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Does Grave Robber Work with Glaives in Destiny 2? A Deep Dive

Yes, Grave Robber does work with Glaives in Destiny 2, specifically triggering on melee kills made with the Glaive’s melee attack. This perk combination, particularly when paired with Frenzy, has created a popular and powerful build for Glaive users, allowing for rapid reloads and sustained damage output.

Understanding the Grave Robber Perk

Grave Robber is a perk that allows you to reload your weapon upon getting a melee kill. The key here is that the kill must be a melee kill. This means that traditional gun kills with the Glaive’s ranged projectile won’t trigger the perk. However, when you get up close and personal and smack an enemy down with the Glaive’s melee attack, Grave Robber will instantly reload your magazine. This can be incredibly useful in close-quarters combat, allowing you to keep the pressure on without having to manually reload.

The Glaive Melee Mechanic: A Hybrid Approach

Glaives occupy a unique space in Destiny 2’s weapon ecosystem. They are technically classified as melee weapons, but they also possess ranged capabilities, firing a projectile. This dual nature has led to some confusion about which perks and mods apply to them. In the early days of Glaives, many melee-related perks didn’t function correctly with their melee attacks. However, Bungie has since addressed this, and many now work as intended. Grave Robber is one of those perks that does interact favorably with the Glaive’s melee.

Grave Robber and Frenzy: A Symbiotic Pairing

The synergy between Grave Robber and Frenzy is what makes this build so effective. Frenzy provides a significant buff to damage, reload speed, and handling when you’re in combat for an extended period. The problem with Frenzy, however, is that to constantly make it proc, you need to have continuous uptime on your weapon. Grave Robber helps you make that happen. By triggering Grave Robber with melee kills, you can keep your magazine full and maintain the Frenzy buff, creating a loop of damage and reload speed. This combo makes it easier to clear rooms of adds and also sustain damage on bosses.

Build Considerations

When building around Grave Robber and Frenzy on a Glaive, consider the following:

Stats: Focus on stats that enhance melee effectiveness, such as Strength, which reduces your melee cooldown.
Mods: Utilize mods that boost your melee damage or provide additional benefits on melee kills.
Subclass: Select a subclass with strong melee abilities and synergies. For example, a Titan using the Roaring Flames aspect can further boost melee damage, or a Hunter can utilize aspects to become invisible after melee kills.
Exotics: Some exotics pair well with Glaives. Examples include exotics like Karnstein Armlets which has recently been updated to function with Glaives. Be mindful of nerfs, however, such as the Synthoceps nerf that significantly reduced Glaive melee damage when equipped.

Choosing the Right Glaive

Not all Glaives are created equal. When looking for a Glaive to use with Grave Robber and Frenzy, consider the following:

Base Stats: Look for a Glaive with good base stats, especially in areas like reload speed and handling.
Frame: The Glaive’s frame can impact its performance. Some frames offer better melee stats or faster charge times for the projectile.
Other Perks: While Grave Robber and Frenzy are the core of the build, consider other perks that can complement it, such as perks that enhance damage or provide utility.

Potential Downsides

While powerful, this build isn’t without its weaknesses:

Close-Range Dependency: The reliance on melee kills forces you into close-range engagements, which can be risky against certain enemies.
Vulnerability: While the Glaive shield offers some protection, you’re still vulnerable while closing the distance for a melee attack.
Enemy Type: This build is most effective against weaker enemies that can be easily killed with a single melee attack. It may be less effective against tougher enemies or bosses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Glaives and how they interact with various perks and mechanics in Destiny 2:

Q1: Do Glaive kills count as melee kills for all purposes?

A: Generally, yes. Glaive melee attacks are recognized as melee kills and will trigger perks and mods that specify “melee kill.” However, there might be edge cases where certain specific interactions don’t function as expected, so it’s always a good idea to test.

Q2: Does Frenzy improve the damage of the Glaive’s melee attack?

A: No, Frenzy does not improve the damage of the Glaive’s melee attack. It only buffs the ranged projectile’s damage, reload speed, and handling.

Q3: Do weapon damage buffs like Rampage or Kill Clip affect Glaive melee damage?

A: No, weapon damage buffs like Rampage, Kill Clip, or Swashbuckler do not affect Glaive melee damage. The Glaive melee benefits from melee damage buffs, not weapon damage buffs.

Q4: Do melee exotics like Wormgod Caress or Synthoceps work with Glaive melee?

A: Yes, exotics like Wormgod Caress do work with Glaive melee. However, the Synthoceps exotic was nerfed, and its interaction with Glaive melee is significantly weaker than a regular melee attack. This can change with updates, so always verify with the most recent patch notes.

Q5: Does the Pugilist perk work with Glaives?

A: Yes, Pugilist works with Glaives. Weapon kills grant melee ability energy, with Glaives granting more energy than other weapon types. Dealing melee damage will also grant a handling bonus for a short duration.

Q6: Does Blood Rush work with Glaives?

A: Yes, Blood Rush does work with Glaives. Since Glaive melee attacks are counted as melee attacks, you’ll gain the movement bonus from Blood Rush when using the glaive melee.

Q7: Does Psychohack work with Glaive melee?

A: Yes, Psychohack works with Glaive melee. It reduces the damage output of enemies after repeated hits, which can be very beneficial for survivability.

Q8: Do mods like Combo Fury, Combo Killer, or Power Throw work with Glaives?

A: Yes, these Glaive-specific mods do work with Glaives and can significantly enhance their functionality.

Q9: Does Echo of Exchange work with Glaive melee kills?

A: Yes, Echo of Exchange works with Glaive melee. Getting kills with your Glaive melee will grant you grenade energy.

Q10: Does Echo of Leeching work with Glaive melee final blows?

A: Yes, Echo of Leeching works with Glaive melee. Getting final blows with your Glaive melee will start health regeneration.

Q11: Does Roaring Flames affect Glaive melee damage?

A: Yes, the Roaring Flames aspect on Titan does affect Glaive melee damage, increasing it while the buff is active.

Q12: Which exotic Glaive is the best?

A: The “best” exotic Glaive depends on your playstyle and the current meta. However, Winterbite is widely considered a top-tier choice due to its strong crowd control capabilities and unique freezing effect. Vexcalibur is also popular.

Q13: Are Glaives considered Dex or Strength weapons (referencing D&D-like terminology)?

A: Glaives are generally considered Strength weapons, as they are heavy polearms that require physical strength to wield effectively.

Q14: Does Stronghold work well with Glaives?

A: Stronghold allows you to block with your sword while simultaneously shooting, and then swap to your Glaive right away. This is a great synergy.

Q15: Are there resources to learn more about game design and mechanics, especially related to educational games?

A: Yes! For those interested in the broader aspects of game design, especially in the context of education, a fantastic resource is the Games Learning Society found at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. This organization explores how games can be used effectively in learning environments.

Conclusion

Grave Robber is indeed a valuable perk for Glaives in Destiny 2, especially when combined with Frenzy. By understanding how the Glaive’s melee mechanic works and building your loadout accordingly, you can create a powerful and effective build that excels in close-quarters combat. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the latest patch notes and community discussions to discover new synergies and strategies for maximizing your Glaive’s potential.

Does grave robber work with glaives?