Bungie has been setting up different, overarching storylines in Destiny 2 over the years. While some big story moments culminate in the events that unfold during one season, others do so in the yearly expansions. As such, it shouldn't come as a surprise that The Witch Queen expansion will very likely be coming with a game-changing patch and heavy lore implications for everything that happens in it. Of course, Savathun will be a major player, though not necessarily a villain. There are reasons why this could be the case, considering the alleged leak of a new image for The Witch Queen portraying Savathun with a Ghost fluttering around just over her shoulder.
While this potential Destiny 2 leak should be taken with a pinch of salt, it also seems to validate some of the points made in another leak from earlier this year, which was expanded upon recently. The original leak acquired credibility over time due to several leaked details regarding Season of the Chosen and Season of the Splicer coming true upon release, and the new "full" leak is supposed to be the complete document. One of the points being made there is that Savathun would get to use the Light and be resurrected by a Ghost, and this alleged leaked image seems to show just that.
Savathun's Leaked Image and What it Means for Destiny 2
Many players have been analyzing the image for quite some time, comparing it to past seasonal Destiny art. It appears that the Light-wielding Savathun is not too far off from other legitimate art by Bungie, at least in style. Again, this doesn't necessarily prove that the leaked image is credible, nor that it should be considered as proof for anything, but it certainly sparks some debate about what Savathun using the Light could mean for the lore of Destiny 2. One of the points being made is that this could be the image for a new upcoming Season, rather than The Witch Queen expansion itself. This image could either be next Season, or the expansion's first season next year.
Another interesting point is that Savathun having a Ghost and using the powers of the Traveler could also mean her Hive could have similar powers to an extent, like Knights and Wizards scattered across the system. If that proves to be the case, then Destiny 2 players are going to see gameplay changes — and potentially big ones at that — once The Witch Queen is finally released, as these enemies could come with an extra layer of challenge. In fact, if the Guardian's enemies are going to use a Ghost, they could be resurrected time and time again unless players manage to kill these small and agile sapient machines as well.
Light-wielding enemies could even come with their own set of classes and subclasses to boot, just like the Guardian has access to three elemental classes, each with its three subclasses. Something like this would be bound to change Destiny 2 as players know it forever, and it could pave the way for even more changes in terms of the game's lore and story arcs. Among these changes, some have already been shown in the past seasons like Season of the Chosen and the current Season of the Splicer, and in both cases, they meant an alliance of sorts between two major enemy races in Destiny 2 — the Cabal and the Eliksni.
Destiny 2: Savathun and Other Enemies Becoming Allies
While it would most likely be very interesting to see an alliance with the Hive as well, it would even be more shocking if Savathun herself established such an alliance. Savathun has often been considered one of the main antagonists in Destiny's lore for years. Savathun and Quria, the Vex Taken Mind that was supposedly destroyed this Season, were both behind the events of the Season of the Splicer and also the Dreaming City's curse. With Savathun being the sister of both Oryx and Xivu Arath, and a Hive God affiliated with the Darkness, she was always perceived as one of the big baddies that players would have to eventually go up against.
However, two specific lore entries in Destiny 2 revealed new and interesting details about Savathun, with the first coming from the Hive God's perspective while watching a Crucible match and wishing for the Light, and the second lamenting her Worm's hunger. Plus, Savathun has been manipulating the Darkness' communication with the Guardian in the Season of Arrivals, presumably trying to stop it from corrupting the Guardian with Stasis on Europa. As such, would Savathun really be an enemy at this point?
Destiny 2's narrative seems to be going the opposite way: Caiatl giving in to Zavala's conditions to the Rite of Proving and declaring peace with humanity, and now Mithrax helping the Vanguard investigate and terminate the Endless Night. With this in mind, it's easy to see that Savathun could prove herself to be an ally after all, even if Guardians would have to be very careful, because she is still the Hive God of trickery. However, that too could change, possibly either in Season 15 or when The Witch Queen expansion drops in February 2022.
In fact, Savathun could cease to be the manipulator she is because she could sever the link with her Worm, effectively killing herself in the process, or ask the Guardian to do it instead. That's how she could obtain a Ghost and the powers of the Light and be resurrected just like any other chosen Guardian would, even if that turns out to be a ploy. Still, anyone who is resurrected by a Ghost doesn't retain their memories of their past life, and Savathun would be no exception to the rule, much like Uldren Sov became Crow.
Ultimately, though, whether this is going to be the case remains to be seen. A great time to learn more about the upcoming expansion for Destiny 2 is on August 24 during The Witch Queen showcase, which hopefully will reveal a bit more about what Bungie has in store.
Destiny 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.