Destiny 2: All Void Effects, Explained (2024)

With the release of The Witch Queen, Destiny 2 saw the beginning of an overhaul to its subclass system. The first of these to be updated was the Void subclass, which began implementing the Stasis subclass format into Light subclasses, removing the set skill-tree players had used since the game's release.

One of the key parts of the overhaul was the addition of 'keywords' to each subclass. This article will cover each Void keyword, describe what they do, and discuss each effect's place in the game through how it can be used and activated.

Weaken

Weaken is one of the most prominent keywords with Void. It provides a 15% debuff to any affected target, and you can tell when an enemy is weakened by the purple glow they have, and all of your damage numbers turn yellow. While a 15% debuff doesn't sound like much on paper, it is a solid debuff that is accessible and doesn't require a Super like Shadowshot or a debuffing weapon like Divinity or Tractor Cannon.

Some methods to cause Weaken on an enemy include the Warlock Aspect, Child of the Old Gods, a Hunter's Smoke Bomb, or, most commonly, a Void Grenade using the Echo of Undermining Fragment. Echo of Undermining is one of many Void Fragment options that synergize excellently with the Void keywords. Overall, Weaken is incredibly powerful and a solid tool to have in your kit.

Suppression

Suppression is a potent tool inside the Void kit. It can completely shut down a Super inside the Crucible, just one of many tips and tricks a player learns in PvP. Suppression also can stun an Overload Champion, which can be very handy, especially in Grandmaster Content, where stunning Champions is vital. It can even shut down a Hive Guardian's Super and cancel their abilities which is incredibly helpful in areas like the Ghosts of the Deep dungeon.

The downside of Suppression is that it can be somewhat hard to activate. It can only come from the Shadowshot Super or a Suppression Grenade, which can be tricky to land. Players can opt for Collective Obligation. However, getting this to drop can be difficult since this is a raid exotic. Alternatively, Tractor Cannon can be used to Suppress targets; however, some players may want to use their heavy slot on a high-damage weapon. Overall, Suppression is incredibly powerful but quite hard to activate, but enemies are practically a free kill when you do.

Volatile

Volatile is the powerhouse of the Void debuffing set of keywords. It provides instances of damage that can stagger enemies and deals solid Area of Effect (AoE) damage to nearby enemies. Volatile is also the 'weapon-based' debuff for Void as Volatile Rounds can be accessed through the Echo of Instability Fragment or the popular Gyrfalcon's Hauberk Hunter Exotic, which is a centerpiece of some very powerful Nightstalker builds.

Volatile can also be triggered via the Controlled Demolition Titan Aspect, where dealing damage with a Void ability or Volatile explosion makes the enemy Volatile, allowing for excellent chaining capabilities. While Volatile is more challenging to trigger than a debuff like Weaken, it is well worth it and often chains into itself, allowing you to keep the debuff going, making it a massive boon should you slot it into your Void builds.

Devour/Invisibility/Overshield

The Void-based buffs, Devour, Invisibility, and Overshield, are incredibly simple yet wonderfully effective. With the changes to how the subclass system works, every class can obtain these buffs in one way or another. Whether through a Finisher, Orbs of Power, or defeating a target with low HP, every class can eventually obtain each of these powerful buffs. Devour is the most accessible of the three, as it simply requires you to collect either a Void Breach or, even easier, an Orb of Power through the Echo of Starvation Fragment. Once you do this, it is straightforward to keep the buff going, as all you need is a single kill to extend the buff timer while also receiving the nifty benefit of a full health bar. This process is even more straightforward for Warlocks, as all you need is the ability to kill to start the chain.

Invisibility is also quite simple in how to obtain it. Echo of Obscurity grants Invisibility on a Finisher. This can pair excellently with the Aeon exotics, which provide ammo for your team on a Finisher kill. Hunters have the easiest time when it comes to Invisibility, though. They can instantly use Vanishing Step or Trapper's Ambush to make themselves Invisible. Stylish Executioner can also chain Invisibility together, should you kill debuffed targets. Trapper's Ambush can also grant your teammates Invisibility, which becomes quite powerful, especially when combined with Omnioculus. Finally, Overshield can be obtained through the Echo of Vigilance Fragment. While the prerequisite for getting this Fragment to give you an Overshield is rare, as it requires a low-health kill, but it can still come in clutch in a pinch. However, most of your Overshields will come from an allied Sentinel Titan in your fireteam. Using the Bastion Aspect, Titans can deploy their Barricade to grant an instant Overshield to any ally nearby, as well as themselves, but any ally who then returns behind the Barricade will see their Overshield begin to regenerate, creating a safe spot for your Fireteam. Overall, the three Void buffs are all remarkable in their own way, and if you can get them all to come together, you will be practically unkillable.

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