History of Data Spike

Overview

A Data Spike is a progress item in Override, the Season of the Splicer activity on Europa built around the Vex. Banking Data Spikes gives extra progress toward the next phase, and it is optional but useful. The mechanics below come from a 2021 guide, so later seasons may have changed the details.

Getting Data Spikes

Each round, a portal opens near the tower. Players go through it and defeat a champion, which drops a Data Spike. Carry the spike back to the tower and deposit it for extra progress.

Final boss

In the final encounter, the Scytale must be defeated before you can fight Tacitas. It drops a Data Spike that one player carries to the Vex tower at the front of the room, while the rest of the team shoots the white Vex cubes channeling toward Tacitas. That may need to be repeated once or twice before Tacitas dies.

Network Anomaly

A Network Anomaly is a champion-level goblin that drops a large amount of Decrypted Data when killed. Guides disagree on what triggers it. One says cashing in more Data Spikes in the first round raises the chance of one spawning during the final boss fight. The 2021 Europa guide says it spawns when the team stops every champion from reaching the plate under the tower. Either way the spawn is random.