In Destiny, we take a closer look at the exotic hand cannon Thorn in Year 3. Is it still as strong as before?
“Thorn” – or in English: “Thorn”. Many Guardians feel mixed emotions when they hear this name. Because Thorn is an exotic hand cannon that dominated the Crucible at long ranges in Year 1. Guardians loved it and hated it. Thorn was powerful – which is why almost everyone used it in PvP. But it killed treacherously.
Especially in the Trials of Osiris, you could be sure that at least two of the three opponents were equipped with Thorn. This poison injector was the queen in PvP. In Year 3, it made a return – however, with a significant nerf. Is it still worth it now?
How to Get Thorn in Year 3
The “Year 3” Thorn is only available through an exotic quest, with the biggest challenge being to actually acquire it.
You receive the quest line randomly by completing and turning in bounties at Shiro-4. Luck plays an important role in this. Many Guardians complain that they have completed dozens of bounties, but the quest just won’t appear.
In other words: There is no 100% chance to obtain the Thorn quest. All information on how to get Thorn has been extensively detailed in the provided link.
What Makes Thorn Special in Destiny
Thorn is a hand cannon of the archetype with the lowest impact but the highest rate of fire. Its reload speed is excellent, but it has weaknesses in range, stability, and aim-assist. The nerf in Year 3 involved a 25% reduction in base range. Here are the specific stats:
The exciting thing about Thorn is that it can deal damage over time. This has earned Thorn the nickname “Poison Injector”. The reason is the exotic perk. Here is the perk selection:
- Mark of Damnation: Bullets pierce their target and deal lingering damage over time.
- Last Round: The last round of each magazine deals bonus precision damage.
You have the choice of:
- Snapshot: Aiming is super fast with this weapon.
- Handlaid Stock: Increases range and precision. More challenging to handle. Reduced ammo capacity.
- Perfect Balance: The recoil of this weapon is extremely low.
With Field Choke, Improved Ballistics, and Aggressive Ballistics, you can influence range, impact, and recoil.
Is Thorn Worth It in Practice?
In Year 3 and in the current meta, Thorn has a tough time. The exotic has only two arguments in its favor:
- Thorn looks cool. It feels particularly unique “in hand”. Additionally, it comes with two ornaments that allow you to change its appearance:
- Damage over time: With its “poison”, you can still eliminate enemies even if they’ve retreated with the intention of regenerating. Therefore, Thorn remains a “nasty” weapon that can ruin the day for many foes.
However, there are more arguments against Thorn:
- Hand cannons love range. The range nerf has hit Thorn hard. The perks cannot compensate for this disadvantage.
- If it’s a hand cannon, then one with a medium impact of 81. The Falcon’s Moon archetype is currently the dominant hand cannon archetype. The Palindrome or Eyasluna are therefore very popular.
- Shotgun meta: Thorn is a weapon for short to medium ranges. However, a Matador is preferred here. Against the dominance of the Matador, Thorn cannot compete.
Conclusion: With Thorn, beautiful kills in the Crucible are still possible, but it is by far no longer the queen in PvP. Anyone wanting to sacrifice their exotic slot for it is just asking for trouble: Many legendary hand cannons are simply more useful in most situations. But who knows what the next balance patch will bring…
What is your opinion on Thorn in Year 3?
The best legendary primary weapons for PvP are presented here.
