In Destiny 2, Bungie advertises a great variety of builds by polishing the old elements and subclasses. Yet despite this, the Hunter is doomed to unleash its true strength mainly in PvP, and that is solely because your Exotics force you to.
What is the problem with Hunters? Hunters have a long story of nerfs and buffs in Destiny 2. However, thanks to Void 3.0 and the fact that the other two subclasses are outdated, the most agile Guardian class often struggles to establish itself well in PvE. This is mainly due to the Exotics available to Hunters.
Every class uses its top-tier Exotics to gain special bonuses in combat. Without them, it is hard to succeed in endgame content. Therefore, Exotics are a must-have for every Guardian’s loadout of builds.
All ‘usable’ Exotics, however, that Hunters can equip at any time often shine in PvP. Improved sprinting, faster ability cooldowns while sprinting, and enemy tracking on foes you’ve hit. All these perks are primarily geared towards PvP. Currently, Hunters have hardly any opportunities to assert themselves strongly in Season 16 PvE.
Only two Exotics can strengthen the Hunter in PvE
Since Void 3.0 is the current meta in Destiny 2, only three Exotics are suitable for the Hunter in PvE:
- Orpheus Rig – For add control or high boss damage
- Omnioculus – For better survivability thanks to faster invisibility
- Graviton Forfeit – For solo players
The remaining elemental Exotics are practically useless as they have been stomped into the ground by the meta. They are not worth it and cannot perform well in practice.
What remains are all-round Exotics, such as the Wyrm Crown or the Shadow of Dragons, which provide you with bonuses when you dodge or sprint. These can be used in PvE, but their use is primarily worthwhile in PvP.
In fact, the Hunter could be an outstanding PvE player, yet it seems that Bungie has other plans for the agile combat machine. The selection of the current Exotics suggests that Bungie sees the Hunter more in PvP than in PvE.
In PvE, the Hunter can be a supporter, but he hardly assumes a core role like that of Titans or Warlocks. He can also be replaced effortlessly. However, the majority of Guardians play in the role of the Hunter. To not let them fade completely, Bungie needs to make some changes in the future.
Will this change? Bungie has announced that the overhaul of the other subclasses is underway. Thus, Guardians will soon be able to use more than just the Void Exotics. Consequently, Bungie will also feel pressured to rework some of the Hunter’s Exotics.
Many are useless and unworthy of their Exotic rank. However, with Arc or Solar 3.0, Bungie will hopefully offer Guardians alternatives so that other builds can be constructed around these elements.
Sandbox work will take place, but how extensive or large this will be is up to Bungie. However, it will be exciting to see what options the Hunter will receive. Will Arc 3.0 ignite the era of Hunters where only they are sought after for raids? Or will the Golden Gun soon be able to wipe out every boss completely?
What do you think about the Hunter currently being only good in PvP? Do you find it ridiculous or do you also believe that the Exotics are to blame for Hunters primarily dominating PvP? Let us know in the comments!
