Destiny 2 welcomes Season of the Splicer and its new synthwave aesthetic. Especially when it comes to the new seasonal weapons which all have delightful neon pink and green splashes to spice up what would otherwise be a dull gunmetal grey.
There are a ton of new perks to keep on the lookout for, such as the new grenade-focused Adrenaline Junkie and accuracy-boosting Heating Up, but those might not be the best-in-slot perks for each weapon. For our recommended rolls, read on.
Updated June 10th, 2021 by Charles Burgar: Season of the Splicer has brought with it an excellent arsenal of weapons for Guardians to chase. Override's roster of guns is nothing short of incredible, taking underused archetypes and pairing them with some S-tier perks. Since the efficacy of a weapon can vary wildly between PvE and PvP, we've added roll recommendations for PvP atop our previous PvE roll recommendations. Enjoy!
Chroma Rush
Those still mourning the loss of their Steelfeather Repeaters from sunsetting will be quite happy with its replacement, and not just because of all the new perks. There are practically no bad rolls on this gun, but there are a few standouts.
Perks
As with the Steelfeather, Chroma Rush tends to buck like a bronco on full-auto fire. The new Heating Up perk is like a better Dynamic Sway reduction, improving accuracy, stability, and recoil direction with every kill. Feeding Frenzy or Subsistence are also great options in the left column. In the right column, you can't go wrong with Rampage, Kill Clip, Thresh, Wellspring, or the new Adrenaline Junkie perk for grenade-focused builds.
Your left column perk will probably depend more on your barrel roll than anything, but here's what I'd go for.
Best PvE Roll
For PvE, there's a strong case to be made for Heating Up. The increased stability and accuracy give Chroma Rush pinpoint accuracy, allowing you to chain precision hits with little issue. In the second trait column, you can choose between Rampage and Kill Clip. Kill Clip's inability to refresh its timer makes it a slightly harder sell than Rampage, although this will mostly boil down to preference. For the barrel and magazine perks, use whatever you're comfortable with.
Best PvE Roll: Corkscrew Barrel, Tactical Mag, Heating Up, Rampage
Best PvP Roll
Rapid-Fire Auto Rifles are surprisingly strong in PvP, although you'll need a roll with high stability to outduel a Hand Cannon. For the first column, you have Heating Up and Dynamic Sway Reduction. If you can chain kills, Heating Up is objectively better. Otherwise, pick Dynamic Sway Reduction. For the second perk, Kill Clip is easily your best option. The rest of your perks should focus on increasing your stability and range.
Best PvP Roll: Smallbore, Accurized Rounds, Heating Up, Kill Clip
Ignition Code
Destiny 2 continues to bless us with yet more breech-loaded Grenade Launchers that can roll Ambitious Assassin, which will always be a go-to for PvE GL shenanigans. Crucible players will also want this weapon, as it's the only non-sunset GL in Destiny 2 that resides in the Kinetic slot.
Perks
The right column is tough to choose as they're all pretty much good. One For All can be surprisingly consistent damage in horde-mode content like the new Vex Override mission, and even though Frenzy has been nerfed to boost damage only by 15%, it's still a very consistent damage boosting perk. Much like Surrounded, the new Danger Zone perk can be hard to trigger, and even when it does, it can be hard to use effectively.
The star of the show is Slideshot, a first for Breech-Loaded Grenade Launchers. Sliding will automatically reload this weapon from reserves, allowing you to fire dozens of grenades without needing to manually reload. Keep an eye out for this perk in the first column.
What will really define your roll will likely be the magazine. Spike grenades are great for PvE, Proximity Grenades for PvP, or Blinding Grenades for both.
Best PvE Roll
Slideshot and Vorpal Weapon is the best roll on this weapon, provided you have room to slide around. The amount of DPS this weapon can dish out is immense, especially when accounting for this season's Breach and Clear mod. Use Spike Grenades for even more damage.
Best PvE Roll: Quick Launch, Spike Grenades, Slideshot, Vorpal Weapon
Best PvP Roll
If you want your enemies to relive the glory days of the Mountaintop meta, grab an Ignition Code with Slideshot. The second perk doesn't matter, although Demolitionist and Thresh are great options. Vorpal Weapon isn't enough to make Ignition Code one-shot Supers, so it isn't worth using in PvP. For grenades, use Spikes if you can directly impact targets. Otherwise, consider Proximity Grenades.
Best PvP Roll: Quick Launch, Proximity Grenades, Slideshot, Demolitionist/Thresh
Farewell
Our first Lightweight Frame kinetic Sidearm since The Warmind expansion, Farewell has great recoil which lends it to taking full advantage of a Full Auto Trigger System. If you have an itchy trigger finger, you can replace Full Auto with one of this season's new perks.
Perks
In the first column, most players will want to obtain Full Auto Trigger System to take full advantage of Farewell's 360 RPM fire rate. If you don't mind tapping the trigger, Heating Up is a fantastic choice. The increased accuracy and stability make this Sidearm land headshots much easier than most Sidearms. If you're on console, Tunnel Vision might be a better pick.
Column two has quite a few damage perks. Even with its recent nerf, Frenzy is still an amazing perk that pulls double duty as both a damage and reload speed booster, although Adrenaline Junkie can be fun for grenade-based builds. Multikill Clip is also obtainable, although this weapon's small magazine doesn't lend itself well to this perk. If you hate getting solo Supered in PvP, this weapon can also obtain Vorpal Weapon.
Sidearms really benefit from extra range, so try to find barrels and magazines that give you a range boost. Extra points if you find one with a range masterwork.
Best PvE Roll
If you need a good PvE Sidearm, you can't go wrong with Full Auto Trigger System and Frenzy. Obtain barrel and magazine perks that enhance its range. Accurized Rounds and Hammer Forged Rifling are your best bet.
Best PvE Roll: Hammer Forged Rifling, Accurized Rounds, Full Auto Trigger System, Frenzy
Best PvP Roll
While Full Auto feels great on Farewell, Heating Up and Tunnel Vision are too good to pass up. Heating Up makes Farewell one of the most consistent Sidearms in Destiny 2. Console players might get more mileage out of Tunnel Vision, but it's ultimately down to preference.
None of the second column perks are game-changing for PvP. Thresh is arguably the best perk of the bunch, although you can make Frenzy work in 6v6 playlists. Aim for range barrels, magazine perks, and a range masterwork.
Best PvP Roll: Hammer Forged Rifling, Accurized Rounds, Heating Up, Thresh
Gridskipper
If you didn't get a Time-Worn Spire from Iron Banner last season, then Gridskipper is the exact same weapon archetype but with WAY better perks. It also rolls with barrels instead of scopes, which should make chasing a perfect roll much easier.
Perks
Tunnel Vision turns this weapon into a head-plinking monster with vastly improved ADS and target acquisition after each kill, while the right perk column has dealer's choice of Frenzy, Multikill Clip, or the new Adrenaline Junkie. Don't discount Thresh or High-Impact Reserves for high-level content, though, as both can be extremely useful if you're under-leveled.
The only downside of Gridskipper is some slight recoil, which you can mitigate with your choice of barrel.
Best PvE Roll
Tunnel Vision and Frenzy turn Gridskipper into a headshot magnet with an excellent stat package. A consistent 15% damage buff is much stronger than you'd expect, allowing this weapon to one or two-burst most rank and file enemies. The rest of your perks should focus on range and stability.
Best PvE Roll: Smallbore, Ricochet Rounds, Tunnel Vision, Frenzy
Best PvP Roll
Heating Up and Multikill Clip are absurdly strong in PvP. If you used Clever Dragon in the original Destiny, this roll makes Gridskipper feel virtually the same. Landing headshots has never been so easy. Consider a roll with High-Caliber Rounds for extra flinch and Smallbore for the boost in range and stability.
Best PvP Roll: Smallbore, High-Caliber Rounds, Heating Up, Multikill Clip
Sojourner's Tale
Oh great, another slug Energy Shotgun. Bungie has released a slug Shotgun every season since Season of Arrivals last year. The archetype might be bloated, but don't ignore Sojourner's Tale. It has a selection of perks that make it surprisingly strong in PvP.
Perks
Sojourner's Tale can roll Frenzy, which will probably be your ideal right column perk unless you desperately need Opening Shot for a bit of extra range. In the left column, Quickdraw can help the gun feel better as an emergency delete button for Majors, or Auto-Loading Holster can ensure you always have a full magazine whenever swapping between your Primary. Rapid Hit is a great option if you can land consistent headshots.
Assault Mag is always your best choice of magazine in a slug shotty, and I have a preference for extra range in my barrel, but you can modify to your own tastes.
Best PvE Roll
If you just want a slug Shotgun that you can pair with Heritage, a roll with Quickdraw and Frenzy is your best bet. Frenzy isn't as consistent as Vorpal Weapon for boss DPS, but this Shotgun is easier to get than First In, Last Out—your best alternative. Rock Assault Mag for more fire rate and a range barrel.
Best PvE Roll: Hammer Forged Rifling, Assault Mag, Quickdraw, Frenzy
Best PvP Roll
Tunnel Vision and Opening Shot might be the most powerful perk combination you can find on a slug Shotgun. Tunnel Vision activates after loading one shell into your weapon, giving you a massive aim assist increase for five seconds. Combined with Opening Shot, this Shotgun can match the consistency of Blasphemer but retain its excellent handling. Spec the rest of your perks for range.
Best PvP Roll: Hammer Forged Rifling, Accurized Rounds, Tunnel Vision, Opening Shot
Shattered Cipher
It's mind-boggling to me why Bungie felt the need to add three new Void Machine Guns to the game when it already had one from the Deep Stone Crypt raid, but whatever. Shattered Cipher is the new 900 RPM Machine Gun to compete with Thermal Erosion, and like all Rapid-Fire Frame Machine Guns, it bucks like a bronco that just had some rectally inserted chili sauce.
Perks
Shattered Cipher kicks so much that you'll want a perk that enhances stability. Zen Moment would typically be a good perk, but it's competing with Rampage and Surrounded on this weapon. You'll want Heating Up in the first column to tame this beast of a weapon. Pair it with Rampage or Surrounded and go to town.
Everything else is to improve weapon performance, the most impactful stat being stability. Stack as much stability on this weapon as you can. If you can tame the weapon's absurd recoil, feel free to spec for whichever stat you desire.
Best PvE Roll
Heating Up and Rampage allow Shattered Cipher to excel at the add-clearing beast it's meant to be. You can use Field Prep instead of Heating Up if you have enough stability, but the accuracy boost from Heating Up makes precision hits much easier to land. Get as much stability on this gun as you can.
Best PvE Roll: Chambered Compensator, Tactical Mag, Heating Up, Rampage
Best PvP Roll
Rapid-Fire Frame Machine Guns are awful in PvP. If you're adamant about using Shattered Cipher to disintegrate a Guardian's health bar, then you'll want a roll with Under Pressure and Snapshot Sights. Stability barrels, magazine perks, and a stability masterwork should be enough to tame this weapon's monstrous recoil.
Best PvP Roll: Chambered Compensator, Tactical Mag, Heating Up, Snapshot Sights