In a new Bungie.net article, the developer outlined the development of Strand, the new sub-class coming to Destiny 2 with Lightfall. Along with its statuses, debuffs and buff, it outlined the various sub-classes, their Aspects and different Fragments that players can utilize.
The Warlock Broodweaver is a “Strand minion master,” as per designer Eric Smith. It uses Threadlings to explode on enemies and is the only sub-class whose Threadlings will return to it until a new target is available.
“Threadlings are explosive minions woven from Strand matter. The Warlock Broodweaver, being the cerebral type, is more in tune with Threadlings than the other classes. All Threadlings will run forward, jump on enemies, and explode. But only the Warlock’s Threadlings will return to the Warlock and travel with them if they can’t find a target.”
Broodweavers can use Arcane Needle, a melee projectile that tracks enemies and Unravels them. Its Aspects include:
- 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 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.
Needlestorm, their Super, will launch Strand missiles at enemies and then detonate, creating Threadlings.
The Hunter Threadrunner focuses on speed and mobility. Threaded Spike is its melee and fires a rope-dart that ricochets between enemies, dealing damage and inflicting Sever. For each enemy hit, melee energy is restored. Press the melee button to catch the rope dart, which restores more melee energy. Its Aspects include:
- 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.
As for its Super, Silkstrike allows for freely grappling in the third-person and hitting enemies with Light and Heavy attacks. Both can be used in mid-air, though the Light attack is good for single-target damage and causing an enemy to explode.
Finally, the Titan Berserker is equipped with blades woven with Strand, which inflict Sever. Its melee ability, Frenzied Blade, dashes at enemies and slashes them with three charges available. The Aspects include:
- 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 caught in the shockwave’s path.
Bladefury is it’s Super, with a Light attack which is essentially a more powerful Frenzied Blade that increases the next attack’s speed (up to three stacks). Each Light attack builds energy for the Heavy attack, which sends out seeking projectiles that suspend and damage enemies.
Including Grapple, each class gets three new grenades for Strand. Threadling grenade splits into projectiles that create Threadlings on impact. Shackle grenade is a bola that detonates and suspends enemies while creating secondary bolas. As for the new Fragments, four have been detailed:
- 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.
Destiny 2: Lightfall is out on February 28th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. Stay tuned for more details en route to its launch.