A Hunter’s cloak is one of the more important items any Hunter possesses in Destiny lore. Hunter’s cloaks are rich with meaning, purpose, and history. While the citizens of the Last City see a beautiful and unique garb adorned over the shoulders of a passing Hunter, the Hunter sees a symbol. While fellow Destiny Titans and Warlocks compare their marks and bonds to the Hunter’s cloak, the Hunter is reminded of the vow they made and the purpose for their fight.
Hunter cloaks are not like the rest of a Hunter’s garb, Hunter cloaks are a symbol. A reminder of the reasons they continue to fight, the reason they take up their post, and the reason they continue to move forward. For Cayde-6, his cloak was a vow, a promise to avenge his friend, his brother, Andal Brask. As the newest and most notorious Hunter to don the cloak, what will Crow’s cloak be to him?
The Cloak of Cayde-6
Cayde-6’s cloak was a reminder of his failure to defeat Taniks The Scarred, leading to the death of Andal Brask at the hands of Taniks. Cayde’s cloak originally belonged to Andal Brask, former Hunter Vanguard before Cayde-6. Andal and Cayde made a Vanguard Hunter dare on who would kill Taniks first, loser took the post of Hunter Vanguard. It was one of the worst bets Cayde ever won.
However, Cayde-6 did not win, unknowingly failing to kill Taniks. After Andal Brask’s inauguration into the Hunter Vanguard position, Taniks delivered Andal’s final death, murdering the Hunter Vanguard. Cayde-6 took up his brother Andal Brask’s cloak as a vow to kill Taniks, forever wearing it as a reminder of his failure and loss, as well as his duty to avenge his friend.
While Cayde-6 would go on to kill Taniks again, Taniks always has a way of coming back. Taniks has even been killed by the player's guardian, with Hunters taking Taniks’ cloak as a symbol of defeat in The Shadow Thief Strike in Destiny. Many players are hoping for Taniks’ cloak to return in Destiny 2 now that Taniks has once again been defeated by Guardians in the Deep Stone Crypt Raid.
Cayde-6’s cloak may be one of the most iconic Hunter cloaks in Destiny lore. It is currently owned by the player who, upon picking up the cloak, made a vow to avenge the murder of Cayde-6. This vow further steeps Andal Brask’s old cloak in vengeance and further roots it in Destiny lore while showcasing the importance of a Hunter’s cloak.
Shiro-4, fellow fireteam member of Andal Brask and Cayde-6, wears a yellow cloak stitched together with patterns from the Fallen House of Kings. One of the Vanguard’s greatest assassins, Shiro-4 defeated many of House of Kings’ leaders, causing the Fallen House to fall into disarray leading to its eventual downfall. A Hunter’s cloak is a symbol, and in Shiro-4’s case, it is a symbol of strength and a warning to his enemies.
Creating a New Symbol
Regardless of where a Hunter’s cloak comes from, one thing is certain, it is more than just visual flair. While Cayde-6’s cloak is the most iconic in Destiny lore, a new bit of lore from the 2021 Guardian Games Sparrow, Color of Speed, resurrects the sense of importance behind a Hunter’s Cloak and the symbolism that it carries. The lore tab covers Osiris asking Eva Levante to create a custom Hunter cloak, and it may become a cloak as iconic as Cayde’s cloak.
Despite Eva being retired from custom outfitting, she agrees. The Ex-Warlock Vanguard, Osiris, needs someone he can trust and can keep a secret. Osiris stresses the secrecy of the project to Eva, solidifying its importance. Eva mentions that a secret cloak is just the type of thing that Cayde-6 came to her for. Eva then mentions sorrowfully that the last Hunter cloak she made was for Cayde.
Osiris never told Eva Levante who the new Hunter cloak was for, only left it shrouded in secrecy. As Eva put the finishing touches of delicate white silk on the black fabric, she could not help but wonder who the cloak was for, warranting such secrecy. Not knowing who her new custom cloak was for, Eva hopes it will be worn by a Hunter as worthy as her last, as worthy as Cayde-6.
While Eva may not know who her new custom cloak is for, Destiny 2 fans will know there is only one person who wears black and white. Osiris himself gifted Crow the current black and white garb worn by Crow, and now that the mask is off, Crow’s look is complete. However, his transition into a true Hunter and Guardian of the Last City is just beginning.
Eva Levante being the person who made Crow’s cloak is a touching piece of symbolism by Bungie. Eva has not made a cloak since she finished Cayde-6’s so whoever wears her new creation will be a particularly important piece of the current puzzle of Destiny’s lore. While Crow has not made an official transition into Hunter Vanguard, the building blocks for that transition began in Forsaken, with more focus on Crow starting in Beyond Light.
Hunter cloaks are an immensely important piece and tool to the Hunter who wears it, and an important symbol to the guardians who see it. Every cloak has a story, a meaning, a message. Presenting Crow to the guardians and the citizens of the Last City as the new Hunter Vanguard, with a shiny new cloak, would be a symbolic way to root Crow's redemption into Destiny lore.
Hunter’s respect the symbol of a cloak as a mutual acknowledgment of their fellow Hunter’s accomplishments and status. If Crow is going to be accepted by the Hunters as the new Hunter Vanguard, he is going to need a shiny new cloak that commands respect. Who better to make that cloak than Eva Levante, Retired Outfitter of the Last City, and grandmother to guardians everywhere?
Destiny 2Â is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.