In Destiny 2, players will again face Champions in Witch Queen and will need very specific weapons for that. Bungie has partially revealed which mods are important in Season 16, giving players enough time now to earn the best weapons for it. MeinMMO explains which ones they are and where to get them.
With the new Season 16, the weapon mods in Destiny 2 will also change again, which players will use against the most powerful enemies, the Champions. In the current Season 15, bows, automatic and pulse rifles, fusion and linear fusion rifles, as well as swords were strong against Champions. This will change in the upcoming Season 16.
With the new artifact in Season 16, players will have the following weapon mods available:
- Scout rifles and bows are strong against anti-barrier Champions
- Overload Champions are disturbed by automatic weapons and submachine guns
- The new weapon “Glaive” will be able to stop unstoppable Champions
This will thus be part of the potential new meta. It is also likely that there will be other weapons that will be important in the upcoming Season 16 of which we currently know nothing.
As some weapons will likely leave the game with the release of Witch Queen on February 22, players should earn a good roll of them now.
We provide you with a brief overview of which weapons are currently in high demand and which ones you should already put in your vault for the new season.
The best weapons against overload Champions
At the start of Witch Queen and Season 16, submachine guns and automatic rifles are strong against Champions in PvE. Depending on the activity, it is advisable to keep good options from these weapon types. Especially since it is unclear whether these weapons can even be earned in the upcoming season.
Here is a selection of good submachine guns:
- “Rei%C3%9Fungsfeuer”
This SMG is obtained through the Wrathborn Hunt of Season 12 (Season of the Hunt).
- “Exotic Performance”
This little monster is extremely popular among players and comes from Season 13 (Season of the Chosen). It can be focused directly in Battleground playlists or through Umbral Engrams.
Both “Rei%C3%9Fungsfeuer” and “Exotic Performance” have a somewhat higher range, which helps to deal with Champions from a greater distance.
- “Shayura’s Wrath”
The legendary submachine gun in the energy slot is currently one of the best for many players. However, it can only be earned through the Trials of Osiris. It is also available in a Master version if players manage to go Flawless.
- As exotic options, the submachine guns “Huckleberry” and “Risky” are valid
Unfortunately, Huckleberry cannot be specifically earned. You have to rely on luck with an exotic open-world drop or keep an eye on Xur to see if he offers it in the coming weeks.
The exotic submachine gun “Risky” is one of the first Exotics that players can earn through a quest when they start Destiny 2. For years, it has been a submachine gun that is often equipped due to its massive Arc damage resistance and almost endless sustained fire.
Here is a selection of good automatic rifles:
- “False Promise” and “Scathelocke”
Both automatic rifles are a random open-world drop from legendary engravings and can be obtained anywhere, including from Banshee-44’s shop.
- “Chromatic Chaos”
The automatic rifle comes from Season 14 (Season of the Splicer). It is considered one of the best PvE automatic rifles in the game with the perks “Composure” and “Rage” and can be obtained either through the seasonal activity “Override” or “Annihilation” as well as through focused targeting at the Umbral Engram.
- “Shadow Price”
The Arc automatic rifle is a strong candidate for the new Season 16 and can also be specifically earned through Nightfalls as soon as it is in rotation.
- As exotic options, “Workhorse” and “Hard Light” are valid
Unfortunately, both weapons cannot be specifically earned. You will either have to rely on luck with an exotic open-world drop or keep an eye on Xur to see if he offers them in the coming weeks.
Practical with “Hard Light” is its ability to change damage type in an instant. This allows you to eliminate any enemy shields at any time and deal with Champions.
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The best weapons against anti-barrier Champions
For bows, not much will change in the upcoming Season 16. Again, the best candidates will likely be three Exotics that are already considered “Best in Slot” this Season 15. Depending on which burn is currently needed, you can swap these out.
Here is a selection of good exotic bows:
- “Le Monarque” – Void
In Season 15, this bow was the best that could happen. Whether it will be as effective in Season 16 is still unclear. But its poison damage could prove to be an optimal choice again. It still works when the barrier shield of the Champion is up.
- “Ticcus Prediction” – Solar
The bow from the Season of the Chosen (Season 13) is excellent for stunning Champions from the hip, as it fires seeking projectiles. With a catalyst, the weapon becomes even more effective, as perfectly drawn arrows increase arrow damage.
How to play the bow correctly, we will tell you here:
- “Trinity Ghoul” – Arc
The strength of Trinity Ghoul lies in the Arc bolts. These are significantly improved through the exotic masterwork catalyst. Its arrows are overloaded with Arc abilities upon each shot.
Players can buy “Le Monarque” and “Ticcus Prediction” at the “Monument of Lost Lights” at the Tower. For “Trinity Ghoul”, players must rely on luck with an exotic open-world drop.
Here is a selection of good scout rifles:
Those who prefer scout rifles also have the choice of excellent weapons from the past season.
- “Nightwatch”
This kinetic scout rifle was already solid against Champions in previous seasons. Players receive it as one of the first legendary weapons in the starting mission of the New Light campaign or as an open-world drop.
- “Eternal Revelation”
The Arc scout rifle is currently an open-world drop. Wearing it allows you to move faster and is therefore more agile. It also has solid stats overall.
- “Disunity SR4”
The scout rifle can be specifically earned through Nightfalls when the weapon is in rotation. However, you have to like that it obscures a lot of your field of view because of its size, which is not always advantageous. - “Tale of a Dead Man”
The kinetic scout rifle was once a must-have for many PvP players. Players can currently earn the weapon, including the catalyst, through the exotic mission “Signs”. It is already known that the weapon will no longer be available through the mission in the upcoming season. Instead, Xur will then add it to his inventory.
- “Polaris Lance”
Some players have been desperate for the catalyst for this Solar scout rifle. Nevertheless, this old Exotic with catalyst is considered a secret tip against Champions. The weapon can also be bought at the “Monument of Lost Lights” at the Tower.
New weapon class stops unstoppable Champions: Bungie has already announced that the upcoming new weapon class “Glaive” can stop unstoppable Champions. It will likely also be the best option for this in the long term.
What else you should consider: These were our recommendations. Of course, personal preference also plays a role in which weapon a player ultimately prefers. It is also very likely that these will not be all the options against Champions. Some players believe that with the new artifact, at least one weapon with special ammo will be strong against Champions.
What do you think? Which weapon with special ammo could be meant? And if Season 16 were to start today, what would your loadout look like if you consider the new mods?
