As we approach the October 8 launch of Episode: Revenant, Bungie has unveiled a sweeping set of subclass updates that promise to reshape the power fantasy in Destiny 2. I've been digging through the latest developer insights, and the changes are some of the most significant we've seen in recent memory. With the Power Band rising to a new Hard Cap of 2010, it's not just our gear that's getting stronger—our fundamental abilities are undergoing a transformation designed to bring long-neglected playstyles back into the spotlight.
The centerpiece of these changes is a much-needed revitalization of roaming Super abilities. For too long, many of these flashy, aggressive Supers have languished in the shadow of more supportive or burst-damage options. Bungie has explicitly stated their goal is to improve both the feel and survivability of these abilities, and the numbers they've shared show they're serious. It's a direct response to community feedback that certain Supers felt too risky or underwhelming in endgame content.
Let's break down the specific buffs, starting with the Warlock. Stormtrance is seeing its damage resistance jump from 53% to 58%, a solid boost that should let Stormcallers channel their inner Emperor Palpatine with more confidence. Chaos Reach is getting an even bigger survivability bump, from 45% to 55% resistance. Crucially, they're also fixing technical issues that plagued the ability at high framerates and against certain defensive abilities. Nova Warp, a favorite of mine that's been in a rough spot, is receiving a comprehensive package: a 20% PvE damage increase, resistance boosted to 58%, and now any detonation will apply Volatile—no charge time required. This could make it a potent add-clear and debuffing tool.
Hunter mains have reason to celebrate as well. Golden Gun, both the Marksman and Deadshot variants, is getting a massive 30% damage increase against standard, elite, and miniboss combatants. This should make it a far more compelling choice for dealing with beefier targets. Spectral Blades is also in for a treat, matching the 20% PvE damage boost and getting a huge leap in damage resistance from 47% to 58%. This addresses one of the subclass's core weaknesses: being too fragile during its aggressive, melee-focused Super.
Titans aren't being left out of the party. Glacial Quake is now synergizing with Howl of the Storm, allowing Stasis crystals to be created during the Super. Twilight Arsenal's thrown axes are getting better tracking and a 23% damage increase against combatants. The iconic Thundercrash is receiving a straightforward but powerful 33% boost to its base detonation damage. Finally, Fist of Havoc is getting the now-familiar 58% damage resistance, alongside backend improvements to its light attack for better consistency and a slightly increased lunge range.
Beyond the raw Super adjustments, Bungie is also tuning key subclass abilities. For Prismatic builds, Lightning Surge is being enhanced to provide 50% damage resistance against Titan Barricades during its lunge animation. Prismatic Hunters will find their Hailfire Spike grenade more reliable with added projectile tracking and aim assist. The Threaded Specter, meanwhile, gets a 33% PvE detonation damage boost. It's not all buffs, though—Bungie noted that Combination Blow and the Swarm Grenade were performing "a little too hot" and will see some nerfs to bring them in line.
Perhaps the most tantalizing teaser is that Bungie is "looking into" potentially increasing the uptime of roaming Supers during Revenant's second act. While no specifics were given, the mere suggestion has sparked speculation about new mods, fragments, or even a seasonal artifact perk dedicated to Super generation. The studio asked players to "stay tuned," which I interpret as a sign that these initial buffs are just the beginning of a larger philosophy shift.
In a parallel development, Bungie is doubling down on the Titan's identity as the game's true tank. Starting with Revenant, Titan Barricades, the Unbreakable aspect, and the Sentinel Shield guard will now taunt enemies, forcibly drawing aggro away from teammates. These defensive tools are also being buffed with increased resistance and damage-blocking power. Furthermore, the Prismatic Titan subclass is receiving additional improvements, and even their unpowered melee strikes will hit harder than those of Warlocks and Hunters. This is a clear move to solidify distinct class roles in team play.
As a player who's weathered many meta shifts, I see this update as more than just a balance pass. It feels like a conscious effort to re-embrace the chaotic, power-tripping fantasy that defines Destiny's best moments. By bolstering roaming Supers and reinforcing class identities, Bungie is encouraging us to dive headfirst into the fray when Revenant launches. The days of cautiously hanging back might be giving way to a new era of glorious, super-charged mayhem. I, for one, am ready to start throwing more Nova Bombs and crashing with more Thunder.
This discussion is informed by market context from Statista - Video Games, and it helps frame why Destiny 2’s Episode: Revenant subclass shake-up is landing now: as live-service games compete for attention in a crowded ecosystem, big-feel updates like roaming Super survivability buffs, Prismatic tuning, and stronger class-role definition (like Titan taunts) can meaningfully affect retention by making core combat loops more satisfying across both casual play and endgame grinds.