Elemental damage

Elemental damage is a modifier that exists on certain attacks and weapons. Elemental damage is one of the manifestations of Light and Darkness, and can be used to a player's advantage to make their attacks more effective. It comes into play for both Guardians and enemies.

Elemental types

"A spark can give life...or take it."

— Grimoire Arc text.

"Sometimes the only answer is to burn it all away."

— Grimoire Solar text.

"It's fitting, then, that we have weaponized the unknown."

— Grimoire Void text.

"Darkness resides within, beckoning you. This is a truth we cannot hide from, so we must embrace it."

— The Stranger

"Reach into the Darkness and pluck at the threads of consciousness."

— Bungie Lightfall page.

There are six damage types:

• Kinetic—White—the default damage type on most weapons. Will cause basic damage to any enemy.
• Solar—Orange—causes Solar damage.
• Arc—Light Blue—causes Arc damage.
• Void—Purple—causes Void damage.
• Stasis—Dark Blue—causes Stasis damage.
• Strand—Green—causes Strand damage.

Weapons

Weapons can be infused with elemental damage; by default, most weapons only do kinetic damage, but some may come with modifiers. The modifier is indicated not only on the weapon's stats but also in the weapon menu on the HUD. At the common level, only Fusion Rifles deal elemental damage, but at higher levels nearly all special and heavy weapons deal elemental damage. In Destiny, only a handful of primary weapons deal elemental damage, and most of those weapons are typically acquired in Raids.

The damage type on most weapons is random, though some weapons such as Exotics or Legendary Raid weapons have a set damage type.

In Destiny 2, all Energy slot weapons do Arc, Solar or Void damage, Kinetic slot weapons do Kinetic, Stasis, or Strand damage and Power weapons do all damage types except Kinetic. The perk Osmosis on a kinetic weapon turns weapon damage into the same as your subclass when a grenade is used, until the weapon is swapped.

Weapon Class	Solar	Arc	Void	Stasis	Strand	Kinetic
Auto Rifle	Abyss Defiant, Tommy's Matchbook, Hard Light†	Necrochasm, Zhalo Supercell, Centrifuse, Hard Light†	Atheon's Epilogue, Reckless Oracle, Hard Light†	Krait, Herod-C	Quicksilver Storm (catalyst), Rufus's Fury, Perpetualis	Sweet Business, Monte Carlo, Cerberus+1, Suros Regime, Quicksilver Storm (base)
Submachine Gun	Tarrabah, CALUS Mini-Tool, Bug-Out Bag	Riskrunner, IKELOS SMG v1.0.1, Seventh Seraph VY-7	The Recluse, Funnelweb, The Manticore	Forensic Nightmare, Blood Feud, Prolonged Engagement	The Immortal, Synchronic Roulette	The Huckleberry, Osteo Striga, Submission
Pulse Rifle	Outlast, BxR-55 Battler, Forge's Pledge	Oversoul Edict, Praedyth's Timepiece, Insidious	Graviton Lance, Collective Obligation, Gridskipper	Syncopation-53, Disparity, Stay Frosty	Different Times	No Time to Explain, Bad Juju, Outbreak Perfected, Vigilance Wing, Blast Furnace, Revision Zero
Scout Rifle	Vision of Confluence, Conspirator, Oxygen SR3, Skyburner's Oath, Polaris Lance	Fang of Ir Yût, Symmetry, Eternal Blazon	Royal Chase, Doom of Chelchis, Aisha's Embrace	Perses-D, Jararaca-3sr	Taraxippos, Glissando-47	Jade Rabbit, MIDA Multi-Tool, Randy's Throwing Knife, Dead Man's Tale, Touch of Malice
Hand Cannon	Sunshot, Eriana's Vow, Ancient Gospel	Fatebringer (D1), Posterity, Combined Action	Word of Crota, The Palindrome, Bottom Dollar	Vulpecula, Something New, Eyasluna (D2)	Round Robin	Midnight Coup, Sturm, The Last Word, Thorn, Lumina, Rose, Ace of Spades, Crimson, Malfeasance, D.F.A., Hawkmoon
Sniper Rifle	Black Hammer, Ice Breaker, Black Spindle, Whisper of the Worm, Far Future, Borealis†	Patience and Time, Hereafter, D.A.R.C.I., Cloudstrike, Adored, Borealis†	Eye of Sol, Praedyth's Revenge (D1), Borealis†	Thoughtless, Irukandji, A Distant Pull	Volta Bracket	Izanagi's Burden, Shepherd's Watch, Praedyth's Revenge (D2)
Bow	Tyranny of Heaven, Ticuu's Divination, Hierarchy of Needs	Trinity Ghoul, Wolftone Draw, Tripwire Canary	Le Monarque, Leviathan's Breath, Imperial Needle	Verglas Curve, Raconteur, Lunulata-4b		Wish-Ender, Fel Taradiddle, Accrued Redemption
Fusion Rifle	Murmur†, Praetorian Foil, Pocket Infinity, Vex Mythoclast, Sleeper Simulant (D1), One Thousand Voices, Jötunn, Merciless	Murmur†, Light of the Abyss, Plan C, Queenbreakers' Bow, Loaded Question, Delicate Tomb	Telesto, Null Composure, The Epicurean	Riptide, Deliverance, Burden of Guilt	Pressurized Precision	Bastion
Shotgun	Invective, Lord of Wolves, The Chaperone (D1), Felwinter's Lie, Duality, Conditional Finality†	Astral Horizon (D1), Found Verdict, The Fourth Horseman, Legend of Acrius	Swordbreaker, Tractor Cannon, Python	Fractethyst, No Reprieve, Conditional Finality†	Until Its Return	The Chaperone (D2), Perfect Paradox, Riiswalker
Sidearm	Drang, Devil's Ruin, Redback-5si	Dreg's Promise, Trespasser, Vestian Dynasty	Brass Attacks, Seventh Seraph SI-2, Fioritura-59	Cryosthesia 77K, Liminal Vigil, Senuna SI6	Final Warning, Mykel's Reverence	Rat King, Traveler's Chosen, Forerunner
Machine Gun	Super Good Advice, Nemesis Star, Abbadon, Xenophage, Edgewise, Heir Apparent	Song of Ir Yût, Thunderlord, 21% Delirium, THE SWARM	Corrective Measure, Nova Mortis, Hammerhead, Shattered Cipher, Deterministic Chaos	Recurrent Impact, Chain of Command, Qullim's Terminus (D2)	Circular Logic
Rocket Launcher	Hezen Vengeance, Hunger of Crota, Gjallarhorn, Dragon's Breath, Two-Tailed Fox‡, Eyes of Tomorrow, Code Duello	The Wardcliff Coil, The Hothead, Two-Tailed Fox (catalyst)	Tomorrow's Answer, Truth, Deathbringer, Two-Tailed Fox	Bump in the Night, Palmyra-B, Cold Comfort
Sword	Sol Edge, Solar Infinite Edge, Raze-Lighter, The Young Wolf's Howl, The Lament	Arc Edge, Arc Infinite Edge, Bolt-Caster, Worldline Zero, Temptation's Hook	Dreadfang, Void Edge, Void Infinite Edge, Dark-Drinker, Quickfang, Goldtusk, Black Talon, Falling Guillotine, Heartshadow	Zephyr	Thin Precipice
Special Grenade Launcher	Empty Vessel, Explosive Personality, Dead Messenger†	Salvager's Salvo, Forbearance, Dead Messenger†	Deafening Whisper, Fighting Lion, Wilderflight, Dead Messenger†	Lingering Dread, New Pacific Epitaph		Witherhoard, Pardon Our Dust, Ignition Code
Heavy Grenade Launcher	Love and Death, Canis Major, Parasite	The Prospector, Anarchy, Wendigo GL3	The Colony, Regnant, Swarm of the Raven	Salvation's Grip, Dimensional Hypotrochoid, Typhon GL5	Koraxis's Distress
Linear Fusion Rifle	Sleeper Simulant (D2), Man o' War, Komodo-4FR, Briar's Contempt	Tarantula, The Queenbreaker, Stormchaser	Crooked Fang-4FR, Lorentz Driver, Threaded Needle	Reed's Regret, Fire and Forget	Laser Painter	Arbalest
Trace Rifle	Prometheus Lens, Acasia's Dejection, Retraced Path	Coldheart, Divinity, Path of Least Resistance	Wavesplitter, Ruinous Effigy, Hollow Denial	Ager's Scepter	The Navigator
Glaive	Edge of Intent, Lubrae's Ruin, Judgement of Kelgorath	Edge of Concurrence, Nezarec's Whisper, Unexpected Resurgence	Edge of Action, The Enigma, Vexcalibur	Winterbite

† Murmur is capable of switching between Arc and Solar damage whereas Hard Light, Borealis, and Dead Messenger can switch between Arc, Solar, and Void, and Conditional Finality can switch between Solar and Stasis damage.

‡ Two-Tailed Fox fires a Solar Rocket and a Void Rocket, but its in-game element is void; it also fires an Arc Rocket if the catalyst is inserted.

Subclass elements in Destiny

Each Guardian subclass focuses on one type of elemental damage. This extends to melee attacks, grenades, and Supers.

Class	Solar	Arc	Void
Hunter	Gunslinger	Bladedancer	Nightstalker
Titan	Sunbreaker	Striker	Defender
Warlock	Sunsinger	Stormcaller	Voidwalker

Subclass elements in Destiny 2

Class	Solar	Arc	Void	Stasis	Strand
Hunter	Gunslinger	Arcstrider	Nightstalker	Revenant	Threadrunner
Titan	Sunbreaker	Striker	Sentinel	Behemoth	Berserker
Warlock	Dawnblade	Stormcaller	Voidwalker	Shadebinder	Broodweaver

Enemies

Enemy weapons and abilities typically have their own elemental damage types as well. Normally this doesn't come into play unless players are playing a mission with damage modifiers on. For example, a Nightfall mission with a 300% boost to Arc damage applies to both Guardians and enemies, so enemies that do Arc damage are especially dangerous.

Most Taken versions of weapons will do a different type of elemental damage than the original, and the Devil Splicers' common ranged weapons inflict Solar damage, while their melee weapons are still Arc. Some powerful enemies may have unique weapons that do different damage than their common versions.

Race	Solar weapon	Arc weapon	Void weapon	Stasis weapon	Kinetic Weapon
Fallen	Shrapnel Launcher, Fallen Walker's main cannon, Molten Welder, Scorch Cannon, Exploder Shank explosion, Trip Mine, Brig Annihilation Blaster, Brig Fiery Burst	Shock Pistol, Shock Rifle, Wire Rifle, Shock Grenade, Shock Dagger, Shock Blade, Pike, Skiff, Fallen Walker's secondary armaments, Repeater Shank Repeater, Arc Spear, Brig Electrocution Bolts, Security Turret Auto-Turret	Heavy Shank's turrets, Servitor's blasts, Brig Death Cannon	Duskfield Grenade, Coldsnap Grenade, Stasis Blasts, Stasis Slam	Melee
Hive	Acolyte Grenade, Splinter, Swarm Grenade, Blade Barrage	Boomer, Thrall's melee attack, Cursed Thrall explosion, Wizard's Darkness Blast, Lucent Moth explosion, Pulse Grenade, Stormtrance	Shredder, Ogre's Eye Blast attack, Shrieker's Shrieker Bolts, Tombship's Armaments, Suppressor Grenade, Sentinel Shields		Cleaver, Wizard's Poison Cloud, Melee
Vex	Slap Rifle, Line Rifle, Fanatic explosion, Hobgoblin's Shield, Hydra explosion	Radiolaria pools, Supplicant explosion	Torch Hammer, Slap Grenade, Goblin's melee attack, Aeon Maul, Cyclops Blast, Vex Laser Rifle, Warp Lance		Melee
Cabal	Slug Rifle, Projection Rifle, Heavy Slug Thrower, Cabal Headhunter, Cabal Severus, Cabal Magma Launcher, Cabal warship Missile Fire, Harvester Missile Fire, Thresher Missile Fire, Interceptor's weapons, Goliath Tank's weapons, Legionary Melee, Incendior Malfunction, Colossus Cluster Missiles Destiny, Scorpius Turret	Psion Melee Destiny, Psionic Blast Destiny, Cabal Slug Launcher, Cabal Slug Shotgun, Colossus Cluster Missiles Destiny 2	Psion Melee Destiny 2, Psionic Blast Destiny 2, Cabal Bronto Cannon, Centurion Melee, Tormentor Abilities		War Beast Claws, Phalanx Energy Shield, Melee
Taken	Taken Acolyte melee, Taken Thrall melee, Taken Wizard Necromantic Gaze, Taken Knight Flame Bolts, Torch Hammer, Wire Rifle, Heavy Slug Thrower, Taken Incendior Magma Flame	Shredder, Acolyte's Eye, Shrapnel Launcher, Slug Rifle, Taken Ogre Eye Blast, Taken Phalanx Shield Blast, Taken Captain Darkness Bolt, Shock Blade	Boomer, Line Rifle, Slap Rifle, Projection Rifle, Chimera Eversion, Taken Hobgoblin Retaliation Swarm, Taken Centurion Axion Dart, Taken Incendior Void Fireball	Stasis Boomer	Melee, Blight, Defensive Ward
Splicers	SIVA-infused ranged weapons, SIVA Charge, Splicer Walker weapons (except Shock Grenades)	Shock Cannon, Splicer Exploder Shank explosion, Splicer Repeater Shank Repeater	Null Cannon, Wretched Gaze		Melee
Scorn	Chieftain's Ether Torch, Lurker's Scorn Pistol, Scorn Walker's Armaments, Wraith's Flame Torches, Ravager's Flame Cauldron, Scorn Cannon, Scorn Blaster	Chieftain's Ether Bind, Fanatic's Staff, Scorn Mine Launcher, Abomination Overcharged Ether, Screeb explosion	Scorn Rifle, Scorn Repeater Pistol, Scorn Crossbow, Stalker's Scorn Grenade	Ravager's Stasis Censer	Stalker's Fallen Mace, Melee

Trivia

• It is unclear whether there is necessarily a distinction between the elemental damage done by weapons and the corresponding manifestation of the Light or Darkness associated with a given element; for example, a weapon which does Arc damage may not necessarily be imbued with the power of Arc Light, but rather merely fire electrified ammunition. In contrast, some weapons clearly do derive their power from the Light or Darkness, such as Salvation's Grip (which fires Stasis projectiles).
  • This is backed up by Ikora's and Drifter's notes on the elements, Ikora states we do not know what came first, the Light or the Elements, but they are fundamentally linked like Twins, and Drifter states the Pyramid's energies are getting the Elements all twisted up
• Osiris states that the Elements are a means to communicate with the Light, but recently, now with the Darkness.
• There are several types of planetary materials that responds to the Elements, Relic Crystals inside Relic Iron for Void on Mars, Zeptocyte Cores inside Spinmetal Leaves for Arc in the Cosmodrome, and Soliton Flares inside Helium Filaments for Solar on the Moon.

Gallery

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  Stasis Artwork with Description of effects

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
• Destiny 2
  • Beyond Light (Stasis)
  • Lightfall (Strand)