The Monument of Triumph update added the Bushido armor set to Destiny 2, and if you've been waiting for samurai-style gear that actually does something useful in combat, this is worth your time. The set is vendor-focused, meaning no raid clears or exotic quests required. You just need the right currency and a few runs through Vanguard Ops.
Where do you get the Bushido armor set in Destiny 2?
Head to the Tower and speak with Zavala. On the second page of his offerings, look for the Focused Decoding section. Select the Armor option, then navigate to the third page to find the full Bushido set listed there.
Each individual piece costs:
- 1 Vanguard Engram
- 3 Vanguard Ciphers
- 15,000 Glimmer
That price applies per piece, so grabbing the full five-piece set means you'll need 5 Vanguard Engrams, 15 Vanguard Ciphers, and 75,000 Glimmer total. The Engrams and Glimmer are easy. The Ciphers are where the grind actually lives.
Zavala's Focused Decoding menu
How do you farm Vanguard Ciphers fast?
Vanguard Engrams drop from ranking up your reputation with Zavala through normal Vanguard Ops play. Glimmer flows naturally from the same activities. Neither requires dedicated farming.
Vanguard Ciphers are a different story. Drop rates are inconsistent across the Vanguard Ops playlist, and you may go several runs without seeing one. Based on testing across multiple activity types, Arena Ops tends to produce Ciphers more reliably than other Vanguard Ops modes. That said, if you notice them dropping in another activity you prefer, there's no reason to force Arena Ops specifically.
Vanguard Cipher drop in Arena Ops
What does the Bushido armor set bonus do?
The set has two bonuses that activate based on how many pieces you're wearing:
The Iaido 2-piece bonus has a useful interaction with Bows specifically. Bows in Destiny 2 always register as reloaded after firing a shot, which means every Bow kill triggers the healing effect automatically. You don't need to manually reload between shots. Shotguns work similarly since reloading a single shell after a kill is quick enough to keep the bonus active.
The Unfaltering Focus 4-piece bonus rewards aggressive play with Bows, Shotguns, and Swords by reducing the damage you take while you're dealing it. The effect extends as long as you keep landing hits with those weapon types, which makes it particularly strong during sustained engagements.
Is the Bushido set worth farming?
Honestly, the Bushido set sits in the middle of the pack when stacked against other armor set bonuses available in Monument of Triumph. The bonuses aren't the strongest available, and players running optimized endgame builds will likely find better options elsewhere.
That said, the set earns its place if your loadout already leans on Bows, Shotguns, or Swords. The Iaido healing perk keeps you topped off during normal content without burning ability charges, and Unfaltering Focus adds a survivability layer that compounds well with the right Armor Mods, Exotics, and Artifact Perks. Pair it with weapons that already suit your playstyle and the bonuses feel natural rather than forced.
For players who care about aesthetics, the Bushido set's samurai-inspired design is one of the cleaner armor looks added in this update. If the visual fits your Guardian and the weapon types match your preferred kit, the grind is reasonable enough to justify.
If you're building out your full loadout alongside this set, check out the Destiny 2 guide on Kindled Orchid god rolls for a hand cannon that pairs well with aggressive close-range builds, or the Action Item god rolls guide if you want a trace rifle that complements Stasis-focused setups.
For everything else added in the current update cycle, the full Destiny 2 guides collection covers weapon god rolls, exotic missions, and power leveling strategies to keep your Guardian ahead of the curve.