June 04, 2019
Hello and welcome to my breakdown of the Penumbra weapons, here you can find a links to my past articles for Forsaken, Black Armory, and Joker’s Wild. Below are the weapon’s base stats and my thoughts and opinions on their best rolls.
Auto Rifles
Name - Gahlran’s Right Hand - Kinetic / Crown of Sorrow
Rate of Fire: 360
Impact: 33
Range: 82
Stability: 25
Handling: 45
Reload Speed: 38
Mag Size: 32
Aim Assist: 56
Recoil Direction: 85
Curated Roll:
Arrowhead Brake / Steady Rounds / Overflow / Demolitionist
Recommended PvE Perks:
Sights: Fluted Barrel, Corkscrew Rifling, Polygonal Rifling
Magazine: High-Caliber Rounds, Armor-Piercing Rounds, Extended Mag
Perk 1: Outlaw, Zen Moment, Tap the Trigger
Perk 2: Multikill Clip, Demolitionist, High-Impact Reserves
Recommended PvP Perks:
Sights: Extended Barrel, Chambered Compensator, Arrowhead Brake
Magazine: Ricochet Rounds, High-Caliber Rounds
Perk 1: Tap the Trigger, Zen Moment, Eye of the Storm
Perk 2: Demolitionist, Underdog, Rangefinder
Gahlran's Right Hand is the first weapon we're taking a look at today and is of the slowest firing, highest damage archetype. With it comes some insane range, but low stability and handling. Because of that you're looking for Fluted Barrel to make up for the latter. Using perks like Zen Moment or Tap the Trigger you can mitigate the lower stability. The obvious choice for PvE is Outlaw and Multikill clip for that sweet, sweet 100% damage increase. Getting three kills before a reload should be child's play with how hard this weapon can hit. Another good perk to look out for is Demolitionist, with how quickly you'll be mowing through adds you'll be getting your grenade back like you're still on Reveler's Tonic. The second part of that perk also works really well with Gahlran's Right Hand because of its abysmal reload speed, so mitigating that by simply throwing a grenade will be a nice QoL bonus.
In PvP high-impact autos are not meta, but by increasing the range and helping your recoil direction via Extended Barrel, and further increasing it with Ricochet Rounds you should be able to out range hand cannons and some pulses. Some good perks here are ones that help your stability. Tap the Trigger and Zen Moment are great options, as is the new perk Eye of the Storm. If you're in a 1v1 duel or just getting out of an earlier encounter having that bonus stability when your health gets lowered is going to help you more than hurt you. For PC it might not be the best option, so Tap the Trigger is my choice for you. In the final column any of these perks will do. Rangefinder for more range, Underdog for bonus reload speed, and finally Demolitionist is a perk I touched on earlier.
Hand Cannons
Name - Austringer - Kinetic / Menagerie
Rate of Fire: 140
Impact: 84
Range: 51
Stability: 63
Handling: 52
Reload Speed: 51
Mag size: 11
Aim Assist: 75
Recoil Direction: 95
Curated Roll:
Corkscrew Rifling / Tactical Mag / Outlaw / Rangefinder
Recommended PvE Perks:
Sights: Hammer-Forged Rifling, Smallbore, Full Bore
Magazine: Tactical Mag, Appended Mag, Accurized Rounds
Perk 1: Outlaw, Subsistence, Triple Tap
Perk 2: Rampage, Demolitionist
Recommended PvP Perks:
Sights: Full Bore, Hammer-Forged Rifling, Extended Barrel
Magazine: Accurized Rounds, Tactical Mag
Perk 1: Outlaw, Eye of the Storm
Perk 2: Rangefinder, Opening Shot, Demolitionist
The Austringer is the closest you'll get to Eyasluna without actually having an Eyasluna in D2. I'm very excited, but I do wish it was an energy hand cannon instead of kinetic. The curated roll seems interesting, but less specified into PvE or PvP. Kind of a mix of both. For PvE, Outlaw is still the go-to, but Subsistence if worked the right way could also be a top choice. You're looking for magazine boosting perks as well as either magazine extending perks or damage perks. So Rampage and Triple Tap are both contenders.
In PvP the Austringer will certainly be the top dog in terms of legendary 140s. Barrel options like Full Bore are superior to HCS sights found on Better Devils, and comparing all legendary 140s the Austringer has the highest base range. Even beating the previous most ranged hand cannon, the Nation of Beasts, by 5 points. Coupled with Accurized Rounds and Rangefinder will give you the most range a 140 can offer. In the first slot Outlaw is the only decent perk. Snapshot Sights will make the weapon feel more responsive and snappy but I would take Outlaw over it any day. Unfortunately the best damage increasing perk is Rampage which isn't nearly as strong as Swasbuckler or Kill Clip, but will suffice if you have a max range Austringer. My top choices are Rangefinder and Opening Shot in that last column.
Scout Rifles
Name - Calusea Noblesse - Energy / Crown of Sorrows
Rate of Fire: 150
Impact: 67
Range: 74
Stability: 29
Handling: 36
Reload Speed: 37
Mag size: 14
Aim Assist: 32
Recoil Direction: 75
Curated Roll:
Arrowhead Brake / Tactical Mag / Overflow / Full Auto Trigger System
Recommended PvE Perks:
Sights: Fluted Barrel, Polygonal Rifling, Corkscrew Rifling
Magazine: Tactical Mag, Appended Mag, Steady Rounds
Perk 1: Outlaw, Subsistence
Perk 2: Multikill Clip, Rampage, Dragonfly
Recommended PvP Perks:
Sights: Fluted Barrel, Chambered Compensator, Arrowhead Brake
Magazine: Steady Rounds, Tactical Mag
Perk 1: Zen Moment, Moving Target, Outlaw
Perk 2: Rampage, Dragonfly
The Calusea Noblesse is a callback to the Lethe Noblesse from D1, albeit different archetypes. The Calusea Noblesse is in the highest damage archetype and with its curated roll also gets Overflow, which was introduced last season in Joker's Wild. The curated roll seems interesting but there are much better options. For PvE you're looking to bump up the handling, stability, or reload speed. Fluted Barrel and Chambered Compensator both assist in those areas. Tactical Mag also bumps up the stats and gives more ammo to your mag. Appended Mag is a great second choice for having more ammo to use. In the first perk slot Outlaw or Subsistence depending on the other perks will be top 2. Rampage and Dragonfly pair very well with Subsistence, while Multikill Clip is better left with outlaw.
For PvP 150 scouts aren't super popular but you're looking to replicate or beat the exotic 150s, Jade Rabbit and Polaris Lance. Fluted will still be my recommendation because the worst thing you want in a gunfight is to lose to a slow weapon ready speed. For both PC and Controller I'll be recommending Steady Rounds first, flinch is a huge reason why 150s aren't used more often so having more stability, less recoil and less flinch to worry about will make those 3-taps much easier, though your mileage may vary. If you're comfortable landing your shots then go Tactical Mag. There aren't any super perks in the magazine column for Calusea Noblesse. Along a similar vein you want to make sure you're hitting your precision shots so Zen Moment will make that easier, but a good second is Moving Target for a faster strafe speed while ADS. Finally in the last column there really isn't anything spectacular. Rampage will allow you to 2c1b, and Dragonfly will weaken your second target if they're within range. Decent choice but not a weapon I would use.
Sidearms
Name - Drang (Baroque) - Energy / Menagerie
Rate of Fire: 300
Impact: 49
Range: 41
Stability: 64
Handling: 73
Reload Speed: 37
Mag size: 18
Aim Assist: 70
Recoil Direction: 80
Curated Roll:
Together Forever / Full Bore / Accurized Rounds / Quickdraw / Rampage
Recommended PvE Perks:
Sights: Chambered Compensator, Extended Barrel, Hammer-Forged Rifling
Magazine: Appended Mag, High-Caliber Rounds, Alloy Mag
Perk 1: Full Auto Trigger System, Disruption Break, Quickdraw
Perk 2: Rampage, Swashbuckler, Underdog
Recommended PvP Perks:
Sights: Full Bore, Extended Barrel, Hammer-Forged Rifling
Magazine: Ricochet Rounds, High-Caliber Rounds, Light Mag
Perk 1: Quickdraw, Moving Target, Eye of the Storm
Perk 2: Swashbuckler, Rampage, Zen Moment
Drang returns in Penumbra with random rolls and a mod slot. Now you can have an easier time cranking Sturm to 99. In PvE something to help the recoil direction and stability are going to be my priorities. Sidearms aren't hugely popular within PvE but can put in some serious work. Things to look out for are perks like Appended Mag for more ammo or High-Caliber Rounds to flinch majors. Full Auto Trigger System just makes shooting Drang easier, but a fun pairing would be Disruption Break after you've gotten the Sturm Overcharge rounds to really do some damage against majors and shielded enemies. Finally Quickdraw rounds out the top picks for PvE for an overall faster handling sidearm. In the final perk column damage increasing perks are the way to go. Rampage and Swashbuckler both have stack-able effects and will allow an easier time mowing through hordes of Thrall or Taken Psions. Underdog is also another perk to consider, a faster reload while wounded will minimize downtime akin to Outlaw or Rapid Hit. Paired with Alloy Mag for the fastest reloads this side of the Golden Age.
In PvP you're looking to get as many Drang kills as efficiently as possible. Range and more range is important. Swasbuckler is my top choice for easily getting the full stack to then go to town against your fellow guardians.
Submachine Guns
Name - Calus Mini-Tool - Energy / Menagerie
Rate of Fire: 900
Impact: 15
Range: 37
Stability: 54
Handling: 68
Reload Speed: 37
Mag size: 37
Aim Assist: 49
Recoil Direction: 80
Curated Roll:
MIDA Synergy / Fluted Barrel / Light Mag / Eye of the Storm / Underdog
Recommended PvE Perks:
Sights: Chambered Compensator, Extended Barrel, Fluted Barrel
Magazine: High-Caliber Rounds, Appended Mag, Flared Magwell
Perk 1: Grave Robber, Dynamic Sway Reduction
Perk 2: Surrounded, Disruption Break, Feeding Frenzy
Recommended PvP Perks:
Sights: Hammer-Forged Rifling, Extended Barrel, Smallbore
Magazine: Ricochet Rounds
Perk 1: Moving Target, Slideways
Perk 2: Tap the Trigger, Feeding Frenzy, Disruption Break
Just like how Drang got a reboot. MIDA Mini-Tool is back for round 2. The synergy in the curated roll with both handling, stability, AND reload when injured is certainly the best of all worlds. I am just not a fan of taking damage to get a bonus. For random rolls you're looking at Chambered Compensator which will also help that recoil direction, as well as either Extended Barrel for more reach or Fluted Barrel for a snappier Mini. I'd recommend High-Caliber Rounds over magazine boosting perks because you want those bullets to count in PvE. Staggering any type of enemy with and SMG will allow you to clean it up with a shotgun, sniper, or your heavy. In the first column I'm actually recommending Grave Robber, there aren't any fantastic perks in that column but Grave Robber is easy enough to use and it bypasses the slower reload if you don't have any other bonuses. It's the easiest way to get back into spraying and praying. In the final perk node you're looking for surrounded. It's easy to proc passively and will allow Calus Mini-Tool to compete with Recluse. Disruption Break is nice if you're pairing it with Izanagi's Burden or another high-DPS weapon, and Feeding Frenzy if you don't have Grave Robber.
In PvP range will allow you to compete with Recluse and potentially other hand cannons, namely The Last Word. Hammer Forged Rifling gives a flat +10 to range, and while Full Bore gives the best range bonus, on an automatic weapon I feel the stability and handling reductions are a tad much. Regardless of your barrel choice Ricochet Rounds is the hands down best magazine perk to look for. It allows this and other weapons to punch way outside their weight classes. For the final two perks anything to help you land your shots, so Tap the Trigger and Moving Target, or Slideways and Feeding Frenzy for multis. Disruption Break is another good perk if you can manage to break an enemies shield in time to swap weapons.
If you would like more articles like this check out my breakdowns on Penumbra's new Pinnacle, energy, and power weapons. Happy hunting Guardians!