Thorn’s massive PvE overhaul in Season 23 transforms this iconic Hand Cannon into a meta-defining monster with infinite ammo potential
Thorn’s Historic Legacy and PvE Challenges
Destiny 2 Season 23 introduces transformative enhancements to Thorn that will catapult this legendary Hand Cannon into PvE dominance while maintaining its PvP prowess. The upcoming adjustments represent the most significant power increase the weapon has received since its original Destiny debut.
Although Thorn has historically dominated player-versus-player combat, the Season 23 enhancements will establish it as a top-tier option for PvE activities as well, generating substantial excitement throughout the Guardian community.
Among Destiny’s most recognizable Exotic weapons, Thorn maintains an almost mythical status since its introduction in the original game. It has consistently remained a cornerstone of competitive PvP loadouts across multiple Destiny eras and meta shifts.
However, Thorn has consistently underperformed in player-versus-environment scenarios, failing to compete with other top-tier Exotic primaries. Even the comprehensive Hand Cannon improvements during Season of the Deep provided minimal impact on its PvE viability, leaving it overshadowed by weapons with better add-clear capabilities.
Season 23 Game-Changing Buffs Explained
Bungie has targeted Thorn’s PvE weaknesses with precision, announcing these specific enhancements for Season 23 implementation:
These core improvements combine with the new Season 23 catalyst that delivers substantial stat bonuses: +20 Range, +10 Stability, plus upgraded Remnants that grant additional Range, Handling, and Mobility when retrieved. This creates a powerful feedback loop where collecting Remnants not only refills your magazine but also temporarily enhances your combat effectiveness.
The magazine overflow mechanic fundamentally changes Thorn’s gameplay rhythm. Instead of the traditional shoot-reload cycle, optimal play now involves strategic positioning to collect Remnants while maintaining constant pressure on enemies. This transforms Thorn from a precision weapon into an sustained damage tool perfect for dealing with large groups of combatants.
Community Reaction and Meta Implications
Following the Season 23 Thorn enhancement announcement, Destiny 2 players expressed overwhelming excitement about the potential emergence of a Thorn-dominated PvE meta.
One surprised fan commented on Reddit: “I’m completely stunned… what just happened?! This is going to redefine the PvE landscape.”
Other Guardians quickly joined the celebration with responses including “This changes everything – retrieving Thorn from my vault immediately,” and “Your reign of terror ends now,’ declared the Hunter, firing the 33rd round from his originally 9-round magazine.”
“Thorn will undoubtedly become a PvE powerhouse. The ability to maintain constant fire by gathering remnants eliminates traditional reload constraints,” another Guardian predicted while anticipating Season 23’s launch.
The most frequent discussion centered around Warlock Exotic armor synergy, with comments such as: “Necrotic Grip enthusiasts are celebrating massively,” and “…I’m particularly excited to combine Thorn with Necrotic Grips. The seamless integration without weapon swapping plus the amplified poison damage will be incredibly powerful.”
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Advanced Thorn PvE Strategies
With Osteo Striga facing significant nerfs, Necrotic Grip users urgently require alternative options. Previously available substitutes appeared lackluster, but these Thorn enhancements might provide the perfect solution Warlock mains have been seeking.
Mastering the new Thorn requires adjusting your positioning strategy. Instead of maintaining distance, you’ll want to play more aggressively to ensure Remnant collection. Position yourself where defeated enemies will drop Remnants within easy retrieval range, creating a sustainable damage loop.
Avoid the common mistake of overextending for Remnants. While collecting them is crucial, sacrificing optimal positioning for a single Remnant often gets Guardians eliminated in difficult content. Learn to balance aggression with survival instincts.
For advanced optimization, pair Thorn with armor mods that benefit from precision kills or poison effects. The combination of Thorn’s intrinsic poison, Necrotic Grip spread, and seasonal artifact mods could create one of Season 23’s most powerful add-clear combinations.
In endgame content, Thorn’s viability will depend on your ability to consistently generate and collect Remnants. In Grandmaster Nightfalls, this may require more calculated approaches than in standard gameplay, but the potential for infinite primary ammo makes it worth mastering.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Destiny 2 fans thrilled by Thorn buffs that will make it a “PvE monster” Thorn's massive PvE overhaul in Season 23 transforms this iconic Hand Cannon into a meta-defining monster with infinite ammo potential