Summary
The history ofDestiny 2is rich in stories of fan-favorite weapons that have fallen from grace, but many players remain disappointed about a balance adjustment introduced last year to Osteo Striga, one of the game’s most popular exotic weapons from the past few years. While this craftable exotic submachine gun was thankfully never hit quite as hard as some other weapons throughoutDestiny 2’s history, many enthusiasts of the weapon are still pushing for its previous nerf to be rolled back.
First introduced withDestiny 2’s The Witch Queen expansionback in 2022, the Osteo Striga was initially a luxury exotic weapon that could only be obtained by owners of the deluxe version of the DLC. Even now, players will still need to own The Witch Queen expansion if they want to get the weapon for themselves. Unlike most weapons inDestiny 2, the Osteo Striga can only be acquired by shaping it at the Enclave destination on Mars - a mechanic that was finally introduced in The Witch Queen expansion as a way of letting players hand-craft their own weapons, complete with their preferred perks. All players unlock Osteo Striga’s weapon pattern for free upon completing The Witch Queen campaign on any difficulty.
This gorgeous exotic submachine gun maintained its position as a weapon that fans simply couldn’t go wrong with for a while, and is still a generally solid choice today for just about any activity. At the start of June 2024, though, shortly prior to the launch ofDestiny 2’s Final Shape expansion, Osteo Striga’s main defining feature was adjusted in a patch. The nerf introduced a cooldown period of four seconds between the poison explosions that Osteo Striga causes on kills. While this isn’t all too devastating a change, it’s just major enough for it to make the weapon feel inconsistent and unsatisfying in players' hands, driving fans like ERI-223 to spark a new discussion about it online.
Why Destiny 2 Nudged Osteo Striga Out of the Perfect Spot
The nerf itself realistically just results in the weapon being less consistent for add clear, and ultimately doesn’t affect the weapon’s sustained damage output too much. It’s generally believed that this change was a preventative one, introduced out of fear of the weapon filling the Transcendence meter too quickly. The Transcendence mechanic itself is a feature that exclusively complimentsDestiny 2’s new Prismatic subclass, and was introduced with The Final Shape expansion.
Ultimately though, Bungie never offered much commentary on why the change to Osteo Striga was made. Some believe that the weapon’s nerf was to help incentivize the use of new weapons instead, such asDestiny 2’s exotic Khvostov. Whatever the case, fans have rekindled discussion about the nerf all this time later, hoping that Bungie will be able to reverse it sometime in the future.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
