Cayde-6 is one of the most beloved and memorable Destiny 2 characters. This former Hunter Vanguard was known for his witty humor, adventurous spirit, and deep connection with the Guardians.
His tragic death in the Forsaken expansion left a lasting impact on the Destiny 2 community and the game’s story. Despite his absence, Cayde’s influence could be felt (in D2 TFS he seems to be alive at some point), and his memory lived on through various in-game mentions, including a statue in the Tower.
In this article, we’ll tell you who Cayde-6 was (or probably is), how his death happened, his unexpected return in The Final Shape, and the actor who voiced this iconic D2 character.
Who is Caude 6 in D2
As an Exo, Cayde-6 had a human mind inside a machine body, which allowed him to joke, feel, and interact with the world like any other human. He was the leader of the Hunter Class of Guardians. His quick wit and playful attitude made him stand out among the Vanguard leaders.
Before becoming an Exo, Cayde-6 was a human who agreed to undergo the transformation to pay off his debts. Though many of his memories were wiped due to multiple reboots, he still held on to fragments of his past, including thoughts of his son, whom he called “Ace.” Despite the losses, Cayde never lost his upbeat, carefree nature. He often joked about wanting to get away from his responsibilities as Vanguard to go on wild adventures again.
Here are some memorable game moments with his character:
- The Taken King Expansion: Cayde-6 provides crucial support by offering stealth tech to enter Oryx’s Dreadnaught.
- Destiny 2 Campaign: Cayde got stuck in a teleportation loop on Nessus due to a failed plan involving Vex technology.
Cayde-6’s weapon in Destiny 2 is the Ace of Spades, a powerful hand cannon that became as legendary as the character himself. This weapon has great accuracy and high damage. It rewards headshots with extra damage and automatically reloads part of the magazine after kills.
After Cayde’s death, players could earn the gun by completing special quests tied to his story.
Now, you can still get the Ace of Spades through activities like the Trials of Osiris or by checking vendors like Xur when he offers it. Having this weapon allows you to carry a piece of Cayde’s spirit with you in any battle you participate in.
How Cayde 6 Died
In Destiny 2: Forsaken, Cayde-6 met his tragic end in one of the most memorable and emotional moments of the game. Tasked with quelling a massive prison riot at the Prison of Elders, Cayde, alongside the player’s Guardian, sets out to restore order and prevent the escape of dangerous criminals. This mission quickly takes a dark turn as Cayde finds himself facing the Scorn Barons, a group of ruthless Fallen led by Uldren Sov.
After a hard battle, Cayde’s Ghost, Sundance, is destroyed by Pirrha, the Rifleman, leaving him helpless. Despite his usual bravery and wit, without his Ghost, Cayde can no longer be revived.
In his final moments, Cayde gets ultimately overpowered by the Scorn Barons. He is left injured and alone when Uldren Sov arrives and, in the last seconds of the video, we see a huge hole in the wall the Ace of Spades lying on the floor.
Throughout Destiny 2, Cayde-6 has been a constant source of humor and adventure. From leading daring missions like infiltrating Oryx’s Dreadnaught in The Taken King to helping Guardians on strikes and patrols, Cayde was always in the action.
Caude 6 Return in The Final Shape
After being killed in Forsaken, Cayde was essentially gone. However, in The Final Shape, his resurrection is tied to Crow (formerly Uldren Sov, who killed Cayde). Crow made a wish to the Ahamkara. It is a creature known for granting powerful, reality-altering wishes. This wish, driven by Crow’s guilt and desire to make amends, brought Cayde-6 back.
Cayde isn’t quite the same as before: he returns without his Ghost and can’t use the Light, but he’s back with his iconic personality. His interactions with Crow, Zavala, and Ikora answer some questions that players must’ve had about his personality and lore in general.
Cayde’s return is linked to the final battle against the Witness, with the story pointing that he’s not fully alive but caught in some in-between state. His glowing green eyes suggest that there’s something unusual about his current form. It raises questions about him actually being alive now.
In my opinion, the story seems to be setting up for a more emotional and uncertain journey, as Cayde grapples with his death and the new reality inside the Traveler.
Caude 6 Statue
The Cayde-6 statue is located in the Tower, the social hub of Destiny 2. It serves as a tribute to the beloved character after his death in the Forsaken expansion. The statue can be found near the Hangar, where Cayde spent a lot of his time as the Hunter Vanguard.
The statue shows Cayde-6 standing with his famous gun, the Ace of Spades. It has a bronze-like, worn look and perfectly fits his adventurous and brave character.
Cayde-6 statue is important to players because it honors this character’s memory after his death in the Forsaken expansion (however, there’s still a chance that he’s alive now).
In my opinion, the statue is more than just a decoration—it’s a symbol of Cayde’s lasting presence in the game’s universe.
Caude 6 Voice Actor
Cayde-6 is primarily voiced by Nathan Fillion. Fillion brought a lot of humor and charm to the role, making Cayde-6 stand out as a fan favorite with his witty lines and playful personality. Known for his work on Firefly and Castle, Fillion’s performance as Cayde made the character feel lively and relatable, despite being an Exo (which means he’s a robot created by the Braytech company, and has the mind of a real human transferred into it.).
However, during the Forsaken expansion, where Cayde was killed, Fillion was unavailable. As a result, Nolan North, who also voices the Ghost in Destiny 2, voiced Cayde for his final moments. Despite the change, North showed himself a great actor and perfectly kept the essence of the character during the emotional storyline of Cayde’s death.
For The Final Shape expansion, fans were excited to hear that Nathan Fillion would return to voice Cayde once again.
That’s all that we wanted to tell about this iconic guy in the Destiny 2 universe. We tried to be brief and informative at the same time. Hope you enjoyed it, Guardians!
