Bungie has released both a teaser and a lengthy blog post on the next new component that will be coming to Destiny 2 in Lightfall: Strand.
Strand is one of the most appealing elements of Destiny 2's new Lightfall expansion. All we know about Strand for the last few months is its name and the fact that it has a Grappling Hook. There were theories and suggestions, but nothing concrete.
Following an in-depth teaser and blogpost on Strand, we have a great deal of knowledge about the new element and subclasses. This includes all of the Strand terms, as well as their Supers, Grenades, and Melee abilities. There's a lot to be grateful for, as well as a lot to be excited about.
Keywords for the Strand
Strand is a second Darkness subclass to follow Stasis, and Bungie worked tirelessly to maintain the Darkness's identity. Strand also matched well to the product's fantasy, like the 80s action hero.
The authors also listed the main elements (or elemental verbs) related to Strand. These are to Strand what Weaken, Scorch, Jolt, and Freeze are to the other elements of Destiny 2.
- Tangles: Swirling green orbs of Strand energy similar to Warmind Cells. They can either be shot to cause a Strand explosion or thrown for a more precise detonation.
- Unravel: Attacking an Unravelled enemy will cause additional damage to nearby targets (similar to Jolt). Those targets also become Unravelled after being hit.
- Suspend: In PvE, Suspend will lift enemies off the ground and make them helpless. In PvP, enemy Guardians will rise from the ground, but they can still move and shoot back.
- Sever: A debuff that lowers enemy damage output.
- Woven Mail: A buff that grants damage resistance (in both PvE and PvP). However, only body shot damage is affected in PvP, precision hits and melee damage will still deal full damage.
Teacher and student
With Strand, Eric Smith presented an example of the flow state, which consisted of a large number of actions per minute and plenty of room for decision-making.
The Future Can Be Unravelled
Subclasses of the Strand
Warlocks are powerful broodweavers who understand the Strand creatures better than any other class. Threadlings are small sentient Strand animals that roam the battlefield looking for prey before leaping at them and exploding; unlike Titan and Hunter, they are perched and armed for the next battle.
The Warlock will launch a new Melee weapon with a flick of their wrist, which Unravels the target. Up to three Arcane Needles can be chained in a row.
Needlestorm is the Super of choice for Strand-wielding Warlocks, with a powerful blend of burst and area denial. Upon casting, the Guardian will send out a barrage of sharp Strand spikes that imbed themselves in your foes (or the environment around you). Afterwards, they will explode into an army of Threadlings that will seek out any enemies who died in your initial assault.
Warlock of the Broodweaver
At launch, warlocks have access to two Strand Aspects, both of which lean toward the fantasy of being the genius mastermind behind an army of minions.
- Weaver’s Call: On Rift cast, the Warlock weaves three Threadling eggs, which hatch into Threadlings when they hit a surface. Any perched Threadlings are converted to additional eggs.
- Mindspun Invocation: This Aspect improves several of the Warlock’s grenade abilities:
- Grapple: When you execute a grapple melee, the Warlock weaves three Threadling eggs from the target.
- Threadling Grenade: You can consume your Threadling Grenade to generate a full complement of perched Threadlings.
- Shackle Grenade: You can consume your Shackle Grenade to gain a buff, creating a suspending detonation on every kill.
- Grapple: When you execute a grapple melee, the Warlock weaves three Threadling eggs from the target.
- Threadling Grenade: You can consume your Threadling Grenade to generate a full complement of perched Threadlings.
- Shackle Grenade: You can consume your Shackle Grenade to gain a buff, creating a suspending detonation on every kill.
- Grapple: When you execute a grapple melee, the Warlock weaves three Threadling eggs from the target.
- Threadling Grenade: You can consume your Threadling Grenade to generate a full complement of perched Threadlings.
- Shackle Grenade: You can consume your Shackle Grenade to gain a buff, creating a suspending detonation on every kill.
Swarming Threadlings
Threadrunners are trained to perform multiple attacks in the air and on foot. They have the highest uptime on the Grapple out of any of the classes.
Threaded Spike is an interesting new Melee ability, similar in ideology to the Stasis Shuriken with a twist. This attack will hurl a rope dart that bounces between any available enemies, increasing Melee energy with each enemy hit and each bounce. If you get the melee button correctly press it to increase Melee energy further.
Hunter of the Threadrunner
The Hunter is sent into third-person where they can freely use their Grapple to get around the environment as they please. Both are available while on the ground or in the air.
At the start, Hunters have two aspects, like with Warlock.
- Ensnaring Slam: While in the air, press the air-move input to slam downward, suspending all nearby enemies.
- Widow’s Silk: This Aspect grants an additional grenade charge. The Hunter’s grapple ability creates a persistent grapple Tangle when it latches, which fully refunds grenade energy when grappled to. Hunters can use this ability to set up chains of grapple points that their entire team can use, greatly enhancing their ability to quickly move around in combat and/or traverse the environment.
Keep it Hanging
Keep it up.
Keep it from falling off.
Berserkers will be the last Titans to unleash their rage. Berserker seems to take a gimmick in defeating their opponents with swift strikes and the ability to cripple their damage potential.
The Berserker slashes forward and uses their Strand-empowered blade arms to slash any hit opponent, reducing their damage output, and holds three charges that can be used to combo between different opponents or one single target.
Titan, a Berserker, is in a position to sabotage.
The Titan's Light Attack is an upgraded version of Frenzied Blade that speeds up the next attack with each hit that connects. The Heavy Attack is a long-ranged cross slash that Suspends any enemy that gets caught by it.
At the launch of Titans, there are also two new Strand Aspects:
- Into the Fray: Destroying a Tangle weaves Woven Mail unto the Titan and nearby allies. In addition to reducing damage taken, this Aspect also increases the Titan’s melee energy regeneration while wearing Woven Mail.
- Drengr’s Lash: When the Titan casts their class ability, the Titan will blast forward a powerful ripple in reality, suspending enemies that are caught in the shockwave’s path.
Suspending Slash
Slash is in a state of flux.
Slash is in a state of flux.
Strand has three new Grenade variations, all of which are accessible on all three classes without any restrictions, similar to how Stasis Grenades work.
Grapple is a powerful mobility tool that allows the Guardian to reclaim their traditional Grenade when thrown, transforming into Threadlings that hunt down nearby foes. The Shackle Grenade is a bola trap, spawning enemies once more to try and provoking more foes.
Lightfall will also release a new set of Strand Aspects. Here are four examples from the Strand Blogpost. These are available on all classes and can be mixed and matched depending on your playstyle.
- Thread of Ascent: Activating your grenade ability reloads your equipped weapon and grants increased weapon handling and airborne effectiveness for a short time.
- Thread of Fury: Damaging targets with a Tangle grants melee energy.
- Thread of Finality: Finishers generate Threadlings.
- Thread of Warding: Picking up an orb of power grants Woven Mail.
Strands and how to use them
When Strand launches on February 28th, along with Destiny 2 Lightfall, there will be even more to offer Guardians.
SOURCE: Bungie's Inside Strand Blogpost + Destiny 2 Lightfall Strand Trailer
