In the MMO shooter Destiny , pulse rifles are categorized as primary weapons. We present the top five and provide tips on how to reforge them for maximum impact in the Crucible.
You want it, you get it. Following our reforge guide for shotguns in House of Wolves, we now offer you tips and hints on how to transform the new pulse rifles into true killing machines in the Crucible. We show you which pulse rifles you absolutely need, where to get them, and which perks to look out for when rerolling.
Are you tired of the Crucible being dominated mostly by the three exotic hand cannons Dorn, Falkenmond and the Last Word? If you can answer this question with “Yes”, we may have the solution for you: pulse rifles. This weapon class can compete with exotic hand cannons in the Crucible when equipped with the right perks.
With the new DLC, the option has also arrived to reroll every weapon from the House of Wolves expansion with the Gunsmith. This was previously exclusive to the Iron Banner weapons. To reforge weapons, you need the following materials:
- The weapon you want to reroll
- 1x Light Particle
- 3x Weapon Parts
- 250 Glimmer
What is special about pulse rifles?
Pulse rifles do not fire individual rounds but rather three-shot bursts. Unlike shotguns, where range is the most important attribute, other properties play a significantly larger role with pulse rifles. The base range of pulse rifles is greater than that of other weapon classes, making them suitable for medium to long distances.
However, the main attribute is stability. Stability determines the spread of the burst. The higher the stability, the less spread there is, and thus more rounds from the burst potentially hit the target. Consequently, the target will be eliminated faster. And that’s exactly what you want.
Which pulse rifles do I need?
Pulse rifles can fundamentally be divided into three categories:
- High rate of fire, low impact
- Medium rate of fire, medium impact
- Low rate of fire, high impact
A higher rate of fire leads to quicker bursts, but the damage output decreases. Pulse rifles with a low rate of fire but high impact can also forgive a miss. Ultimately, it depends on which type you perform better with. Just try all three versions out. Since primarily the last two mentioned variants are truly competitive in the Crucible, we will skip examples of pulse rifles with high rate of fire and low impact.
We present to you pulse rifles that you can reforge, as well as two special weapons that cannot be rerolled but have fantastic stats from the get-go.
Look out for the following pulse rifles in the category medium rate of fire / medium impact:
55A-allFATE
This really well-balanced weapon can be purchased directly from the Vanguard Weaponsmith for 150 Vanguard Marks, once you reach rank 3 in the Vanguard.
Red Death
The exotic representative on our list. Even though you cannot reforge the Red Death, it’s worth a second look. Its namesake main perk ensures that you are completely healed after a kill, every time. You can obtain the weapon from Xûr when he has it, or as a random drop in raids or during Nightfall.
Keep an eye out for the following pulse rifles in the category low rate of fire / high impact:
Heaven-and-Hell Pilgrim
You can acquire this beauty as a random drop in the Vanguard Strike playlist “Dragon” or when playing the Prison of Elders on level 28.
Pocket Change .25
The Pocket Change .25 drops randomly in the Crucible. Your placement does not matter here.
The Messenger
To call this pulse rifle your own, you need to participate in the Trials of Osiris. Here you must achieve 7 victories, provided Brother Vance sells it, or get lucky and receive it after eight wins in the random package. The hardcore among you may manage to reach the Lighthouse on Mercury during a flawless round. In the chest found there, The Messenger can even drop with an elemental damage type.
Let’s take a look at the featured weapons in comparison:
| Name | Rate of Fire | Impact | Range | Stability | Reload | Magazine |
| 55A-allFATE | 66 | 14 | 47 | 65 | 62 | 27 |
| Red Death | 66 | 26 | 33 | 37 | 76 | 27 |
| Heaven-and-Hell Pilgrim | 59 | 30 | 45 | 68 | 62 | 30 |
| Pocket Change .25 | 59 | 30 | 63 | 44 | 58 | 24 |
| The Messenger | 59 | 30 | 59 | 59 | 53 | 24 |
At first glance, the exotic rifle Red Death seems overpowered. Medium rate of fire, but close to the high impact of other pulse rifles. Unfortunately, the main attribute, stability, is not very pronounced and can only be slightly improved (44) with the available perks. The weapon is deadly in the right hands that can correctly gauge recoil and spread; however, it also occupies the exotic slot in your arsenal. In the following chapter, you will also find reasons why legendary pulse rifles with the right perks are just as deadly.
Which perks are helpful in the Crucible?
In this section, we will show you which perks are particularly helpful for the Crucible. The perks are divided into four columns:
- Column 1 – determines the sight properties of the rifle
- Column 2 – first unlockable main perk
- Column 3 – auxiliary perk that improves certain properties
- Column 4 – second unlockable main perk
Look out for the following perks in Column 1 when reforging:
| Property | Zoom | Range | Stability | Reload |
| Red Dot OAS | x0.2 | — | +14 | — |
| Red Dot ORES | x0.3 | +6 | +9 | +4 |
For pulse rifles with medium stability, the Red Dot OAS sight is recommended, while for rifles with inherently high stability, you can vary the values with the Red Dot ORES. All other possible sights are not recommended.
Look out for the following perks in Column 2:
- Outlaw – Precisely getting kills with this weapon greatly enhances reload speed
- Third Eye – While using the aiming device of this weapon, the radar remains active
- Melee Madness – Kills with this weapon temporarily boost reload speed
- Hip Fire – This weapon has extra precision when firing from the hip
The selection here is not particularly large. Third Eye is a matter of personal taste. Perks that increase reload speed are always practical. Hip Fire is somewhat situational. Generally, you want to aim at medium to long distances.
The following auxiliary perks in Column 3 are interesting when reforging:
- Hand-Laid Stock – Increased stability, decreased range
- Smallbore – Increased range and stability, slower reload, reduced magazine size
- Reinforced Frame – Increased stability, reduced magazine size
Forget all other possible perks you can get here. You want maximum stability, nothing more and nothing less.
And finally, the best perks for Column 4:
- Hidden Hand – This weapon improves target acquisition
- Snap Shot – Aiming with this weapon increases its effectiveness
- Headseeker – Body shots with this weapon temporarily increase precision damage (approx. +10%)
- Reactive Reload – Reloading the weapon after a kill grants bonus damage for a short time.
Headseeker is only suitable for the low rate of fire / high impact category, as the bonus damage is not overwhelmingly high. With Snap Shot, your range will be increased. With this perk, pulse rifles can only be beaten by sniper rifles in terms of range. Hidden Hand is an impossible perk for many since it does not visibly enhance stats. What does the perk actually do? Each of your enemies has a corresponding “hitbox” depending on their size. If you hit this hitbox, you deal damage. The perk Hidden Hand ensures that you still hit the hitbox, even if you are not aiming perfectly. The tolerance for errors in aiming is increased. Sounds great, and it is.
What perk combinations create the ultimate pulse rifle?
Since you primarily want to max out the stability of your pulse rifle, we won’t differentiate among the various types in the following tips. You can swap the suggested perk in Column 4 for something like Headseeker depending on your preference.
With the following combinations, you will forge the ultimate laser pulse rifle:
| Perk Column | Combination 1 | Combination 2 | Combination 3 |
| Column 1 | Red Dot OAS | Red Dot OAS | Red Dot OAS |
| Column 2 | Outlaw | Melee Madness | Outlaw |
| Column 3 | Hand-Laid Stock | Reinforced Frame | Smallbore |
| Column 4 | Snap Shot | Headseeker | Hidden Hand |
With Combination 1 (red), you will achieve a stability value of 99 with the 55A-allFATE, and with the Heaven-and-Hell Pilgrim, even a full 100. This will allow you to hit exactly what you want to hit. With a bit of practice, you can instill fear into the Dorn carriers in the Crucible.
This powerful guest contribution comes from our reader Shin25_HH – that’s his PSN ID. Great work, Guardian
