What Kind of Weapon is Riskrunner?
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Riskrunner is an Exotic Submachine Gun in Destiny 2, renowned for its unique perk, Arc Conductor, which turns incoming Arc damage into a devastating advantage. It’s more than just a weapon; it’s a dynamic tool that rewards aggressive play and the ability to leverage enemy attacks. This exotic SMG sits firmly in the category of a close-to-mid-range, high-damage option, particularly potent against Arc-based enemies. Its core strength lies not in raw base damage, but in its ability to amplify its offensive capabilities and increase survivability when under Arc fire. Riskrunner encourages players to be proactive, charging into the fray and using the enemy’s power against them. It’s a weapon that transforms chaotic battles into opportunities for electrifying destruction.
Riskrunner: More Than Just a Submachine Gun
The Arc Conductor Advantage
At the heart of Riskrunner is the Arc Conductor perk. This perk activates when the player takes Arc damage, transforming the submachine gun into a powerhouse. While active, Riskrunner’s bullets have a chance to chain lightning, hitting multiple enemies. This not only increases the damage output exponentially but also grants ammo return on chained hits, ensuring a constant barrage of electrifying firepower. Moreover, when Arc Conductor is active, the user gains increased resistance to incoming Arc damage, turning what would be a disadvantage into a survival buff. Riskrunner fundamentally changes how players approach Arc-based encounters, allowing them to wade into the fray and turn the tables on their opponents.
Backline or Frontline? Riskrunner’s Role
While Riskrunner may initially seem like a backline option due to its reliance on being hit by Arc damage, the weapon is designed for aggressive, frontline combat. Its perk thrives in the thick of the fight, transforming enemy attacks into opportunities for devastating retribution. While not as effective against non-Arc enemies, the clever player can use their own Arc grenades or abilities to trigger the perk and unleash its powerful chain lightning effect. This versatility ensures that Riskrunner can be viable in most combat scenarios with a bit of planning and strategic positioning.
Mastering Riskrunner: The Catalyst
The Riskrunner Catalyst significantly enhances its effectiveness. To unlock it, players need to achieve 600 kills, with half of those kills made using the “Superconductor” (Arc Conductor) perk. Upon completion, the catalyst grants an additional 27 points to its range stat, greatly increasing its effective distance and making it more lethal at medium range. This improvement ensures that the weapon’s chain lightning capabilities can reach more enemies and extends the time players can utilize it during combat, making the Catalyst a must-have upgrade for any serious Riskrunner user.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Riskrunner a Special Weapon?
No, Riskrunner is an Exotic Submachine Gun, categorized as a primary weapon that uses primary ammo. Its exotic perk is what makes it stand out and defines its function in combat.
2. How Do You Get Riskrunner?
Riskrunner can be obtained by completing the “Spark of Hope” questline, through Exotic Engrams, or sometimes it may drop as a world drop reward. Players can also purchase the weapon from vendors when available in their stock.
3. What Makes Riskrunner Unique?
Riskrunner’s unique attribute is its Arc Conductor perk. Taking Arc damage boosts the weapon’s power, chains lightning between enemies, and returns ammo, making it incredibly effective when facing Arc damage.
4. How Does the Arc Conductor Perk Work?
The Arc Conductor perk activates when the player takes Arc damage. When active, shots fired have a chance to chain lightning to nearby enemies, and any chain lightning hits will return ammunition to the magazine. Also, while active, the player gains resistance to incoming Arc damage.
5. What is Riskrunner Good For?
Riskrunner excels in scenarios where there are Arc shields and Arc-wielding enemies. Its ability to chain lightning and return ammo makes it ideal for clearing groups of enemies, as well as mitigating the effects of incoming Arc damage.
6. How Do You Masterwork Riskrunner?
To masterwork Riskrunner, players must earn 600 kills with the weapon, with half of those kills made with the Superconductor perk active. Once completed, the masterwork grants a boost of 27 to its range stat.
7. Is Riskrunner Effective in Crucible?
While powerful, Riskrunner is not considered balanced for Crucible due to the power of its Exotic perk being easily abused with arc-based abilities and weapons, making it a dominating presence when used effectively. The fact that the player has to take damage before utilizing it limits its usability in 1v1 encounters, but once the perk is activated it can be deadly in closed quarters.
8. Why is Riskrunner so Popular?
Riskrunner’s popularity stems from its unique and fun playstyle, the satisfying chain lightning effect, and its ability to easily handle swarms of enemies. It turns a negative (taking damage) into a huge positive, making it engaging to use.
9. Is Riskrunner Good for PVE?
Absolutely! Riskrunner is incredibly effective in PVE against Arc-based enemies. It excels at clearing large groups quickly and with good sustainability due to ammo return, making it a powerful choice for many PVE activities.
10. What are the Best Alternatives to Riskrunner?
Alternatives include other Exotic SMGs like Huckleberry or The Immortal, which offer strong damage output. For elemental affinity, weapons like Thunderlord (Arc Machine Gun) can provide similar coverage against Arc enemies and are worth considering if you want to have alternatives to Riskrunner in your arsenal.
11. How Does Riskrunner’s Range Compare to Other SMGs?
Without its Catalyst, Riskrunner’s range is average compared to other SMGs. However, once mastered, its range is significantly increased by 27 points, making it effective at a mid-range, but primarily it is used for close-quarters combat.
12. How to get the Riskrunner Catalyst?
The catalyst is obtained through a random drop from PVE encounters. Once obtained, you need 600 kills with the weapon, with half of them by the “Superconductor” perk.
13. Does Riskrunner’s Chain Lightning Damage Scale?
Riskrunner’s chain lightning damage does not scale directly with your weapon’s damage. However, its effectiveness is amplified by the number of enemies present in an area and it benefits from any general damage buffs you might have active.
14. Can You Trigger Arc Conductor without Arc Damage from Enemies?
Yes, players can trigger the Arc Conductor perk by using their own Arc grenades or abilities, allowing them to gain the perk benefits even when not under enemy fire.
15. What is the Best Way to Utilize Riskrunner?
The best way to utilize Riskrunner is to get close to enemies, allowing you to trigger the Arc Conductor perk reliably. Use your own abilities to self-trigger the perk and move methodically through hordes of enemies, focusing on maximizing chain lightning spread and taking advantage of the damage reduction. Always be aware of your positioning and try not to stray too far away from your team, as getting isolated will make it hard to reliably proc the perk.