Unveiling the Power of Stasis in Destiny 2: A Deep Dive
Stasis in Destiny 2 isn’t just another elemental damage type; it’s a game-changer. Stasis damage excels at crowd control by slowing and freezing enemies, hindering their movement and actions. Furthermore, applying repeated Stasis effects can lead to shattering frozen targets, unleashing devastating damage. It’s a strategic element that shifts the battlefield dynamic, offering both offensive and defensive advantages.
The Chilling Mechanics of Stasis
Understanding the Stasis Cycle: Slow, Freeze, Shatter
Stasis operates on a cyclical mechanic of slow, freeze, and shatter. When Stasis is first applied, enemies are slowed, reducing their movement speed and firing rate. Continued exposure leads to the freeze state, completely immobilizing targets for a short duration. Finally, dealing significant damage to a frozen enemy causes them to shatter, dealing considerable burst damage to the frozen target and nearby enemies. This shatter effect also applies Stasis to other nearby foes, potentially triggering a chain reaction.
Stasis Subclass Specialization
Each class in Destiny 2 (Titan, Warlock, Hunter) wields Stasis in a unique way, dictated by their subclass. Titans specialize in area denial with their towering Stasis crystals and powerful freezing melee attacks. Warlocks excel at controlling the battlefield, freezing enemies from afar and summoning powerful Stasis allies. Hunters are masters of mobility and precision, using Stasis to slow and shatter enemies with deadly efficiency.
The Synergy of Abilities and Weapons
Stasis is not just about abilities; it also extends to weapons. While Stasis weapons don’t intrinsically freeze targets like abilities do, they often feature perks that enhance the Stasis experience. Perks like Headstone create Stasis crystals on precision kills, further amplifying crowd control. Combining Stasis abilities with Stasis weapons creates powerful synergistic builds.
Stasis in PvE and PvP
PvE Domination: Crowd Control and Damage Potential
In Player versus Environment (PvE), Stasis is invaluable for controlling large groups of enemies. The ability to slow and freeze combatants provides crucial breathing room in challenging activities. Furthermore, shattering frozen targets can clear waves of enemies with ease. Stasis is particularly effective in high-difficulty content, such as Grandmaster Nightfalls, where crowd control is paramount.
PvP Considerations: A Balancing Act
In Player versus Player (PvP), Stasis is a double-edged sword. While the ability to freeze opponents can secure easy kills, over-reliance on freezing can leave you vulnerable. Bungie has consistently tweaked Stasis to ensure balance in the Crucible. The freeze duration in PvP is shorter than in PvE, requiring more strategic use of Stasis abilities. Skilled players use Stasis to control zones, disrupt enemy formations, and set up advantageous engagements.
The Lightfall Impact: Stasis in the Current Meta
With the release of Lightfall, the damage meta shifted, impacting Stasis. Kinetic primary weapons now deal significantly more damage to unshielded targets, making them a compelling alternative to Stasis weapons in certain situations. However, Stasis remains a powerful option due to its unparalleled crowd control capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Stasis
1. Does Stasis do more damage than other elements?
Not directly. Stasis excels in crowd control through slow and freeze effects. The damage primarily comes from shattering frozen targets, dealing burst damage to the frozen enemy and nearby combatants. Kinetic weapons, post-Lightfall, deal significantly more damage to unshielded targets.
2. How effective is Stasis against shielded enemies?
Stasis is effective against Stasis shields. Like other elemental damage types, using Stasis to break a Stasis shield will result in a more significant explosion compared to non-matching damage types.
3. What are some key Stasis Fragments and Aspects to consider for my builds?
Key Fragments and Aspects vary based on class and playstyle. Generally, look for fragments that increase slow duration, shatter damage, or provide buffs upon shattering targets. Aspects often enhance the potency of class abilities or add new layers to Stasis gameplay.
4. What’s the best way to shatter a frozen enemy?
The best way to shatter a frozen enemy is to inflict substantial damage with weapons or abilities. High-impact weapons, like shotguns or sniper rifles, are particularly effective. Some abilities, like the Titan’s Shiver Strike melee or the Hunter’s Shatterdive, are designed specifically to shatter targets.
5. Can Stasis freeze bosses?
While Stasis can affect bosses, they break out of the freeze very quickly. The slow effect is more consistently useful against bosses, as it can disrupt their attacks and movement. The freeze effect is very short in duration on powerful enemies.
6. What Exotic weapons synergize well with Stasis?
Several Exotic weapons pair well with Stasis. Verglas Curve is a great pick since it can create stasis crystals easily.
7. Does Stasis work on Champions?
Yes, Stasis can be used to stun Overload Champions with abilities that inflict Slow. Winterbite, the new Exotic stasis glaive, stuns overload champions with its slow effect when performing loaded melee hits. Secant Filaments allows almost any weapon to stun overloads, making it a versatile option.
8. How does Stasis interact with the Darkness debuffs (Weaken, Suppress, Volatile)?
Stasis can be used in conjunction with the Darkness debuffs. Weaken makes enemies take more damage, increasing the shatter damage of Stasis. Suppress disrupts enemy abilities, providing additional crowd control. Volatile creates explosions on enemy defeat, synergizing with the shatter effect.
9. Are there any downsides to using Stasis?
One potential downside is that over-reliance on freezing can leave you vulnerable. Also, the shifted damage meta in Lightfall made other weapon types more effective against unshielded targets.
10. How has Stasis changed since its initial release in Beyond Light?
Since Beyond Light, Stasis has undergone several balancing changes. Bungie has adjusted freeze durations, ability cooldowns, and damage values to ensure fairness in both PvE and PvP. These changes aim to maintain Stasis’s crowd control identity without making it overpowered.
11. Where does Stasis fit in the current Destiny 2 meta?
Stasis remains a strong option for crowd control and utility. While Kinetic weapons now dominate the unshielded damage meta, Stasis offers invaluable area denial and disruption. The best builds often combine Stasis with other elements or debuffs to create synergistic effects.
12. Is Stasis a good option for solo players?
Yes, Stasis is a viable option for solo players, especially in challenging content. The crowd control abilities allow solo players to manage large groups of enemies and survive difficult encounters. Hunter builds excel at solo activities.
13. How do I unlock Stasis?
Stasis is unlocked through the Beyond Light campaign. Completing the campaign grants access to the Stasis subclass.
14. Can non-Stasis subclasses utilize Stasis?
No, only the Stasis subclass grants access to Stasis abilities. However, all classes can use Stasis weapons, which can feature perks that synergize with Stasis effects.
15. Where can I learn more about effective Stasis builds and strategies?
You can find a wealth of information online on various Destiny 2 fan sites, forums, and video tutorials. Experimentation and finding a playstyle that works for you is the key to creating a successful Stasis build. Also, consider checking out resources from educational organizations like GamesLearningSociety.org, which study the mechanics of games to unlock new strategies.