With the Forsaken expansion, not only weapons but also armor in Destiny 2 received new perks and random rolls. But which perks can roll on which pieces of armor? And what do they do?
Since the release of Forsaken, players can choose from a wide pool of perks to maximize the effectiveness of their loadouts and adapt them to a specific playstyle. The following information aims to assist you in making a decision.
The Armor Perks in Destiny 2 – What You Need to Know
The choice of the “right” perks heavily depends on the individual preferences of each player: What weapons do you prefer to play? What abilities do you prefer? Do you play mostly PvP or PvE?
There is no one perfect over-perk. However, there are several important aspects to consider when choosing perks. With this knowledge, it should be easier for you to assemble a very own set tailored to your individual needs.
Armors have 3 Tiers of Perks in Destiny 2
Armors in Destiny 2 can exhibit three different tiers of perks:
- Tier 1: Slightly improves a stat
- Tier 2: Improves a stat
- Tier 3: Significantly improves a stat
You can identify the first two tiers of perks by what is stated in their respective description, that is, how they improve a stat. Tier 3 only exists with the so-called Enhanced Perks. These are recognized in the description by the “…improves significantly…”. Furthermore, an Enhanced Perk is marked with a + or a star in its icon.
Currently, Enhanced Perks can only roll on armor pieces from the Dreaming City set, the raid sets from “Last Wish”, and Exotics. On all other armor pieces, only the first two tiers are possible.
What the Helm Perks Can Do
The helmets can exhibit three different categories of perks:
Target Perks: These perks grant the armor wearer better aim assist, accuracy, and target acquisition speed for a specific weapon class or a whole group of weapons (for example, energy weapons).
It is also important to note:
- Some helmets can roll the following Enhanced Target Perks: Hand Cannons, Bow, Sniper, Linear Fusion Rifle.
- The aim assist mainly determines how strongly your weapon “sticks” to the target once you have aimed at the enemy. This function is more significant on consoles than on PC.
- Accuracy is primarily important for hip firing but also offers some slight bonuses when using the scope.
Ammunition Perks: These perks grant the wearer higher ammunition reserves for certain weapon classes (Reserves) or increase the drop chance for special or heavy ammunition on kills (Finder).
It is important to note:
- If you stack multiple Heavy Ammo Finder perks in your loadout, it can happen, according to user reports, that the additional Heavy Finder perks have either no or a negative effect, thus yielding less heavy ammunition.
- So, having more than one Heavy Ammo Finder perk is not worth it (currently) in your setup.
- Ammunition reserves increase the total amount of ammunition you can carry.
Super Perks: These perks grant increased super energy for specific actions such as shotgun kills or melee attacks.
It is important to note:
- Kills with heavy weapons and grenade kills can roll as Enhanced Super Perks.
- A super normally takes 5 minutes to charge while standing still.
- The perk Pumped (Shotgun Kills) reduces this time by 5-6 seconds per kill (1.7% cooldown reduction).
- Sniper kills (Remote) reduce it by about 7 seconds.
- Grenade kills (Ashes to Attack) also reduce it by approximately 7 seconds (9 seconds as an Enhanced Perk).
- and Packed (Melee Kills) reduces it by 9-10 seconds with 2 kills.
- Heavy Duty (Power Weapon Kills) shortens the super charging time by 9 seconds.
- All these times include both the energy regained from the kill itself and the bonus.
What the Gauntlet Perks Can Do
The gauntlets can have four different categories of perks:
Reload Perks: These increase the reload speed of certain weapon classes or weapon groups.
Important: The difference between the normal loader perk and the enhanced version is minimal, but with both perks, you are significantly faster compared to the regular reload time.
Ammunition Perks: These perks grant more ammunition for certain weapons when picked up (Looters) or increase the drop chance for special or heavy ammunition on kills (Finder).
It is important to note:
- The looter perk for fusion rifles apparently does not work in PvP.
Cooldown Perks: These perks reduce the cooldowns of certain abilities during specific actions.
It is important to note:
- Both possible perks – namely Impact Induction and Swing Transfer – can be rolled as Enhanced Perks.
- With Swing Transfer, a grenade hit reduces the melee cooldown by 1-1.5 seconds.
- As an Enhanced Perk, Swing Transfer grants back 5 seconds of cooldown.
- The effect of Swing Transfer has its own internal cooldown.
- With Impact Induction, a melee hit reduces the grenade cooldown by 7 seconds.
- The effect of Impact Induction has its own internal cooldown of approximately 8 seconds.
Special Perks: This refers to the special perk Fastball, which increases grenade throw distance.
What the Chest Armor Perks Can Do
On the chest armor, perks are divided into two categories:
Calm-Aiming Perks: These perks reduce the flinch from enemy hits when using the aim-down-sights of certain weapon classes or whole groups of weapons.
It is important to note:
- In the middle perk slot, only Calm-Aiming Perks can roll.
Ammunition Perks: These perks grant more ammunition reserves for certain weapon classes or increase the drop chance for primary or special ammunition on kills (Finder).
It is important to note:
- Ammunition reserves increase the total amount of ammunition you can carry.
What the Leg Armor Perks Can Do
On leg armor, there are four perk categories:
Agility Perks: These perks make certain weapon classes or weapon groups faster to ready and stow them faster.
It is important to note:
- The agility perks are often underestimated in PvP and can be invaluable in Guardian duels.
- Enhanced agility perks can roll for hand cannons, shotguns, snipers, and rocket launchers.
Cooldown Perks: These perks reduce the cooldowns of abilities and supers during specific actions.
It is important to note:
- Bomber and Distribution can roll as Enhanced Perks.
- Dynamo and Distribution are currently being reviewed by Bungie as they are considered somewhat too strong in certain combinations.
- A super normally takes 5 minutes to charge while standing still.
- Dynamo reduces the super cooldown by 10 seconds.
- Bomber reduces grenade cooldown by 4 seconds (from 1:21 to 1:17).
- Range reduces the melee attack cooldown by 4 seconds (from 1:21 to 1:17).
- Lasting reduces the cooldown of the barricade by 3 seconds, rifts by 5-6 seconds, and dodges by about 1 second.
- Distribution reduces the cooldowns of all abilities when you use your class ability.
Ammunition Perks: These perks grant more ammunition for certain weapons when picked up (Looters) or increase the drop chance for primary or special ammunition on kills (Finder).
Special Perks: This refers to the special perk Grounded, which grants the wearer improved mobility and a tighter turning radius while sprinting.
What the Class Items Perks Can Do
The class items have two categories of perks:
Spheres Perks: These perks grant certain bonuses when you collect Spheres of Light – such as health recharge or recharge of class, grenade, and melee energy.
It is important to note:
- Absolution can roll as an Enhanced Perk.
- Absolution reduces the cooldown of all abilities when a sphere is picked up.
Ammunition Perks: This includes almost all ammunition perks. These perks grant increased ammunition reserves (Reserves) for certain weapons and weapon groups when picked up, more ammunition (Looters), or increase the drop chance for primary, special, or heavy ammunition on kills (Finder).
A selection of the best Forsaken weapons and their perks can be found here:
- The best automatics and their rolls in Destiny 2: Forsaken
- The best pulse rifles and their rolls in Destiny 2: Forsaken
- The best scout rifles and their rolls in Destiny 2: Forsaken
- The best hand cannons and their rolls in Destiny 2: Forsaken
- Destiny 2: All raid weapons from Last Wish – How strong are they?
- These 4 weapons from Year 1 are still top in Forsaken
