Destiny 2’s 30th Anniversary content sees Bungie adding the Starhorse, an astral equine that will surely become a fan favorite character.
Days before the release of the 30th Anniversary event in Destiny 2, fans were teased with a peculiar sight. Surprisingly, a horse made of stars was standing next to everyone's favorite peddler of exotic delights in Destiny 2.
In proper pun humor, the Bungie Twitter account posted the above image with the quote "My wheel is not my own" on December 2nd. This immediately got everyone in the Destiny community in quite the excited state, as not only was Xur outside of his usual haunts, but he was in a spot clearly designed by the Nine and standing next to a gigantic celestial steed.
As it turns out, the horse has a name, Starhorse. This astral horse and Xur play a large part in Bungie's 30th Anniversary event in Destiny 2. Upon logging into the game for the first time since the 3.4.0 update, players will be abducted by Xur and Starhorse to participate in what is roughly the equivalent of a gameshow. As Xur explains after completing the event, it was not his choice to abduct the player, but rather that of Starhorse. It turns out Starhorse has gathered treasures from across the paraverse and wants to see the Guardian participate in its games to earn said treasures. Along the way, Xur and Starhorse offer delightful commentary on the player's performance.
However, many fans may be wondering why a horse was used for such a role. There are several reasons behind this, and all of them have ties to the Nine. The Nine are sentient beings made entirely of dark matter, and they gained sentience after being pulled into shape by the gravity of the Sun and its planets. As such, each planet represents a member of the Nine. Now, the planets themselves aren't actually a member of the Nine, but that member is dependent on the life on that planet. Within the Nine are two different factions. One consists of 5 members that seek to study the light and aid the Guardian several times. Because the Nine can't interact directly with "normal" matter, they enlist emissaries like Xur to carry out their will.
Now, whether Starhorse is another emissary or a more direct manifestation of the Nine remains to be seen. That being said, the dialogue and text in Destiny 2 suggest the latter. The cosmic steed can even communicate telepathically with the Guardian as evidenced by lines such as "A neigh echoes through your mind." and "The sound of clopping hooves plays through your mind, and you feel as though you are being nuzzled on a molecular, almost mathematical level." Starhorse even acts as a vendor for the player, offering bounties and prizes in exchange for Strange Coins. However, his description leaves the majestic figure shrouded in mystery, as it reads "A mysterious, impossible horse. Starhorse's origins and motives are unknowable."
The horse figure has been linked to the Nine for years now. As a reward for going flawless in Destiny 2's Trials of the Nine, players would be awarded an emblem containing the picture of a horse against a starry backdrop. It's also possible this isn't the first time that Starhorse has appeared in-game, as a horse briefly appeared to everyone's favorite scoundrel, the Drifter in Season of the Drifter. This was during one of the Drifter's many visits to the Emissary when the Nine were seeking to recruit the rogue light-bearer.
As is common with all things regarding the Nine and deeper Destiny lore in general, Starhorse will likely continue to be a mystery. That being said, it must have some importance, as it has appeared multiple times for half a decade now. Like all things, time will tell. Until that day players get the answers they're after, they'll have to settle for Starhorse's playful neighs as they run the gauntlet.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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