Destiny 2's Strand Titan subclass has been creating a lot of buzz within the community recently. Upon learning more of the details, many Titan players were left feeling underwhelmed, especially compared to what other classes are getting with Lightfall's Strand. One of the main reasons for this disappointment is the Titan's focus on melee and its roaming Super, which feels just like a green version of many of the Titan's other Supers. However, Destiny 2's Strand Titan should have learned from the Stasis Behemoth that melee Supers are not what Titan players keep expecting.
The Stasis Behemoth, released as part of the Beyond Light expansion, was also a melee-range Super that failed to impress many players. The Stasis subclass offered some defensive options, area control, and a roaming melee Super that resembled Fist of Havoc. The Strand Titan subclass follows a similar path, with its Frenzied Blade melee ability, which is essentially a melee-range dash, and its Bladefury Super, allowing the Titan to dual-wield fist blades and roam the battlefield with ill intent. Titan players in Destiny 2 have been vocal about how underperforming melee roaming Supers can be, and Bungie should have known better after the Stasis Behemoth's reception.
Why Titans' Melee Abilities and Supers Shouldn't Have Been the Focus of Destiny 2's Strand
While the Strand Titan's melee abilities are impressive and look great on paper, they are not enough to make the subclass stand out in a game filled with various playstyles, weapon types, and mechanics. In today's Destiny 2 meta, players usually have an equal amount of ranged and melee methods for offense and defense. The Strand Titan's melee-focused abilities put it at a disadvantage when facing tough, end-game enemies from a distance. In addition, the subclass also lacks instant-cast abilities, so players will have to spend time getting close to foes to use the subclass' powers to full effect.
Another problem with the Strand Titan's focus on melee abilities is that they are not well-suited for activities like Destiny 2's Grandmaster Nightfall Strikes. While the subclass might be able to handle easier solo activities, players could find it difficult to solo (or even join fireteams for) higher-level content with the Strand Titan without completely optimized builds. Hopefully, the mod system rework will compensate for any deficiency in the Strand playstyle.
Destiny 2's Strand Titan Subclass Could Benefit From More Varied Playstyles
The Strand Titan's lack of versatility also makes it a less attractive option for players who prefer to play in groups or want to support the fireteam. While the subclass might be great for players who love to get up close and personal with enemies, it may not be of much use for players who prefer to apply massive debuffs or buffing teammates—much like the Titan's Void 3.0 subclass does. The Strand subclass' focus on melee abilities makes it less appealing for players who like to play more defensively, as the subclass lacks a powered ranged attack, unlike the Strand Hunter and Warlock.
Ultimately, the Strand Titan Subclass should have learned from the Stasis Behemoth that melee roaming Supers simply feel ineffective compared to instant-cast Supers or other Titan's Supers in Destiny 2. The subclass's focus on melee abilities limits its versatility and range, making it less appealing to players who prefer to play solo or in groups. While the Strand Titan's powers might be impressive aesthetically and seemingly enticing, they don't show enough innovation compared to how the other classes have been iterated upon with Strand or Light 3.0 reworks. Everything is not said and done, however, as Bungie could still add more Aspects in Destiny 2 that evolve how players utilize what makes Titans special while using Strand.
Destiny 2 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.