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

"Arc is the element of motion and conduction, and is created when the electromagnetic forces of our universe struggle to achieve balance. According to Ikora, Arc teaches us that change is a fundamental aspect of the universe."

— Osiris, on Arc

"Solar requires us to both exploit and rely on the power of our sun. But to master it is to understand the star's duality. The nuclear force that scorches anything foolish enough to draw near... is the same force we harness to heal."

— Osiris, on Solar

"Void is the element of cosmic distortion. It is the pull of gravity and the promise of entropy. The vacuum of space, and the gravitational forces that shape it, teaches us that emptiness is not nothingness."

— Osiris, on Void

"Stasis is the element of will and control. It slows, detains, and shatters. It was our first step into Darkness, and taught us the universe is not black and white as it first seemed... Control over self can foster control over others, but without power over the self, destruction runs wild."

— Osiris, on Stasis

"Strand is our newest foray into Darkness. As I understand it now, it is the elemental manifestation of psychic connection. All minds are connected in a web of consciousness, which we can now see and feel. To wield Strand is to pull on the hidden connecting threads, and to use them to create, manipulate, and unravel."

— Osiris, on Strand

There are six damage types:

• Kinetic: White — the default damage type on most weapons, causes generic damage to any enemy.
• Solar: Orange — causes Solar damage.
• Arc: Blue — causes Arc damage.
• Void: Purple — causes Void damage.
• Stasis: Indigo — 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†	Zhalo Supercell, Centrifuse, Hard Light†, Necrochasm (D1)	Atheon's Epilogue, Reckless Oracle, Hard Light†	Krait, Herod-C, Horror Story (reprised)	Rufus's Fury, Perpetualis, Quicksilver Storm (catalyst)	Sweet Business, Monte Carlo, Cerberus+1, Suros Regime, Necrochasm (D2), 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, Nightshade (reprised), Relentless (reprised)	No Time to Explain, Bad Juju, Outbreak Perfected, Vigilance Wing, Revision Zero
Scout Rifle	Vision of Confluence, Skyburner's Oath, Polaris Lance	Fang of Ir Yût, Symmetry, Eternal Blazon	Royal Chase, Aisha's Embrace, Doom of Chelchis (D2)	Perses-D, Jararaca-3sr, Wicked Implement	Taraxippos, Glissando-47, The Guiding Sight (reprised)	Jade Rabbit, MIDA Multi-Tool, Dead Man's Tale, Touch of Malice
Hand Cannon	Sunshot, Eriana's Vow, Ancient Gospel	Posterity, Combined Action, Fatebringer (D1)	Word of Crota, The Palindrome, Bottom Dollar	Vulpecula, Something New, Eyasluna (D2)	Round Robin, Kept Confidence	Sturm, The Last Word, Thorn, Lumina, Ace of Spades, Crimson, Malfeasance, Hawkmoon
Sniper Rifle	Ice Breaker, Black Spindle, Whisper of the Worm, Borealis†	Patience and Time, Hereafter, D.A.R.C.I., Cloudstrike, Borealis†	Eye of Sol, Borealis†, Praedyth's Revenge (D1)	Thoughtless, Irukandji, A Distant Pull	Volta Bracket, Naeem's Lance	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-Keeper, Vengeful Whisper	Wish-Ender, Fel Taradiddle, Accrued Redemption
Fusion Rifle	Pocket Infinity, Vex Mythoclast, One Thousand Voices, Jötunn, Merciless, Murmur†, Tessellation*, Sleeper Simulant (D1)	Queenbreakers' Bow, Plan C, Delicate Tomb, Murmur†, Tessellation*	Telesto, Null Composure, The Epicurean, Tessellation*	Riptide, Deliverance, Burden of Guilt, Tessellation*	Pressurized Precision, Nox Perennial V, Tessellation*	Bastion, Tessellation*
Shotgun	Invective, Lord of Wolves, Duality, Conditional Finality†, The Chaperone (D1)	Found Verdict, The Fourth Horseman, Legend of Acrius, Astral Horizon (D1)	Tractor Cannon, Python, Swordbreaker (D1)	Fractethyst, No Reprieve, Conditional Finality†	Until Its Return, Supercluster, Swordbreaker (D2)	Perfect Paradox, Riiswalker, The Chaperone (D2)
Sidearm	Drang, Devil's Ruin, Redback-5si	Dreg's Promise, Trespasser, Vestian Dynasty	Brass Attacks, Seventh Seraph SI-2, Fioritura-59, Buried Bloodline	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, Heir Apparent	Thunderlord, 21% Delirium, THE SWARM	Corrective Measure, Nova Mortis, Deterministic Chaos	Recurrent Impact, Chain of Command, Qullim's Terminus (D2)	Circular Logic, Marcato-45
Rocket Launcher	Gjallarhorn, Dragon's Breath, Eyes of Tomorrow, Two-Tailed Fox‡	The Wardcliff Coil, The Hothead, Two-Tailed Fox (catalyst)	Truth, Deathbringer, Two-Tailed Fox	Bump in the Night, Palmyra-B, Cold Comfort	Crowning Duologue, Semiotician
Sword	Sol Edge, Raze-Lighter, The Young Wolf's Howl, The Lament	Arc Edge, Bolt-Caster, Worldline Zero,	Void Edge, Dark-Drinker, Black Talon, Heartshadow	The Slammer, Zephyr (reprised)	Thin Precipice, Dragoncult Sickle
Special Grenade Launcher	Empty Vessel, Explosive Personality, Dead Messenger†	Salvager's Salvo, Forbearance, Ex Diris, Dead Messenger†	Deafening Whisper, Fighting Lion, Wilderflight, Dead Messenger†	Lingering Dread, New Pacific Epitaph	Tusk of the Boar	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, Cataphract GL3
Linear Fusion Rifle	Man o' War, Komodo-4FR, Briar's Contempt, Sleeper Simulant (D2)	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, Appetence	The Navigator, Incisor
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.

(*)Tessellation's in-game element is Kinetic, but the damage type can change depending on the element matching your currently equipped subclass.

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, Molten Welder, Scorch Cannon, Trip Mine, Fallen Walker's main weapon, Exploder Shank explosion (D1), Brig Annihilation Blaster, Brig Fiery Burst	Shock Pistol, Shock Rifle, Wire Rifle, Shock Grenade, Shock Dagger, Shock Blade, Arc Spear, Pike weapons, Heavy Pike weapons, Skiff Turrets, Shank Turret, Fallen Walker's secondary weapon, Repeater Shank Repeater, Brig Electrocution Bolts, Security Turret Auto-turret, Exploder Shank explosion (D2)	Heavy Shank Turret, Servitor Eye, Brig Death Cannon	Duskfield Grenade, Coldsnap Grenade, Stasis Blasts, Crystal Wave	Melee
Hive	Acolyte Grenade, Splinter, Swarm Grenade, Blade Barrage	Boomer, Thrall melee, Cursed Thrall explosion, Wizard Darkness Blast, Lucent Moth Explosive Light, Pulse Grenade, Stormtrance	Shredder, Soulfire Rifle, Tombship Axion Darts, Ogre Eye Blast, Shrieker bolts, Suppressor Grenade, Sentinel Shields		Cleaver, Poison Cloud, Melee
Vex	Slap Rifle, Line Rifle, Harpy Slap Rifle, Fanatic explosion, Hobgoblin Burning Shield, Hydra explosion	Radiolaria pools, Supplicant explosion, Wyvern Gravity Slam	Torch Hammer, Slap Grenade, Vex Laser Rifle, Warp Lance, Aeon Maul, Goblin melee, Hobgoblin melee, Cyclops blast		Melee
Cabal	Slug Rifle, Projection Rifle, Heavy Slug Thrower, Cabal Headhunter, Cabal Severus, Cabal Magma Launcher, Cabal Frag Detonator, Harvester, Thresher, Interceptor, Cabal warship missile fire, Goliath Tank's weapons, Legionary melee (D2), Incendior malfunction, Colossus Cluster Missiles (D1), Scorpius Turret, Psion Flayer Solar Seekers	Cabal Slug Launcher, Cabal Slug Shotgun, Psion melee (D1), Psionic Blast (D1), Colossus Cluster Missiles (D2), Psion Flayer Voltaic Strike	Cabal Bronto Cannon, Psion melee (D2), Psionic Blast (D2), Centurion melee (D2), Tormentor abilities, Psion Flayer Void Prison		War Beast claws, Phalanx shield lunge, Melee
Taken	Torch Hammer, Wire Rifle, Heavy Slug Thrower, Magma Launcher, Taken Thrall melee, Taken Wizard Necromantic Gaze, Taken Knight Flame Bolts	Shrapnel Launcher, Slug Rifle, Shredder, Shock Blade, Acolyte's Eye, Taken Ogre Rotten Surge, Taken Phalanx Shield Blast, Taken Captain Darkness Bolt	Boomer, Line Rifle, Slap Rifle, Projection Rifle, Chimera Eversion, Taken Hobgoblin Retaliation Swarm, Taken Centurion Axion Dart, Taken Incendior Fireball	Stasis Boomer	Melee, Defensive Ward, Taken Phalanx shield lunge
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	Ether-Torch, Scorn Pistol, Flame Torches, Flame Censer, Scorn Cannon, Scorn Blaster, Scorn Walker's armaments, Scorn Pike's flame trail	Ether-Bind, Fanatic's Staff, Scorn Mine Launcher, Abomination Overcharged Ether, Screeb explosion	Scorn Rifle, Scorn Repeater Pistol, Scorn Crossbow, Scorn Grenade, Scorn Pike weapons	Stasis Censer	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)