Destiny 2 is good at hiding little secrets. In Witch Queen, there were mysterious symbols and chemical formulas that players couldn’t let go of. We take a look at what they have discovered about the secret space science of the Witch Queen.
Sometimes, there are complex puzzles in the game. Other times you find mysterious numerical or binary codes in pictures and trailers. So when Destiny 2 players suddenly have their noses in a science book, it’s for a good reason.
Since the release of the first trailer and images for the new expansion “The Witch Queen,” the chemical formulas included have not gone unnoticed by the players. Such noticeable details are rarely coincidence in Destiny 2, as one knows from the past.
- Destiny 2 hid a super puzzle in the wall with a physical reward on Mars
- During the Season of Dawn, the mega puzzle in the “Corridors of Time” kept many players awake at night and caused headaches
- In some images, Bungie hides codes that lead to secret emblems
In the trailer for Witch Queen, which presents Savathun’s Throne World in more detail, a chemical formula and several number combinations appear repeatedly. At the beginning of the trailer, it is initially mirrored. Only at the end is the representation visible from the front.
In any case, the symbolism runs like a thread through almost all announcements, but it is particularly present in the trailers. No wonder that its significance has not let the players go in the Destiny 2 subreddit , as they look like a new puzzle to be deciphered.
What is visible in the trailer? After about 30 seconds, one should pause the gameplay trailer and recognize various decimal numbers that repeat later in other trailers. Among them are the numbers “16”, “32.066” and “80 (line break)200.59“. As well as the chemical formulas “[Xe]4 f 14 5 d 10 6s 2” and “[Xe] 4 f f14 5d6 6s2“.
From the foundation of their shimmering palace to the gnarled roots of the swamp, all their secrets are hidden.
thus teases Bungie the new expansion
Destiny 2 uses real space science
The community has found out: It didn’t take long for the Destiny 2 community to present interesting ideas on reddit that we don’t want to withhold from you. Caution, now it gets really scientific.
- The numbers are called atomic numbers (also core charge number, proton number, or atomic number).
- 16 with 32.066 is the atomic number and weight of sulfur, the element from the planet Io.
- 80 with 200.59 are the atomic numbers and weight for mercury
- “[Xe]4 f 14 5d10 6s 2” stands for the electron configuration of the element mercury, that is “Mercury”
- “[Xe]4 f 14 5d6 6s2” is the electron configuration of osmium.
- In the rocket launcher seen in the trailer, NaCl, the formula for salt, is written.
Specifically, the entire symbolism should be an ancient theory called “spagyrics”, as reddit user AWolski40 explains:
All 3 armors have a chemical: mercury, salt, and sulfur.
According to the information he derived from the Wikipedia page on the alchemical pseudo-science “spagyrics”, the theory is based precisely on these 3 chemicals. These also fit surprisingly well with the current theme and story surrounding Savathun.
Originally coined by Paracelsus, the word spagyrics comes from the ancient Greek σπάω spao (“to separate, pull out”) and ἀγείρω ageiro (“to connect”, “to recombine”, “to gather”).
In this method, the original elements, the so-called “Tria Prima”: sulfur, mercury, and salt, are separated and then recombined.
Many similarities with Savathun’s plan: The Witch Queen wants to separate herself from her worm, reconnect or combine. That is her goal, which she has already openly explained to the Guardians. And the first step, her worm exorcism, is coming soon in the current story. So one can indeed see similarities.
Overall, chemistry and alchemy seem to play a big role in the new expansion anyway.
Funny fun fact for SciFi fans: Every Supernatural fan knows of course that salt can be very effective against witches. Sam and Dean use rock salt against witches, ghosts, demons, hellhounds, and other supernatural beings. It provides protection for the hunter. So a “salted” shot from the rocket launcher might be doubly effective against Savathun.
Every character carries an element on their armor
Players were also able to discover chemical elements and symbolism on various armor pieces and weapons.
Players now suspect a connection between the armors and the respective elements mercury, salt, and sulfur. These three also represent spirit, body, and soul in alchemy. The hunter would thus be the mind, the titan the body, and the warlock the soul of a fireteam.
Osmium is the chemical hint at Savathun’s home: Players on reddit all agree on the formula for osmium. It can only be a hint at Savathun’s original home.
Just a reminder: Io (sulfur), Mercury (mercury), and Mars were planets shrouded in an anomaly by the Darkness. Players will return to Mars in February for the first time since this event.
Before the Hive became Hive, they were just weak creatures with a very short lifespan. The royal sisters Oryx, Xivu Arath, and Savathun lived on a gas giant called “Fundament” at that time. Their father was known as the “Osmium King,” ruler of the Osmium court.
On Fundament, the three siblings also first encountered the Worm Gods after their father was betrayed by one of his brood mothers. The Worm Gods would infiltrate the siblings with their own worms and thus create the Hive so that the siblings could take their first steps toward divinity. Images of this shared history can also briefly be seen in the Witch Queen trailer.
The puzzle is not yet solved: The Destiny 2 community is still puzzling, and the Collector’s Edition of Witch Queen likely plays a role in this. It includes a so-called “Psychometer Replica” that also picks up the strange symbolism. Can the code be deciphered with it?
Perhaps the cryptic signs at the end are indeed the key to victory over Savathun, the god of deceit and trickery. We do not know. The Destiny 2 community can hardly wait to finally confront the Witch Queen. After all, her “good friend” has been scheming in the background for 7 years and is obviously only using her for her plans.
Even more secrets from Savathun might also be hidden in the new Witch Queen raid:
What do you think? Is there more behind these formulas? Or is it just decorative text that Bungie has included in the trailer? Let us know what you suspect. Is there really a deeper meaning here? Did you also suspect a secret code behind it?
