Engrams are decryption-ready parcels of loot in Destiny 2, containing weapons, armor, and other gear. Obtaining engrams is a fundamental part of progressing and acquiring new items in the game.
You can get engrams through various activities and vendors across the solar system. Different types of engrams drop from different sources and decrypt into gear of varying rarity.
Getting Engrams from Xur
One way to acquire valuable engrams, particularly Exotic ones, is by visiting Xur, the Agent of the Nine. Xur appears every weekend from Friday's daily reset until Tuesday's daily reset in a rotating location (the Tower Hangar, Nessus, or the European Dead Zone).
As noted in the reference, Xur has received updates, and you can utilize Strange Coins to purchase items from him. Doing so can unlock rewards, which may include or lead to earning engrams, especially Exotic Engrams, a key source for new or missing Exotic armor and weapons.
- Visit Xur: Find his location each weekend.
- Earn Strange Coins: Participate in activities like Dares of Eternity.
- Purchase Items: Buy gear or other offerings from Xur using Strange Coins or Legendary Shards.
- Unlock Rewards: Engaging with Xur's inventory and systems can grant engrams.
Other Ways to Earn Engrams
Beyond Xur, engrams drop from a wide array of sources throughout Destiny 2.
Engrams from Activities
Completing activities is a primary method for earning engrams.
- Strikes, Crucible, Gambit: Completing matches and strikes often rewards Legendary and sometimes Exotic Engrams.
- Public Events: Participating in and completing Public Events in destination zones yields engrams.
- Lost Sectors: Running Lost Sectors, especially Legend and Master difficulty during solo runs when they offer Exotic armor, is a targeted way to farm specific Exotic Engrams.
- Seasonal Activities: Participating in current seasonal events and activities typically rewards seasonal engrams and general world drops.
- Dares of Eternity: This activity rewards Strange Coins (useful for Xur) and engrams.
Vendor and Rank-Up Engrams
Certain vendors offer engrams as rewards for increasing your reputation rank with them.
- Vanguard, Crucible, Gambit: Earning reputation with these core playlists allows you to claim engrams from their respective vendors in the Tower.
- Destination Vendors: Vendors in zones like the EDZ, Nessus, or Savathûn's Throne World give engrams for reputation gained through patrols, public events, and lost sectors.
- Seasonal Vendors: Each season introduces a vendor who grants engrams for completing seasonal challenges and activities.
World Drops and Prime Engrams
Engrams can drop randomly from defeating enemies and completing activities throughout the game world.
- World Drops: Legendary Engrams occasionally drop from powerful enemies anywhere in the system.
- Prime Engrams: These are special, higher-level engrams that drop randomly from defeating challenging enemies or completing activities. You have a limited number of Prime Engrams you can earn within a set timeframe.
Focusing Engrams
Many vendors allow you to "focus" vendor-specific engrams (earned from their activities) or general Legendary Engrams into specific armor pieces or weapons from their pool. This requires the engram and usually another currency like Legendary Shards or destination materials.
- Tower Vendors: Vendors like Commander Zavala, Lord Shaxx, and The Drifter allow focusing.
- Seasonal Vendors: Seasonal vendors often have extensive focusing options for seasonal gear.
- Legacy Vendors: Vendors like Saint-14 or the Drifter (for Gambit) have focusing options for specific gear sets.
Getting engrams in Destiny 2 is tied directly to gameplay – the more activities you do, the more opportunities you'll have to earn and decrypt engrams to expand your arsenal and improve your power level.
