guns or Sidearms/Acquire Brass Attacks from the Season Pass |
| Far And Fatal | Season of the Chosen Bow or Sniper Rifle | 750 kills with Bows or Sniper Rifles |
| Explosion And Detonation | Season of the Chosen Linear Fusion Rifle or Rocket Launcher | 400 kills with Linear Fusion Rifles or Rocket Launchers/Acquire Threaded Needle from the Battle Pass |
| Chosen Helmet | Season of the Chosen Helmet | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
| Chosen Gauntlets | Season of the Chosen Arms | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
| Chosen Chest Armor | Season of the Chosen Chestpiece | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
| Chosen Leg Armor | Season of the Chosen Legs | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
| Chosen Class Armor | Season of the Chosen Class Item | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
Tier 3 Focusing
| Focusing/Umbral Engram Name | Possible Rewards | Unlock Requirements |
| Near-Death Experience | Season of the Chosen Submachine Gun or Sidearm – final column perk choice | 2,100 kills with Submachine Guns or Sidearms |
| Far-Flung Fatality | Season of the Chosen Bow or Sniper Rifle – final column perk choice | 2,100 kills with Bows or Sniper Rifles |
| Chosen Destruction | Season of the Chosen Linear Fusion Rifle or Rocket Launcher – final column perk choice | 1,200 kills with Linear Fusion Rifles or Rocket Launchers |
| Chosen Intellect | Armor with a high Intellect roll | 500 Super Kills |
| Chosen Strength | Armor with a high Strength roll | ? |
| Chosen Mobility | Armor with a high Mobility roll | 250 Cabal Gold |
| Chosen Recovery | Armor with a high Recovery roll | 30 Hammer charges used |
| Chosen Resilience | Armor with a high Resilience roll | 3,000 enemies defeated |
| Chosen Discipline | Armor with a high Discipline roll | 350 Grenade kills |
