Vex

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The Vex are an ancient cyborg species believed to be as old as the universe itself. Governed by a collective intelligence overseen by high-ranking "minds", the Vex as they are known to the universe are a combination of microscopic organisms and their robotic avatars.

Biography and Morphology[]

While they appear mechanical, the Vex are actually a species of sentient zooplankton referred to as radiolaria. The true living and thinking part of the Vex is the glowing white container normally found on the chest of their cybernetic bodies, and in areas where the Vex are dominant the "mind fluid" of bodiless Vex is left to stir and think in phosphorescent seas of white. Oddly, contact with mind fluid causes organic lifeforms to be turned mechanical and eventually become new Vex frames, whilst partial mechanization will slowly kill even Guardians. It is theorized by the human scientist Clovis Bray that this is a side effect of how they evolved to adapt to the energy-rich but highly dangerous early universe; in his words, a Vex colony exposed to a fire will attempt to find some way of using the fire's energy to put it out.

The Vex appeared on Venus from an unknown location by way of transfer gates that allow them to instantly warp through worlds and time. All attempts to communicate with the Vex have failed, due to their single purpose to expand their species throughout the galaxy, commanded by Axis Minds that single-handedly control whole armies. Their bodies are made of an unknown metal alloy resembling hammered brass, although these machines are little more than vehicles enabling the radiolaria within to physically travel and interact with the world around them. If they are decapitated, they will remain active and become more aggressive. Their routines and ceremonies remain mysterious and illogical to humans; they are hostile, unrelenting, and deadly. The Vex are openly hostile to all other forms of life and will relentlessly attack them until they have been eradicated.

The Grimoire cards and Destiny 2 reveal the Vex have a single hive consciousness, a "Network" that links them together in one collective intellect. However, they have individual personalities and the Vex Network itself is too distributed to be useful for specific projects. As a result, the Vex regularly create "Axis Minds" that serve as the project heads for important missions, using their more focused perspective as a way to coordinate lesser Vex. Their ultimate goal is to ensure their immortality as a species, which they believe requires the extinction of all other sentient life. They are also highly utilitarian, with each Vex model having both function as a soldier and as a civilian worker. According to lore, they may be the oldest species in the universe, a remnant of the pre-universal "game" between the Light and Darkness; similar to Conway's Game of Life, the two cosmic forces would regularly attempt to create self-replicating patterns that overtook the proto-universe, with one pattern inevitably becoming dominant, with the Light regarding the pattern as "vexing."

Bungie has described the Vex as having a "fascinating" fiction behind them, "which, in turn, creates one of the coolest deaths in the game".

Geography[]

The Vex have total control of Mercury and inhabit a massive stronghold on Venus humans call The Citadel.They also have a presence on Mars, and are the sole residents of the Black Garden.

In Destiny 2, the Vex have lost Mercury to the Cabal's Red Legion, who fed part of it to the Almighty, their star-killing flagship. However, they still have significant presence in the system, such as the centaur planetoid Nessus, which they have converted into a habitable Machine World they use as a laboratory. They would make a presence on Europa through a portal in the Glassway and on Neptune as they attempt to combat the Cloud Striders on the city of Neomuna.

Hierarchy[]

Goblin[]

Goblins are ground infantry and basic foot soldiers that defeat their enemies by overwhelming them in huge numbers, and the basic workmen of any Vex project. If the head is removed, the Goblin will become "enraged" and attempt to attack in close range. Damage to the mind core on the Goblin's chest will break it and send the mind fluid flying, destroying the Goblin in the process.

Hobgoblin[]

Hobgoblins resemble Goblins, but are larger and can be distinguished by their distinctive tails, as well as differently shaped heads. They serve as both snipers and communications officers for the Vex. Though Hobgoblins have relatively low health they should not be taken lightly due to the sniper-like line rifle they use. When shot, Hobgoblins will crouch, activating a temporary, impenetrable shield that deals solar damage to Guardians that get too close. This ability has a cooldown period and becomes permanently disabled if the head is removed. The Hobgoblin shares the same weakness of a vulnerable core as the Goblin, although their shield may delay their destruction long enough for other Vex to intervene.

Minotaur[]

Minotaurs are even larger than Hobgoblins, with broad shoulders and three glowing eyes. They are commanders and heavy infantry, while their large frames allow more than enough mind fluid capacity to serve as architects and scientists. They are very dangerous if not handled quickly, due to their aggressive teleportation and explosive weaponry. Significant damage will also result in them attempting to close the distance between themselves and their enemy as it attempts to physically pummel their attacker.

Cyclops[]

Cyclops are large, T-shaped, one-eyed Vex. The Cyclops are known for being one of the strongest if not the strongest non-boss Vex unit. They function as a stationary turret of sorts, and do not appear often.

Hydra[]

Hydras resemble "robotic centipedes" and float through the air to attack from turrets attached to each segment of their wriggling bodies. They are effectively Vex tanks, and servers for the Network. They possess a large rotating shield.

Harpy[]

Harpies are smaller Vex that dart in and out of battle, firing from mouths filled with filaments. They serve as sentry units, scouts, and aerial superiority. Though relatively weak, this unit relies on swarm tactics to overwhelm its foes. Harpies in missions that have the epic modifier active will possess an Arc shield. Supplicants are variants of Harpies that serve as kamikaze units.

Fanatic[]

Fanatics are similar to Goblins, but will attempt to close in on Guardians and explode, which will leave behind a pool of radiolaria on death.

Wyvern[]

Wyverns serve as the warriors of the Vex units by firing shotgun-like projectiles on its sides, and will attempt to use its gravity slam move to push back its attackers. It can also project a fan shield to protect other units behind it.

Vex Programmings[]

Currently, eight programmings within the Vex army exist. These include:

Aphix Invasive[]

The Aphix Invasive is a programming revealed in the official strategy guide. An Axis Minotaur belonging to this programming spawns in the Nexus strike if Guardians camp in the entry to the Nexus. Axis Minotaurs from this programming can also appear as an Eliminate the Target Public Event on Mars, in the Vault of Glass or in the Prison of Elders.

Sol Imminent[]

The Sol Imminent (a.k.a. Descendants) are an ancient programming located in the Vault of Glass and the Infinite Forest. They are portrayed in black with with a much rougher and more rustic design. These Vex are believed to be from the distant future.

Hezen Corrective[]

The Hezen Corrective is a programming located on Venus, with the primary objective of seeking out and destroying the House of Winter, a faction of the Fallen army. They are plain bronze.

Hezen Protective[]

The Hezen Protective is a programming located on Venus, with the primary objective of defending the Vault of Glass and the Endless Steps. They are gold with white stripes.

Sol Divisive[]

The Sol Divisive is a programming located in the Black Garden, most of which are frozen in rapture. Very few members of the group are active, but the ones that are are very religious, due to the word "disciple" appearing in their names. They are green with moss hanging from their bodies. They serve The Witness as it attempts to enact the Final Shape.

Sol Primeval[]

The Sol Primeval (a.k.a Precursors) is a programming located inside of Venus. They are found within the Vault of Glass and the Infinite Forest. They are theorised to be ancient Vex from the distant past.

Sol Progeny[]

The Sol Progeny is a programming located in the Black Garden. This group consists of three massive Vex, who are designated as the protectors of the Black Heart. They are portrayed as giant Minotaurs, with each bearing a different shaped head.

Virgo Prohibition[]

The Virgo Prohibition is a programming located on Venus and Mars, who are major enemies of the Cabal in the Meridian Bay area, as well as the protectors of the Black Garden's door. They are portrayed in blue and black.

Sol Collective[]

At some point before the Red War, every Vex programming in the Sol System assembled into one. The Sol Collective represents the dominant Vex force in the Sol System, largely due to the network consolidating its forces after the other programming were largely devastated by the Guardians

Battle Tactics and Technology[]

For the Vex, their battles are all about overwhelming numbers and massive armies. Little else is known about their battle tactics, but players should remember that the Vex weak spot is not the head (like with most enemies and for players) but rather the center of their torso, where their glowing power core is vulnerable. Decapitating them can actually make them more dangerous, as they enter a beserk state and fire wildly. However, pushing Vex into their berserk state could be beneficial as they lose some abilities: e.g. a headless Minotaur loses its shield, a headless Goblin loses the ability to teleport, and a headless Hobgoblin loses the ability to become immune and deal AoE damage for a short amount of time.

Notes[]

The Vex are designed to resemble a "classic science-fiction machine race" mixed with the "inscrutable motives of a timeworn Lovecraftian nightmare monster". The result is not a typical science-fiction android race, but rather a "mixture of robots and creatures" that fight their enemies with "endless waves of metal armies".