Destiny 2 Update 8.2.6: Edge of Fate Reveal, Ride of the Nine, Heavy Metal PvP & More

Destiny 2 is gearing up for a major update on May 6, bringing a wave of fresh content that fans have been eagerly anticipating. Bungie is going all-in with what feels like the most significant mid-season refresh in a long time after the recent run of seasonal content and teases surrounding The Final Shape.

This patch marks the arrival of Into the Light 2.0, the retirement of Rite of the Nine in its current form, and the introduction of an entirely new PvP experience. Here's everything players need to know heading into one of the most exciting weeks the game has seen in months.

One hour before the May 6 update drops, Bungie will go live with a full reveal of Edge of Fate, the next major expansion for Destiny 2. This will be the first official look at the new content, and anticipation is sky-high.

There's a strong chance that pre-orders will go live during or shortly after the stream, continuing Bungie's tradition of pairing reveals with instant access to early bonuses. Leaks suggest that pre-orders will include several exclusive rewards, including a revamped version of No Land Beyond from Destiny 1, an emblem named External Sights, the Astral Cartography exotic emote, and the Anisotropic Shell ghost.

With the update comes a set of new weapons tied to specific activities. One of the highlights is Nature Reclaimed, a Solar lightweight scout rifle arriving with Iron Banner when it returns on May 24. Bungie suggests holding on to Iron Banner Engrams in anticipation. This weapon boasts some exciting perk combinations, including Killing Wind, Outlaw, Shoot to Loot, and powerful damage-dealing options like Incandescent, Desperate Measures, and Explosive Payload.

Trials of Osiris will also see the return of The Inquisitor, an Arc precision slug shotgun loaded with potent trait options such as Envious Assassin, Offhand Strike, and Cascade Point. Trials will resume May 13, although there's a possibility that Bungie actually meant May 16, given the weekly calendar.

Nightfall rotations are also getting a shakeup with the introduction of Cruel Mercy, an Arc-heavy burst pulse rifle. Available in both standard and Adept versions, this weapon features perks like Dragonfly, Demolitionist, Adrenaline Junkie, and Desperado. During the launch week, players can also earn Lotus Eater adept drops alongside Cruel Mercy, making it a prime time for PvE weapon farming.

In addition to the content updates, Bungie is delivering a substantial sandbox pass. This includes ability tweaks and tuning across legendary weapon archetypes. Lord of Wolves sees a notable PvE nerf, with a 30% reduction in hipfire damage. Riskrunner gets a slight buff with increased zoom, and ammo pickups for Truth and Two-Tailed Fox in Crucible have been doubled.

More exotic tuning includes adjustments to Althanim, where special ammo brick generation now costs only 50% of weapon energy, and a rework of the Vestigial Alchemy trait for clarity. Finality's Orga also receives a major buff: turret-painted targets are tracked for longer, secondary targets can now be marked, turrets gain a 10% damage buff, and self-damage is reduced by 85%, with an automatic reload granted upon turret deployment.

Taking center stage this season is Ride of the Nine, a dungeon-focused activity spread across Prophecy, Spire of the Watcher, and Ghosts of the Deep. Each week, one dungeon will rotate with three difficulty tiers: Explorer, Eternity, and Ultimatum.

Explorer is the most accessible and includes tooltips for mechanics, ideally for solo or new players. Eternity represents the standard difficulty, while Ultimatum introduces contest-like conditions and rewards Adept versions of dungeon weapons.

Twelve revamped dungeon weapons are being introduced across the three dungeons, and players will be able to farm weekly for specific drops. The Third Spire social space returns as the hub for this event, where players can interact with the Emissary of the Nine, pick up bounties, and use weapon attunement for targeted loot grinding.

Launching on May 9 is Heavy Metal, a brand-new vehicle-centric PvP mode that pits Briggs against Drakes in chaotic, high-speed warfare. Inspired by Supremacy, the mode awards one point for destroying an enemy vehicle and another for collecting the dropped coin. Picking up coins also restores health and ammo, and the current match leader glows with added dodge abilities. Taking them out drops a gold coin worth two points.

The first team to achieve 50 points wins, and Heavy Metal will come with its own set of daily and weekly challenges, as well as a rank progression system with 15 tiers and exclusive rewards. Bungie is also introducing an Event Home system, a reimagined version of the Event Card, but much more gameplay-focused. It will include re-rollable challenges (likely tied to a microtransaction currency), and it sets the template for future annual events like Solstice and Festival of the Lost.

With the mix of sandbox balancing, a fresh PvP mode, revamped dungeons, and a pre-expansion showcase, this update is shaping up to be one of the most content-rich patches in recent Destiny history. It's designed to keep the community engaged and grinding while building anticipation for what Edge of Fate will bring.

From new weapons and progression paths to a full dungeon rotation and more robust PvP offerings, May 6 marks a pivotal point in Destiny 2's seasonal cycle. The countdown to Edge of Fate has officially begun, and all eyes will be on Bungie's livestream for the next big step in the Light and Darkness saga.

So, are you planning to grind out Ride of the Nine or dive headfirst into Heavy Metal PvP first?