Destiny 2 Hunter Nerfs Finally Balance PvP Meta After Months of Overpowering Dominance

Bungie has implemented significant nerfs to the Hunter class in Destiny 2, providing players the chance to explore alternative classes in PvP engagements.

On September 10, the Hunter class received targeted adjustments aimed at curbing their effectiveness in The Crucible. The focus was on modifying the Threaded Specter and Snare Bomb abilities, which have been integral to Hunters’ performance.

The following balance changes were introduced, as detailed in the patch notes:

Threaded Specter
- Increased the cooldown duration of Marksman Dodge and Gambler’s Dodge when Threaded Specter is equipped.
- Removed the dodge cooldown penalty after creating a clone.
- If the clone is destroyed by attacks, it no longer spawns Threadlings.
- Increased the amount of time the clone will distract nearby combatants before exploding.
Snare Bomb
- Reduced the duration of the Smoke Bomb projectile from 10 seconds to 3.5 seconds.
- Reduced the player movement speed penalty caused by the smoke by 25%.

Snare Bomb ability in Destiny 2. — Image courtesy of Dexerto

Snare Bomb is a powerful ability utilized by the Prismatic Hunter.

The most significant alteration is that Threaded Specter no longer produces Threadlings when shot, allowing players to destroy it without worrying about potential repercussions, thereby making it easier to counter.

Additionally, the Snare Bomb’s linger time was shortened by 65%, decreasing from 10 seconds to 3.5 seconds. Previously, it could be strategically placed as a mine to control objectives for extended periods. Now, Hunter mains must be more tactical in their placement since it will detonate before opponents approach.

Although these modifications may appear severe, they were introduced to restore balance. Following the release of The Final Shape and the Prismatic Subclass, Hunters have maintained a significant advantage in PvP. For instance, during the last weekend of Trials of Osiris, 54% of players chose Hunter, while Warlocks accounted for 27% and Titans just 19%, according to data from Trials Report.

A primary factor in this dominance was Prismatic’s ability to employ both Threaded Specter and Snare Bomb simultaneously, a combination that wasn’t possible before. Post-patch, players can still use these abilities together, but their effectiveness has been notably reduced.

Fortunately, these changes should diversify the PvP meta in the upcoming weeks. We’ll gain clearer insights once Trials returns on September 27. In the meantime, players should experiment with Iron Banner to determine if their Hunter build remains competitive or if exploring a different class is necessary.

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