In Destiny , the Telesto is a fusion rifle with a delayed effect. How good is this unique weapon in the Crucible and PvE of Destiny?
This week starting December 4th, Xur is selling the fusion rifle “Telesto.” It’s time to take a look at the weapon in a review and hear what experts have to say.
How is the Telesto available?
The Telesto is one of three “normal” exotic weapons that came with the Taken King – the others are Primus and Zhalo Super-Cell. The Telesto is not tied to any quest.
It can be found in exotic engrams for special weapons from Year 2, as a random reward from Nightfall Strikes, Oryx, or in the King’s Fall Exotic chest. And Xur can sell it.
What makes the Telesto special?
The Telesto is a fusion rifle and deals Void damage. Many fans have compared it to the “Needler” from the Halo series. The weapon comes with rather weak stats, relatively low range, only 4 shots in the magazine, and the impact could be higher. Additionally, fusion rifles are generally unpopular.
However, these stats can be deceiving, as the unique perk “Unplanned Reprieve” causes fusion projectiles to stick and detonate with delay: This means that both range and impact do not matter for this part of the damage – similar to the cluster rockets from Gjallarhorn back then.
Other strong perks on the weapon include:
- “Spark of the Harbinger” – Multikills with this weapon generate Light Orbs for your allies (double kills create one spark, quadruple kills create two).
- Battle Runner: Kills with this weapon grant a temporary sprint bonus.
- If you choose Improved Battery, the magazine increases to 5 shots.
How good is the Telesto in PvE and PvP?
In PvP, the weapon can be overlooked. It’s fun to use, but not suited for the core idea of the Crucible in Destiny: The one who dies first loses. With the Telesto, you often go down just before your opponent while they die from the explosion: That’s not an ideal result: It’s preferable for the other to die while you happily bounce away to find the next target.
In PvE, however, you should definitely give the weapon a try. Against “small enemies”, known as trash mobs, you can provide your allies with plenty of sparks. Thanks to the bonus damage from the explosion, Telesto is also a weapon with surprisingly high bite against strong champions in Destiny.
Even though fusion rifles have few friends, the Telesto is worth a look for the experts at PlanetDestiny and belongs to the weapons that a Guardian of the world should carry. When Void-burning is active in the Nightfall strike, it can really shine.
It is definitely a recommendation to buy. It may not please everyone and is not among the “must-have exotics” like Zhalo Super-Cell, Black Spindle or Malevolent Touch … but it’s very close.
