Destiny 2 Hunter: The Best Builds and Subclasses for PvE and PvP

Hunters in Destiny 2 The Final Shape Episode 3 are agile, versatile, and powerful. Each subclass has unique strengths that shine in both PvE and PvP activities. With the right Aspects, Fragments, and Exotics, Hunters can excel on the battlefield, whether clearing waves of enemies in PvE or outmaneuvering opponents in PvP.

In this article, we’ll provide an overview and explain the best Hunter subclasses for PvE and PvP in Destiny 2 TFS Episode 3 Heresy. After that, we’ll speculate about the best builds and offer our top-3 tier list for PvP and PvE.

The Best Hunter Builds for PvE in D2 TFS

Hunters in Destiny 2 have many powerful subclasses that fit different playstyles and situations. Whether you prefer high damage, crowd control, or stealth, there’s a Hunter subclass to help you succeed in both PvE and PvP.

Prismatic Top-1

• Ranking: S Best
• Why it’s great: 
  • High Damage Output: Combination Blow and Liar’s Handshake’s Cross Counter melee deal massive damage, especially when stacked.
  • Survivability: Healing from Liar’s Handshake and freezing enemies with Winter’s Shroud/Duskfield Grenade keeps you alive in tough encounters.
  • Crowd Control: Freezing and shattering enemies with Stasis abilities provides excellent crowd control.
  • Synergy: The build synergizes well with Gambler’s Dodge, allowing for constant melee ability uptime.
• Excels in: Endgame (Dungeons, Raids, Legend content)
• Goal: Use Combination Blow with Gambler’s Dodge and Winter’s Shroud to go invisible and deal high damage.
• Mandatory Gear: Liar’s Handshake Exotic, Still Hunt Sniper.
  Abilities: Golden Gun, Duskfield Grenade, Combination Blow, Gambler’s Dodge.
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: Stylish Executioner, Winter’s Shroud
  • Fragments: Facet of Courage, Facet of Balance, Facet of Protection, Facet of Ruin, Facet of Purpose
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Super: Golden Gun (for ranged burst damage).
  • Grenade: Duskfield Grenade (freezes enemies and synergizes with Stasis debuffs).
  • Melee: Combination Blow (increases melee damage with each stack).
  • Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge (refunds melee energy when dodging near enemies).
  • Stats: Resilience, Discipline, Intellect
• Preferred Mods:
  • Helmet: Hands-On, Dynamo, Heavy Ammo Finder
  • Arms: 3x Heavy Handed (melee kills grant ammo for equipped weapon)
  • Chest: Resist Mods (match enemy damage types for damage resistance)
  • Legs: Harmonic Scavenger, Innervation, Absolution
  • Class Item: Powerful Attraction, Bomber, Special Finisher
• Gameplay Loop: The main focus of this build is to use Combination Blow for high melee damage and Gambler’s Dodge to reset it. Winter’s Shroud helps freeze enemies, increasing your survivability and damage output. You’ll want to chain your melee attacks and dodges to stay invisible and keep the damage flowing. The build thrives in endgame content by allowing you to deal substantial damage while staying out of sight.

Nightstalker (Void 3.0): Top-2

• Ranking: S Best
• Excels in: Endgame (Dungeons, Raids, Legend content)
• Why it’s great: Nightstalker is versatile, offering invisibility and battlefield control with smoke bombs and tethers. Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk and Omnioculus Exotics enhance its offense and defense. Nightstalker is useful in high-level PvE content where stealth and debuffs are important.
• Goal: The primary goal is to chain Invisibility to maintain Volatile Rounds and synergize with your Void 3.0 kit and weapons. This allows you to deal consistent damage, stay alive, and support your team.
• Gear:
  • Exotic Armor: Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk
  • Weapons: Void Primary Weapon, Collective Obligation, Unforgiven
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: Stylish Executioner, Vanishing Step
  • Fragments: Echo of Expulsion, Echo of Leeching, Echo of Dilation, Echo of Undermining.
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Super: Moebius Quiver (for high damage and debuffing enemies).
  • Grenade: Vortex Grenade (strong area control and damage).
  • Dodge: Either Gambler’s Dodge or Marksman’s Dodge (both work well).
  • Stats Priority: Resilience, Mobility, Discipline
• Gameplay Loop:
  1. Start Invisibility: Use your dodge (Vanishing Step) to go invisible.
  2. Exit Invisibility: Gain the damage bonus from Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk and activate Volatile Rounds.
  3. Kill Volatile Enemies: Defeat enemies affected by Volatile Rounds to re-enter Invisibility via Stylish Executioner.
  4. Chain Devour and Overshields: Use Echo of Starvation to activate Devour for healing and Echo of Persistence for longer Invisibility. If using a Repulsor Brace weapon, defeat Void-debuffed enemies to gain overshields.
  5. Repeat: Continue the cycle of exiting Invisibility, killing enemies, and re-entering Invisibility while maintaining Devour and overshields.

Arcstrider (Arc 3.0): Top-3

• Ranking: A Strong
• Excels in: Endgame (Dungeons, Raids, Legend content)
• Why it’s great: Arcstrider excels in ad-clearing and damage-dealing. It works well with abilities like Combination Blow and Lethal Current. The subclass offers high survivability with Exotics like Assassin’s Cowl and Liar’s Handshake. Arcstrider is one of the tankiest Hunter subclasses.
• Mandatory Gear:
  • Exotic Armor: Gifted Conviction
  • Weapons: A weapon with Jolting Feedback (preferred options): VS Pyroelectric Propellant, Vantage Point, Noxious Vetiver
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: Ascension, Flow State
  • Fragments: Spark of Magnitude, Spark of Feedback, Spark of Recharge, Spark Of Momentum.
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Super: Gathering Storm
  • Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge
  • Melee: Combination Blow
  • Grenade: Pulse Grenade (or any grenade paired with Spark of Shock for Jolt)
  • Stats Priority: Resilience, Mobility, Discipline
• Mods:
  • Helmet: Arc Siphon, Heavy Ammo Finder, Heavy Ammo Scout
  • Arms: Bolstering Detonation, Arc Loader, Focusing Strike
  • Chest: Charged Up, Damage resistance mods (match enemy damage type)
  • Legs: Arc Surge, Stacks on Stacks, Elemental Charge
  • Class Item: Time Dilation, Utility Kickstart
• Gameplay Loop:
  1. Activate Jolt: Use Tempest Strike, grenades, and your Jolting Feedback weapon to Jolt enemies.
  2. Stack Damage Resistance: Jolt enemies to gain stacks of Gifted Conviction’s damage resistance (up to 50% at 3 stacks).
  3. Generate Orbs and Ionic Traces: Use your abilities and weapons to create Orbs of Power and Ionic Traces for ability regeneration.
  4. Blind and Control Crowds: Use Spark of Brilliance and the Retinal Burn seasonal mod to blind enemies, creating more opportunities for Jolt and crowd control.
  5. Stay Aggressive: Maintain constant pressure on enemies, using your high damage resistance to tank hits while dealing damage.
  6. Manage Armor Charge: Keep generating and consuming Armor Charge to maintain buffs like Arc Surge and Utility Kickstart.

The Best Hunter Builds for PvP

Gunslinger (Solar 3.0): Top-1

• Ranking: S Best
• Excels in: The subclass offers a variety of playstyles, from aggressive melee-focused builds to passive, survivability-oriented setups.
• Why It’s Great:
  • Flexibility: Solar Hunter can adapt to multiple playstyles, whether you prefer aggressive, team-oriented, or passive gameplay.
  • Strong Neutral Game: Abilities like Acrobat’s Dodge and Healing Grenades provide excellent utility in both solo and team scenarios.
  • High Burst Potential: Supers like Blade Barrage and Golden Gun are among the best for securing quick, high-impact kills.
  • Synergy with Meta Exotics: Solar Hunter works exceptionally well with popular Hunter Exotics like St0mp-EE5, Wormhusk Crown, and Young Ahamkara’s Spine.
• Goal: Use a variety of melee options and abilities to stay agile and support the team.
• Mandatory Gear:
  • Exotic Armor: St0mp-EE5, Wormhusk Crown, Young Ahamkara’s Spine
  • Weapons: Hand Cannons or Pulse Rifles, Shotguns or SMGs
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: On Your Mark, Knock ‘Em Down
  • Fragments: Ember of Solace, Ember of Torches, Ember of Empyrean.
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Dodge: Acrobat’s Dodge (grants Radiant to you and nearby allies).
  • Grenade: Tripmine Grenade (high damage) or Healing Grenade (survivability).
  • Melee: Proximity Knife or Weighted Knife (for precision kills).
  • Super: Golden Gun (precision) or Blade Barrage (burst damage).
  • Stats: Mobility, Resilience, Recovery, Discipline, Intellect
• Gameplay Loop:
  • Engage with Mobility: Use your high Mobility and St0mp-EE5 to quickly close gaps or disengage from fights.
  • Buff Your Team: Use Acrobat’s Dodge to grant Radiant to yourself and allies, increasing weapon damage.
  • Control the Map: Place Tripmine Grenade in high-traffic areas to deter enemy movement or secure kills.
  • Secure Kills: Use your melee and grenade abilities to weaken enemies, then finish them with your primary weapon.
  • Use Your Super Wisely: Deploy Golden Gun or Blade Barrage to shut down enemy Supers or secure multi-kills.
  • Disengage and Recover: Use Wormhusk Crown or Healing Grenades to recover health and prepare for the next engagement.

Arcstrider (Arc 3.0): Top-2

• Ranking: S Best
• Excels In: Both mobility and close-quarters combat.
• Why It’s Great:
  • All-Rounder Kit: Arcstrider doesn’t rely on gimmicks like Invisibility or Freezing, making it a straightforward and reliable subclass.
  • High Skill Ceiling: The subclass rewards skillful play, especially with its super and melee abilities.
  • Neutral Game: Strong neutral game with high ability uptime and mobility, making it effective in both PvP and PvE.
• Goal: Balance offense and defense with built-in damage resistance, blink, and blinding potential.
• Mandatory Gear: St0mp-EE5, Wormhusk Crown, Fr0st-EE5
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: Flow State, Lethal Current
  • Fragments: Spark of Magnitude, Spark of Feedback, Spark of Recharge, Spark Of Momentum.
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Grenade: Pulse Grenade or Arcbolt Grenade for area control and jolting targets.
  • Melee: Disorienting Blow for blinding and jolting enemies.
  • Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge to recharge melee energy when near enemies.
  • Stats: Mobility, Resilience, Recovery, Discipline, Strength
• Gameplay: Use your high mobility to outmaneuver opponents and secure close-range kills. Disorienting Blow is great for initiating engagements or escaping tough situations. Use Arc Staff to counter other melee supers or clear objectives. Pair with Stompees for enhanced movement or Wormhusk for survivability.

Nightstalker (Void 3.0)

• Ranking: S Strong
• Why It’s Great:
  • Invisibility: One of the strongest tools in PvP, making you harder to track and target.
  • Synergy with Meta Exotics: Works exceptionally well with Wormhusk Crown, Omnioculus, and Frostees.
  • Radar Manipulation: Smoke Bombs can confuse enemies, giving you a tactical advantage.
  • Flexibility: Can adapt to aggressive or passive playstyles depending on the situation.
• Goal: Dominate map control and create opportunities for your team by using invisibility and radar manipulation. Maintain high ability uptime to pressure opponents consistently.
• Mandatory Gear:
  • Exotic Armor: Wormhusk Crown (for survivability) or Frostees (for ability spam).
  • Weapons: Pair with a strong primary (e.g., Hand Cannon, Pulse Rifle) and a special weapon (e.g., Shotgun or Sniper Rifle) to complement your playstyle.
• Preferred Aspects and Fragments:
  • Aspects: Vanishing Step, Trapper’s Ambush
  • Fragments: Echo of Expulsion, Echo of Leeching, Echo of Dilation, Echo of Undermining.
• Preferred Abilities and Stats:
  • Grenade: Vortex Grenade (for area denial) or Axion Bolt (for tracking and pressure).
  • Melee: Smoke Bomb (for radar manipulation and area control).
  • Class Ability: Gambler’s Dodge (to recharge melee ability when near enemies).
  • Stats: Mobility, Recovery, Discipline, Strength
• Gameplay:
  1. Engage with Caution: Use invisibility to scout or flank enemies. Avoid rushing into unfavorable fights.
  2. Radar Manipulation: Use Smoke Bombs to confuse enemies and create opportunities for your team.
  3. Dodge Wisely: Use Gambler’s Dodge to recharge your melee ability and Wormhusk Crown to regain health during duels.
  4. Control Key Areas: Use grenades and Smoke Bombs to lock down choke points or objectives.
  5. Play for Picks: Focus on securing kills with your weapons while using invisibility to disengage or reposition.

Conclusion

Hunters in Destiny 2 TFS Episode 3 are very flexible and strong, fitting many different playstyles. Each subclass has its own strengths, like the high damage of the Gunslinger, the great crowd control of the Arcstrider, and the stealthy tactics of the Nightstalker. In PvP, the Threadrunner is excellent for its speed and crowd control, while the Revenant is great for controlling the battlefield with Duskfield Grenade. Choosing the right Aspects, Fragments, and Exotics can help Hunters succeed in both PvE and PvP. These builds let you customize your Hunter to be powerful in any situation, making the most of what D2 The Final Shape offers.