Who Destiny 2’s Dark Vanguard Could Be

Destiny 2‘s Vanguard have long been the light that stands against the darkness, but the darkness has slowly crept up on Guardians everywhere. The darkness is not something to be feared, merely a counterpoint to the light. If the Vanguard are defenders of the light and each of its subclasses, then who would best represent the Dark Vanguard and its steadily encroaching grasp over the galaxy?

Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter that continues the story of the Guardians, a collection of super-powered individuals who are given their gifts from the Light of the Traveler. The Traveler, a mysterious and gigantic orb, appeared over Earth where it has remained dormant. Each of the three classes (Hunter, Warlock, and Titan) are represented by a member of the Vanguard, an elite fireteam who oversees their fellow classes.

The Vanguard are leaders of their respective classes but also represent one of each elemental subclass of light; Ikora is a Void Warlock, Zavala is an Arc Titan, and before his demise, Cayde-6 was a Solar Hunter. Last year’s Destiny 2: Beyond Light DLC saw the introduction of the first dark subclass, Stasis. The game’s narrative has been steadily hinting at the power of the darkness coming to the Guardians, with Stasis most likely the first of three new dark-based options. If the Vanguard represents the light, then there must be a group of individuals who the Guardians can rally behind in the darkness – the Dark Vanguard.

Destiny 2’s The Stranger Is A Perfect Fit For The Dark Vanguard

First introduced in the original Destiny, The Stranger returns with the Beyond Light DLC. It was revealed by the end of the campaign that she is in fact Elisabeth Bray, a member of the famous Bray family. One of the original Exos, she keeps some sort of familiar with her in place of a Ghost as she is not forged in the light, and so she is not a true Guardian. She is the one who unlocks the Destiny 2 Stasis class for the player, but more interestingly, she appears on Europa at the start of Beyond Light and summons both Eris Morn and The Drifter to investigate a mysterious pyramid of Darkness.

Eris Morn’s Tragic Destiny 2 Story Suggests Dark Vanguard Potential

One of the most tragic backstories in Destiny, Eris was a Guardian and the sole survivor of an attempt to defeat Crota the Light Destroyer and Eater of Hope. Drained of all Light and without a Ghost, Eris learned to survive alone in the darkness for years. Having lost the use of her eyes, she replaced them with that of a Hive Acolyte and learned to tap into the Hive’s dark powers while utilizing their magic. Completely sapped of her light at the hands of Crota, she too does not have a traditional Destiny 2 Ghost nor is she classified as a Guardian anymore. After the events of Beyond Light, she is able to wield the Stasis subclass as well, but given her connection to the Hive and the nature of her innate dark magic, she would be a perfect candidate for the rumored Corruption subclass which has yet to be confirmed.

The Drifter Could Add Roguish Charm to Destiny 2’s Dark Vanguard

First appearing as a cheeky gambling man whom Zavala is not particularly fond of, The Drifter is a unique wild card in Destiny lore. A rogue Guardian, upon his resurrection at the hands of the Traveler he decided to hide his light and venture off on his own. Opposed to the Traveler’s Light and all the chaos it caused, Destiny 2’s Drifter set out for centuries until he found a planet with dark energy capable of repelling the Traveler’s Light. The Drifter is also revealed to be a wielder of dark powers and has learned to harness Stasis alongside The Stranger and Eris Morn.

Before the events of Beyond Light, Drifter and Eris Morn shared casual dialogue, but the three were otherwise never grouped together. Given the fact they each have their own opposition to the light, are not traditional Guardians, and can wield the power of Stasis, it is most likely that these three will form the potential Dark Vanguard. Each would represent a different darkness subclass, causing considerable strife between the powers of Destiny 2‘s light and dark.