The Strand subclass can make your Hunter an extremely threatening presence on the field. Its mobility is unmatched thanks to the grappling hook and Tangle can deal a ton of damage quickly. But Strand builds will require skill to master. Let’s get into the best PvP and PvE builds for a Strand Hunter in Destiny 2.
Crafting the perfect Strand Hunter for PvP and PvE
A Strand Hunter excels in one particular area more than any other subclass and that’s in sheer mobility as well as speed. The grappling hook allows you to zip over to a location in half the time it takes other classes. And this usually means you’ll be the first to tango with enemies and opposing guardians.
This is where your skill at using Strand comes into play since getting into danger is a lot easier than escaping it. And if you’re going to do well with this subclass you’re going to need a build that’s versatile and works well with its strengths. For Strand, these strengths include the grappling hook, generating Tangles, and suspending your targets.
Related: Best Destiny 2 Strand Titan build: PvP and PvE
PvE Build
PvE is actually quite a tricky thing to build for when it comes to a Strand Hunter in Destiny 2. Not because your options are too few, in fact, it’s the opposite. Strand Hunters are innately fantastic at dealing with crowds of enemies. But I like to focus on Strand’s ability to suspend targets and generate Tangles. Here’s what I like to rock when cleaning up a Strike or two.
Exotic Armor:
- The Sixth Coyote – Gain a second dodge charge
Best weapons to use:
Shotguns are a must since you’ll constantly find yourself in melee range with enemies. So make sure you pack your favorite along for the ride. My personal choice is Imperial Decree but the exact choice doesn’t matter so much. Just use whichever shotgun you like the most. Next, I like to take something that can control mid-range targets well. So I’ll usually want a Hand Cannon, a Scout Rifle, or an Auto Rifle with good range.
Best Abilities:
- Super – Silkstrike
- Class Ability – Marksman’s Dodge
- Movement Ability – Triple Jump
- Strand Melee – Threaded Strike
- Strand Grenade – Grapple or Shackle Grenade
- Aspects – Widow’s Silk and Ensaring Slam
- Fragments – Thread of Mind, Thread of Ascent, Thread of Continuity, and Thread of Binding
- Stats to focus on – Mobility, Resilience, and Discipline
This build focuses on your ability to suspend targets, which both Ensaring Slam and Shackle Grenades will let you do. I say you can choose between the grenade and grapple whenever you fancy since some missions will benefit from the extra mobility. But for raw combat potential, the Shackle Grenade will help more. These Fragments will also reward you by giving you certain buffs when targets are suspended.
PvP Build
If I had to describe the PvP build of a Strand Hunter in one word, I’d probably use Sneaky. When going up against guardians you want to use abilities that can confuse and disorient players.
Exotic Armor:
- Wormhusk Crown – Dodging replenishes health and shield by a small amount
Best weapons:
Again I’d heavily recommend the use of Shotguns with a Strand Hunter in PvP. You’ll routinely find yourself in melee range with your opponents, so packing a shotgun is a smart idea. In contrast, I’d suggest your other weapon to be either a Scout Rifle to control longer distances, or a Submachine Gun if you plan to be extremely offensive in matches.
For the purposes of this build, make sure you have a Strand weapon like the Old Sterling ready to make use of the Thread of Rebirth Fragment.
Best Abilities:
- Super – Silkstrike
- Class Ability – Marksman’s Dodge
- Movement Ability – Triple Jump
- Strand Melee – Threaded Strike
- Strand Grenade – Threadling Grenade
- Aspects – Widow’s Silk and Threaded Specter
- Fragments – Thread of Evolution, Thread of Rebirth, Thread of Generation, and Thread of Continuity
- Stats to focus on – Recovery, Resilience, and Discipline
This build focuses on the generation of Threadlings, which are like little seeker mines that burrow through the ground. These explode on contact with enemies and can trip up even the most skilled Crucible players. Most of these Fragments improve and increase the odds of Threadlings appearing when you defeat enemies.
For both of these builds, you’re going to be a very aggressive player on the field. And even if you don’t see immediate success in certain activities keep practicing the intricacies of the Strand Hunter in Destiny 2. It’s a subclass that has a fairly high skill ceiling, and it feels incredible to master its abilities with time.
