Mastering the Glaive: The Ultimate Perk Guide

The Glaive, a unique weapon type in Destiny 2, blends ranged projectile attacks with close-quarters melee combat, offering a versatile playstyle for those who dare to wield it. However, maximizing its effectiveness relies heavily on selecting the right perks. The ideal perks for a Glaive depend on your preferred playstyle, but generally, the best perks focus on enhancing either the projectile damage, the melee capabilities, or a balanced combination of both. Some top-tier perk combinations include: Grave Robber and Swashbuckler for aggressive melee builds, Frenzy for a consistent damage boost to both ranged and melee attacks, and Utility perks like Steady Hands and Wellspring for enhanced resource management.

Glaive Perk Deep Dive

Choosing the right perk can elevate your Glaive from a situational tool to a powerhouse. Here’s a more detailed look at some standout perks and how they synergize with the Glaive’s unique mechanics:

• Grave Robber & Swashbuckler: This is a dynamic duo for aggressive melee builds. Grave Robber instantly reloads the Glaive upon a melee kill, allowing you to chain melee attacks without worrying about reload times. Swashbuckler significantly increases damage (33%) after a melee kill, affecting your projectile damage. This combination creates a loop of melee kills leading to more powerful ranged attacks, making it perfect for clearing adds and dealing burst damage.

• Frenzy: A universally valuable perk, Frenzy grants a significant damage boost to both melee and projectile attacks when you’re in combat. The enhanced version further amplifies this damage increase. This perk is fantastic for sustained damage output in prolonged engagements.

• Subsistence: This perk reloads a portion of the magazine from reserves after each kill. While the Glaive has a small magazine, Subsistence can extend your uptime between reloads, making it useful for consistent ranged damage.

• Impulse Amplifier: A great all around option for this weapon. This perk grants a massive bonus to reload speed and makes projectiles much faster.

• Wellspring & Steady Hands: These perks provide utility rather than direct damage. Wellspring grants energy to all your abilities with each kill, while Steady Hands improves weapon handling speed. These perks are excellent for builds that focus on ability uptime and quick weapon swaps.

• Close to Melee: This unique perk is found on the Judgment of Kelgorath Glaive. It boosts glaive melee damage after landing final blows with glaive projectiles.

• Unstoppable Force: Upon breaking a combatants shield, the projectile damage will increase.

When building your Glaive, consider your overall build and playstyle. Do you prefer aggressive melee engagements or do you favor distance projectile attacks? Selecting the correct perks will help you get the most out of your Glaive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Glaive Perks

1. Does Impact Induction Work with Glaives?

Unfortunately, Impact Induction does not work with Glaive melee attacks. Armor mods like Focusing Strike, Kinetic Weapon Surge, and Kinetic Siphon also do not trigger from Glaive melee damage.

2. Do Synthoceps or Wormgod Caress Buff Glaive Melee Damage?

Yes, Synthoceps and Wormgod Caress do work with Glaive melee, but with significant caveats. Bungie has nerfed the damage buff provided by these exotics to Glaives, substantially reducing their effectiveness. Wormgods for example was nerfed from 7x to 3.5x.

3. What’s the Best Enhanced Perk for a Glaive?

Enhanced Frenzy is generally considered the best enhanced perk for Glaives, providing a more substantial damage boost to both melee and projectile attacks when in combat.

4. Does the Knockout Perk Work with Glaive Melee?

No, Knockout does not start health regeneration on Glaive melee final blows. However, the Echo of Leeching fragment can initiate health regeneration on Glaive melee final blows.

5. Do Glaives Benefit from Melee Damage Buffs Like Rampage or Kill Clip?

Glaive melee attacks should benefit from melee damage buffs, such as those provided by Winter’s Guile or Wormgod Caress. However, weapon damage buffs like Rampage, Kill Clip, and Swashbuckler do not affect Glaive melee damage only the projectile damage.

6. Are Glaives Considered Dexterity or Strength-Based Weapons?

Glaives are considered Strength-based weapons. They lack the Finesse property, meaning you cannot use Dexterity in place of Strength for attack rolls.

7. Do Glaives Work with Fragments?

Yes, Glaives work with fragments. Certain fragments, like Echo of Leeching, can enhance the effectiveness of Glaive melee attacks. Additionally, some Glaives, like the Judgment of Kelgorath, can roll with perks like Close to Melee, further synergizing with fragment effects.

8. Do Glaives Trigger Melee-Related Exotics?

Historically, Glaives have had inconsistent interactions with melee-related exotics. While some exotics, like Karnstein Armlets, now work with Glaive melee, many others do not. Bungie has stated their intent to expand exotic compatibility with Glaives in the future.

9. Do Glaives Benefit from Kinetic Weapon Surge?

No, Kinetic Weapon Surge does not work with Glaive melee attacks.

10. Is Grave Robber or Subsistence Better on a Glaive?

The choice between Grave Robber and Subsistence depends on your playstyle. Grave Robber is ideal for aggressive melee-focused builds, while Subsistence is better for maintaining sustained projectile damage.

11. Can a Glaive Stab?

Despite its polearm design, the Glaive’s primary function is not stabbing. Its effectiveness as a stabbing weapon is limited compared to its slashing and sweeping capabilities.

12. Do Glaives Work with the Stronghold Exotic Gauntlets?

Yes, Glaives can work with the Stronghold exotic gauntlets, particularly solar Glaives. Using a solar Glaive with Stronghold allows you to achieve 100% damage reduction while guarding.

13. Do Glaive Melee Kills Drop Sharp Flavor?

Yes, Glaive melee kills can occasionally drop Sharp Flavor, which is a resource used for crafting and upgrading weapons.

14. Does the Exotic Perk on the “The Enigma” Glaive Affect It’s Melee?

The Enigma is craftable so you can put the best options to make the Glaive the best.

15. Where Can I Learn More About Game Mechanics and Design?

For those interested in learning more about the mechanics and design principles behind games like Destiny 2, I highly recommend exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization provides valuable insights into the educational and cognitive aspects of gaming.

Mastering the Glaive requires a thoughtful approach to perk selection, aligning your choices with your preferred playstyle and build. By understanding the nuances of each perk and how they interact with the Glaive’s unique mechanics, you can unlock its full potential and dominate the battlefield.