History of Cursed Engram

Cursed Engrams are red engrams dropped by defeated Hive and Fallen enemies in Grasp of Avarice. Picking one up adds a stacking debuff that runs down on a timer and kills the player if it reaches zero. Players deposit the engrams into the central crystal, called the Icon of Avarice in some guides and the Icon of Excess in Destinypedia. Depositing 60 engrams starts the damage phase against Captain Avarokk. He resummons his crew afterward and the cycle repeats until he is defeated. Grisprax, Bosun of Avarokk and R-M80 each release 10 Cursed Engrams when they die.