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Strand is an elemental manifestation of the Darkness, in a similar manner as Stasis. It allows one to manipulate the Weave, a paracausal matrix of psychic energy that connects all things and minds in the universe.[1] It was introduced in the expansion Lightfall as the second of the Darkness-based subclasses.
History
- "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[2]
Strand was first encountered by the Guardians in the Neptunian city of Neomuna during the Witness' assault on the Sol System. Strands of the Weave were visible to the Guardians in many parts of the city, speculated by Osiris to be a by-product of the paracausal influence of the nearby Veil. As the Neomuni lacked a connection with the Light or Darkness, they could not perceive the threads of Strand permeating their city.
The Young Wolf would go on to master Strand with the aid of Osiris and Nimbus, allowing them to better fight against Calus' Shadow Legion and disable the paracausal suppressors they deployed throughout the city, which had been calibrated with only the Guardian's previously known Light and Darkness powers in mind.
The Weave
The Weave is an extra-spatial layer of psychic energy interwoven with reality that manifests as a web of "threads", connecting all living beings and all minds together. Using the power of Strand, The Guardian learns to perceive, pull at, and manipulate the strings of this web to pull forth matter, sever connections to enemies, or traverse the environment around them. However, to use and master Strand, instead of practicing control of the power, one must relinquish control, embrace its threads, and flow as one with them instead of going against them as only a part of them.
Gameplay
Subclasses
Berserker Titans use Strand to manifest large claws to slash enemies as a light attack, then charging it up to perform a powerful double-handed uppercut that suspends targets as a heavy attack. Its Super is called Bladefury.
Threadrunner Hunters use Strand to create a rope dart, allowing for extended use of the Grapple, quick, long-ranged straight jabs, and a powerful, long-ranged, rapidly hitting, spinning attack. Its Super is called Silkstrike.
Broodweaver Warlocks manipulate Strand using their minds to telekinetically pull matter out and form it into a barrage of projectiles that unravel upon impact, becoming threadlings that aggressively home in on targets and explode. Its Super is called Needlestorm.
Verbs
- Woven Mail - Your body is encased in a protective mesh of tightly woven Strand matter, greatly reducing any incoming non-precision damage.
- Tangle - A knot of Strand matter, swirling with potential. Tangles can be shot and destroyed, or picked up and thrown, dealing damage. Defeating targets afflicted by any Strand debuff will unwind them and create a Tangle.
- Grapple Tangle - An incorporeal tangle that can only be used for grappling.
- Threadling - A creature woven from pure Strand matter that seeks and attacks, dealing damage.
- When a threadling is created, it is called a "threadling egg" while in flight, which hatches into a treadling on contact with the ground. If threadlings cannot find targets and their creator is a Warlock, they return to their creator and attach themselves to them, becoming "perched". One can have up to five perched threadlings. Perched threadlings will automatically deploy to seek out targets that their master attacks.
- Suspend - The target is immobilized by a web of Strand matter, lifting them in the air. While suspended, Guardians are unable to move freely, combatants are unable to move or fire their weapons, and
Unstoppable Champions are stunned.
- Suspended Guardians have their camera moved to third person, making it harder to target foes.
- Sever - The target's connections to the world are cut, and their outgoing damage is significantly reduced.
- Unravel - The target is permeated in destructive Strand matter. As they take additional damage, they create unraveled projectiles that seek out nearby targets. Unraveling Rounds from your Strand weapons pierce the shields of
Barrier Champions and stun them.
Grenades
- Grapple: Weave a grappling hook, and quickly pull yourself forward. Grappling to a Tangle immediately recharges your grenade energy. During and shortly after grappling, your melee attack deals area damage and unravels targets.
- Threadling Grenade: A woven projectile that reweaves itself into Threadlings while in flight.
- Shackle Grenade: A thrown weapon of weighted Strand matter that detonates on impact, suspending targets and creating additional suspending subprojectiles.
Fragments
- Thread of Ascent: Activating your grenade ability reloads your equipped weapons and grants bonus airborne effectiveness and handling for a short duration. +10 Mobility.
- Thread of Binding: Super final blows emit a suspending burst from the target. +10 Resilience.
- Thread of Continuity: Suspend, unravel, and sever effects applied to targets have increased duration.
- Thread of Evolution: Threadlings travel farther and deal additional damage. +10 Intellect.
- Thread of Finality: Finisher final blows create Threadlings. +10 Recovery.
- Thread of Fury: Damaging targets with a Tangle grants melee energy. -10 Strength.
- Thread of Generation: Dealing damage generates grenade energy. -10 Discipline.
- Thread of Isolation: Landing rapid precision hits emits a severing burst from the target.
- Thread of Mind: Defeating suspended targets grants class ability energy.
- Thread of Propagation: Powered melee final blows grant your Strand weapons Unraveling Rounds. +10 Strength.
- Thread of Rebirth: Strand weapon final blows have a chance to create a Threadling.
- Thread of Transmutation: While you have Woven Mail, weapon final blows create a Tangle. +10 Strength.
- Thread of Warding: Picking up an Orb of Power generates Woven Mail. -10 Resilience.
- Thread of Wisdom: Defeating suspended targets with precision final blows generates an Orb of Power.
Enemies
The only known use of Strand by enemies is the Absorption Shields seen deployed by several Shadow Guard units of the Shadow Legion. Strand Sever effects can cause Vex enemies to go berserk with their heads still attached. In The Final Shape, Harbinger Subjugators can be seen wielding Strand against the Guardian in the form of suspending and severing them with their attacks. Weaver Psions are able to use psionic waves of Strand to pull the target towards them.
Gallery
Strand Subclasses
Strand-wielding Dread
The Harbinger, a Strand-wielding Subjugator.
The Weaver, a Strand-wielding Psion.
Trivia
- In keeping with the theme of the Light and Darkness' elemental manifestations being connected to real-world physical phenomena (e.g. Arc, Solar, Void, and Stasis with electricity, heat, gravity, and cold, respectively), Strand may be derived from String Theory, which posits that all matter is fundamentally composed of subatomic vibrating "strings". It also may allude to Panpsychism, the idea that all things in the universe exhibit consciousness on some level.
- The theme and coloration of Strand suggests that it is meant to be the opposite of Void: green is the complementary color to purple, and whereas Void is themed around the concept of "nothingness" and the warping of spacetime, Strand is based on the idea that everything in the universe is metaphysically connected on a plane apart from material reality.
- The Guardian is the first known user of Strand.
- However, it is possible that the Hive and Eris Morn are able to see the "strings" of the Weave. During Season of Arrivals, Drifter mentioned in a conversation with Eris that after eating an Acolyte's eyes he was able to see "Lights. Like streaks—" while Eris finishes with "Lines. Through the world". Whether or not the strings described are truly from the Weave is yet to be confirmed.[3]
- During the Epilogue cutscene of Season of Plunder, the mention of ‘threads’, led to theories that Nezarec or his relics may have some sort of connection to Strand.
- Before January 10th, 2023, Broodweaver was known as Architect, and Berserker was known as Tyrant.
- The Grapple Grenade was originally only going to be for Threadrunners, however, the development team thought that this ability was too fun to limit to one class, so they gave it to Berserkers and Broodweavers as well.
- Nevertheless, with their Widow's Silk Aspect, Threadrunners possess by far the best Grapple abilities, having two Grapple charges instead of one and creating a new Grapple Tangle with each Grapple they use.
List of appearances
- Destiny 2
- Lightfall (First appearance)
- Season of the Deep (Mentioned only)
- Lightfall (First appearance)
- Entelechy (Mentioned only)
References
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