Crushing Kills: Unveiling the Weapon Leveling Secrets of Destiny 2
So, you’re looking to max out that new piece of iron in Destiny 2? The burning question: How many kills does it really take to level up weapons in Destiny 2? There isn’t a flat number. Weapon leveling in Destiny 2 is a blend of kill counts and activity completions, but here’s a rough breakdown to get you started. Early levels come fast, requiring significantly less “experience”. As you climb towards level 20 and beyond, the grind intensifies.
The truth is, Bungie doesn’t publish an exact number, and there are several variables that can impact the speed of your leveling:
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Weapon Type: Certain weapon types seem to accrue XP at different rates. For example, in older game versions Primary & Special Crafted Weapons required a ratio of roughly 143 kills per level (rounded up). Heavy Weapons had a ratio of roughly 84 kills per level (rounded up).
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Activity Type: Crucible matches, Strikes, Gambit matches, and even just roaming around patrol zones all offer different amounts of weapon XP. Some activities grant significant XP boosts.
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Kill Type: Precision kills, multikills, and defeating higher-tier enemies (yellow bars) contribute more XP than simply plinking away at low-level mobs.
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XP Boosts: Utilizing Ghost Shell mods with XP bonuses dramatically speeds up the process. Keep an eye out for seasonal buffs and events that may offer increased XP gains.
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Activity Completion: Simply completing activites with the weapon equipped will increase the weapon’s level.
Ultimately, think of it less in terms of a strict kill count and more as a time investment. Maximizing your XP gain requires optimizing your approach.
Optimizing Your Weapon Leveling Strategy
Here are some strategies to speed up the grind:
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Shuro Chi (Last Wish Raid): While requiring some initial setup, the Shuro Chi encounter in the Last Wish raid is widely considered the fastest way to earn weapon experience due to the constant stream of enemies.
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Grasp of Avarice Entrance: Similar to Shuro Chi, the beginning of the Grasp of Avarice dungeon offers a concentrated wave of enemies that are perfect for racking up kills and weapon XP.
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Altars of Sorrow (Moon): This public event provides endless waves of enemies, making it an excellent option for leveling weapons while participating in a public activity.
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PsiOps Battlegrounds: This seasonal activity gives plenty of kills.
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Equip a Ghost Shell with an XP Mod: This is crucial. The “Blinding Light” mod, or any similar mod that grants bonus XP, will drastically reduce the time required to level your weapons.
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Complete Bounties: While not directly tied to kills with the weapon, completing bounties provides overall account XP, which indirectly impacts the speed at which you level your weapons.
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Focus on Challenging Content: While it might seem counterintuitive, tackling activities like Nightfalls and higher-difficulty Lost Sectors can be more efficient due to the increased XP rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Weapon Leveling in Destiny 2
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you further optimize your weapon leveling in Destiny 2:
How do Weapon Levels Affect My Weapon?
Increasing a weapon’s level unlocks higher-quality frames and more available perks. Level 20 provides a small stat boost to all of the weapon’s stats. Two Enhanced Perks and an Enhanced Intrinsic Perk will give the weapon that gold ‘Masterwork’ weapon border we all love. All Memento vanity options are unlocked at weapon level 30. There is no ‘maximum level’ for weapons in Destiny 2.
Should I Extract Weapon Patterns in Destiny 2?
Yes! Extracting weapon patterns is a crucial step in the crafting process. While there is still the need to extract weapon patterns in Destiny 2 before actually forging them, this is a great way to familiarize players with the weapons they use and how they should use them.
Where Can I Farm Weapon Patterns Effectively?
Aside from campaign missions and side quests, weapon Patterns can be farmed on Neomuna through Heroic patrols. You can get three Patterns for each weapon through the campaign and doing side quests in Lightfall. Those campaign missions and side quests each offer the weapon Pattern listed above.
Is Shuro Chi Still the Best Weapon Leveling Farm?
Yes, Shuro-Chi is by far the best method for earning weapon experience. This is a boss in the Last Wish Raid. Fortunately, players do not need to clear any priory parts of the activity. Instead, Guardians can access a wall in the Raid and enter a specific code to teleport to Shuro-Chi.
How Does Weapon Leveling Actually Work in Destiny 2?
Defeat enemies with these Resonant Weapons to increase their levels. Completing activities with the weapon equipped will also increase the weapon’s level. Increasing a weapon’s level unlocks higher-quality frames and more available perks.
What is the Highest Level a Crafted Weapon Can Reach?
Weapons don’t seem to have a level cap, although you unlock all weapon crafting options at around level 20. All Memento vanity options are unlocked at weapon level 30.
What Are the Best Exotic Weapons to Use in Destiny 2?
The “best” exotic weapon is subjective and depends on the activity and your playstyle. Some top contenders include:
- Gjallarhorn
- Ager’s Scepter
- Divinity
- Wish-Ender
What is the Rarest Weapon in Destiny 2?
Rarity can fluctuate with updates and seasons. Some historically rare weapons include:
- The Inquisitor
- Touch of Malice
- Collective Obligation
What’s Considered a “God Roll” for Osteo Striga?
An ideal build, aka a ‘god roll’ of Osteo Striga will focus on accuracy and handling, which will maximize how often the gun’s exotic perk activates. Here is our recommendation for the best Osteo Striga god roll in Destiny 2: Smallbore. Accurized Rounds.
How Can I Maximize XP Gains in Destiny 2?
- Equip the Blinding Light mod on your Ghost Shell.
- Clear out any quests you aren’t actively working towards; they contirbute towards your bounty cap.
- Buy as many weekly bounties as possible.
- Purchase as many daily bounties as you can.
- Fill your remaining slots with repeatable bounties.
Can I Level Up Weapons in the Division 2?
The linked text describes upgrading exotics in Division 2, but not weapon leveling in the same way as Destiny 2.
How Do I Get Powerful Gear in Destiny 2?
Activities and sources with Powerful gear drops known so far in Lightfall include:
- Completing eight vendor bounties: Gambit, Vanguard, Crucible, and Banshee (+1 Power)
- Weekly Nightfall challenge (+1 Power)
- Gambit, Vanguard, Crucible, and Banshee rank rewards (+1 Power)
- Three Dares of Eternity runs (+2 Power)
Does Power Level Matter on Weapons in Destiny 2?
Power level does not matter in PVP (except for Iron Banner). The weapons do matter though. The better the weapons the better the damage that you can do. You can do decent with green weapons but unless youre really good players with better weapons will kill you first.
What Guns are Worth Grinding For in Destiny 2?
Some highly sought-after craftable god rolls include:
- Acasia’s Dejection – Trace Rifle
- Forbearance – Wave Frame GL
- Rufus’s Fury – Auto Rifle
What is the Best Place to Get Exotics in Destiny 2?
Nightfalls offer a time-efficient way to farm Exotics. High-difficulty Nightfall: The Ordeal activities give you the most chances to get desired golden items, as well as useful materials and Nightfall weapons.
Final Thoughts
Weapon leveling in Destiny 2 is a journey, not a sprint. By understanding the mechanics, optimizing your strategies, and taking advantage of XP boosts, you’ll be blasting your way through enemy ranks with fully-leveled gear in no time. You’ll soon be enjoying those enhanced perks and stat boosts. Remember to experiment with different activities and find what works best for your playstyle. Good luck, Guardian, and happy hunting!
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