The Destiny 2 community continues to grapple with the lingering effects of Osteo Striga's controversial nerf, implemented just before The Final Shape expansion. This fan-favorite exotic submachine gun, once a dominant force in any Guardian's arsenal, now carries an invisible burden that has changed how players experience one of the game's most distinctive weapons.
From Witch Queen Royalty to Nerfed Reality
When Osteo Striga debuted with 2022's The Witch Queen expansion, it quickly became the must-have exotic for serious players. Initially exclusive to deluxe edition owners, this craftable SMG represented a new era of weapon personalization. Even today, acquiring Osteo Striga requires owning The Witch Queen expansion and shaping it at the Enclave on Mars—a testament to its special status in Destiny's weapon ecosystem.
The Four-Second Rule That Changed Everything
The June 2024 patch introduced what seemed like a minor adjustment: a 4-second cooldown between poison explosions triggered by Osteo Striga kills. On paper, it sounded manageable. In practice? Total game-changer. The weapon went from feeling like an extension of your Guardian's will to something that occasionally remembers to work properly.
🔥 Pre-nerf Osteo Striga: Smooth, consistent add-clear machine
❄️ Post-nerf Osteo Striga: Inconsistent, occasionally frustrating
Why Bungie Probably Made The Change
While Bungie remained tight-lipped about the reasoning, community consensus points to two likely factors:
• Transcendence Meter Concerns - The new subclass mechanic introduced with The Final Shape might have been too easily filled by Osteo's constant poison ticks
• New Weapon Promotion - Pushing players toward newer exotics like the recently reworked Khvostov
The Community's Verdict
Destiny players like ERI-223 have kept the conversation alive, arguing that while the nerf wasn't devastating, it made the weapon feel "inconsistent and unsatisfying." The four-second cooldown doesn't destroy Osteo Striga's damage potential, but it fundamentally alters the weapon's flow state—that magical feeling when everything just clicks.
Is There Hope for Restoration?
As we move deeper into 2025, the community hasn't given up hope. The recurring discussions suggest that players believe this was an overcorrection rather than a necessary balance change. With Bungie's history of revisiting controversial adjustments (remember the Whisper of the Worm saga?), there's always potential for Osteo Striga to return to its former glory.
Bottom Line: Osteo Striga remains viable, but the magic has dimmed. It's still that gorgeous, poison-spewing work of art from The Witch Queen era, but now it comes with an asterisk—a reminder that even the most beloved weapons aren't safe from balance changes.
💀 Current Status: Functional but flawed
🔮 Community Hope: Bungie reverts the cooldown in future patch
⭐ Verdict: Still worth using, but manage your expectations