This Destiny 2 Trace Rifle is so good it made an entire archetype meta again

Trace Rifles in Destiny 2 fell out of the meta way back in Lightfall when Bungie nerfed the ability to use two Special ammo weapons on the same loadout.

However, they are now back and better than ever, largely thanks to the addition of Unsworn, a Strand Trace Rifle that is available from the Sundered Doctrine dungeon.

This exceptional gun gets access to several meta perks, but what really sets it apart is its Origin Trait. Known as Subjugation, this trait gives the Trace Rifle the effects of Explosive Payload without having to waste a perk slot. In other words, free bonus DPS and even some AOE damage in situations where enemies are clustered up.

While other top-tier Trace Rifles like Warlord’s Spear are also strong, they don’t compare to Unsworn. This newcomer is in a league of its own, outputting damage comparable to the best Rocket Sidearms and even Fusion Rifles, while also being extremely ammo efficient.

Unsworn god roll – Meta analysis

• Barrel: Chambered Compensator
• Magazine: Enhanced Battery
• Perk 1: Shoot to Loot
• Perk 2: Detonator Beam
• Origin Trait: Subjugation
• Masterwork: Reload Speed

Dexerto / D2 Foundry

It’s a tight call between whether Shoot to Loot or Rewind Rounds is the better option, but we recommended the former. Not only does this give Unsworn extra utility, allowing you to collect Orbs of Power and ammo bricks from a distance, but its Origin Trait also triggers this perk for some excellent synergy.

For the other column, it’s a more obvious decision. Detonator Beam is a new perk added in Heresy that is essentially just Kinetic Tremors but for Trace Rifles. Considering how popular Kinetic Tremors is these days, it’s no surprise that this is equally good – if not better – since this archetype’s base damage beats out any primary weapon.

One of the best things about this particular god roll is that it’s useful on every build and loadout. It doesn’t require you to be playing Strand or use a specific Exotic, as there’s never a time when having a high-damage, ammo-efficient weapon is a bad thing.

In saying that, you can make Unsworn even better by combining it with Cenotaph Mask, a Warlock Exotic that marks targets that will drop ammo after being defeated. This combination allows you to become the ultimate support for your fireteam, equipped with a meta PvE weapon that hits hard and keeps everyone topped up.