Synthoceps Strand Titan at this point in time is the top of the top for builds. Access to insane healing and melee damage means you’ll be crushing through endgame content with ease. This likely is the main build most Titans want to use for day 1 Final Shape. Even with a multitude of nerfs to Strand Titan this build still stands above the rest. Below is the breakdown for this meta setup including some changes based on your preference.
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.
- Non-Stop Healing
- High ability uptime
- Massive Melee Damage
- Constant heals required
- Somewhat gear dependant
- Not great overall boss damage
Gameplay Loop
The gameplay loop of Synthoceps Strand Titan is very simple: punch everything. It’s the most Titan core build in the entire game because everything is based on your fists. Using your charged or uncharged melee will help start up the Banner of War aspect. Once you have this going your melee damage will increase as well as your healing. Feel free to jump into groups of enemies and start swinging since most targets will be one-shot. The more melee damage you do the more your damage and healing increase. Eventually your super bar will fill-up and I implore you to use it on as many targets as possible. Now it’s obviously best for bosses, but you’ll get this roaming super back fast with simple melee hits.
How do weapons work into this build though? Let’s start first with any One-Two Punch shotgun. This will be best for yellow bar or mini-boss targets since it increases the damage of your next melee hit. Please note though this only works for one melee hit per shot. Above we recommend any Into the Light weapons since its Origin Trait Indomitability reads “Final blows grant grenade when playing a Light subclass or melee energy when playing a Darkness subclass.”
Obviously this is great for getting those melee charges back fast. Finally Tractor Cannon is perfect since it’s consistent debuff ability only benefits your high melee damage.
Ability Breakdown
Super
- Bladefury
- When you activate this roaming super your Titan creates two woven blades that allow you to constantly slash targets and suspend them. Your light attack will allow you to sever targets on hit dealing bonus damage to those affected by suspend. Each hit will briefly increase your attack speed and grants energy to your heavy attack. The heavy attack shoots out two projectiles that suspend targets and seeks them out. This is a perfect super especially since it only gets stronger using Synthoceps.
Abilities
- Rally Barricade, You likely won't need any use for this, but this is the best option for its shorter cooldown.
- Strafe Lift, Jump of your choice!
- Frenzied Blade, One of the strongest melees in the game. Having three charges of this as well is incredibly powerful!
- Grapple, Not only is this a perfect option for mobility, but also getting that melee charge at the end of its use is strong. Checkout our Wormgod Caress build that uses this and the Strand trace rifle The Navigator.
Aspects
- Into the Fray, A great aspect for Synthocep Strand Titan to consistently keep up damage reduction with Woven Mail and melee energy for your Frenzied Blade.
- Banner of War, Easily the strongest Titan aspect if not in the entire game. Simply doing melee, finisher, or sword damage increases your damage while healing you. This healing will also help you teammate and will grow with their own damage.
To make the build work efficently, you should keep up Banner of War as much as possible. Just keep punching!
Fragments
- Thread of Generation, The easiest fragment to add so you gain grenade energy for simply doing damage.
- Thread of Fury, You'll have tangles everywhere that you can benefit from to gain extra melee energy.
- Thread of Warding, An easy way to ensure that you always have Woven Mail available.
- Thread of Continuity, You should be consistently activating suspend, unravel, and severe effects so this will ensure they last longer.
Gearing
Required Gear and Weapons
Required: Synthoceps
substitution: Wormgod Caress
How to acquire:
- Purchase from Xur (his loot rotates weekly).
- Decrypting exotic engrams at Rahool (it will be a random exotic drop, but will prioritize exotics you currently do not have, known as the knockout system).
- Farm the expert lost sector on {insert leg, arm, chest, or helmet} Armor days.
- Note: this exotic is not locked behind a DLC.
- Completing the Exalting The Flame New Light quest from Ikora Rey
Recommend Weapons
- Kinetic Weapon: The Call - Rocket sidearms are incredibly strong right now in Destiny so this is an easy option to add.
- Energy Weapon: IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3 - Any Shotgun with One-Two Punch to increase melee damage.
- Power Weapon: Tractor Cannon - Great way to constantly weaken targets and keep up high damage. Also it has the ability to stun Overload champs with weaken.
Stat Priorities
- Resilience > Discipline > Recovery.
- Resilience is the amount of damage you can take before dying, as well as your shield capacity.
- Discipline is how fast you get your grenade back.
- Recovery is how fast you begin to regenerate health after taking 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 | Hands-On |
| Synthoceps | Gloves | Heavy Handed x3 | |
| Deep Explorer Plate | Chest | Solar Resistance Arc Resistance Void Resistance | |
| [d2-item id=2351264197]Deep Explorer GreavesExplorer Strides[/d2-item] | Legs | Invigoration Recuperation | Invigoration |
| Deep Explorer Mark | Class Item | One-Two Finisher Reaper Outreach |
- Optional Mods:
- On your Helmet, add Hands-On for additional Super energy generation.
- On your Legs, add an additional Invigoration for greater melee energy generation when picking up an Orb of Power.
Armor Mods are unlocked by progressing your Guardian Rank. Check out the Guardian Ranks Guide for more information.
Artifact Mods
Synthoceps Strand Titan does not require any artifact mods from Echoes Act 1!
Variants
Gear Swaps
- Swap The Call for Monte Carlo.
- Super easy way to generate a high amount of Melee Energy due to the Monte Carlos special perks.
- How to acquire: Strange Offers from Xur at the Tower.
- Swap Tractor Cannon for The Slammer.
- The Slammer is a phenomenal option with Cold Steel for it's ability to intrinsically stun Overload and Unstoppable champs. Also it will get a boost from Banner of Wars ability.
- How to acquire: Vanguard Ops activates or from Zavala at the Tower.
Summary
If you want the most Titan core build in Destiny 2 this is the perfect option! Synthoceps Strand Titan is a perfect setup for Legend Campaigns and any endgame content in the game. If you want to run around punching everything while staying at high health, Stand is the best option. This build likely will see some tweaks in the future, but Bungie's attempts to nerf Banner of War haven’t slowed this down whatsoever.
Credits
Written by: Byrdman
Reviewed by: Chunky, Dredscythe