Master the Withering Blade: The Secret to Dominating Crucible
In Destiny 2, the Stasis subclass introduced a wide range of new abilities, including the Withering Blade, which is exclusive to the Hunter Revenant. This shuriken-like melee attack has quickly become a critical tool for crowd control, allowing players to slow and debuff enemies with precision. While its damage output in PvE is decent, the blade shines for its tactical utility rather than raw power, especially in PvP.
What is the Withering Blade in Destiny 2?
The Withering Blade is a Stasis melee ability that lets Hunters throw a shuriken at enemies. It bounces between targets, slowing and damaging them. This makes it especially useful for controlling large groups of enemies in PvE or slowing down key targets in PvP, making them vulnerable to follow-up attacks from teammates or other abilities.
When paired with the right Aspects and Fragments, the Withering Blade can be an essential part of a Hunter’s toolkit, though many players argue its damage could use an upgrade.
Why Players Criticize Withering Blade in PvP
While the Withering Blade was initially popular, some Guardians have expressed frustration over its relatively low damage in PvP. At its maximum, the Withering Blade deals 45 damage per hit, which is underwhelming compared to other Stasis abilities. Some players argue that the Withering Blade now feels less like a weapon and more like a "paper airplane" due to its lack of killing potential.
This frustration is particularly pronounced in the Crucible, where fast-paced gunplay often outshines ability use. However, Bungie seems to have deliberately kept the damage low to balance out its utility, particularly its ability to slow enemies, forcing players to rely more on teamwork and strategy than on sheer ability damage.
Best Builds and Synergies for Withering Blade
To maximize the Withering Blade’s potential, you need to choose the right Aspects and Fragments:
- Whisper of Shards: Boosts grenade recharge rate when you destroy Stasis crystals, allowing for more frequent ability usage.
- Whisper of Rending: Increases damage to frozen targets, turning the Withering Blade into a more dangerous tool when enemies are already debuffed.
- Whisper of Chains: Provides damage resistance when near frozen enemies, increasing your survivability in PvP.
- Touch of Winter: Modifies your Stasis grenades to have enhanced effects, complementing the debuffs caused by the Withering Blade.
These combinations turn the Withering Blade into a tool that excels at slowing enemies, setting them up for larger burst damage from other abilities or weapons.
How to Utilize Withering Blade Effectively in Crucible
To use the Withering Blade effectively in Crucible, focus on positioning and timing. The blade is best used at mid-range, where you can hit multiple targets or disrupt an opponent's advance. Throwing it into a group of enemies slows them down, making it easier for your team to finish them off with precision shots or grenades.
Pairing the Withering Blade with abilities like Shatterdive can create devastating combos, as enemies slowed by the blade are easy targets for further Stasis explosions.
Future Adjustments and Community Feedback
Despite its utility, the Destiny 2 community continues to ask Bungie for a damage buff to the Withering Blade, especially for PvP modes. While Bungie has adjusted the balance of many abilities over the years, their focus on maintaining a gunplay-dominated Crucible may limit how powerful the Withering Blade can become.
Many players appreciate its utility but would like to see it return to its former glory as a more viable offensive weapon in PvP. It remains to be seen if future patches will address these concerns.
Conclusion
The Withering Blade may not be the most powerful melee attack in Destiny 2, but when used strategically, it can be a game-changer in both PvE and PvP. Its ability to slow and disrupt opponents makes it a valuable tool for any Hunter, especially when paired with the right build. Whether Bungie will buff its damage remains a point of debate within the community, but for now, its utility in the Crucible keeps it relevant in the meta.
