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Similar to Fatebringer, this revised version of Hawk Moon includes stellar base stats, with slightly better Stability and Handling, all in exchange for a strong kick. While it’s no Presage mission, it still presented enough story hints and interesting gameplay to make the journey to this underrated weapon worth it. The reintroduction of Hawk Moon somewhat heralded the introduction of stellar Exotic quests. How do I get it? Random drop from Vault of Glass Raid Templar and Gatekeeper encounters. What is it good for? PvE and PvP, but you’ll want specific Perk rolls for each. In short, you have incredible Perk rolls that add onto an already stellar weapon. Rewind Rounds combined with Frenzy or Firefly are also excellent options for PvE, while PvP should be played with a roll that includes Opening Shot with Killing Wind or Tunnel Vision. The best two to roll for AOE management are Exploding Payload and Kill Clip, allowing you to cause explosions and gain increased damage after a reload. However, the benefits don’t stop there thanks to a well-curated range of Perks. The only major drawback it holds is an extreme amount of kick which can be mitigated if you run some precision Armor Mods. It has relatively high impact, equally solid aim assistance, and fairly well-balanced traits for the remainder of its stats. This starts with how solid the base stats are. In fact, it may just be the best Hand Cannon in Destiny 2 as of Season of the Lost. Unlike many of the other reissued weapons, Fatebringer seemed to avoid the initial slipup of other VoG weapons.
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One of the best original Hand Cannons has made a comeback thanks to the revised Vault of Glass. Sure, it’s a fairly minor adjustment, but when combined with the addition of a couple of useful new additions it’s worth relooking at your go-to Hand Cannons. Updates are rather rare, making the Season of the Lost buff for rank and file enemies a surprisingly welcome shake-up.
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October 2021 Update: Hand Cannons are among the most consistent weapon types in Destiny 2. So, with those things in mind, let’s dig into our top 15 hand cannon picks in 2021.
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It’s also worth noting that the best hand cannons typically have an additional perk that makes them unique to use. When looking through your options, you want to find a steady build that gives you decent stopping power and range - something equally valuable when up close or when taking potshots from across the map. The Destiny 2 best hand cannons are the perfect complementary weapons to assault rifles and pulse rifles.
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