destiny 2 prismatic subclass
Prismatic in action. Image via Bungie

Destiny 2 Prismatic subclass, explained

Here's everything we know so far.

The journey of Destiny 2 has seen a lot of chapters, but one of the main themes is Guardians mastering the abilities of both Light and Dark.

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In The Final Shape, Guardians will do so, and do so concurrently. A new subclass is coming in the expansion, and it allows players to use both Light and Darkness powers at the same time. And it looks absolutely amazing.

Here’s everything we know so far about the Prismatic subclass in Destiny 2.

What is Prismatic in Destiny 2?

Destiny 2 Prismatic concept art
“The ultimate form of being a Guardian.” Screenshot by Dot Esports

Prismatic is an all-new subclass in Destiny 2: The Final Shape that lets players combine Light and Dark abilities to create an all-new experience.

The new subclass was first revealed in the Destiny 2: The Final Shape developer preview showcase on April 9, just under two months before The Final Shape in June.

The video showed Prismatic in action, along with the new Dread enemy type, and more. But Prismatic looks to be a truly new experience that really defines what it is to be a Guardian in Destiny 2, combining the powers of both Light and Darkness to help take down The Witness.

With Prismatic equipped, there will be a Light and Darkness meter underneath the Super meter. Once both sides are full, Guardians can trigger a new ability called Transcendence. This will trigger a new and unique grenade for each class that combines a Light and Darkness damage type.

Hunters will get a grenade that deals Solar and Stasis, Titans get Strand and Arc, and Warlocks get Stasis and Void. There’s also a weapon damage bonus that will stack on top of other weapon damage bonuses, and casting Transcendence will immediately refund grenade and melee abilities.

Warlock Prismatic Transcendence pose in Destiny 2
Using Transcendence will trigger an on-screen pose. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Prismatic will have more build options, more combinations, more Fragments, and more Fragment slots than default subclasses. Basically, it’s going to be “a little game-breaking,” according to Bungie.

The developer showed off a full list of the combinations available for the new subclass. Guardians can only choose one part of each subclass, and that’s based on preset choices. Still, Prismatic treads new ground in Destiny 2, and it gets even better when you factor in the new Exotic class items.

Here are all the abilities, Supers, and Aspects Bungie has confirmed so far. Asterisks indicate starting options, which will be unlocked early into The Final Shape. The remaining ones are available through campaign and post-campaign gameplay. All classes have access to all respective jumps and class abilities by default.

All Prismatic Warlock abilities, Supers, and Aspects in Destiny 2

An image showing the subclass menu for Prismatic Warlocks in Destiny 2.
Finally, Needlestorm regardless of subclass. Image via Bungie
  • Supers: Song of Flame, Nova Bomb: Cataclysm*, Stormtrance, Winter’s Wrath*, Needlestorm.
  • Melee: Incinerator Snap, Pocket Singularity*, Chain Lightning, Penumbral Blast*, Arcane Needle
  • Grenade: Healing, Vortex*, Storm Grenade, Coldsnap Grenade*, Threadling Grenade
  • Aspects: Hellion, Feed the Void*, Lightning Surge, Bleak Watcher*, Weaver’s Call

Prismatic Warlocks have a lot to look out for with The Final Shape. The new Destiny 2 subclass can’t access Well, but Needlestorm is a strong contender for Super regardless of what you’re running. The barebones core of a Devour build is here, with Feed the Void and Vortex Grenades up for grabs. You can have a versatile Void build mixed with other elements as long as you’re willing to part with Child of the Old Gods.

All Prismatic Titan abilities, Supers, and Aspects in Destiny 2

The Prismatic Titan ability screen as seen in promo art from Bungie.
Dreng’s Lash and Consecration at the same time feels nearly illegal. Image via Bungie
  • Supers: Hammer of Sol, Twilight Arsenal, Thundercrash*, Glacial Quake, Bladefury*
  • Melee: Hammer Strike, Shield Throw, Thunderclap*, Shiver Strike, Frenzied Blade*
  • Grenade: Thermite, Suppressor, Pulse*, Glacier, Shackle*
  • Aspects: Consecration, Unbreakable, Knockout*, Diamond Lance*, Drengr’s Lash

Prismatic Titans have access to a few favorites. You can borrow from Strand’s biggest strengths, though Banner of War will forever be missed. Consecration is also available if you want to mix and match Light and Dark. We’d take Pulse or Shackle Grenades, but there’s room to use the other options with enough preparation. Lastly, Thundercrash serves as a high-damage Super, though it needs Cuirass of the Falling Star for maximum benefits.

All Prismatic Hunter abilities, Supers, and Aspects in Destiny 2

The ability menu for a Prismatic Hunter shows multiple abilities from different subclasses.
Mix and match with your Hunter’s abilities. Image via Bungie
  • Supers: Golden Gun*, Shadowshot: Deadfall, Storm’s Edge, Silence and Squall*, Silkstrike
  • Melee: Knife Trick*, Snare Bomb, Combination Blow, Withering Blade*, Threaded Spike
  • Grenade: Swarm*, Magnetic, Arcbolt, Duskfield*, Grapple
  • Aspects: Gunpowder Gamble, Stylish Executioner*, Ascension, Winter’s Shroud*, Threaded Specter

Hunters also received a slew of good choices with Prismatic, though their choice of grenades may not be among the most popular. They inherit Threaded Specter, which may be a solid go-to depending on what you’re aiming for. Having Knife Trick and Withering Blade by default makes for a good start (and potentially an ending), and Stylish Executioner can offer more invisibility and survivability for your build.

To round out the new subclass, Prismatic is also getting a set of Fragments that mix Light and Dark. The full list of Fragments (so far) is available on the Dev Insights blog post.

When does Prismatic release in Destiny 2?

Prismatic will release with The Final Shape expansion on June 4. It’s unknown how Prismatic will be acquired, but it’s likely a part of The Final Shape’s story missions and progression.

Is Prismatic free in Destiny 2?

While not confirmed, Prismatic is a part of Destiny 2: The Final Shape and likely won’t be free for all players at launch. It could come to all players sometime down the line, but those looking to use the new subclass should purchase The Final Shape DLC.


This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.


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Author
Scott Duwe
Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to Yogi the Corgi, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.
Author
Pedro Peres
Pedro is Dot Esports' Lead Destiny Writer. He's been a freelance writer since 2019, and legend has it you can summon him by pinging an R-301 or inviting him to run a raid in Destiny 2 (though he probably has worse RNG luck than the D2 team combined). When he's not shooting Dregs, you can see him raising the dead in Diablo IV, getting third-partied in DMZ, or failing a stealth heist in Payday 3. Find his ramblings on his Twitter @ggpedroperes.