In Destiny 2, pistols are currently highly sought after. We will tell you why the new exotic pistol takes it a step further, how to use the hidden perk, and how it performs in practice.
This weapon is about: The exotic pistol “Devil’s Ruin” (eng. Devil’s Ruin) is a primary weapon for the energy slot. It deals solar damage and has a fire rate of 300, belonging to the same category as the Ritual weapon Banshee.
The exotic has these special properties:
- Closing the gap – Pulling and releasing the trigger fires single shots. Holding it down fires a laser that staggers enemies.
- Pyrogenesis – Fully charging the laser refills the magazine from reserves.
- Intrinsically, the pistol can stop and stagger unstoppable champions.
Besides the shooting properties of a normal pistol, Devil’s Ruin can charge a powerful laser beam. If you hold down the fire button, your magazine refills to a full 15 shots, and it’s laser time. But along with the fire beam comes a hidden perk.
More under the hood than meets the eye – The hidden perk
This is how the hidden perk works: When you charge your beam, it doesn’t matter if you had 15 bullets in the magazine or just 1 shot left. The laser will be equally strong after about one second of charge time. Once you fire your laser, you usually have to reload.
However, if you release the fire button exactly at the moment the maximum charge is reached, there will be a “super laser.” The brighter beam does not add extra damage but overloads your magazine.
Instead of the regular 15 shots, your magazine temporarily holds 30 rounds. This allows you to immediately start shooting again after a laser or charge the next laser – all without annoying reloading. Theoretically, if timed correctly, you can chain laser after laser.
I tested the secret perk: How practical is the hidden overload function in everyday life? To find out, I headed to the Tribute Hall, because we just burn through our ammo reserves with the laser.
The secret perk requires significantly more precise timing than perfect reloading with Izanagi’s Burden or a perfect bow shot. If you release it a fraction too early, there’s no laser, just a normal shot. If you are just a bit too slow, the normal laser activates and you’re left with an empty magazine.
But lo and behold, after a few attempts I was able to admire the hidden function of the Pyrogenesis ability. I even managed to trigger two super lasers in a row. However, whether the muscle memory can really internalize the timing and reproduce this effect without problems in Guardian everyday life, I cannot currently say.
Devil’s Ruin in practice test
This is how the weapon performs in PvE: In the current season 9, pistols have started a small hype. And also Devil’s Ruin falls in line with other representatives of the category. You cut through adds, even an entire horde you can eliminate in no time.
When you encounter stronger enemies, you charge the laser and automatically refill the magazine. The Majors have little to counter the impressive fire beam.
The only issue is the ammo consumption. But since the weapon uses primary ammo, you should frequently find supplies on the battlefield.
With the recently presented Hunter pistol build, you can turn Devil’s Ruin into a true super weapon. All you need is the pistol, the exotic armor Mechanic Trick Sleeves and a risky playstyle. Read more about this strong build here:
Here are the exact damage values of Devil’s Ruin: In the damage test against the ogre in the Lost Sector on Titan, Devil’s Ruin has these values:
- A normal body shot deals 1,521 damage.
- A normal headshot accounts for 2,135 damage.
In normal mode, with these values, you achieve about 11,500 DPS (damage per second). If you fire with the alternate mode, the numbers look like this:
- A tick from the laser reaches 1,868 damage on body shots.
- A tick of the laser causes 2,623 damage on headshots.
This way, you even achieve a DPS of a good 21,500 with the laser.
The investigation into the damage values comes from YouTuber Ehroar. In this video, you can also see the adjusted super weapon build in action:
This is how the weapon performs in PvP: In the Crucible, the pistol performs quite well but cannot quite keep up with the top tier. In normal firing mode, you can deal significant damage to opponents at close range.
Up to a distance of about 17 meters, you maintain full damage and make it very difficult for shotgun players. With the alternate firing mode, you essentially have a hybrid of fusion and precision rifle at your disposal.
This frees up your special slot for a sniper like the Revoker. So you essentially cover all distances.
As a member of the “300 range pistols” family, Devil’s Ruin has the following damage values against other guardians in PvP:
- A body shot deals 35 damage.
- A headshot causes 51 damage.
This way, you can send a guardian to the virtual afterlife in strong 0.6 seconds under optimal conditions. Even if you miss the head and only hit body shots, you still have a solid TTK (Time to Kill) of exactly 1 second.
The charged laser can significantly improve your TTK, but it can also perform worse than the regular pistol variant. The laser deals this damage per tick:
- On headshots, you achieve 36 damage.
- A body shot amounts to 26 damage.
The individual damage value decreases compared to the normal mode, but the range increases to about 19 meters. Since the charge time is about 1 second, we achieve a TTK of 1.3 to 1.4 seconds.
If you manage to pre-charge the laser, meaning you actively charge it before a duel, you can drop the enemy in an astonishing 0.3 to 0.4 seconds. However, very good timing is required for this.
How do players perceive Devil’s Ruin?
This is what the community says about the exotic pistol: The new exotic is very well received among players of Destiny 2. Only the quest for the weapon does not meet with approval everywhere, but it can score with many thanks to a singing Lord Shaxx.
In the extensive Destiny database, light.gg, the exotic has an excellent rating of 4.6/5 (PvE) and 4.4 (PvP). Since the weapon is still brand new, this value may still change.
Currently, the discussion about the hidden perk occupies many guardians. It is being questioned whether the function is intentional by Bungie. On one hand, the activation is unusually cumbersome. On the other hand, the laser has a different, larger fire animation compared to the standard laser.
However, players agree that Bungie is on the right track with the design of the current weapon exotics. Like Symmetry, Devil’s Ruin has a creative touch, and the alternate firing mode invites experimentation.
Have you already tested Devil’s Ruin – how do you think the weapon performs against other guardians and in PvE? Do you use the “hidden perk”?
