The latest chapter in Destiny 2’s narrative, Episode Revenant, unveiled its final update on January 7, which introduced players to the potent Exotic weapon known as the Slayer’s Fang. This innovative shotgun comes equipped with intriguing features, one of which is notably hazardous to its wielder.
At the core of Slayer’s Fang lies its distinctive projectile behavior. Mirroring the mechanics of Hard Light, this weapon fires pellets that ricochet off surfaces until they make contact with an adversary. What sets Slayer’s Fang apart is that its projectiles can fragment into smaller, submunitions that, if the circumstances align unfavorably, may bounce back towards the shooter.
This concept of ricochet damage may not come as a surprise to seasoned Destiny 2 players, as the mechanics themselves are well-documented within the game. However, the intricacies of this particular shotgun add a twist: every submunition has the potential to apply the Weaken debuff upon impact, especially after achieving a kill and activating the Nightsworn Sight perk.
Understanding the Risks
This brings us to the crux of the issue. If a single submunition strikes your Guardian with Nightsworn Sight enabled, it will inadvertently inflict the Weaken debuff upon the user. Unfortuitously, Weaken makes no distinction between teammates and opponents alike.
Essentially, while Weaken provides a 15% damage reduction to enemy targets, it similarly amplifies the damage inflicted on you. Thus, the danger escalates, enhancing the impact of every attack you receive until the debuff is lifted.
Slayer’s Fang showcases a unique projectile system that can harm its user.
The concept of self-damaging weapons isn’t entirely new to Destiny 2. Other Exotic weapons, such as Telesto and Touch of Malice, also invite players to navigate risky situations with potential backfire consequences. Touch of Malice, for instance, is particularly designed around the reward versus risk paradigm.
However, with Slayer’s Fang, its classification as a close-quarters weapon complicates matters. The challenge now is not simply one of player skill; it shifts toward an element of chance. Successfully avoiding the weapon’s inherent drawbacks becomes more about luck than sheer ability.
While it’s possible that this behavior might not have been the intended design, Bungie has yet to address concerns raised in Reddit discussions that highlight these counterintuitive mechanics. Until an official response is provided, players remain in the dark regarding potential adjustments or clarifications.
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