In Destiny 1 & 2 there have been many snipers, but none was as iconic as the Icebreaker. The powerhouse with infinite ammunition regeneration could not only teach your enemies fear in PvE but also in PvP. Now players can wield it in Destiny 2 as well, but how good is the new model really?
What is the Icebreaker? The Icebreaker appeared in Destiny 1 (2014) and turned the meta on its head – an Exo sniper that did not rely on ammunition blocks because it generated its own ammo. Additionally, it caused its targets to explode with headshots. A strong option in both PvE and PvP.
With Vesper’s Host, the new dungeon from Episode: Revenant, the sniper now even makes a comeback in a refreshed form with a new function. Many guardians have been eagerly waiting since the 10-year anniversary of Destiny to see how Bungie has reshaped this sniper to keep up with the current meta.
We will show you what you can expect in PvE and PvP and whether the grind for the exotic sniper is worth it.
PvE: A strong option in add-clear
What makes the weapon so good? In PvE, the Icebreaker is a strong option to quickly and effectively thin out large groups of enemies. When you defeat enemies, they explode as usual and take their surroundings with them into death. Precision hits even create ignitions.
The ammunition no longer regenerates out of thin air. You must either pick up special ammo from the ground or defeat enemies with your weapons or abilities to have a chance to regenerate ammunition. When bosses are defeated, several rounds are restored as well.
The Icebreaker lives up to its name this time, as it has synergy with Stasis crystals. They also count as “enemies” and when you shoot, kill, or destroy these or frozen enemies, they explode and your damage is increased.
However, since everything in Destiny 2 has much more health and the enemy intensity has increased, the Icebreaker now has 10 rounds instead of the known 6 in the magazine.
As a concluding remark, one can say in PvE that with this sniper, you can efficiently annihilate many enemies. As a DPS variant, however, you should rather choose a weapon that has more ammunition. Against champions or mini-bosses, however, the rifle is very suitable.
PvP: Powerful in capable hands
Why should you refrain from using it in PvP? The Icebreaker has a solid recoil with a 100 impact and you can feel it. In PvP, it is about being able to place your hits precisely and this is difficult with this Exo.
Experienced sniper shooters will surely manage such recoil, but the ammunition economy and its damage also work against them.
Aztecross, a Destiny expert on YouTube, tested the weapon in a private match against other players and found the following:
In itself, the sniper is a cumbersome tool to defeat many guardians. If someone wants to take the rifle into the Crucible for a taste out of nostalgia, they can do so, but they should not expect much. It’s better to take the Cloudstrike.
These were all the details you should know about the new Icebreaker. Have you already managed to get the sniper, and if so, what impression did it leave on you? Let us know in the comments! You can find more about Destiny 2 here: The silliest Exo in Destiny 2 can now be made even uglier for 6 €
- The Icebreaker generates a round in its magazine when you have achieved two kills
- Assists do not count
- You can take out guardians from their ults with one shot, but this heavily depends on their resilience and ult
- Stasis ults of Warlocks with 7 or less resilience go down
- Guardians in the Well are also annihilated with 7 or less resilience
- Warlocks with Song of Flame survive a headshot without problems
- Hunters and their Arc Staff are still okay
- The explosion of a headshot is not enough to take nearby enemies down with it
In itself, the sniper is a cumbersome tool to defeat many guardians. If someone wants to take the rifle into the Crucible for a taste out of nostalgia, they can do so, but they should not expect much. It’s better to take the Cloudstrike.
These were all the details you should know about the new Icebreaker. Have you already managed to get the sniper, and if so, what impression did it leave on you? Let us know in the comments! You can find more about Destiny 2 here: The silliest Exo in Destiny 2 can now be made even uglier for 6 €
