What is the best Destiny 2 Warlock build? Essentially the closest thing Destiny 2 has to a mage class, the Warlock is possibly the most versatile of the three classes in the game – something our Destiny 2 Warlock build guide will now perfectly demonstrate. Ostensibly the more cerebral of the bunch, the Warlock can still bring the noise and is able to dish out massive damage while speccing for strong defence and utility.
With some of the coolest abilities in the game, it can be tough to figure out what works best for you. With the Subclass reworks we received in the run-up to the Lightfall release and the new changes to mods and armor since, there’s now more choice than ever when it comes to creating the perfect Destiny 2 Warlock build. We’ll give you a handful of options to start with for PvP and PvE activities, including the best Destiny 2 weapons to use with them.
Destiny 2 Warlock build for PvE
The best Destiny 2 Warlock build for PvE is:
- Subclass: Nova Bomb – Vortex
- Primary stat: Discipline
- Secondary stat: Strength
- Grenade: Vortex grenade
- Class ability: Empowering Rift
- Aspects: Chaos Accelerant, Feed the Void
- Fragments: Echo of Expulsion, Echo of Persistence, Echo of Remnants
- Exotic armour: Contraverse Hold, Nezerac’s Sin, Secant Filaments
- Weapons: Any of the best weapons
- Mods: Harmonic Siphon, Grenade Kickstart, Charged Up, Stacks on Stacks, Bomber, Font of Focus, Font of Endurance
The true beauty of this Destiny 2 Warlock build, Chaos Engine, is the Devour effect. The Feed the Void Aspect will grant Devour for every enemy defeated with a Void ability, and since you’ll be slinging grenades left and right, you’ll rarely lose the buff. Echo of Persistence might even be overkill, as this increases the intrinsic effect. You might get by just as well slotting Echo of Exchange instead.
Contraverse Hold, Secant Filaments, or Nezerac’s Sin are the Exotics we’d recommend, as they offer great boosts to Void abilities, but if you don’t have them then consider the standard fall-backs such as Ophidian Aspect or Verity’s Brow.
Destiny 2 Warlock build for PvP
The best Destiny 2 Warlock build for PvP activities is:
- Subclass: Dawnblade – Well of Radiance
- Primary stat: Strength
- Secondary stat: Recovery
- Grenade: Fusion grenade or Healing grenades
- Class ability: Phoenix Dive
- Melee Ability: Celestial Fire
- Aspects: Heat Rises, Icarus Dash
- Fragments: Ember of Torches, Ember of Tempering, Ember of Singeing, Ember of Char
- Exotic armour: Wings of Sacred Dawn, Chromatic Fire
- Weapons: Any Solar weapon with the Incandescent perk
- Mods: Targeting, Dexterity, Unflinching, Holster, and Surge mods
There are so many awesome choices for an offensive Warlock in PvP, but this build, Archangel, focuses on rising above the fray, bringing big damage as well as big heals. It prioritises battle placement in team-based PvP, giving you massive range and visibility. Bungie is constantly tweaking the Airborne Effectiveness stat, though, so you may need to experiment regularly with some of the mods here.
Primarily, you’re using the Heat Rises Aspect to stay above the battlefield. By consuming one grenade charge, you can stay suspended for longer, and kills will prolong the effect. Long-range weapons like Scout Rifles are great, especially if paired with the Chromatic Fire Exotic chest, which creates explosions in your subclass element on Kinetic precision kills.
Heat Rises is key, as it will give your Icarus Dash two dodges, and causes your Phoenix Dive to apply cure to nearby allies while scorching enemies. The selected Fragments focus on returning energy and increasing the effects of restoration. Healing grenades will keep your team up, while your Well of Radiance will provide a safe haven and restoration for allies.
Adding Phoenix Protocol will also boost your potency when inside your Well. Also, stick with Celestial Fire for your powered melee. The Fingersnap is cool as all hell, but the range on Celestial Fire is incredible.
If Solar isn’t your style, then it’s worth checking out the Warlock’s Strand subclass in PvP. It’s Super can be absolutely devastating when used at the right time. And don’t forget the best Destiny 2 PvP weapons to instantly improve your Warlock PvP build.
Destiny 2 Warlock build for general activities
The best Destiny 2 Warlock build for general activities is:
- Subclass: Stormcaller – Stormtrance
- Primary stat: Resilience
- Secondary stat: Discipline
- Grenade: Flashbang
- Class ability: Healing Rift
- Melee Ability: Chain Lightning
- Aspects: Arc Soul, Electrostatic Mind
- Fragments: Spark of Beacons, Spark of Magnitude, Spark of Brilliance, Spark of Resistance
- Exotic armour: Crown of Tempests, Fallen Sunstar
- Weapons: Delicate Tomb, Riskrunner, Trinity Ghoul, Thunderlord, Trespasser
- Mods: Arc Siphon mods, Distribution, Outreach, and Grenade Kickstart, Charged Up, Stacks on Stacks, Bomber, Font of Focus, Font of Endurance
This Lord of Storms arc build will not only devastate crowds of ads in PvE, but throw up a few surprises for opposing Guardians in PvP, too. The focus here is on Ionic Traces, bolts of light that will travel across the ground to you and boost your ability regeneration. Ideally, for this build you want Fallen Sunstar, the Exotic Helmet which increases the speed and potency of Traces. However, if you haven’t snagged it, Crown of Tempests will still boost your regen by a massive amount.
To maximise this build, we want to take advantage of the perks of Electrostatic Mind. This Aspect causes Jolted or Blinded targets to release an Ionic Trace when killed. The combination of Flashbang Grenades and Chain Lightning is absolutely lethal here, as packs of enemies or opposing teams can be exploited easily with a few well-timed abilities.
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Running Healing Rift is ideal for PvE or PvP, as when combined with Spark of Resistance it will make you almost as resilient as a Titan running the Lorely Splendor (we said “almost”; you’re still not a tank). We’d also recommend making use of Arc Soul for some extra firepower without having to put in the work.
Weaponry can be anything with Arc output, but Trinity Ghoul or Riskrunner are unrivalled when it comes to chaining damage between groups of foes. Blind a pack of mobs with a well-placed ‘nade, and use Trinity Ghoul’s Lightning Rod perk to mop them up – then sit back and watch the Ionic Traces roll in. That said, Delicate Tomb (the Season 19 Exotic) has a perk that generates Traces on kills.
Well, we hope this guide has given you some ideas for builds in one of the best FPS games right now. Remember, these are just a few examples of the kind of devastating Destiny 2 best Warlock builds you can create without the need for particularly rare gear. There are countless alternatives to consider, but ultimately you’re always going to benefit from committing to a singular playstyle that you feel comfortable with. If you’re also dabbling with Titan and Hunter classes, check out our best Destiny 2 Titan build and best Destiny 2 Hunter build guides for some more suggestions.
