Trace Rifles are a weapon type introduced and are exclusive to Destiny 2. These guns shoot a beam of elemental energy and in essence ray guns that can wail on your enemies. There are only 5 in the game as of the writing of this article, all of them are exotic energy weapons, so each of them has its special perks to make these guns even more interesting to play with. Here are our picks and how to get them.

Our Top 5 Trace Rifles:

• Coldheart
• Divinity
• Prometheus Lens
• Ruinous Effigy
• Wavesplitter

1. Coldheart

The latest Omolon engineering leverages liquid fuel as coolant to keep weapon systems at biting subzero temperatures.

This Arc trace rifle is pretty cool. The exotic trait Longest Winter increases Coldheart’s damage the longer you keep hitting a target, making it good for DPS as long as you can keep your aim straight. The downside of this is that it feels like you’re cheating when you can cut a huge chunk of a major’s health bar. Which in hindsight, is something you can look past.

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 6

Range: 73

Stability: 73

Handling: 33

Reload Speed: 37

Rounds/Min: 1000

Magazine: 101

Exotic Perks:

Cold Fusion: This weapon shoots a steady cold fusion-powered laser.

Longest Winter: Coldheart's laser does exponentially more damage the longer it remains on a target.

What makes Coldheart good?:

• Good range
• Good stability
• Great at DPS against majors and bosses
• Feel like Mr. Freeze when using it.

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1345867571-coldheart

How to get Coldheart:

Previously a Pre-Order exclusive weapon, you can now acquire this gun as a random exotic engram drop or purchase it from Xur if he has it in stock for 29 Legendary Shards.

Coldheart in Action:

 

2. Divinity

Calibrate reality. Seek inevitability. Embody divinity.

What if I told you that you could get critical damage without landing precision shots? With Divinity’s exotic perk Judgement, sustained damage will cover your target in a sort of force field that turns any damage they receive into critical damage. It’s handy for any bounty that requires precision kills.

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 6

Range: 70

Stability: 100

Handling: 60

Reload Speed: 51

Rounds/Min: 1000

Magazine: 94

Exotic Perks:

Judgment: Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and [Disruption] disrupts them. Strong against Overload Champions.

Penance: Targets under the effects of Judgment long enough are struck with a burst of damage.

What makes Divinity good?:

• Great stability
• Great at DPS against majors and bosses
• Perks enable critical damage from any source

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/4103414242-divinity

How to get Divinity:

Divinity in Action:

 

3. Prometheus Lens

"Cryptarchs made a crystal that starts fires? Get me one. I don't care how you do it. Go!" —Cayde-6 

Wherewith coldheart we have a freeze ray with the Prometheus Lens we have a heat ray. The exotic perks gives the laser a heat field that grows over the time the beam is fired. It also creates an AoE effect that can melt several enemies at once. On top of that, it also gives you back some ammo on kills. Despite being nerfed it can still hold its own.

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 6

Range: 73

Stability: 64

Handling: 42

Reload Speed: 46

Rounds/Min: 1000

Magazine: 100

Exotic Perks:

Prismatic Inferno: Fires a Solar trace beam and generates a damaging heat field that grows while the weapon continues to fire.

Flame Refraction: Kills with this weapon return a fraction of the ammo used to the magazine from reserves, extending the beam's duration.

What makes Prometheus Lens good?:

• Good for clearing weak enemies in PvE
• Refills magazine on kills
• Heat field grows the longer the beam is fired

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/19024058-prometheus-lens#

How to get Prometheus Lens:

Prometheus Lens in Action:

 

4. Ruinous Effigy

From the many wings of ruin blows a wind that will reshape this dead world.

Ruinous Effigy is a void trace rifle that gives you that has quite the unique look, but also very unique perks. On final blows, enemies will be collapsed into void spheres, which you can then pick up and use as weapons. It’s as cool as it sounds.

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 8

Range: 51

Stability: 80

Handling: 58

Reload Speed: 40

Rounds/Min: 1000

Magazine: 94

Exotic Perks:

Transmutation: Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres.

Evolution: Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies.

Light attack

Heavy attack 

Guard/Drain nearby combatants

What makes Ruinous Effigy good?:

• Friendly players can also use spheres as weapons
• Good for weaker enemies

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1363238943-ruinous-effigy

How to get Ruinous Effigy:

Ruinous Effigy in Action:

 

5. Wavesplitter

Omolon's newest breakthrough uses focused sonic waves to superheat electrons into a devastating energy beam.

This is a bizarre trace rifle. Wavesplitter’s exotic perk makes its damage output fluctuate up and down, picking up orbs of light however will make it go up to max damage for a short period. It can hit pretty hard, but it’s certainly an acquired taste.

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 6

Range: 70

Stability: 96

Handling: 51

Reload Speed: 51

Rounds/Min: 1000

Magazine: 100

Exotic Perks:

Harmonic Laser: Laser damage has three power levels that oscillate while the trigger is held down.

Supercharged Battery: Collecting an Orb of Light grants a short period of maximum power that starts with an automatic reload.

What makes Wavesplitter good?:

• Decent Range
• Great stability

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1852863732-wavesplitter#

How to get Wavesplitter:

Wavesplitter in Action:

Liked our list? What weapons are best? Let us know in the comments below!

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