The Rat King Catalyst: A Deep Dive into Destiny 2’s Murky Depths
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The Rat King, a quirky and often underestimated sidearm in Destiny 2, receives a significant boost from its catalyst. So, how does the Rat King catalyst work? In essence, the Rat King catalyst provides two key benefits: increased aim assist and recoil direction, significantly improving the weapon’s handling and ease of use. More importantly, it grants the Infestation perk, which refreshes your health when the Vermin perk is activated. This means every time a teammate joins you with their own Rat King, or when you reload immediately after a kill while teammates are nearby, you’ll get a surge of healing. This transforms the Rat King from a novelty weapon into a potent tool for coordinated fireteams, particularly in challenging content.
Understanding the Catalyst’s Impact
The beauty of the Rat King catalyst lies in its synergy with the weapon’s inherent mechanics. The Rat King’s Vermin perk increases its rate of fire and reload speed for each nearby teammate also wielding the Rat King. The catalyst’s healing effect becomes increasingly valuable as the fireteam embraces the Rat King, turning engagements into a frantic exchange of bullets and health regeneration.
Think of it like this: the Rat King encourages teamwork. The more teammates who use it, the stronger it becomes. The catalyst amplifies this by rewarding that teamwork with improved survivability. Instead of simply dealing more damage together, you’re also passively healing each other, creating a surprisingly resilient and difficult-to-kill squad.
Enhanced Aim and Recoil
Before diving deeper into the healing aspect, let’s not overlook the initial buffs granted by the catalyst. The increased aim assist makes it easier to land shots, especially on console. The improved recoil direction tightens the weapon’s spread, making follow-up shots more accurate and predictable. These enhancements make the Rat King more comfortable to use for those less accustomed to sidearms.
Health Regeneration on Demand
The cornerstone of the catalyst’s power is its Infestation perk. The instant health refresh provided upon Vermin activation can be a lifesaver in the heat of battle. This is especially true in activities like Grandmaster Nightfalls, Raids, and even PvP encounters. The burst of healing can often provide the edge needed to survive a deadly situation.
- Strategic Applications: Plan your engagements around the Vermin perk. Reloading near teammates with the Rat King after securing a kill becomes a tactical maneuver.
- Synergy with Class Abilities: Consider pairing the Rat King with class abilities that further enhance survivability, such as healing grenades for Warlocks or invisibility for Hunters.
- Team Communication is Key: Communicate with your fireteam to coordinate Rat King usage. Knowing when your teammates are reloading or engaging can help you time your actions to maximize the healing benefit.
Obtaining and Completing the Catalyst
Acquiring and completing the Rat King catalyst requires patience and dedication. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Acquiring the Catalyst
The Rat King catalyst drops as a random reward from Nightfalls and Strikes. There is no guaranteed method of obtaining it, so you’ll need to grind these activities until it drops. Higher difficulty Nightfalls are thought to have a better chance of dropping it.
Completing the Catalyst
Once you have the catalyst, you’ll need to defeat 500 enemies with the Rat King to unlock its benefits. This can be a time-consuming process, but there are ways to optimize your farming:
- Shuro Chi Cheese (Last Wish Raid): The Shuro Chi encounter in the Last Wish raid is a popular farming spot due to the high density of weak enemies.
- Thrallway (Shattered Throne Dungeon): The Thrallway in the Shattered Throne dungeon offers a similar abundance of weak enemies.
- Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (Entrance): At the beginning of the Grasp of Avarice Dungeon, a infinite wave of enemies will come for you.
- Altars of Sorrow (Moon): This public event on the Moon spawns a constant stream of enemies, providing ample opportunity to rack up kills.
Is the Rat King Catalyst Worth It?
For players who enjoy coordinating with their fireteam and experimenting with unconventional loadouts, the Rat King catalyst is absolutely worth it. It elevates the Rat King from a fun gimmick to a genuinely viable option for both PvE and PvP content.
Even for solo players, the improved handling and occasional healing burst can make the Rat King a more forgiving and enjoyable weapon to use. While the 500 kills required to complete the catalyst can be a grind, the benefits it provides are well worth the effort. Understanding the interplay between weapon mechanics and character skills can significantly enhance the gaming experience, a principle also explored in the Games Learning Society and their research on educational games at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I get the Rat King catalyst?
The Rat King catalyst drops randomly from completing Nightfalls and Strikes. There is no guaranteed way to obtain it. Higher difficulty Nightfalls are thought to have a better drop rate.
2. What does the Rat King catalyst do?
The Rat King catalyst provides increased aim assist and recoil direction, and grants the Infestation perk, which refreshes your health when the Vermin perk is activated.
3. How many kills are required to complete the Rat King catalyst?
You need to defeat 500 enemies with the Rat King to complete the catalyst.
4. What is the best way to farm kills for the Rat King catalyst?
Popular farming locations include the Shuro Chi encounter in the Last Wish raid, the Thrallway in the Shattered Throne dungeon, Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (Entrance), and the Altars of Sorrow on the Moon.
5. Does the Rat King catalyst affect damage output?
No, the Rat King catalyst does not directly increase damage output. It focuses on improving handling and survivability.
6. Does the Rat King catalyst work in PvP?
Yes, the Rat King catalyst and its effects work in PvP. The health refresh can be particularly useful in close-quarters engagements.
7. Do teammates need to be using the Rat King for the catalyst to work?
Yes, the health refresh from the Infestation perk is triggered by the Vermin perk, which only activates when nearby teammates are also using the Rat King or reloading after a kill with teammates nearby.
8. Is the Rat King good for solo play?
The Rat King can be viable for solo play, especially with the catalyst. The improved handling and occasional healing burst can make it a more forgiving weapon. However, it truly shines in coordinated fireteams.
9. How much health does the Infestation perk restore?
The Infestation perk provides a full health refresh. This is a significant boost to survivability.
10. Does the Rat King catalyst improve the weapon’s stats?
Yes, the Rat King catalyst improves the weapon’s stats by increasing aim assist and improving recoil direction.
11. Can I complete the catalyst objective in any activity?
Yes, you can complete the catalyst objective in any activity where you can defeat enemies with the Rat King. However, specific farming locations like the Shuro Chi encounter are more efficient.
12. Is the Rat King catalyst worth the grind?
For players who enjoy coordinated fireteams and experimenting with unconventional loadouts, the Rat King catalyst is definitely worth the grind. It significantly enhances the weapon’s viability.
13. What class synergies well with the Rat King and its catalyst?
Hunters with invisibility, Warlocks with healing grenades, and Titans with barricades can all synergize well with the Rat King, further enhancing survivability and teamwork.
14. Are there any downsides to using the Rat King?
The Rat King requires a coordinated fireteam to reach its full potential. Its effectiveness can be limited in solo play or with uncoordinated teams.
15. Does the catalyst affect the Rat King’s invisibility perk?
No, the catalyst does not directly affect the Rat King’s invisibility perk. The invisibility comes from reloading immediately after a kill. However, the improved handling and health refresh provided by the catalyst can make it easier to secure kills and trigger the invisibility effect.