You can’t get Essence of Desire through its former Episode: Heresy method now. Bungie listed the currency for deprecation when Destiny 2 Year 8 began on July 15, 2025, removing it from player inventories. The route below explains how it worked during Heresy, but it is historical—not a current farm.
Is Essence of Desire still available in Destiny 2?
No current acquisition method is established in the available official information. Bungie’s Year 8 deprecation notice says certain items tied to vaulted destinations, activities, and campaigns were removed from player inventories when Year 8 started on July 15, 2025; Essence of Desire was among them. That means the old Episode: Heresy loop should not be treated as a way to earn the currency today.
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Destiny 2 - Xbox One Standard Edition | $9.42 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Destiny 2: Forsaken - Legendary Collection - Xbox One | $18.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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Destiny: The Taken King - Legendary Edition - Xbox One | $5.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Destiny 2 - Xbox One - Standard Edition | $9.08 | Buy on Amazon |
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Destiny 2 - Xbox One Standard Edition (Renewed) | $7.12 | Buy on Amazon |
How players got Essence of Desire during Episode: Heresy
During the episode, players gathered Metastasized Essentia by completing Nether runs. The contemporary GameSpot guide to the Tome of Want described turning in a stack of 10 at the Taken Altar in Eris Morn’s apartment to receive Essence of Desire and other rewards. Metastasized Essentia’s fleeting form was retained when a Nether run ended.
- Complete Nether runs to collect Metastasized Essentia.
- Collect 10 Metastasized Essentia.
- During Episode: Heresy, take the stack to the Taken Altar in Eris Morn’s apartment and turn it in for rewards, including Essence of Desire.
Those steps describe the episode-era route only. The number 10 is the historical turn-in amount, not a current drop rate or a guarantee that the altar still offers the exchange.
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#1 Best Overall
- From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much anticipated sequel
- An action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar system
- Humanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force, led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red Legion
- To defeat the Red Legion and confront Ghaul, you must reunite humanity’s scattered heroes, stand together, and fight back to reclaim our home
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Animated blood, violence
What Essence of Desire was used for
Essence of Desire was an in-game currency, not a physical item. During Heresy, it was used to pay for the Tome of Want’s ritual slot and to open certain Nether chests. The historical GameSpot explanation of the Nether activity covers its role in those chest interactions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you’re looking for more
There is no verified replacement method in the cited official notice or historical guides. Because Bungie’s notice confirms deprecation rather than a later reintroduction, searching the old Nether or Taken Altar route for a current farm is unlikely to help. Check current in-game activity and Bungie announcements for any future changes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much anticipated sequel
- An action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar system
- Humanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force, led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red Legion
- To defeat the Red Legion and confront Ghaul, you must reunite humanity’s scattered heroes, stand together, and fight back to reclaim our home
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Animated blood, violence
Rank #4
Rank #3
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- Destiny: The Taken King is the next great adventure in the first person shooter Destiny universe. It introduces a new story campaign and quests, new enemies to fight, new locations to explore, new Strikes and Crucible maps, a new Raid that will put players to the ultimate test, and more. To stand up to the challenge, players will have access to three new devastating Guardian subclasses, and a massive arsenal of weapons, armor, and gear.
- Contents include: Destiny Base Game, Expansion I, Expansion II, and The Taken King
Rank #2
- Available 9.3.18. Playable 9.4.18 at 10AM PDT
- Destiny 2
- Expansion I: Curse of Osiris
- Expansion II: Warmind
- Destiny 2: Forsaken
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