Discover the Ancient Ways of the Qilin and Their Modern Applications Today
I still remember the first time I encountered the concept of Qilin in ancient mythology—those magnificent hybrid creatures symbolizing wisdom, prosperity, and protection. Little did I know that centuries later, I'd find myself drawing parallels between these legendary beings and the gaming mechanics of Destiny 2's latest expansion. As I dove into The Final Shape, it struck me how we're essentially discovering the ancient ways of the Qilin and their modern applications today through this new Prismatic subclass system.
When Bungie first announced they were adding another subclass after Strand, I'll admit I was skeptical. After all, Strand felt revolutionary when it launched—completely changing how we approached combat with its focus on suspending and shredding enemies. But Prismatic? This isn't just another damage type or crowd control mechanic. It's something fundamentally different, almost philosophical in its approach to power. The developers have essentially given us the building blocks of Destiny's entire elemental system and said "go create something uniquely yours."
What fascinates me most about Prismatic is how it mirrors the Qilin's mythical nature—a harmonious blend of different creatures forming something greater than its parts. I spent three hours yesterday experimenting with Void grenades paired with Solar melee abilities, creating combinations that literally made me laugh out loud when they worked. There's this incredible moment when you discover that perfect synergy between your armor mods, weapon perks, and mixed abilities that just clicks. It's not as flashy as Strand's initial reveal, but honestly? I think it might be better for long-term gameplay.
The numbers speak for themselves—in my testing, a well-optimized Prismatic build can output approximately 23% more damage than traditional single-element setups in PvE content. But it's not just about raw numbers. There's an artistry to combining Stasis slowing effects with Arc chain lightning that feels... intelligent. Strategic. It reminds me of those ancient tales where the Qilin would only appear to the wisest rulers, suggesting that true power comes from understanding how different elements work together rather than relying on brute force.
Some players in my clan argue that Prismatic lacks identity compared to Strand's clear focus on suspension mechanics or Stasis' freezing capabilities. But I think they're missing the point entirely. During last week's raid, our fireteam used four completely different Prismatic builds that complemented each other in ways I've never seen in seven years of playing Destiny. One player focused on creating ability loops while another specialized in debuff combinations that made our boss damage phase absolutely melt—we shaved nearly two minutes off our best clear time.
What we're really seeing here is the evolution of Destiny's combat philosophy. Where previous subclasses asked "how do you want to destroy your enemies?", Prismatic asks "how do you want to express your combat style?" It's less about following a predetermined path and more about discovering your own approach—much like how ancient scholars would study the Qilin not just as mythical creatures, but as symbols of innovative thinking and adaptability.
After two weeks with The Final Shape, I'm convinced that Prismatic represents Destiny's most sophisticated gameplay system to date. It rewards creativity and deep system knowledge in a way that reminds me why I fell in love with this game years ago. The process of discovering the ancient ways of the Qilin and their modern applications today through this subclass feels like uncovering a new language for combat—one where we're all just beginning to learn the vocabulary, but the poetry we can eventually create is limitless.
