When Bungie revealed the gameplay for The Final Shape, they showed the new subclass that will be available for all classes on June 4. This subclass is named “Prismatic,” which allows Guardians to mix and match different subclass elements to create a unique build using various class mechanics. Bungie’s recent livestream showed that Prismatic users can wield both Light and Dark abilities together into a single robust build, which will be needed to defeat The Witness and the many dangers that lurk within The Traveler.
Prismatic Class Explained
Prismatic gives Guardians access to a pool of abilities to choose from without subclass restrictions, meaning players can mix different grenades, melee, and Supers from different elements. The core mechanic of this class is its Super called “Transcendence.” To cast this Super, the wielder must fill both Light and Darkness bars underneath the regular Super bar. These meters are filled up by dealing Arc, Solar, and Void damage for Light and Stasis, and Strand damage for Darkness. Kinetic weapon damage will fill both bars at a reduced rate but will give more energy to one bar if the other is already filled.
Once both are filled, the Transcendence Super can be cast, granting extra ability regeneration, an overall damage buff, and a new grenade with two energy types with unique properties. Being in the Transcendent state is also required to destroy specific enemy shields, especially when fighting the new enemy race called The Dread.
Prismatic Hunter Abilities
The Hunter class is granted the Hailfire Spike grenade. This Stasis / Solar grenade sticks to targets, exploding into Stasis and Solar storms that slows and ignites targets.
Hunters have access to the following abilities:
Supers:
- Storm’s Edge
- Golden Gub
- Silence and Squall
- Silkstrike
- Shadowshot: Deadfall
Class Abilities:
- Marksman's Dodge
- Gambler’s Dodge
- Acrobat’s Dodge
Movement:
- High Jump
- Triple Jump
- Strafe Jump
- Blink
Grenades:
- Arcbolt Grenade
- Swarm Grenade
- Duskfield Grenade
- Grapple Grenade
- Magnetic Grenade
Melee:
- Combination Blow
- Knife Trick
- Withering Blade
- Threaded Spike
- Snare Bomb
Aspects:
- Ascension
- Gunpowder Gamble
- Winter’s Shroud
- Threaded Spectre
- Stylish Executioner
Prismatic Titan Abilities
The Titan class has the Strand / Arc grenade, Electrified Snare. This grenade suspends targets in the air while Arc energy jolts between them.
Titans have the following abilities available:
Supers:
- Twilight Arsenal
- Thundercrash
- Bladefury
- Hammer of Sol
- Glacial Quake
Class Abilities:
- Towering Barricade
- Rally Barricade
- Thruster
Movement:
- High Lift
- Strafe Lift
- Catapult Lift
Grenade:
- Suppressor Grenade
- Pulse Grenade
- Shackle Grenade
- Thermite Grenade
- Glacier Grenade
Melee:
- Shield Throw
- Thunderclap
- Frenzied Blade
- Hammer Strike
- Shiver Strike
Aspects:
- Unbreakable
- Knockout
- Drengr’s Lash
- Consecration
- Diamond Lance
Prismatic Warlock Abilities
The Warlock class gets the Freezing Singularity grenade, which slows targets with Stasis and suppresses them with Void energy.
Warlocks will have the following abilities in the pool:
Super:
- Song of Flame
- Nova Bomb: Cataclysm
- Stormtrance
- Winter’s Wrath
- Needlestorm
Class Abilities:
- Healing Rift
- Empowering Rift
- Phoenix Dive
Movement:
- Burst Glide
- Strafe Glide
- Controlled Glide
- Blink
Grenades:
- Healing Grenade
- Vortex Grenade
- Storm Grenade
- Coldsnap Grenade
- Threadling Grenade
Melee:
- Incinerator Snap
- Pocket Singularity
- Chain Lightning
- Penumbral Blast
- Arcane Needle
Aspects:
- Hellion
- Feed the Void
- Lightning Surge
- Bleak Watcher
- Weaver’s Call
Prismatic Fragments
Fragments augment subclass abilities, synergizing with weapon elements, ability final blows, and Orbs of Power. With the Prismatic class, the Fragments will have dual element effects, tying into the class fantasy of wielding Light and Dark powers together.
- Facet of Balance: Rapidly defeating targets with Light damage grants melee energy. Rapidly defeating targets with Dark damage grants grenade energy.
- Facet of Bravery: Defeating targets with grenades grants Volatile Rounds to your Void weapons. Meanwhile, using powered melee final blows grants Unraveling Rounds to your Strand weapons.
- Facet of Dawn: Powered melee hits against targets make you Radiant, while powered melee final blows make both you and nearby allies Radiant.
- Facet of Defiance: Finishers create a detonation that either Jolts, Scorches, Slows, Severs, or makes targets Volatile based on the damage type of your equipped super.
- Facet of Dominance: Your Void grenades Weaken, and Arc grenades Jolt targets.
- Facet of Generosity: Defeating targets while in the Transcendent state creates Orbs of Power for your allies.
- Facet of Grace: Damaging targets with Kinetic weapons grants you bonus Transcendence energy. Defeating targets with the other Super grants you and nearby allies bonus Transcendence energy.
- Facet of Hope: Your class ability regenerates more quickly while your elemental buff is active.
- Facet of Justice: While Transcendent, your ability final blows explode.
- Facet of Protection: You are more resistant to incoming damage while surrounded by enemies.
- Facet of Purpose: Picking up an Orb of Power grants either Amplified, Restoration, Frost Armor, Woven Mail, or Overshield, based on the damage type of your equipped super.
- Facet of Ruin: Increases the size and damage of the burst when you shatter a Stasis Crystal or Frozen target and increases the size of Solar Ignitions.
New Class Item Exotics
The Final Shape will introduce the first-ever Class Item Exotics, randomly rolling with 2 Exotic armor traits from different classes. These can only be used while using the Prismatic subclass. Exotic traits will only have half of the original trait but are compensated by having the other Exotic perk. They also cannot be worn with a regular Exotic armor piece, meaning the Class Item will be the only Exotic worn in your set.
Currently, these Exotics are confirmed to be part of the pool:
- Ophidian Aspects: All weapons are readied faster.
- Star-Eater Scales: While your super is full, orbs overcharge your super, granting bonus damage.
- Assassin’s Cowl: Powered melee kills and finishers turn you invisible.
- Synthoceps: Increased melee damage while surrounded by enemies.
- Liar’s Handshake: Using your Arc melee ability empowers the next melee hit into an extremely powerful melee counterpunch that will heal you.
- Verity’s Brow: Weapon final blows with a damage type matching your subclass energy grant Death Throes, which provides a grenade damage bonus and grants you grenade energy.
- Heart of Inmost Light: Using an ability empowers the other two abilities, giving faster ability regen.
- Caliban’s Hand: Powered melee kills cause an ignition.
- Sixth Coyote: Gain a second dodge charge.
- The Stag: Gain x2 Resist upon casting your class ability.
