In Destiny 2, Coldheart is a unique exotic weapon. What can be done with it in PvE and PvP, what are the perks, and how do I get the Fusion Rifle?
Coldheart caused a stir in the weeks and months leading up to the Destiny 2 release: Initially, it was showcased in a display case at preview events and later was presented as a gift to WWE star “The Big Show”. Until then, only its striking design was known, and players speculated about what made this weapon special:
In July, it was revealed: Coldheart is the first and currently only Fusion Rifle in Destiny 2! A Fusion Rifle is an additional weapon category that fires a continuous laser beam as long as the trigger is held down.
According to Bungie, this required a completely new gameplay technology that took a long time to develop. In a game like Destiny, it is extremely complicated to create a persistent laser beam that behaves “correctly”. Coldheart is now the prototype of this technology.
But – is this laser weapon any good?
How to get Coldheart – How to obtain the Exotic
Coldheart was part of the pre-order bonus. Only if you pre-ordered Destiny 2 can you currently take this weapon into battle. To acquire “Coldheart” in the game, you must:
- complete the entire campaign with all story missions
- reach maximum character level 20
- and then go to the Gun Master in the Tower and pick up the weapon.
From December 5th, Coldheart will be accessible to all Guardians. Then the pre-order exclusivity will be lifted. On December 5th, the 1st DLC Curse of Osiris will be released.
What makes Coldheart special in Destiny 2? – Perks and Stats
The exotic Fusion Rifle Coldheart deals Arc damage and is carried in the energy slot. As there are currently no comparison values with other Fusion Rifles, little can be said about the stats. The base impact is 6, the rate of fire is 1000 – this enables the continuous laser beam.
It is notable that the aim assist is at a full 100, and the magazine is indicated as 101. Here are the stats:
These are the special perks:
- Cold Fusion: The weapon fires a continuous laser powered by cold fusion.
- The Longest Winter: The laser does significantly more damage the longer it stays on a target.
The Longest Winter is interesting: If you fire at the same target for several seconds, the damage nearly doubles. However, the “true power” of Coldheart is quite situational since you usually deal with enemies that move a lot – especially in PvP. The weapon can shine against heavy bosses in PvE, such as in the Leviathan raid, who hold their position.
Specifically, this means: If you deal an initial crit damage of 573 to Calus and keep firing at him, the damage increases rapidly. After about 2.5 seconds, the maximum of 998 crit damage is reached. The damage nearly doubles – although these numbers vary from enemy to enemy.
When the maximum damage output is achieved, you will have about 50% of the magazine left. If you shoot briefly past the target, you need to build up the damage again from the start.
Important: To infuse Coldheart to a higher power level, you need automatic rifles – there are no other Fusion Rifles.
Is Coldheart worth it in PvE and PvP?
In PvE, the best place to use it is actually Calus since this boss stands completely still and can be pumped full of laser fire for seconds. Since Coldheart can be controlled quite easily, you can deal a lot of damage over time.
When facing individual adds, Coldheart doesn’t perform well. They move too much and die too quickly for Coldheart to reach its full potential. Basically, Coldheart competes more with power weapons to quickly lower the health of powerful bosses. Compared to power weapons, Coldheart has a large ammunition supply, making the Fusion Rifle a strong option.
In PvP, Coldheart deals 10 crit damage and 9 damage with body hits. The perk “The Longest Winter” provides no advantages here. The Fusion Rifle performs surprisingly well in PvP and can be seen as a cool alternative to automatic rifles. However, it cannot compete with a Uriels Gift.
In summary, Coldheart is a truly unique weapon that is fun to use and can be extremely strong in certain situations. Take it with you when facing heavy bosses.
By the way: Coldheart is made by Omolon, an experimental and futuristic weapons company. According to the lore, they have found a way to construct a weapon that uses liquid ammunition that simultaneously cools.
Do you use Coldheart?
You can find more weapon reviews in our “Destiny 2” guide collection
