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Is Tractor Cannon Good in PvE? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Tractor Cannon remains a viable and situationally excellent choice for Player versus Environment (PvE) activities in Destiny 2, especially in 2024. While its raw damage output is low, its 30% Weaken debuff and substantial knockback offer unique utility that can significantly boost your team’s damage potential and control the battlefield. The recent Divinity nerf, reducing its debuff to 15%, has further solidified Tractor Cannon’s position as a top-tier debuff option. Knowing when and how to leverage its strengths is key to maximizing its effectiveness. Understanding the game’s ever-changing landscape is always important, to learn more about video games and education, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Understanding Tractor Cannon’s Strengths

Tractor Cannon’s primary strength lies in its ability to apply a 30% Weaken debuff to enemies. This debuff increases all incoming damage to the affected target by 30%, allowing your entire fireteam to deal significantly more damage. This is especially useful against:

Bosses: For raid and dungeon bosses, applying Weaken is crucial for maximizing damage output during damage phases.
Champions: While Tractor Cannon can stun Overload Champions, its primary value against Champions comes from the increased damage your team deals after applying the debuff.
Mini-Bosses: Tough enemies with significant health pools are prime targets for Tractor Cannon’s debuff.

Beyond the debuff, Tractor Cannon’s high knockback provides excellent crowd control. This can be used to:

Disrupt enemy positioning: Knock enemies out of cover or away from objectives.
Prevent enemy attacks: Push enemies away before they can unleash powerful abilities.
Create space: Give your team breathing room in close-quarters combat.

Situational Awareness: When to Use Tractor Cannon

While Tractor Cannon offers great utility, it’s not a universally ideal weapon. Its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific encounter and your team’s composition. Here are some scenarios where Tractor Cannon shines:

Close-Range Boss Fights: Encounters where you can consistently stay close to the boss for damage phases are perfect for Tractor Cannon.
Champion-Heavy Activities: The ability to quickly debuff and damage Champions makes Tractor Cannon a valuable tool for high-difficulty Nightfalls and Legend/Master Lost Sectors.
Team Compositions Lacking Debuffs: If your team lacks other reliable debuff options, Tractor Cannon can fill that role effectively.

Complementary Weapon Choices

Tractor Cannon’s short range necessitates pairing it with weapons that excel in close to mid-range engagements. Excellent choices include:

Shotguns: High-damage shotguns like Conditional Finality and Heritage can capitalize on the Weaken debuff for massive burst damage.
Fusion Rifles: Fusion Rifles are great in PvE because of the amount of damage they can put out.
Swords: Swords have been a go-to option for players and their heavy attack can be devastating.

Tractor Cannon: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Tractor Cannon in Destiny 2 PvE:

1. How much does Tractor Cannon increase damage?

Tractor Cannon applies a 30% Weaken debuff to enemies, increasing all incoming damage from all sources by 30%.

2. Does Tractor Cannon stun Overload Champions?

Yes, Tractor Cannon can effectively stun Overload Champions with its Void pulses.

3. Does Tractor Cannon stack with Well of Radiance?

Weapon Surge Mods STACK with Empowering Buffs (Radiant, Well, etc) and Weakens (Tether, Divinity, etc).

4. Is Tractor Cannon better than Divinity?

Tractor Cannon is the only weapon that can apply a 30% debuff.

5. What are the best weapons to use with Tractor Cannon?

Close-range weapons like shotguns (Conditional Finality, Heritage), fusion rifles, and swords are ideal for capitalizing on the Weaken debuff.

6. How do I get the Tractor Cannon catalyst?

The Tractor Cannon catalyst drops from playlist activities, such as Strikes, Gambit, and Crucible.

7. How many kills do I need for the Tractor Cannon catalyst?

You need to kill 300 enemies with Tractor Cannon to complete the catalyst.

8. Does Tractor Cannon work on all bosses?

Tractor Cannon works on most bosses, but its effectiveness is limited by its short range. It’s best suited for encounters where you can consistently stay close to the boss.

9. Does Tractor Cannon’s knockback affect boss enemies?

Yes, Tractor Cannon’s knockback affects most boss enemies, although the effect is often reduced compared to smaller enemies.

10. Is Tractor Cannon a world drop?

Yes, Tractor Cannon can drop from Exotic engrams and as a rare world drop.

11. How does Tractor Cannon compare to other debuff options?

Tractor Cannon provides a higher debuff than Divinity (15%) and is more easily accessible than some class-specific debuffs.

12. What subclasses synergize well with Tractor Cannon?

Void subclasses benefit from the Void damage bonus applied after Tractor Cannon’s debuff.

13. Can Tractor Cannon be used to push enemies off the map?

Yes, Tractor Cannon’s knockback can be used to push enemies off the map in certain areas.

14. Does Tractor Cannon’s damage scale with Power level?

Tractor Cannon’s damage scales with Power level like any other weapon.

15. Is Tractor Cannon worth using if I don’t have the catalyst?

Yes, Tractor Cannon is still a viable option without the catalyst, but the catalyst improves its handling and reload speed.

Conclusion

Tractor Cannon remains a valuable tool in the Destiny 2 PvE sandbox. Its 30% Weaken debuff and powerful knockback offer unique utility that can significantly enhance your team’s damage output and control the battlefield. By understanding its strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases, you can effectively leverage Tractor Cannon to conquer challenging PvE content. Remember to experiment and adapt your loadout to suit the specific needs of each encounter.

Is Tractor Cannon good in PvE?