Summary
Stasis inDestiny 2has been largely left behind since its powerful introduction inBeyond Light. With the power of the Light subclass reworks and the new subclass elemental perks that now roll on weapons, as well asthe potency of Prismatic, it is easy to see why stasis was forgotten.
Bungie brought Stasis back with Episode Revenant,focusing heavily on it in the Artifactand providing a much-needed facelift to many of the subclass functions that were being outclassed. There are now plenty of stasis-specific builds that are dominating higher-end content, and these Stasis weapons fit perfectly into any of them.
10Wicked Implement
An Overlooked Synergistic Gem
Wicked Implementwas a difficult-to-obtain exotic when it debuted in Season of the Deep, especially when going for its Catalyst. Now it can be purchased for an Exotic Cipher and some glimmer. This scout rifle allows the wielder to both slow and freeze enemies on command by simply hitting repeated crit shots.
Not only can this stun Champions with ease, but it also plays into many of thesubclass verbs that make Stasis so powerful. With the right set-up, this gun can perform incredibly well, but does sometimes feel lackluster when it comes to damage output.
9Lost Signal
Easy Damage Over Time
Lost Signalwas the first legendary grenade launcher to release with the Area Denial frame, painting the ground with Stasis pools that deal damage over time. This unique archetype has become hugely popular for dealing with groups of enemies with little player input.
This gun embodies the idea of “fire-and-forget,” allowing it to be useful in all areas of the game, and tothrive in damage rotations with weapons sporting the perk Bait and Switch. While it doesn’t synergize with any of the Stasis buffs or debuffs, it is still well worth using for its versatility alone.
8Alethonym
Free Ammo On Demand
The newest Stasis exotic,Alethonym, is unique in its play style. While it functions as a standard breechloaded grenade launcher, direct impacts with the weapon cause the round to burrow into an enemy, dealing several damage ticks over a short duration.
All kills — or prolonged damage ticks — with Alethonym produce “vestiges” which, when collected, fill up a bar. Once full, the player can do a special reload, turning the next round fired into free ammunition for either a special or heavy weapon, providing much-needed support for their team when playing harder content.
7The Slammer
Falling Guillotine’s Cooler Cousin
The Slammeris one of very few Stasis swordscurrently obtainable in the game, and is arguably the best of the lot. Eager Edge allows The Slammer to function as an incredible movement tool, making it applicable to any content in the game. Chain Reaction offers destructive potential when dealing with groups of enemies, which complements the sword frame.
Bait and Switch and Cold Steel are where this sword shines, either outputting impressive damage in a boss fight or offering synergy with a Stasis subclass and Champion stunning abilities. Whatever the roll, this sword stands out as a perfect choice for Stasis loadouts.
6Riptide
Rip Through Champions With Ease
Riptidehas been in the game for some time and has remained one of the most reliable ways to use Chill Clip to stun Champions. As a rapid-fire frame fusion rifle, Riptide can freeze enemies faster than any other Chill Clip fusion, as it takes two shots from any frame to freeze.
Mixed with great utility perks, Riptide is a reliable, versatile tool that, although not meta-defining anymore, is still worthy of a pickup. Good luck getting a good roll though. With 12 perks in each column, it may be a bit of a grind.
5FairJudgment
A Jack Of All Trades
FairJudgmentis the latest in a long line of reputation track weapons,many of which have failed to impress. This 450 rpm auto rifle stands out largely because of the curated roll it has with Rimestealer and Headstone, allowing for self-sustaining damage resistance and Stasis Crystal generation.
While not a stand-out weapon due to its stats, FairJudgmentis an easy-to-obtain and easy-to-use weapon, making it the perfect choice for any newer player who may be looking for the perfect Stasis primary weapon to fill out their loadout.
4Ager’s Scepter
The King Of Trace Rifles
Ager’s Scepterhas been a mainstay in Stasis builds for as long as it has been in the game. This trace rifle freezes and shatters enemies with little input from the player, and if the player chooses to sacrifice their super energy, it becomes a supercharged beam of death.
Ager’s Sceptercan sustain several Stasis keywords on its own, made only more potent with the right build around it. This weapon is the perfect choice for all aspects of the game, clearing rooms and doing respectable damage for a trace rifle.
3Liturgy
Freeze Any Enemy On Demand
Liturgyis one of the only special ammo weapons in the game that’s able to freeze an enemy in a single shot with Chill Clip. Due to the grenade launcher firing two projectiles, direct impacts instantly freeze a target, and spread-out shots can slow a huge group of enemies.
Rimestealer allows for easy frost armor, meaning this plays into all the major subclass keywords for Stasis, making it one of the best special ammo options for a Stasis build. Pairing these perks with disorienting grenades allows for even more utility during end-game content.
2Conditional Finality
A Barrel Of Ice And Fire
Conditional Finalityhas been a top-of-the-charts weapon for its entire lifespan. Able to freeze with one shot and ignite with the next, this double-barrel shotgun plays into both Stasis and Solar builds.Able to stun multiple Champions, output a ton of damage, and rule PvP,Conditional Finalitydoes it all.
One major issue with this exotic is the way it is obtained. It is only available as a random drop from the final boss of the Root of Nightmares raid, making it a potential slog to get, but it is well worth it.
1VS Chill Inhibitor
The Icey Peak Of DPS
VS Chill Inhibitorhas sparked a lot of controversy in theDestinycommunity, mainly due to it’s difficult-to-obtain god rolls.Available from the Vesper’s Host dungeon, this grenade launcher rolls with the best perks in both columns for damage.
If a player can get it to roll with Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch, this gun is undeniably the best DPS weapon in the game. However, this perk combination is all but impossible to obtain, so settling for other perks may be the fate of many.
