Weapon Mods

Now comes the fun stuff: weapon mods influence all aspects of your weapon, from raw stats to functional gameplay changes. If you find two of the exact same weapon with different mods, they can handle completely differently.

Choosing a weapon in Destiny comes down to figuring out which weapons you like to use and which archetypes fit your playstyle. Once you know what you love, you need to find the right weapon, of the right archetype, with the right mods. Needless to say, this can take awhile…

But while you’re hunting for the perfect weapon with the perfect mods, take some time to digest the information here. Some mods are well suited to PvE or PvP (or both!), some work better on certain weapon types, and others just come down to personal preference.

Mod Categories

Damage Type

A damage type can be Kinetic, Arc, Solar, or Void. Special damage types are vital when you are dealing with shielded enemies in PvE, but they have no effect in PvP. Remember that on Mythic missions in PvE, damage to enemy shields that is not of the proper element is penalized by 50%!

Sights or Barrel

Most weapons get a choice of three different random optical attachments. Remember, scopes have a dramatic impact on the behavior of weapons due to the zoom multiplier affecting the Range stat!

Shotguns and rocket launchers get a choice of three different barrels. Barrels modify weapon behavior a bit differently than the optics. You can choose and switch between any of the three sights or barrels available on your weapon at any time.

Primary Ability Mod

This is a mod from a list specific to the weapon class. Once unlocked, it is permanently active. These mods are generally effects that you must trigger to activate, though some are always effective.

First Upgrade

Boost this weapon’s Attack power. Found on Uncommon or better weapons.

Stat Mod

This slot gives you a choice of three different powerful mods that affect the weapon’s stats in a major way. While optics and barrels have some minor stat shifts, this slot can peg a weapon’s stats in one category all the way to the cap (or beyond, in some cases).

As with optics or barrels, you can switch between any of the three stat mods at any time as needed.

Found on Rare or better weapons.

Secondary Ability Mod

A second bonus mod, also specific to the weapon class. As with the first ability mod, it is permanently active once unlocked. This second mod is only found on Legendary and Exotic weapons.

Second Upgrade

Boost the weapon’s Attack power again. Found on Rare or better weapons.

Ascend

Only present on Legendary and Exotic weapons, this is a three-stage boost to the weapon’s Attack power—at the cost of some rare Materials.