Destiny 2 has introduced a new weapon category known as the Glaive. This Special weapon is unique in its ability to engage in melee combat and fire energy projectiles. Glaives, like Swords, can withstand enemy attacks while delivering powerful melee hits, making them an exciting addition to the Destiny arsenal. 

Despite potential areas for improvement, they provide a balance of enjoyment and effectiveness when used correctly.

What are the best Glaives in Destiny 2?

There are few glaives in the game right now. This article discusses the top 10 glaives available for PvE and PvP activities. We'll also discuss the best perk combinations for these glaives.

10. Edge Of Intent (Best for PVE)

An echo of an ancient weapon, forged from a memory of cunning.

Edge of Intent, a Warlock Exotic glaive, occupies an Exotic slot but offers minimal healing that is often deemed unnecessary. It sits at the lower end of the spectrum in terms of utility. While it may appeal to players looking to craft the ultimate healer build, it tends to be more of a burden than a benefit for most.

The primary feature of Edge of Intent is its alternative fire mode that provides healing. Like other glaives, it has a chargeable function, but in this case, it releases a healing turret upon impact. The Glaive could be impressive. Unfortunately, its performance is underwhelming compared to other glaives in the list.

Exotic Perk:

“Hybrid melee/ranged polearm with a frontal shield. Generates energy on dealing ranged damage.

[Aim Down Sights]: Raise shield, depleting energy over time

[Melee]: Kinetic melee combo”

Edge Of Intent Stats

• Impact: 95
• Range: 70
• Shield Duration: 70
• Handling: 30
• Reload Speed: 45
• Aim Assistance: 50
• Inventory Size: 50
• Airborne Effectiveness: 12
• Rounds Per Minute: 45
• Charge Time: 70
• Magazine: 4

How to get Edge Of Intent 

To get the pattern of Edge of Intent in Destiny 2, you must complete a specific mission on the Evidence Board at the Enclave. This mission is named "Report: Reverse-Lure." After acquiring the pattern of the glaive you can craft it with your desired perks at the Enclave.

9. Lubrae's Ruin (Best for PVP)

Shape: Shattered

Lubrae's Ruin can be found in the "Vow of the Disciple" raid, and it is notable for its ability to be customized with enhanced perks. This increases its appeal, particularly among players who prefer Solar builds. The weapon has several potential perks, including Surrounded, Vorpal Weapon, Swashbuckler, and Wellsprings, making it a helpful tool in PVP scenarios.

For those taking on high-level PvP activities, the combination of Unstoppable Force and Immovable Object is highly recommended, especially if you believe Lubrae's Ruin will significantly improve your Destiny 2 gameplay experience.

Lubrae's Ruin Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 45
• Shield Duration: 40
• Handling: 45
• Reload Speed: 50
• Aim Assistance: 72
• Inventory Size: 40
• Airborne Effectiveness: 11
• Rounds Per Minute: 55
• Charge Time: 40
• Magazine: 4

PvP God roll:

• Haft: Ballistic Tuning
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds
• Perk 1: Immovable Object 
• Perk 2: Unstoppable Force

How to get Lubrae's Ruin 

You can get this weapon from the Vow of the Disciple (VoD) raid, specifically the raid's final encounter. Once the weapon drops, it can appear in secret chests hidden throughout the activity. You can easily farm the red borders of this weapon once this raid is the featured raid of the week.

8. Edge of Action (Best for PVE)

An echo of an ancient weapon, forged from a memory of strength.

Edge of Action gradually emerged as the best choice among the three class-specific glaives. Its impressive ability to form a bubble that provides an Overshield and a 5% increase in damage may appear insignificant, but it is pretty effective.

Edge of Action is excellent at providing defensive capabilities but needs to improve compared to other exotic Glaives. The requirement for four hits to deploy a protective shield means that failing to do so leaves you vulnerable in combat. Activating this compact mini-bubble has its perks, as it allows you to acquire a Void Overshield, which remains effective even when you're outside the bubble.

Exotic Perk:

"When weapon energy is full, consume it before firing to make your next shot deploy a protective shield on impact.."

Edge of Action Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 40
• Shield Duration: 80
• Handling: 40
• Reload Speed: 25
• Aim Assistance: 30
• Inventory Size: 30
• Airborne Effectiveness: 7
• Rounds Per Minute: 55
• Charge Time: 80
• Magazine: 4

How to get Edge of Action

To obtain the Edge of Action pattern, visit the Enclave on Mars and examine the Evidence Board, which will present you with seven distinct quests. These quests are sequential and must be completed in the specified order. Once you complete these quests, you will acquire the pattern to craft the exotic glaive.

7. Vexcalibur (Best for PVE)

And they came to a lake fair and broad. "Lo," said the voice, "yonder is the blade that I spoke of."

Vexcalibur, the Exotic glaive awarded for completing the Avalon Exotic quest in season 20, offers a unique approach to gameplay. After completing the quest, players can craft and personalize this weapon, choosing their desired perks.

Vexcalibur functions primarily as a defensive support weapon. This trait may limit its effectiveness in standard Raid and Dungeon activities, but it shines in Masters and Grandmaster settings, where its defensive abilities are more useful.

Exotic Perk:

“Fires a spread. Equipped with a quick-draining shield. Blocking damage with your shield gradually bestows Void overshields to yourself and nearby allies.

Deal additional melee damage while protected by an overshield. Defeating targets with melee final blows while the overshield is active will refresh it.”

Vexcalibur Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 80
• Shield Duration: 10
• Handling: 82
• Reload Speed: 82
• Aim Assistance: 74
• Inventory Size: 55
• Rounds Per Minute: 80
• Charge Time: 29
• Magazine: 4

How to get Vexcalibur

In Destiny 2, to acquire the Vexcalibur, you must first investigate the anomalous objects reported by Guardians in the Gulch in the European Dead Zone (EDZ). Following this, you need to trace the digital footprints these objects leave behind. This leads you to a mission in the EDZ to explore a Vex network node, specifically by undertaking the ‘Avalon’ mission, labeled as //node.ovrd.AVALON//. After discovering an object within this Vex network, the final step involves bringing it to the War Table for a detailed analysis.

6. Nezarec's Whisper (Best for PVP)

"Rise, Disciple, and bear this gift with pride." —Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness

Nezarec's Whisper is one of the best-performing Glaives in Destiny 2 as of 2024, consistently surprising players. This weapon can come with unique perk combinations that set it apart from the competition.

To maximize its potential, equip it with Demolitionist and Unstoppable Force, which improves its adaptability. This legendary weapon stands out from lower-tier Glaives due to its unique capabilities and versatility, allowing for usage other Glaives cannot match.

Nezarec's Whisper Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 50
• Shield Duration: 42
• Handling: 42
• Reload Speed: 25
• Aim Assistance: 55
• Inventory Size: 50
• Airborne Effectiveness: 9
• Rounds Per Minute: 55
• Charge Time: 41
• Magazine: 5

PvP God roll:

• Haft: Auxiliary Reserves 
• Magazine: Alloy Magazine
• Perk 1: Demolitionist
• Perk 2: Unstoppable Force

How to get Nezarec's Whisper

In the Season of the Witch, the only way to get this weapon is from the gunsmith vendor (Banshee-44). Banshee has sold some amazing rolls of this weapon in the past and offers it frequently in its inventory. You must watch its daily offerings and might be lucky enough to get a god-roll.

5. Ecliptic Distaff (Best for PVE)

"We Awoken spin our paths from Light and Darkness." —Mara Sov

Ecliptic Distaff is a legendary energy slot glaive that is a great choice to add to your arsenal. It has the same archetype as other non-exotic weapons, and its basic statistics place it in the mid-range category.

Generally, ritual weapons such as Ecliptic Distaff are less powerful than their counterparts with random rolls. However, this glaive is an exception to that trend. The Close to Melee perk significantly enhances its consistency, while including Destabilizing Rounds makes it an ideal match for any Void build.

Ecliptic Distaff Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 53
• Shield Duration: 47
• Handling: 49
• Reload Speed: 54
• Aim Assistance: 73
• Inventory Size: 41
• Airborne Effectiveness: 12
• Rounds Per Minute: 55
• Charge Time: 47
• Magazine: 4

PvE God roll:

• Haft: Ballistic Tuning
• Magazine: Alloy Magazine
• Perk 1: Replenishing Aeges
• Perk 2: Close to Melee

How to get Ecliptic Distaff

The Ecliptic Distaff was a ritual weapon available in Season 16 of Destiny 2. To obtain it, players needed to reach level 16 with any of the core activity vendors in the game. However, this glaive is no longer obtainable as of the Season of the Wish.

4. Judgment Of Kelgorath (Best for PVP)

"CARVE UNTO ME A TRIBUTE OF WAILING PRAYERS" —Xivu Arath, Hive God of War

Judgment of Kelgorath is Destiny 2's first Aggressive Frame Glaive, trading faster melee for stronger attacks. It's powerful with the right roll, outperforming other Special Glaives in damage. 

The inclusion of Close to Melee in its final column has quickly earned Judgment of Kelgorath a dedicated following. However, a notable drawback is that the Demolitionist perk does not activate on glaive melee kills, which limits its synergy with various builds.

Judgment Of Kelgorath Stats

• Impact: 90
• Range: 71
• Shield Duration: 28
• Handling: 28
• Reload Speed: 35
• Aim Assistance: 70
• Inventory Size: 35
• Airborne Effectiveness: 13
• Rounds Per Minute: 45
• Charge Time: 25
• Magazine: 3

PvP God roll:

• Haft: Arrowhead Brake
• Magazine: Tactical Mag
• Perk 1: Overflow
• Perk 2: Firing Line

How to get Judgment Of Kelgorath

In the Season of the Witch, the only way to get this weapon is from the gunsmith vendor (Banshee-44). Banshee has sold some amazing rolls of this weapon in the past and offers it frequently in its inventory. You need to watch its daily offerings and might be lucky enough to get a god-roll.

3. Winterbite (Best for PVE)

Don't slip or you'll hurt yourself. A lot.

Winterbite has become a solid DPS choice, especially for Hunters with Triton Vice and Titans with Synthoceps. This Heavy Glaive shoots Stasis projectiles, which are helpful for all classes. 

Initially, players were dissatisfied with its damage-related bugs, but these issues have been resolved. Combined with ideal perks like Alloy Magazine or Supercooled Accelerator, Winterbite is now one of the best options for clearing ads.

Exotic Perk:

"Fires a large ball of energy that locks onto nearby targets and freezes them. Blocking damage with your shield increases movement speed while shielding."

Winterbite Stats

• Impact: 95
• Range: 75
• Shield Duration: 39
• Handling: 5
• Reload Speed: 10
• Aim Assistance: 81
• Inventory Size: 0
• Airborne Effectiveness: 10
• Rounds Per Minute: 45
• Charge Time: 39
• Magazine: 3

How to get Winterbite 

In Destiny 2, acquiring Winterbite involves a series of steps. First, you need to unlock the Strider Exotic Quest. Following that, you must successfully complete the Terminal Overload in each of the three patrol zones. After this, your task is to defeat the Shadow Legion and finish the Gilded Precept Lost Sector. Finally, you'll need to converse with the Archivist and carry out the repair of the Memorial.

2. The Enigma (Best for PVE)

A weapon forged from an ancient memory, purpose-built for your hand.

The Enigma, the game's tutorial glaive, has great performance. It has some generally effective perks like Grave Robber, Unrelenting, and Frenzy, but none make it stand out. Despite its simplicity, The Enigma can be effective in standard PvE content due to its well-balanced perks.

For PvE, combining Unrelenting and Grave Robber may be the most effective roll. Alternatively, using Frenzy or Impulse Amplifier on this weapon can be interesting to see how they affect its performance.

The Enigma Stats

• Impact: 80
• Range: 55
• Shield Duration: 45
• Handling: 35
• Reload Speed: 40
• Aim Assistance: 61
• Inventory Size: 45
• Airborne Effectiveness: 5
• Rounds Per Minute: 55
• Charge Time: 45
• Magazine: 4

PvE God roll:

• Haft: Ballistic Tuning
• Magazine: Light Mag
• Perk 1: Impulse Amplifier
• Perk 2: Frenzy

How to get The Enigma

After completing the initial mission in The Witch Queen campaign, you acquire and can craft The Enigma. This campaign includes a detailed tutorial introducing the new weapon crafting system, guiding you through each step.

1. Unexpected Resurgence (Best for PVP)

"Stasis was the thesis. Strand is his dissertation." —Sister FaoraUnexpected 

Unexpected Resurgence is an excellent glaive for PvP. It includes some amazing perks as well as a perfect stats package. It can be used as a PvE weapon because it can roll with Voltshot, which is an excellent trait for arc builds. While it is not worth running for those not interested in glaives, we strongly recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about this weapon type.

For PvP, the ideal perk combination includes Tilting, Windmills, and Unstoppable Force. This setup is particularly effective in 1v1 combat scenarios, as the extended shield duration provided by these perks offers a significant tactical advantage.

Resurgence Stats

• Impact: 70
• Range: 51
• Stability: 49
• Handling: 45
• Reload Speed: 44
• Reload Time: 3.14 seconds
• Aim Assistance: 67
• Inventory Size: 48
• Zoom: 46
• Airborne Effectiveness: 2
• Recoil: 79
• Rounds Per Minute: 90
• Magazine: 4

PvP God roll:

• Haft: Supercooled Accelerator
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds
• Perk 1: Tilting at Windmills 
• Perk 2: Unstoppable Force

How to get Unexpected Resurgence

Unexpected Resurgence is one of the difficult weapons to get as it is linked with the Trials of the Osiris activity. You can only obtain it from the lighthouse chest, which you can only unlock by going flawless in trials. Once you open it in your collections, you can buy another one from Saint-14 by sacrificing your card and a few other resources.

You may also be interested in:

• Destiny 2 Class Tier List: The Best Destiny 2 Classes and Subsclasses
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• Top 10 Destiny 2 Best Exotic Weapons for PvP