Destiny 2 has come a long way from its early days of limited build customization. Initially, players had little to work with in terms of tailoring their characters, but over time, the game has transformed into a playground of creativity. Every tweak, every upgrade, and every new build can significantly alter how you experience the game. This evolution, especially noticeable after the Light subclasses got their makeover with Stasis and the debut of Prismatic, has led to powerful and unique builds across all classes. Some builds have even become indispensable for tackling challenging content solo or with ease. With the arrival of Episode Heresy, we’ve seen an exciting shift in existing builds and the birth of new ones. Among these developments, the standout Storm’s Keep deserves special attention—not for nerfing, but for further inspiration.
Balancing the game’s mechanics is crucial to maintaining Destiny 2’s appeal as a live-service game. Players are constantly drawn to experiment with novel features and reimagined builds; for instance, Episode Heresy propelled the Warlock’s Geomag Stabilizers into OP territory with various Arc tweaks. Even Titans received notable upgrades with the redefined Khepri’s Horn helm. Unless Episode Heresy’s third act brings massive changes, Storm’s Keep for Arc Titans currently reigns supreme, excelling in diverse PvE settings. Instead of reducing its effectiveness, Bungie should focus on fostering more unique builds.
Storm’s Keep has marked a noteworthy turning point for Titans within the game. In a franchise that’s decade-old, such innovative reinvention is rare. Titans have long awaited substantial improvements, and while enhancements to their defensive Barricade were welcome, they were only a start. What sets Storm’s Keep apart is that it enables Titans to dish out significant damage from a distance—a game-changing feature for this typically melee-focused class. Bungie should nurture this development, using it as a springboard to invigorate other Titan builds and even branching out similar concepts to Warlocks and Hunters, broadening each class’s play style.
Take the Warlock’s current top-performing build, for example, which shines through Prismatic with Lightning Surge and Solipsism combos. Traditionally, Warlocks haven’t excelled in melee combat, but this configuration turns them into PvE powerhouses, even in solo gameplay. These builds should be celebrated and expanded upon within the game. Nerfing them could disrupt the game’s ecosystem in unhealthy ways—a move Destiny 2 should avoid.
Should Bungie choose to nerf Storm’s Keep, they’d be stripping away Titans’ key ranged DPS alternative, aside from very specific setups like boss-strike strategies involving Stoicism rolls. This approach doesn’t fit every encounter and requires a buildup feasible in only some scenarios. The beauty of Storm’s Keep is its flexibility, allowing players to pair it with virtually any Exotic. The way forward for Bungie should encourage innovation, creating more builds like Storm’s Keep, rather than scaling back the creativity that has invigorated the game. This path could open up new possibilities, keeping the meta dynamic and engaging for players across the board.
