The Halloween event in Star Trek Online, Fall of the Old Ones, runs from October 22 to November 12, 2026. Inspired by the classic Star Trek: Voyager episode "The Thaw," this limited-time event sends captains into a dark, unsettling setting filled with skeleton enemies, supernatural encounters, and cooperative objectives. Our team recommends checking the remaining event days before choosing a daily route, especially if you want to unlock every major reward without rushing at the last minute.
The main goal is to earn 14 days of daily progress and claim the event's account-wide rewards. Whether you spend most of your time exploring, fighting, or managing resources such as Star Trek Online Energy Credits, it helps to separate event progression from your regular character development. You do not need to complete every available activity each day; choosing the right task for your playstyle is the more efficient approach.
Fall of the Old Ones: Event Dates and Requirements
The event runs through November 12, 2026. During this period, players can advance their daily progress by completing either the featured ground Task Force Operation (TFO) or one of the two associated solo patrols.
Players need 14 days of Daily Progress to claim the featured event reward. Progress can be earned once every 20 hours by completing an eligible event activity, so checking the in-game timer is essential for planning your remaining runs.
| Event detail | What players need to know |
|---|---|
| Event period | October 22–November 12, 2026 |
| Progress requirement | 14 days of daily progress |
| Featured team activity | Cat's Tale |
| Solo alternatives | Skeleton Crew and Witches Brew |
| Main reward focus | Account-wide Halloween-themed rewards |
| Progress cooldown | Reported as 20 hours; verify the current in-game timer |
For the official activity details, reward conditions, and event schedule, consult the official Star Trek Online announcement on Steam.
Our team recommends starting as early as possible rather than treating the closing week as a catch-up period. A cooldown-based system does not necessarily reset at the same clock time every day, so check the in-game event interface before planning consecutive completions. If you miss a session, review the remaining available progress windows before deciding whether a buyout is necessary.
How to Complete Cat's Tale TFO
Cat's Tale is the featured five-player ground activity. The mission takes players to Pyris VII, where they investigate a dark castle and confront the Devidians. Compared with a straightforward combat patrol, this activity places more emphasis on environmental interactions, teamwork, and completing objectives in the correct order.
Follow the castle objectives
The mission is organized into three main stages. The early sections involve interacting with environmental objects, lighting candles, and using light-based mechanics to weaken or eliminate skeletal enemies. The final stage leads into a boss encounter against the Devidians.
Our team recommends staying close enough to your group to avoid missing objective updates. Defeating enemies quickly is useful, but it will not replace required interactions. If a stage appears to stall, check whether a candle, cleansing interaction, or other objective remains unfinished before wandering through the castle looking for more enemies.
Prepare for the darkness
Visibility is one of the main practical concerns in the castle. A flashlight obtained through the Defend Rhio Station mission or the older What Lies Beneath mission can make exploration easier. An environmental suit with built-in illumination may also help, depending on the equipment available to your character.
For combat preparation, bring a reliable ground build with a balance of damage and survivability. Players who can control groups of enemies or clear weaker targets quickly can help keep encounters manageable, while teammates should remain attentive to the mission objectives.
Cat's Tale is a good choice if you enjoy cooperative content or want to experience the full Halloween scenario. However, players who mainly want to secure daily progress may find the solo patrols more convenient.
Skeleton Crew and Witches Brew Patrol Guide
The two solo patrols adapt parts of the featured TFO into shorter, individual activities. They are useful alternatives for captains who prefer to avoid matchmaking or who want a more predictable daily routine.
| Patrol | Main focus | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Crew | Castle encounters, candles, and light-based mechanics | Players comfortable with ground combat and environmental objectives |
| Witches Brew | Combat and puzzle interactions around the cauldron | Players who prefer a different encounter layout |
Skeleton Crew: Use the environment
Skeleton Crew focuses on the castle's skeletal enemies and the environmental mechanics used to deal with them. Rather than relying entirely on weapon damage, pay attention to the available light sources and cleansing interactions. These mechanics are central to the encounter, so learn how they work before trying to rush through the patrol.
Witches Brew: Balance combat and interactions
Witches Brew centers on the cauldron area and combines combat with environmental objectives. Keep an eye on the mission tracker, clear enemies that interfere with interactions, and avoid assuming that defeating every hostile will automatically complete the stage.
Both patrols are suitable daily choices once you understand their mechanics. We recommend trying each one early in the event and then sticking with the option you can complete most consistently. A reported completion time of around three minutes may be possible with a familiar build, but actual results depend on combat performance, objective handling, and the current mission implementation.
All Halloween 2026 Rewards and Unlock Requirements
The primary reason to complete the event is its collection of Halloween-themed rewards. Reaching the required 14 days of progress unlocks the featured reward package according to the event details provided.
| Reward | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Universal Kit Module – Fear Itself | Summons the Kohl Entertainer to disrupt nearby enemies with control effects and periodic effects that can turn affected enemies against one another |
| Kohl Entertainer Costume Outfit Box | Provides themed costume pieces and unsettling face-paint options |
| Six new emotes | Claps Exaggeratedly, Dance – Celebration, Dance – Firedance, Fake Cry, Give Flowers, and Laugh Heartily |
| Initial completion rewards | Reported as 25,000 refined Dilithium Ore and three Featured TFO Reward Boxes for the first qualifying character |
Fear Itself is the most gameplay-oriented reward in the package. Its combination of crowd control and enemy disruption could make it appealing to players who enjoy unusual ground-combat abilities. Before building a loadout around it, check the current in-game tooltip for its precise duration, cooldown, and restrictions.
The costume box and emotes are more focused on character customization and seasonal collecting. If you enjoy themed outfits or social role-playing, these items add value beyond the combat reward. Captains who collect Star Trek Online Ships and other account-wide unlocks should also check the exact entitlement rules rather than assuming every item uses the same sharing system.
What happens after 14 days?
The supplied event details describe additional Dilithium rewards for continuing to participate after completing the main progression, with daily amounts reportedly increasing from 8,000 toward a maximum of 50,000. Verify the current in-game reward display before relying on these figures, as the amount and eligibility conditions determine whether extra runs are worthwhile.
Players who fall behind may also have a Zen buyout option. Check the event interface for the current price and remaining progress before spending Zen. If you still have enough time to complete the remaining daily objectives naturally, a buyout may offer little practical benefit.
Best Daily Route for Different Players
There is no single route that works best for every captain. Your available time, familiarity with ground combat, and interest in cooperative play should determine which activity you choose.
| Player type | Recommended route | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| Solo players with limited time | Skeleton Crew or Witches Brew | Learn one patrol and repeat it consistently |
| Players who enjoy group content | Cat's Tale | Coordinate objective interactions and share combat responsibilities |
| Completionists | Try Cat's Tale early, then use a familiar patrol | Experience the full event before prioritizing efficient daily runs |
| Players catching up near the deadline | Choose the most reliable available activity | Calculate the remaining progress opportunities and check buyout terms if necessary |
A simple progression plan
Early event: Try Cat's Tale at least once if you want to experience the complete scenario. Test both patrols as well, so you know which one suits your build and playstyle.
Middle of the event: Repeat your preferred activity whenever progress becomes available. Avoid switching activities unnecessarily if you have already found a reliable route.
Final days: Check your actual progress rather than estimating from the number of times you have logged in. Complete any remaining eligible sessions as soon as the cooldown permits, leaving room for unexpected delays.
One important distinction is that the 14-day requirement concerns eligible progress, not simply logging in on 14 separate calendar dates. Confirm how the event tracker records completion and whether any missed opportunities can still fit within the remaining event window.
PC Experimental Graphics: Setup and Performance Tips
The supplied update information also describes experimental graphics options for the PC version. These features are intended to improve lighting, surface depth, reflections, and character animation. Because experimental options can vary by client version and hardware, confirm that the settings are present in your current installation before following this section.
What the graphics options change
- Volumetric Lighting: Adds atmospheric light beams and more convincing light scattering.
- Parallax Occlusion Mapping: Gives surfaces such as stone walls and floors a stronger impression of depth.
- Screen Space Reflections (SSR): Adds reflections based on information visible on the screen.
- Foot-to-Ground IK: Adjusts foot placement to better match uneven terrain.
- Space Soft Shadows: Softens the appearance of shadows around ships and other objects in space.
These options have different performance costs. Volumetric lighting and screen-space reflections are sensible candidates to test individually if your frame rate drops. The visual improvement may be worthwhile on a capable PC, but a stable frame rate is usually more valuable than a few extra lighting effects during combat.
How to enable experimental graphics
- Press Esc to open the main menu.
- Select Options and switch to the Advanced tab.
- Scroll to the EXPERIMENTAL section, if it is available in your client.
- Enable one option at a time, then apply the changes and test the game.
For the feature list and the official instructions for enabling these options, see the Star Trek Online PC experimental graphics announcement.
Changing one setting at a time makes it easier to identify which feature affects performance. Test the castle environment and a normal space encounter before enabling every option at once.
How to recover from performance problems
If you experience stuttering, visual glitches, or a substantial frame-rate drop, return to Options → Advanced → EXPERIMENTAL and disable the most recently enabled feature. Test the game again before changing anything else.
If the game crashes before you can access the settings, use the launcher's or game's supported configuration recovery options, following the current official support instructions. Verifying game files can help with corrupted installation files, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed way to reset graphics settings. Lowering the overall graphics preset may also help if you can still access the relevant menu.
Summary
The 2026 Fall of the Old Ones event offers a choice between a cooperative ground TFO and two solo patrols, with 14 days of daily progress required for the featured reward package. Our team recommends trying Cat's Tale early to experience the full Halloween scenario, then switching to whichever patrol you can complete most reliably if efficiency becomes your priority.
Keep track of the November 12 deadline, confirm your actual progress in the event interface, and review the reward conditions before considering a Zen buyout. The PC graphics options are worth exploring separately if they are available in your client, but they should remain secondary to completing the limited-time event.
FAQ
When does the Star Trek Online Halloween 2026 event end?
The event is scheduled to end on November 12, 2026. Check the in-game event interface for the precise closing time and time zone.
Do I need to complete Cat's Tale every day?
No. According to the supplied event details, you can earn daily progress through Cat's Tale or either of the two solo patrols. Choose the activity that best fits your available time.
Which patrol is better for solo players?
Skeleton Crew is a reasonable starting point if you are comfortable with the castle's light-based mechanics. Witches Brew provides an alternative centered on the cauldron area. Try both before settling on your preferred daily route.
What is the main reward for completing 14 days?
The featured package includes the Fear Itself Universal Kit Module, the Kohl Entertainer Costume Outfit Box, and six emotes. Check the in-game event description for the final eligibility and account-unlock details.
Should I enable every experimental graphics option?
Not immediately. Enable one feature at a time and test performance before moving to the next. If you experience frame-rate drops or instability, disable the problematic option and prioritize a stable game experience.
