I logged into Destiny 2 in 2026, and the Tower felt different. New episodes, new gear, new friends. But my mind drifted back to the pirate season. Season of Plunder. Week 5. Seven seasonal challenges. I remember them like they were yesterday.

Back then, I was a younger Guardian. I had just finished the week 4 challenges, and I was hungry for more. Week 5 was lighter—only seven challenges—but it still demanded time, patience, and a bit of piracy. Here is how I tackled them, and what they mean to me now, in 2026.

🏴☠️ Antiquarian V: The Fifth Relic

The first challenge was Antiquarian V. I had to return the fifth relic to the H.E.L.M. But first, I had to progress through the Sails of the Shipstealer weekly quest. That meant sailing into danger, fighting powerful Fallen, and grabbing the relic. Defeating more powerful combatants gave bonus progress. Once I had it, I placed it on the table opposite the seasonal Star Chart, right next to the other weekly relics. The reward was Repute and Challenger XP+.

I remember the feeling of placing that relic. It was like finishing a puzzle. Mithrax and Eido watched. The H.E.L.M. smelled of ozone and old maps. It was silly, but it felt like home.

🗺️ Seeker’s Cache II: Riddles and Crewmates

Seeker’s Cache II was next. I had to summon crewmates in Expedition and Ketchcrash. I also had to decipher the Medium Treasure Beacon, available from the Star Chart. That meant twenty crewmates summoned. Twenty! I ran Expedition again and again, calling in my crew, watching them fight. Then I started the Cryptic Quatrain II questline, chasing pirate-themed riddles across the system.

The riddles were fun. They reminded me of old treasure hunts. I spent hours in the Dreaming City, looking for clues. The reward was Repute and Challenger XP+.

💥 Resist and Revolt: The Cry Mutiny Grind

Resist and Revolt required me to acquire Cry Mutiny, the Season of Plunder ritual weapon. To get it, I had to reach Rank 16 in Crucible, Gambit, or Vanguard. That was a grind. A real grind. I played a lot of Gambit. I played a lot of Vanguard. I waited for double XP weekends and then played even more. The reward was Challenger XP++ and Bright Dust. In 2026, I still have Cry Mutiny in my vault. It is a trophy.

I remember Zavala's voice. Calm. Steady. He told me to keep going. So I did.

👑 Oh Captain: Boss Hunting

Oh Captain was simple. Defeat Cabal and Fallen bosses in strikes or Vanguard playlists. Five Cabal bosses. Five Fallen bosses. I ran the Vanguard playlist on repeat. Some strikes were fast. Some were slow. But I got it done. The reward was Challenger XP++ and Bright Dust.

I liked this one. It was straightforward. No riddles. No puzzles. Just shooting. Sometimes that is exactly what a Guardian needs.

💰 Expert Expedition II: Treasure and Champions

Expert Expedition II asked me to gather treasure into the treasure haul and defeat Champions in Expedition. Twenty-five treasure collected. Five Champions defeated. I booted up Expedition, grabbed treasure, and fought the Champion at the end. Simple as that. The reward was Challenger XP.

I did this one with friends. We laughed. We died. We got the loot. It was a good time.

🔭 Spyglass: Scout Rifles and Shatter

Spyglass was a fun one. I had to defeat targets with Scout Rifles and Shatter Damage. Defeating combatants in Ketchcrash and defeating Guardians gave bonus progress. I chose both. I pulled out my Perses-D Scout Rifle, which deals Stasis damage. That let me double dip. Every kill counted for both. The reward was Challenger XP+.

I felt clever. I felt efficient. I felt like a pirate with a plan.

⚡ Superconductor: Crucible Slaying

Superconductor was last. Defeat Guardians in Crucible. Bonus progress for opponents defeated with Arc or Stasis effects. I loaded into Control. I used my Arc subclass. I slayed. The reward was Challenger XP++ and Bright Dust.

Shaxx yelled. I smiled. It was a good way to end the week.

📜 Week 5 Challenges at a Glance

Challenge	Objective	Reward
Antiquarian V	Return fifth relic, defeat powerful Fallen	Repute, Challenger XP+
Seeker’s Cache II	Summon crewmates, decipher Medium Treasure Beacon	Repute, Challenger XP+
Resist and Revolt	Acquire Cry Mutiny	Challenger XP++, Bright Dust
Oh Captain	Defeat Cabal and Fallen bosses in strikes	Challenger XP++, Bright Dust
Expert Expedition II	Collect treasure, defeat Champions in Expedition	Challenger XP
Spyglass	Defeat targets with Scout Rifles and Shatter Damage	Challenger XP+
Superconductor	Defeat Guardians in Crucible	Challenger XP++, Bright Dust

🌌 Final Thoughts from 2026

Now it is 2026. Destiny 2 has changed. The seasonal model has evolved. We have episodes. We have new stories. But I still think about Season of Plunder. It was not perfect. The grind was real. The RNG was cruel. But the pirate theme was joyful. The challenges were varied. And week 5 was a nice mix of easy wins and long grinds.

If you are a new Guardian in 2026, you might never experience Season of Plunder the way I did. That is okay. The game moves on. But if you ever find an old relic in your vault, or hear Mithrax speak, remember: we were pirates once. And it was glorious.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have some Crucible to play. Shaxx is calling. 🏴☠️