What is the point of linear fusion rifles?

[Tom]

Im mostly talking about PvP here but im also wondering what their place is in PvE.

And about Arbalest...why would anyone use this over a sniper rifle? Its pretty much just a low zoom sniper with a charge time. sure breaking shields causes the target to take more kinetic damage and i can see how that would be good for PvE, but PvP? if your shield is down then it only takes a couple of hits from any other weapon to kill you anyway.

[Super-XIX]

Arbalest has solid aim assist and generally gives you better awareness because you're not looking through a scope. Other than that, yeah, Snipers are basically better for everything.

[Hex]

Originally posted by Tom:

Im mostly talking about PvP here but im also wondering what their place is in PvE.

And about Arbalest...why would anyone use this over a sniper rifle? Its pretty much just a low zoom sniper with a charge time. sure breaking shields causes the target to take more kinetic damage and i can see how that would be good for PvE, but PvP? if your shield is down then it only takes a couple of hits from any other weapon to kill you anyway.

Then don't use it? O.o You know Destiny is a PvE game, right? PvP is, and has always been, an afterthought.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Hex:

Originally posted by Tom:

snip.

Then don't use it? O.o You know Destiny is a PvE game, right? PvP is, and has always been, an afterthought.

Well okay going with PvE. Whats the point of linear fusions as heavy weapons? They are certainly not for ad clear, Machine guns and rockets do that better. And im fairly certain any legendary 'nade launcher with spike nades outclasses linear fusions in both sustained DPS and burst DPS on bosses. So...what is or was the point of linear fusions? Am i missing something where they are actually god tier for niche uses?

[Skeleton]

Originally posted by Tom:

Its pretty much just a low zoom sniper

Answered your own question. The best snipers in PvP are the ones with the lowest zoom.

Originally posted by Tom:

And im fairly certain any legendary 'nade launcher with spike nades outclasses linear fusions in both sustained DPS and burst DPS on bosses.

Line in the Sand with a proper roll [Rapid Hit + Firing Line + Boss Spec] has the third highest DPS [22959] against raid bosses, after Catalyst Whisper [31919] and Catalyst Izanagi [28748] while not taking up an exotic slot. The best poossible grenade launcher combination reaches 22448 DPS.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Skeleton:

Originally posted by Tom:

Its pretty much just a low zoom sniper

Answered your own question. The best snipers in PvP are the ones with the lowest zoom.

(...Its pretty much just a low zoom sniper with a charge time) Two crucial things here, 1. low zoom snipers already exist and DON'T have a charge time, and 2. linear fusions take up the heavy slot and do slightly more damage than aggressive frame snipers in pvp.

I have not found any damage numbers online, but from what i recall from using them for pvp it seems to be around 170-180 on body shot, which is not enough to 1 hit kill. although sometimes they do and sometimes they dont so its likely a range thing. This makes them under powered compared to other heavy weapons. The only thing i can think of that linears have over other heavies is more ammo, about 8 shots from a brick, but they take headshots to 1hit kills, which special ammo snipers do just fine.... Well what about supers? a linear fusion does about 500 to the head so it could take on a super, but snipers with vorpal exist so that point is moot.

Originally posted by Skeleton:

Originally posted by Tom:

snip.

Line in the Sand with a proper roll [Rapid Hit + Firing Line + Boss Spec] has the third highest DPS [22959] against raid bosses, after Catalyst Whisper [31919] and Catalyst Izanagi [28748] while not taking up an exotic slot. The best poossible grenade launcher combination reaches 22448 DPS.

Thats actually pretty cool, thanks for the correction. Now i don't do much pve, much less theorycrafting, but that put an idea into my lill head. I wonder what the damage phase damage would be if you used 1shot sharpshooter nighthawk+1shot Izanagi with max honed edge+rest of the phase with that god roll line in the sand. Regardless, thats a weapon im gonna have to look into, thanks for bringing it up.