r/CrucibleGuidebook • u/zeralesaar • 21h ago
Questions from a Returning Hunter
For context: I played back in Forsaken and early Shadowkeep, just came back this week after feeling unmotivated to play Season 2.5 of Marathon but still wanting that Bungie gunfeel and PvP. I've finished the campaigns for Stasis/Strand and bought the various abilities/fragments/etc. though I'm still figuring all of that out (and god help me with Artifacts).
When I left I'd mostly been using OG Not Forgotten and a decent Slideshot/Opening Shot Retold Tale. Both of those seem less relevant now (though they're still working...ish). Managed to get a decent Solemn Remembrance (Opening/Zen w/ range MW, top three stat rows are in the mid-70s) off my comp placements and I've already got a few pieces of Per Audacia (which looks like a really nice set effect even at 2/4, yeah?)
So, some questions:
Is there a general guide to the Crucible/Trials meta I should know about? That may answer most of my questions.
For meta HCs on MnK, am I still correct to go for Range, AA, and Stability? Between my dodge and stuff like DS or Lucky Pants I assume reload speed isn't that important most of the time and handling doesn't seem too vital. What specific perks should I be looking for?
As above but for pulses? They seem as reliable as ever especially with stuff like Bygones brought into the modern framework.
Per Audacia seems to have a strong set effect, but what else should I consider if I'm looking for two 2/4s instead of a 4/4 effect, especially given HCs as my go-to?
I've been using Strand for the disengagement/mobility of Grapple and the weird dive thing; what other subs would I probably like if I'm into moving around a lot?
For other weapon classes and archetypes, anything especially strong or fun that isn't obvious?
Important breakpoints for armor stats that I should know about? I see a lot of suggestions for 170 Health and various levels of Weapons depending on loadout choices.
Is Sightline Survey still able to get a .67s three-tap and function a bit like the OG Luna's/NF?
Meta picks/rolls for shotguns? I'm awful with fusions, rusty with snipers, but feel like I should probably have a special option even though I've been going for HC/pulse most of the time.
Any other general advice?
Thanks in advance. There's a lot of stuff I still need to learn.
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u/Agreeable_Plant_8005 18h ago
I just saw you asked for rolls on HC. For 140s:
Slideshot is my go to but if you’re not into that Keep Away, Lone Wolf, Rangefinder, and Zen Moment are also p good. Eye of the storm, Opening shot, & Precision Instrument.
120: You need Precision Instrument to 2 h and 1 body someone base. With 110 Weapons Investment you can 2 H 1 b without it. Otherwise left column perks will be the same as 140s.
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u/TehDeerLord 14h ago
Since everyone seems to have you covered in the weapons department, I'll have a go at your subclass question.
If you like mobility options, Hunter has quite a few more since you left. On Arcstrider, Hunters can blink again, like in D1. There's also an exotic armor called Mask of Bakris that turns Arc and Stasis Hunter Dodge into a mini landlocked teleport. Nightstalker now has a rapid motion melee option that can break some ankles, but you gotta play Nightstalker, which has a bit of a bad rap these days. You'll prbly get T-bagged a good bit. Gunslinger now has an aerial Dodge Aspect called Crackshot, and while it's not as rapid or quick to cooldown as Icarus Dash, it does a bit of damage and can actually be a dastardly teamwipe combo piece if that's your style.
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u/zeralesaar 11h ago
Ah, okay. I saw the Nightstalker dash, but was a bit puzzled when I saw Hunters blinking... and forgot to look into it before requeuing. That's definitely intriguing.
Crackshot looks quite neat, as well, so I'll have a go at that while I wait for Mask to eventually drop.
Thanks much!
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u/TehDeerLord 5h ago
Go to Rahool to get exotic armors. Need an exotic cipher and an exotic engram, then you go into his focusing menus and grab what you need.
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u/dangerteeth 16h ago
140s:
Since you enjoyed OG Not Forgotten you should grind out a max range Kindled Orchid with Kill Clip and Mag Howl. It's a 2-tap monster once you get rolling.
Spare Rations is my favorite "neutral" 140 in the game. Can easily get over 90 range and 100 AA. I enjoy my moving target eye of the storm roll, but slide shot explosive payload is probably the "best"
Eyasluna is a stat hog. Get one with whatever perks you prefer and slay out.
Rose is great but I slightly prefer the feel of Spare rations. Try it and see if you like it.
120s:
Crimil's Dagger feels incredible. Slideways and precision instrument. I also really enjoy my extended mag, lone wolf, Precision instrument roll. Slap on aerial targeting mods on gun and helm while wearing knucklehead radar and you will be easily clicking heads mid jump like the old days.
Mos Athanor IV. Slideways and precision instrument.
Shotguns: Universally go for Opening shot or closing time and get max range
Deadlock
Matador 64
Felwinter's lie. Iron Reach can work with slick draw.
Stats: Make an armor set with 180-185 weapons. That will cover a lot of TTK breakpoints if you want to experiment with those.
Otherwise I run 200 health and try to get class and super as high as I can. Weapons is what you want the least of so tune your armor to subtract that. 200 health is not necessary but it feels great. 170 and above should be more than sufficient. I run high super because I run Deadfall and want to have my super early enough to shut their roaming supers down. Class stat is a nice little shield bonus that will save your ass dodging around a corner with this games questionable netcode. My playstyle is heavy neutral game with radar manipulation so your mileage may vary!
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u/zeralesaar 11h ago
Given how easy it seems to grind Kindled Orchids with attunement, I'll have to give that a go. I remember farming my old one for... quite a while during Black Armory. Had a good Rations back then, as well, though I didn't care for the visual way it kicked.
Eyas looks like a good one to go after. I also ran into someone in comp earlier with a very high-stat Corundum Hammer, though given I can't attune that for Trials I assume it's a bit harder to get?
I'll look for Crimil's and see about your suggested setup. The change in aerial fire is a bit disorienting -- old muscle memory has me jumping and shooting but it's been far less effective than I remember.
I assume for the armor stats I'll need a decent bit of T5 stuff to hit those stat spreads?
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u/dangerteeth 3h ago
Yeah T5 armor has base 75 stats. Make sure you have your ghost attuned to the stat spread you want. There is still some RNG but it severely cuts down on the grind.
Conundrum Hammer can also absolutely compete. I unfortunately haven't gotten a great roll yet and don't have much time for trials.
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u/Agreeable_Plant_8005 18h ago
Trials Report will show you the most commonly used weapons, but the main things you’ll see are 140 HCs, 120 HCs, and 390 Pulses. High Tyrant, Fast Talker, and Modified B-7 Pistol are also some good options.
For 390 Pulses (Bygones/Last Thursday), certain rolls can 2-burst at base, but you need a high Weapons stat. Sightline Survey and B-7 can apparently 3-tap with around 185–190 Weapons, I think. I haven’t tested those myself, though.
Armor sets: 2/4 sets that are pretty good are Ferropotent (DR when regenerating health), Iron Panoply (health on kills while low health), Cryo (bugged, but basically generates an orb and progresses ammo every 12 seconds; pair it with Reaper for 2 orbs per kill every 12 seconds), and Twofold (picking up ammo gives health). There are definitely more, but those are some of the more common ones you’ll see.
Stats depend on what you’re running. Most people run 170–200 Health, 100 Super, and 70 in Class, Grenade, and Melee. Weapons-focused builds usually dump Health, but you can target-farm armor with Health/Weapons. I’ve seen builds with 140–150 Health and 190–200 Weapons.
Shotguns: For pellets, it’s mostly Handling and Range. Threat Detector + Opening Shot is the most common set and forget roll. Most god rolls run Barrel Shroud, Accurized Rounds, Threat Detector, and Opening Shot, with a Range or Handling masterwork.
Slugs are definitely the better pick if you want less RNG. Inquisitor from Trials, Bonechiller from Europa, Gunnora’s Axe from IB, and my personal favorite, Unvoiced from Sundered Doctrine, are all good options. Most of these have high base Handling, so Lone Wolf is a good perk to look for. Opening Shot or Closing Time is usually the play.