Destiny 2 Lore - Zavala asked The Exo Stranger about using Stasis! Darkness powers & The Vanguard! 

Zavala is finally using stasis now that he can buy the fragments for glimmer.

Zavala finally caved in and bought Beyond Light

I wish the tension around us using Stasis played more of a role in the overall narrative. Aside from some Trials lore and some brief finger wagging during BL, it really didn’t matter that using Stasis was frowned on.

I find it interesting how Elsie frames Stasis through the lens of perception and time. The general consensus has been that Stasis is a form of perfect crystals, a product of absolute zero. That said, time and temperature have to do with the motions of particles in matter, and Stasis halts that motion.

Stasis Zavala would be jarring but also an awesome cutscene

I know it's super unlikely, but nothing would make me happier than watching Zavala fight in a cutscene all the subclass elements

I like the idea that light and darkness can change via perspective. in a way we kind of already have done it with Arc, Warlocks see it as a power channeled not controlled, while Hunters are able to control it, weaving it into a staff.

When I read this Lore, I really enjoyed the idea of Zavala accepting that the Light is not a divine boon, but a tool, and his intrigue (consideration?) about Stasis really shows Zavala is trying to open up to the new world rather than staying tied up in the ideals of the past. It would also just be really cool to see Zavala's reaction to using Stasis, or just him as a Behemoth in a cutscene or something!

Love that part where Stasis was compared to be more akin to Void than Arc or Solar with it's relation to time and perspective. It gives the impression that maybe the Darkness elements aren't just a perspective mirror of one element over the other, but maybe a prismatic observation of how they interact.

Does anyone else think that Stasis and Strand should get multiple supers like the light classes? Stasis is more offensive with how the wielder jumps and slams at their opponent but Zavala uses Ward Of Dawn.

Darkness powers are like an AK-47 It is almost always framed as the quintessential "bad guy" gun; you may consider it a stigma even. But, as with any weapon, it all matters on the user and to what ends it is used to accomplish with.

Zavala isnt afraid to use stasis now because he knows how much it sucks.

Huh... Lysander's accusation toward Osiris was clearly inaccurate, but it does sound eerily similar to the story of Felwinter. A Golden Age experiment by Rasputin mistakenly resurrected as an individual personality. And Osiris trained under Felwinter for a time, didn't he? Wonder if Lysander was actually clued in more than he realized.

1:11 "seemingly the Traveler allowed itself to be conquered" Am I the only one that remembers the Traveler shooting a massive beam of Light directly at the Witness? That was registering the output of a star, at minimum?

The Witch-hunter like perspective of the Praxic group reminds me of an interesting SCP quote. "You cannot change the Ending of the story but how you reate to it."

I'm surprised we haven't seen Ikora messing around with any darkness powers yet. Especially with Strand's powers of "being everywhere all the time", seems like research into that would be useful in recon and intel for the Hidden

This is why I gravitated towards strand because I understand the perspective shifts. I am a Titan main so plenty would say crayon eater and possibly even assume I don’t pay attention cuz most titans are here to punch shit and have fun. Stasis is a tactical weapon used for methodical maneuver warfare in comparison to the light or strand. Strand is giving into that flow of power like a primal instinct. It’s why I understand that the titan is called berserker cuz we are supposed to be a wild beast on the field of combat able to maintain a high combat flow and slay out while supporting our team and is the most titan darkness subclass yet. Stasis is still my main though. I’ve got I think over 400,000 career final blows with stasis since it came out so I can say I am a Behemoth main cuz I like to think I am a tactical titan and not a total monkey brained knuckle dragger. Cuz I use stasis grenades for cover and concealment. And use diamond lance to get ranged CC on small groups as well as to help with boss damage in between supers. Tectonic harvest is a must for me cuz shiver strike takes so long to recharge otherwise it allows me to keep my get off my punch ready for majors to knock them away for quick clean up. Plus it’s always extremely entertaining to pull a Kool-Aid Man on a glacier grenade you used to block a door way flooded with enemies.

I’m just waiting for the absolutely awe inspiring and terrifying moment that Ikora uses stasis in combat. 😅

I'm actually surprised Zavala hasn't gone Elsie to ask about Stasis before now considering she's our most foremost expert on the subject like Eris is on the Hive. Him asking about it doesn't necessarily mean he's planning on using it himself though. He could just be looking to ease his mind about other guardians using darkness powers overall. Softening his stance on it.

Aunor as an Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor with a "Praxic Flamer"... theres a head cannon ill never get rid of now!

I'm calling it now Lysander is going to use Guardians using the darkness as a justification for overthrowing the vanguard and this time many of the citizenry might actually be on his side.

Byfs flavor should definitely be Lore Daddy’s Lemonade

You know it's a good day/night when you're early to a Byf video!

Happy to hear you are feeling better

Don’t worry Zavala. I’ll use the darkness for you. (Has been a shadebinder main since Beyond Light)

I had never thought that Stasis was the flip of the coin of Void but that's so interesting. I would say Strand is the inverse of Arc since both have to deal with the flow of a current. One has you wield the current while the other only opens up if you let yourself go with it. But that's just my take

Thank you for the great video! I'm going to order that lemonade and desk mat bundle.

this could be the basis of a really nice event as the 2 sides compete to get more points and prove witch way is superior light or dark powers(subclasses)

I have a lot to say about this lore, as it does bleed into many stories and aspects of the lore. It’s interesting how Elizabeth mentions Void light, as Drifter tells us, it was once seen as controversial to wield the Void. If fear is the corruption, and with the Veil, we could heal the dozens of afflicted Guardians from during the time of Arrivals and Beyond Light. Then there’s Ulan-Tan, whom, by extension of the Dark Vanguard, would now be right in his symmetry theory. He’d be rubbing it in at the Vanguard if he were still alive. Even so, it’s good to see he was validated. Finally, the politics of the Last City: while the Mara, Mithraks, and Caital are part of the Coalition, the leaders in charge of the City and its Guardians, are the Vanguard. Which are just barely holding together the unity of the City. The City and Vanguard are on the verge of splintering, more and more as the Final Shaoe gets closer. So, if the City and Vanguard don’t fall into civil war and anarchy after the Final Shape, and the end of this war, we may need to create a replacement governing body for the Consensus. I’d say, it would need to to be the leader of each faction in the Coalition, and their second in command as an ambassador. Example: Caital and Saladin, Mara and Petra, Mithrax and Saint or Eido, Nimbus and Quinn, or whoever is leader of Neomuna’s City Council. The Vanguard would meet as a trio, and people like Suraya, and Saint, could represent the people of the City, in place of the Factions. This new government formed of the Coalition, could then meet (physically or by hologram) in the old Tower; the Hall of Heros. This would be the best private place to meet, but would also symbolize how, while we were beaten down, we’d survived to live and fight back.

I love this video! Byf you are brilliant in your observations and comments

I know this isn't gonna happen, but it would be cool to see another stasis super added to the game. I can hope🤞

Another Byf video? Let’s goooooo

10/10 advanced gg plug ngl that was wholesome as heck

an important thing to point out is that something being an opposite is not the same as something being two sides of the same coin. Its obvious that Solar is the opposite of Stasis, but Stasis compliments Void due to its similarities

I'd like to see Zavala use Stasis in TFS, I feel like it would represent his journey and growth as a character

Thanks for the video!

welcome back Byf. i was just thinking about your videos when i did my first run of last wish in years the other day. see you starside

Reminds me of that season of splicer lore where it talks about an Eliksni who was being beaten up by a mob in the last city. Its been awhile since ive read it (i forgot which armor or wep its on) if i remember someone was about to kill before a guardian froze the guy's shotgun and shatters it and then steps in everyone dispursed and she tried to help the eliksni up but the eliksni was like you use darkness your a monster your just like them

To add my thoughts on being aligned with the Praxic Order's ideals. For me. I thought when i read lore, 'If the light is good...why doesnt it leave when people do bad things with it.' It made me think that maybe Light and Dark are just....that. Light and Dark. It's up to the wielder who decides if its good or evil. Personally, when i read about stasis and how it grew strong with emotions of Anger, hate, pain, Loneliness, and those akin to those. I sort of felt a pull on a personal level because i could see myself using stasis to non-Lethally immobilize enemies to help people. I never truly thought Darkness was evil, Only that we've seen it used against us or in the wrong hands. To add an analogy, people demonize Pit Bull dogs. Pit Bulls arent evil at their nature. Its their experiences that shape them. If you treat them well and teach them. They will be kind and gentle. If you abuse them...they will be violent. Its how we use the Darkness that gives it the good or evil connotation along with perception of ones self.

It sounds interesting when Byf puts it that way.

I think a really intresting angle they could dive into to really muddy the waters would be to have discussion spring up among the vanguard about the guardians past who have used light as a means of power and control and how the powers one choses to weild arent always indicative of the belifes and allegiances they may hold. (Particularly comming from the drifter who's always been more of an outsider but from the times he has reached the tower has always fought with the vangaurd) we be a very interesting angle to explore.

Zavala is a great character to use stasis. He has a pretty iron will, so being corrupted by the darkness isn't gonna happen.

Keep up the great work

Man, Lysander was such a cool mystery that just started getting hinted at in D1 that I wish they'd bring back

Aunor has shown signs of tiredness and stress, according to Ikora. I'm over here with the popcorn waiting for her to straight up crack.

the ad read made me learn a new word doing the Lord's work Byf

This was informative. Now I know how I'm gonna build myself in Final Shape as Prismatic! Great Video Byf!!!

Im pretty sure zavala was originally a striker titan, so imagine him as a stasis behemoth. Probably be as scary as st. 14 with a bubble

I think of what Cayde would do if he were still alive. He would most certainly be a welder of Stasis. He used Blade Barrage in his battle with Prince Udon. Yet he was always a Golden Gun hunter. Anything that would give him an edge. He also would most definitely move the Vanguard towards excepting these new powers.That'ss what you get from a rouge like Cayde-6. That's why I've always been a hunter from the start. Plus, he was acquaintances with the likes of the Drifter. Better the devil, you know. 😊

i love the image of Byf just being in a libery in the tower. just being a warlock telling stories and what new stuff has happend. would love to see Byf in the game as a npc or in a story of some sort.

Fun game I like to do whenever I'm reading or listening about Destiny: Mentally overwrite Darkness with Dankness and see how long it takes me to chuckle.

I’ve carried this lore in my inventory every day for the whole season and never looked back

As usual quality content!

If he's still alive in-universe, I'd love to see Ulan-Tan right about now. I doubt you'd be able to keep the smile off of his face at seeing Guardians not only wielding the Darkness, but seeking to understand it.

Love how drifter and Elsie wield stasis in elegant and regular ways, menahwile Eris is just bowling

I've been saying for years that stasis feels more like a mirror to void than anything but mainly through the lense of gameplay, so to hear the same perspective from a lore entry feels so good

I love the factions and Concordat lore. For an episode I'd really like to see Bungie do a more 'internal story' that's focused on the politics of the last city and life/struggles in the city. Bringing back Lysander would be a terrific way of doing that. Some kind of 'power vacuum after the final shape' approach could work.

Love the story and the lore

Tithe unto the lore daddy AIAT

I wanna point out to anyone that Ikora had used a Darkness power/ability during Witch Queen.

Even when I started delving into D2 (around Forsaken and Shadowkeep) and the lore, I knew that both the Light and Darkness were practically just two tools that can be used and wielded by anyone, and the fact that it was always down to the intentions of the users that defines them. Which is why I find it very annoying that the majority of the characters were so staunchly against using Stasis and anything related to the Darkness during Beyond Light, but I'm glad to see that that's slowly changing, good writing this time around from Bungo's writing team imo.

Stasis and Strand are both concepts of Self Control. Perfect harmony with mind and body. Neither Malevolent nor Benevolent, but rather the channeling of raw energies not seen but rather felt We are the River, we control the flow Its all about changing your perspective on your perceived reality and physically manifesting that through the manipulation of concepts like Reality(strand) and Time(stasis) I kind of reminds me of my own Faith. Theres a Hillsong United lyric that reminds me of this "Skys(reality) spin their dance within your breath" "Time runs its race within your head" "My mind runs wild to comprehend, what no mind on earth could understand" Its about having Faith, faith so powerful that it can level mountains with a single word. Just food for thought 🤔

Glad your OK bro

Would it be possible to fit movement techniques like skating into the lore?

What song was he using in the begining? I remember it from D1 before the ad for advanced gg

Taking some time away from Destiny, I realized why i love the lore as much as i do; its a game about philosophy, and the closest parallel it has is one of my other favorite game franchises, Dark Souls. Its an absurd statement, but it's more fitting than you'd first think if you look at the overall themes going on. The reasons to struggle in a doomed universe. Breaking cycles or continuing them, or finding a 3rd path somehow (or looking for that 3rd path being the way to break the cycle in the first place). Hope against sorrow, what's right or wrong in a situation where it's totally relative, violence for itself versus for a cause, and which causes are better than others. Where Destiny is science fantasy first person shooter, and Dark Souls is high fantasy medieval third person, they're ultimately on the same coin. I just wish Destiny was more... enjoyable, for a lack of better term, at this point 😅

It is the classic bit of no tool being evil but how it is used that matters and the intent of the use. It holds water on many things and you can't blame him as well. He's seen so much go the other way.

Now that Commander Zavala has asked about Stasis from our mentor, Elsie Bray, his perspective on things have drastically changed. If he does use Stasis at some point, the Last City will most definitely be split between those who believed the Light is good while the Darkness is evil, and those who have faith in the Guardians, regardless of what they use. The citizens of the Last City need to understand that we guardians are not afraid of taking great risks to protect humanity. Osiris risked his lightless life in order to help protect Neomuna, especially trying to stop the Witness from reaching the Veil, even going so far as to understand Strand despite the risks of what would happen if he failed, Sloane took a great risk by becoming partially Taken in order to tune into the enemy forces, just so she can protect Ahsa, who told us about the Witness' origin and what we needed to do, Eris Morn risked her very being by not only turning into a Hive God, even if it was temporary, but she also risked the life of our ally, Ahsa, just so that she can banish Xivu Arath from her Throne World and weaken her, and finally; we have Crow, who is traveling into the Pale Heart of the Traveler in order to help us stop the Witness for good. For Zavala, understanding Stasis is a great risk, but for someone who had faith in the Traveler, who was struggling with himself for a very long time, now seeing that the Traveler had given the Hive the Light and the death of Amanda Holliday, Zavala is willing to accept the risk on how the Last City will view him and the Vanguard.

All I gotta say is if Ikora can use two supers back to back, I'd like to see zavala use behemoth to make a bunch of Ice and then fist of havoc and just demolish everything

Finally! Someone made the connection between void and darkness! This is the first time I've heard it anyways.

"It's important to let creators... create." *"Indeed."*

14:53 to 15:04 this sounds like Lysannder is describing Felwinter not Osiris. Is it possible since we know that Felwinter was Osiris's mentor that Lysannder believed the 2 to come from the same origin?

Nice to see zavala thinking about stasis. I mean osiris has learned the very basics of strand so hopefully they both will use it eventually

Excuse me sir, your Xur in 1 min video was awesome

Byf totally knows whats happening in the future, I like to think Byf is someone Bungie calls in to check basis with their own lore kinda like Red-Shirt for WoW to a degree.

Hey I'm so sorry to ask such an irrelevant question, but I have been looking positively everywhere for the BGM used at 16:44. Heard it in Season of The Seraph, been looking for it ever since; can someone give me the name of that track?

Your the vatti vidya of destiny and I'm here for it

i like the idea of the vanguard trying at least to verse themseleves on darkness...i mean...Eris told Zavala that for some needs, light is inneficient, the commander turning his doubts into knowledge is a natural evolution i thing...at least i think Cayde-6 will agreed...and tease the hell out of Zavala for this

great video!!! would love to see Bungie explore this idea in an expansion or an epsiode after the Final Shape. maybe if/when they release the 3rd Darkness subclass 🧐🧐🧐

I really hope we get a cutscene of zavala attempting to use his bubble but gets pushed in to a corner and forced to using stasis. It would show his progression, from early d1/d2 with his massive bubble and being his head strong titan that he started as, to being willing to use stasis to save what matters to him and how much his thought process has changed over the years.

Does that GG also ship to countries in europe? Seen those kind of brands before while they don't sell to europe so was curious about that part as the focus and energy does sound interesting

Zavala is going to be a MENACE with stasis

Zavala wanna get in on that Darkness smoke now.

It could be that he's seen guardians using stasis for the past 2-1/2 years with no major incidents. Even actively using it against the Darkness's own agents, which means it isn't a full threat. Drifter mentioned that Void was controversial at some point between the collapse and the start of the game, so it could just be old farts hating new things; a bizarre, but logical phenomenon for ageless warriors.

Lysander seems to have gotten it partially right but the “defective ghost” wouldn’t have been Sagira, it would be Felspring the ghost of Osiris’ mentor Felwinter.

I’d go crazy if we see Zavala and Ikora use darkness supers. Especially since they love having Ikora do 2 supers in 5 seconds lol

Osiris, Ulan-Tan, Elsie, Eris, Drifter, and (eventually) Shin Malphur to Zavala: “Told you so”! Ulan-Tan’s spirit: “I’d told them Light alone wouldn’t save us. Think Zavala, think! Symmetry was correct”!

I love the inclusion of that halo 2 scene XD

Way back in Beyond Light, I actually made the decision to keep one of my characters from doing any of the Stasis extended quest parts (the fragments). To this day, the only time my Titan has used Stasis is the points in the story where you were forced to by the narrative. The same with Strand, only at the points in the story where it made sense. I had hoped there would be some kind of mechanic that would see this (like the "choice" to trust the Drifter was back in Joker's Wild) but nothing. I'm still sticking with it just to keep my personal head canon. :)

Yk it would be cool if in tfs the traveler actually speaks to us or thanks us for our service or protection

The best example happened to us. The only reason why Lakshmi-2 could cause the chaos she did in season of the splicer was because of how badly the trust in the vanguard had been eroded. Ikora's invitation to house light was at the peak of the controversy over stasis, and the expulsion of the factions is arguably why the city hasn't fractured - there aren't any powers that could stand against the vanguard right now, they have complete control of the city.

Savathun was chosen and reforged in the Traveler's Light, as well as her Lucent Hive brood; Zavala wielding Stasis, much like the Elsie/Exo Stranger, Drifter and Eris shows how mature he has become, after being humbled not only once (when losing the Red War's first strike and being depowered), but twice (when Savathun was chosen) and then, thrice (when we lost the Traveler, but gained an Alliance of different races banned together). Zavala has been, and will continue to be, a stalwart protector of Humanity and faithful believer in the Traveler, but as the years and experience pile up on him, he has become aware that both Light and Darkness are but tools and that it is the GUARDIANS who use them -- _and _*_how_*_ they use them_ -- that determines morality like "Good" and "Evil". In this wise awakening and renewed understanding, Zavala follows Zarathrustra and has risen beyond such concepts: he has become a true *Übermensch.*

Byf I completely agree with you infact I continue to fight the evil that is fighting against us but of course I'm avidly using the darkness powers but I have the conviction to use it for good period and to continue to fight for good only and forever

Hey byf! How ya doin

This sounds like an Episode setup

I want more day to day goings in the city. I want to see the daily experience of Jeffrey the guy that works as a bartender in a hunter den, how he has to ask one of the hunters to carry him up the stairs because they are stupid high

Here's an idealized solution: The Praxic order's concept of what is Light and Darkness will need to shift. the "Light" and "Dark" powers that we've been using as definitions of aligment have proven to be flawed from the onset. We've seen the Warlords weild the light in dark ways, and the Young Wolves have proven that Darkness can be used for the cause of Light. So I posit this: True Light is the hope and the causes that unite us as all peoples. Benevolence, Acceptance, Rightiousness, and Unity. Darkness is that which devides us, it is Ignorance, Selfisheness, Isolation, Domination Our concept of Dark Forces, the "Fallen" the Cabal, even the Reefborn to some degree as well as the Hive, were shrouded in 'darkness' - in ignorance and fear. They were viewed as dark 'others' that could not find common ground. But so far we've found a measure of co-operation with each of those to varying success, and how the Eliksni, Empress's cabal, and the Awoken are allies, and the Lucient Brood's leader is in a non-agression pact for now - and we've grown to know these people more. The days of binary forces of good and evil in the darker days of Destiny 1 and earlier Destiny 2 have shown greater shades of individuality and community in the light of knowledge. These can be the Praxic orders definitions of Light and Dark they can adapt - should they ultimately chose not to be so draconian.

Of the two darkness options Stasis is not the one I would put up for someone iffy about it with the lore implications. Stasis still has a connection with the Witness Strand is sonethin we discovered and is untethered to something like The witness as it stands currently.

Ramirez!! GO AND TEACH ME STASIS AND STRAND!

I love chronurgy. I like snow and cold. I like stasis. Probably my favorite element in the game. And I'm glad to hear that stasis may actually be a form of chronurgy to a light degree. That's awesome. But i just... y'know when like, you always go back to something because you really want it, but then you use it and realize its just not worth it and then stop using it again? But then you just... go back again, because you really wish it was? That's really how stasis is for me right now. Especially on hunter... shurikens just feel so bad. And that's the thing, too, stasis hunter is solid if and only if you build into grenades - its one of the very few subclasses in the game that can't both make a solid grenade build and a solid melee build. I'm not even asking for it to be a melee subclass, i mean, arc hunter is clearly better as a melee build, but you CAN make grenade builds that work well (see: lucky raspberry), but on stasis hunter ever since the nerfs the melee is just a mediocre utility at best if even. Basically. Lore-wise, big stasis guy. Visual-wise, feel-wise, stasis is awesome. Effectiveness-wise? ..I look forwards to final shape. I mean, seriously, I think it says something that I stuck with a no-shatterdive Revenant hunter all the way from launch through the 30th anniversary patch. I didn't give it a proper shot until it was nerfed to the ground in pvp, and then i used it a bit in pve, and used the aspect for mobility.