Introduction to Unloved: A New Era in Hand Cannons
Hand cannons have always been a staple in Destiny 2, offering a variety of powerful options from the likes of Zaouli’s Bane and Ancient Gospel to exotic favorites such as Sunshot. With the recent launch of the Sundered Doctrine expansion, a new contender has emerged in the form of Unloved. This Strand Heavy Burst hand cannon is the first of its kind in the game, boasting a unique blend of damage perks and one of the best Origin Traits available. Whether you’re a seasoned Guardian looking to dominate in PvP or a PvE aficionado taking on the toughest raids, Unloved has the potential to become your new go-to weapon. Here, we delve into the god rolls for both PvP and PvE, exploring the optimal configurations to maximize its potential.
Unloved PvE God Roll: Twice the Perks, Double the Damage
For PvE activities, Unloved shines with a combination of high damage output and utility. The ideal setup includes:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel – Enhances stability, allowing for more precise shooting.
- Magazine: Flared Magwell – Improves handling, making it easier to manage in the heat of battle.
- Perk One: Dragonfly or Hatchling – Dragonfly increases the Strand tick damage, while Hatchling provides a shorter Threadling cooldown. The choice depends on whether you integrate Threadlings into your build.
- Perk Two: Paracausal Affinity or Tear – Paracausal Affinity offers a significant 20 percent damage increase for six seconds after defeating an enemy with a matching alignment (Light or Dark). If you’re tackling harder content, Tear can be a valuable alternative, reducing enemies’ outgoing damage.
- Masterwork: Reload Speed – Crucial for maintaining a steady flow of damage.
- Weapon Mod: Synergy – Boosts your team’s effectiveness by improving reload speed and handling.
Unloved’s Origin Trait: Subjugation
One of the standout features of Unloved is its Origin Trait, Subjugation, which is shared by all Sundered Doctrine weapons. This trait brings multiple benefits depending on the enemy you’re facing:
- Against weak targets (like those with red bars), your shots explode, dealing additional splash damage.
- Against strong targets, enemies become exhausted and deal significantly less damage for a short period.
- Against Guardians, the weapon increases its flinch resistance, making it harder for opponents to disrupt your aim.
For PvE, the Subjugation trait is particularly valuable against weaker enemies, effectively acting as an alternative version of the Explosive Payload perk. This adds even more damage to your arsenal, complementing the two main damage perks you can select. The combination of these effects can make Unloved a formidable choice for both solo and team-based activities, whether you’re clearing out swarms of lesser foes or focusing fire on tougher targets.
Unloved PvP God Roll: Old-School Charm with a Twist
While Heavy Burst hand cannons aren’t the most popular in PvP, Unloved brings a level of forgiveness and effectiveness that makes it a viable choice. The recommended setup for competitive play includes:
- Barrel: Arrowhead Brake – Enhances recoil control, making it easier to maintain accuracy during rapid fire.
- Magazine: Ricochet Rounds – Causes bullets to bounce off surfaces, potentially hitting enemies multiple times.
- Perk One: Rapid Hit or Killing Wind – Rapid Hit increases reload speed after each shot, while Killing Wind provides a damage boost for the next six seconds after a kill. Choose based on your playstyle and the situation.
- Perk Two: Kill Clip – Grants a reload when you get a kill, a classic and highly effective PvP perk.
- Masterwork: Range – Extends the effective range of your shots, crucial for landing hits from a distance.
- Weapon Mod: Ballistics – Improves precision and handling, further enhancing your ability to land critical shots.
Farming Unloved from the Sundered Doctrine Dungeon
To acquire Unloved, you’ll need to delve into the Sundered Doctrine dungeon, a challenging and mechanics-heavy experience that takes you deep into Rhulk’s pyramid ship. This dungeon is designed to test your teamwork and coordination, as each encounter requires specific strategies to defeat the Dread. The weapon can drop from any encounter, and once you have it, it has a chance to drop from the secret chests scattered throughout the dungeon. The dungeon remains a featured activity, meaning you can farm it as many times as you want within a week to increase your chances of obtaining Unloved and other high-tier loot. The mechanics-heavy nature of the dungeon ensures that you and your team stay on your toes, making each run a unique and engaging experience.
Strategies for Maximizing Unloved’s Potential
To fully leverage Unloved’s capabilities, both in PvP and PvE, consider the following strategies:
- PvE: Focus on using Paracausal Affinity to stack damage buffs. Engage weaker enemies to build the buff and then switch to tougher targets for maximum impact. The Flared Magwell and Fluted Barrel ensure your shots are accurate and your handling is smooth, allowing you to maintain high damage output even in chaotic encounters. Synergy further enhances your team’s effectiveness, making Unloved a great choice for high-intensity activities.
- PvE: In PvP, the Arrowhead Brake and Ricochet Rounds make Unloved a versatile weapon, capable of dealing damage both at close and medium ranges. Rapid Hit and Kill Clip ensure that you can maintain a high kill rate without running out of ammo. The Range masterwork is essential for extending your reach, and Ballistics helps you land those crucial shots under pressure. Experiment with different combinations to find the setup that best fits your playstyle, but the recommended god roll provides a solid foundation for most PvP scenarios.
Conclusion: The Future of Hand Cannons in Destiny 2
Unloved represents a significant evolution in the hand cannon arsenal, offering a blend of high damage and utility that can excel in both PvP and PvE environments. Its unique Strand Heavy Burst design, coupled with the powerful Subjugation Origin Trait and a selection of damage-boosting perks, makes it a weapon worth pursuing. Whether you’re taking on the most challenging content in the game or competing in the Crucible, Unloved has the potential to become a staple in your arsenal. Dive into the Sundered Doctrine dungeon, team up with fellow Guardians, and prepare to dominate with this new addition to Destiny 2.
