Table of Contents
Welcome to Destiny 2 Arc Warlock PvP Build Guide!
Last Updated March 9, 2023, for Lightfall Expansion and Season 20, Season of Defiance. Destiny 2 has gone through a major change with their modding system. Making mods much easier and simpler to understand. However, taking some of the old metas and either eliminating them or making them relevantly the same. For instance, the “well” mods most players have been accustomed to have been completely eliminated, and the only system and combination are based on orbs of power.
The mod loadout you see today will change over time as we become accustomed to new and shifting meta in Destiny 2 Lightfall. This build has been tested and works, so check back frequently, as we will be updating these builds throughout the season and expansion.
Arc Warlock PvP Build for Destiny 2
The Destiny 2 Arc Warlock PvP Build is both a passive playstyle and aggressive playstyle. Your abilities allow you to deal extra damage to enemies and quickly charge them head on with a powerful melee ability. This class is easy to master and fun to play.
Playstyle
Arc Warlock can be both Passive and Aggressive playstyle. Depending on the aspects that you take it will define how you play the class. If you take Arcsoul, then play around your rift. The Arc Soul is very strong as it is a sentry that stays on you and can shoot all around you. If you use LIGHTNING SURGE, then play aggressively this melee does high damage in an area. Remember, the warlock has no true one-shot kill ability, so you gotta lower them a little bit to secure the kill. Having a higher strength stat will allow you to use this ability often.
Should you play Arc Warlock in PvP?

Arc Warlock has a few essential strengths and a unique playstyle, making it incredibly fun to play. If following “Pros” is what you’re looking for, this is the build for you!
Pros |
Cons |
Fast Movement | Lacks strong grenades |
Chain damage | Warlock jump is hard to master |
Arc Soul | Passive Playstyle |
AOE melee | Abilities need to Kill in order to become amplified |
Synergy with arc weapons | |
Strong super | |
Great Exotics for Weapons |
Abilities
Some abilities, aspects and fragments need to be unlocked before use. In order to do that, Destiny 2 players need to visit Ikora in the Tower and do the related quest or purchase them from her. Lastly, if you bought new aspects and fragments don’t forget to “meditate”. Simply click the “meditate” option on the table next to Ikora.
Arc Buffs & Debuffs
Additionally, we listed the important buffs and debuffs for the Arc build to help you better understand this playstyle. Lightfall Expansion saw a revamp of core buffs and debuff for each class.
- New Fragments & Revamp:
- Spark of Instinct (New!)
- When critically wounded, taking damage from nearby enemies emits a burst of damaging Arc energy that Jolts targets.
- Spark of Haste (New!)
- You have greatly increased resilience, recovery, and mobility while sprinting.
- Spark of Instinct (New!)
- Arc Buffs & Debuffs:
- Blind (Debuff)
- Disorients the combatants preventing them from firing their weapons. For players, it removes the hud and obscures their vision.
- Jolted (Debuff)
- Charges the target with the Arc Light and takes additional damage, also chain lightning to nearby enemies.
- Amplified (Buff)
- The buff is activated by defeating targets with Arc damage. This buff grants +50 Mobility, increases sprint speed, slide distance, jump height, and grants improved weapon handling for 15 seconds. The buff can also be activated upon landing four rapid Arc kills against red bar combatants, Stronger enemies like majors give more progress. When you are granted the Speed Boost buff so long as you keep sprinting you will not lose it even if Amplified is gone Speed Boost remains.
- Ionic Trace (Buff)
- Sends the bolt of Arc energy on the ground, which if picked up grants you energy. Traces only spawn for their creator and aggressively track to their location *Traces only spawn for their creator and aggressively track to their location
- Blind (Debuff)
![]() Stormtrance | |||
![]() Healing Rift | ![]() Arcbolt Grenade | ![]() Chain Lightning |
Aspects
![]() Electrostatic Mind | ![]() Arc Soul | ![]() Lightning Surge |
Fragments
![]() Spark of Feedback | ![]() Spark of Recharge | ![]() Spark of Resistance | ![]() Spark of Frequency |
Gear
Kinetic Weapons
Pair a Kinetic Weapon in your primary slot, with a special in your secondary slot. Always have at least one special weapon. Ideally, a Pulse with a Shotgun or a Fusion or a Submachine with a Sniper is a great combo.
Recommended Kinetic Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
---|---|---|
![]() Piece of Mind | ![]() Perpetual Motion | ![]() Moving Target |
![]() Wastelander M5 | ![]() Slideshot | ![]() Opening Shot |
![]() Witherhoard | ![]() Primeval's Torment | ![]() Break the Bank |
![]() Ace of Spades | ![]() Memento Mori | ![]() Firefly |
![]() No Time to Explain | ![]() Rewind Again |
Energy Weapons
Recommended Energy Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
---|---|---|
![]() Beloved | ![]() Snapshot Sights | ![]() Moving Target |
![]() Brigand's Law | ![]() Perpetual Motion | ![]() Rangefinder |
![]() Out of Bounds | ![]() Perpetual Motion | ![]() Kill Clip |
![]() Trespasser | ![]() Unrepentant | ![]() Be the Danger |
Heavy Weapons
Recommended Heavy Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
---|---|---|
![]() Cry Mutiny | ![]() Swashbuckler | ![]() Incandescent |
![]() The Other Half | ![]() Eager Edge | ![]() Vorpal Weapon |
![]() Palmyra-B | ![]() Impulse Amplifier | ![]() Chain Reaction |
![]() Gjallarhorn | ![]() Wolfpack Rounds | ![]() Pack Hunter |
Exotic Armor
Exotic Armor | Exotic Perk |
---|---|
![]() Ophidian Aspect | ![]() Cobra Totemic |
![]() Transversive Steps | ![]() Strange Protractor |
![]() The Stag | ![]() Dearly Departed |
Armor Stats
Stat distribution number goals- Mobility – 0 - 20 (Affects strafing speed not Sprint Speed)
- Resilience – 60 - 100 (Gives you more Hp in Crucible a Max of 200 at Tier 10)
- Recovery – 100 (This is warlock main stat which also lowers your class ability cooldown)
- Discipline – 10 - 40
- Intellect – <40 (higher is fine if you’ve hit other markers)
- Strength – 40 -8 0
Character Statistics Changes In Destiny 2 Lightfall
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Important Mods
Mod changes in Destiny 2 Lightfall

Armor Modification Change: these mods will seem foreign to returning players with Lightfall changing the entire system. The system you build around now is only orbs of power. You also see an armor charge mechanic and some of the previous mechanics for generating orbs of power and previously used mods. This system is evolving, and we will continue to make changes as we gain a better understanding of the new mod system. Here’s a list of all the current armor mods.
Artifice Armor Change: provides an extra +3 to whatever stat you want this should help you reach these stat goals.
Artifact Change: The artifact no longer provides mods instead it reduces the costs of some of the mods and provides passives as you level up and unlock them. Season 20 Artifact.
Head | ![]() Recovery Mod |
Head | ![]() Kinetic Targeting Improved target acquisition, accuracy, and aim-down-sights speed for Kinetic weapons. |
Head | ![]() Kinetic Siphon Rapid Kinetic weapon final blows create an Orb of Power. |
Arms | ![]() Recovery Mod |
Arms | ![]() Kinetic Dexterity Faster ready and stow speed for Kinetic weapons. |
Arms | ![]() Kinetic Dexterity Faster ready and stow speed for Kinetic weapons. |
Arms | ![]() Fastball Increases grenade throw distance. |
Chest | ![]() Recovery Mod |
Chest | ![]() Concussive Dampener Reduces incoming area-of-effect damage from combatants. |
Chest | ![]() Unflinching Kinetic Aim Reduces flinching from incoming fire while aiming a Kinetic weapon. |
Legs | ![]() Recovery Mod |
Legs | ![]() Kinetic Holster Gradually reloads your stowed Kinetic weapons over time. |
Legs | ![]() Kinetic Holster Gradually reloads your stowed Kinetic weapons over time. |
Legs | ![]() Kinetic Holster Gradually reloads your stowed Kinetic weapons over time. |
Class | ![]() Recovery Mod |
Class | ![]() Utility Finisher Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nFinishers restore class abilities. Consumes 3 or more stacks of Armor Charge, granting additional energy for each charge consumed. |
Class | ![]() Utility Finisher Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nFinishers restore class abilities. Consumes 3 or more stacks of Armor Charge, granting additional energy for each charge consumed. |
Thank you for reading our Destiny 2 Arc Warlock PvP Build!
If you want to see more of Destiny 2 action, consider watching me live at twitch.tv/deltiasgaming. Check the website for more guides, Beginner Builds and End-game PvE Builds.