Cold precision meets challenge mastery in Destiny 2: Lightfall’s “Strider” quest, where earning the Winterbite – a Stasis-powered heavy glaive – demands patience, sharp aim, and flawless timing across Neptune’s icy battlegrounds.
Winterbite is a Stasis heavy glaive that shoots orbs; those orbs in turn freeze targets. You can unlock Winterbite by completing the “Strider” quest, which becomes available after you complete the Lightfall campaign, unlock the Hall of Heroes and complete three other quests: “Stargazer,” “Maelstrom,” and “Bluejay.” You’ll be shown around Neomuna, completing new activities like Terminal Overload and Partition as you go.
In this Destiny 2 guide, we’ll go over how to unlock the Winterbite heavy glaive and how to navigate the “Strider” quest.
How to get Winterbite and Strider quest steps in Destiny 2
Complete the Lightfall campaign first to access Neomuna’s Hall of Heroes, then finish prerequisite quests Stargazer, Maelstrom, and Bluejay from Quinn there. Pick up the Strider quest from the archivist, use Terminal Overload keys on reward chests in Neomuna’s three zones, defeat Shadow Legion Cabal for location data while clearing Gilded Precept Lost Sector in Ahimsa Park, speak to the archivist again, and finally head to Maya’s Retreat to destroy Hydras and scan their spawned confluxes. Quinn hands over Winterbite upon return.
Once you complete the campaign and the “Stargazer,” “Maelstrom,” and “Bluejay” individual quests that follow, you’ll be able to start the “Strider” quest, the steps for which are outlined below as they appear in-game:
- Visit the archivist.
- Spend keys on a Terminal Overload Key Chest in three different areas of Neomuna.
- Defeat Shadow Legion forces in Neomuna to find location data, and dive into the Ahimsa Park Lost Sector for a data cipher to put the data together.
- The archivist wants to discuss your findings.
- Approach Strider’s memorial to repair it.
- Destroy the Hydras and shut down the confluxes at Maya’s Retreat.
- The archivist has a reward for you.
Once done, Winterbite is yours.
This quest is fairly straightforward and the combat isn’t too complicated. The Terminal Overload activity is very hard to do by yourself, though, so you might need to load into it a few times until you find a group that is already running it.
Here is every quest step in further detail:
How to start ‘Strider’ in Destiny 2: Lightfall
Finish the Lightfall campaign to access the Hall of Heroes on Neomuna. Complete the Stargazer, Maelstrom, and Bluejay quests from Quinn Laghari there, which involve Terminal Overload runs, Vex Incursions, and Partition activities. Speak to Quinn afterward to pick up the Strider quest.
In order to unlock the “Strider” quest from Quinn Laghari in the Hall of Heroes on Neomuna, you first must complete the campaign. This will unlock the Hall of Heroes. Once you unlock it, you’ll be able to speak with Quinn. They’ll have four different quests – “Stargazer,” “Maelstrom,” and “Bluejay”. You must complete these in order to unlock the “Strider” quest to unlock Winterbite.
‘Stargazer’ quest steps
Collect the quest from Quinn in the Hall of Heroes and complete the following steps:
- Loot the Terminal Overload reward chest at the end of the activity.
- Defeat the Vex Hydra in Esi Terminal to obtain a high-security passcode.
- Obtain a Terminal Override Key by completing public events, looting chests, or completing patrols.
- Use a key to open Terminal Overload Key Chest.
- Return to a Hall of Heroes to repair Stargazer’s memorial.
- Return to Quinn to discuss the next steps.
‘Maelstrom’ quest steps
After completing the Stargazer quest, collect the quest from Quinn in the Hall of Heroes and complete the following steps:
- Bond with Strand sources, and participate in public events, patrols, and loot resources, all within the Vex Incursion Zone.
- Complete the Lost Sector within the Vex Incursion Zone.
- Return to the Hall of Heroes to repair Maelstrom’s memorial.
- Return to Quinn to discuss the next steps.
‘Bluejay’ quest steps
After completing the “Maelstrom” quest, collect the quest from Quinn in the Hall of Heroes and complete the following steps:
- Visit Nimbus.
- Defeat combatants in the current Vex Incursion Zone with a Strand subclass equipped to obtain Shellcode Fragments, and open a Terminal Overload Key Chest to obtain a Polymorphic Engine.
- Complete the Partition activity.
- Return to the Hall of Heroes to repair Bluejay’s memorial.
- Return to Quinn to discuss the next steps.
Spending keys on Terminal Overload chests in three different areas
You’ll need to use Terminal Overload keys to open special chests in three separate zones-Ahimsa Park, Zephyr Concourse, and Liming Harbor. Each chest can be accessed after completing the activity in that area and provides different materials connected to the Strider quest. Make sure to do the event in each location on different days, as the activity rotates daily. Opening all three chests across these zones completes the objective and moves you closer to obtaining Winterbite.
Now you have completed “Stargazer,” “Maelstrom,” and “Bluejay”, you can start “Strider”. The first step is spending keys on a Terminal Overload Key Chest in three different areas of Neomuna.
The Terminal Overload activity rotates through each of the three combatant-filled zones on Neomuna daily. Complete this activity in each of the three areas and unlock the chest at the end to progress the quest.
Defeat Shadow Legion forces in Neomuna to find location data and head into the Ahimsa Park Lost Sector
Defeat the Shadow Legion troops scattered across Neomuna until they drop location data that points you toward the Ahimsa Park Lost Sector. Once you collect enough data, track the signal to its source and prepare to clear out the enemies inside. The Lost Sector holds the next objective tied to the Strider quest, pushing you closer to claiming the Winterbite Stasis glaive.
For this step, you must complete the Gilded Precept Lost Sector in Ahimsa Park. This Lost Sector has Shadow Legion Cabal as its enemy, so one run of it should complete both quest steps.
Destroy the Hydras and shut down the confluxes at Maya’s Retreat
Clear the area at Maya’s Retreat by destroying the Hydras guarding each conflux. Focus fire on their weak spots to bring them down quickly, then interact with the nearby devices to shut the confluxes off. Work methodically, as new Hydras can spawn while you’re disabling them. Once every conflux is deactivated, the path forward opens, allowing you to continue toward completing the Strider quest and earning the Winterbite glaive.
Head to Maya’s Retreat and defeat the Vex Hydras. Each Hydra you defeat spawns a conflux that you must examine. Once you’ve scanned all of the confluxes, head back to Quinn for your reward, the Winterbite Exotic Glaive.
Winterbite exotic perks and catalyst explained
Winterbite is a Stasis heavy glaive from Destiny 2’s Lightfall expansion, excelling in crowd control and melee synergy.
Exotic Perks
Tilting at Windmills: Blocking with the shield boosts movement speed while active, aiding aggressive playstyles.
Weighted Edge: Melee attacks deal bonus damage and apply Slow to targets when ammo is loaded.
Big Frigid Glaive: Primary fire launches tracking Stasis orbs that freeze nearby enemies; excels against Overload Champions via Disruption.
Winterbite’s stats emphasize impact (95) and range (75), with low handling (5) and a 4-round magazine.
Catalyst
Defeat 400 targets with Winterbite to unlock its catalyst, which Masterworks the weapon for enhanced stats (e.g., range, reload) and perk improvements. It pairs well with Stasis subclasses for shatter effects and melee bursts.
Best Winterbite builds for PvE raids
Winterbite excels in PvE raids thanks to its Stasis freezing projectiles, champion disruption, and melee synergy.
Titan Builds
Banner of War setups dominate with Wormgod Caress or Synthoceps for massive melee damage from Weighted Edge; pair with Strand subclass, Shackle Grenades, and heavy ammo finder mods for sustained boss DPS and add clear. Hoarfrost-Z adds barricade crystals to shatter with Winterbite shots, boosting frost armor stacks.
Hunter Builds
Arc or Prismatic with Combination Blow shines-glaive melees stack 400% damage buffs for heavy-hitting pokes; use Ascension class item, Grapple Grenade, and HOIL for ammo economy and explosions. Assassin’s Cowl grants invis/heals on melee kills, ideal for raid flanks.
Warlock Builds
Winter’s Guile stacks up to 275% melee damage buffs; Osmiomancy Gloves spam Bleak Watchers for zone control alongside Winterbite freezes. Prismatic variants layer Karnstein Armlets for health regen on kills.
