best trace rifle destiny 2

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Beam of Power
The Contenders: A Breakdown of the Best
The Exotic Standouts: Unmatched Utility
The Legendary Alternatives: Reliable Workhorses
Choosing Your Beam: Factors Beyond the Stats
The Art of the Trace: Advanced Play and Synergy
Conclusion: A Versatile Arsenal Staple

In the vast arsenal of Destiny 2, few weapon types offer the unique blend of precision, sustained damage, and sheer visual spectacle of the Trace Rifle. Occupying a special place between auto rifles and fusion rifles, these weapons project a continuous beam of energy, demanding tracking skill and rewarding sustained accuracy. While their ammo economy requires consideration, a well-chosen Trace Rifle can dominate in both PvE and PvP scenarios, serving as a premier tool for add-clear, major-melting, and even boss damage under the right conditions. This article delves into the best Trace Rifles available, examining what makes each a formidable choice for Guardians seeking to harness raw, focused energy.

The landscape of Trace Rifles is divided into two distinct categories: Exotic and Legendary. Exotics bring transformative perks and gameplay-altering effects that define builds, while Legendary versions offer reliable performance and valuable synergy with mods and elemental verbs. The title of "best" is inherently situational, shifting based on activity, player class, and desired combat role. Some excel at clearing waves of minor enemies, others specialize in debuffing powerful combatants, and a select few can challenge for a spot in sustained damage phases. Understanding this spectrum is key to leveraging their full potential.

Among Exotics, several stand uncontested in their niches. Ager’s Scepter is arguably the pinnacle of crowd control. Its intrinsic perk, Ager’s Call, slows targets on sustained damage, seamlessly integrating with Stasis subclasses. Its catalyst unlocks an alternate firing mode that drains the user’s Super energy to unleash a massively empowered beam that freezes and shatters targets with devastating efficiency, making it a top-tier choice for any difficult content with dense enemy populations. For support and sheer team utility, Divinity is irreplaceable. Its beam creates a large, floating critical spot on enemies, not only making them easier to hit for everyone but also applying a potent 15% debuff to their damage taken. It is a raid staple, essential for optimizing team damage against bosses and champions.

For raw, aggressive damage, the Wavesplitter is a powerhouse, especially for Void subclasses. Its signature perk, Harmonic Laser, increases damage as the beam remains on a target, with its power level oscillating between three tiers. Picking up an Orb of Power maxes out this damage tier temporarily. When paired with Void synergies like volatile rounds and the ability to generate Orbs easily, Wavesplitter becomes a terrifyingly efficient tool for deleting high-health targets. Newer additions like the Tessellation also carve unique roles, its ability to transform a charged shot based on the player’s equipped grenade type offering novel build-crafting flexibility.

The introduction of Legendary Trace Rifles opened new avenues for loadout customization. Weapons like Retraced Path (Solar) and Path of Least Resistance (Arc) can be crafted with enhanced perks, allowing for perfect rolls. A Retraited Path with Subsistence and Incandescent becomes an engine of Solar ignition, spreading scorch and causing explosions across entire battlefields. Path of Least Resistance can roll with Voltshot, chaining lightning to nearby foes and perfectly complementing Arc builds. These Legendaries free up the Exotic slot for a heavy weapon like Gjallarhorn or a special weapon like Witherhoard while still providing exceptional elemental synergy and add-clearing capability through their perk pools.

Selecting the right Trace Rifle extends beyond simply comparing damage numbers. Ammo economy is paramount; using scavenger and finder mods for special ammo is highly recommended. The weapon’s elemental affinity must align with the player’s build objectives—a Void Trace for volatile rounds, a Stasis one for slow and freeze chains, or a Solar one for scorch and restoration synergies. In PvP, the focus shifts dramatically. Here, Exotics like The Navigator offer unique benefits, but the consistent time-to-kill and ease of use of a well-rolled Legendary Trace Rifle should not be underestimated, as they can dominate lanes with their high aim assist and flinch-inducing beams.

Mastering the Trace Rifle involves embracing its unique mechanics. The beam requires constant target tracking, rewarding smooth thumbstick or mouse movement. Managing the magazine is crucial; reloading at inopportune moments can be fatal. Advanced play involves pre-firing around corners, using the beam’s visibility to control sightlines, and understanding the exact range where damage falloff begins. Synergy is where Trace Rifles truly shine. Pairing Ager’s Scepter with a Stasis Turret Warlock creates an area-denial fortress. Using Divinity with a team of high-burst damage weapons like Sniper Rifles or Rockets is a classic strategy. A Wavesplitter woven into a Void devour build creates an nearly unkillable engine of destruction.

Trace Rifles in Destiny 2 represent a sophisticated and powerful weapon archetype. From the crowd-controlling majesty of Ager’s Scepter to the team-enabling brilliance of Divinity and the build-crafting potential of craftable Legendaries, there is a beam for every purpose. Their effectiveness is deeply tied to player skill, build synergy, and situational awareness. In the hands of a Guardian who understands their rhythm—the hum of the beam, the management of ammo, the art of tracking—a Trace Rifle transforms from a simple tool into an extension of their will, carving a path of controlled, focused energy through the chaos of battle. They are not merely weapons; they are precision instruments for shaping the battlefield.

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