Destiny 2 Developers Confirm Prismatic Hunter PvP Nerfs Are on the Way

The introduction of the Prismatic subclass has caused a significant shift in Destiny 2’s PvP environment. The Prismatic Hunter has especially seen the most success, but potential upcoming adjustments may aim to bring balance to the class in The Crucible.

The 8.0.5 update, as outlined in the This Week In Destiny blog post on July 25, will introduce two significant modifications. These changes have been carefully implemented to avoid impacting the performance of classes and subclasses in PvE activities, as Bungie believes their efforts to balance these aspects have been effective.

The modifications made have primarily focused on Threaded Specter and Swarm Grenade, which have gained significant popularity in Prismatic builds. These changes consist of decreases in damage and tracking for both abilities.

Prismatic Hunter Changes in August 2024

Strand Hunter using Silkstrike Super in Destiny 2. — Bungie

The changes included in the patch preview are as follows:

“In version 8.0.5, we will be modifying two abilities for Prismatic Hunters based on feedback from the community regarding their performance in the Crucible. These changes aim to alleviate frustration when facing Prismatic Hunters while maintaining their effectiveness in PvE activities.”

Threaded Specter
- Reduced aim-assist strength on Threaded Specter by ~50% vs. players and added a short delay before the aim-assist takes effect.
- Reduced Threaded Specter detonation damage vs. players by ~45%.
Swarm Grenade
- Reduced the distance that Swarm Grenade submunition projectiles can travel once they begin tracking a target by ~20%.

Despite the changes possibly not being significant enough to discourage players from using the subclass completely, they are expected to bring some balance to the game. However, the Prismatic Hunter still possesses a multitude of highly effective weapons in their arsenal that surpass those of other classes in PvP scenarios.

Specifically, Smoke Bombs are still left alone and highly effective when paired with Swarm Grenades, making them a formidable combination. Strikingly, it is challenging to find a comparable method for controlling zones among the other classes (without relying on Supers), meaning that Prismatic Hunters will continue to dominate in Trials of Osiris.