A List Of Destiny 2’s Most-Used PvP Exotics Reveals Quite A Lot

If it’s a day that ends in Y, the Destiny community is arguing about PvP and Bungie’s balancing of it. Now that Iron Banner has returned, that’s especially true, even though some positive, unannounced changes have been made to the mode (a mercy rule!).

However, I wanted to talk about some interesting data I saw being passed around yesterday from MijagoCoding, showing off the most used armor exotics in PvP. We’re used to seeing Trials Report weapon stats, but no one ever really looks at armor.

Here’s the data, with the top ten exotics used in PvP for each class.

Hunter (47.9% of the PvP population)

1. Stompees – 25.7%
2. Wormhusk Crown – 21.6%
3. Omnioculus – 16.7%
4. Young Ahamkara’s Spine – 6.2%
5. The Dragon’s Shadow – 4.7%
6. Caliban’s Hand – 4.2%
7. Athrys’s Embrace – 2.4%
8. Foetracer – 2.3%
9. Gemini Jester – 2.0%
10. Frostees – 2.0%

Okay, so first of all, Hunters are still almost half the PvP population, and especially this season, I think that contributes to the “healing meta” where all solar Hunters with Classy Restoration can get a pre-nerf Wormhusk-style heal through that mod.

Elsewhere, the main story here is that even though Airborne Effectiveness is now a thing, and one of the main reasons it exists at all was to get people to stop using Stompees so much, which have a huge AE penalty, no one cares. They’re still the most-used PvP exotic. Wormhusk is there for even more healing, Omni for big invis damage reduction.

Warlock (26.2% of the PvP population)

1. Ophidian Aspect – 55.6%
2. Transversive Steps – 20.8%
3. The Stag – 3.7%
4. Osiomancy Gloves – 3.4%
5. Rain of Fire – 2.2%
6. Starfire Protocol – 1.8%
7. Astrocyte Verse – 1.7%
8. None – 1.3%
9. Getaway Artist – 1.1%
10. Necrotic Grip – 1.0%

Oh my god Warlock’s have “NONE” as an exotic in their top 10? Amazing. So what I’m seeing here is that Warlocks really do not have many solid dedicated PvP exotic options so everyone defaults to two, with Ophidian having the highest usage rate by about 30% compared to any other exotic on any other class. I’m not sure this means it needs a nerf, but that Warlocks need more options, given that 76% of exotic use in PvP is just two exotics.

Titan (25.9% of the PvP population)

1. Dunemarchers – 27.5%
2. Loreley Splendor - 22.1%
3. Synthoceps – 10.6%
4. One-Eyed Mask – 9.7%
5. Peacekeepers – 6.3%
6. Peregrine Greaves – 6.0%
7. Citan’s Ramparts – 3.4%
8. Heart of Inmost Light – 2.5%
9. Anteus Wards – 2.5%
10. Crest of Alpha Lupi – 1.9%

I am actually surprised to see Dunemarchers beat out Loreley this season, but I suppose it can be used cross-subclass. In general, this is probably the best overall distribution out of all three classes in terms of diversity, a far cry from the “everyone must wear One-Eyed Mask” days, even if it’s still a top 5 choice. Was surprised to see Peacekeepers that high, and Citan’s that low.

In short, AE did little to curb Stompees. Ophidian is probably more popular on Warlocks than Stompees ever were on hunters and is a huge outlier. And between Wormhusk Hunters and Loreley Titans there’s a reason you are being annoyed by constant healing all the time this season. Interesting stuff.

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