The Ultimate Hunter’s Guide: Mastering Grenades in Destiny 2
The best grenade for Hunters in Destiny 2 is highly dependent on the subclass, playstyle, and content you’re tackling. However, if forced to pick one overall champion, it would be the Void Hunter’s Shackle Grenade. This grenade offers incredible crowd control by suspending enemies, making it invaluable in both PvE and PvP scenarios. It provides crucial breathing room, allows for coordinated team attacks, and synergizes exceptionally well with Void subclass builds focused on invisibility and debuffs. But, hold on Guardian, because the rabbit hole of grenade options for Hunters goes much deeper than that! Let’s dive into the nuances of each subclass and its grenade strengths.
Void Hunter: The Art of Control
Shackle Grenades are the stars here, without a doubt. Their ability to shut down groups of enemies is unmatched, offering unparalleled safety and tactical advantages. In PvE, suspending high-value targets can drastically reduce incoming damage and create opportunities for your fireteam to unleash devastating attacks. In PvP, a well-placed Shackle Grenade can turn the tide of a close-quarters engagement, leaving your opponents vulnerable.
- Synergy: Shackle Grenades work exceptionally well with aspects like Stylish Execution and fragments like Echo of Persistence, extending invisibility duration and enhancing debuff uptime.
Other Viable Void Grenades
While Shackle Grenades reign supreme, other Void grenades have their niche uses:
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Vortex Grenade: Still a solid choice for sustained area damage. Great for clearing out tightly packed enemies or denying entry points.
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Voidwall Grenade: Useful for creating tactical barriers and controlling enemy movement in confined spaces.
Arc Hunter: Shock and Awe
Arc Hunters excel at aggressive, fast-paced gameplay. Their grenades reflect this, emphasizing burst damage and area denial.
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Flux Grenade: This grenade attaches to a target and detonates after a short delay, dealing significant damage. Perfect for single-target burst damage in both PvE and PvP.
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Arc Bolt Grenade: Chains lightning to nearby enemies, making it effective against groups of weaker foes.
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Skip Grenade: Splits into multiple projectiles that track enemies, offering decent area coverage.
Arc Hunter: Underutilized Potential
While the above are the main grenades used by Hunters, under the right circumstances, and with the correct setup, any of the other grenades available to Arc Hunters can be useful.
Solar Hunter: Burning Bright
Solar Hunters are all about damage over time and ignitions. Their grenades play a key role in spreading Scorch and triggering powerful explosions.
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Incendiary Grenade: Sets enemies on fire, inflicting Scorch and potentially igniting them. A core component of many Solar Hunter builds.
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Thermite Grenade: Creates a line of burning thermite that scorches enemies in its path. Great for area denial and zoning.
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Solar Flare Grenade: Creates a lingering solar flare that damages enemies within its radius.
Solar Hunter: Igniting the Battlefield
A well placed grenade is invaluable for any of the hunter’s subclasses.
Stasis Hunter: Freezing Over
Stasis Hunters focus on freezing and shattering enemies. Their grenades are essential for controlling the battlefield and setting up powerful shatter damage.
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Duskfield Grenade: Creates a slowing field that eventually freezes enemies caught within it. Excellent for crowd control and setting up shatter combos.
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Glacier Grenade: Creates a wall of stasis crystals that can be used for cover, blocking pathways, or shattering enemies.
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Coldsnap Grenade: Seeks out and freezes nearby enemies. A quick and reliable way to lock down targets.
Stasis Hunter: Shattering the Competition
Stasis grenades are a cornerstone of the stasis subclass, and can lead to many powerful shatter damage builds.
Threadrunner: Weaving Mayhem
Threadrunners use their grenades to create woven tangles and suspend enemies.
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Grapple Grenade: While technically a movement tool, the Grapple Grenade can be used aggressively to pull yourself into melee range or suspend enemies with the Threadling strikes.
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Threadling Grenade: Spawns Threadlings that seek out and damage enemies, providing sustained damage and distractions.
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Shackle Grenade: (Yes, it’s back!) Functions the same as the Void version, offering exceptional crowd control.
Threadrunner: A Different Breed
The Threadrunner subclass differs significantly from the other classes.
Choosing the Right Grenade: Key Considerations
Ultimately, the “best” grenade depends on several factors:
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Subclass: Each subclass has unique synergies and playstyles that favor specific grenades.
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Playstyle: Are you an aggressive, in-your-face player or a more cautious, tactical one?
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Content: Different activities demand different strategies. What works in a Strike may not be ideal for a Crucible match.
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Build: The effectiveness of a grenade is often tied to your overall build, including aspects, fragments, and armor mods.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Which grenade is best for clearing large groups of enemies in PvE?
Vortex Grenades and Voidwall Grenades (Void Hunter), and even Threadling Grenades (Threadrunner) are excellent for this, providing sustained area damage. Duskfield Grenades (Stasis Hunter) can also work well by freezing enemies in place.
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Which grenade is best for single-target damage?
Flux Grenades (Arc Hunter) offer excellent burst damage against individual targets. Incendiary Grenades (Solar Hunter) can also be effective if you can consistently trigger ignitions.
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Which grenade is best for PvP?
Shackle Grenades (Void & Threadrunner) are incredibly strong for controlling enemy movement and creating openings for attacks. Flux Grenades (Arc Hunter) are also a good option for quick kills.
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How do I maximize the effectiveness of Shackle Grenades?
Focus on builds that enhance ability uptime and debuff duration. Aspects like Stylish Execution (Void Hunter) and fragments like Echo of Persistence (Void) can greatly improve their performance.
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Are there any armor mods that specifically benefit grenades?
Yes! Mods like Grenade Kickstart (armor energy on grenade use) and Ashes to Assets (super energy on grenade kills) can significantly enhance grenade builds.
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Is it worth using a grenade launcher over a traditional grenade?
Grenade launchers offer higher burst damage and area coverage but have limited ammo. They are a viable option for specialized builds and certain activities, but traditional grenades offer more consistent utility.
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How does grenade damage scale with Power level?
Grenade damage scales with your overall Power level, but the effect diminishes at higher levels. Focusing on build synergy and ability uptime is more important than pure Power level.
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Can grenades benefit from weapon perks like “Demolitionist”?
Yes! The Demolitionist weapon perk refunds grenade energy on weapon kills, creating a powerful synergy.
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Which Hunter subclass has the best grenade-focused builds?
Void Hunter and Solar Hunter are the strongest contenders, with numerous aspects, fragments, and exotics that synergize well with grenade usage.
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Are there any exotics that specifically enhance Hunter grenades?
While fewer than desired, there are some viable choices. Shinobu’s Vow boosts skip grenade damage, while Young Ahamkara’s Spine allows for more frequent trip mine grenades.
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What are Woven Mail and Tangled Threadlings?
Woven Mail is a buff that increases survivability for the player and any allies that are nearby. Threadlings are grenades that spawn after the player uses their special abilities.
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Where can I learn more about Destiny 2 builds and strategies?
There are numerous online resources, including YouTube channels, Reddit communities, and Destiny 2 build websites. GamesLearningSociety.org also offers valuable insights into the design and gameplay of Destiny 2.
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How do I get better at aiming grenades?
Practice! Spend time in patrol zones or Strikes experimenting with different grenade types and trajectories. Pay attention to the grenade’s arc and bounce characteristics.
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Do different grenades have different cooldown times?
Yes, different grenades have different base cooldown times. This can be modified by your Discipline stat and certain armor mods.
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Is there a “best” grenade for every situation?
No. Adaptability is key in Destiny 2. Experiment with different grenades and builds to find what works best for you and the challenges you face.
Ultimately, mastering Hunter grenades in Destiny 2 is a journey of experimentation and discovery. Embrace the challenge, hone your skills, and unleash the full potential of your explosive arsenal, and you’ll be dominating the battlefield in no time!