Destiny 2 Season of the Haunted Week 9 Challenges: A 2026 Look Back

In 2026, Destiny 2 has moved far beyond Season of the Haunted, but looking back at the season's ninth weekly batch of Seasonal Challenges is still an interesting exercise. That week gave players six more objectives, and most of them leaned heavily on the then-new Solar 3.0 rework. The rewards included XP, Bright Dust, Opulent Umbral Energy, and even a Trials of Osiris weapon. For anyone studying how Bungie once designed seasonal content, these challenges are a time capsule. They also show how Scorch and Ignite shaped buildcrafting at the time. Of course, in 2026 these challenges are no longer live. Season of the Haunted ended years ago, and its associated activities have been vaulted or rotated out of the current game. Still, the strategies and design lessons remain worth remembering.

Week 9 Challenge Overview

🔥 Warm Resolve

Warm Resolve asked players to complete 'Sever – Resolve' using only a Solar subclass and Solar, Kinetic, or Stasis weapons. The subclass and weapon loadout had to be used for the entire mission. Because Solar 3.0 had just launched, this challenge was a natural way to push players into the new aspects and fragments. The reward was Opulent Umbral Energy and 25,000 XP. In 2026, Sever missions are not part of the live seasonal rotation, so this challenge is purely historical. Even so, it reflects a common Destiny 2 pattern: new subclass systems often arrived alongside challenges that forced players to actually use them.

🚀 Cabal Tactics

Cabal Tactics took place on the Derelict Leviathan. Players needed 125 Rocket Launcher final blows and 125 rapid defeats in groups of three or more. The rapid defeat counter granted progress for each enemy killed during a spree, so a six-enemy chain counted as six kills. Wardcliff Coil and Deathbringer were popular choices. Wardcliff was surprisingly ammo-efficient and did not need to reload when Heavy bricks were nearby. Deathbringer hit extremely hard and could clear entire waves with a single shot. In 2026, the Derelict Leviathan is no longer a current destination, but the challenge remains a good example of how Bungie mixed destination-specific tasks with weapon requirements.

🎯 Armory-Wide Calibration

Armory-Wide Calibration required 200 final blows with Kinetic, Energy, and Power weapons. That meant 600 kills total, with bonus progress against Champions. Good farming spots included Shuro Chi in Last Wish, the Thrall hallway in Shattered Throne, and Lost Sectors. Primary weapons were recommended for Kinetic and Energy slots to avoid ammo problems. Swords or Machine Guns were the most ammo-efficient Heavy options. The rewards were 100,000 XP and 300 Bright Dust. In 2026, players who still run legacy raids can use similar kill farms, but the challenge itself is retired. It is a reminder that seasonal challenges often doubled as soft tutorials for weapon economy.

🔥 Solar Gambit

Solar Gambit focused on Solar effects, which meant Scorch and Ignite. Players needed 200 Solar effect kills, with bonus progress for defeating Guardians. Enemies that died while Scorched could grant progress, but Ignites were the best source of final blows. Build suggestions from that era included:

• Hunter: Caliban's Hand, Ember of Ashes, Ember of Char, and Ember of Expulsion. Chaining a melee attack with a grenade could guarantee an Ignite.

• Warlock: Fusion Grenades, Starfire Protocol, Witherhoard, Ember of Ashes, and Touch of Flame. Melee builds used Ember of Singeing and Heavy Handed to spam Incinerating Snap.

• Titan: Consecration was excellent for applying Ignite. Players stacked melee cooldown with Ember of Singeing and Heavy Handed.

The rewards were 50,000 XP and 150 Bright Dust. In 2026, Gambit has changed, but Solar builds still rely on similar ideas. Scorch and Ignite remain part of the Solar identity, even if the exact mods and seasonal artifacts have shifted.

🏆 Trial by Firing Squad

Trial by Firing Squad required winning 20 rounds in Trials of Osiris. The wording mattered: these were rounds, not matches. The rounds did not need to be consecutive or on the same Trials card. Rewards included a Trials of Osiris weapon, 100,000 XP, and 300 Bright Dust. The PvP meta at the time could be frustrating, so players shared tips:

• Use Overload Rounds to disable Classy Restoration. This worked best on SMGs and Auto Rifles.

• Equip Malfeasance. Five shots was a guaranteed kill, regardless of healing.

• Use Classy Restoration to exploit the season's abundant healing. It gave x2 Restoration for a few seconds after using a class ability.

Players were also advised to play on Sunday or Monday when the Flawless pool was active. In 2026, Trials has evolved, but round-based objectives remain a familiar format. The challenge is gone, yet the memory of Classy Restoration still makes some veterans shudder.

☀️ Solar Vanguard

Solar Vanguard asked for Solar effect defeats in Vanguard playlists. The rewards were 50,000 XP and 150 Bright Dust. Skyburner's Oath was a simple option because every hip-fire shot applied Scorch, granting progress with each final blow. Ignite builds also worked well for players who preferred explosions. This challenge encouraged Guardians to bring Solar 3.0 into strikes, which helped normalize the new subclass system. In 2026, Vanguard playlists still exist, but the specific challenge is long gone. It remains a good example of how Bungie used ritual playlists to reinforce seasonal mechanics.

Why These Challenges Still Matter in 2026

Season of the Haunted's Week 9 challenges are not playable in 2026. The season has ended, the Derelict Leviathan is no longer a live destination, and the seasonal challenge system has moved on. Even so, these objectives are useful for understanding Destiny 2's design history. They show how Bungie tied rewards to specific activities, how Solar 3.0 was introduced, and how PvE and PvP challenges could coexist in one weekly batch. They also highlight the grind: 600 weapon kills, 200 Solar effect kills, 20 Trials rounds. For modern players, the biggest takeaway is that seasonal challenges always reflect their era. They are time capsules. Season of the Haunted may be over, but its ninth week still offers a fascinating look back at a pivotal moment in Destiny 2's history.