Destiny 2 Lightfall Key takeaways
- A new subclass Strand will be introduced with the Lightfall update; we think warlocks will likely become part of the PvE meta at launch
- As far as meta goes, we think the Hunter Infinite Invis Build, the Titan Ability Spam Build, and the Warlock Fusion DPS Build will be effective to get started
- Lightfall will also bring a major overhual to the buildcrafting system
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Destiny 2 Lightfall
Lightfall is the upcoming expansion for Destiny 2. Releasing on February 28th, Lightfall will bring some major changes to the game. Not only will a new Strand subclass be introduced, but there will also be a new location introduced as well. Additionally, weapon and armor balancing, as well as other quality of life improvements will be included in the update.
Destiny 2 Lightfall: New Subclass Strand
With the Lightfall update for Destiny 2 comes the Strand Subclass. Strand will offer offer one new Subclass for each Destiny 2 Class.
Titan: Berserker
“Untamed and wild, they leap into harm’s way with abandon, manifesting claws to sever their targets from the Weave.”
Abilities:
- Bladefury: Weave powerful claws and charge the battlefield armed with new Light and Heavy attacks at your disposal
- Frenzied Blade: Dash at your targets and slash at them with blades of finely honed Strand
- Into the Fray: Enhance your armor with Woven Mail and increase your melee regeneration
- Drengr’s Lash: Unleash a frontal shockwave which suspends targets caught in the blast
Warlock: Broodweaver
“Telekinetic sorcerers that manipulate the Weave; even twisting Strand into creatures that do their bidding.”
Abilities:
- Needlestorm: Weave a cloud of Strand before shattering it, causing a hailstorm of piercing missiles that detonate upon impact
- Arcane Needle: Throw a Strand needle that tracks your target and unravels them
- Weaver’s Call: When casting a rift, weave three Threadlings on the ground in front of you
- Mindspun Invocation: Empower your grenades with additional Broodweaver-specific qualities
Hunter: Threadrunner
“Masters of lethal grace, the city becomes their playground as they use the Weave to dance unscathed among their foes.”
Abilities:
- Silkstrike: Combine a grappling hook and rope dart to exploit the battlefield and deftly execute your targets
- Threaded Spike: Throw a rope dart that damages targets, ricochets, and returns melee energy
- Ensnaring Slam: Descend upon your targets from above, slamming the ground and suspending them in the blast
- Widow’s Silk: Grapple more often and create grapple points that you and your fireteam can use indefinitely
Best Exotics for Strand Builds
Titan
- Synthoceps
- Wormgod Caress
- Armamentarium
Warlock
- Winter’s Guile
- Karnstein Armlets
- Mantle of Battle Harmony
Hunter
- Assassin’s Cowl
- The Bombardiers
- Frost-EE5
Destiny 2 Lightfall: Meta Builds and Weapons
The Destiny 2 Lightfall update will bring with it some major weapon balancing updates, which are for sure to shake up the meta. After bring top the DPS pyramid for sometime, non-exotic Liner Fusion Rifles are getting nerfed.
On the flip side of this, the weapons getting the biggest buff are Heavy Grenade Launchers. Heavy Grenade Launchers will receive a 20% increase in damage dealt to champions, minibosses, bosses, and vehicles. In addition, Heavy Grenade Launchers blast radius is being increased by one meter, and they will have improved projectile collision. These changes make Heavy Grenade Launchers not only more powerful, but easier to use.
With these buffs and nerfs bound to shake up both the PvE and PvP meta, weapons like The Anarchy and The Prospector could become top DPS choices.
PvE & PvP Meta Builds
PvE
Hunter Infinite Invis Build
- Subclass: Nightstalker
- Primary stat: Mobility
- Secondary stat: Strength
- Grenade: Vortex Grenade
- Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge
- Aspects: Trapper’s Ambush, Vanishing Step
- Fragments: Echo of Leeching, Echo of Dilation, Echo of Persistence
- Mods: Powerful Friends, Radiant Light
Titan Ability Spam Build
- Subclass: Sentinel
- Primary stat: Strength
- Secondary stat: Resilience
- Grenade: Vortex Grenade
- Class Ability: Rally Barricade
- Melee Ability: Shield Bash
- Aspects: Controlled Demolition, Bastion
- Fragments: Echo of Instability, Echo of Starvation, Echo of Expulsion
- Mods: Radiant Light, Utility Kickstart
Warlock Fusion DPS Build
- Subclass: Dawnblade
- Primary stat: Discipline
- Grenade: Fusion Grenade
- Class Ability: Healing Rift
- Aspects: Touch of Flame, Icarus Dash
- Fragments: Ember of Blistering, Embering of Char, Ember of Resolve (New), Ember of Ashes
- Mods: Ashes to Assets, Bomber, Impact Induction
PvP
- Subclass: Broodweaver (Strand)
- Grenade: Shackle Grenade
- Class Ability: Healing Rift
- Melee Ability: Arcane Needle
- Aspects: Weaver’s Call, Mindspun Invocation
- Fragments: Thread of Finality, Thread of Ascent, Thread of Evolution, Thread of Binding
PvP & PvE Meta Weapons
PvP
- Dead Man’s Tale
- No Time to Explain
- Beloved
- Gjallarhorn
PvE
- Dimensional Hypotrochoid
- Ecliptic Distaff
- Final Warning
- Iterative Loop
Destiny 2 Lightfall: Gameplay Changes
Along with a new subclass and weapon balances that are sure to shake up the Destiny 2 meta, the Lightfall expansion will also bring with it several quality of life changes.
The season will include a complete overhaul of the buildcrafting system. Most of the current armor mods are being replaced with armor charge. This should lead to a more simplified system for moding armor. Another big change is with weapon mods, which will now be broken into elemental types instead of each individual weapon type. The overhual also now gives players the ability to save their loadouts, and swap between loadouts, even mid-activity.
Looking for a group to tackle Lightfall with? Download the Z League app, where you can register for tournaments, post your highlights, and find teammates using the newly improved LFG feature! More details here!
