Hey Guardians! Ready to dive into the radiant world of Solar energy in Destiny 2? This comprehensive guide will illuminate everything you need to know about wielding the power of the sun. From understanding Solar subclasses to optimizing your gameplay with Solar weapons and armor, we’ve got you covered. Let’s jump in and unleash the heat!

Understanding Solar Subclasses

Solar subclasses are your gateway to harnessing the sun's might, offering a range of abilities focused on burning, healing, and explosive damage. Each class—Titan, Hunter, and Warlock—has unique Solar paths that cater to different playstyles. Understanding these nuances is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in both PvE and PvP.

Solar Titan: Sunbreaker

Titans wielding the Sunbreaker subclass are the masters of fiery devastation. Their Super, Hammer of Sol, allows them to hurl flaming hammers that incinerate enemies upon impact. But it's not just about the Super; Sunbreakers also have access to powerful melee abilities like Sunspots, which scorch enemies and buff allies. To truly master the Sunbreaker, focus on builds that enhance ability regeneration and weapon synergy. For example, the Loreley Splendor Helm is a must-have, creating a Sunspot at your location when you’re critically wounded, providing both healing and damage. In PvE, Sunbreakers excel at clearing waves of enemies and dealing sustained damage to bosses. In PvP, their hammers can control zones and shut down enemy pushes. Experiment with different aspects and fragments to tailor your Sunbreaker to your playstyle. Consider using the Roaring Flames aspect to increase weapon damage after Solar ability kills, turning you into a fiery juggernaut. Don't forget to use mods like Ashes to Assets to gain Super energy from grenade kills, ensuring you have your Hammer of Sol ready when you need it most.

Solar Hunter: Gunslinger

Gunslingers are the precision marksmen of the Solar subclasses. Their Golden Gun Super offers unparalleled burst damage, capable of one-shotting high-value targets in PvE and eliminating opponents with deadly accuracy in PvP. The Gunslinger's skill tree allows for customization, focusing on either precision shots with the Deadshot path or explosive area denial with the Way of a Thousand Cuts. For PvE, the Celestial Nighthawk Exotic helmet amplifies the Golden Gun's damage, making it ideal for boss encounters. In PvP, the Young Ahamkara's Spine Exotic gauntlets can be incredibly effective, providing an extra Trip Mine grenade and enhancing its blast radius. To optimize your Gunslinger, prioritize mods that improve weapon handling and ability cooldowns. Use the Knock 'Em Down aspect to enhance your weapon damage after using your throwing knife, creating a deadly synergy. For fragments, consider Ember of Singeing to gain melee energy when scorching targets, allowing for more frequent throwing knife usage. Master the art of aiming and timing your shots, and you'll become a formidable force on the battlefield.

Solar Warlock: Dawnblade

Dawnblades are the soaring healers and damage dealers of the Solar subclasses. Their Daybreak Super allows them to rain down swords of fire, devastating enemies from above. Dawnblades can choose between the Well of Radiance for team support or the Attunement of Sky for aggressive aerial combat. For PvE, the Phoenix Protocol Exotic chest armor is invaluable, granting Super energy back to you and your allies for kills and assists while standing in your Well of Radiance. In PvP, the Wings of Sacred Dawn Exotic chest armor can provide mid-air stability and accuracy, allowing you to rain down fire upon your enemies. To optimize your Dawnblade, focus on builds that enhance healing and ability regeneration. The Heat Rises aspect allows you to consume your grenade to gain airborne effectiveness and healing, making you a difficult target to hit. Use fragments like Ember of Benevolence to provide healing and ability energy to allies, enhancing your support capabilities. Whether you're healing your team or unleashing fiery destruction from the sky, the Dawnblade is a versatile and powerful subclass.

Best Solar Weapons

Choosing the right Solar weapons can significantly enhance your Solar build, providing the synergy needed to excel in various activities. Here are some top picks:

Legendary Solar Weapons

• Calus Mini-Tool (Submachine Gun): This is a classic that's still incredibly effective. It pairs well with the Grave Robber and Incandescent perks, making it a monster for clearing adds and spreading Scorch.
• BXR-55 Battler (Pulse Rifle): With the right roll, like Demolitionist and Adrenaline Junkie, this pulse rifle can provide constant grenade uptime and increased damage output.
• IKELOS_HC_V1.0.3 (Hand Cannon): A solid choice for Solar builds, especially with perks like Seraph Rounds and Threat Detector, making it great for close-quarters combat.
• Riiswalker (Shotgun): A beast in PvP, it’s great for aggressive plays and quick kills. Pair it with Iron Reach to control range.

Exotic Solar Weapons

• Sunshot (Hand Cannon): This hand cannon is a Solar powerhouse, known for its explosive rounds that cause enemies to erupt in Solar energy upon defeat. Its intrinsic perk, Sunburn, causes enemies to explode on death, chaining explosions and clearing out groups of enemies with ease. Sunshot is particularly effective in PvE activities where you face hordes of weaker enemies. Its high damage output and explosive capabilities make it a go-to choice for many Guardians. In PvP, Sunshot can be a game-changer, allowing you to quickly dispatch opponents and control zones with its area-of-effect explosions.
• Polaris Lance (Scout Rifle): This scout rifle offers a unique combination of precision and explosive power. Its intrinsic perk, The Perfect Fifth, grants a Solar explosive round after landing several precision hits. This perk not only deals significant damage but also ignites enemies, making it incredibly useful for both PvE and PvP. Polaris Lance excels at long-range engagements, allowing you to pick off enemies from a safe distance. Its explosive rounds can disrupt enemy formations and deal additional damage to groups. For Guardians who prefer a more methodical and strategic approach, Polaris Lance is an excellent choice.
• Jotunn (Fusion Rifle): This exotic fusion rifle fires a slow-moving, tracking projectile that explodes upon impact, dealing massive Solar damage. Jotunn is perfect for taking down tougher enemies and controlling chokepoints. Its unique projectile can be difficult to dodge, making it a formidable weapon in both PvE and PvP. Jotunn's tracking ability allows you to hit targets that would otherwise be difficult to reach, and its explosive damage can clear out groups of enemies. While it may take some practice to master its trajectory, Jotunn is a rewarding weapon that can significantly enhance your Solar build.

Essential Solar Armor and Mods

Choosing the right armor and mods can greatly enhance your Solar energy build, offering benefits like increased ability regeneration, damage reduction, and improved weapon handling. Here are some essential armor pieces and mods to consider:

Exotic Armor

• Loreley Splendor Helm (Titan): This helmet creates a Sunspot at your location when you’re critically wounded, providing healing and damage. It’s a must-have for Sunbreaker Titans.
• Celestial Nighthawk (Hunter): Amplifies the Golden Gun's damage, making it ideal for boss encounters. A go-to for Gunslinger Hunters.
• Phoenix Protocol (Warlock): Grants Super energy back to you and your allies for kills and assists while standing in your Well of Radiance. Perfect for Dawnblade Warlocks.
• Wings of Sacred Dawn (Warlock): Provides mid-air stability and accuracy, allowing you to rain down fire upon your enemies. Great for PvP Dawnblades.

Armor Mods

• Ashes to Assets: Converts grenade kills into Super energy, ensuring you have your Super ready when you need it most.
• Elemental Ordnance: Converts grenade damage into elemental wells, providing additional ability energy.
• Font of Wisdom: Grants a temporary increase to your intellect stat when picking up an elemental well matching your subclass energy type. Great for reducing Super cooldowns.
• Well of Life: Provides a burst of healing when picking up a Solar elemental well, enhancing your survivability.
• Grenade Kickstart: Grants grenade energy when your armor charges are fully depleted, keeping your grenade uptime high.
• Impact Induction: Melee damage reduces your grenade cooldown, encouraging aggressive playstyles.
• Hands-On: Melee kills grant additional Super energy, ensuring you have your Super available more often.

Optimizing Your Solar Build

To truly optimize your Solar build in Destiny 2, consider these advanced strategies:

Synergize Abilities and Weapons

Combine your Solar abilities with weapons that complement your playstyle. For example, use a Solar weapon with the Incandescent perk to spread Scorch and Ignition, synergizing with abilities that benefit from burning enemies.

Elemental Wells

Utilize Elemental Wells to gain additional ability energy and buffs. Combine mods like Elemental Ordnance and Font of Wisdom to create a powerful loop of ability regeneration.

Fragments and Aspects

Experiment with different Fragments and Aspects to tailor your Solar subclass to your preferred playstyle. Some Fragments enhance damage, while others improve survivability or ability regeneration.

Stat Distribution

Focus on stats that enhance your build, such as Resilience for survivability, Discipline for grenade cooldown, and Strength for melee cooldown. Use armor mods and stat-boosting armor to reach your desired stat distribution.

Solar 3.0: Key Changes and Tips

Solar 3.0 brought significant changes to the Solar subclasses, introducing Aspects and Fragments that allow for deeper customization. Here are some key changes and tips to keep in mind:

Aspects and Fragments

• Aspects: These are class-specific abilities that define your subclass. Choose Aspects that complement your playstyle and provide useful buffs.
• Fragments: These are smaller buffs that can be slotted into your Aspects. Experiment with different Fragments to fine-tune your build.

Keywords: Scorch, Ignition, and Cure

• Scorch: Applying Scorch to enemies deals damage over time and can lead to Ignition.
• Ignition: A large explosion that deals significant damage to nearby enemies.
• Cure: Healing effect that restores a portion of your health.

Tips for Solar 3.0

• Embrace the Scorch: Focus on applying Scorch to enemies to trigger Ignitions and deal massive damage.
• Utilize Healing: Take advantage of the healing abilities provided by Solar 3.0 to stay alive in challenging content.
• Experiment with Builds: Don't be afraid to try new combinations of Aspects, Fragments, and mods to find what works best for you.

Conclusion

Harnessing Solar energy in Destiny 2 is all about understanding the nuances of your chosen subclass, selecting the right weapons and armor, and optimizing your build for maximum effectiveness. Whether you're a Titan smashing with fiery hammers, a Hunter delivering precision shots, or a Warlock raining down fire from above, the power of the sun is at your fingertips. Experiment, adapt, and unleash the heat, Guardians! Happy hunting!