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Welcome to Destiny 2 Solar Hunter PvP Build!
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.
Solar Hunter PvP Build for Destiny 2
Welcome to the Destiny 2 Solar Hunter PvP Build! Do you dream of being a space cowboy? Like precise, quick gunplay? Want to make the legendary Hunter Gunslinger Shin Malphur proud? Then look no further, this is the build for you.
Playstyle
This build is all about the gunplay. Quick scoping with your sniper rifle at a range, then quickly switching to your Last Word to melt anyone who dares get close. Your abilities while useful are to compliment your gunplay not replace them. Throw grenades at choke points. Throw your knife if you need to get a kill off before you can reload. Use your super to take out as many enemies as possible. But mostly its about crisp snipes, and quickdraw six shooter (albeit not literally) action.
Should you play Solar Hunter in PvP?
Solar Hunter 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 |
| All about the gunplay | Abilities take a secondary role |
| Does excellent at range and up close | Can be a bit fragile |
| Not mod dependent | Better in 6v6 than 3v3 modes |
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.
Void Buffs & Debuffs
Additionally, we listed the important buffs and debuffs for the Solar build to help you better understand this playstyle. Lightfall Expansion saw a revamp of core buffs and debuff for each class.
- Void Buffs & Debuffs:
- Firesprite (New!)
- Firesprites are created by a suite of new and existing Solar Fragments and grant grenade energy on pickup.
- Scorch (Debuff)
- The target is singed by destructive Solar Light, taking damage over time. Scorch damage increases as the target accumulates more Scorch stacks. After 100 Scorch stacks are applied to the target, they will Ignite.
- Ignite (Debuff)
- A large, damaging Solar explosion in an area around the target.
- Radiant (Buff)
- Your weapons are enhanced by the power of the Traveler and deal increased damage to foes.
- Cure (Buff)
- You are healed in a burst of mending Solar Light.
- Restoration (Buff)
- You continuously regenerate health and shields over time. Cannot be interrupted by taking damage.
- Firesprite (New!)
- New Fragments & Revamp:
- Ember of Mercy (New!)
- When you revive an ally, you and other nearby allies gain Restoration. Picking up a Firesprite grants Restoration.
- Ember of Resolve (New!)
- Solar grenade final blows Cure you.
- Ember of Tempering
- Now creates a Firesprite on Solar weapon kills while active, in addition to its original effects.
- Ember of Combustion
- Now creates a Firesprite on Solar Super defeats, in addition to its original effects.
- Ember of Searing
- Now creates a Firesprite when defeating Scorched targets, in addition to its original effects.
- Ember of Mercy (New!)
 Golden Gun - Deadshot | |||
 Gambler's Dodge |  Triple Jump |  Healing Grenade |  Weighted Throwing Knife |
Aspects
 Knock 'Em Down |  On Your Mark |
Fragments
 Ember of Eruption |  Ember of Searing |  Ember of Beams |  Ember of Wonder |  Ember of Combustion |
Gear
Kinetic Weapons
Going with our gunslinger motif with this build pretty much calls for one single weapon and that weapon is the Last Word. With an optimal time to kill at .5 without buffs, this thing shreds. It does take some getting used to, but its is so fun to use.
| Recommended Kinetic Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
|---|---|---|
 No Time to Explain |  Feeding Frenzy |  Accurized Rounds |
 Witherhoard |  Primeval's Torment |  Break the Bank |
 Piece of Mind |  Perpetual Motion |  Moving Target |
 Fractethyst |  Quickdraw |  Opening Shot |
 Riptide |  Under Pressure |  Cornered |
Energy Weapons
| Recommended Energy Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
|---|---|---|
 Matador 64 |  Threat Detector | Opening Shot |
 Beloved |  Snapshot Sights | Moving Target |
 Found Verdict (Timelost) |  Slideshot | Opening Shot |
 IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.3 |  Dynamic Sway Reduction |  Rangefinder |
 Snorri FR5 |  Surplus |  High-Impact Reserves |
Heavy Weapons
| Recommended Heavy Weapons | Suggested Perk 1 | Suggested Perk 2 |
|---|---|---|
 Cry Mutiny |  Incandescent |  Swashbuckler |
 The Other Half |  Eager Edge |  Vorpal Weapon |
 Red Herring |  Tracking Module |  Killing Wind |
 Palmyra-B |  Impulse Amplifier |  Chain Reaction |
Exotic Armor
We have a couple great options for exotics, one being good in all cases and the other being great for our build in particular.
| Exotic Armor | Exotic Perk |
|---|---|
 Wormhusk Crown |  Burning Souls |
 Lucky Pants |  Illegally Modded Holster |
Armor Stats
Here is the priority of where we want our highest stats for this build. Pump up your mobility and then try to spread everything else out fairly evenly with spikes here and there. In order of importance:- Mobility - Hunters want to be dodging a lot in PvP and Mobility makes that happen. Get this as high as possible. It also makes strafing faster which is great.
- Recovery - When you dodge out of a situation, you're going to want to start recovering health quickly.
- Resilience - Don't neglect Resilience in PvP, it directly determines your health. Try to get it high but don't feel like you need to focus it to high.
- Intellect - Deadshot is a very powerful mobile super so we want to get it our intellect high enough to get it pretty quickly. It can turn the tide of a battle.
- Strength - Our build isn't ability focused but it still is good to get our knife quickly for those times we do need it.
- Discipline - Grenades are always useful in PvP, but this build isn't built around them so they are a lesser priority.
- Mobility - 90+
- Resilience - 60+
- Recovery - ~60
- Discipline - ~50
- Intellect - ~70
- Strength - ~50
Character Statistics Changes In Destiny 2 Lightfall
Resilience Tier 8 Lightfall Destiny 2Resilience Changes: The resilience stat was heavily nerfed in Lightfall expanse and now only receives 30% damage reduction at 100 stat. Outside of Titan builds, your goal is tier 8 (80 stats) to get good damage reduction without wasted stats.
Important Mods
Mod changes in Destiny 2 Lightfall
2 Lightfall Class ModsArmor 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 |  Mobility 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 |  Minor Mobility 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 | Mobility 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 | Mobility 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 | Mobility Mod |
| Class |  Utility Kickstart Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nWhen your class ability energy is fully expended, you gain class ability energy. Additionally, your Armor Charge is consumed and you gain additional class ability energy for each stack. |
| Class | Utility Kickstart Collecting an Orb of Power causes you to gain 1 temporary Armor Charge.\nWhen your class ability energy is fully expended, you gain class ability energy. Additionally, your Armor Charge is consumed and you gain additional class ability energy for each stack. |
Thank you for reading our Destiny 2 Solar Hunter 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.
- Destiny 2 God Roll Weapons Guides
- Destiny 2 Comprehensive Beginner Guide
- Destiny 2 Builds
- All Destiny 2 Lightfall Weapons
- Destiny 2: How to Unlock Strand Subclass
