New Malpais is an Exotic Strand pulse rifle introduced in Destiny 2’s Ash and Iron update. It is a versatile weapon prized for its unique crowd control capabilities, allowing you to embed rounds into targets and detonate them on command.
The rifle excels in PvE by controlling enemy movement and synergizing powerfully with Strand subclasses. Its key strength lies in the Suspending Blast perk, which lets you suspend tough enemies or entire groups by detonating a large number of embedded rounds. This defensive utility is boosted by its Catalyst, which causes explosions to Unravel nearby targets, creating damaging area-of-effect chains that are perfect for add-clear.
For build-crafting, New Malpais fits seamlessly into any Strand setup. Hunters can use it with Cyrtarachne’s Facade for Woven Mail flinch resistance while grappling, and Warlocks can create powerful Threadling-focused builds that benefit from the weapon’s ability to apply Strand debuffs.
- How good is the New Malpais PR
- How to get New Malpais
- How to get New Malpais Catalyst
- Stats and Perks of New Malpais
- If New Malpais craftable
Is New Malpais PR Good?
Short answer: Excellent. New Malpais is an 
- PvE:
- PvP:
How to Get New Malpais in Destiny 2
New Malpais is an Exotic Strand pulse rifle added in the Ash and Iron update. Unlike a limited-time event weapon, it is available for the entire duration of the episode, giving you plenty of time to earn it.
Step 1: Progress the Ash and Iron Reward Pass
New Malpais is exclusively earned by leveling up the Ash and Iron Reward Pass. You do not need to engage with any specific activity to make it drop; simply earning XP anywhere in the game will contribute toward your pass progress.
Step 2: Claim the Weapon from the Free Track
The base New Malpais weapon is available on the Free track of the Reward Pass. You must reach Rank 70 to claim it. If you do not want to wait, purchasing the Premium Pass will grant you the weapon immediately at Rank 1.
Step 3: Unlock the Catalyst
To unlock the powerful Unraveling Blast catalyst, you must continue progressing the Reward Pass. The catalyst is automatically granted upon reaching Rank 90 on the Free track. No additional quest or objective is required.
- Purchase the Premium Ash and Iron Pass to get the weapon instantly at Rank 1.
- If playing on the Free track, focus on earning XP to reach Rank 70.
- Continue to Rank 90 to claim the catalyst and complete the weapon’s potential.
New Malpais Farming Tips:
- Stack Bounties: The most consistent way to earn large amounts of XP is to complete and turn in daily and weekly bounties from all vendors. Save completed bounties and turn them in while in a Fireteam with the “Shared Wisdom” XP boost active.
- Seasonal Challenges: Prioritize completing Seasonal Challenges, as they offer the largest single chunks of XP in the game.
- Play Efficiently: Focus on activities you can complete quickly and consistently. Since the weapon comes from the pass and not a specific activity, your goal is pure XP gain.
- Double Up on Progress: While farming XP, you will also be earning other rewards from the pass and leveling your Guardian Rank simultaneously.
- New Malpais is available for the entire Ash and Iron episode.
- Best way: Earn XP → Reach Rank 70 on the Free Pass (or buy Premium) → Claim the weapon.
- Essential Upgrade: Continue to Rank 90 to get the Unraveling Blast catalyst.
- Get it before the episode ends, as it may become much more difficult to acquire in the future.
How to Get New Malpais Catalyst
- Original Unlock Method (Ash and Iron Season):
The catalyst was a reward tied directly to the Ash and Iron Reward Pass. Players could unlock it by reaching Rank 90 on the pass, and this reward was available on both the free and premium tracks. - Current Unlock Method (Post-Season):
The Ash and Iron episode has concluded. As of today, the catalyst is no longer available from the Reward Pass. It has now entered the general random drop pool for catalysts. This means it can randomly drop from completing various in-game activities, such as:- Strikes (Nightfall or Vanguard Playlist)
- Crucible matches
- Gambit matches
- Defeating enemies in patrol zones or other activities.
Once the catalyst drops, you must complete an objective to activate its benefits:
- Objective: Defeat 700 targets using the New Malpais pulse rifle.
- Efficient Farming Locations:
- Shuro Chi Checkpoint (Last Wish Raid): Use the wish wall to teleport to this encounter for a dense, easily respawnable group of Taken.
- Altars of Sorrow (Moon): This public event provides endless waves of low-level Hive enemies.
- Grasp of Avarice Opening Encounter (Dungeon): The endless spawn of Fallen at the entrance is perfect for catalyst farming.
- Effect: The catalyst grants the Unraveling Blast perk. Weapon final blows and detonation of embedded rounds now cause targets to explode, damaging and Unraveling nearby enemies.
- Utility: These explosions trigger a chain reaction of area damage, as Unraveled enemies release Threadling projectiles when further damaged. This makes New Malpais one of the strongest add-clearing weapons in the game, offering unmatched synergy with Strand subclasses and allowing you to suspend, unravel, and destroy entire groups of enemies with ease.
Perks of New Malpais PR
| Perk | Description |
| Atomizing Rounds (Intrinsic Trait) | Rounds fired embed themselves in targets. You can manually detonate all embedded rounds by pressing the reload button. |
| Hammer-Forged Rifling (Basic Barrel) | A sturdy barrel designed for longer-range fights. Extends your effective damage range |
| Tactical Mag (Legendary Magazine) | A magazine upgraded for better overall performance. Better stability for controlled fire. Faster reload times. Holds a few more rounds. |
| Suspending Blast (Exotic Trait) | Setting off many stuck rounds in one enemy will Suspend them. This lifts them off the ground, making them unable to move or attack. |
| Fitted Stock (Basic Stock) | A weighted stock that steadies your aim at a cost. Improves weapon stability. Reduces recoil kick. Makes the weapon feel a bit slower to handle. |
| Unraveling Blast (Catalyst Effect) | Kills and explosions cause enemies to Unravel. When unraveled, they take damage and release seeking projectiles that attack other foes, making it great for clearing out groups. |
Can you craft New Malpais?
You cannot craft New Malpais. It is an Exotic weapon and, like all exotics, does not have a craftable pattern, nor can it drop with Deepsight Resonance (red borders). It cannot be created at the Enclave on Mars.
Because it is an Exotic, you cannot target a specific “roll.” New Malpais has a fixed, curated set of perks. Your primary goal is to acquire the weapon itself from the pass. Once you have it, you must then reach Rank 90 on the Reward Pass to be granted the catalyst, which unlocks its full crowd-control potential.
Conclusion
The New Malpais is one of the most unique and powerful utility weapons Bungie has introduced. It brings together a completely new gameplay loop with its embedded rounds, top-tier crowd control through Suspending Blast, and devastating area-of-effect potential with its Unraveling Blast catalyst. In PvE, it feels tactical, dominant, and is invaluable for locking down major threats or entire groups of enemies. In PvP, its raw time-to-kill isn’t the focus, but its ability to suspend a guarding Titan or an enemy in their Super provides a unique and fight-winning advantage.
Because it’s an Exotic with fixed perks, your goal is to acquire the weapon and its catalyst from the Ash and Iron Reward Pass, not farm for a roll. Players who enjoy strategic, crowd-control focused gameplay, or anyone running a Strand build looking for a perfect weapon synergy, should absolutely make it a priority to unlock. If you prefer straightforward, high-damage weapons or don’t enjoy a more tactical playstyle, you might find it less essential — but for Guardians who want to control the battlefield, New Malpais is easily a top-tier choice.
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