Destiny 1 Weapons: A Comprehensive Guide to Iconic Firearms
Introduction
Destiny 1, the groundbreaking first-person shooter from Bungie, introduced a vast arsenal of legendary weapons that captivated players with their unique designs, powerful abilities, and distinct personalities. From the humble hand cannon to the devastating rocket launcher, each weapon had its own story to tell and played a vital role in shaping the game's epic encounters.
Legendary Weapons
Legendary weapons in Destiny 1 were characterized by their exceptional stats, special perks, and ability to evolve through upgrades. These weapons became highly sought after by Guardians seeking to conquer the game's most challenging raids and competitive multiplayer modes.
Hand Cannons
Hand cannons were the staple sidearm of Guardians, boasting high impact and precision at close range. Notable hand cannons included:
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Thorn: A cursed hand cannon that drained the life force of its opponents.
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Hawkmoon: A precision hand cannon with a unique perk that reset its magazine after a critical kill.
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The Last Word: A rapid-fire hand cannon with a low magazine capacity but lethal hip-fire accuracy.
Auto Rifles
Auto rifles offered sustained fire and moderate range, making them versatile weapons for both close and mid-range encounters. Key auto rifles included:
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Suros Regime: A high-impact auto rifle with a perk that increased its damage output over time.
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Zhalo Supercell: An exotic auto rifle that fired electric bolts, chaining between multiple enemies.
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Monte Carlo: An auto rifle that automatically reloaded its magazine after a melee kill.
Pulse Rifles
Pulse rifles were precision weapons with a burst-fire pattern, excelling at medium to long ranges. Notable pulse rifles included:
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Bad Juju: An exotic pulse rifle that granted a substantial Super energy boost.
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Grasp of Malok: A legendary pulse rifle with a perk that increased its stability and range with each consecutive kill.
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Red Death: A pulse rifle that healed its wielder on kills.
Scout Rifles
Scout rifles were the long-range specialists of Destiny 1, offering high accuracy and zoom levels. Key scout rifles included:
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MIDA Multi-Tool: An exotic scout rifle that increased speed and radar range.
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The Devil You Know: A legendary scout rifle with a perk that granted the user bonus damage against targets with lower health.
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No Land Beyond: A unique scout rifle that required precision shots to deal maximum damage.
Sniper Rifles
Sniper rifles provided Guardians with exceptional precision and long-range killing power. Notable sniper rifles included:
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Ice Breaker: An exotic sniper rifle that instantly regenerated its ammo on critical kills.
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Black Spindle: A legendary sniper rifle with a perk that increased its damage with consecutive headshots.
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Ex Machina: A high-impact sniper rifle with a perk that increased its recoil to unlock additional damage.
Shotguns
Shotguns were the go-to weapons for close-quarters combat, offering devastating spread damage. Notable shotguns included:
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Found Verdict: A legendary shotgun with a perk that increased its impact and range with each consecutive kill.
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Party Crasher +1: An exotic shotgun with a perk that replenished its ammo on a kill and increased its damage against grouped enemies.
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Invective: A shotgun that automatically reloaded its magazine while sprinting.
Fusion Rifles
Fusion rifles fired a burst of plasma projectiles that dealt consistent damage at mid-to-long ranges. Notable fusion rifles included:
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Vex Mythoclast: An exotic fusion rifle that fired a continuous stream of projectiles and granted the user a bonus against Vex enemies.
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Sleeper Simulant: A legendary fusion rifle with a perk that massively increased its damage after a short charge time.
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Plan C: A fusion rifle that fired a single, devastating shot with a long charge time.
Rocket Launchers
Rocket launchers provided devastating explosive damage at long ranges, making them ideal for taking down powerful targets. Notable rocket launchers included:
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Gjallarhorn: An exotic rocket launcher with a perk that increased its damage with each consecutive shot.
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Truth: A legendary rocket launcher with a perk that guided its rockets towards targets.
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Hezen Vengeance: A high-impact rocket launcher with a perk that increased its reload speed.
Exotic Weapons
Exotic weapons in Destiny 1 were unique and powerful firearms that defied the boundaries of ordinary weapons. They possessed rare perks and abilities, making them highly sought after by Guardians.
Some of the most iconic exotic weapons included:
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Gjallarhorn: A rocket launcher with devastating explosive power.
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Vex Mythoclast: A fusion rifle that fired a continuous stream of projectiles.
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Thorn: A hand cannon that drained the life force of its opponents.
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Hawkmoon: A hand cannon with a perk that reset its magazine after a critical kill.
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Ice Breaker: A sniper rifle that instantly regenerated its ammo on critical kills.
Choosing the Right Weapon
With the vast arsenal of weapons available in Destiny 1, Guardians had to carefully choose the firearms that complemented their playstyles and specific mission objectives.
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Hand cannons: High impact and precision, ideal for close-range encounters.
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Auto rifles: Sustained fire and moderate range, versatile for all-purpose combat.
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Pulse rifles: Precision burst fire, excelling at medium to long ranges.
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Scout rifles: High accuracy and zoom levels, designed for long-range engagements.
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Sniper rifles: Exceptional precision and long-range killing power.
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Shotguns: Devastating spread damage, effective in close-quarters combat.
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Fusion rifles: Consistent damage at mid-to-long ranges.
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Rocket launchers: Explosive damage at long ranges, capable of taking down powerful targets.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When choosing and using weapons in Destiny 1, Guardians should avoid common mistakes such as:
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Overspecializing: Relying too heavily on a single weapon type can limit the player's versatility in combat.
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Neglecting ammo management: Running out of ammo in the heat of battle can be detrimental to success.
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Ignoring weapon perks: Understanding and utilizing weapon perks can significantly enhance combat effectiveness.
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Not experimenting: Trying out different weapons and unlocking new perks can lead to the discovery of hidden gems.
Step-by-Step Guide to Weapon Mastery
To master weapons in Destiny 1, Guardians can follow these steps:
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Acquire a variety of weapons: Collect different weapon types and perks to suit diverse combat situations.
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Inspect weapon stats and perks: Familiarize yourself with the strengths and limitations of each weapon.
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Practice in various environments: Experiment with weapons in different combat scenarios to develop proficiency.
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Upgrade weapons with materials: Enhance weapon performance by using upgrade materials found in the game.
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Unlock hidden perks: Discover and activate hidden perks through specific actions or quests.
Pros and Cons of Legendary Weapons
Pros:
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Exceptional stats: Legendary weapons boast higher stats than common and rare weapons, providing greater damage, stability, and range.
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Special perks: Legendary weapons come with unique perks that offer special abilities, such as increased magazine size, faster reload time, or damage bonuses.
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Upgradeable: Legendary weapons can be upgraded with materials to further enhance their stats and perks.
Cons:
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Acquisition difficulty: Legendary weapons are often harder to acquire than common and rare weapons.
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Limited upgrade slots: Legendary weapons have a finite number of upgrade slots, limiting the extent to which they can be enhanced.
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Competition for resources: Legendary weapons require rare materials for upgrades, which can be a bottleneck for players trying to upgrade multiple weapons.
Exotic Weapon Comparison
Exotic Weapon |
Perks |
Gjallarhorn |
Wolfpack Rounds: Rockets split into smaller projectiles, dealing additional damage. |
Vex Mythoclast |
Particle Accelerator: Fires a continuous stream of projectiles. |
Thorn |
Mark of the Devourer: Kills drain life force, healing the user. |
Hawkmoon |
Take a Knee: Reset magazine after a critical kill. |
Ice Breaker |
Cold Fusion: Instantly regenerates ammo on critical kills. |
Tables for Quick Reference
Weapon Types and Optimal Ranges
Weapon Type |
Optimal Range |
Hand Cannons |
Close |
Auto Rifles |
Close to Mid |
Pulse Rifles |
Mid to Long |
Scout Rifles |
Long |
Sniper Rifles |
Long |
Shotguns |
Close |
Fusion Rifles |
Mid to Long |
Rocket Launchers |
Long |
Legendary Weapon Perks
Perk |
Description |
Outlaw |
Increases reload speed after a critical kill. |
Firefly |
Kills explode in a small area, damaging nearby enemies. |
Crowd Control |
Kills increase magazine size. |
Spray and Play |
Kills reduce recoil. |
Counterbalance |
Reduces recoil. |
Exotic Weapon Perks
Exotic Weapon |
Exotic Perk |
Gjallarhorn |
Wolfpack Rounds |
Vex Mythoclast |
Particle Accelerator |
Thorn |
Mark of the Devourer |
Hawkmoon |
Take a Knee |
Ice Breaker |
Cold Fusion |
Weapon Upgrade Materials
Material |
Source |
Weapon Parts |
Dismantling weapons |
Ascendant Shards |
Raids, Night |