Why Are Synthoceps Good?

Synthoceps are an excellent choice for Titans in Destiny 2, renowned for their ability to significantly boost melee damage and survivability. They excel in aggressive, close-quarters combat, empowering players to quickly eliminate enemies and withstand incoming fire. Their primary perk, “Biotic Enhancements,” provides increased melee damage when surrounded, and significantly increases lunge range. This combination transforms Titans into formidable forces on the battlefield, making them particularly effective in PvE and competitive PvP scenarios. Synthoceps are also beneficial due to their synergy with various Titan subclasses and mods, making them a versatile Exotic armor piece for diverse playstyles.

Synthoceps: Unpacking the Power

Synthoceps, easily recognizable by their distinctive claw-like appearance, are not just aesthetically pleasing; they offer a substantial gameplay advantage. The key to their effectiveness lies in the Biotic Enhancements perk. This perk essentially provides two crucial benefits:

• Increased Melee Damage: When surrounded by enemies (typically two or more within a certain proximity), your melee damage is significantly amplified. This allows for one-hit kills in PvP in certain circumstances and dramatically speeds up enemy clearing in PvE.
• Increased Lunge Range: The lunge range of your melee attacks is drastically increased. This provides more flexibility in targeting enemies, allowing you to engage from a safer distance and connect with targets that might otherwise be out of reach. This extended range also helps with mobility, allowing you to close gaps quickly.

How the Damage Buff Works

The exact percentage of the melee damage buff has been adjusted over time, but the underlying principle remains the same: the closer you are to multiple enemies, the more potent the damage becomes. While the precise numbers may vary slightly depending on updates, the Biotic Enhancements perk consistently delivers a substantial damage boost. This boost is crucial for quickly eliminating high-value targets, such as Champions in PvE or opposing Guardians in PvP.

Subclass Synergies with Synthoceps

Synthoceps’ versatility is amplified by their synergy with various Titan subclasses. Here’s a look at some of the most effective pairings:

• Striker (Arc): The Striker subclass, known for its aggressive melee focus, perfectly complements Synthoceps. Skills like “Knockout” and aspects that amplify melee damage, stack additively with Biotic Enhancements, turning you into a devastating force.
• Sunbreaker (Solar): While less directly melee-focused than Striker, Sunbreaker Titans can leverage Synthoceps for powerful hammer attacks. Increased melee damage translates to even more devastating hammer throws and melee abilities that can scorch and ignite enemies.
• Sentinel (Void): The Sentinel subclass benefits from Synthoceps through the use of overshields and suppression abilities. The increased melee damage allows for quick takedowns of enemies while maintaining defensive advantages. Sentinel also has an option to grant allies overshields on melee hits, further buffing the team’s survivability.
• Behemoth (Stasis): Behemoth Titans can combine Synthoceps with abilities that shatter frozen targets. Shattering enemies with enhanced melee damage becomes incredibly effective for crowd control and dealing significant damage to tougher foes.
• Strand (Berserker): The new Strand subclass excels with Synthoceps as well. Grapple melee attacks combined with the amplified damage make quick work of PvE enemies and can be utilized to make an aggressive play in PvP.

Mods That Complement Synthoceps

To further optimize Synthoceps’ effectiveness, consider using the following mods:

• Melee Kickstart: This mod refunds melee energy when you use your melee ability. Combined with the effectiveness of your enhanced melee damage, you can rapidly regenerate your abilities and keep the pressure on your opponents.
• Impact Induction: This mod grants grenade energy upon dealing melee damage. Since you’ll be engaging in melee combat frequently with Synthoceps, this mod allows you to recharge your grenades more quickly, providing additional offensive options.
• Hands-On: Provides Super energy on melee kills.
• Heavy Handed: Consuming one Armor Charge grants increased melee damage and refills your melee energy when near targets.

When to Use Synthoceps

Synthoceps are most effective in scenarios where close-quarters combat is common and enemies are likely to surround you. This makes them ideal for:

• PvE: Activities such as Gambit, Strikes, Dungeons, and Raids (especially in encounter where enemies group up) are great places to use Synthoceps.
• PvP: Control, Rumble, and other game modes where engagements occur at close range benefit greatly from Synthoceps’ damage and lunge range bonuses.

Synthoceps: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much damage does Synthoceps actually add?

The exact percentage fluctuates depending on balance updates, but it’s a significant boost that makes a noticeable difference in your melee damage output. Expect at least a 100% damage increase, scaling higher when surrounded by multiple enemies.

2. Does Synthoceps work with uncharged melee attacks?

Yes, Synthoceps boosts the damage of both charged and uncharged melee attacks, making it consistently useful regardless of your melee ability cooldown.

3. Can Synthoceps one-shot Guardians in PvP?

Yes, under certain circumstances. When surrounded by enemies and using specific subclasses or mods that further amplify melee damage, Synthoceps can enable one-hit kills with a charged melee ability. However, Guardian resilience can impact the effectiveness of one-hit kills.

4. Does the increased lunge range affect all melee abilities?

Yes, the increased lunge range applies to all melee abilities, making it easier to connect with targets and close gaps effectively.

5. How many enemies do I need to be near for Synthoceps to activate?

The damage boost typically activates when two or more enemies are within a relatively short distance.

6. Does Synthoceps work with throwing hammers?

Yes, Synthoceps enhances the damage of throwing hammers from the Sunbreaker subclass, making them even more potent.

7. Are Synthoceps good for solo content?

Yes, Synthoceps are great for solo content. The increased damage and lunge range can make it easier to clear rooms of enemies and survive challenging encounters.

8. How do Synthoceps compare to other Titan Exotics like One-Eyed Mask?

Synthoceps are more focused on offensive power, while One-Eyed Mask provides defensive benefits like health regeneration and a damage buff after a revenge kill. The best choice depends on your preferred playstyle.

9. Does the Synthoceps damage bonus apply to my Super?

No, the damage bonus from Synthoceps only applies to melee attacks. It does not affect Super abilities.

10. Can Synthoceps be used effectively in Grandmaster Nightfalls?

Yes, though with caution. The increased damage output can be useful for quickly eliminating high-priority targets, but you’ll need to play strategically to avoid being overwhelmed by enemies. Focus on cover and utilize team coordination.

11. Does Synthoceps stack with the “Tractor Cannon” debuff?

Yes, the damage bonus from Synthoceps stacks with the “Tractor Cannon” debuff, further increasing your melee damage against affected targets.

12. How does Synthoceps interact with the “Wormgod Caress” Exotic?

Both Exotics enhance melee damage, but they function differently. Wormgod Caress requires you to rapidly chain melee kills to build up its damage buff, while Synthoceps provides a consistent boost when surrounded.

13. Is there a specific stat distribution that benefits Synthoceps the most?

Strength is the most important stat for maximizing the effectiveness of Synthoceps, as it reduces the cooldown of your melee ability. Resilience and Recovery are also valuable for survivability and sustain.

14. Can Synthoceps be acquired from Xur?

Yes, Synthoceps can occasionally be sold by Xur, the Exotic gear vendor. Keep an eye on his inventory each week to see if they’re available. They can also drop randomly from Exotic engrams.

15. Are Synthoceps worth using in the current meta?

Absolutely. Synthoceps remain a strong and viable option for Titans in both PvE and PvP. Their versatility and potent melee damage boost make them a valuable asset for any Titan player.

In conclusion, Synthoceps are a powerful and versatile Exotic armor piece that significantly enhances the melee capabilities of Titans in Destiny 2. Their ability to amplify damage and extend lunge range, coupled with their synergy with various subclasses and mods, makes them a worthwhile addition to any Titan’s arsenal.