Act III of Destiny 2's Episode: Heresy launched on April 1, 2025, continuing the narrative where Eris captured the Echo of Navigation in her High Heresy. This major content drop introduces the reprised Sunless Cell strike with Grandmaster difficulty, new encounters in The Nether, additional Court of Blades bosses, and the final catalysts for the Barrow-Dyad Exotic SMG.
Episode: Heresy Act III Brings Nostalgic Sunless Cell Strike and New Content
The latest act of Destiny 2's current episode launched two days ago, adding significant content for Guardians to dive into. Bungie has reprised the fan-favorite Sunless Cell strike from the original Destiny, now available with Grandmaster difficulty for those seeking the ultimate challenge.
Players can explore new areas in The Nether, featuring fresh encounters that push the narrative forward after Eris's capture of the Echo of Navigation. The Court of Blades has also been updated with new bosses and environmental hazards, providing additional endgame challenges.
Barrow-Dyad Exotic SMG Now Fully Upgradable
Guardians who've been working on their Barrow-Dyad Exotic SMG can now complete the weapon with its final upgrades. The Season's signature Exotic can now receive two powerful catalyst options—One for All and Target Lock—along with its final Intrinsic perk. This completes the weapon's progression path, making it a formidable option for both PvE and PvP activities.
What's Coming in Update 8.2.6?
Bungie has announced that Update 8.2.6 is on the horizon, bringing sandbox tuning changes to address the current meta. The update will introduce a new Heavy Metal game mode, which appears to focus on heavy weapons, though specific details remain limited. Additionally, the mysterious Rite of the Nine will make its debut, potentially offering new rewards and challenges tied to the enigmatic Nine.
Rushdown Roulette Challenge Winners Crowned
The competitive Rushdown Roulette challenge has concluded with the ANZ Warlocks team emerging victorious. The team—consisting of Kimber Prime, Brotherhood, and BogOnMyDog—secured an impressive overall score of 1,589,941 points, narrowly beating the Nordic Titans team who scored 1,586,517.
| Team | Region | Players | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warlocks (Weekly Winner) | ANZ | Kimber Prime, Brotherhood, BogOnMyDog | 531,895 |
| Hunters (Weekly Winner) | North America | SamiKat, Mactics, iiizwerg | 529,388 |
| Titans (Weekly Winner) | Nordics | iScreamQueen, Bal, McGibbles | 530,999 |
| Warlocks (Overall Winner) | ANZ | Kimber Prime, Brotherhood, BogOnMyDog | 1,589,941 |
| Hunters (Overall) | North America | SamiKat, Mactics, iiizwerg | 1,533,089 |
| Titans (Overall) | Nordics | iScreamQueen, Bal, McGibbles | 1,586,517 |
The winning team members will receive an exclusive Allstar Vector Skimmer Deluxe Skate Deck by Bear Walker—a fitting reward for their impressive performance in the challenge.
Titans Claim Victory in Guardian Games
The annual class competition has ended with Titans standing triumphant. The crayon-eaters (as they're affectionately known in the community) managed to edge out both Warlocks and Hunters in the final standings, securing bragging rights for another year. Titans everywhere are undoubtedly punching the air in celebration—hopefully with their fists and not their heads.
Players who completed the Gold Triumph during Guardian Games can purchase the commemorative Guardian Games Jersey until June 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT. This limited-time merchandise offers a real-world trophy to remember the competition.
Current and Upcoming PvP Events
Iron Banner is currently active, giving Guardians a chance to earn unique weapons and armor from Lord Saladin. The next Iron Banner will begin on April 29, 2025, so players who miss out this week will have another opportunity at the end of the month.
Bungie Supports Mental Health Awareness
In recognition of National Stress Awareness Month, Bungie is partnering with the Guardians Mental Health organization to offer a special "Love is the Mind Saver" emblem. The emblem is available to players who donate at least $10 to the organization through April 30, 2025.
Additionally, Bungie has announced a MentalHealth@Bungie Pin coming in 2026, further extending their commitment to supporting mental health initiatives in the gaming community.
Known Issues Affecting Gameplay
The latest This Week in Destiny (TWID) highlighted several known issues that players should be aware of:
- Sunless Cell Grandmaster is currently unavailable in the Fireteam Finder
- Court of Blades boss spawning issues may cause soft-locks
- Rocket Sidearms are dealing self-damage (not ideal when you're trying to defeat enemies instead of yourself)
- Ionic Sentry isn't properly chaining lightning as intended
- Quest progression issues with Drowning Labyrinth and Tome of Want
Players encountering these or other issues are encouraged to check the Known Issues List or visit the Help Forums for assistance.
Community Spotlight: Solo Flawless Master Raid
This week's TWID featured an impressive achievement from the community: the world's first solo flawless completion of the Master Root of Nightmares raid by player cp z. This incredible feat demonstrates the highest level of skill and determination in Destiny 2's most challenging PvE content.
With so much new content to explore in Act III of Episode: Heresy and the upcoming Update 8.2.6, Guardians have plenty to keep them occupied in the coming weeks. Whether you're diving into the Sunless Cell, competing in Iron Banner, or working on completing your Barrow-Dyad, there's something for every type of player in the latest Destiny 2 update.