How To Build Your Strand Subclass In Destiny 2: Lightfall

This comprehensive guide explores the intricate mechanics of Strand debuffs, buffs, and specialized abilities to help you construct a powerful and versatile Strand subclass build.

The Destiny 2: Lightfall campaign introduces you to the foundational Strand subclass mechanics, but full access requires completing the final Lightfall mission. Strand introduces revolutionary gameplay elements including new status effects, defensive enhancements, and a unique currency system for subclass progression.

Acquiring Strand Meditations is crucial for purchasing the complete arsenal of two grenade types, two Aspects, and 14 Fragments needed to fully unlock Strand capabilities from the Pouka Pond on Neomuna. Crucially, Strand Meditations don’t transfer to the Postmaster, requiring manual collection of the distinctive green motes that drop from specific activities. For detailed farming strategies and information on obtaining the Final Warning Exotic sidearm after securing all Strand abilities, consult our specialized resource guides.

Strand revolutionizes Destiny 2’s combat dynamics with innovative features, and this guide provides detailed breakdowns of each ability along with strategies for maximizing debuff effectiveness.

Creating Tangles, Grapples, And Threadlings

Tangles manifest as cohesive yarn-like formations composed of Strand energy that materialize after eliminating enemies afflicted with Strand debuffs. These versatile objects can be gathered and hurled at adversaries or targeted with weapon fire to inflict substantial damage. Strategic players can propel a Tangle into distant areas to utilize it as a grapple point, following its trajectory through the battlefield. Creating a Tangle initiates a cooldown period preventing immediate generation of additional Tangles.

A Tangle from a defeated enemy

Strand’s environmental integration includes Grapple Tangles, which serve as stationary anchor points that neither inflict damage nor relocate when utilized. While naturally occurring Grapple Tangles populate Neomuna’s landscape, the Hunter’s Widow’s Silk Aspect enables creation of temporary Grapple Tangles anywhere—lasting briefly but accessible to your entire fireteam. Importantly, utilizing Grapple Tangles instantly refreshes your grapple cooldown timer.

Although functionally distinct from traditional grenades, the grapple ability operates on the grenade cooldown system. This mobility tool enables attachment to surfaces, dynamic objects, combatants, allies, Tangles, and Grapple Tangles. Skilled operators can deliver significant damage by executing melee attacks against enemies during the grapple’s momentum phase.

The Thread of Ascent and Thread of Generation Fragments significantly enhance grenade regeneration rates—essential for grapple-focused builds. Thread of Fury Fragment provides melee energy when damaging targets with Tangles. Additionally, the Quicksilver Storm Exotic catalyst’s Nano-entanglement trait converts weapon damage to Strand type, with grenade mode final blows generating additional Tangles.

How to make Threadlings

The Threadlings seeking their targets on Neomuna

Threadlings represent autonomous Strand constructs that aggressively seek nearby enemies and deliver targeted damage—building your subclass around Threadling generation creates exponential combat effectiveness. While Threadlings form a cornerstone of Warlock subclass identity and Super capabilities, all character classes possess Threadling creation methods. The most straightforward approach utilizes the Threadling grenade, deploying three Threadlings upon impact. Furthermore, Strand weapon archetypes can roll with the Hatchling perk, where precision final blows or rapid successive defeats generate Threadlings.

Hunter and Titan subclass Fragments can activate Threadling generation through specific actions like Finishers, while Warlock Aspects Weaver’s Call and Mindspun Invocation create them via Rift casting or Grapple melee execution. Warlocks consuming their Threadling grenade generate five Threadlings that perch on their character. The Swarmers Exotic leg armor enables Threadling creation when destroying Tangles. Additionally, Threadlings that fail to locate targets return to their Warlock creator.

The specialized Thread of Evolution, Thread of Rebirth, and Thread of Finality Fragments provide enhanced Threadling functionality and synergy.

Building Strand subclass with Unravel, Suspend, Sever, and Woven Mail

Similar to other subclasses, Strand introduces a comprehensive suite of debuffs and buffs requiring mastery. While the Thread of Continuity Fragment extends all debuff durations, this guide identifies Fragments specifically optimized for each debuff type.

How to Unravel

Unravel stands among Strand’s most prevalent debuffs, infecting enemies with volatile Strand matter that generates seeking projectiles when damaged—visually resembling swarming green insects. Continuous damage application to Unraveled targets sustains projectile generation, creating persistent area denial.

This debuff excels in multi-target engagements where focusing a single Unraveled enemy produces numerous projectiles that gradually damage surrounding combatants while spreading the Unraveling effect. Defeated Unraveled enemies leave behind Tangles for continued combat utility. Visual identification of Unraveled targets is straightforward through their distinctive green luminescence.

All classes can apply Unravel using Grapple melee or the Warlock’s Arcane Needle melee; Swarmers Exotic unravels targets via Threadling damage. The Thread of Propogation Fragment grants Unraveling Rounds to Strand weapons following powered melee final blows.

Strategically, Unraveling Rounds from Strand weapons penetrate Barrier Champion shields and trigger stunning effects. Utilizing Season 20’s Allied Unraveling artifact mod provides Unraveling Rounds after achieving rapid final blows with Strand weaponry.

How to Suspend

This debilitating effect levitates targets while immobilizing them within Strand energy webs. Suspended combatants cannot utilize weapons or abilities. In PvP scenarios, suspended opponents retain limited hip-fire capability and reduced mobility. Like other debuffs, defeating suspended opponents generates Tangles.

The Hunter’s Ensnaring Slam Aspect suspends nearby enemies following aerial maneuvers, while the Titan’s Drengr’s Lash Aspect triggers suspension upon class ability activation. Titan barricades project Strand energy waves that damage enemies, synergizing powerfully with Abeyant Leap Exotic leg armor to spawn additional suspending lashes. The Titan’s ranged Super attack both damages and suspends multiple targets simultaneously.

Warlocks utilizing the Mindspun Invocation Aspect can consume Shackle grenades to activate Weaver’s Trance—where final blows generate suspending detonations. The Shackle grenade launches weighted Strand ropes that detonate on impact to suspend targets while creating additional suspending projectiles. Thread of Mind, Thread of Wisdom, and Thread of Binding Fragments provide optimal suspension synergy.

Suspend effectively stuns Unstoppable Champions. Note that certain high-level yellow-bar bosses possess suspension immunity.

How to Sever

Sever applies a debilitating effect that temporarily reduces target damage output while potentially generating Tangles upon defeat. This debuff combines exceptionally with Woven Mail, creating dramatic damage reduction potential.

The Hunter’s Threaded Spike melee damages and severs each contacted target. Similarly, the Titan’s Frenzied Blade melee severs slashed adversaries. Employ the Thread of Isolation Fragment to emit severing bursts after landing consecutive precision hits.

Getting the Woven Mail buff

Woven Mail provides universal class accessibility, significantly reducing incoming non-precision damage for limited durations in PvE. PvP applications differ, with Woven Mail providing no protection against headshot or melee damage. Interface indicators in the screen’s bottom-left corner display buff activation status alongside character visual effects showing green protective shielding.

The Titan’s Into The Fray Aspect grants Woven Mail to yourself and nearby allies when destroying Tangles or activating your Super; Abeyant Leap Exotic confers Woven Mail when suspending enemies. The Hunter’s Cyrtarachne’s Facade Exotic helmet provides Woven Mail during grapple usage while enhancing flinch resistance. Thread of Warding Fragment awards Woven Mail upon collecting Orbs of Power. Thread of Transmutation generates Tangles when securing final blows during Woven Mail activation.

Mastering Strand requires understanding advanced synergy principles between abilities, Fragments, and Exotics. Optimal builds focus on either maximizing single debuff effectiveness or creating hybrid approaches that leverage multiple Strand mechanics simultaneously. For players seeking comprehensive Complete Guide to Destiny 2’s combat systems, including detailed Weapons Unlock strategies that complement your Class Guide selections.

Common optimization mistakes include overlooking Fragment combinations that enhance multiple abilities simultaneously or failing to coordinate Exotic choices with your preferred playstyle. Advanced players should prioritize creating feedback loops where Tangles generate ability energy, which produces more debuffs, leading to additional Tangle creation. Time investment for mastering advanced Strand techniques typically ranges from 10-15 hours of focused gameplay across various activities.

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