The Destiny 2 showcase revealed some incredible things for the game. While fans of Destiny 2 have been praising the storytelling in Season of the Splicer, and the community as a whole has been in a frenzy for tangible Witch Queen news, not many people may have truly seen what was coming. Content updates, new exotic additions, and the reintroduction of another classic weapon from the original Destiny could 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 in Destiny. The Hive Goddess’s cunning and meticulous planning have been a danger to Guardians and other Hive alike. With Season 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. The Destiny 2 showcase 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.

RELATED: Destiny 2's Gameplay Video Shows Savathun's Throne World, Hive Guardians, and Glaive Weapon

The Consequences of New Guardians

The Redkeep and the Crown of Sorrow from Destiny 2 with Savathun's sigil in the foreground.

The addition of these Hive Guardians has major implications for Destiny's lore, 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. The Beyond Light expansion saw Guardians adopt the Darkness' power of Stasis under 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 under the 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 in the Destiny 2 showcase and Witch Queen reveal. 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 the Witch 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

destiny 2 season of the lost armor

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 them when the Witch Queen releases.

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 in Destiny. 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 deception and 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 only the Witch Queen expansion, but also Lightfall and The 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.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen will release on February 2nd, 2022.

MORE: Everything We Know About Destiny 2's Future Crucible Plans