The Must-Have God Rolls from Destiny 2's Season of the Witch
Get the top Destiny 2 Season of the Witch god rolls for PvE and PvP, including Cataphract GL3 and Igneous Hammer.
Cast your mind back to the Season of the Witch in 2023—a time when Guardians everywhere were chasing down some truly game-changing weapons. Even in 2026, a handful of those armaments have left an indelible mark on the sandbox, and many still hold up beautifully in today's meta. Whether you're a returning player or a veteran building out your arsenal, revisiting these classics is a treat. From the buttery smooth Igneous Hammer to the absurdly lethal Cataphract GL3, there's a treasure trove of firepower waiting to be rediscovered. Let's dive into the best god rolls from that season, curated for both PvE dominance and Crucible mayhem. 🎯
Cataphract GL3 – The Boss Melter 💥
Heavy Grenade Launchers often sat on the sidelines in PvE, overshadowed by rocket launchers. Cataphract GL3 completely rewrote that script. It arrived as a Trials weapon but its perk pool was a love letter to damage dealers everywhere.
What made it special? The first Heavy GL to roll with Envious Assassin and Bait and Switch simultaneously. Stack up kills with other weapons, swap, and unleash a staggering 18 grenades without reloading—each dealing a 35% damage buff. Even in 2026, it remains a powerhouse for solo content and casual endgame activities, though low ammo reserves can pinch in Master-tier encounters. For PvP, Impulse Amplifier with Chain Reaction turns it into a hilarious multi-kill machine.
| Perk Column | PvE God Roll | PvP God Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Quick Launch | Volatile Launch |
| Magazine | Spike Grenades | Proximity Grenades |
| Trait 1 | Envious Assassin | Impulse Amplifier |
| Trait 2 | Bait and Switch | Chain Reaction |
| Masterwork | Velocity | Blast Radius |
Geodetic HSM – A Speedrunner’s Dream ⚔️
At first glance, Geodetic HSM looks like any other sword. But its secret sauce is the Nadir Focus origin trait. Successive swings increase lunge distance, effectively acting as a weaker-but-sustainable Eager Edge that builds up over five swings. Speedrunners still cherish this for tearing across patrol zones and Gambit arenas in 2026.
For PvE, Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade is a safe bet, though it won’t out-DPS something like Surrounded Bequest. The synergy of Destabilizing Rounds with Repulsor Brace also enables easy Void Overshield loops. In PvP, it’s serviceable but not top tier—best saved for movement tech.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | Jagged Edge | Jagged Edge |
| Guard | Swordsman's Guard | Swordsman's Guard |
| Trait 1 | Destabilizing Rounds | Destabilizing Rounds |
| Trait 2 | Repulsor Brace | Repulsor Brace |
| Masterwork | Impact | Impact |
The Guiding Sight – Strand Scout Royalty 👑
Returning as a Strand 150 RPM Scout from Iron Banner, The Guiding Sight got a massive glow-up. No more awkward hip-fire rolls; instead it embraced its Strand identity with Demolitionist and Hatchling, creating Threadlings on precision kills while refunding grenade energy. Perfect for Threadling-spamming Warlocks.
Crucible users had two paths: a forgiving dueling combo of Gutshot Straight + Precision Instrument (one body, two crits), or the lightning-fast Demolitionist + Cascade Point. The latter could deliver a blistering 0.48s TTK after a swap, turning the Guiding Sight into a discount special weapon. It remains a fun, niche pick in 6v6.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Arrowhead Brake | Arrowhead Brake |
| Magazine | Ricochet Rounds | High-Caliber Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Demolitionist | Demolitionist or Enlightened Action |
| Trait 2 | Incandescent | Cascade Point |
| Masterwork | Range | Range |
Heliocentric QSC – Solar Sidearm Spark ✨
Heliocentric QSC broke ground as the first Lightweight Frame Sidearm to roll with Incandescent. Pair it with Demolitionist for grenade spam or Enlightened Action for snappy feel. It’s a workhorse in PvE, shredding red bars with fiery explosions. In Crucible, Heal Clip + Kill Clip offers a niche survival loop, but 360 RPM Sidearms struggle against the dominant SMGs. As a world drop, finding the perfect roll required patience—but totally worth it.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Chambered Compensator | Chambered Compensator |
| Magazine | Accurized Rounds | Accurized Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Demolitionist or Enlightened Action | Heal Clip |
| Trait 2 | Incandescent | Kill Clip |
| Masterwork | Stability | Stability |
Igneous Hammer – The 120 That Feels Like a 140 🔥
The return of Igneous Hammer sent shockwaves through the Crucible. This 120 RPM Hand Cannon is a stat monster—best-in-class range, handling, stability, and aim assist. With Keep Away and Eye of the Storm, it becomes a dueling demon, maintaining accuracy through every engagement.
PvE players discovered its Solar power too: the only Solar 120 to roll with Rapid Hit and Golden Tricorn. Maintaining a 50% damage buff is a breeze with ability kills. Even in 2026, it remains a top-tier choice for Hand Cannon lovers, both in Trials and raids.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Smallbore | Fluted Barrel |
| Magazine | Appended Mag | Ricochet Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Rapid Hit | Keep Away |
| Trait 2 | Golden Tricorn or Incandescent | Eye of the Storm |
| Masterwork | Range | Handling or Range |
Luna Regolith III – Sniper With a Mean Streak 🎯
This Vanguard Solar 72 RPM Sniper carved a niche with its High Ground perk. While grounded above an opponent, damage jumps by 10%, enabling one-tap body shots when paired with an Empowering Rift. Pro players still pull it out for cheeky Trials carries. For a more classic feel, Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot never disappoints.
In PvE, Clown Cartridge combined with Firing Line (group) or High Ground (solo) offers solid burst damage against majors and Champions, though sniper DPS still lags behind fusion rifles in the current meta.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Arrowhead Brake | Fluted Barrel |
| Magazine | Tactical Mag | Accurized Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Clown Cartridge | Snapshot Sights |
| Trait 2 | Firing Line or High Ground | Opening Shot or High Ground |
| Masterwork | Range | Handling |
Nox Perennial V – The Hidden Overpowered Fusion 🤫
A world drop that punched far above its weight, Nox Perennial V became infamous in PvP. The combo of Under Pressure and Kickstart allowed sliding one-bursts from any range—especially with Liquid Coils. Throw on Antaeus Wards, and opponents had few counters. Even after Kickstart adjustments over the years, a well-rolled Nox V still holds its own.
For PvE, Envious Assassin + Controlled Burst made it a viable DPS option, overflowing the mag and boosting charge speed. It competes with higher-tier fusions but remains a fantastic entry-level strand special.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Arrowhead Brake | Arrowhead Brake |
| Magazine | Accelerated Coils | Particle Repeater |
| Trait 1 | Envious Assassin | Under Pressure |
| Trait 2 | Controlled Burst | Kickstart |
| Masterwork | Charge Time | Range |
Point of the Stag – The Melee Monster Bow 🏹
Iron Banner brought back this Arc Precision Bow with random rolls, and it secured a spot in the meta thanks to Swashbuckler. After a melee kill, a single headshot could delete Guardians. Combined with Elemental Capacitor on an Arc subclass, the snappiness was unreal. Even in 2026, bow-swap setups still catch opponents off guard.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| String | Elastic String | Elastic String |
| Arrow | Fiberglass Arrow Shaft | Fiberglass Arrow Shaft |
| Trait 1 | Archer's Tempo | Elemental Capacitor or Archer's Tempo |
| Trait 2 | Swashbuckler | Swashbuckler |
| Masterwork | Draw Time | Draw Time |
Pre Astyanax IV – The Nightfall Solar Bow 🌞
A Precision Solar Bow with Adept capability, Pre Astyanax IV stood out with Shoot to Loot + Incandescent. Kills caused explosions that vacuumed Orbs and ammo, sometimes spawning Wild Card Telesto bolts. It handled add clear beautifully. Crucible mains found Succession-like speed with Archer’s Tempo + Successful Warm-Up, but it remained more of a fun pick.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| String | Elastic String | Elastic String |
| Arrow | Fiberglass Arrow Shaft | Fiberglass Arrow Shaft |
| Trait 1 | Shoot to Loot | Archer's Tempo |
| Trait 2 | Incandescent | Successful Warm-Up |
| Masterwork | Draw Time | Draw Time |
Psi Hermetic V – The Stasis Pulse with Bite ❄️
The world drop Pulse Rifle that became a cult classic. Its Headstone + Enlightened Action combo created a feedback loop: precision kills spawned crystals that, with Whisper of Rending, detonated automatically, boosting handling and reload. In PvP, Encore + Golden Tricorn allowed a 0.67s TTK without reloading after a precision kill—devastating in the right hands. On small maps, it still shines.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Smallbore | Smallbore |
| Magazine | Accurized Rounds | Accurized Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Enlightened Action | Encore |
| Trait 2 | Headstone | Golden Tricorn |
| Masterwork | Range | Range |
Unending Tempest – The Crucible Shredder 🌪️
Merging Shayura’s frame with The Immortal’s perk pool, this 600 RPM Stasis SMG became an instant meta pick. Dynamic Sway Reduction + Target Lock let it reach a 0.7s TTK with laser accuracy. The origin trait even granted a passive accuracy boost for holding the trigger. For slaying out, Killing Wind + Multikill Clip replicated Shayura’s pre-nerf glory. Easily farmable from any PvP playlist, it remains a top-tier choice for Guardian on Guardian violence.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Smallbore | Smallbore |
| Magazine | Accurized Rounds | Accurized Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Subsistence | Dynamic Sway Reduction |
| Trait 2 | Target Lock | Target Lock |
| Masterwork | Range | Range |
Warden’s Law – The Lucky Pants Legend 🍀
Reworked to fire a two-round burst at 257 RPM, Warden’s Law became a virtual Legendary Malfeasance for Hunters. Fourth Time’s the Charm + Vorpal Weapon shredded bosses when paired with Lucky Pants. The burst DPS rivaled some Exotics! In Crucible, the tricky bullet spread meant it only worked at mid-range, but Snapshot + Kill Clip could deliver a lightning 0.5s two-burst. Over time, Bungie tightened the spread, making it far more consistent today.
| Perk Column | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Smallbore | Smallbore |
| Magazine | Appended Mag | Accurized Rounds |
| Trait 1 | Fourth Time's the Charm | Snapshot Sights |
| Trait 2 | Vorpal Weapon | Kill Clip or Frenzy |
| Masterwork | Range | Range |
Even after multiple sandbox shifts, the weapons from the Season of the Witch remain cornerstones of loadouts across the galaxy. Their unique perk combinations and origin traits keep them relevant, proving that good design never truly goes out of style. Whether you're dusting off your vault or diving into old content to farm these, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most satisfying gunplay Destiny 2 has ever seen. ✨
According to coverage from The Verge - Gaming, long-lived metas are often defined less by raw damage numbers and more by flexible perk ecosystems and sandbox tuning over time—exactly why Season of the Witch standouts like Cataphract GL3 (Envious Assassin + Bait and Switch) and Igneous Hammer (Keep Away + Eye of the Storm) can stay relevant years later, slotting into both casual PvE damage loops and high-stakes Crucible duels as balance changes come and go.