Barrow-Dyad is an Exotic Strand submachine gun introduced in Destiny 2’s Episode: Heresy. It is a kinetic primary weapon known for its unique Blight-based mechanics and versatility in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Obtained through the exotic quest “The Taken Path” and the “Derealize” mission, this weapon has become a notable choice for players seeking a potent Strand primary. Its exotic perks allow for dynamic playstyles, generating Blight on damage and converting it into seeker projectiles upon reload.
This SMG excels in aggressive, close-to-mid-range combat, particularly in PvE where its Blight generation and seeker projectiles enhance add-clear and single-target damage. With multiple catalyst options and selectable traits, it can be tailored to various builds and activities. Strand subclasses, especially those leveraging Unraveling or Severing effects, synergize well with Barrow-Dyad’s capabilities.
From this guide, you will know:
- How good is the Barrow-Dyad SMG
- How to get Barrow-Dyad
- How to get Barrow-Dyad Catalyst
- Stats and Perks of Barrow-Dyad
- If Barrow-Dyad craftable
If you enjoy versatile primaries with unique mechanics and high damage potential, Barrow-Dyad is worth pursuing despite its somewhat challenging acquisition process. Below, we break down its key features in detail.
Is Barrow-Dyad SMG Good?
Short answer: Very good. Barrow-Dyad is 
A-tier in PvE and 
B-tier in PvP with the right perks and catalysts
Barrow-Dyad Tier list:
- PvE: A-tier. Borderline A with top rolls (like Target Lock or One for All) and the right intrinsic perk (Taken Ambition), thanks to its exceptional add-clear, sustained damage, and single-target damage potential.
- PvP: B-tier. Its effectiveness is more niche, but perks like Target Lock or High-Impact Reserves can make it deadly in close-range duels for skilled players.
Why PvE A-tier: Barrow-Dyad’s exotic trait, Panic Response, generates Blight as it deals damage. While not firing, this Blight depletes and gradually refills the magazine, allowing for sustained fire without manual reloads. Reloading converts stored Blight into Blighted Seekers that track and damage enemies. This makes it exceptional for add-clear and survivability. With selectable intrinsic perks, Taken Ambition enhances the damage of these seekers, while Taken Resolution offers utility benefits. When paired with catalysts like Target Lock (which increases damage the longer you stay on target) or One for All (which provides a damage boost after damaging three separate targets), it becomes a powerhouse for both single-target damage and group clear. Its synergy with Strand subclasses, particularly those utilizing Unraveling or Severing effects, further enhances its potency in high-level PvE content.
Why PvP B-tier: Barrow-Dyad is a solid but not top-tier choice. Its base stats are decent for a 720 RPM SMG, but it faces stiff competition from other meta options. However, with the right build, it can be effective. The Target Lock catalyst can improve its time-to-kill (TTK) by ramping up damage on consistent hits, making it more forgiving in duels. The High-Impact Reserves catalyst can also provide a damage boost in the bottom half of the magazine, potentially winning more engagements. The Blighted Seekers from Panic Response can offer some additional tracking damage, especially with the Taken Ambition intrinsic perk, but landing consistent crits is still crucial. It requires a precise playstyle and good positioning to excel in the Crucible.
Verdict: If you enjoy weapons with unique mechanics, high customizability, and strong synergy with Strand builds, Barrow-Dyad is a compelling exotic SMG worth pursuing in Destiny 2.
How to Get Barrow-Dyad in Destiny 2
Barrow-Dyad is a Strand Exotic SMG added in Episode: Heresy via the Taken Path quest. To fully unlock its power—and its upgraded traits and catalysts—you’ll need to put in some work, but the payoff is excellent.
Step 1: Complete “The Taken Path” Quest
Barrow-Dyad is obtained by completing The Taken Path, a quest on the Dreadnaught. Once this is done, you’ll also need to finish the Derealize Exotic mission to loot the weapon itself.
Step 2: Begin “Dyadic Ascension” & Collect Taken Osseous Fragments
After you have Barrow-Dyad, pick up the Dyadic Ascension quest from the Taken Slab vendor in Eris Morn’s apartment. You’ll need to collect Taken Osseous Fragments in The Nether (in the Dreadnaught) across areas like the Trenchway, Hall of Souls, and Mausoleum. These fragments power up its intrinsic (built-in) trait upgrades.
Step 3: Unlock Upgraded Intrinsic Perks (“Steel Your Nerves”, “Unbreakable Will”, “Moment of Clarity”)
As you gather fragments and rank up the seasonal vendor (Path of Resolve / Path of Ambition tracks), you gain access to traits that strengthen Barrow-Dyad’s core behavior: better handling, damage, or other performance improvements.
Fastest Way to Power-Up Barrow-Dyad:
- Do The Taken Path → finish Derealize to get Barrow-Dyad.
- Farm Osseous Fragments via The Nether to reach required traits.
- Rank up the seasonal vendor (Resolve/Ambition paths) to unlock upgraded perks.
- Work through hidden quests / Expert versions of activities to get the best catalysts.
Barrow-Dyad Farming Tips:
- Pick the right path (Ambition vs Resolve) early depending on whether you want more burst / boss damage vs crowd control / sustain.
- Use catalysts that align with your role—if you’re fighting bosses, Target Lock or High-Impact Reserves shine; for ad clearing, One for All or Hatchling Refit may be better.
- Be aware many steps are locked behind collecting fragments and vendor ranks—don’t skip side-objectives while grinding.
Quick Summary
Barrow-Dyad = Strand Exotic SMG; unlocked from The Taken Path + Derealize. To fully unleash it, complete the Dyadic Ascension quest by getting Osseous Fragments, ranking up vendor paths, and earning the catalysts. Best perks / setups depend on whether you want single-target boss power or high ad / crowd performance.
How to Get Barrow-Dyad Catalyst
What You Need Before You Start:
- Complete the Dyadic Ascension quest (this upgrades Barrow-Dyad’s Intrinsic perk).
- Collect all Coalescence collectibles. These are required for some Catalyst quests.
The Four Catalysts & How to Unlock Them
| Catalyst | How to Get It |
| High-Impact Reserves Catalyst |
|
| Hatchling Catalyst |
|
| One for All Catalyst |
|
| Target Lock Catalyst |
|
Important Notes / Tips
- Some of the portals & hidden areas can be buggy (players report not always being able to interact) — if you can’t access them, try having a friend open one and join their instance.
- Make sure you’re switched to the correct “Path” (Ambition vs Resolve) depending on which Catalyst quest requires which path. Doing quests on the wrong path may prevent progress.
- Some requirements are strict about weapon loadouts (only certain types allowed, Barrow-Dyad must be equipped in some steps).
Perks of Barrow-Dyad SMG
Column 4 Perks
- Taken Ambition:
- Effect: Blight generation increases the longer you stay on target. Blighted Seekers burrow into enemies and explode.
- Best For: Single-target damage and add-clear synergy. Ideal for high-level PvE where focused damage is key .
- Taken Resolution:
- Effect: Hitting three different targets generates a large amount of Blight. Blighted Seekers pierce through multiple enemies.
- Best For: Add-clear and utility. Excellent for general PvE content where multi-target engagement is common .
Best Pick:
- PvE: Taken Ambition for boss DPS or Taken Resolution for crowd control.
- PvP: Taken Ambition for seeker lethality in duels.
Column 6 Perks
- Target Lock Refit:
- Effect: Damage increases the longer you stay on a target.
- Best For: PvE single-target damage (e.g., champions, bosses) and PvP duels .
- One for All Refit:
- Effect: Hitting three separate targets grants a damage boost for a moderate duration.
- Best For: PvE add-clear and activities with dense enemy groups .
- Hatchling Refit:
- Effect: Precision final blows or rapid kills spawn a Threadling at the target’s location.
- Best For: Strand builds focusing on Threadling generation (e.g., Warlock’s Threadling-focused aspects) .
- High-Impact Reserves Refit:
- Effect: Rounds at the end of the magazine deal increased damage.
- Best For: PvP for optimizing time-to-kill (TTK) and PvE for sustained damage .
Best Pick:
- PvE: Target Lock (single-target) or One for All (add-clear).
- PvP: High-Impact Reserves or Target Lock for dueling.
Origin Traits
Barrow-Dyad does not have a standard origin trait but features Taken Divergence, its exotic intrinsic trait, which states, “This weapon resonates with your choices” . This likely refers to its unique selectable perks and catalysts, allowing dynamic customization based on activity or build.
Quick Take
- PvE God Roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel (+Handling)
- Magazine: Appended Mag (+Magazine Size)
- Intrinsic: Taken Ambition
- Grip: Polymer Grip (+Stability)
- Catalyst: Target Lock or One for All
- PvP God Roll:
- Barrel: Smallbore (+Range/Stability)
- Magazine: Ricochet Rounds (+Range/Stability)
- Intrinsic: Taken Ambition
- Grip: Smooth Grip (+Handling)
- Catalyst: High-Impact Reserves or Target Lock
- Verdict:
- PvE: A-tier (borderline S-tier with catalysts). Excels in add-clear and single-target damage, especially with Strand builds.
- PvP: B-tier. Niche but viable with damage-boosting catalysts.
Barrow-Dyad God Roll
Barrow-Dyad shines because it combines unique Blight mechanics, exceptional versatility, and high damage potential in ways very few Exotic primaries can. Its selectable intrinsic perks and multiple catalyst options allow it to adapt to both add-clear and single-target damage roles, making it a standout Strand weapon for endgame PvE. Let’s break down what makes its PvE and PvP rolls worth pursuing.
Barrow-Dyad PvE God Roll
Barrow-Dyad excels at add-clear, sustained damage, and synergy with Strand builds. Its exotic trait, Panic Response, generates Blight on damage, auto-refills the magazine when not firing, and converts stored Blight into tracking Blighted Seekers on reload. Here’s what to prioritize:
Intrinsic Perks:
- Taken Ambition: Blight generation increases the longer you stay on a target. Blighted Seekers burrow into enemies and explode, ideal for focused damage on majors or bosses.
- Taken Resolution: Hitting three different targets generates a large amount of Blight. Blighted Seekers pierce through multiple enemies, perfect for add-clear.
Catalysts:
- Target Lock Refit: Damage increases the longer you stay on a target. This is the top choice for melting champions or bosses.
- One for All Refit: Hitting three separate targets grants a damage boost. Excellent for general add-clear in dense activities.
- Hatchling Refit: Precision final blows or rapid kills spawn a Threadling. Synergizes perfectly with Strand builds (e.g., Threadling Warlock).
Stat Perks:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel (+Handling) for faster swaps and target acquisition.
- Magazine: Appended Mag (+Magazine Size) to maximize Panic Response’s sustain.
- Grip: Polymer Grip (+Stability) for better recoil control during sustained fire.
Why It Works:
- Taken Ambition + Target Lock turns Barrow-Dyad into a boss-melting tool, while Taken Resolution + One for All enhances crowd control.
- The auto-reload mechanic from Panic Response reduces downtime, and Blighted Seekers add free damage.
- Hatchling catalyst synergizes with Strand fragments/aspects (e.g., Warlock’s Threadling generation), creating endless ability loops.
Barrow-Dyad PvP God Roll
In Crucible, Barrow-Dyad is a niche but viable choice. Its base stats are solid for a 720 RPM SMG, but it requires specific perks to compete with meta options.
Intrinsic Perks:
- Taken Ambition: The default choice, as the seeker explosion can finish off weakened players.
Catalysts:
- High-Impact Reserves Refit: Rounds at the end of the magazine deal increased damage, optimizing time-to-kill (TTK) in duels.
- Target Lock Refit: Increases damage on sustained fire, rewarding accurate tracking.
Stat Perks:
- Barrel: Smallbore (+Range and Stability) for consistency at mid-range.
- Magazine: Ricochet Rounds (+Range and Stability) to boost dueling potential.
- Grip: Smooth Grip (+Handling) for quicker aim-down-sights.
Why It Works:
- High-Impact Reserves ensures the final shots in a mag deal extra damage, potentially winning 1v1s.
- Target Lock ramps up damage if you maintain accuracy, making it forgiving against evasive targets.
- Blighted Seekers from Taken Ambition can flinch opponents or clean up kills, though consistency relies on landing crits.
Can you craft Barrow-Dyad?
You cannot craft Barrow-Dyad. It is an Exotic weapon and does not have a craftable pattern or Deepsight Resonance.
The only way to obtain this SMG is by completing the exotic quest “The Taken Path,” which culminates in the “Derealize” exotic mission. This quest is not time-limited like an event but is a permanent addition to the game, though it involves complex steps like finding a hidden Taken Blight in the Nether activity, solving a symbol puzzle, and hunting secrets across the solar system. This means that to get the weapon, you must progress through this multi-step questline; there is no random drop or vendor alternative. Once obtained, you can reacquire it from your Collections tab, but its selectable perks will be randomized each time. To unlock its full potential with specific intrinsic perks and all four catalysts, you must complete additional, lengthy quests tied to Episode: Heresy activities like the Court of Blades and The Nether.
Conclusion
The Barrow-Dyad is one of the most unique and powerful Exotic primary weapons Bungie has released in recent memory. It masterfully combines immense add-clear potential through its Blighted Seekers with serious single-target damage via its selectable catalysts like Target Lock. In PvE, it feels incredibly versatile and potent, offering sustained fire without reloading and rewarding aggressive play with massive damage output. In PvP, it is a more niche duelist’s tool that can be deadly in the right hands with catalysts like High-Impact Reserves.
Because it is a quest-based Exotic with multiple catalysts to unlock, acquiring its full power is a long-term investment rather than a short farm. Players who enjoy intricate weapon mechanics, deep build-crafting with Strand subclasses, or want a primary weapon that can genuinely contribute to boss damage should absolutely pursue it. If you prefer straightforward weapons or your Strand build is already complete without it, you might not need it — but for most serious Guardians and collectors, the Barrow-Dyad is an essential and tremendously rewarding addition to the arsenal.
