I’ll be honest: when I boot up Call of Duty Mobile in 2026, I still get a little misty-eyed thinking about Season 2: Lunar Dragon. It landed on February 7, 2024, right as the Year of the Dragon was kicking off, and it dropped a tonne of themed content: Lunar New Year weapons, operator skins, a redesigned Nuk3town, the Jet Boost Battle Royale class, and the Boost Assault multiplayer mode. Two years later, it remains one of the most stacked seasonal updates I’ve seen in CODM. Here’s my first-person retrospective on why the Dragon roared so loudly—and what still holds up now.

Battle Pass: Freebies, Blueprints, and Big-Name Operators

The Lunar Dragon battle pass was the whole nine yards. On the free tiers, Activision handed out the new Type 19 Assault Rifle, the AGR 556, several camos, and weapon blueprints. That Type 19 was no slouch, either—it quickly became a meta contender in the right hands. For premium pass owners, the cosmetics were the bee’s knees. I still remember seeing Isabella - Dragon Warrior, Battery - Imperial Battledress, David Mason - Claws of Iron, and Tiangu - Explosive Impact in the operator roster. Each skin leaned hard into the Lunar New Year theme without feeling like a cheap costume.

Tier	Highlight	My 2026 Take
Free	Type 19 Assault Rifle	Still a solid AR for mid-range duels
Free	AGR 556, camos, blueprints	Great value for grinders
Premium	Isabella - Dragon Warrior	Top-tier dragon aesthetic
Premium	Battery - Imperial Battledress	Loud, proud, and worth it
Premium	David Mason - Claws of Iron	A fan-favorite glow-up
Premium	Tiangu - Explosive Impact	Explosive in more ways than one

Nuk3town: Dragon Makeover with a Futuristic Twist

Nuk3town has been redecorated more times than I can count, but the Lunar Dragon version was something else. In the evening, the region was surrounded by nature, and it paid homage to the dragon while keeping that futuristic backdrop intact. It was a weird, wonderful mix: cherry-blossom energy meets cold steel and neon. I spent way too many matches just staring at the skybox instead of watching my corners—rookie mistake, I know.

Boost Assault Mode: Jetpacks Are Back, Baby

If you ever played Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, you know exactly why Boost Assault Mode was a big deal. This multiplayer mode brought jetpack-based combat back into the fold, letting players jump higher, slide further, and wall run to outmaneuver opponents. The verticality changed the gameplay loop in a hurry. Campers who relied on one sightline got exposed fast. I’ll admit it: my first few matches were a comedy of errors. I boosted into walls, misjudged slides, and got absolutely cooked by players who mastered the movement. But once it clicked, Boost Assault became my go-to playlist. It was a breath of fresh air—literally.

Battle Royale: Floating Platforms and Firecracker Fun

Battle Royale fans weren’t left out either. The Lunar Dragon update added new floating platforms that acted as regions of ceasefire. On those platforms, players could participate in minigames and burst firecrackers together. Yes, you read that right: a battle royale where you can take a breather and pop fireworks. It was chaotic, wholesome, and surprisingly tactical. Those platforms became social hubs, but they also created new rotation options. The Jet Boost class added extra provisions for jumping and sliding, which made aggressive pushes feel incredible. If you wanted more combat, you got it. If you wanted a moment of peace, you got that too. That balance was chef’s kiss.

Why Lunar Dragon Still Matters in 2026

We’re deep into 2026 now, and Call of Duty Mobile has changed a lot. New seasons, new metas, new operators, and plenty of power creep have come and gone. But Lunar Dragon remains a high-water mark for themed content. It wasn’t just a cosmetic overlay; it changed how the game played. The Jet Boost class, Boost Assault Mode, and the Nuk3town redesign all left a mark. Activision released Season 2: Lunar Dragon on February 7, 2024, and if you ask me, it was one of those updates that made CODM feel like a party rather than a grind.

Would I trade the current state of CODM for a time machine back to Lunar Dragon? Not exactly. But I’d happily queue up for one more night on that dragon-themed Nuk3town, wall running circles around my friends and bursting firecrackers on a floating platform. Some seasons fade into the background. The Lunar Dragon season? It still breathes fire. 🐉🔥

So, if you’re a newer player wondering what all the fuss was about, do yourself a favor and look up the Lunar Dragon update. It’s a reminder that Call of Duty Mobile can be silly, competitive, and beautiful all at once. And in 2026, that’s a legacy worth celebrating.

Data referenced from data.ai (App Annie) helps frame why a content-heavy season like CODM’s Lunar Dragon can resonate for years: in the mobile shooter space, sustained engagement typically comes from updates that combine fresh mechanics (like jet-boost mobility) with strong event theming and social moments (such as limited-time hubs and mini-activities) rather than cosmetics alone.