Synthocep Solar Titan Build
Last Updated:February 9, 2025|Changelog
Synthoceps Solar Titan, aka “Bonk Build” is a Titan classic that’s weathered the test of time. Great healing, damage and flexibility are just some of the great parts of the Titan’s melee abilities. Now, many swear by Strand being the only option, yet they forget which build was a day 1 choice until it came around. Also, it might not have crazy ignitions like other Solar builds, but you can keep using your Throwing Hammer and never die.
Just like any melee build with Titan, the key to the build is the exotic arms armor, Synthoceps. The armor perk Biotic Enhancements gives a massive damage boost to your melee and super while surrounded. On top of this, your weapon handling and reload speed are increased as well. This is also a great option for those looking to use glaives since they add a +100% increase to their melee damage.
Gameplay Loop
The gameplay loop for Synthocep Solar Titan is very simple: run around and hit everything with your Throwing Hammer. Just because the hammer is your main tool of destruction doesn’t mean it’s the only tool you have. The aspect Sol Invictus provides an incredible amount of damage from its consistent scorching of surrounding targets while also healing you.
Now these sunspots won’t be able to take down a big boss, but they are a nuisance to enemies around the battlefield. Let’s talk about how you’re supposed to deal with bosses though. Burning Maul is a great option since you get great damage from Snythoceps while utilizing the benefits of Sol Invictus. This, along with Roaring Flames to boost your Solar damage you should be able to pack some serious heat.
Remember this is a great build for yourself vs something that is constantly benefitting your team. You won’t be soloing raid encounters with this setup, but I’d be shocked if you aren’t able to solo flawless most dungeons.
Ability Breakdown
Super
- Burning Maul
- Summon a giant hammer that you can swap from light and heavy attacks with. Light attacks make you spin the hammer for fast and consistent damage. Heavy attacks have you slamming the hammer down to fire off a combustive blast. We chose this because of its great damage and shorter cooldown.
Abilities
- Rally Barricade, We mainly choose this purely for the shorter cooldown versus the Towering Barricade.
- Strafe Lift, Jump of your choice though!
- Throwing Hammer: Throw a hammer from a distance. Picking up a thrown hammer fully recharges your melee ability. If the hammer hits a target, picking it up grants cure.
- Healing Grenade, The perfect get out of jail free grenade. Using your hammer and sunspots should be enough to keep you healthy, but this is a great option for those just in case moments.
Consistent Solar ability final blows keeps up your radiant and restoration effects. Big part of what makes this build so strong.
Aspects
- Sol Invictus: One of my favorite aspects in the game for its ability to hurt enemies while healing yourself. First getting final blows with anything solar results in a small sunspot activating Scorch on nearby targets. If you stand on these sunspots you gain Restoration and energy for your abilities.
- Roaring Flames: A great way for increasing the damage of your hammer for simply using it!
Fragments
- Ember of Torches: You'll already be using your melee consistently so you'll consistently have Radiant.
- Ember of Empyrean: Consistently having Radiant and Restoration is great for healing and damage.
- Ember of Solace: Just like Empyrean this is great for keeping buffs up.
- Ember of Singeing: You'll always be scorching targets with sunspots so this is good to get that barricade back.
Gearing
Required Gear and Weapons
Synthoceps
How to acquire:
- Purchase from Xur (his loot rotates weekly).
- Decrypting Exotic engrams at Rahool in the Tower.
- Note: this exotic is not locked behind a DLC.
- Completing the Exalting The Flame New Light quest from Ikora Rey
Recommend Weapons
- Kinetic Weapon: Tinasha's Mastery - with Air Trigger (but any perk works here) and the highly impactful Chill Clip make this Rocket-Assisted Frame Sidearm a perfect anti-Champion tool when combined with Piercing Sidearms. This Weapon drops from Iron Banner.
- Energy Weapon: Axial Lacuna - This Craftable Pale Heart Fusion Rifle is easy to use for the end of chunking down tougher targets when your Hammer just won't do. Craft it with Reconstruction and Controlled Burst.
- Power Weapon: Dragon's Breath - Powerful Ignition[/d2-traits] that are great for ad clear and overall boss damage over time. With the catalyst its auto-reloading capabilities are greatly enhanced. This Exotic Weapon requires ownership of the Lightfall Expansion and is acquired from the Monument to Lost Lights. If obtaining this isn't feasible for you, swap to Tractor Cannon.
Stat Priorities
- Resilience > Discipline > Recovery.
- Resilience is the amount of damage you can take before dying, as well as your shield capacity.
- Discipline is what reduces your grenade cooldown.
- Recovery is how long it takes for your health to regenerate after you take damage.
Learn more about the Stats available to you in Destiny 2 with our dedicated guide.
Armor Mods
| Item | Slot | Mandatory Mods | Supporting Mods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Explorer Helmet | Helmet | Special Ammo Finder Heavy Ammo Finder | Harmonic Siphon |
| Synthoceps | Gloves | Heavy Handed x3 | |
| Deep Explorer Plate | Chest | Solar Resistance Arc Resistance Void Resistance | |
| Deep Explorer Greaves | Legs | Solar Weapon Surge Recuperation | Solar Weapon Surge |
| Deep Explorer Mark | Class Item | Powerful Attraction Reaper One-Two Finisher |
- Optional Mods:
- On your Helmet, add Harmonic Siphon for higher Orb of Power generation.
- On your Legs, add another Solar Weapon Surge for higher Solar weapon damage.
Armor Mods are unlocked by progressing your Guardian Rank. Check out the Guardian Ranks Guide for more information.
Artifact Mods
- Piercing Sidearms
- Gives your Primary and Special Ammo Sidearms Anti Barrier capabilities, allowing them to break the invulnerable shields of Barrier Champions.
- Unstoppable Fusion
- Gives your Fusion and Linear Fusion Rifles the ability to Stun Unstoppable Champions.
- Dreadful Finisher
- Finishing powerful combatants creates Special Ammo for you and your fireteam. More Ammo is generated when Finishing Subjugators, Tormentors, and Champions.
- Particle Reconstruction
- Dealing sustained damage to an enemy with Fusion or Linear Fusion Rifles partially reloads them and causes them to deal bonus damage to that enemy.
- Heavy Ordnance Regeneration
- Dealing sustained damage with Machine Guns or Rocket Launchers gives you increased damage resistance as well as improved Grenade and Melee Ability regeneration for a short duration.
Variants
Gear Swaps
- Swap Axial Lacuna for Sunshot.
- An easy swap with great ad clear all players have access to.
- How to acquire: New-Light Quests.
- Swap Dragon's Breath for Edgewise or Ascendancy.
- These Solar Heavy Weapons are easily obtainable by all players. While they are dated, they still get the job done.
- How to acquire: Purchase from the Monument to Lost Lights.
Summary
Bonk Titan has stood the test of time even with multiple changes and nerfs thrown its way. This classic setup is still a phenomenal option even with other powerful melee builds existing. Hopefully in the deep future we see some buffs to aspects like roaring flames to put Synthocep Solar Titan on par with Strand Banner Titan, but even now it's still a perfect option for most activities!
Credits
Written by: Byrdman
Reviewed by: Chunky, Dredscythe