How do you use stasis Effectively in Destiny 2?

First introduced in the Beyond Light expansion, the Stasis subclass completely changed the combat meta in Destiny 2 by giving Guardians the power to freeze and shatter their foes. This guide will detail exactly how do you use stasis to control the flow of battle, freeze your enemies, and strategically dominate any encounter.

Quick Summary

A detailed breakdown for mastering Stasis in Destiny 2, covering class-specific abilities, customizable Aspects and Fragments, and strategies for optimal performance in all modes.

Key Points

• Core Mechanics: Stasis is a Darkness subclass in Destiny 2 focused on Slow, Freeze, and Shatter effects for crowd control and area denial.

• Class Specialization: Titans specialize in Shatter combos, Hunters in applying Slow, and Warlocks in freezing targets, each with unique Aspects and abilities.

• Customization: Use class-specific Aspects and universal Fragments to tailor your Stasis build, with Fragments unlocked via quests from the Exo Stranger.

• Versatile Grenades: Master Glacier, Duskfield, and Coldsnap grenades for different tactical advantages, from creating cover to crowd-controlling large groups.

• PvE vs. PvP: Adapt your strategy, using Stasis for large-scale enemy lockdowns in PvE and for shutting down aggressive players or Super abilities in PvP.

Understanding Stasis: The Darkness of Will

Stasis is the element of will and control, a manifestation of the Darkness that allows a Guardian to slow, freeze, and shatter their enemies. Introduced in Beyond Light, it fundamentally shifted the sandbox with its unique crowd-control and area-denial capabilities. While wielding this power, Guardians can manipulate the battlefield in ways no other subclass allows, creating devastating shatter combos or using Stasis crystals for strategic plays. A solid understanding of its core mechanics—Slow, Freeze, Shatter, and the creation of Crystals and Shards—is essential for any Guardian looking to master its icy grasp.

The Core Stasis Keywords

• Slow: Reduces enemy movement speed, weapon accuracy, and ability regeneration. Stacking enough Slow on a target will cause them to Freeze. It also stuns Overload Champions.
• Freeze: Traps a target in Stasis matter, rendering them immobile. Dealing additional damage to a frozen enemy will Shatter them. In high-level PvE, powerful enemies can still move but are significantly impaired.
• Shatter: The explosive release of Stasis energy when a frozen target or Stasis crystal is destroyed. This deals damage in a small area and can trigger chain reactions. Shattering causes Unstoppable Champions to be stunned.
• Stasis Crystals: Create walls or barriers that block damage and line of sight. They freeze enemies on creation and can be destroyed to cause a Shatter effect. Glacier Grenades are a primary source of these crystals.
• Stasis Shards: Collectible items dropped by defeating slowed or frozen enemies with certain aspects. Picking up a Stasis shard restores melee energy, enabling constant ability uptime.
• Frost Armor: Stacks of damage resistance gained by collecting Stasis shards or other abilities. Increases survivability in both PvE and PvP.

Stasis Classes: Strategies and Specializations

Each class brings a unique flavor to Stasis, with different supers, melee abilities, and aspects designed to complement a specific playstyle.

Behemoth Titan

Behemoths are masters of the Shatter effect. Their abilities are focused on creating and destroying Stasis crystals for massive crowd-control and damage.

• Super: Glacial Quake sends out waves of stasis energy, creating crystals that freeze enemies. The Titan can then slide or slam into them to shatter everything nearby.
• Melee: Shiver Strike is a lunge that deals Stasis damage and shatters frozen targets. Used for both offense and movement.
• Key Aspects: Tectonic Harvest creates Stasis shards when you shatter crystals, and Cryoclasm enables a longer, more powerful slide that shatters crystals and frozen targets.

Revenant Hunter

Hunters excel at applying the Slow debuff and using their agility to control space.

• Super: Silence and Squall consists of two thrown kama blades. The first, Silence, freezes enemies in a radius, while the second, Squall, creates a roaming storm that Slows and damages opponents.
• Melee: Withering Blade fires ricocheting Stasis shurikens that Slow targets. A Hunter's dodge can activate Winter's Shroud, slowing nearby enemies.
• Key Aspects: Grim Harvest creates Stasis shards on defeating slowed or frozen targets, and Shatterdive allows an aerial dive that instantly shatters crystals and frozen enemies below.

Shadebinder Warlock

Warlocks are the masters of freezing, turning the battlefield into a field of solid ice.

• Super: Winter's Wrath summons a Stasis staff to freeze targets with projectiles and shatter them with a shockwave.
• Melee: Penumbral Blast launches a projectile that instantly freezes targets.
• Key Aspects: Iceflare Bolts spawns tracking Stasis seekers when you shatter a frozen target. Bleak Watcher turns your grenade into a turret that fires slowing projectiles, providing excellent passive control.

Building for Stasis: Aspects and Fragments

Aspects are class-specific modifications, while Fragments are universal upgrades that slot into your Aspects. Optimizing your build requires finding the right synergy. Fragments are purchased from the Exo Stranger on Europa for Glimmer after completing the Beyond Light campaign.

• Whisper of Bonds: Defeating frozen targets grants Super energy.
• Whisper of Chains: Take less damage when near frozen targets or friendly Stasis crystals.
• Whisper of Conduction: Stasis shards track to your location, making them easier to collect.
• Whisper of Durance: Increases the duration of Slow effects.
• Whisper of Fissures: Increases the damage and burst radius of Stasis shattering.
• Whisper of Hedrons: Freezing a target provides a temporary boost to multiple stats.
• Whisper of Shards: Shattering a Stasis crystal boosts your grenade recharge rate.

Master the Grenades

All three Stasis grenades are incredibly potent and offer unique control options.

• Glacier Grenade: Instantly creates a wall of Stasis crystals. Can be used for cover, to trap enemies, or as a source of mass Shatter damage. Hunters can combo this with Shatterdive and Titans with Cryoclasm for instant crystal destruction.
• Duskfield Grenade: Creates a slow-field that pulls enemies inward, freezing those who remain. Great for area denial and crowd control.
• Coldsnap Grenade: Releases a seeker that freezes targets on impact and chains to nearby enemies. Highly effective for neutralizing groups of enemies quickly.

Stasis Strategies: PvE vs. PvP

How you use Stasis can vary significantly depending on the mode you are playing. Adapt your build to the encounter for maximum effectiveness.

Strategy	Player vs. Environment (PvE)	Player vs. Player (PvP)
Crowd Control	Use Duskfield and Coldsnap grenades to lock down large groups of weaker enemies, giving your fireteam space to breathe and focus on higher-priority targets.	Use freezing abilities to disable supers and stop aggressive players, especially shotgun rushers, dead in their tracks.
Survivability	Prioritize Fragments like Whisper of Chains to gain damage resistance when near Stasis effects. Pair with an Aspect like the Warlock's Glacial Harvest to consistently generate Stasis shards and Frost Armor.	Leverage Fragments like Whisper of Hedrons for stat boosts after a freeze to win duels, or use Stasis crystals for strategic cover.
Mobility	Use Glacier Grenades and movement abilities (like Titan's Shiver Strike) to quickly traverse the map or gain verticality in platforming sections.	Master Glacier Grenade jumps and slides to outmaneuver opponents, access unexpected vantage points, and turn the tide of a gunfight.
Damage	Build around Shatter damage using Fragments like Whisper of Fissures to clear groups of enemies. Combine with primary weapons featuring the Headstone perk for crystal generation.	Use Freeze abilities to secure easy kills against unsuspecting opponents. While a target is frozen, land a critical hit or use a high-damage weapon to shatter them.

Conclusion

By understanding Stasis's core keywords, customizing with the right Aspects and Fragments, and adapting your strategy for PvE or PvP, any Guardian can master this powerful Darkness subclass. Whether locking down the battlefield, shutting down enemy Supers, or creating devastating shatter chains, Stasis offers a strategic and potent toolkit. Experiment with different builds and grenade types to find the combination that best fits your playstyle and freeze your opponents in their tracks. For further details on Stasis abilities and lore, refer to the Destinypedia wiki.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you unlock Stasis in Destiny 2?

To unlock the Stasis subclass, you must first complete the Beyond Light campaign on Europa. After finishing the main story, visit the Exo Stranger to purchase additional abilities, Aspects, and Fragments using Glimmer.

What is the best Stasis class for beginners?

The Shadebinder Warlock is often recommended for beginners due to its potent freezing abilities and the Bleak Watcher Aspect, which creates a Stasis turret for passive crowd control. This allows players to focus on gunplay while their abilities handle locking down targets.

How do you use Stasis crystals effectively?

Stasis crystals created by Glacier Grenades can be used for cover, to trap enemies, or as a source of massive damage when shattered. Hunters can use Shatterdive and Titans can use Cryoclasm to instantly destroy crystals for area-of-effect damage.

Are Stasis Fragments shared between characters?

Yes, once you have unlocked a Stasis Fragment on one character, it becomes available to equip on all your other characters who have unlocked Stasis. This makes building for Stasis much more efficient across your account.

What are the main differences between Stasis in PvE and PvP?

In PvE, Stasis is a powerhouse for controlling large groups of enemies and disrupting high-value targets. In PvP, it is a strategic tool for locking down areas, disabling enemy Supers, and punishing aggressive players.

How do you generate more melee energy with Stasis?

Focus on creating and collecting Stasis shards. Every class has an Aspect that allows them to generate these shards by defeating slowed or frozen enemies. Combine this with Fragments like Whisper of Hunger to increase the amount of energy you get from each shard.

How can I counter a Stasis player in PvP?

You can counter Stasis by maintaining distance to avoid freeze effects, using your class ability (e.g., Hunter Dodge to break tracking), or baiting their abilities by manipulating your radar. Building into high Resilience also reduces the damage taken from breaking out of Freeze.