Light will fall. Destiny 2: Lightfall is preparing its players for this eventuality. Subsequently, guardians will wield a new power to oppose the Witness and their allies. Bungie has kept the details of Strand under wraps. However, we finally have a healthy preview and deep dive this week. Here is the Destiny 2: Lightfall Strand trailer.
Hanging by a Thread
Read More: What Defines a 10/10 Game?
Strand is the new Darkness-based subclass. Soon, guardians will manipulate the threads of reality throughout Lightfall. The trailer showcases high-stakes actions and grandiose fights riddled with Strand. This over-the-top direction is intentional. Bungie’s creatives took inspiration from 1980’s action films. This is also evident in the expansion armor design.
Subsequently, new Strand vocabulary is now available. The Lightfall Strand trailer showcases many different thread effects used across all three classes. Destiny 2’s version of the Force is the Weave. Guardians will unravel their enemies and master the art of Strand through Weaving. Additionally, a Tangle is left by enemies you debuff with this subclass.
Tangles appear as swirling balls of fibers. Similar to Warmind Cells, they explode when shot and deal massive AOE damage. However, you can also pick up the ball and throw them to explode on impact. Next, there are three ways to debuff enemies with Strand: sever, unravel, and suspend.
- Sever – Enemy damage output is decreased
- Unravel – Unraveled enemies hit will explode with threads infecting nearby enemies and dealing damage.
- Suspend – Enemies are lifted for a brief period. PvE-suspended enemies are disabled. Meanwhile, PvP enemies retain their weapon usage and have slow movement when suspended.
Woven Mail is the notable buff for Strand. This was shown off in the Weapons and Gear trailer. It grants damage reduction to the user. However, melee and headshot damage remain unaffected inside PvP.
Masters of Fate
The Lightfall Strand trailer was filled with guardians launching into the air. A grapplehook utilizing Strand will change the way players interact with their environment and battles. The grapplehook serves as your grenade with the new subclass. Players can grapple at any time regardless of a tangible surface. Strand can summon an anchor point to use in its stead.
Meanwhile, the grapplehook is useful inside combat. Guardians can grapple enemies from afar for a powered melee, grapple Tangles, and grapple to reposition. This leads to amazing combos. Additionally, the team behind Strand expressed their joy about this. Strand combos feel very rewarding to the player when you have high Actions Per Minute. This has not really been present in the game until now. Subsequently, each class has its own take on weaving its way through the battlefield.
Warlock Broodweaver
Warlocks summon the threads of reality and bend it to their will. Primarily, this class uses Strand minions called Threadlings. Threadlings are explosive and also available to Hunters and Titans. However, Warlock Threadlings will return and travel with you if no target is available.
Next, Arcane Needle is the powered melee ability for Warlocks. It can be used up to three times in a row. The melee tracks targets and unravels them upon impact. Additionally, these are the two unique aspects to choose from:
- Weaver’s Call – Three Threadling eggs are summoned upon Rift cast. They hatch into Threadlings when hitting a surface.
- Mindspun Invocation – Provides the following benefits:
- Grapple – Summons three Threadling eggs after a grapple melee
- Threadling Grenade – Consume your Threadling Grenade to summon a group of perched Threadlings
- Shackle Grenade – Consume your Shackle Grenade. Every kill creates a Suspending explosion.
Lastly, the Warlock Super is Needlestorm. This summons giant spikes of Strand. Shoot these forth to deny area and explode after a brief period when stuck to enemies or surfaces. Afterward, Threadlings spawn from the explosion.
Hunter Threadrunner
Hunters serve a master class of mobility and speed with Strand. They are the epitome of a fast-moving superhero and captivate attention in the Lightfall Strand trailer. Coupled with their new rope dart, Hunters can attack multiple enemies on the ground and in the air. Subsequently, Threaded Spike is a melee ability that throws the rope dart. It bounces between enemies, Severs them, and returns to the Hunter. Melee energy is refunded based on the number of enemies hit. Next are the two aspects:
- Ensnaring Slam – Slam downward while in the air to suspend nearby enemies.
- Widow’s Silk – Gain another grenade charge. Additionally, a Tangle is created when using the grapple. Grappling to the Tangle fully refunds grenade energy.
Silkstrike is the super that culminates the deadly grace of Hunters. They can use the rope dart freely, chaining single or multiple enemy attacks. Hitting enemies with the tip of the dart deals more damage. Enemies explode if defeated by it. Additionally, grapple is available more often during Silkstrike.
Titan Berserker
Titans use Strand to dominate their enemies with unrelenting power. Inside the Lightfall Strand trailer, they become a monster on the battlefield with their new arm blades. Frenzied Blade is the melee ability for the class. Titans will dash upon use, slashing and Severing enemies in the path. The ability holds three charges for chained strikes. Furthermore, the Titan aspects enhance their juggernaut capabilities:
- Into the Fray – Gain Woven Mail for yourself and nearby allies when destroying a Tangle. Additionally, melee regeneration is increased while wearing Woven Mail.
- Drengr’s Lash – Using your class ability also sends out a shockwave. Enemies hit are Suspended.
Hunt like Wolverine with Bladefury. This Super brings forth the full potential of a Titan’s arm blades. Successful light attacks increase attack speed and build heavy attack energy. The heavy attack unleashes seeking projectiles that suspend and damage enemies.
Strand Fragments
Lastly, Strand has a slew of fragments allowing for further customization. These are shared among the three classes:
- Thread of Ascent – Using your grenade ability reloads your weapon, increases handling, and airborne effectiveness for a brief period.
- Fury – Gain melee energy when you damage enemies with a Tangle
- Thread of Finality – Threadlings are summoned after a finisher
- Thread of Warding – Picking up orbs of power generates Woven Mail
Strand truly takes the space magic fantasy to greater heights. This subclass is unlike anything our guardian has encountered before. On the other hand, it may be extremely overpowered when released. Most will not find an issue with this in PvE. However, PvP players are already frightened of a repeat of the release of Stasis in Beyond Light.
Regardless, the Lightfall Strand trailer is probably the last major news drop before launch day. I for one cannot wait to dive into Strand with Osiris on February 28. What are your thoughts on Strand? You can find Bungie’s full, detailed blog post here. Remember for all things Destiny 2, bend the knee in the realm of Lords of Gaming.
