In Destiny 2, the new Worm Launcher “Parasit” from Witch Queen is causing some discussions. However, it’s less about the type or damage of the weapon, but rather about a fundamental moral conflict. Is it okay to shoot with worm larvae, meaning the babies? MeinMMO has gotten to the bottom of it.
Normally, the functionality and especially the advantages of a specific weapon are the topic of discussion when new weapons are introduced in Destiny 2. However, after the release of the first trailer for the brand new weapons from Witch Queen, Guardians have entirely different concerns. It is primarily the special ammunition that is currently in focus.
Which weapon is it about? The discussion revolves around the new Worm Launcher “Parasit”, which comes into play with the Witch Queen expansion. This is a projectile launcher that uses worm larvae as ammunition.
- In the trailer, you can see a Guardian using the weapon
- To load the weapon, the Guardian takes a worm larva and stuffs it into the magazine
- Then, the worm larva can be fired as a projectile
- The damage of the weapon increases continuously
Is it okay to shoot with “worm babies”? What initially looked cool became strange when Guardians began to think more deeply about this rather special ammunition. “But these aren’t baby worms?” user Economy_Vermicelli90 on reddit wonders.
The term “worm larva” would already imply that they are babies, meaning an early developmental stage.
I can just imagine our bags filled with the slimy little guys and we are digging our hands in to grab one and stuff it into the weapon.
writes user VincibleSugar on twitter
Because the little worm larvae are always seen with the Hive, some players think they also belong to the Hive race. However, players who are familiar with the lore point out that they are not actually true Hive larvae but rather the larvae of the Worm Gods. In the case of the Hive, thralls are the youngest developmental stage.
This, however, does not change the fact that the not particularly cute and rather slimy little guys are still babies. Is the idea of designing such a weapon crazy or genius?
What is currently known about worm larvae in the Destiny universe
According to Destiny lore and a Ghost scan, worm larvae are bred in nest cores. Each individual, such as thralls or acolytes, possesses such a worm larva. However, they are not Hive but actually originate from the Worm Gods.
The worms themselves do not control the host. They only strengthen him and provide access to the Sword Logic. In return, their “hosts” feed them with bloodshed and violence through their terrible deeds. Their appetite grows as their hosts become stronger.
When a Guardian shoots an Acolyte or Knight in the head, the worm larva jumps out and wriggles onto the ground. As they are no longer bound to a host, they starve within a short time and burst. The worm larvae themselves apparently do not possess any special intelligence. Only their divine parents are something else. They were the ones who originally convinced the proto-Hive to take in the worms and exploit their fears and insecurities. Evolutionarily, the Hive is about as smart as millions of years ago, only their biology has changed.
Already the second moral dilemma: In the season of the Splicer, there was a similar controversy. Back then, it was cute Fallen babies that quickly won the hearts of many Guardians. The motto back then was: “Protect the fallen babies!” Before anyone knew about the cute Eliksni babies, no Fallen foe was safe from the weapon of a Lightbearer.
The Destiny 2 community was so enthusiastic about the cute Eliksni babies that Bungie even created the emote “Eliksni Hatchling” for them and even brought a replica of the little rascals as a plush toy to the Bungie Store.
The opinions on the subject are controversial: Some players have no issue shooting little worm larvae at their opponents.
Other Guardians are still confused. GawainSolus ultimately sums it up when he says: “Worms are not Hive babies, but parasites.” And that is ultimately also the name of the new Witch Queen weapon “Parasit”.
What is your opinion? Do you have a problem with shooting the little worm larvae? Will we perhaps even cuddle cute worm larvae as plush toys soon or will Guardians give the slimy little guys a treat in a new emote? Please let us know in the comments.
