Players looking to create an ability-centric build can’t go wrong with Strand.
Reach the 2,020 Power cap quickly with this complete guide.
But as with Stasis in Beyond Light, unlocking Strand is going to take some work.
Some tables were also reformatted to include reference images where applicable.
Some Aspect descriptions were also tweaked to give exact stat values for PvE and PvP.
What Is Strand?
Strand is a subclass that harnesses the power of the universe itself to manipulate the battlefield.
Titans and Warlocks have three melee charges, and Hunters can access two grenade charges through a certain Aspect.
All remaining unlocks can be purchased at any time, althoughsome Fragments are time-gated.
All Fragments will become available when the Root of Nightmares raid is cleared on March 10.
They will direct you to different quadrants of Neomuna and ask you to collect Vex data.
Completing the quest will allow you to purchase the new Aspect for your current character.
Doing so costs no Strand Fragments.
It’s worth noting thatthis quest is account-bound, so you only need to do it once.
This quest is account-boundand only has to be done once.
The Aspects are completely free and don’t cost any Strand Meditations.
Buffs
Threadling
A creature woven from pure Strand matter that seeks nearby targets and attacks, dealing damage.
Warlocks can hold spare Threadlings for later use, up to five at a time.
Woven Mail does not mitigate precision damage.
Debuffs
Sever
The target deals 40% less damage (15% in PvP).
Suspend
Enemies are lifted into the air.
PvE foes cannot attack or move.
Guardians cannot ADS and have restricted movement.
Unravel
The target is infected with Strand needles that spread as they receive damage, resetting Unravel’s duration.
Unravel Rounds can break Barrier Champion shields.
Subclass Pickup
Tangle
A floating orb of Strand that can be thrown or destroyed to deal AoE damage.
Tangles can spawn once every 12 seconds.
Grappling onto a Tangle resets your Grapple cooldown.
Each Threadling you create will run in a straight line until it finds a target.
Its movement speed is comparable to a Guardian strafe walking with no movement buffs.
The damage of a Threadling is comparable to most subclass grenades, dealing moderate damage over a small area.
Warlocks can have up to five Threadlings perched on their body at any given moment.
Damaging a target will cause all perched Threadlings to launch off your body and attack a nearby foe.
Suspend Explained
Suspending an Unstoppable Champion stuns them.
All classes can suspend targets, notably through Shackle Grenades.
Unravel Explained
Unraveling Rounds can pierce Barrier Champion shields.
It is the Broodweaver Warlock’s specialty.
Unraveled targets can also spawn Tangles on death.
Notable sources of Unravel include Unraveling Rounds and the Warlock’s Arcane Needle melee ability.
You may grapple onto a Tangle in flight to drastically increase your momentum.
Tangles may also be shot out of midair to cause a premature explosion.
Notable sources of Tangles include defeating debuffed targets and the Thread of Transmutation Fragment.
Doing so immediately ends all current momentum your character has.
Jumping or swapping weapons will end the Grapple prematurely.
Doing so at low momentum will refund 50% of your Grapple energy.
Unlike Devour, this buff doesnotrefresh on kill.
Warlocks can consume Threadling Grenades with the Mindspun Invocation Aspect, spawning five perched Threadlings on use.
Melee-boosting Exotics such as Synthoceps work with Frenzied Blade.
We highly recommend using Kickstart mods to maximize the uptime of this melee ability.
Learn how to use buffs and debuffs to drastically increase your damage output.
This consumes your class ability energy and extends your next dodge cooldown.
2 Fragment Slots
Widow’s Silk
Gain an additional grenade charge.
Threaded Specter
Dodging creates a static decoy of yourself, drawing the enemy’s attention.
If the specter takes heavy damage, it will explode and spawn two Threadlings.
Whirling Maelstrom
Tangles you destroy turn into a whirlwind of Strand projectiles, tracking targets for 12 seconds.
Enemies inside the whirlwind take continuous damage and release Unraveling projectiles when slain.
You gain a second grenade charge for Strand, regardless of which grenade you pick.
Dodging will create a static copy of your character that remains in place for eight seconds.
This copy has the same silhouette as your Hunter but is visibility made of Strand.
Ensnaring Slam doesnotcreate a decoy.
Radiant Dance Machines doesnotcreate clones on every dodge.
This cyclone lasts for 12 seconds and works with any Tangle you destroy.
While affected by Woven Mail, your melee ability recharges faster.
Flechette Storm
Perform a slide-melee to leap into the air, knocking back nearby enemies.
Activating your melee again will launch a series of Unraveling projectiles at your foes.
The leap attack doesnotproc Melee Kickstart, but the follow-up slasheswillproc Melee Kickstart.
Similar to Consecration,bonuses to melee damage, such as Synthoceps, do apply to Flechette Storm.
Mindspun Invocation
Grapplespawns three Threadlings on a grapple melee.
Threadling Grenadescan be consumed to generate a full set of perched Threadlings.
Shackle Grenadescan be consumed to gain a buff, suspending nearby enemies with every kill.
The Wanderer
Threadling kills spawn Tangles.
All Tangles you throw stick to targets before detonating, releasing a suspending burst.
Weavewalk
Dodge while airborne to shift between dimensions.
While in this state, you gain 90% damage reduction and generate a perched Threadling every 2 seconds.
You cannot fire your weapon, use abilities, or interact with objects while in this state.
Dodge again or cast your Rift to exit the Weave.
This Aspect buffs your grenades on Strand.Grapplewill spawn Threadlings when you perform a grapple melee.
When you do create a Tangle, throwing it will cause the projectile to stick onto targets before detonating.
Your Tangle detonations willSuspendtargets caught in the blast radius, turning it into a discount Shackle Grenade.
Suspended targets are left in the air for six seconds.
you could’t fire your weapons, pick up ammo or Orbs of Power, or use your abilities.
Those downsides are needed for what you get in return.
Casting your Rift or using your second movement input again will exit the Weave state early.
Strand Fragments
Strand has 14 Fragments for Guardians to unlock, all of which are currently available.
The previously time-gated Fragments were made available shortly after Lightfall released, including all raid Fragments.
Let’s take a look at how each Strand Fragment works.
Thread Of Mind
Thread of Mind:Defeating suspended targets grants class ability energy.
Defeating suspended targets grants 10% class ability energy, with tougher enemies providing more energy.
Thread Of Fury
Thread of Fury:Damaging targets with a Tangle grants melee energy.
Use your Strand melee before using Tangles to get the most use out of this added melee energy.
Threadrunners can also use the Whirling Maelstrom Aspect to constantly benefit from this Fragment.
Both buffs are quite substantial, granting +40 to both stats with a small 7% animation speed increase.
Thread Of Finality
Thread of Finality:Finishers generate Threadlings.
Thread Of Warding
Thread of Warding:Picking up an Orb of Power grants Woven Mail.
This buff can be refreshed by collecting additional Orbs of Power.
Thread Of Wisdom
Thread of Wisdom:Defeating suspended targets creates an Orb of Power.
While you have the Woven Mail buff, killing an enemy with any weapon can spawn a Tangle orb.
Thread Of Propagation
Thread of Propagation:Powered melee final blows grant your Strand weapons Unraveling Rounds.
Unraveling Rounds will infuse each bullet with Strand energy, unraveling the target with each hit.
Thread Of Evolution
Thread of Evolution:Threadlings travel farther and deal additional damage.
you could extend this debuff by using the Thread of Continuity Fragment.
This explosion deals no damage, although the debuff does allow enemies to spawn Tangles when slain.
Thread Of Binding
Thread of Blinding:Super final blows emit a suspending burst from the target.
Enemies you slay in your Super will explode, suspending any targets caught in the burst.
The Resilience bonus makes this a solid option for builds that have a Fragment slot to spare.
Thread Of Generation
Thread of Generation:Dealing damage generates grenade energy.
Some good options include Osteo Striga, Ticuu’s Divination, Sunshot, or any weapons with Incandescent.
Applicable debuffs include Suspend, Sever, and Unravel.
This doesnotextend the duration of Unraveling Rounds, Tangles, or Woven Mail.
Solo Operative, Unraveling Orbs, and other classic perks return with Season of the Wish’s Artifact.
