Third Iteration is a Void exotic scout rifle introduced in Destiny 2’s The Edge of Fate expansion during the Season of Reclamation. This weapon stands out for its unique spread-to-single-shot mechanic and potent synergy with Void subclasses, making it a top-tier choice for both offensive and supportive playstyles. Its ability to mark targets, grant invisibility, and trigger weakening effects makes it exceptionally versatile in endgame PvE content. Note that as of today, the Season of Reclamation has ended, but the weapon remains obtainable through the random drop reward pool.
This scout rifle excels in medium-to-long-range engagements, particularly in PvE where its exotic perks and catalyst enable high burst damage and crowd control. The Amalgamation Rounds perk allows it to compress its spread into a single high-density projectile that marks targets, granting bonus damage against them and providing invisibility and truesight on precision final blows or marked target defeats. When paired with the catalyst, Aberrant Combustion, precision final blows cause targets to detonate in a weakening blast, further enhancing its add-clear and boss-melting potential. While it shines brightest in PvE, its spread mechanic limits effectiveness in PvP, though the marking and invisibility utility can still be situationally valuable.
From this guide, you will know:
- How good is the Third Iteration SR
- How to get Third Iteration
- How to get Third Iteration Catalyst
- Stats and Perks of Third Iteration
- If Third Iteration craftable
If you enjoy weapons that offer both high damage and strategic utility, and want a Void scout rifle that synergizes with stealth and debuff gameplay, Third Iteration is worth pursuing despite recent adjustments to its initial overpowered state.
Is Third Iteration SR Good?
Short answer: Extremely strong. Third Iteration is 
S-tier in PvE and 
C-tier in PvP due to its specialized design.
Third Iteration Tier list:
- PvE: S-tier. Arguably one of the most powerful primary weapons in the game, capable of outperforming some special and even heavy weapons in damage output when used correctly, while also providing exceptional survivability and utility.
- PvP: C-tier. Its slow time-to-kill (TTK) and reliance on landing a slow-charging Amalgamation Round to activate its perks make it impractical in most competitive scenarios.
Why PvE S-tier:
- Exceptional Boss and Major Damage: The weapon’s unique mechanic allows its Amalgamation Round (a charged shot from aiming down sights) to mark a target, granting bonus damage against it. A critical hit with this shot combined with the Marked debuff was found to nearly outperform a critical hit from a legendary, precision-frame heavy linear fusion rifle . As a primary weapon with unlimited ammo, it can sustain this immense damage output indefinitely, power-creeping many legendary weapons in the energy and heavy slots .
- Powerful Add-Clear and Weakening: Unlocking the catalyst, Aberrant Combustion, is a game-changer. It causes precision final blows with Amalgamation Rounds to make targets detonate in a weakening blast . This synergizes perfectly with Void subclasses, allowing for constant area-of-effect damage and applying a debuff that increases damage from all sources, enhancing both its own damage and your team’s.
- Superb Survivability Loop: Damaging a target with an Amalgamation Round marks them. Defeating any marked target or landing a precision final blow with the special round grants invisibility and truesight . This creates a powerful loop: deal massive damage, turn invisible to safely reposition or revive allies, and repeat. This makes it exceptionally strong in high-level endgame content like Grandmaster Nightfalls.
- Synergy with Void Builds: The weapon is a perfect fit for Void subclasses (e.g., Nightstalker Hunter or Voidwalker Warlock). Its void damage procs related perks, the weakening effect from the catalyst synergizes with aspects and fragments, and the invisibility trigger enhances survivability builds like those using Omnioculus or Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk.
Why PvP C-tier:
- Slow and Unforgiving TTK: Its 200 RPM fire rate results in a slower optimal time-to-kill compared to meta weapons. The requirement to charge the Amalgamation Round to activate its marking and bonus damage is a death sentence in fast-paced engagements against players using instant-kill special weapons or faster-firing primaries .
- Perk Activation is Risky: The process of aiming down sights to charge the special round leaves you completely stationary and vulnerable. Successfully landing this slow projectile on a moving Guardian is challenging, and the benefit often isn’t worth the extreme risk compared to using a more consistent weapon.
- Outclassed by Meta Options: In a mode dominated by hand cannons, pulses, and SMGs, the Third Iteration’s scout rifle frame and niche exotic perks simply cannot compete effectively. Its utility is far too situational to justify using an exotic slot that could be spent on a more versatile or potent PvP exotic weapon.
How to Get Third Iteration in Destiny 2
Third Iteration is a Void exotic scout rifle introduced in Destiny 2’s The Edge of Fate expansion during the Season of Reclamation. It is renowned for its unique spread-to-single-shot mechanic and exceptional synergy with Void subclasses, making it a top-tier choice for both offensive and supportive playstyles in endgame PvE content.
How to Get Third Iteration
- Random Drops: Third Iteration is now part of the random exotic drop pool. You can earn it from:
- Exotic engrams found in the world or from endgame activities.
- Nightfall: The Ordeals (especially higher difficulties with better drop rates).
- Raid and dungeon encounters.
- Crucible and Gambit matches (though chances are lower).
- Focused Decoding: Visit Master Rahool in the Tower to focus exotic engrams using Legendary Shards and Glimmer. Third Iteration may appear in his rotation, though this is not guaranteed.
Fastest Way to get Third Iteration:
- Farm high-difficulty Nightfalls (e.g., Grandmaster) when they are available, as these have increased exotic drop rates.
- Use Fireteam Medallions and complete vendor bounties to increase your chances of exotic engrams.
- Decrypt exotic engrams at Master Rahool, as focused decoding might offer a targeted path if the weapon is in his inventory.
Third Iteration Farming Tips:
- Prioritize Endgame Activities: Nightfalls (especially Grandmaster), raids, and dungeons offer the best exotic drop rates. LFG for efficient farm teams.
- Loot Boosters: Use Ghost mods like “Prosperity” (Vanguard, Crucible, or Gambit) to increase the chance of exotic engrams after activities.
- Seasonal Challenges: Some weekly challenges reward exotic engrams—complete these for additional chances.
- Persistence is Key: As a random drop, obtaining Third Iteration may take time. Focus on activities with the highest exotic drop rates.
Quick Summary
- Third Iteration is now available only through random exotic drops or focused decoding (if available).
- The most efficient farm is Grandmaster Nightfalls or other high-difficulty endgame activities.
- Once obtained, prioritize unlocking its catalyst (from random drops or previous season pass) and completing its objective (700 eliminations) for enhanced functionality.
- This weapon is exceptionally strong in PvE (S-tier) due to its high damage, invisibility utility, and weakening effects, but it is less effective in PvP (C-tier).
How to Get Third Iteration Catalyst
- Original Unlock Method (Season of Reclamation):
The catalyst was a reward tied directly to the Season Pass. Players could unlock it by reaching Rank 90 on the Season Pass, and this reward was available on both the free and premium tracks . - Current Unlock Method (Post-Season):
The Season of Reclamation ended on September 9, 2025 . As of today, the catalyst is no longer available from the Season Pass. It has now entered the general random drop pool for catalysts. This means it can randomly drop from completing various in-game activities, such as:- Strikes (Nightfall or Vanguard Playlist)
- Crucible matches
- Gambit matches
- Defeating enemies in patrol zones or other activities.
How to Complete the Catalyst Objective
Once the catalyst drops, you must complete an objective to activate its benefits:
- Objective: Secure 700 eliminations using the Third Iteration scout rifle.
- Efficient Farming Locations:
- Shuro Chi Checkpoint (Last Wish Raid): Use the wish wall to teleport to this encounter for a dense, easily respawnable group of enemies.
- Altars of Sorrow (Moon): This public event provides endless waves of low-level enemies.
- Grasp of Avarice Opening Encounter (Dungeon): The endless spawn of Fallen at the entrance is perfect for catalyst farming.
What the Catalyst Does
- Effect: Precision final blows with Third Iteration cause the target to detonate in a weakening blast.
- Utility: This explosion damages and weakens nearby enemies, significantly enhancing the weapon’s add-clearing potential and providing strong synergy with Void subclasses that capitalize on weakened targets.
Perks of Third Iteration SR
| Perk | Description |
| Tri-Planar Mass Driver (Intrinsic Trait) | Fires a spread of Void-energy projectiles. When you aim down sights (ADS), the spread tightens, making shots more precise. |
| Smallbore (Basic Barrel) | Dual-strength barrel that increases Range and Stability. |
| Modified Heatsink (Legendary Battery) | The battery recharges slowly over time when the weapon is stowed or not being fired. Using the Reload button (venting the core) greatly increases how fast the battery recharges. |
| Amalgamation Rounds (Exotic Trait) | If you ADS without immediately firing, you can compress the spread into a single, high-density projectile. Damaging a target with that precision shot marks the target. On defeating a marked target (or landing a precision final blow with an Amalgamation Round), you gain invisibility + Truesight. |
| Composite Stock (Basic Stock) | A versatile dual-purpose stock that slightly increases Stability and Handling Speed. |
Can you craft Third Iteration?
You cannot craft Third Iteration. It is an exotic weapon and, like all exotics, does not have a craftable pattern, nor can it drop with Deepsight Resonance (red borders). It cannot be created at the Enclave on Mars.
The only way to obtain this scout rifle is as a random exotic drop from various activities. It was originally a reward from the Season Pass, but it has since entered the world loot pool. This means it can drop from exotic engrams earned by completing activities like Vanguard Ops, Crucible matches, Gambit matches, Nightfalls, raids, and dungeons, or by being purchased from Xûr.
Because it is a random drop, you cannot target a specific “roll.” All exotic weapons, including Third Iteration, have a fixed, curated set of perks. Your goal is simply to acquire the weapon itself. Once you have it, you must then hope for the catalyst to drop randomly from playlist activities to unlock its full potential.
Conclusion
The Third Iteration is one of the most uniquely powerful and versatile exotic primary weapons Bungie has released. It masterfully combines immense single-target damage, unparalleled add-clear utility through its catalyst, and exceptional survivability with on-demand invisibility and truesight. In high-end PvE, it feels like a hybrid special and primary weapon, capable of melting majors and champions while also safely controlling entire rooms. In PvP, its niche mechanics make it less competitive, but it can offer fun and situational utility.
Because its direct acquisition method (the Season Pass) has ended, it is now a random world drop. Players who enjoy strategic, ability-focused Void builds, want a primary weapon that can significantly contribute to boss damage, or are looking for a weapon that excels in Grandmaster-level content should actively pursue it through exotic engrams. If you prefer straightforward, run-and-gun playstyles or already have a dedicated setup for boss DPS, you might find its charge mechanic clunky. However, for most serious PvE enthusiasts, Third Iteration is an S-tier exotic that is absolutely worth the effort to obtain.
