Destiny 2 adds new “Wishkeeper” bow to its short stack of Strand exotic weapons

The first Strand-flavored exotic bow in Destiny 2 is available now for players to get their hands on, but is it really worth the exotic slot?

Obtaining Wishkeeper

Credit: Bungie

Wishkeeper is a new exotic bow in Destiny 2 that is unlocked after the completion of a brand new exotic mission called “Starcrossed.” While it’s nice that Bungie is still developing new exotic missions, this one feels like it missed the mark pretty hard — at least with its gameplay.

I won’t get into the mission too much, but it just seems like Bungie’s given us three different ways to do The Coil (another new activity in Season of the Wish). You’ve got:

• The Coil
• Riven’s Lair
• Mission: Starcrossed

All three activities are pretty much just different versions of themselves, with The Coil being the longest and most rewarding. The Coil itself is fun enough, but after basically being required to do a lesser version of it week after week for the seasonal story, it gets super old, super fast.

Now, we have to do it again for the new Wishkeeper bow. Albeit, it’s got its differences, but for the majority of the time it’s the same exact thing.

Wishkeeper Perks

Credit: Bungie

Let’s talk about what Wishkeeper can actually do.

• Snareweaver: Precision hits and final blows build energy towards a Snareweaver arrow that can be fired from the hip. On impact, Snareweaver arrows create a pattern of traps that suspend nearby targets.
• Silkbound Slayer: This weapon deals bonus damage to suspended targets. Gain faster draw time for a short duration when you suspend a target from any source or damage a suspended target with this weapon.

So, it’s basically Suspend: The Bow. Don’t get me wrong, it’s got some potential, but honestly I’m not thrilled with yet another “charge it up with headshots/kills, then hip-fire to get a special arrow” bow. Especially when the “special arrow” pretty much just suspends some targets for a while.

Datto had a great point in his review of the bow — how many ways can we suspend targets at any point in time? Do we really need an exotic that just adds to that list? Probably not, but it isn’t going to hurt.

I will say, I haven’t used Wishkeeper a whole lot, so maybe I just haven’t warmed up to it yet. But if I do end up using a bow, I really don’t see myself ever using this one over any other option.

At the end of the day, it comes down to one question…is it fun to use? If your answer to that is yes, then great! Use the bow all you want! If not, then it’s just another checkmark on your list of exotic weapons you’ve collected throughout your journey in Destiny.