We will tell you why SMGs in Destiny 2: Shadowkeep are the most powerful PvE primary weapons. With these builds and tips, you will sweep through the enemy hordes.
What makes SMGs special: In Destiny 2, submachine guns (SMGs) are primary weapons designed for close combat. They can be compared to automatic rifles.
Like rifles, they also shoot automatically by default, but generally have a bit less range and a smaller magazine. SMGs typically have a very high rate of fire and good handling. They deal a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
The Powerful Artifact
That’s why SMGs are so strong: The reason for the outstanding strength of submachine guns lies in the current season of Destiny 2. In Season 8 (Season of the Undying), players can access the artifact ‘Eye of the Tor- Lords’.
This is the seasonal artifact. In addition to a theoretically infinitely high level bonus, this powerful item grants access to the so-called artifact mods.
Since Armor 2.0, you have up to 10 points available on armor that you can spend on mods. Each mod has specific costs, which we have listed in parentheses. Weapon mods are based on the artifact.
Currently, SMGs particularly benefit from these mods:
- Anti-Barrier Rounds – Grants SMGs and automatic rifles shield- and barrier-breaking ammunition (weapon mod).
- Overload Rounds – Grants SMGs and automatic rifles disruption ammunition and reduces enemy damage (weapon mod).
- Enhanced Submachine Gun Loader – Significantly increases the reload speed of SMGs (Cost 1).
- Breakthrough Lens – Grants grenade energy on kills with shield-breaking weapons. You do not need to defeat a shielded enemy; every kill counts (Cost 3).
- Ballistic Combo – Grants melee energy on kills with shield-breaking weapons. You do not need to defeat a shielded enemy; every kill counts (Cost 3).
- Disruptor Tip – Improves the effectiveness of ‘Disrupt’ and reduces enemy damage more drastically (Cost 3).
These are the 5 strongest SMGs: In Shadowkeep, the weapon balance has been significantly shaken up. Some powerful weapon perks and abilities have been significantly weakened. Snipers have been buffed and are currently the best special weapon in the sandbox. What fits better with a distance weapon than a close-combat monster like an SMG?
These legendary submachine guns stand out particularly:
- The Recluse – This top weapon dominates in both PvP and PvE. If you score a kill with any weapon, the damage of the Recluse noticeably increases. Additionally, you reload faster after kills. Everything except bosses melts away under the hail of bullets.
- Escape Plan – With this kinetic SMG, you thrive in close quarters. If you are surrounded, the weapon has better handling, reload speed, and higher stability. Additionally, you can choose between the strong perks ‘Duelist’ and ‘Surrounded’. This ritual weapon is earned through a Gambit quest.
- Hypothetical – The SMG is basically the energy counterpart to ‘Escape Plan’. With some loot luck, the weapon even comes with the same perks. ‘Hypothetical’ can be farmed specifically in the Vex Offensive.
Even if exotic weapons do not benefit from the useful artifact mods, we would like to recommend two excellent exotic SMGs:
- Risky – The electrifying SMG protects you from Arc damage and mows down entire enemy hordes thanks to chain lightning. Ammo is generated automatically as well. If you have always wanted to feel like Thor or Zeus, this is your chance.
- The Huckleberry – This sleek kinetic weapon gets stronger with kills, fires faster, and reloads continually. The Huckleberry has even made it into our Top 5 Exotics of Shadowkeep.
Practice Tips
Try these SMG builds: Not only do submachine guns benefit greatly from the seasonal artifact. Your Guardians themselves also have access to extremely powerful artifact mods in the current season. Some harmonize particularly well with the playstyle of SMGs:
- Thundercoil – Grants bonus damage for all Arc melee abilities and refunds Super energy for finisher kills (Cost: 6). With an SMG in hand, you are practically always in melee range. Thanks to ‘Ballistic Combo’, your melee ability is always charged.
- Crushing Darkness: Damage from Void grenades inflicts a weakening effect on enemies (Cost: 6). You gain grenade energy very quickly thanks to ‘Breakthrough Lens’. Your opponents are thus continuously weakened.
- Titans equip exotic armor Touch of the Worm God or Synthoceps to be even stronger in melee. Both the upper Void and lower Arc focus fit perfectly to the build.
- As an Arc Hunter, you can become a similarly strong melee fighter with the exotic gloves Liar’s Handshake.
- Warlocks who want to face their opponents up close equip Winter’s Call. The grenade-SMG combo benefits especially the lower Void Warlock with Nazareth’s Sin and ‘Recluse’. In no time, you have weakening grenades and heal completely with every kill.
Check out Houndish’s YouTube video to see how powerful SMG builds are:
Are you using the seasonal artifact to your advantage and leaving enemies no chance? What build tips do you have? Let us know in the comments.
