Destiny 2 Solar 3.0 Guide: Best Aspects and Fragments

Image: Bungie via HGG / Adam Watkins

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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Solar is one of the three original Light sub-classes available to Guardians in Destiny 2. The three Light sub-classes all received a massive overhaul that brought them closer in design to the Sta sis and Strand subclasses that were released as DLC later on in Destiny 2’s lifespan. This overhaul introduced the Aspect and Fragment system that provides augments and perks to sub-class abilities.

We here at High Ground Gaming have put together an in-depth guide that explains all the Fragments and Aspects currently available for the Solar sub-class in Destiny 2.

How to Get Solar Aspects and Fragments

Ikora Rey will sell you Solar Aspects, Fragments, and Abilities in Destiny 2. — *Image: Bungie via HGG / Adam Watkins*

You can get Solar Aspects and Fragments in Destiny 2 by speaking with Ikora at The Tower. Void, Arc, and Solar Aspects, Fragments, and Abilities can all be purchased from Ikora using Glimmer. Fragments tend to cost a rather large chunk of Glimmer, so be sure to save up plenty!

After purchasing abilities from Ikora, players will need to meditate at the shrine next to Ikora in order to use and equip those new Fragments, Aspects, and Abilities.

Solar 3.0. Keywords in Destiny 2

There are a number of Keywords or phrases that will show up in the descriptions of Solar Aspects and Fragments. A few of them are pretty self-explanatory, but some have hidden values or information that build crafters may find useful.

Radiant

“Your weapons are enhanced by the power of the Traveler and deal increased damage to combatants. While you are Radiant, your weapons pierce the shields of Barrier Champions and stun them.”

The Radiant buff grants those affected by it a 25% damage increase while in PVE and a 10% damage increase during PVP activities. You may be wondering if the Radiant buff stacks with any of the other buffs present in the game, such as Well of Radiance and Empowering Rift. The answer is both yes and no. Radiant only stacks with buffs that are less than its provided multiplier.

Well of Radiance grants those standing in it a 25% damage increase. Since this is equal to that of the Radiant buff, Radiant is overridden. On the other hand, a buff like Empowering Rift will stack with Radiant since its modifier is only 20%. In fact, using both the Radiant buff and Empowering Rift at the same time will cause a multiplicative effect to trigger between the two buffs resulting in a 50% increase to weapon damage!

Restoration

“You regenerate health and shields over time. Cannot be interrupted by taking damage.”

This buff does what it says on the tin. While this effect is applied to you, you will gain your health back at a constant rate until the effect ends. This won’t keep you from dying if your health drops to zero so keep that in mind. The amount of health recovered per second can be increased using certain fragments.

Scorch

“The target is singed by destructive Solar Light, taking damage over time. Scorch damage increases as the target accumulates more Scorch stacks. After enough Scorch stacks are applied to the target, they Ignite.”

When using Solar abilities and certain Solar weapons, you will apply stacks of scorch to targets. The amount of scorch stacks you apply to targets varies based on the weapon/ability you use. For example, Solar grenades apply 20 stacks of scorch on their initial detonation and continue to add 14 stacks per second, while Thermite Grenades only apply 10 stacks of scorch.

Ignition

“A large Solar explosion which deals damage in an area around the target and stuns Unstoppable Champions.”

Ignitions deal a decent chunk of damage to targets affected by them. This amount decreases based on the level of the target. An Ignition will trigger after a target has a total of 100 scorch stacks applied to them.

Firesprite

“A luminous concentration of Solar energy. When picked up, Firesprites grant grenade energy.”

During the Season of Defiance, collecting a Firesprite while you have a specific artifact perk will grant you one stack of Armor Charge. Firesprites can only be made by equipping specific Fragments.

Cure

“You are healed in a burst of mending Solar Light.”

The Cure status effect will heal the user by a flat amount instantly. Cure comes in three tiers; Cure 1, Cure 2, and Cure 3.

Cure 1: Obtained via standard Healing Grenades and the Icarus Dash Aspect. Heals target for 60 HP in PVE and 30 HP in PVP.

Cure 2: Obtained by using healing grenades alongside the Touch of Flames Aspect. Heals the target for 110 HP in PVE and 60 HP in PVP.

Cure 3: Obtained through the combination of Healing Grenades, Touch of Flames, and the Heat Rises Aspect. Heales the target for 130 HP in PVE and 120 HP in PVP.

Solar Subclass Aspects

Each class of Guardian can only equip two Solar Aspects at a time. Each Aspect will grant your Guardian a set amount of Fragment slots ranging from 1 to 3. Without Aspects, you will be unable to equip Fragments.

Solar Warlock Aspects

The Solar Warlock’s Aspects center around two things: their grenades and movement abilities. These options grant Solar Warlock some unique mechanics that are only available to their Subclass.

Touch of Flame

“Your Healing, Solar, Firebolt, and Fusion Grenades have enhanced functionality. Healing grenades: Improves the strength of cure and restoration effects applied.

Solar Grenades: Increases linger duration. Periodically emits blobs of lava around its perimeter.

Firebolt Grenades: Increases target search radius and maximum target count.

Fusion Grenade: Explodes twice.”

Grants two Fragment slots. The effects of your Healing Grenades are doubled. The lava blobs that emit from Solar Grenades will travel in the direction of gravity, meaning you can place a Solar Grenade on a ceiling (or at an angle on a wall) and the lava drops will fall at different angles.

The number of bolts produced by Firebolt Grenades is increased from three to four. The second explosion from your Fusion Grenades deals slightly more damage than the first, but it will not extend scorch ticks or apply additional Scorch stacks to the target.

Heat Rises

“You can fire weapons, melee, and throw grenades while gliding. Press and hold the grenade button: Activates Heat Rises, consuming your grenade. Final blows while airborne increase the duration of Heat Rises and grant melee energy.”

Grants two Fragment slots. When you consume your grenade, you will be given the Cure status and be granted the Heat Rises status. While Heat Rises is active you will have a much slower descent while gliding, improved mid-air controls, and increased air-borne effectiveness for your weapons.

Icarus Dash

“Long press the class ability button: Dodge quickly while airborne. While Heat Rises is active you have an additional dodge. While airborne, rapidly defeating targets with your Super or weapon grants Cure to you.”

Grants two Fragment slots. The air dodge doesn’t travel as far as a mid-air Titan charge, but it can still be useful for getting out of sticky situations. This Aspect paired with Heat Rises allows the player to create powerful off-angles in sections of the map that people will least expect. It also enhances your movement while using the Daybreak Super.

Solar Hunter Aspects

Solar Hunters have access to three Aspects: Knock’em Down, On Your Mark, and Gunpowder Gamble. Unlike the other Solar sub-classes, these all have a varying number of Fragments slots.

Knock’em Down

“Your Solar Supers are enhanced. Deadshot, Golden Gun has damage resistance. Marksman Golden Gun has increased duration, and Blade Barrage launches more projectiles. While radiant, final blows with your equipped Throwing Knife fully refund your melee energy.”

Grants two Fragment slots. This Aspect will buff your Golden Gun damage by around 30%. You can pair this Aspect with Ember of Torches to make powered melee kills fully recharge your melee ability and grant you and your allies the Radiant buff.

On Your Mark

“Precision final blows grant you and nearby allies increased weapon handling and reload speed for a short duration. Stacks 3 times. Activating your class ability immediately grants maximum stacks of On Your Mark.”

Grants three Fragment slots. You’ll be using your Class ability fairly often for a lot of Solar Hunter builds, so having this Aspect equipped will just make your weapons feel better to use in both PVE and PVP.

Gunpowder Gamble

“Defeat targets with abilities, Solar debuffs, or Solar weapons to charge up an improvised Solar explosive. Press the melee button: Throw a solar explosive that can be shot in mid-air to cause an Ignition.”

This Solar Aspect grants one fragment slot (this may change in future seasons of Destiny). The thrown explosive can stick to surfaces and enemies. It will explode after a set period of time. Ignitions do not benefit from Fragment modifiers.

Titan Aspects

Solar Titans have access to three Aspects: Roaring Flames, Sol Invictus, and Consecration. Each Aspect is designed to either modify the Solar Titan’s melee ability or grant the Titan new buffs. All Solar Titan Aspects grant 2 fragment slots each.

Roaring Flames

“Final blows with Solar abilities or Ignitions increase the damage of your Solar abilities. Stacks 3 times.”

Each stack of Roaring Flames will increase grenade, melee, and Super ability damage by 20%. This Aspect pairs really well with the Throwing Hamer melee ability. A great choice for both PVE and PVP.

Sol Invictus

“Solar ability final blows, Hammer of Sol impacts, and defeats scorched targets creates Sunspots. Your abilities regenerate faster, and your Super drains more slowly while standing in a Sunspot. Sunspots apply scorch and deal damage to targets inside. Entering a Sunspot applies Restoration.”

This Aspect is pretty much essential to all Solar Titan builds because of its ability to provide both defensive buffs and offensive area denial. Sun Spots absolutely shred both enemy Guardians and PVE enemies.

Consecration

“While sliding, activate your charged melee ability to launch a wave of Solar energy forward, damaging and scorching targets in front of you as you leap into the air. While airborne, activate your charged melee again to slam to the ground and create a second larger wave of damaging Solar energy. If the wave hits a scorched target, they Ignite.”

This Aspect is great for clearing rooms of enemies quickly, it also pairs really well with a lot of Fragments due to its ability to apply stacks of scorch and cause solar Ignitions. Unfortunately, this Aspect does not trigger the Hammer Throw ability, so you won’t be getting a full refund on your melee if you use this attack.

Solar Subclass Fragments

Each Class has access to the same group of 17 Fragments. Fragments do not carry over between Guardians, so you’ll have to unlock each fragment separately for each one of your Guardians.

Ember of Mercy

“When you revive an ally, you and other nearby allies gain Restoration. Picking up a Firesprite grants restoration. Adds +10 to Resilience.”

Grants restoration status for around three seconds.

Ember of Resolve

“Solar grenade final blows cure you.”

Grants tier-one Cure (heals for 60 HP in PVE and 30 in PVP).

Ember of Singeing

“Your class ability recharges faster when you scorch targets.”

Increases ability recharge rate by around 50%.

Ember of Benevolence

“Applying Restoration, Cure, or Radiant to allies grants increased grenade, melee, and class ability regeneration for a short duration. Decreases Discipline stat by 10.”

Recharges all listed abilities by 10% over four seconds.

Ember of Beams

“Your Solar Super projectiles have stronger target acquisition. Increases Intellect stat by 10.”

The target acquisition of Super projectiles is better but nothing crazy. You will still need to be relatively accurate with your aim.

Ember of Empyrean

“Solar weapon and ability final blows extend the duration of Restoration and Radiant effects applied to you. Decreases Resilience by 10.”

Extends duration to a maximum of twelve seconds. Does not stack with Ember of Solace.

Ember of Combustion

“Final blows with a Solar Super cause targets to Ignite and create a Firesprite. Increases Strength stat by 10.”

Great for clearing out groups of Guardians or PVE enemies. Benefits from other Ignition-based Fragments.

Ember of Torches

“Powered melee attacks against combatants make you and nearby allies Radiant. Decreases Discipline stat by 10.”

Grants you and your nearby allies Radiant for ten seconds. Pairs really well with multiple Aspects.

Ember of Char

“Your Solar Ignitions spread scorch to affected targets. Increases Discipline stat by 10.”

The exact numbers are unknown, but it’s believed to spread 50+ scorch stacks to targets. Best used with Ember of Eruption and Ember of Ashes.

Ember of Tempering

“Solar weapon final blows grant you and your allies increased recovery for a short duration. Stacks 3 times. While Tempered Metal is active, your weapons have increased airborne effectiveness. While Ember of Tempering is active, solar weapon final blows create a Firesprite. Decreases Recovery stat by 10.”

This effect lasts for eight seconds and grants +20 to airborne effectiveness. Grant +10 Recovery to your Recovery stat, with each stack maxing out at +30.

Ember of Blistering

“Defeating targets with Solar Ignitions grants grenade energy.”

Each Ignition grants about 10-15% grenade energy.

Ember of Solace

“Radiant and Restoration effects applied to you have increased duration.”

Increases durations to 15 seconds. Does not stack with Ember of Empyrean.

Ember of Eruption

“Your Solar Ignitions have increased area of effect. Increases Strength stat by 10.”

Increases area of effect of Solar Ignitions from eight to 12 meters.

Ember of Ashes

“You apply more Scorch stacks to targets.”

Increases the number of scorch stacks applied by Solar abilities by 50%. This Fragment is great for builds focused on ignitions and works great for dealing with Unstoppable champions. Pair it with the Touch of Flame Aspect and Solar Grenade for maximum scorch generation.

Ember of Wonder

“Rapidly defeating multiple targets with Solar Ignitions generates an Orb of Power. Increases Resilience stat by 10.”

Requires around two to three kills for the effect to trigger. Pairs well with Fragments and aspects that increase applied scorch stacks.

Ember of Searing

“Defeating Scorched targets grants melee energy and creates a Firesprite. Increases Recovery stat by 10.”

Grants roughly 20% melee energy with each scorch target defeated.

Join the High Ground

It’s really anyone’s guess why the developers of Destiny 2 haven’t included the exact numbers on the new Solar Fragment and Aspect descriptions. Most of these numbers and percentages were figured out through in-game testing. These numbers may change from season to season.

If you learned something from this breakdown, feel free to sign up for the weekly High Ground Gaming newsletter and learn more useful tips that will help lead your fire team to the high ground!

Happy gaming!