Does Impact Induction Work with Glaives in Destiny 2? A Definitive Guide
No, Impact Induction does NOT work with Glaive melee attacks in Destiny 2. While the mod is designed to reduce your melee cooldown when dealing damage with kinetic weapons, Glaive melee attacks, despite using the Glaive itself, don’t seem to be categorized as kinetic weapon damage by the game’s systems. This is a frustrating point for many Glaive enthusiasts and build crafters.
Why Doesn’t Impact Induction Work with Glaives? The Technical Explanation
The reason behind this incompatibility likely lies in how Bungie coded the Glaive’s melee attack. It’s treated more like an ability melee than weapon damage. This distinction is critical because Impact Induction specifically triggers on weapon damage. Since Glaive melee is classified differently, it bypasses the mod’s activation condition. Several other mods and perks share similar interactions (or lack thereof) with Glaive melee.
The Destiny 2 mod system is complex, and these types of inconsistencies can be puzzling. Understanding how the game categorizes damage types is crucial for effective build crafting. It’s important to remember that Glaives are a relatively new weapon type and Bungie is continuing to refine how they work with existing systems. It’s possible (though not guaranteed) that this functionality could change in future updates.
Glaive Mechanics and Build Synergies: What Works and What Doesn’t
Glaives are a unique weapon type in Destiny 2, offering both ranged projectile attacks and powerful melee strikes. But their unique nature also means they don’t always play well with traditional weapon perks and armor mods.
Mods That Do Work With Glaives
Glaives have some exclusive mods, these mods include:
- Combo Fury: Increases melee damage with each successive hit.
- Combo Killer: Grants increased reload speed after a melee kill.
- Mark of the Beast: Grants increased shield duration when near enemies.
- Power Throw: Increases projectile speed and damage.
- Quick Return: Refunds ammo on a projectile hit.
- Rebound: Increases projectile bounce count.
Perks That Work With Glaives
Certain weapon perks synergize well with the Glaive’s hybrid nature. For example:
- Grave Robber: Reloads the weapon upon melee kill.
- Swashbuckler: Grants increased damage after a melee kill.
- Close to Melee: Increases melee damage after projectile kills.
Mods and Perks That Don’t Work
This is where things get complicated, as many weapon and ability perks don’t work or have unexpected interactions with glaives.
- Demolitionist: Doesn’t trigger on Glaive melee kills.
- Kinetic Siphon: Doesn’t generate orbs on Glaive melee kills.
- Melee Wellmaker: Doesn’t create elemental wells on Glaive melee kills.
Exotic Armor Interactions
Exotic armor pieces provide additional buffs or abilities that can significantly affect gameplay. While some exotics work well with Glaives, others don’t.
- Synthoceps/Wormgod Caress: These exotics used to significantly boost Glaive melee damage, but the bonus has been heavily nerfed.
- Claws of Ahamkara: In PvP, combining this exotic with a Glaive can be an effective strategy.
Glaive Strategy: What to Use Instead of Impact Induction
If Impact Induction isn’t a viable option for your Glaive build, consider alternative strategies to manage your melee cooldown:
- Focus on Discipline: Increase your Discipline stat to passively reduce your melee cooldown.
- Use Melee-Focused Subclasses: Some subclasses offer abilities or aspects that enhance melee regeneration.
- Incorporate Grenades: Grenade builds can provide both offensive and defensive utility, reducing your reliance on melee.
Glaive Tier List: Choosing the Right Glaive
Different Glaives have different strengths. Here is a brief overview.
- Winterbite: A Stasis Glaive that excels in crowd control.
- Vexcalibur: A powerful and versatile Glaive with unique perks.
- Judgment of Kelgorath: A Solar Glaive that pairs well with Solar subclasses.
- Lubrae’s Ruin: A Void Glaive with strong utility and damage potential.
- Nezarec’s Whisper: An Arc Glaive, an incredible addition to any Glaive enthusiast’s arsenal.
- Ecliptic Distaff: A decent all-around Glaive.
- The Enigma: A craftable Glaive with customizable perks.
- Edge of Concurrence: Its performance leaves much to be desired.
The Future of Glaives
Bungie is constantly updating and rebalancing Destiny 2. It’s possible that the functionality of Glaives and their interactions with mods and perks could change in the future. Keep an eye on patch notes and community discussions for any updates.
Final Thoughts
While the fact that Impact Induction doesn’t work with Glaive melee is disappointing, Glaives remain a powerful and versatile weapon type in Destiny 2. By understanding their unique mechanics and limitations, you can create effective builds that leverage their strengths. Keep experimenting with different perks, mods, and subclasses to find the perfect Glaive build for your playstyle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Glaive mechanics and synergies in Destiny 2:
1. Do Glaive melee kills count as melee kills?
Yes, Glaive melee kills are counted as melee kills. This is why some melee-specific perks and exotic armor pieces trigger when using Glaive melee.
2. Does Grave Robber work on Glaives?
Yes, Grave Robber now works on Glaives. You will reload the weapon upon performing a melee kill.
3. Does Demolitionist work on Glaives?
No, Demolitionist does not work on Glaive melee kills. It only procs on kills with the Glaive’s projectile.
4. Do Glaive melee kills trigger Echo of Leeching?
Yes, Echo of Leeching starts health regeneration on Glaive melee final blows.
5. Why isn’t Impact Induction working with my Glaive?
Impact Induction only works when dealing damage with kinetic weapons. Glaive melee attacks are considered ability melee, not weapon damage, and therefore don’t trigger the mod.
6. Do Glaive melee attacks consume ammo?
No, Glaive melee attacks do not consume ammo. You can use them repeatedly without running out of ammo.
7. Does Rampage work on Glaive melee?
No, Rampage, which is a weapon damage buff, does not affect Glaive melee damage. Glaive melee benefits from melee damage buffs only.
8. Do melee mods work with Glaives?
Some melee mods work with Glaives, while others do not. For example, mods that enhance melee damage will work, but mods that require specific elemental melee types or generate orbs on melee kills will not work.
9. Do Synthoceps work with Glaives?
While Synthoceps used to significantly boost Glaive melee damage, the bonus has been heavily nerfed. It is still usable, but not as effective as it once was.
10. What is the best perk for a Glaive in PvP?
A good combination of perks for a PvP Glaive includes:
- Impulse Amplifier: Increases projectile speed and reload speed.
- Kill Clip: Grants increased damage after reloading.
11. Does Condition Overload work on Glaives?
Yes, Condition Overload works on the Glaive melee and projectiles in Warframe, increasing damage based on the number of status effects on the target. But remember that Destiny 2 and Warframe are completely different games.
12. Can Glaives activate Melee Wellmaker?
No, Glaives do not activate Melee Wellmaker. This is because the glaive melee is a weaponized melee and not a character-based melee ability.
13. Where can I learn more about game mechanics and design?
You can explore the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for resources and discussions on game mechanics, design, and the intersection of games and learning.
14. What is the strongest PvE subclass to use with Glaives?
The best PvE subclass depends on your playstyle and the specific Glaive you’re using. Solar Warlock (Dawnblade) is a great choice for overall survivability and damage potential.
15. Do Glaives give Sharp Flavor?
While not guaranteed, Glaive melee kills can occasionally drop Sharp Flavor, a resource used for crafting and upgrading weapons.