After three years, Destiny 2 has received a new element in the form of Strand. Strand is the second darkness element to be added to the game, and like Stasis, there’s only a handful of weapons for players to use. However, with the arrival of Season of the Deep, many new Strand weapons were added to the game. So today, we’re going over the top 10 best Strand weapons in Destiny 2 during Season of the Deep.
Best Strand Weapons In Destiny 2 (July 2023)
Quicksilver Storm
There’s no better way to kick off this list than to talk about the first Strand weapon revealed to us, the Exotic Auto Rifle, Quicksilver Storm. Released as a Kinetic weapon during the Season of Plunder, the Lightfall DLC upgraded it to a Strand weapon with a fantastic catalyst.
Post-catalyst, this weapon becomes the most potent primary weapon to use for PvE activities. With the ability to deal solid damage, create tangles, and then shoot grenades that can easily chunk Champions, it’s no secret how strong this gun truly is. It’s going to be tough to dethrone this weapon anytime soon.
The Navigator
The first Exotic Strand Trace Rifle, The Navigator, is undoubtedly an odd weapon, to say the least. It’s by no means an enemy-clearing monster like some of the other Exotic Trace Rifles. However, this weapon is unique in its own right as it can fill more of a support role, which is not really seen in today’s sandbox.
The user can shoot an ally and grant Woven Mail for ten seconds by holding down the trigger. Woven Mail is still a 40% reduction to incoming damage when this post is published. On top of that, with the Exotic catalyst, the gun can even shoot a grapple point so players can swing from it. As mentioned before, this gun won’t be clearing waves of enemies, but it can fill the position of a long-forgotten role in the game.
The Immortal
Anybody who has played PvP in the past two Seasons knows the terror that is The Immortal SMG. Introduced as the second Strand SMG and the new weapon featured in Trials of Osiris, The Immortal wasted no climbing the leaderboards in usage.
Two key factors contributed to its success. Those being a 750 rpm SMG and having access to the Target Lock and Rangefinder perks. In the current sandbox, 750 rpm SMGs have a higher damage output and faster time to kill over other SMG types. Meanwhile, Target Lock increases the weapon’s damage the more prolonged the trigger is held. Rangefinder gives the gun a flat boost in range when aiming down sights.
These factors led to one of the most oppressive Seasons to play PvP in the game’s history. Even after a nerf, the gun is still quickly shredding opposing Guardians. Another nerf may be warranted, but until then, the gun will continue its reign as one of the most potent Strand weapons currently used.
Rufus’s Fury
Strand Auto Rifles are in no shortage these days, and the Rufus’s Fury from the Root of Nightmares Raid is an excellent option for Strand builds. With a fantastic perk selection, such as Demolitionist and Hatchling, this weapon will be great for virtually any Strand setup for all classes.
Demolitionist will grant more grenade energy for every kill, while Hatchling will create a Threadling on every other kill. Every class always appreciates more grenade energy. Whether you’re a Titan who suspends everything, or a Warlock creating an army of Threadlings, this weapon will be perfect for you.
Pressurized Precision
Introduced as the first Strand Fusion Rifle, the Pressurized Precision wasted no time climbing the ranks in usage. When Iron Banner was released for the first time a few weeks ago, this weapon captured the hearts of every PvP player alike.
This was due to its fantastic perk pool, making it a viable option to compete against other Fusion Rifles. Right now, there’s a sheer lack of “good” Kinetic slot Fusion Rifles for PvP compared to Energy slot ones. However, if you can acquire a Pressurized Precision with Moving Target and Rangefinder, this weapon can put in some serious work for you.
Is it as dominant as some other Fusion Rifles like Main Ingredient or Plug One? Probably not. Nevertheless, this weapon is still a great choice in the event you don’t have those other guns.
Perpetualis
Season of Defiance’s weapons were certainly nothing to brag about, but among them, one stood out. The second Strand Auto Rifle, Perpetualis, has an excellent perk pool to make the gun worth grinding for. Target Lock, Demolitionist, Envious Assassin, the list goes on. This is one of the very few weapons in the game that has access to so many top-tier perks.
It’s hard to determine a proper “God Roll” for this gun since it has so many options to choose from. Not to mention that it can be great for both PvE and PvP activities. Overall, this might be the most “well-balanced” gun in the game, and you should definitely try and acquire it from Season of Defiance activities.
Round Robin
A new element means we’re bound to get an abundance of every weapon type, and Hand Cannons are no exception. The first Strand Hand Cannon, Round Robin, instantly became a fan-favorite weapon for numerous reasons. A great perk pool, incredible aesthetic, and 120 rpm Hand Cannons are usually more well-received by the PvP community.
120 Hand Cannons are well-known for consistently two-tapping opposing Guardians with ease. The Round Robin is no exception.
With the Keep Away perk, the weapon will gain increased reload speed, range, and accuracy when no enemies are nearby, making it a perfect choice for a long-range Hand Cannon. On top of that, adding Kill Clip to the mix will ensure this weapon easily two-taps other players—another powerful Hand Cannon to add to the long line of other powerful Hand Cannons.
Taraxippos
Even though it’s basically a reskin of an older gun, the first Strand Scout Rifle, Taraxippos, did not disappoint. Most Strand weapons until this point had a severe lack of range, as the majority of them were Auto Rifles, Sidearms, or other close-range guns.
However, the Taraxippos finally allowed Guardians to deal Strand damage from farther distances. This was incredibly beneficial in more challenging content like Grandmaster Nightfalls, where more often than not, it’s too dangerous to get close to enemies.
This weapon shines brighter in Grandmaster Nightfalls with the Explosive Payload perk. It can deal more damage from farther distances, keeping the user safe from incoming enemies. Overall, this is easily one of the best Strand weapons the game has introduced, and we’re looking forward to what Bungie makes next.
Different Times
In a two-for-one deal, the first Taken Pulse Rifle and the first Strand Pulse Rifle took the form of a new Season of the Deep weapon, Different Times. Rapid-Fire Pulse Rifles aren’t in a great spot in the current sandbox, but the Different Times more than makes up for it with its excellent perk pool.
In particular, the Headseeker is highly potent in PvP right now, giving the gun a massive advantage over most weapons. That said, it can’t compete with some of the more powerful Pulse Rifles right now, like The Messenger or Graviton Lance. Either way, this weapon is very versatile, and with the proper buffs, it could see some severe usage increase in the coming weeks.
Glissando-47
Wrapping up the list is the latest Strand Scout Rifle that was added to the game, the Glissando-47. This is about as simple as it gets regarding World loot pool weapons. There’s always a diamond in the rough, and the Glissando-47 is the brightest diamond in the Season of the Deep World loot pool.
Suros-themed weapons are far more potent than the other faction types, and the Glissando-47 is no exception. With access to the Keep Away and Box Breathing perks, this gun can easily three-tap opposing Guardians from long distances. Throw in the extra reload speed and accuracy, and the weapon will compete with some Exotic Scout Rifles like Dead Man’s Tale.
Featured Image Source: Bungie
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