Destiny 2: Lord of Wolves Review – Is It Still Good?

Over these last couple of months, there’s been one weapon in Destiny 2 that’s truly reigned supreme. Personally, I can’t get enough of the Lord of Wolves – it’s been nothing short of beastly! This gun has consistently outperformed others in both damage per second (DPS) and major clear. Its hip-fire mode is downright terrifying, dealing insanely high damage numbers against even the tankiest of bosses.

However, in the significant update to the “Rite of the Nine” this week, Bungie made adjustments to the hip-fire mode of the weapon, reducing it by approximately 30% (or a 28% damage decrease when only considering the figures). This raises the question: Does it still hold its spot in the top-tier of damage tactics? Is it worth employing? It’s important to note that before receiving a substantial boost at the start of Episode Heresy, Lord of Wolves was not commonly used.

In this analysis, we’ll delve into the true essence of the Nerf, its impact on Lord of Wolves’ standing in terms of damage, and debate whether the weapon has slipped into obscurity or remains a top-tier contender among the game’s finest guns.

Overview

Element: Solar

Ammo: Special

Magazine: 30

Reserves: 273

Rate of Fire: 640RPM

Perks:

Shrapnel Launcher: Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage.
Release the Wolves: When firing from the hip, this weapon shoots in full auto and damage and rate of fire are increased, but accuracy and range are decreased.

Fang and Claw: Speeds up reload time and improves stability. During the activation of Release the Wolves, striking enemies with this weapon triggers Scorch. When aiming down sights, defeating an enemy disperses Scorch to adjacent targets.

PvE Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PvP Rating: ⭐

Despite taking a 30% damage reduction, the Lord of Wolves remains exceptional. It effortlessly dispatches minor enemies and maintains reasonable DPS output. Consequently, it continues to rank among the top choices in the game, albeit with slightly lower damage compared to its previous levels.

It’s not unexpected that this gun is excellent; it has consistently been close to exceptional, even bordering on broken at its worst. However, the hip-fire addition in the Release the Wolves update transformed it into a formidable weapon once more. In fact, Bungie designed it as a Solar Choir of One equivalent, and it effectively seized that title from its predecessor. Now, it can eliminate bosses faster than ever before.

How to obtain Lord of Wolves

As a gamer, I can tell you that snagging the Lord of Wolves is all about striking it lucky when deciphering Exotic Engrams over at Rahool’s shop.

On occasion, you might stumble upon it being sold by Xur as part of his unique assortment, which requires 23 Strange Coins. However, since the availability is random, remember to visit Xur weekly to check if he’s offering it to you.

Is Lord of Wolves Still Good in PvE?

In terms of overall gameplay, Lord of Wolves remains one of the top choices within the game for both major cleanup tasks and everyday use. Although it’s not ideal for taking down common enemies due to inefficiency, it swiftly demolishes any large targets that come its way, making it definitely worth including in your arsenal.

Despite the widespread opinion that ‘Lord of Wolves’ is less effective now, it’s important to note that for smaller or yellow-bar enemies, this weapon will still tear through them incredibly swiftly, which is beneficial for most content. However, since it occupies an exotic slot, if you require that space for another high damage weapon or utility tool, then using ‘Lord of Wolves’ might not be ideal. But in general, ‘Lord of Wolves’ makes short work of larger enemies with just a few clicks.

Here are several options I’ve rephrased for you:

1. In the same position, there are a few alternatives that appeal to me, but Choir of One is my first pick. Other weapons like Ergo Sum in a Caster frame and The Perfect Fifth perk have their merits, however. Yet, Lord of Wolves is a weapon that you can easily use to tear through enemies with minimal effort required.

2. In the same spot, I prefer several substitutes, but Choir of One stands out. Other weapons such as Ergo Sum in a Caster frame and The Perfect Fifth perk seem effective, though. Nevertheless, Lord of Wolves is a gun that you can simply draw and wipe out opponents with little additional concern.

3. In the same space, I fancy a few replacements, but Choir of One catches my eye first. Other weapons like Ergo Sum with a Caster frame and The Perfect Fifth perk have their strong points, though. Still, Lord of Wolves is a weapon that you can simply pull out and obliterate enemies without worrying too much about extra details.

4. In the same area, I’m partial to some alternatives, but Choir of One is my go-to choice initially. Other weapons such as Ergo Sum with a Caster frame and The Perfect Fifth perk have their uses, however. Yet, Lord of Wolves is a gun that you can draw easily and mow down enemies without much extra thought needed.

5. In the same place, I like several swaps, but Choir of One immediately strikes me as the best pick. Other weapons like Ergo Sum in a Caster frame and The Perfect Fifth perk show promise, though. However, Lord of Wolves is a weapon that you can simply grab and destroy enemies with minimal fuss.

DPS

Following the 30% boost it received, there’s a lot of discussion about whether Lord of Wolves remains effective in the current damage dynamics.

In simpler terms, the Lord of Wolves remains among the game’s top damaging weapons, despite a recent nerf. It still ranks high in single weapon DPS, being one of the few viable options, comparable only to Legend of Acrius and outperforming it on certain bosses like Templar.

I conducted independent trials on Phry’zhia The Insatiable from Grasp of Avarice, contrasting it against several close-range damage per second (DPS) tactics that rival Lord of Wolves. All experiments were performed solely using a Well of Radiance, without any additional boosts.

Here are the numbers that I got:

Summum Bonum (Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade) = 1,129,382
Choir of One = 1,247,835
Lord of Wolves = 1,641,826
Legend of Acrius = 2,280,152

Despite not perfectly aligning with Aegis’s Acrius stats, the Lord of Wolves holds its ground remarkably well among single weapon, close-range options. It performs exceptionally compared to alternatives like Legend of Acrius (which demands Trench Barrel), making it more accessible. However, I’m uncertain about Lord of Wolves’ effectiveness against Phry’zhia and how swords fare in the same situation.

In summary, here’s my recommendation regarding DPS with DPS and Lord of Wolves – it’s straightforward to use and doesn’t require significant resources or expertise. While it may not offer the highest damage output among all options in the game, you don’t need to master complicated rotation patterns to make it work effectively. If this weapon fits your needs for a given encounter and you’re looking for an efficient DPS choice that’s easy to handle, then Lord of Wolves is an excellent option in my view, and the recent changes to its balance have not altered that perspective at all.

Is Lord of Wolves Good in PvP?

In simpler terms, it’s not great for player versus player (PvP) combat with Lord of Wolves. Even when very close to an opponent, a one-shot kill is hard to achieve and the weapon only delivers a single burst in most PvP scenarios. Previously, this weapon was dominant in PvP, but after numerous updates, it simply doesn’t perform effectively anymore.

Legendary shotguns such as the Prophet of Doom tend to perform exceptionally well, and what’s more, they won’t occupy your exotic equipment slot. This means you have the flexibility to use an exotic weapon in either your primary or heavy loadout if you prefer.

When should you use Lord of Wolves?

In some situations, the Lord of Wolves isn’t the best choice, undeniably. For instance, employing it against The Witness or a close-range boss such as Atraks with an extremely narrow damage window may not be effective compared to alternatives like Parasite or swords.

The Lord of Wolves is an exceptional weapon for dealing sustained damage at close quarters, with its damage output being highly effective and its ammo efficiency ensuring it won’t run dry during a damage phase. However, unlike weapons such as The Queenbreaker, it does consume ammo more rapidly. Moreover, its range is its major disadvantage; while it can kill bosses like the Templar from Vault of Glass, remember it’s still a shotgun, so its range is limited.

To maximize the effectiveness of the Lord of Wolves, it’s crucial to consistently land critical hits with it. If not, it may underperform compared to other weapons. Therefore, choosing situations where you can effortlessly score critical hits against the enemy is essential for successful use of this weapon.

Raid Bosses I use Lord of Wolves for:

Templar and Atheon in Vault of Glass
Crota in Crota’s End
Caretaker and Rhulk in Vow of the Disciple
Explicator and Nezarec in Root of Nightmares.
Herald of Finality in Salvation’s Edge

Regarding wandering around, I always carry Lord of Wolves with me. It’s incredibly useful, and since my primary strategy for clearing additions involves abilities rather than weapons, I can use the extra slot to swiftly eliminate tough adds like those encountered in Nightfalls or Dungeons.

This weapon is extraordinarily effective due to its ability to deal maximum damage simply by hip firing. Moreover, its versatility lies in its capacity for both high DPS and clearing large areas. Therefore, it’s advisable to keep this exceptional tool in your arsenal at all times since it’s simply too powerful to overlook.

Closing TIme

The Lord of Wolves remains an exceptional weapon, despite its 30% damage reduction. It may not be as overpowering as before, but it’s far from being ridiculed. Its DPS (Damage Per Second) might have been toned down a bit, but it still reigns supreme in the game. Therefore, don’t underestimate its power – it’s still a valuable choice.

If you’re curious about which guns are crucial for beginners and what characteristics to consider, take a peek at our guide detailing top equipment for getting started in endgame play. The Lord of Wolves wasn’t featured due to assumptions that it would be weakened with the arrival of Rite of the Nine, but surprisingly, it’s holding its ground.

Thank you for your time, and I’ll see you among the wolves.

2025-05-10 03:56