Into the Light Onslaught: A Deep Dive into Destiny 2's 2026 Horde Mode

Yo, what's up, Guardians? So, Bungie dropped this massive content update, Into the Light, back before The Final Shape, and honestly? It's still hitting different in 2026. We got this brand-new social space, the Hall of Champions, which is basically our new hangout spot for grabbing all the shiny new gear and bounties. But the real star of the show, the thing that's had us grinding for weeks, is the Onslaught activity. It's a proper, three-player horde mode that feels like a love letter to all of us who just want to shoot stuff with our buddies.

So, what is Onslaught? Imagine you and two of your best fireteam members getting dropped into a map—right now we've got Midtown on Earth, Vostok, and the Mothyards on Cosmodrome—with one job: protect the ADU, this big ol' Advanced Defense Unit, from endless waves of Fallen and Hive. It's simple, but man, does it get intense. You can jump into a quick 10-wave version from the playlist, or if you're feeling truly brave (or maybe a little crazy), you can commit to the full 50-wave marathon from the director. And get this—after every 5 waves, you get whisked away to a Darkness pyramid ship to throw hands with The Witness's forces. Talk about a change of scenery!

Onslaught's Brutal Difficulty Tiers

Bungie didn't hold back with the challenge here. Onslaught comes in two flavors: Normal and Legend.

• Normal: You start off on an even playing field, power-wise. But then, get this, every 10 waves, the enemies get a +4 power boost. By wave 40? Yeah, you're looking at a 20-power deficit. It sneaks up on you!

• Legend: This is where the real masochists play. You start already 10 power levels below the enemies. And then, every 10 waves, they get another +5. It's absolutely brutal, basically Grandmaster Nightfall territory. Oh, and there's this nasty modifier called Restrict that pops up later—if your whole team wipes, it's straight back to orbit, no revives. Champions? You bet. Overload, Unstoppable, Barrier—they're all here to ruin your day.

Your Main Mission: Protect the ADU!

The core loop is defending that precious ADU. It's got a health bar right above it, and seeing it chip away from enemy fire is pure anxiety. But here's the trick: those glowing, high-value targets that spawn? Kill 'em, and they drop these glowing batteries. Chuck those at the ADU to heal it back up. It's a constant juggle between killing adds and playing medic for a giant robot. Every 10 waves, you also have a big boss fight inside the pyramid ship. And keep an eye out for bonus objectives during the normal waves—completing them nets you extra rewards. Gotta get that loot!

Scrap, Scrap, and More Scrap: Building Your Defenses

This is where Onslaught gets its tower-defense vibes. You earn a currency called Scrap by killing enemies and finishing waves. The best part? Your fireteam isn't sharing one pool; everyone gets their own Scrap to spend. And what do you spend it on? Defenses, baby!

You can upgrade each defense up to level 3, but each upgrade costs a ton more Scrap. Managing your economy is key to surviving the later waves.

The Wave-by-Wave Breakdown

The activity is structured in sets of 10 waves, each ending with a pyramid section and a boss. The normal waves are all about holding the line as enemies pour in from different spawn points. But it's not just mindless shooting. Random bonus challenges pop up to spice things up, and succeeding gives you an ammo box (a true blessing). These challenges include:

• Capture Pyramid Zones: Stand in the glowy zones before time runs out.

• Signal Disruption: Find and shoot floating pyramid splinters.

• Speed Wave: Kill everything in the wave super fast. Adrenaline rush!

• Relic Collection: Enemies drop relics; grab 20 of them.

Taking the Fight to the Pyramid (Offensive Waves)

Every 6th wave in a set (waves 6, 16, 26... you get it), a portal opens, and you're taking the fight to them. You teleport to the pyramid ship.

1. First Room: Simple clean-up. Just kill all the combatants. Warm-up time.

2. Second Room: Now it gets spicy. You need to kill three special Sparkholder enemies. Once they're down, a Spark spawns for someone to grab.

1. The Dunk: A door opens to a long hall. At the end is a rift. The Spark carrier has to make a run for it while the team covers them from adds and... a big, scary, immune boss that just wanders around. Dunk the Spark, and you're teleported back home. Phew.

Watch Out for Mandatory Augments!

These are like the bonus objectives' meaner cousin. They appear randomly, but you have to complete them. Fail, and it's a full team wipe. No pressure, right? They'll be stuff like "Kill the Skybombers before they reach the ADU" or "Defuse the mines." They keep you on your toes.

The Grand Finale: Boss Wave & The Epic Heatwave

After 10 waves, it's boss time. You get a rally flag (thank the Traveler), then it's a straightforward—but chaotic—boss fight. Pro tip: kill the shielded enemies that spawn; they give you a damage buff against the boss. Do this loop five times, and you've conquered the 50-wave gauntlet.

But wait, there's more! Sometimes, after beating the boss...

HEATWAVE activates. It's like the Lightning Round from Dares of Eternity, but somehow more insane. Your Super and abilities recharge insanely fast, and the boss arena gets flooded with Tormentors. You have a limited time to kill as many as possible without dying. Every Tormentor you take down rewards you with a Trophy of Bravery. It's pure, unadulterated chaos, and it's honestly the most fun you can have in the mode. Just you, your fireteam, and a room full of nightmares to purge.

So yeah, that's Onslaught. It's a fantastic piece of content that's stood the test of time. Whether you're in for a quick 10-wave romp or the ultimate 50-wave test of endurance, it delivers that classic Destiny power fantasy mixed with some real tactical depth. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some more Scrap to farm. See you in the arena, Guardians!