Warlock

Warlock
Overview
Focal world(s):	Solar System
Average height:	Various
Average weight:	Various
Distinctions:	More emphasized usage of Light powers
Average lifespan:	Immortal
Notable group(s):	The Hidden ; Praxic Order
Notable individual(s):	Ikora Rey ; Lord Felwinter ; Lord Timur ; Osiris ; Toland, the Shattered ; Asher Mir ; Aunor Mahal ; Ulan-Tan

"What does it mean to be a Warlock? Power. Only Warlocks understand true power."

— Ikora Rey

Warlocks are a class of Guardian who are best described as "warrior-scholars,"^[1]. They utilize their Traveler-given powers for both attack and defense. Warlocks specialize in ranged melee attacks and cast elemental spells to eliminate their enemies. They are also adept at offering support to fellow Guardians and fireteam members, by healing them and enhancing the strength of their weapons, and are just as comfortable fighting from mid-air as on the ground.

Overview

"Warlocks may be thinkers, but most I know can hold their own."

— Lord Shaxx

Warlocks were the first to tap into the power of the Traveler, wielding its Light as they ventured beyond the safety of the Wall. They know that each discovery offers new possibilities,^[2] and they have devoted themselves to understanding the Traveler, its power and how to better channel it. A Warlock's mind is an arsenal of deadly secrets, balanced between genius and madness. On the battlefield, those secrets can seem to shatter reality itself.^[3] They search the frontier to find a means to defeat the Darkness once and for all.^[4]

Warlocks are known for pushing the boundaries of knowledge, even into dangerous territory. At least two warlocks, Toland, the Shattered and Osiris, were exiled for studying the Hive and Vex too closely. There also exists an order of warlocks called the Thanatonauts, who take advantage of Guardians ability to resurrect themselves to receive visions every time they die.^[5]

Class description

"Warlocks have long studied the Traveler, mastering some of its arcane energies. Its true purpose remains a great mystery, but discovering truth has always driven you into the unknown. Now, our enemies are the only thing that stands between you and the lost wonders of our Golden Age."

— Class description

Abilities

All Guardians have certain abilities, many of which are granted by the Traveler, others which may appear more mundane in nature. All Guardians also have a "double jump" ability, as well as a "grenade-like" ability whose effects vary by class and subclass.^[6]^[7] All these abilities with the exception of the double jump were able to be upgraded over time in the past, and can be used in competitive PvP.^[8]^[9]

Subclasses

Voidwalker—"From the smallest atoms bloom the greatest explosions." A heavy-damage Void subclass with an emphasis on recovering health and ability energy.
- Super—Nova Bomb: Channel some of the Traveler's mysterious forces and unleash them in an explosive, large area-of-effect attack. When used, the user jumps and releases a large Void Light blast from one of their hands.^[7]
- Grenades—Vortex Grenade, Scatter Grenade, Axion Bolt
- Melee—Energy Drain: A powerful melee attack which drains energy from enemies and uses it to reduce the cooldown of your grenade.
- Jump—Glide; Blink

Sunsinger—"There are flames that even the Darkness cannot extinguish." A support-focused Solar subclass for buffing yourself and your fireteam. Unlocked at level 15^[10].
- Super—Radiance: Fill yourself with Solar Light, dramatically increasing the effectiveness of all your abilities. This Super ability will create an aura around the player, charging their grenade and melee attacks much faster, and can be upgrade to either share the effect to allies in your aura, reduce incoming damage, or create a phoenix-like effect where it can be used whilst dead, bringing you back to life while shortening the overall usage time.
- Grenades—Solar Grenade, Firebolt Grenade, Fusion Grenade
- Melee—Scorch: A powerful melee that ignites enemies, causing damage over time.
- Jump—Glide

Stormcaller—"Harmony within, hurricane without." A crowd-control subclass fueled by Arc Light. Available in The Taken King and Destiny 2.^[11]
- Super—Stormtrance: Chain Arc Lightning from your hands.
- Grenades—Pulse Grenade, Storm Grenade, Arcbolt Grenade
- Melee—Thunderstrike: Deliver an electrocuting Arc melee strike at extended range.
- Jump—Glide

Dawnblade—"Spread your wings and set the sky ablaze." A Solar-powered aerial offensive subclass with an emphasis on mobility and damage-dealing. Available exclusively in Destiny 2.
- Super—Daybreak: Charge a sword with Solar Light and fly into the air using wings of pure fire. The sword can be used to project blasts of flame at enemies.
- Grenades—Solar Grenade, Firebolt Grenade, Fusion Grenade
- Melee—Energy Palm: Deliver a scorching Solar strike to opponents.
- Jump—Glide

Shadebinder—"Reality is chaotic and unruly; bind it and bring order" A Stasis subclass that focuses on freezing and shattering opponents and turning the tide of battle in your favor- Available exclusively in Destiny 2; added in the Beyond Light expansion.
- Super—Winter's Wrath: Summon a Stasis staff and cast out a barrage of shards that freeze enemies and cast out a wave that shatters them.
- Grenades—Glacier Grenade, Duskfield Grenade, Coldsnap Grenade
- Melee—Penumbral Blast: Raise your staff against your for and send a blast of stasis energy forward to freeze your opponent
- Jump—Glide

Broodweaver—"From the confines of your mind, reality bends, and fate you bind." A Strand subclass that focuses on summoning Threadlings to assist you in battle- Available exclusively in Destiny 2; added in the Lightfall expansion.
- Super—Needlestorm: Conjure a hail of deadly woven needles. After embedding themselves in the environment, the needles will re-weave into a host of Threadlings. Threadlings you create will return to you and perch if they can't find any nearby targets. Damaging targets with your weapons or melee will send out perched Threadlings to attack.
- Grenades—Grapple, Threadling Grenade, Shackle Grenade
- Melee—Arcane Needle: Sling a woven needle that will embed in your target, unraveling them. Activate your melee ability again to chain up to two additional attacks.
- Jump—Glide

Warlock orders

Known Warlocks

In-game

Name	Order/faction/Group	Rank	Status	Character information
Ikora Rey	Vanguard	Warlock Vanguard Representative	Alive	Prides herself on being extremely diligent in her constant pursuit of knowledge. Leader of the spy network known as the Hidden.
Osiris	Cult of Osiris	Vanguard Commander (previously)	Alive	Veteran of the Six Fronts and Battle of the Twilight Gap. Former Vanguard Commander and former apprentice of the Speaker. Osiris was exiled from the city for his misuse of resources and obsessions with the Vex. Was vigilant against threats from the Vex, working alongside the Guardian. Possessed by Savathun, and spent a long time locked away in her mind, until he was freed. Now works to unscramble the visions in his head left by Savathun’s possession with the Guardians help.
Toland, the Shattered	Thanatonauts		Alive	Obsessed with the Hive and exiled out of fear. Member of the First Crota Fireteam. Toland's obsessively detailed journal later aided Guardians in their quests to kill both Crota and Oryx. Currently explores Hive nether-realms after the destruction of his physical body.
Asher Mir	Gensym Scribes	Member	Unknown	Friend to Eris Morn. Forcibly modified by the Vex during an expedition on Io. Status is now unknown due to the Darkness taking Io with him on it.
Taeko-3	Praxic Order	Member	Deceased	She helped make the Zen Meteor. She sacrificed her life to help destroy Savathûn's Song.
Praedyth	Kabr's Fireteam	Member	Deceased, but alive in another timeline	Member of Kabr's fireteam. Got lost in time during the earliest known raid on the Vault of Glass.
Tyra Karn	Cryptarch	Member	Alive	Archivist for the Iron Lords

Mentioned

Name	Order/faction/Group	Rank	Status	Character information
Albios	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	A Warlock whose life was covered in a text called The Five Lives of Albios.
Alemyr			N/A
Aunor Mahal	Praxic Order	Active member	Alive	Attempted to remove The Drifter from The Last City Opposes allowing Guardians to associate with Emperor Calus Hunts down rogue Guardians, such as Sola Scath
Auren Velt
Colovance	Iron Wolves	Member	Deceased	Student to Lord Timur.
Druis	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive	Met Crow while on a salvage run, wanted to thank him for helping her, but he vanished.
Enina	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive
Eremac	Cult of Osiris	Member		A member of the Cult of Osiris.
Eriana-3	Praxic Order	Member	Deceased	Survivor of the Great Disaster. Leader of the First Crota fireteam.
Lord Felwinter	Iron Lords	Member	Deceased	A former Warlord who defected to the Iron Lords.
Fenchurch Everis	Eververse Trading Company	Guardian	Alive	Renowned collector and explorer. "Uncle" to Tess Everis. Co-founder of Eververse.
Gallida Tuyet	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	Leading weapon's scholar. Leader of fireteam Tuyet. Creator of the Pocket Infinity.
Harper	Thanatonauts	Guardian	Alive
Hungren-3
Leanna	Cult of Osiris	Member		A member of the Cult of Osiris.
Lyssa, the Lighthearted	Holborn's Host	Guardian		A member of the Holborn's Host known for her cheerful disposition.
Jana-14	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive	Researcher who studied and was corrupted by Thorn. Created the Osteo Striga, currently wanted for ritualistic murders.
Jorin Nal		Guardian		A Warlock who kept a journal detailing their doubts and fears.
Kalumet Ziv	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	Killed during the Fall of the Last City.
Kanmu	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	Killed during the Fall of the Last City.
Marlenx-3	Vanguard	Guardian
Marin Oru	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	Member of the Saint-14's Fireteam. Great friend of Saint-14.
Mendawasey	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive	Hero of the Lenape Valley Extraction. Responsible for handling information regarding the Manhattan Nuclear Zone.
Moss-2	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive
Nadya	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive	Patrols the Dreaming City and fights against the Taken infestation.
Nayyir Gimenez
Nethe Pav	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased	Killed during the Fall of the Last City.
Nirwen	Iron Wolves	Member	Deceased
Pujari	Thanatonauts			A Warlock who had visions of the Black Garden.
Rana Untu	Vanguard	Guardian
Rekkana	Kentarch 3	Member	N/A	A Warlock member of the Kentarch 3 Fireteam.
Satomi	Thanatonauts			Architect of the Mask of the Quiet One
Serrano	Vanguard	Guardian	Deceased
Shayura	Vanguard	Guardian	Alive	A rogue Guardian fanatically opposed to the usage of Stasis Murdered a House of Light civilian and Revenant Hunter after escaping confinement during the Endless Night Caught and reimprisoned in the Last City, felt intense remorse for all those she had unjustly killed. Currently being reassigned to her old fireteam in order to rehabilitate her and to keep an eye on her.
Lady Skorri	Iron Lords	Member	Deceased	Wrote songs of her compatriots' accomplishments and feats. Died during the attack on Site 6.
Sola Scath			Alive	Corrupt guardian who ferried another Lightbearer to the edge of the system, but didn’t return with her. Currently in Vanguard custody.
The Stoic	Vanguard	Guardian		Co-creator of the Zen Meteor.
Lord Timur	Iron Lords	Member	Deceased	Obsessed with the works of Clovis Bray, particularly SIVA. Died during the attack on Site 6
Tinasha-3	Iron Wolves	Member	Deceased
Trihn			Alive	Former prisoner of House of Spider's fighting pits.
Ulan-Tan	Symmetry	Founder	Deceased	Controversial theorist on the Darkness. Founder of the Symmetry Faction and its beliefs.
Wen Jie	Vanguard	Guardian	Unknown	Is considered unorthodox by other Guardians.

Trivia

The visual design for Warlocks was drawn from a range of sources, including wizards and World War I soldiers.^[1]

The behavior of Destiny's Warlocks are similar to those of Warlocks from the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game.

During the E3 2013 Destiny reveal the spokesmen for Bungie's design team said that the Warlock's powers was based around The Matrix's protagonist Neo's abilities.

Additional Warlock abilities were hinted at, both in concept art (such as shields and flame generation), and in interviews (such as team rez and buff abilities).^[12]

Gallery

Concept art of armor for the Warlock.
Concept art of Warlocks from the 3 races (Awoken, Human, and Exo, respectively).
The warlock logo.
A flag representing the Warlock.
A Warlock (left) in The Law Of The Jungle live action trailer.
Screenshot of the Warlock's Solar Flare grenade ability.
Concept art of a Warlock using an unknown flamelike ability to incinerate a group of Hive.
Concept art of a Warlock creating a shield around himself and his companions. This was later given to the Defender and Sentinel Titan subclass.
A Warlock using Hunter's knife against a Fallen Dreg.
A Warlock fighting on the Moon.
Warlock character sheet 1.
Warlock character sheet 2.
Cinematic art of notorious Warlock, Osiris.
Concept art of Warlock Osiris.