Destiny 2 Strand Warlock PvP Build

Table of Contents

• Should you play this build?
• Subclass
  • Abilities
  • Aspects
  • Fragments:
• Gear
  • Kinetic Weapons
  • Energy Weapons
  • Heavy Weapons
  • Exotic Armor
  • Armor Stats
  • Important Mods
• Playstyle

Welcome to Destiny 2 Strand Warlock PvP Build!

Last Updated March 22, 2023, for Lightfall Expansion and Season 20, Season of Defiance. Destiny 2 has gone through a major change with their modding system. Making mods much easier and simpler to understand. However, taking some of the old metas and either eliminating them or making them relevantly the same. For instance, the “well” mods most players have been accustomed to have been completely eliminated, and the only system and combination are based on orbs of power.

The mod loadout you see today will change over time as we become accustomed to new and shifting meta in Destiny 2 Lightfall. This build has been tested and works, so check back frequently, as we will be updating these builds throughout the season and expansion.

 

Strand Warlock PvP Build for Destiny 2

Welcome to Destiny 2 Strand Warlock PvP Build. Strand is the newest subclass part of the Lightfall expansion for Destiny 2. This subclass offers great mobility, survivability, and Damage. Strand is very strong and has helped me clear content that I was extremely under-levelled for. Follow this guide to learn about the Darkness subclass and how to become the strongest Strand Warlock.

Ability Playstyle

Firstly, cast your Rift, so you get your Threadlings to spawn. If they cannot find a target they will come back to you and stay on you until you either shoot a target or recast your rift to release all of them. Use your melee to kill an enemy to create a tangle. With this you can throw the tangle and grapple while its flying. If you get enough momentum you can use the new strand melee ability that cost 0 energy to use and do extra damage to an enemy. Your grapple will be refunded if you use it on a tangle. If grapple is used and no tangle was there to latch onto than you will not get your grapple back.

Gun Playstyle

Your weapons should be used to quickly finish an enemy why you hit them with your melee. The warlock ranged melee Arcane Needle Unravels the target making it spew this green needles that seek out other targets or focus the target that the needles came out of. Combine high rate of fire weapons to make the target spew out more needles.

 

Should you play Strand Warlock in PvP?

Strand Warlock has a few essential strengths and a unique playstyle, making it incredibly fun to play. If following “Pros” is what you’re looking for, this is the build for you!

Pros	Cons
Needlestorm does tons of damage	Tangle is on a long cooldown
Grapple is fun and offers great mobility	Melee Does not benefit from melee kickstart mod
Woven mail makes you very tanky	Have to Beat the Light Fall campaign
Has great single target abilities	Abilities Locked behind strand meditation resource

 

Abilities

Needlestorm
Healing Rift	Burst Glide	Grapple	Arcane Needle

Aspects

Weaver's Call

Mindspun Invocation

Fragments

Thread of Ascent

Thread of Binding

Thread of Generation

Thread of Isolation

Gear

Kinetic Weapons

Recommended Kinetic Weapons	Suggested Perk 1	Suggested Perk 2
No Time to Explain	Feeding Frenzy	Accurized Rounds
Piece of Mind	Perpetual Motion	Moving Target
The Immortal	Rangefinder	Target Lock

Energy Weapons

Recommended Energy Weapons	Suggested Perk 1	Suggested Perk 2
Matador 64	Threat Detector	Opening Shot
Found Verdict (Timelost)	Slideshot	Opening Shot
Beloved	Snapshot Sights	Moving Target

Heavy Weapons

Recommended Heavy Weapons	Suggested Perk 1	Suggested Perk 2
The Other Half	Eager Edge	Vorpal Weapon
Gjallarhorn	Wolfpack Rounds	Pack Hunter
Thunderlord	Feeding Frenzy	Lightning Rounds

Exotic Armor

Exotic Armor	Exotic Perk
Ophidian Aspect	Cobra Totemic
Transversive Steps	Strange Protractor
Swarmers	Swarmers

Armor Stats

Stat distribution number goals

1. Mobility – 0 - 20
2. Resilience – 60 - 100
3. Recovery – 100 ( This is warlock main stat which also lowers your class ability cooldown)
4. Discipline – 40 - 60
5. Intellect – 40 - 60
6. Strength – 40- 60

Artifice armor provides an extra +3 to whatever stat you want. This should help you reach these stat goals.

Character Statistics Changes In Destiny 2 Lightfall

[caption id="attachment_30844" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Resilience Tier 8 Lightfall Destiny 2[/caption] Resilience Changes: The resilience stat was heavily nerfed in Lightfall expanse and now only receives a 30% damage reduction at 100 stat.  Outside of Titan builds, your goal is tier 8 (80 stats) to get good damage reduction without wasted stats.

Important Mods

If you do not have the energy for the suggested mods, adjust and prioritize your main stat-boosting mod and anything that generates orbs, followed by something that consumes orbs of power and generates armor stacks.

Mod changes in Destiny 2 Lightfall

Armor Modification Change: these mods will seem foreign to returning players with Lightfall changing the entire system.  The system you build around now is only orbs of power.  You also see an armor charge mechanic and some of the previous mechanics for generating orbs of power and previously used mods.  This system is evolving, and we will continue to make changes as we gain a better understanding of the new mod system. Here’s a list of all the current armor mods.

Artifice Armor Change: provides an extra +3 to whatever stat you want this should help you reach these stat goals.

Artifact Change: The artifact no longer provides mods instead it reduces the costs of some of the mods and provides passives as you level up and unlock them.  Season 20 Artifact.

Head	Recovery Mod
Head	Kinetic Targeting Improved target acquisition, accuracy, and aim-down-sights speed for Kinetic weapons.
Head	Kinetic Targeting Improved target acquisition, accuracy, and aim-down-sights speed for Kinetic weapons.
Arms	Recovery Mod
Arms	Kinetic Dexterity Faster ready and stow speed for Kinetic weapons.
Arms	Fastball Increases grenade throw distance.
Chest	Recovery Mod
Chest	Unflinching Kinetic Aim Reduces flinching from incoming fire while aiming a Kinetic weapon.
Chest	Unflinching Kinetic Aim Reduces flinching from incoming fire while aiming a Kinetic weapon.
Legs	Recovery Mod
Legs	Invigoration Reduces melee cooldown each time you pick up an Orb of Power.
Legs	Better Already Your health begins to regenerate immediately after picking up an Orb of Power.
Legs	Orbs of Restoration Picking up an Orb of Power grants a small amount of energy to your ability with the least energy.
Class	Recovery Mod
Class	Utility Kickstart Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nWhen your class ability energy is fully expended, you gain class ability energy. Additionally, your Armor Charge is consumed and you gain additional class ability energy for each stack.
Class	Utility Kickstart Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nWhen your class ability energy is fully expended, you gain class ability energy. Additionally, your Armor Charge is consumed and you gain additional class ability energy for each stack.

Thank you for reading our Destiny 2 Strand Warlock PvP Build!

If you want to see more of Destiny 2 action, consider watching me live at twitch.tv/deltiasgaming. Check the website for more guides, Beginner Builds and End-game PvE Builds.

• Destiny 2 God Roll Weapons Guides
• Destiny 2 Comprehensive Beginner Guide
• Destiny 2 Builds
• All Destiny 2 Lightfall Weapons
• Destiny 2: How to Unlock Strand Subclass