Strand weapons in Destiny 2 The Final Shape Episode 3 bring a fresh dynamic to combat with their unique ability to generate Threadlings and other Strand-specific effects. These weapons are found in Kinetic and Energy slots.
Best PvE Strand Weapons in D2 TFS
Key factors include:
- Damage and Perks: High damage is essential, but perks that boost damage, reload speed, or add utility, like debuffing enemies, are equally important.
- Synergy with Abilities: Strand weapons work best when they enhance or are enhanced by Strand abilities. For example, creating Tangles or applying the Woven Mail buff can add significant value to your build.
- Flexibility: A good PvE Strand weapon should be effective in a variety of activities, from clearing mobs in strikes to dealing big damage to raid bosses.
- Community Consensus: Tier lists and recommendations from respected sources like BlueberriesGG help guide which weapons are currently top performers.
Adamantite: Meta Episode Heresy AR
| Weapon Name: | Adamantite |
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| Archetype: | Support Frame |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Adamantite is a Support Frame Auto Rifle in Destiny 2 TFS Episode 3 with healing capabilities. It features Unraveling projectiles (Strand) and perks like Slice, making it a strong support weapon in both PvE and PvP. |
| How to Get it? | Adamantite can be obtained from Heretical Activities in Episode 3: Heresy. It can also be focused at the Tome of Want using Scriptures for a targeted roll. |
| PvE God Roll: | Barrel: Fluted Barrel Magazine: Flared Magwell Perk 1: Reciprocity (heals allies and provides a damage buff) Perk 2: Circle of Life (grants healing and +25% damage buff) Masterwork: Handling or Stability Origin Trait: Runneth Over |
| PvP God Roll: | Barrel: Smallbore Magazine: Accurized Rounds Perk 1: Reciprocity (healing bonus) Perk 2: Kill Clip (damage buff after kills) Masterwork: Range Origin Trait: Willing Vessel |
Cynosure: Top-tier Episode Heresy RL
| Weapon Name: | Cynosure |
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| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Cynosure is an Aggressive Frame Rocket Launcher, making it highly desirable in the current meta. It features Envious Arsenal, a top-tier reload perk for damage setups, and strong damage perks like Explosive Light and High Ground. |
| How to Get it? | Cynosure is a Vanguard Ops weapon. It can be obtained as a drop from Vanguard Ops activities or focused from Commander Zavala in the Tower for 3 Vanguard Engrams and 5,000 Glimmer. |
| PvE God Roll: | Barrel: Quick Launch (improves Handling) Magazine: Impact Casing (increases damage) Perk 1: Envious Arsenal (best for DPS) or Clown Cartridge Perk 2: Explosive Light (easy damage boost) or Bipod Masterwork: Velocity |
| PvP God Roll: | Barrel: Quick Launch (improves Handling and Velocity) Magazine: High-Velocity Rounds (improves Velocity) Perk 1: Tracking Module (locks onto enemies) Perk 2: Cluster Bomb (helps secure kills) Masterwork: Velocity |
The Navigator (Trace Rifle)
| Weapon Name: | The Navigator |
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| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Navigator is highly sought after due to its unique Exotic traits, Protective Weave and Weft Cutter. Protective Weave grants Woven Mail to the user and the targeted ally when fired upon, while Weft Cutter allows for sustained damage to sever the target. The Navigator is particularly effective on the Titan class, dealing high damage with the Grapple Melee, Wormgod Caress, and a one-two punch Shotgun.
The Navigator is considered to be A-Tier for both PvE and PvP, making it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal. Players can farm The Navigator when the Ghost of the Deep dungeon is the weekly featured dungeon, allowing for the farming of all Legendary weapons and armor as well. |
| How to Get it? | You need to defeat the final boss of the Ghost of the Deep dungeon to obtain. However, the drop rate of The Navigator is estimated to be around 5%, and actual drop rates are unknown. |
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Koraxis’s Distress (Grenade Launcher)
| Weapon Name: | Koraxis’s Distress |
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| Archetype: | Rapid-Fire |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Koraxis’s Distress has gained popularity due to its Strand element type, which allows it to roll with unique perks such as Demolitionist and Hatchling that complement the new Strand subclasses.
Despite its potential for unique builds, Koraxis’s Distress falls short in DPS compared to other heavy grenade launchers. It lacks popular perks such as Auto-Loading Holster, which has made it less appealing for most players. However, it still has some desirable rolls for both PvE and PvP. While Koraxis’s Distress may not be the top choice for DPS, its unique perk combinations and craftable nature make it an interesting option for players looking to experiment with Strand builds. |
| How to Get it? | You must clear the first, second, or fourth encounter in the Root of Nightmares raid. After unlocking the weapon in Collections, you can also get it from the two secret chests located in Root of Nightmares or purchase copies of it for Spoils of Conquest at the final vendor. |
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Circular Logic (Machine Gun)
| Weapon Name: | Circular Logic |
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| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Circular Logic is a machine gun that fires at 450 RPM and balances well in combat, making it easy to handle.
The unique aspect of Circular Logic is its Strand element, which allows it to synergize well with Strand subclass builds, opening up new tactical opportunities, especially in PvE. This synergy enhances its utility, making it not just a weapon of damage but also a tool for strategic play. For PvE, the combination of perks like Feeding Frenzy and Demolitionist or Hatchling improve its reload speed and adds to its crowd control capabilities, making it highly effective during high-density combat situations. In PvP, its ability to maintain stability and range makes it a competitive choice against other popular machine guns. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained from the new high-level public event, Terminal Overload. The easiest way to farm it is by doing activities on Neomuna, specifically the Zephyr Concourse, where it is guaranteed to drop upon opening the locked chest with a Terminal Overload Key. These keys can be obtained by completing any activities on Neomuna, Nimbus’ bounties, or by completing the Vex Strike Force public event located in the weekly Vex Incursion Zone. |
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Rufus’s Fury (Auto Rifle)
| Weapon Name: | Rufus’s Fury |
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| Archetype: | Rapid-Fire |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Rufus’s Fury is a top-tier weapon in Destiny 2 TFS Episode Heresy, particularly for PvE content, due to its excellent perk combinations and strong synergies with Strand subclasses. Its Rapid-Fire Frame and 720 RPM provide excellent stability and range, making it a formidable weapon in both PvE and PvP scenarios. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained by completing the Root of Nightmares raid, specifically from the third (Zo’aurc) and final (Nezarec) encounters. Once acquired, it can also drop from hidden chests throughout the raid or be purchased with Spoils of Conquest at the final vendor. Additionally, Rufus’s Fury is craftable, allowing players to further customize its perks. |
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Best PvP Strand Weapons in D2 TFS
Here’s what makes a Strand weapon stand out in PvP:
- Quick TTK (Time-to-Kill): In PvP, a fast time-to-kill is crucial. Weapons that can eliminate opponents quickly will always be in demand.
- Good Handling and Accuracy: PvP demands precise shots. Strand weapons that are easy to control, with good aim assist and fast handling, give players an edge in duels.
- Synergy with Strand Abilities: Strand weapons that work well with Strand’s movement or debuff mechanics can make a big difference in PvP. For example, using weapons that capitalize on Woven Mail or Sever effects.
- Community Endorsement: Players look to tier lists and feedback from top PvP players. If a weapon is consistently performing well in competitive matches, it becomes meta.
Final Warning (Sidearm)
| Weapon Name: | Final Warning |
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| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Final Warning comes with two unique perks: “All at Once” and “Pick Your Poison.” The former allows players to mark targets within range, load multiple bullets, and fire them in a burst with increased stability on trigger release, while the latter increases the body shot damage and critical hit damage to marked targets while hipfiring and aiming, respectively
In PvP, Final Warning’s strengths mainly lie in its tracking capabilities, but skilled players can easily counter them. Final Warning is an A-tier weapon in both PvE and PvP, making it a valuable addition to any Guardian’s arsenal. |
| How to Get it? | To get Final Warning, you’ll need to complete the “The Final Strand” exotic quest, which is part of the Lightfall DLC. |
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Belisarius-D (Pulse Rifle)
| Weapon Name: | Belisarius-D |
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| Archetype: | Aggressive Burst |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Belisarius-D is a standout Pulse Rifle in Destiny 2 TFS Episode 3, known for its high base range, handling, and airborne effectiveness. It excels in both PvP and PvE due to its aggressive burst archetype and versatile perk pool, including options like Headseeker, Keep Away, Rapid Hit, and Zen Moment. The weapon’s ability to maintain high stability and accuracy makes it a reliable choice for competitive play. Recent buffs to Pulse Rifles have enhanced its damage output against minor and major enemies, making it a formidable option in various scenarios. |
| How to Get it? | To obtain the Belisarius-D, you need to complete seven placement matches in the Competitive Crucible playlist. Afterward, you can earn additional copies by playing three Competitive matches per week on each character. |
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The Immortal (Submachine Gun)
| Weapon Name: | The Immortal |
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| Archetype: | Aggressive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Immortal is known for its impressive perks, such as Rangefinder in the third column, which increases its range, and damage-enhancing perks like Target Lock or Kill Clip in the fourth column.
The Immortal SMG has a god roll that is particularly effective in PvP, making it a popular choice among players. Its short time-to-kill (TTK) and great perk combinations make it a powerful weapon in the Crucible. Its Strand damage makes it unique, as it is one of the few SMGs that deals this type of damage, sitting in the Kinetic slot. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained exclusively from playing Trials of Osiris on the weekends. Once you acquire your first roll, you can focus it using extra Trials engrams. To unlock it, you can either get lucky with a random drop or reach rank 10 with Saint-14. An Adept version of The Immortal is occasionally available, which requires going flawless or getting 7 wins on your Trials card and then trading the card in at Saint-14. |
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Aisha’s Care (Pulse Rifle)
| Weapon Name: | Aisha’s Care |
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| Archetype: | Heavy Burst |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Aisha’s Care is a standout Pulse Rifle in Destiny 2 The Final Shape Episode 3 Heresy, particularly for PvP. Its unique two-round burst and heavy burst frame allow for quick, high-damage shots, making it excellent for “peek-shooting” tactics. The weapon’s broad perk pool includes powerful options like Headseeker and Desperado, enhancing its damage and accuracy under pressure. Additionally, perks like Zen Moment and Moving Target improve stability and target acquisition, making it a reliable choice in competitive scenarios. |
| How to Get it? | To obtain Aisha’s Care, you need to participate in the Trials of Osiris event. Perform well in these matches to earn Trials Engrams, which can be focused to get this weapon. |
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Kept Confidence (Hand Cannon)
| Weapon Name: | Kept Confidence |
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| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Kept Confidence is a standout Legendary Strand Hand Cannon, especially effective in PvP. Its 140 RPM Adaptive Frame offers a balanced mix of stability and damage, making it versatile for both PvE and PvP. The weapon benefits from recent hand cannon buffs, enhancing its performance in PvE. Its unique Strand element allows for Unraveling Rounds, which can stun barrier champions. Kept Confidence is craftable, enabling players to unlock enhanced perks and custom rolls, further optimizing its performance. |
| How to Get it? | To obtain Kept Confidence, engage in seasonal activities in Season of the Witch. Start with the seasonal quest with Eris in the H.E.L.M., complete activities in Savathun’s Spire and Altars of Summoning, and focus engrams at the ritual table. The weapon becomes craftable after securing 5 red border drops. |
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