Destiny 2 The Final Shape is a game where picking the right subclass and the best build can make a big difference. Warlocks are known for their powerful abilities and versatility, making them great for both PvE and PvP content. This guide will help you understand the best Warlock subclasses and builds and how to use them effectively.
Warlocks have five different subclasses, each with unique strengths:
- Stormcaller (Arc 3.0): Great for mobility and dealing electrical damage.
- Dawnblade (Solar 3.0): Focuses on support, providing buffs and health regeneration.
- Voidwalker (Void 3.0): Offers debuffs and self-healing, making it versatile for different scenarios.
- Shadebinder (Stasis 1.0): Specializes in freezing enemies, providing excellent crowd control.
- Broodweaver (Strand 1.0): Uses Threadlings and Suspension for high damage and battlefield control.
Below you will find an overview and explanation of the best Warlock subclasses in Destiny 2: The Final Shape. We’ll also discuss the best Warlock builds and share our top-3 tier list for PvE and PvP.
The Best Warlock Subclass for PvE (Destiny 2 TFS)
By understanding the strengths and optimal setups for each Warlock subclass, you can tailor your gameplay to dominate in PvE and PvP activities in Destiny 2 The Final Shape. Whether clearing waves of enemies or outplaying opponents in the Crucible, these builds will help you dominate the battlefield.
Dawnblade (Solar 3.0)
- Ranking: S (Best)
- Strengths: Provides strong buffs like Radiant (25% damage boost) and Restoration (continuous health regeneration). Despite nerfs, it remains powerful with Exotics like Sunbracers, Boots Of The Assembler, and Lunafaction Boots. Well of Radiance is the best PvE Super, offering significant team support.
- Preferred Abilities: Well of Radiance, Fusion Grenade, Solar Grenade, Celestial Fire. Focus on Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline.
- Stats: Recovery, Resilience, Discipline.
- Preferred Exotic: Sunbracers for infinite Solar Grenade, Boots Of The Assembler for healing and damage buffs, and Lunafaction Boots for faster reloads.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Touch of Flame, Heat Rises, Icarus Dash. Ember Of Empyrean, Ember Of Solace, Ember Of Ashes, Ember Of Torches.
- Gameplay Loop: Use Well of Radiance for team support and damage boost, keep using grenades and abilities to stay alive and deal damage.
Broodweaver (Strand 1.0)
- Ranking: S (Best)
- Strengths: Very versatile with strong ad-clearing and high DPS potential. Uses Threadlings and Suspension for damage and control. Recent buffs to Apotheosis Veil have improved its effectiveness.
- Preferred Abilities and Stats: Needlestorm, Threadling Grenade. Focus on Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline.
- Preferred Exotic: Swarmers for Threadling damage, Apotheosis Veil for quick ability recharge, Verity’s Brow for grenade energy, Necrotic Grip for poison spread.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Mindspun Invocation, Weaver’s Call. Thread Of Generation, Thread Of Evolution, Thread Of Warding, Thread Of Fury.
- Gameplay Loop: Use Needlestorm and Threadling Grenade for high damage and control, maintain high Recovery and Resilience for survivability.
Voidwalker (Void 3.0)
- Ranking: A (Strong)
- Strengths: Well-rounded with good options for both boss damage and ad-clear. Offers healing through Devour and powerful debuffs with Weaken.
- Preferred Abilities: Nova Bomb: Cataclysm, Vortex Grenade.
- Stats: Focus on Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline.
- Preferred Exotic: Contraverse Hold for grenade energy, Nezarec’s Sin for ability recharge.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Feed The Void, Child Of The Old Gods. Echo Of Undermining, Echo Of Remnants, Echo Of Persistence, Echo Of Instability.
- Gameplay Loop: Use Nova Bomb for high damage, Vortex Grenade for area control, keep Devour active for healing.
The Best Warlock Builds for PvE in D2 TFS
Prismatic Blizzard (Arc): Top-1
- Strengths: Prismatic Blizzard excels in endgame content with powerful turrets and Devour for survivability.
- Key Gear: Getaway Artist for Arc Soul turrets and Khvostov 7G-0X for weapon synergy.
- Abilities and Aspects: Use Feed The Void for Devour, and Bleak Watcher for turrets. Song Of Flame for added power.
- Fragments: Facet Of Grace (increased health regen), Facet Of Devotion (super energy on grenade kills), Facet Of Dawn (increased ability regen while amplified), Facet Of Purpose (increased rift energy from kills), Facet Of Protection (damage resistance while amplified).
- Stats Priority: High Resilience for survivability, high Discipline for frequent grenade use, and Recovery for rift regeneration.
- Mods: Kinetic Siphon, Heavy Ammo Finder, Impact Induction for grenade energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Convert your Arc Grenade into a turret with Getaway Artist, and use Bleak Watcher to dominate the battlefield. Devour keeps you alive and strong during tough encounters.
Radiant Sunbracer (Solar): Top-2
- Strengths: This build is all about throwing endless Solar Grenade to clear enemies quickly.
- Key Gear: Sunbracers for unlimited Solar Grenade and a Solar weapon with Incandescent.
- Abilities and Aspects: Use Touch of Flame and Heat Rises to boost your grenades. Well of Radiance for strong area control.
- Fragments: Ember Of Ashes (increased scorch stacks), Ember Of Searing (melee hits grant grenade energy), Ember Of Empyrean (solar kills extend buffs), Ember Of Resolve (grenade kills heal you).
- Stats Priority: Max Resilience for survivability, max Recovery for rift regeneration.
- Mods: Ashes To Assets for super energy from grenade kills, Harmonic Siphon, Firepower for grenade energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Get a melee kill to activate Sunbracers, then throw as many Solar Grenade as possible. Stay airborne with Heat Rises to maintain grenade energy and keep enemies burning.
Blinding Vesper (Arc): Top-3
- Strengths: Blinding and Jolting enemies through rifts and weapons for excellent battlefield control.
- Key Gear: Vesper Of Radius for rift shockwaves and Coldheart for additional damage.
- Abilities and Aspects: Use Electrostatic Mind and Arc Soul for constant Arc energy. Chaos Reach for powerful supers.
- Fragments: Spark Of Amplitude (orbs of power on multikills), Spark Of Beacons (blinding on special weapon kills), Spark Of Resistance (damage resistance when surrounded), Spark Of Brilliance (precision final blows create blinding explosions).
- Stats Priority: Max Resilience for survivability, high Recovery for rift regeneration, and Discipline for frequent grenade use.
- Mods: Harmonic Siphon for weapon synergy, Special Ammo Finder, Bolstering Detonation for rift energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Place a rift to blind enemies and generate Arc shockwaves. Use your weapons and abilities to maintain control and keep enemies at bay. This build is great for high-level PvE content.
The Best Warlock Subclass for PvP (Destiny 2 TFS)
Dawnblade (Solar 3.0)
- Ranking: S (Best)
- Strengths: Excellent movement abilities and health regeneration. Icarus Dash and Heat Rises offer unmatched vertical movement. Provides strong buffs like Radiant and Restoration.
- Preferred Abilities: Daybreak, Celestial Fire, Solar Grenade.
- Stats: Focus on Recovery and Discipline.
- Preferred Exotic: Rain of Fire for reloads and damage boosts, Transversive Steps for movement speed, Ophidian Aspect for quick weapon handling.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Heat Rises, Icarus Dash. Ember Of Solace, Ember Of Torches, Ember Of Empyrean, Ember Of Benevolence.
- Gameplay Loop: Use Daybreak for high mobility and damage, and keep buffs active for enhanced performance.
Shadebinder (Stasis 1.0)
- Ranking: A (Strong)
- Strengths: Excellent for freezing opponents, providing control in PvP. Iceflare Bolts and Frostpulse offer strong freezing capabilities. Winter’s Wrath and Penumbral Blast provide easy shutdowns.
- Preferred Abilities: Winter’s Wrath, Coldsnap Grenade.
- Stats: Focus on Recovery, Discipline, and Resilience.
- Preferred Exotic: Osmiomancy Gloves for extra grenade charge, Transversive Steps for movement speed, Ophidian Aspect for quick weapon handling.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Iceflare Bolts, Frostpulse. Whisper Of Rending, Whisper Of Torment, Whisper Of Chains, Whisper Of Bonds.
- Gameplay Loop: Freeze opponents with Winter’s Wrath, use Coldsnap Grenade for control, maintain high Recovery and Discipline.
Voidwalker (Void 3.0)
- Ranking: A (Strong)
- Strengths: Offers debuffs and healing. Weaken and Devour provide significant advantages. Child Of The Old Gods enhances performance.
- Preferred Abilities and Stats: Nova Bomb: Cataclysm, Vortex Grenade. Focus on Discipline, Recovery, and Intellect.
- Preferred Exotic: Transversive Steps for movement speed, Ophidian Aspect for quick weapon handling.
- Preferred Aspects and Fragments: Child Of The Old Gods, Feed The Void, Chaos Accelerant. Echo Of Persistence, Echo Of Remnants, Echo Of Undermining.
- Gameplay Loop: Use Nova Bomb for high damage, Vortex Grenade
- for control, keep buffs active for consistent performance.
The Best Warlock Build for PvP in the Final Shape
Voidwalker (Void): Top-1
- Strengths: Voidwalker excels at debuffing enemies and enhancing survivability through Devour.
- Key Gear: Secant Filaments for Devour and Collective Obligation for weapon synergy.
- Abilities and Aspects: Use Feed The Void for Devour, and Child Of The Old Gods to weaken enemies. Nova Bomb: Cataclysm for high damage.
- Fragments: Echo Of Undermining (weakening grenades), Echo Of Instability (volatile rounds on grenade kills), Echo Of Domineering (reload speed after suppression), Echo Of Expulsion (void ability kills cause explosions).
- Stats Priority: High Resilience for survivability, high Recovery for quick rift regeneration, and Discipline for frequent grenade use.
- Mods: Harmonic Siphon for weapon synergy, Bolstering Detonation for grenade energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Place an Empowering Rift to gain Devour, use grenades and melee to debuff enemies, and then finish them with your Void weapons. This build is great for controlling the battlefield and staying alive through constant healing.
Shadebinder (Stasis): Top-2
- Strengths: Shadebinder excels in freezing and slowing enemies, making them easy targets.
- Key Gear: Osmiomancy Gloves for enhanced grenades and Ager’s Scepter for freezing damage.
- Abilities and Aspects: Iceflare Bolts and Bleak Watcher for consistent freezing. Use Coldsnap Grenade to immobilize enemies.
- Fragments: Whisper Of Refraction (defeating slowed or frozen targets grants class ability energy), Whisper Of Durance (slow effects last longer), Whisper Of Torment (gain grenade energy when damaged), Whisper Of Fissures (increased damage of Stasis shatters).
- Stats Priority: High Discipline for frequent grenades, high Resilience for survivability, and Recovery for rift regeneration.
- Mods: Harmonic Siphon for weapon synergy, Grenade Kickstart for faster grenade energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Keep throwing Bleak Watcher turrets to freeze enemies. Use Ager’s Scepter to maintain control and generate super energy. This build is very effective in close-quarters combat.
Dawnblade (Solar): Top-3
- Strengths: Dawnblade offers excellent healing and support for teammates.
- Key Gear: Boots Of The Assembler for healing and Radiant, paired with a powerful Solar weapon like Sunshot.
- Abilities and Aspects: Use Touch of Flame and Heat Rises to enhance your abilities. Healing Grenades and Phoenix Dive for support.
- Fragments: Ember Of Solace (increased duration of Radiant and Restoration), Ember Of Empyrean (solar kills extend Radiant and Restoration), Ember Of Benevolence (enhanced ability regeneration), Ember Of Torches (melee hits make you and allies Radiant).
- Stats Priority: High Recovery for rift regeneration, high Discipline for frequent grenades, and Resilience for survivability.
- Mods: Heavy Ammo Finder, Harmonic Siphon, Bolstering Detonation for rift energy, and resistance mods for survivability.
- Gameplay: Focus on healing allies and keeping them buffed with Radiant. Stay in the air to maximize your damage and support capabilities. This build is perfect for team players who like to support their squad.
Conclusion
In Destiny 2: The Final Shape, choosing the right Warlock subclass is key for success in both PvE and PvP. Warlocks have five subclasses: Stormcaller (Arc), Dawnblade (Solar), Voidwalker (Void), Shadebinder (Stasis), and Broodweaver (Strand). Each subclass has unique strengths, like Dawnblade’s powerful buffs and healing, and Broodweaver’s high damage and battlefield control. Understanding and using the best gear, Aspects, and Fragments for each subclass can greatly improve your performance. Whether you’re clearing enemies or outplaying opponents, the right Warlock build will help you dominate.