Linear fusion rifles are a powerful weapon archetype when it comes to damage in Destiny 2. Here’s which ones to get for PVE.
Linear fusion rifles in Destiny 2 are a unique bunch. There are some that are found in the heavy weapon category, and some that take Special ammo and are found in either the kinetic or energy weapon slot.
Linears are a great tool for precision damage when it comes to boss DPS in Destiny 2's PVE side of gameplay. That said, there aren't that many linear fusion rifles to choose from, so players need to be aware of where these weapons excel the most.
Threaded Needle is an older linear fusion rifle that saw a lot of use during the Season of the Lost. It could roll with Vorpal Blade, making it a fantastic choice that players could score from the season pass of 13, and later focus from an engram in season 15.
As of season 17, the Threaded Needle isn't available from anywhere, but long-time players can check their vaults to see if they happen to have one lying around. It can still find some surprising uses in difficult Lost Sectors, though it does lose the competition against other linear fusion rifles on this list.
The Lorentz Driver was introduced in season 15's season pass as an Exotic reward. Like most past Exotics, it can be bought from the archives and it's one of the most important weapons from the Beyond Light era due to its oppressive role in PVP.
However, due to Bungie's recent decision to once more nerf Lorentz Driver in PVP, it's likely that in the future this linear fusion rifle will solely see use in PVE, and that's only if players have its catalyst that pulls targets more reliably together for a Void explosion or an EM anomaly. In that sense, it's a fantastic tool for ad-clearing.
A classic Exotic linear fusion rifle, Sleeper Simulant saw a peak in its use during season 15 and has since dipped in popularity due to the prevalence of rocket launchers and better, more nimble Legendary linear fusion rifles.
That said, the Sleeper is still a solid Exotic choice for every self-respecting Destiny 2 PVE player, so getting this from the Exotic kiosk should be one of the top priorities of a player that still hasn't unlocked all Exotics. Sleeper Simulant is fantastic for precision boss damage but careful with its reflective shot that can bounce around and ruin some DPS phases like Riven's.
First seen in season 15, Reed's Regret is a Stasis linear fusion rifle. Not just that, it's a Legendary linear which can roll with some interesting perks that make it one of the three best damage linear fusion rifles in Destiny 2.
Look for Vorpal Weapon for a 10% damage boost against bosses, or Firing Line which will grant a 20% damage boost so long as allies are standing nearby (which is often the case with DPS phases in the game). The first perk column is mostly a question of preference. To get this weapon, players need to try their hand at Trials of Osiris, which runs on most weekends.
This Exotic kinetic linear fusion rifle is unlike any other linear on this list. First of all, Arbalest isn't exactly a boss DPS linear fusion rifle. It actually excels in other tasks, which makes it a valuable tool in endgame PVP, whether players are doing raids, Grandmaster Nightfalls, or solo Lost Sectors.
Arbalest's intrinsic perk allows it to break Barrier Champion shields, which means players will save one artifact mod slot by equipping it. Moreover, Arbalest can quickly kill off any elemental shields that would otherwise require players to use the matching element to break it. What more can players ask from the perfect endgame PVP weapon? To get it, find it at the Exotic kiosk and buy it as soon as possible, as even with its nerf, it continues to be a powerhouse.
Now, on to the real DPS kings of linear fusion rifles. Cataclysmic was first introduced in season 16 and The Witch Queen expansion. It's one of the weapons that drop during the Vow of the Disciple raid, and can also be crafted.
Cataclysmic is a Solar linear found in the heavy weapon slot. Players should look to craft it or earn its Adept version from the Master version of the raid, and grind for perks like Clown Cartridge and No Distractions or Fourth Time's The Charm and Bait and Switch. It's currently considered the poor man's Stormchaser, so players who don't have access to the Duality dungeon should try to grind Cataclysmic from the raid instead.
The newest addition to the collection of linear fusions is the one earned from the Duality dungeon that came out with season 17. Stormchaser is the brand-new DPS king as of season 17 and is an Arc linear which cannot be crafted by players.
Look for Clown Cartridge, with either Vorpal Weapon or Firing Line, with Firing Line being slightly more preferable due to its 20% damage increase versus the 10% damage increase from Vorpal Weapon. This linear is ideal for bosses that require precision damage like Consecrated Mind, and less ideal for bosses that need quick burst damage like Atraks.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Tea lover and video game-obsessed writing enthusiast, Anastasia writes about games that leave an impression on her and make her come back time and time again.
