Destiny 2 Shadebinder: Best Builds, Exotics & Fragments

Shadebinder is one of the four Warlock subclasses available in Destiny 2. As of Season of the Wish (S23), Shadebinder may be a somewhat weak subclass, but it still has much to offer in certain situations.

This guide covers the best Shadebinder Warlock builds, Fragments, and Exotics that make the Shadebinder excel in some specific cases.

What is Shadebinder in Destiny 2?

Shadebinder is the name of the Stasis-based subclass available to Warlocks in Destiny 2. 

Best Shadebinder Fragments & Exotics

Shadebinder (Stasis)

• Ranking: ❘ C Weak

Shadebinder has sadly been on a relatively consistent decline since its release back in Beyond Light.

The only draw to the subclass for many is its fairly powerful turret build with Osmiomancy Gloves, Iceflare Bolts, and Bleak Watcher. However, this build has begun to see less frequent use due to recent nerfs, an ever-changing meta, and the general decline in interest for freeze capabilities. Beyond this one build, Shadebinder is fairly useless. While Bungie recently tried to inject some life into the subclass with small changes to Frostpulse and Ballidorse Wrathweavers, this did nothing to Shadebinder’s popularity.

Until the subclass (and Stasis as a whole) gets a major buff, running Shadebinder typically isn’t worth it in PvE.

Preferred Exotic: Osmiomancy Gloves is the only Stasis Warlock exotic that is worth using, and it’s also excellent at what it does.

Armor	Class	Type	Requirements	Source	Released	Requires	Exotic Perk
Osmiomancy Gloves	Warlock	Arms	The Witch Queen	Lost Sectors	Season 16	The Witch Queen	Exotic Perk: "Your Coldsnap grenades have an additional charge that recharges quicker on direct impact. The seeker spawned from Coldsnap grenades travels further."

Preferred Aspects and Fragments:

• Aspects: While you could make builds with the rest of the available Aspects, Bleak Watcher and Iceflare Bolts are far and away the strongest.
• Fragments: Whisper of Durance, Whisper of Torment, Whisper of Hedrons, Whisper of Bonds.

Preferred Abilities and Stats:

• Stats: Recovery, Discipline, Intellect.
• Abilities: With only one melee and Super option, there aren’t many abilities you can choose from. However, for grenades, we prefer Coldsnap.

Shadebinder Warlock builds for PvE

These are some of the best Destiny 2 Shadebinder builds right now, you can find more excellent Warlock builds here:

Stasis Engineer

Excels In: Grandmaster Content

Goal of the Build: Slow and freeze large groups of enemies using countless Bleak Watcher turrets.

Mandatory Gear: Osmiomancy Gloves and a Primary or Special weapon with Demolitionist.

Name: Osmiomancy Gloves

Class: Warlock Slot: Arms

Source: Lost Sectors Requires: The Witch Queen

Exotic Perk: Your Coldsnap grenades have an additional charge that recharges quicker on direct impact. The seeker spawned from Coldsnap grenades travels further.

Deliverance

Fusion Rifle

Special

Stasis

Vow of the Disciple Raid

• Aspects: Iceflare Bolts and Bleak Watcher.
• Fragments: Whisper of Refraction, Whisper of Durance, Whisper of Torment, and Whisper of Chains.
• Abilities: Coldsnap Grenade.
• Stats: Discipline 🡒 Resilience.
• Mods:
  • Helmet: Harmonic Siphon
  • Arms: 2x Grenade Kickstart, Bolstering Detonation
  • Chest: Charged Up
  • Legs: x2 Innervation
  • Class Item: Bomber

Gameplay Loop

The primary loop of this build is just to throw turrets onto the field whenever you get them. Whisper of Torment and max Discipline will hopefully carry you to your next grenade charge without a problem. 

If you do end up experiencing downtime, be sure to take full advantage of your Demolitionist weapon. Once you gain another grenade charge, continue through turrets for as long as enemies survive!

Frostmaker

Excels In: Solo Content

Goal of the Build: Slow and freeze everything in sight, giving you tons of super energy and, eventually a weapon damage boost.

Mandatory Gear: Mantle of Battle Harmony and Ager’s Scepter.

Name: Mantle of Battle Harmony

Class: Warlock Slot: Chest

Source: Lost Sectors Requires: Beyond Light

Exotic Perk: Takedowns with weapons that have a damage type matching your subclass element grant you Super energy. While your Super energy is full, you instead gain a temporary bonus to weapon damage of the type matching your subclass element.

Ager's Scepter

Trace Rifle

Special

Stasis

Exotic Kiosk

• Aspects: Iceflare Bolts and Glacial Harvest.
• Fragments: Whisper of Bonds, Whisper of Fissures, Whisper of Rime, and Whisper of Conduction.
• Abilities: No specific abilities are required.
• Stats: Discipline 🡒 Resilience 🡒 Recovery.
• Mods:
  • Helmet: Harmonic Siphon, Special Ammo Finder
  • Arms: Stat, reload, and dexterity mods
  • Chest: Charged Up
  • Legs: Stacks on Stacks, Innervation
  • Class Item: Special Finisher, Empowered Finisher

Gameplay Loop

here isn’t a specific gameplay loop here; just use Ager’s Scepter and your abilities to freeze and kill as many enemies as possible. Both Whisper of Bonds and Mantle of Battle Harmony will give you super energy from said kills, and dropped Orbs of Power allow you to use Special Finisher as necessary.

Once you reach full super energy, you have three options that are all very strong. The first is to use your super to kill a large group of ads (or even damage a boss!). Assuming you have excess Ager’s ammo, a second option is to use the firing mode from Ager’s Scepter’s catalyst, making the weapon freeze everything and do more damage. The third and final option is not to use either and instead take advantage of Mantle of Battle Harmony’s second perk, giving you extra Stasis weapon damage after a Stasis weapon kill (as long as you keep full super energy).

Unlike other builds, the Frostmaker is extremely potent while not having a super specific gameplay loop, meaning it can be effective anywhere.

Shadebinder Subclass in PvP (Stasis)

Shadebinder (Stasis)

• Ranking: ❘ A Strong

Providing tons of options to freeze opponents, a Shadebinder is appreciated on any PVP team.

Iceflare Bolts is one of the strongest Aspects in the game overall, allowing you to gain a high potential of freezing multiple enemies at once. Frostpulse is an easy way to freeze targets, allowing you to stop nearby enemies in their tracks with a press of a button. Bleak Watcher can also prove helpful when used strategically; however, it does require practice and map knowledge.

Shadebinder’s other abilities don’t disappoint, either. Winter’s Wrath and Penumbral Blast allow for more easy freezing opportunities and are great ways to shut down both Supers and shotgun rushers alike.

Like in PVE, Shadebinder can excel greatly in PVP when used properly. While it doesn’t outright kill enemies, freezing and slowing them can prove extremely useful in any situation.

Preferred Exotic: Osmiomancy Gloves help greatly when using Coldsnap Grenades or Bleak Watcher, but neutral exotics like Transversive Steps and Ophidian Aspect tend to be used more frequently.

Armor	Class	Type	Requirements	Source	Released	Requires	Exotic Perk
Ophidian Aspect	Warlock	Arms	Free-to-Play	Exotic Engrams	Season 2	Free-to-Play	Exotic Perk: "Weapons ready and reload very quickly. Provides a small benefit to the airborne effectiveness stat of all weapons."
Osmiomancy Gloves	Warlock	Arms	The Witch Queen	Lost Sectors	Season 16	The Witch Queen	Exotic Perk: "Your Coldsnap grenades have an additional charge that recharges quicker on direct impact. The seeker spawned from Coldsnap grenades travels further."
Transversive Steps	Warlock	Legs	Free-to-Play	Exotic Engrams	Season 1	Free-to-Play	Exotic Perk: "Sprint speed increased. After a short time sprinting, your currently equipped weapon is automatically reloaded."

Preferred Aspects and Fragments:

• Aspects: Iceflare Bolts and Frostpulse tend to be the winners here, but Bleak Watcher isn’t a bad option if you know how to use it.
• Fragments: Whisper of Rending, Whisper of Torment, Whisper of Chains, Whisper of Bonds.

Preferred Abilities and Stats:

• Stats: Recovery, Discipline, Resilience.
• Abilities: There aren’t many abilities to choose from here, but Coldsnap or Duskfield Grenade and Healing Rift tend to be the most desirable options.

Before you go…

We cover all the best Stasis builds here. If you’re interested in exploring other Warlock Subclasses, don’t miss our Destiny 2 Stormcaller Subclass guide.