Do Synthoceps Affect Glaive Melee in Destiny 2? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: Yes, Synthoceps used to affect Glaive melee damage, but a significant nerf changed this, making Glaive melee weaker than regular melee attacks when using Synthoceps. This has led to considerable confusion and disappointment among Destiny 2 players who enjoyed combining the unique melee capabilities of Glaives with the damage-boosting potential of Synthoceps.
Before the nerf, Synthoceps could amplify the melee damage of a Glaive quite significantly, making it a formidable close-quarters weapon. However, the change was implemented to rebalance the interaction and to prevent the unintended level of damage output. Now, the damage from a Glaive melee attack when paired with Synthoceps actually decreases compared to standard melee, which was not the intention of Synthoceps. This nerf has considerably reduced the viability of Synthoceps for Glaive users.
This article will explore the nuances of this change, detailing which perks and buffs do and don’t work with Glaive melee, and will delve into some common questions surrounding the interaction of these mechanics within Destiny 2.
The Synthoceps Nerf Explained
The nerf to Synthoceps specifically targeted their interaction with Glaive melee attacks. Prior to the change, these exotic gauntlets significantly boosted all melee damage when the player was surrounded by three or more enemies. This buff extended to the Glaive melee, resulting in substantial damage output, making Glaives an incredibly powerful close-range weapon, especially for Titans.
However, due to what was likely an unintended interaction, the developers implemented a hotfix that caused Glaive melees to suffer damage reduction when used in combination with Synthoceps. This change was primarily aimed at bringing the damage of this combination in line with other melee options.
The current state is that Synthoceps boost melee and super damage when 3 or more enemies are nearby, but these buffs do not apply to glaive melees. Instead of the intended damage increase, Glaives actually do less damage than normal melees. This shift significantly undermines the use of Glaives in Synthoceps builds.
What Still Works with Glaive Melee?
Despite the nerf, Glaives are still viable weapons in their own right, though they require a more nuanced approach. While damage buffs from exotic armor pieces like Synthoceps are off the table, some perks and effects do apply to Glaive melee:
- Perks triggered by melee damage or kills: Glaive melees can activate perks like Grave Robber, which refills your magazine on a melee kill. They can also activate Swashbuckler, which can stack weapon damage after a melee kill. Sealed Ahamkara Grasps can also refill your magazine on a melee kill.
- Melee damage buffs: Certain buffs that enhance melee damage, like those from Winter’s Guile or Wormgod Caress, will still affect Glaive melee attacks, unlike Synthoceps.
- Void 3.0 Fragments: Notably, Glaive melee kills do count for the purposes of Void 3.0 Fragments, which is an exception to the rule that Glaive melee is treated as something different than regular melee.
What Doesn’t Work With Glaive Melee?
It is just as crucial to know what does not work with Glaive melee, which can be confusing for those who have not been keeping up with the changes to the game. Here is a list of what not to expect from your Glaive melees:
- Weapon damage buffs: Perks like Rampage, Kill Clip, Frenzy, and Adrenaline Junkie do not boost the damage of Glaive melee attacks. These perks are specific to weapon-based damage and are not considered to affect melees.
- Exotic armor that buffs melee damage: Aside from the notable exception of Warlocks’ Winter’s Guile and Titans’ Wormgod Caress, the majority of exotic armor that is meant to boost melee damage does not work with Glaive melee attacks, especially after the Synthoceps nerf.
- Armor mods affecting melee: Mods like Hands-On or Striking Light that trigger from melee damage do not work with Glaive melees.
- Surge mods: These mods also do not work with Glaive melees. This includes Focusing Strike and Impact Induction (Arm Mods), Kinetic Weapon Surge (Leg Mod), and Kinetic Siphon (Head Mod).
- Vorpal Weapon: This perk only affects projectiles from the Glaive and not the melee attack.
- Perks that trigger from weapon final blows: Perks such as Demolitionist and Pugilist are only triggered by the projectiles from the Glaive and not the melee attack.
- Elemental Wells Melee kills with a Glaive do not spawn Elemental Wells, further distinguishing them from traditional melees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Frenzy Buff Glaive Melee Damage?
No, Frenzy does not improve the damage of a Glaive’s melee attack. Frenzy is a weapon perk and only works on projectile damage.
2. Do Glaive Melee Kills Count as Melee Kills?
Generally, Glaive melee kills do not count as melee kills, particularly in the context of armor mods and certain perks. However, as mentioned, they do trigger Void 3.0 Fragments.
3. Does Rampage Work on Glaive Melee?
No, Rampage does not affect Glaive melee damage. It’s a weapon perk, not a melee damage perk.
4. Does Swashbuckler Work on Glaive Melee?
Yes and No. Swashbuckler does work on Glaive melee. A Glaive melee kill will proc the damage buff and apply it to your projectile. However, the melee damage itself is not increased.
5. Does Adrenaline Junkie Work on Glaive Melee?
No, Adrenaline Junkie does not work on Glaive melee attacks. It works on weapon damage, not melees.
6. Does Grave Robber Work on Glaive Melee?
Yes, Grave Robber works on Glaive melee kills, refilling the weapon magazine.
7. Do Glaive Melees Benefit from Melee Buffs Like Winter’s Guile?
Yes, Glaive melees do benefit from melee damage buffs like those provided by Warlock’s Winter’s Guile, unlike Synthoceps.
8. Does Demolitionist Work on Glaive Melee Kills?
No, Demolitionist only triggers on Glaive projectile kills, not melee kills.
9. Does Pugilist Work on Glaive Melee?
No, Pugilist only works on projectile damage kills. Pugilist and Demolitionist grant a reduced 10% ability energy when proc’d with a Glaive, rather than 20%.
10. Does Unrelenting Work on Glaive Melee?
No, Unrelenting does not proc from Glaive melee. It only procs from projectile kills.
11. Does Vorpal Weapon Work on Glaive Melee?
No, Vorpal Weapon does not proc on the melee portion of a Glaive but only on its projectile.
12. Do Glaive Melee Kills Count as Kinetic?
Yes, Glaive melee kills are considered kinetic, but they are still treated differently from other kinetic weapon kills as they do not proc many weapon perks.
13. Are Glaive Melees Better Than Normal Melees?
Generally, Glaive melees are faster but have lower damage than a standard melee. Without the boost that Synthoceps used to provide, it’s generally accepted that they’re not as powerful as other melee options, but the consistent rate of attack can sometimes make them useful.
14. Do Synthoceps Increase Super Damage?
Yes, Synthoceps increases Super damage by 50% when the buff is active from being surrounded by three or more enemies.
15. Do Synthoceps Affect Swords?
No, Synthoceps do not affect Swords. Swords are classified as weapons, not melee attacks.
Conclusion
While Synthoceps once significantly boosted Glaive melee damage, the nerf has changed this interaction significantly. Glaive melees are now weaker than regular melees when using Synthoceps. This change has shifted how players must approach Glaive builds. It is crucial to understand which buffs and perks work with Glaive melees and which do not, allowing you to optimize your builds for maximum effectiveness. While Glaives might not be the powerhouse of melee builds they used to be, they still offer versatility and interesting build potential when correctly understood. Always double check to ensure you’re optimizing your builds to take advantage of the proper perks, mods, and exotics to gain that competitive edge.