Among the many seasonal weapons introduced in Destiny 2, Tarnished Mettle stands out as a reliable and customizable scout rifle that suits both casual and competitive players. Its versatility, strong perk combinations, and connection to specific seasonal activities make it a highly sought-after weapon. If you’re trying to figure out how to get Tarnished Mettle and craft the best possible roll for your loadout, understanding where and how to obtain it is key. This guide will walk you through all the necessary steps to acquire Tarnished Mettle, improve its traits, and master its usage in both PvE and PvP content.
What Is Tarnished Mettle in Destiny 2?
Overview of the Weapon
Tarnished Mettle is a legendary scout rifle that was introduced during Destiny 2’s Season of Plunder. It’s a lightweight frame weapon, meaning it has faster movement while aiming down sights and decent handling. As a scout rifle, it excels in long-range engagements, especially in activities where staying at a distance is safer. Tarnished Mettle is particularly notable because it is one of the seasonal weapons that can be crafted, offering deep customization through enhanced perks.
Why Tarnished Mettle Is Popular
Players gravitate toward Tarnished Mettle due to its solid stats, easy handling, and access to strong perk combinations. In PvE, it can roll with perks like Voltshot and Demolitionist, which synergize well with Arc builds. In PvP, options like Eye of the Storm or Moving Target make it a consistent choice for long-range duels. Its flexibility and potential for crafting make it an appealing choice for most Guardians looking to build a reliable primary weapon.
Where to Get Tarnished Mettle
Participate in Ketchcrash and Expedition Activities
The primary way to get Tarnished Mettle is by engaging in seasonal activities introduced during Season of Plunder, specifically Ketchcrash and Expedition. These activities are located in the H.E.L.M. and are tied to the pirate-themed content of the season. Completing these activities grants you chances to earn Season of Plunder weapons, including Tarnished Mettle.
- Ketchcrash: A six-player matchmade activity where you board enemy ships, defeat pirates, and complete objectives.
- Expedition: A three-player activity where you escort treasure hauls and defend against enemy waves.
Completing these missions rewards loot at the end, with a chance for Tarnished Mettle to drop. Using seasonal upgrades can increase the likelihood of receiving specific weapons.
Focus Umbral Engrams
Another way to target Tarnished Mettle is by focusing Umbral Engrams at the Star Chart in the H.E.L.M. During Season of Plunder, players could earn and use Plundered Umbral Energy to focus these engrams into specific weapons, including Tarnished Mettle.
If the weapon is in rotation for focusing in later seasons, you may still be able to get it through legacy focusing systems. Otherwise, returning to the HELM during the correct seasonal rotation is necessary.
Seasonal Vendor Upgrades
Upgrading the Star Chart vendor also boosts your drop rate for specific weapons and gives you more control over what weapons you receive after activities. Prioritize upgrades that improve weapon focusing or reward seasonal weapons directly.
How to Craft Tarnished Mettle
Deepsight Resonance Weapons
To unlock the ability to craft Tarnished Mettle, you must collect five Deepsight Resonance versions of the weapon. These versions are marked with a red border and can be extracted for weapon patterns. Once you’ve extracted the resonance from five Tarnished Mettle drops, the pattern will be unlocked at the Relic in the Enclave on Mars.
Tips for Faster Pattern Unlocks
- Use focusing at the Star Chart to increase chances of red-border drops.
- Purchase the weekly red-border weapon from the seasonal vendor if available.
- Complete seasonal bounties or Triumphs tied to activity completions for more reward drops.
Once unlocked, you can visit the Enclave and shape your own version of Tarnished Mettle with the perks and barrel options you prefer.
Best Tarnished Mettle Perk Rolls
Recommended PvE Rolls
- Barrel: Arrowhead Brake or Corkscrew Rifling
- Magazine: Tactical Mag or Flared Magwell
- Perk 1: Demolitionist or Perpetual Motion
- Perk 2: Voltshot
Voltshot is a standout perk for Arc builds because it causes targets to jolt after a reload and kill. Pairing this with Demolitionist allows you to recharge your grenade energy quickly, making it a fantastic synergy for Arc 3.0 subclasses.
Recommended PvP Rolls
- Barrel: Smallbore or Hammer-Forged Rifling
- Magazine: Accurized Rounds
- Perk 1: Moving Target
- Perk 2: Eye of the Storm
This roll is focused on enhancing stability, accuracy, and handling during duels. Eye of the Storm gives you an edge in clutch situations, while Moving Target helps track opponents more effectively when aiming down sights.
Using Tarnished Mettle in Different Game Modes
Strikes and PvE Activities
In strikes, seasonal activities, and patrols, Tarnished Mettle can act as a great add-clearing weapon thanks to its high stability and reload speed. Pair it with an Arc subclass to take full advantage of Voltshot’s jolting mechanic, creating chain reactions of Arc damage that clear enemy groups quickly.
Crucible and PvP
For Crucible players, Tarnished Mettle is effective on maps that favor long-range engagements. It may not outgun hand cannons in close quarters, but it can reliably win mid-range duels when used with precision and map awareness. Stability-focused perks and high range stats are recommended for consistency.
Raids and Endgame Content
While it’s not usually a top-tier DPS option, Tarnished Mettle is still useful for keeping adds under control in encounters that require ranged combat. In raid teams that depend on strong crowd control, Voltshot builds can provide valuable support to your fireteam.
Farming Tips for Tarnished Mettle
- Run Ketchcrash with friends to speed up completion time and maximize loot output.
- Use seasonal currency to focus only the weapons you want avoid wasting energy on random engrams.
- Check daily and weekly vendor offerings for guaranteed red-border weapons.
- Engage with all Season of Plunder activities while they’re active in rotation to boost your chances.
Even after the season ends, legacy content may rotate back into availability, so always check the H.E.L.M. and Tower vendors for possible reappearances of weapons like Tarnished Mettle.
Getting Tarnished Mettle in Destiny 2 is a rewarding process that combines seasonal engagement, targeted farming, and crafting. Whether you’re looking to build a perfect Arc synergy loadout or just want a consistent scout rifle for long-range encounters, this weapon offers plenty of flexibility and power. Focus on the right activities, prioritize weapon focusing upgrades, and extract patterns efficiently to unlock its full potential. Once crafted, Tarnished Mettle can become one of your go-to primaries in both PvE and PvP activities across the game.