Destiny 2: What Is The Best Trace Rifle

In Destiny 2, what is the best trace rifle? Trace Rifles are a very unique gun type in the game, and all 5 of them happen to be exotics. That's right, there are no legendary version in the game. They didn't even exist in Destiny 1, as the first of them was added in Destiny 2. Guns that literally shoot out a laser beam are extremely satisfying and cool to use, but which Trace Rifle stands out the most?

Destiny 2: What Is The Best Trace Rifle

The Originals

Coldheart and Prometheus Lens are two of the oldest Trace Rifles in the game. While, they've settled into their own niche, both are pretty standard weapons in the game now(aside from the one legendary week Prometheus Lens was released in a broken state). They have simple perks, with Coltheart's damage increase being good against bosses and Prometheus Lens increase in beam size being good against mobs. Solid guns, to be sure, but nothing remarkable in the new era of Destiny 2.

The Nerfed

Oh Ruinous Effigy, when this gun was first introduced to the game a couple months ago in Season of Arrivals, it was a sensation. A truly unique gun, it turned its targets into void orbs that players could bash, slam, and drain foes with. However, it received a significant nerf, specifically to the orbs draining attack. That attack used to delete lesser mobs and suppress bosses, but now it barely tickles foes. To use the orbs Ruinous Effigy creates effectively, players must use the bash and slam attack, but without the powerful drain effect there used to be, the risk is a lot higher for payers to do so. Honestly, players are better off using a sword nowadays.

The Dark Horse

The Wavesplitter is a Trace Rifle that's beam grows stronger the longer you fire, and picking up orbs of power brings the gun to max power. Sounds good on paper, and in a lot of occasions, it is. However, there are a couple weaknesses that hold it back. For one, without orbs of power Wavesplitter will take time to power up, and at its lowest power, the beam is pretty weak. As for how it incorporates orbs of power, there are two issues. The first is that player's can't actually produce orbs of power with the gun, meaning they'll have to rely on others to cerate orbs for them, or in solo content, create orbs themselves with a masterworked gun. The second is that players can't absorb orbs if their super is full, meaning it's impossible to use Wavesplitter to its fullest with a charged super. There isn't a way to circumvent the second issue, but the first can be fixed with a catalyst for the gun. Alongside a buff to stats or a new perk, catalysts allow exotics to create orbs of power. which would greatly benefit Wavesplitter. If that ever happens, there's a chance it can surpass the next gun.

The Best

The best Trace Rifle in the game is ironically not great at pure damage, and also somewhat difficult to get. So why is it the best? Simple, it's an absolute beast of a support weapon. To obtain this gun, players must complete the Shadowkeep raid, Garden of Salvation, as well as it's related exotic quest. And once players have this un, it'll only be middling in solo content. But the gun's perk, which creates a giant crit spot when fired upon foes while also stunning them, massively helps teammates in high level content like raids, dungeons, and nightfalls. It pins down bosses thanks to its ability to stun, makes any hit on the boss a precision hit with boosted damage, and can even disrupt overload champions. For many raid parties, this gun is and will probably continue to be, a staple.