The Umbral Engrams and Prismatic Recaster make their return in Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen. Here’s our guide to help you out.
Note: For more information, check out our Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen guides and features hub.
Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen – Umbral Engrams and Prismatic Recaster guide
We last saw the Prismatic Recaster and Umbral Engrams during the Season of Arrivals. Indeed, the feature was one of the best additions at the time.
Sadly, its Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen iteration leaves a lot to be desired. For one thing, it seems that the drop rate of Umbral Engrams has been lowered. It’s likely that you’ll need to unlock a few Hammer of Proving perks first to get more of these to drop.
The Umbral Engrams you pick up are also below your base PL and, worse, their PLs are lowered if you use the focusing mechanics. You can rely on the non-focused ones just a bit when you’re trying to reach the PL cap.
Anyway, you’ll be able to check the focusing options for Umbral Engrams if you head to the HELM command center. That’s where the Prismatic Recaster is.
I should warn you because, at a glance, the Prismatic Recaster’s focusing rework is even more tedious than before.
Tier I Focusing
These are unlocked as you complete Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen‘s fairly short questline. While all focusing actions require a non-focused Umbral Engram and some legendary shards, the two here (“Chosen Arms” and “Chosen Regalia”) also need one Hammer charge.
| Focusing/Umbral Engram Name | Possible Rewards | Unlock Requirements |
| Worldly Weapons | Legendary weapons from various activities and destinations | These will get unlocked as you’re doing the “Challenger’s Proving” quest |
| Worldly Armor | Legendary armors from various activities and destinations | |
| Chosen Implements | Season of the Chosen weapon or armor | |
| Chosen Arms | Season of the Chosen weapon | |
| Chosen Regalia | Season of the Chosen armor |
Tier II Focusing
From this point onwards, several focusing actions require hundreds of kill tallies with specific weapon types. Oh, and because you’re trying to get Season of the Chosen items, you’ll need Hammer charges, too.
| Focusing/Umbral Engram Name | Possible Rewards | Unlock Requirements |
| Near And Deadly | SMG or sidearm | 750x kills with SMGs or sidearms |
| Far And Fatal | Bow or sniper rifle | 750x kills with bows or sniper rifles |
| Explosion And Detonation | Linear fusion rifle or rocket launcher | 400x kills with linear fusion rifles or rocket launchers |
| Chosen Helmet | Helmet | Acquired from Tribute Chests |
| Chosen Gauntlets | Arms | |
| Chosen Chest Armor | Chestpiece | |
| Chosen Leg Armor | Legs | |
| Chosen Class Armor | Class Item |
Tier III Focusing
You’ll need to complete multiple tallies (i.e., kills with specific weapon types, kills with supers/grenades, Cabal Gold amassed, and so on). Lastly, focusing to obtain these gear pieces requires five Hammer charges.
| Focusing/Umbral Engram Name | Possible Rewards | Unlock Requirements |
| Near-Death Experience | SMG or sidearm | 2,100x kills with SMGs or sidearms |
| Far-Flung Fatality | Bow or sniper rifle | 2,100x kills with bows or sniper rifles |
| Chosen Destruction | Linear fusion rifle or rocket launcher | 1,200x kills with linear fusion rifles or rocket launchers |
| Chosen Strength | Armor with a high strength roll | N/A – I was able to unlock this before I checked the requirements |
| Chosen Mobility | Armor with a high mobility roll | 250x Cabal Gold |
| Chosen Recovery | Armor with a high recovery roll | 30x Hammer charges used |
| Chosen Resilience | Armor with a high resilience roll | 3,000 enemies defeated |
| Chosen Discipline | Armor with a high discipline roll | 350x grenade kills |
| Chosen Intellect | Armor with a high intellect roll | 500x super kills |
Long story short, focusing Umbral Engrams via the Prismatic Recaster now requires several grindy tasks:
- Kills/collection tallies.
- Activities completed so you can obtain Cabal Gold for the Hammer of Proving.
- Battleground runs to smash Tribute Chests in order to have Hammer of Proving charges.
Is this the “fun and engaging core gameplay loop” that we can expect from Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen? Well, I’m personally disappointed. You have to slog just to unlock and obtain focused Umbral Engrams and, in the end, you’re still at the mercy of RNG.
Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen is available via Steam. For more information, check out our guides and features hub.
