With the release ofDestiny 2: Lightfall,players saw the release of thefifth accessible subclass, Strand,and before this, Stasis, with the release of Beyond Light. Both of these powers come from the Darkness, in contrast to Arc, Solar, and Void, all of which come from the Light. These subclasses have noticeable gameplay differences, with the Darkness subclasses focusing on crowd control and the Light subclasses concentrating on damage.
Each of these subclasses is not the same in strength, and some are noticeably weaker than others. This article will rank all five of them and explain their position by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses while also providing the best features of the subclass.
5Revenant
Stasis Is In A Weak Spot, And Revenant Is No Different
Due to the general state of Stasis, Revenant has been quite mediocre for quite some time. Despitethe recent changes to all Stasis subclasses, Revenant has remained weak, as these changes were not enough to buff the subclass out of mediocrity. Stasis is often seen as the weaker counterpart to Strand, and while the gap is closing, the gap still exists.
Revenant has access to a couple of powerful exotics likeRenewal Grasps, but the subclass has little going for it outside of this. The Super is quite average, and the Aspects are not awfully gameplay-altering, meaning players will opt for other subclasses with more powerful effects. This being said, Revenant is a very satisfying subclass to use and pretty solid inside PvP due to the slow effect.
4Threadrunner
The Latest Subclass Leaves A Good Bit To Be Desired
The latest subclass to the Hunter lineup, Threadrunner, doesn’t create enough waves to disrupt the Hunter subclass hierarchy. With therelease of theWhirling MaelstromAspect in Season 22, Threadrunner gained a good bit of power. However, despite this addition, there still is not enough variety within the subclass for it to be considered the meta pick for Hunters.
Threadrunner, a Strand subclass, gains access to Woven Mail, a powerful defensive effect. While this damage resistancesaw a recent nerf, it remains a potent tool for survivability on an otherwise risky subclass. Sadly, Woven Mail and the power ofWhirling Maelstromdon’t allow this subclass to reach the heights of others on this list, as they have more damage or better methods of surviving than Threadrunner.
3Nightstalker
Staying Invisible Forever Is Incredibly Strong
With manypowerful builds, Nightstalkers can take advantage of many different play styles and fantasies. Nightstalker hasn’t seen many changes in the past few seasons, making it quite a consistent option as it most likely won’t receive many balance changes, making it a safe pick for any Hunter. Void Hunter arguably has the strongest survivability in the game due to invisibility, cloaking you from all enemies.
Where Nightstalker tends to fall short is in its potential in Raid settings. While you can gear a Nightstalker todeal solid DPS with the correct setup,higher damage alternatives will better serve players, and with the presence ofTractor Cannon, there is little use for Shadowshot as a debuffing tool, making Nightstalker a solid but slightly underwhelming subclass at times.
2Arcstrider
Remarkable Survivability And Damage Make For An Easy Time On Arcstrider
Arcstriders are incredibly powerful. Since Arc 3.0’s release, Hunters have been abusing theCombination Blowbuild withAssassin’s Cowl. This interaction makes players nigh-unkillable as on a melee kill,Assassin’s Cowlwill make the user invisible and heal them to near full health, making for a remarkably powerful gameplay loop.
Arc Hunters also have access toGathering Storm, released with Arc 3.0. This Super is one of the best damage options for Hunters in terms of burst damage, and many players opt for it because it deals remarkable damage without the need for an exotic to boost it. However, when paired withStar-Eater Scales, it will deal an obscene amount of damage.
1Gunslinger
The Highest Damage Super In The Game, As Well As Great Survivability
Gunslingers are having their time in the sun with recent changes toCelestial Nighthawk. While Solar Hunter has always had access to somepowerful builds and Aspects, it only recently shot up in the rankings. The damage potential ofCelestial Nighthawk, when combined with specific damage rotations, is outrageous, and all Hunters should take advantage of it.
Gunslingers also have access to the potent effects ofKnock ‘em Down, allowing them to chain their Throwing Knives infinitely, provided they are running theEmber of TorchesFragment, which grants Radiant upon hitting an enemy with a charged melee attack. An excellent neutral game and the highest damage Super in the entire game grant Gunslinger a deserved first place on this list.
