Was Savathun a Bad Guy? Unraveling the Enigmatic Witch Queen
The question of whether Savathun, the Witch Queen, was a “bad guy” is far more complex than a simple yes or no. While her actions have undeniably caused immense suffering and chaos throughout the Destiny universe, a deeper look reveals a character driven by a desperate desire for survival and a twisted form of freedom. Savathun’s morality operates within a labyrinth of deception, self-preservation, and ultimately, a bizarre form of altruism towards the Traveler and, indirectly, humanity. In short, she wasn’t a straightforward villain, but rather a powerful, manipulative force navigating an incredibly brutal cosmos with strategies that often appeared malicious to those on the receiving end.
Savathun’s Motivations: Beyond Simple Evil
Savathun, one of the three Hive Gods, was not born with malicious intent. Her species, the Proto-Hive, were initially manipulated by the Worm Gods who offered them a twisted bargain: immortality and power in exchange for constant hunger for conquest and tribute. This parasitic relationship bound the Hive to an insatiable need for violence, shaping their entire culture and driving them to consume entire worlds.
Savathun’s path diverges from her siblings, Oryx and Xivu Arath, when she begins to question the nature of their servitude to the Worm Gods. The true driving force behind her machinations is her desire to break free from this enslavement, to escape the endless cycle of conquest. This desire manifests in intricate, often centuries-long schemes designed to accrue power, evade the gaze of the Witness, and manipulate circumstances to her advantage.
It’s crucial to understand that many of Savathun’s actions, while appearing antagonistic, were in fact designed to secure a future where she is not bound by the Darkness and its destructive imperatives. Her stealing of the Light, becoming a Lucent Hive Guardian, and even the chaos she sowed were all carefully calculated steps towards achieving this goal. She viewed the Traveler as a tool, but one worth protecting, believing that its destruction would ultimately doom everything she sought to liberate.
Her Actions and Their Interpretations
Many of Savathun’s actions can be perceived as definitively villainous. She infiltrated the Last City by posing as Osiris, manipulated numerous individuals, and led the Lucent Brood in an attempted invasion of Earth. She was responsible for orchestrating events that led to the death of many, including, indirectly, Cayde-6. Yet, when viewed through the lens of her primary objective – freedom from the Worm Gods and survival in a harsh universe – these actions become morally gray rather than black and white.
Her deception of the Witness is particularly significant. Savathun realized the Witness sought to impose the Final Shape on the universe, a state of stasis that she vehemently opposed. Her machinations to obtain the Light were specifically done to thwart the Witness’s plans. It can even be argued that her actions, including her initial conflict with Guardians, ultimately shielded them from the Witness’s attention, proving she was at least partially aligned with the Traveler’s intentions, even if her motives were selfish. She didn’t want the Traveler to be destroyed by the Witness as that would doom her, and perhaps, her goals.
A Complex Legacy
Savathun’s legacy remains complex. Her actions, while cruel and deceitful, stemmed from a desire to break free from the shackles of an oppressive system. Her schemes, often elaborate and difficult to fully comprehend, reveal a brilliant mind capable of manipulating even the most powerful beings in the universe.
While she certainly wasn’t a hero, she wasn’t just a mindless villain either. She was an agent of chaos, driven by a powerful desire for freedom and motivated by self-preservation, willing to walk the thin line between good and evil. Her ultimate goals, however convoluted her methods, aimed to protect the Traveler from the Witness. She sought an existence beyond the endless war she was forced to fight, and ultimately chose freedom over serving the darkness. Whether or not her means justify her ends is left up to the individual to decide, but it’s clear that Savathun transcends the simplistic label of a “bad guy”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Savathun to offer further insight into her complex nature:
1. Was Savathun trying to help us?
Savathun’s actions weren’t altruistic. She wasn’t specifically trying to help humanity, but rather, she was trying to protect the Traveler and, by extension, potentially the Guardians because she saw it as the best hope for escaping the Witness’s final shape. Her objectives just happened to coincide with our survival.
2. Did Savathun betray the Darkness?
Yes. Savathun betrayed the Darkness and its agenda. She deceived the Witness to protect the Traveler and seek personal liberation from the Worm Gods and the dictates of the Darkness.
3. Why is Savathun an enemy?
Savathun is primarily an enemy due to her long history of scheming and her initial hostility towards humanity. As a Hive God, she is inherently tied to the cycle of violence and conquest that has threatened civilizations for millennia. Her attempted invasion of Earth and numerous acts of treachery made her a clear antagonist.
4. Is Savathun an ally?
The idea of Savathun being a true “ally” is dubious. She may align with the Guardians against the Witness, but this alignment is rooted in her self-interest. She cannot be trusted, and her true motivations are always shrouded in deception.
5. Is Savathun dead for good?
Savathun is not permanently dead unless her Ghost, Immaru, is destroyed. The concept of resurrection in Destiny allows for her potential return.
6. Did Savathun betray the Witness?
Yes, Savathun tricked the Witness to protect the Traveler, effectively betraying its plans to impose the Final Shape on the universe.
7. Why didn’t Immaru revive Savathun?
The lore suggests that the resurrection process requires a template from a timeline where the Guardian survived. When those timelines are scarce, reassembly is difficult. Savathun’s complex circumstances might have made her resurrection more challenging for Immaru.
8. Did Mara stab Savathun?
Mara Sov attempted to kill Savathun in order to make her vulnerable, however, she did not succeed. Savathun escaped.
9. Is the Witness evil?
The Witness is the primary antagonist of the Light and Darkness saga and seeks to impose its vision of the Final Shape. While the narrative frames it as evil, its motives are rooted in a desire to end suffering, though in a way most see as unacceptable.
10. Who is the bad guy in Destiny 2: The Witch Queen?
The primary antagonists in The Witch Queen are Savathûn and her Lucent Brood, the Hive empowered by the Light.
11. Why didn’t Savathun lose her memories after her resurrection?
Savathun likely retained her memories either through Hive magic, Awoken technology, or a wish granted to Riven, which enabled her to maintain her memories post-resurrection.
12. Why is Savathun a God?
Savathun, along with her siblings Oryx and Xivu Arath, became a Hive God after making a pact with the Worms of Fundament. They gained immense power and near-immortality in exchange for the endless cycle of tribute and conquest.
13. What did Savathun do to Riven?
Savathun gained control over Riven, the Ahamkara, after Oryx’s death. This control allowed her to influence events outside of the Dreaming City.
14. Is Savathun responsible for Cayde’s death?
Savathun set the stage and was influential in the events that lead to Cayde’s death but ultimately, Uldren Sov was the one who pulled the trigger, meaning Savathun was not the direct perpetrator.
15. How did Oryx revive Savathun?
According to the Book of Sorrows, Oryx used trickery to revive Savathun after killing her within his Throne World, emphasizing her nature of deceit and manipulation.