TheDestiny 2showcase revealed some incredible things for the game. While fans ofDestiny 2have been praising the storytelling in Season of the Splicer, and the community as a whole has been in a frenzy for tangibleWitch Queennews, not many people may have truly seen what was coming. Content updates, new exotic additions, and the reintroduction of another classic weapon from the originalDestinycould be a lot on any given day. But the showcase has also shown off another addition that not many people may have theorized was coming.
Savathun, the Witch Queen, has been working to get her asphyxiating grasp on the Light for some time inDestiny. The Hive Goddess’s cunning and meticulous planning have been a danger to Guardians and other Hive alike. WithSeason of the Splicer, many fans thought that the Eliksni would become a new Guardian species that players could enlist to combat Her ever-growing threat. Those fans were partially right. TheDestiny 2showcase did reveal that a new Guardians species is on its way to wield the Light in 2022, however, they will be Hive under the service of Savathun, not the Tower.
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The Consequences of New Guardians
The addition of these Hive Guardians has major implications forDestiny’slore, and even changes to some of the heroes that players have come to know and love. In truth, their addition could lead the Tower and Guardians down a spiraling path that they can’t come back from. TheBeyond Lightexpansion saw Guardians adoptthe Darkness' power of Stasisunder the instruction and guidance of Elsie Bray, the Stranger.
Her place in the universe has long been questioned, but players trusted her and used the new power to defend the Deep Stone Crypt and fight off Eramis. With Eramis’ defeat and the Guardians leading the way, House of Light was formed underthe Kell of Kells, Mithrax. All of this has seemed to be for the better, but now the Light looks to have been stolen and corrupted by Savathun.
It’s somewhat of a tough pill to swallow, especially considering the images that were shown intheDestiny 2showcase andWitch Queenreveal. While the Hive that receive Light look incredible, the player’s actions are alarming. It is rare that another Guardian deliberately destroys the Ghost of a being with Light. To do so is to condemn them to a final death. While it might seem understandable in the context of theWitch Queen, it currently is alarmingly out of character. These actions could be another step down the dark path that players are taking in the game.
Hive Classes
While the lore implications for current Guardians look grim, there is also the use of classes by the Hive. The showcase didn’t give out too much information on how these classes would look, but it was clear that the Hive will have Void, Solar, and Arc classes. Being that they are an entirely different species than any of the Guardians to date, and engage in a wildly different culture, their use of subclasses could be unique to just themwhen theWitch Queenreleases.
The Subclasses that Guardians know today are deeply rooted in the history of the Traveler and the paracausal entity’s “gift” of immortality. The skills were honed and refined over generations, from the Dark Age when Warlords ruled to the most recent current events inDestiny. They’re skills that haven’t stopped evolving and can become closely guarded secrets by the orders that teach them.
The height of Savathun’s deceptionand knowledge could see similar power structures govern over Hive Guardian classes as well. While the Hive are unlikely to use Spectral Blades or the Hammer of Sol, they could become as diverse and threatening as Human, Exo, and Awoken Guardians. Hive Knights already wield some incredible power with swords and shields, and boomers can deal long-range arc damage. Modifying these weapons and abilities with Light and Guardian classes puts them in a league of their own.
The different levels in the Hive hierarchy will also likely affect any subclasses of Hive Guardians that players run into. While Witches and Knights would likely be Warlocks and Titans, respectively, there are still gaps to fill. Seeing how the Hive evolve as Guardians is likely going to be a major part of not onlytheWitch Queenexpansion, but alsoLightfallandThe Final Shape. It turns the Hive Guardians into an unprecedented enemy within the game, even if Savathun herself has been after the Light for centuries. This likely means that they are here to stay and could be a primary enemy for years to come.
