Summary
Although the game is in a much better state than it ever was when it comes to offering different options for builds and creative gameplay avenues,Destiny 2is arguably still anchored to some past ideas and features that would need some touching up. For example,Storm’s Keep enables ranged Titan DPSthat is both powerful and consistent, and doesn’t rely on niche and hard-to-pull-off combos like Spirit of the Eternal Warrior plus Spirit of the Star-Eater for big Super and weapon damage. The catch is that Storm’s Keep is a new addition, and for the most part, it’s the first of its kind. As for Hunters, they are facing a similar problem with one of their builds.
Destiny 2builds can make all the difference between successfully completing an activity and dying multiple times or straight-up failing if it’s something like Trials of Osiris or Grandmaster Nightfalls. Hunters have had a good streak so far with good Exotics, new features, and reworks, from the incredibly powerful selection of Prismatic Aspects and abilities to the addition of Gifted Conviction as an Exotic. However, the cape-wearing Guardians are very much in need of something new when it comes to their Void subclass.
Destiny 2’s Nightstalker Hunters Need a New Melee Attack Now More Than Ever
The main problem withVoid Hunter builds inDestiny 2is that they only have one option when it comes to their melee, and that is Smoke Bomb. Smoke Bomb is not necessarily bad, and on the contrary, it has several very powerful interactions that make it a great ability, such as with the Exotic Omnioculus, which makes this attack a potent defensive (and at times also offensive) tool. Yet, from the addition of the new On The Prowl Aspect to other potential combinations, without even considering neutral gameplay benefits, it’s clear that Nightstalker could use a new melee attack.
A Void melee dedicated to dealing damage would not only extremely benefit the class, but it would also make sense in terms of themes and design. The Nightstalker can very much act like a predator in the wild, and having a tool that actually hits enemies hard beyond weapons and a utility Super would be an incredible upgrade. The Void kit forHunters inDestiny 2is not bad by all means, but there are some elements of it that are rarely used or good enough. Graviton Forfeit is an amazing Exotic that still sees play in endgame activities, but it could be much better with an actual damaging melee attack.
What a New Void Hunter Melee Could Do in Destiny 2
Something that Void mostly lacks across the board for all classes is a more consistent way to apply the Suppress debuff, and a Void melee for Hunters could do precisely that. There are a few ways for Bungie to add a new Void melee, such as:
These are just ideas, but they are thematic additions to Nightstalkers.Destiny 2’s GM Nightfallsmay benefit from the former due to their strategic gameplay promoting safety, for example, whereas content like PvP and Dungeons may benefit from the latter.
A new Void melee may also allow players to use some Fragments and Exotics more often, such as Echo of Leeching to offset the potential lack of Devour, or it could breathe new life into On The Prowl.
It’s hard to tell if Bungie is even considering making a new Void melee attack, but it’s something that it should consider.Destiny 2’s Frontiersis scheduled for sometime this year after Episode Heresy, and even if Bungie doesn’t add this hypothetical new melee ability right off the bat, there is still a chance it’s done later - and it’s something that could immensely benefit Void Hunter builds.
