Does Rat King Work in PvP? A Deep Dive into Destiny 2’s Stealthy Sidearm
Yes, Rat King can work in PvP, but its effectiveness is highly dependent on team coordination, player skill, and the game mode. While not a top-tier meta weapon, Rat King offers unique advantages like invisibility on reload after a kill and increased fire rate/reload speed when near teammates also wielding the weapon. These perks can create powerful, coordinated ambushes and sustain surprising aggression, making it a viable, albeit niche, choice for players seeking a different PvP experience.
Understanding Rat King’s Unique Perks
Rat King isn’t just another sidearm; it’s a team-oriented weapon built around the concept of coordinated stealth and aggression. To truly understand if it works in PvP, let’s break down its key perks:
- Rat Pack: The weapon gets stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped; maxes out at six.
- Vermin: Reloading immediately after a kill grants brief invisibility.
- Smallbore: Increases range and stability.
- Tactical Mag: Increases stability, reload speed, and magazine size.
- Smooth Grip: Increases stability and handling.
The Rat Pack perk is the cornerstone of Rat King’s effectiveness. When multiple Guardians wield the weapon, it dramatically increases fire rate, reload speed, and handling. This transforms the weapon from a fairly standard sidearm into a close-range powerhouse. The Vermin perk, granting invisibility on reload after a kill, adds a crucial layer of survivability and allows for aggressive repositioning or flanking maneuvers.
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Crucible
To determine Rat King’s viability in PvP, we need to assess its strengths and weaknesses against the backdrop of the Crucible’s dynamic environment.
Strengths:
- Team Synergy: As mentioned earlier, Rat King thrives in a team environment. A coordinated squad wielding multiple Rat Kings can overwhelm opponents with a relentless barrage of high-damage, fast-firing sidearm bursts.
- Invisibility: The Vermin perk offers a valuable tactical advantage. Invisibility can be used to disengage from unfavorable engagements, reposition for ambushes, or even escape from Super abilities.
- Close-Range Dominance: In tight corridors and enclosed spaces, Rat King can excel. Its high fire rate and decent damage output make it a formidable weapon in close-quarters combat.
- Surprise Factor: Many players underestimate Rat King. This can work to your advantage, as opponents may not be prepared for its unique playstyle and the speed at which a pack of Rat Kings can down them.
- Ammo Economy: Sidearms, in general, have good ammo economy, allowing for sustained engagements without constantly scavenging for ammo.
Weaknesses:
- Range Limitations: Sidearms are inherently short-range weapons. In open maps or against opponents with longer-range weapons, Rat King users will struggle to close the distance and engage effectively.
- Dependency on Team Coordination: Rat King’s effectiveness is significantly diminished without teammates also using the weapon. Solo players will find it difficult to maximize its potential.
- Vulnerability During Reload: While invisibility is a powerful tool, it requires a kill to activate. If you fail to secure a kill, you’re still vulnerable during the reload animation.
- Countered by Meta Weapons: Rat King struggles against the most popular and powerful weapons in the Crucible meta, such as pulse rifles, hand cannons, and certain Special weapons.
- High Skill Ceiling: Mastering Rat King requires practice and coordination. Players must learn to use its invisibility effectively and coordinate with teammates to maximize its team-oriented perks.
Game Modes Where Rat King Shines
Rat King’s effectiveness varies depending on the game mode.
- Control: In Control, Rat King can be effective for holding down capture points, especially in indoor environments. A coordinated team can use Rat King to create a zone of control and deny access to the enemy.
- Clash: In Clash, Rat King can be used to surprise enemies in tight corridors. Coordinating flanks with the team can make Rat King more useful.
- Survival/Elimination: These game modes require coordination and focus on taking opponents out one by one. Rat King will need to be used with a group of teammates to succeed.
- Rumble: Rat King is not recommended for Rumble because this game mode focuses on 1v1 engagements. Rat King requires team coordination, which is not possible in this game mode.
Tips and Tricks for Mastering Rat King in PvP
- Communicate with your team: Coordinate your attacks and flanks with teammates wielding Rat King.
- Utilize invisibility wisely: Use invisibility to disengage from unfavorable engagements, reposition for ambushes, or escape from Super abilities.
- Practice your aim: Rat King’s high fire rate requires accurate aim to be effective. Practice your tracking and burst-firing skills.
- Pair it with the right armor mods: Consider using mods that enhance mobility, resilience, or recovery to complement Rat King’s playstyle.
- Consider your subclass: Consider subclasses that enhance stealth or movement, such as Nightstalker Hunter or Voidwalker Warlock, to further amplify Rat King’s advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rat King in PvP
1. Is Rat King a viable weapon for solo players in PvP?
While technically usable, Rat King is significantly less effective for solo players. Its team-oriented perks are less valuable without coordinated teammates.
2. What’s the ideal team composition for a Rat King squad?
There’s no single “ideal” composition, but a balanced team with different subclasses and weapon types can complement Rat King’s weaknesses. A good start is the whole team running Rat King.
3. Which subclass synergies work best with Rat King?
Nightstalker Hunter‘s invisibility abilities and Voidwalker Warlock’s ability to go invisible synergize well with Rat King’s stealthy playstyle.
4. What are the best armor mods to use with Rat King?
Mobility, resilience, and recovery mods can enhance survivability and allow for aggressive repositioning.
5. Does Rat King work in Trials of Osiris?
Rat King is a risky pick in Trials of Osiris due to its reliance on team coordination. However, a highly skilled and coordinated team could surprise opponents with a Rat King rush.
6. How does Rat King compare to other sidearms in PvP?
Rat King is more team-dependent than most sidearms. It trades individual power for increased effectiveness in a group. It’s not the best choice if you want to play alone.
7. Can Rat King counter Supers?
Invisibility can be used to evade some Supers, but Rat King is generally not effective against Super users due to its limited range and damage output.
8. What’s the best range to engage with Rat King?
Close to mid-range is ideal. Avoid engaging opponents at long range, as Rat King’s damage falloff is significant.
9. How important is aiming down sights (ADS) with Rat King?
ADS can improve accuracy at slightly longer ranges, but hip-firing is often preferable in close-quarters combat.
10. Does Rat King work better on console or PC?
Rat King is potentially more effective on PC due to the increased accuracy and control offered by mouse and keyboard.
11. Is there a specific map in Destiny 2 where Rat King excels?
Maps with tight corridors and enclosed spaces, such as The Fortress or Convergence, are favorable for Rat King.
12. Can Rat King one-burst Guardians in PvP?
No, Rat King cannot reliably one-burst Guardians in PvP, even with the Rat Pack perk active.
13. Is Rat King a good choice for new Destiny 2 players in PvP?
Rat King is not recommended for new players due to its high skill ceiling and reliance on team coordination. New players are better off using more forgiving weapons.
14. How often do people actually use Rat King in PvP?
Rat King is a relatively rare sight in PvP. Its niche playstyle and reliance on team coordination limit its popularity.
15. Will Rat King ever become meta in Destiny 2 PvP?
It’s unlikely that Rat King will ever become truly meta, due to its inherent limitations and the constant power creep of other weapons. However, it can remain a viable and fun option for coordinated teams.
In conclusion, while Rat King may not be the king of the Crucible, it offers a unique and potentially rewarding experience for players willing to embrace its team-oriented playstyle. With the right coordination and skill, Rat King can be a surprisingly effective weapon in PvP.