First Descendant Season 2 Ultimate Weapons Guide: What to Build & What to Skip ~ HaploGamingChef

Must-Build Weapons for Any Loadout

Some weapons in The First Descendant just perform well across the board. If you're looking to optimize your build without testing everything yourself, start here. The Dagger, Restored Relic, and Malevolent are all high-value picks that function reliably with most Descendants.

Dagger adapts well with different fire rate core configurations. With Glay, stack two fire rate cores and you're set. For general use, combine one fire rate and one max mod for great synergy.
Restored Relic lets Glay dominate Void Erosion Purge solo. Throw on three fire rate cores and a fire rate mod. With Shell Crusher equipped, you'll hit 90% fire rate easily.
Malevolent shines when paired with Descendants who don't rely heavily on skills, like Eugene. By default, it's toxic-based, but you can tune it to suit any element for flexible combat.

These three weapons handle most content efficiently and are worth investing in early on.

The Stat Stick Choices

Some weapons might not need full investment to be useful. They passively improve your Descendant’s combat potential just by being equipped.

Secret Garden is especially useful for tech-based Descendants like Fina. Equip sprint and grapple cores with a brisk walk mod to gain tech power buffs.
Peacemaker works well with characters like Sharon and Valby who benefit from increased crit rate from fusion dimension mechanics.
Blue Beetle and other similar guns can boost crit stats without active use. These are solid choices for tech stat synergy.

Even if you don’t fire them, carrying these can significantly impact your overall build.

Decent Options If You Need Them

Some weapons aren’t top-tier, but can be effective in the right situations or with the right characters.

Albian Cavalry pairs nicely with Haley during Void Erosion Purge 10. It boosts movement if you land your shots, though it’s slow to reload and has noticeable recoil.
Ancient Knight is a solid assault rifle, but it’s mainly effective with Serena due to its air-based perks. If you prefer grounded characters, it’s skippable.
Thunder Cage is a fantastic early-game weapon. Its explosion mechanic is perfect for clearing mobs. Try it with Lepic using his third skill to pull enemies together for max effect.
Enduring Legacy once ruled as a boss-killer. It remains effective in early and mid-game, especially before you start adding cores to other weapons. You’ll appreciate its power against early immortals.

These are situationally powerful and worth a look depending on your playstyle and current gear.

The “Needs Buffs” Category

This section includes weapons that were once good or could be good again—with some changes.

Perforator is decent in concept. Its explosions trigger on weak points, but poor visual clarity during fights makes it hard to use well.
Greg’s Reversed Fate can dish out serious damage but suffers from similar blinding effects that make combat confusing.
Final Masterpiece had novelty appeal with multi-elemental damage. Most players focused on the toxic effect due to its longer duration. Unfortunately, it’s not worth the effort without updates.
Fallen Hope is statistically impressive with strong base and multi-hit damage. However, its weak unique ability, small magazine, and aim/recoil issues hold it back from being top-tier.

If the developers rework these weapons, they could re-enter the top tier.

Guns That Can Still Shine Situationally

There are guns that don't always come up in meta discussions but still hold value under certain conditions.

Python surprised some players with its solid fire rate and performance against bosses like Gluttony. Use it with Clay and fire rate cores for great results.
Divine Punishment is a fire-element rifle made with Eugene in mind. While not the strongest in raw numbers, it works well as a solo weapon.
Voltier is the go-to beam rifle for shield-heavy enemies. It’s particularly effective in Void Vessel missions or Spec Ops. Equip it, clear shields, switch back.

These weapons aren’t necessary for every build but might become essential depending on the mission.

Assault Rifles – Good Base, Needs Tweaking

Assault rifles in The First Descendant tend to underperform due to lower crit stats, recoil issues, and awkward accuracy. However, they’re not without hope.

Boosting base damage and improving their recoil could make them much more viable.
Consider adding recoil and accuracy cores, then combine with multi-hit damage mods.
Many of them can take down 400% bosses with proper builds.

Currently, they fall short of top-tier gear, but they’re close—especially with some fine-tuning.

Shotguns and Snipers: Room for Growth

Shotguns and snipers are niche right now. Some are more viable than others, but most players avoid them unless they love that playstyle.

Executor and Smithereens stand out as slightly better shotguns. They're usable, just not essential in most loadouts.
Eights is a sniper worth testing if you enjoy precision weapons. It works well with Haley, especially for early-game boss takedowns.

Without content that rewards their specific strengths, these categories remain largely unused. If that changes, their viability might rise.

Weapons Mostly for Mastery

Some weapons seem built just to help you boost your mastery rank. You may build them once and never look back.

Examples include Clarivo, Frost Watcher, and Sig Boris Proof.
These guns either underperform or are simply outclassed by better options.
Even if a gun like Truly Deadly Arsenal sounds interesting on paper, it often requires multi-step setups and specific Descendants like Blair to make it functional.

If you’re hunting full mastery, build them. Otherwise, feel free to skip.

Beam Rifles: Limited Use, High Effort

Beam rifles have specific use cases but are generally underwhelming compared to rifles or SMGs.

Voltier is the exception. It's great for deleting shields and fits well in shield-breaker builds.
Truly Deadly Arsenal suffers from design flaws like low ammo capacity and an awkward damage trigger that relies on the enemy being burned—by someone else.
King’s Guard Lance is fun, but not practical. It’s one of those "gimmick" guns you use once and forget.

They need either a complete rework or dedicated content to shine.

Personal Favorites That Just Don’t Fit the Meta

Many players have that one gun they like even if it’s not optimal. There’s nothing wrong with using what’s fun.

Excava makes a satisfying sound and delivers decent electric damage.
Wave of Light, Afterglow, and Piercing Light had potential but haven’t found their niche.
If you like using off-meta gear and enjoy the feel of a weapon, go for it—just know it may not be the most efficient choice.

Experimenting can be a good time, especially in non-endgame content.

What You Actually Need to Build

If you want a focused approach and don't want to waste resources, just prioritize the following:

Dagger, Malevolent, Restored Relic: These three alone will cover nearly everything.
Thunder Cage and Enduring Legacy: Great for early- and mid-game.
Secret Garden and Peacemaker: Always useful for movement and passive buffs.
Voltier: Great to keep in your loadout for shield removal when necessary.

With these, you're covered for solo missions, co-op grinds, and even high-end boss battles.

Conclusion

The Season 2 update of The First Descendant brought a mix of powerful weapons, situational tools, and mastery fillers. While the variety of ultimate weapons is large, only a handful are essential to build for strong, consistent performance. Whether you're working through early-game missions or farming high-end bosses, tools like the Dagger, Restored Relic, and Malevolent will always serve you well.

Other weapons like Secret Garden and Peacemaker play a crucial role by boosting your mobility and stats passively. Meanwhile, guns like Thunder Cage, Enduring Legacy, and Voltier retain relevance in specific scenarios and can be valuable additions to your loadout.

At the end of the day, not all weapons need to be built to enjoy the game. Prioritize those that make a noticeable impact and support your favorite Descendants. And if you’re looking for fun outside the meta, there’s still plenty of room to experiment.

FAQs

What are the best weapons to build in The First Descendant Season 2?
The best all-around weapons are the Dagger, Malevolent, and Restored Relic. These work well across most Descendants and game content.

Which guns are good for early-game progression?
Thunder Cage and Enduring Legacy are strong choices for clearing mobs and bosses before unlocking advanced weapon cores.

Are shotguns or snipers viable in the current meta?
Shotguns and snipers like Executor, Smithereens, and Eights can be used, but they’re not required for most content unless a specific playstyle is preferred.

Do I need to build every ultimate weapon?
No. Many weapons are mainly for mastery progression. Only a select few are essential for efficient gameplay.

Which weapons need buffs or reworks the most?
Perforator, Greg’s Reversed Fate, and Fallen Hope could become stronger with visual tweaks, stat adjustments, or improved unique abilities.

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