A Unique Twist on Area-Denial Grenade Launchers

With the release of Episode: Heresy, Destiny 2’s sandbox has seen some major shake-ups. Weapons and elemental abilities—often referred to as verbs—have undergone significant changes, redefining how Guardians approach combat. As a looter-shooter that thrives on its live-service model, Destiny 2 introduces a wave of new weapons with every major update. These additions keep the game fresh, allowing players to experiment with different builds and strategies. Among the latest batch of guns, one stands out for being truly unique within its category—the Psychopomp grenade launcher.

In recent years, Bungie has heavily emphasized buildcrafting, encouraging players to experiment with various weapon synergies and elemental perks. While this philosophy has led to some powerful and creative loadouts, it often comes with the downside of requiring very specific gear to unlock a build’s full potential. The introduction of Psychopomp, however, offers something new—a grenade launcher that breaks long-standing conventions in an exciting way.

What Makes Psychopomp So Special?

In Destiny 2, most non-heavy grenade launchers—whether Wave Frame, Breech-Loaded, or Area-Denial—typically hold only a single round in the chamber before requiring a reload. That has been the standard for a long time. But Psychopomp? It completely shatters that expectation, and it does so in two ways.

First, Psychopomp can roll with Ambitious Assassin, a perk that overflows the magazine upon reloading after multiple kills. That alone would make it stand out from other grenade launchers in its class. But what truly sets it apart is the “shiny” version of the gun, which comes with two Origin Traits instead of one—one of them being Runneth Over. This Origin Trait allows the magazine to overflow when reloading near allies.

Put these together, and you have an Area-Denial grenade launcher that can hold not one, not two, but three shots in its magazine at once—an absolute game-changer in a category of weapons that are normally limited to a single round.

Why This Matters for Destiny 2’s Sandbox

To truly appreciate how unique Psychopomp is, let’s look at how grenade launchers in Destiny 2 usually function. While some have perks like Ambitious Assassin or similar overflow mechanics, they typically cap out at two shots in the magazine. No other grenade launcher has both a perk and an Origin Trait working together to push the mag capacity beyond that.

This seemingly small change actually has big implications for gameplay. More shots before reloading means more sustained area denial, more efficient add-clear, and better DPS uptime in encounters where grenade launchers shine. Imagine being able to lock down a chokepoint in PvE or PvP without having to constantly reload after every shot—it’s a major quality-of-life improvement that turns Psychopomp into a powerhouse in the right hands.

Is Psychopomp the Best in Its Class?

Of course, just because Psychopomp is unique doesn’t mean it’s automatically the best grenade launcher in the game. In some situations, it may be outclassed by other weapons. Take VS Velocity Baton, for example. This grenade launcher from the Vesper’s Host dungeon can roll with perks like Attrition Orbs and Demolitionist, making it an amazing choice for general play or Void-centric builds. While it doesn’t have Psychopomp’s magazine size advantage, its synergy with Void builds makes it a strong competitor, especially in endgame content where ability regeneration is key.

However, Psychopomp brings its own strengths to the table. Its expanded magazine capacity makes it an excellent choice for Arc builds, particularly when paired with perks like Rolling Storm, which grants Bolt Charge stacks per kill—two if you’re Amplified. Given Destiny 2’s recent buffs to Arc builds, this makes Psychopomp an ideal weapon for players who want to maximize add-clear potential while simultaneously boosting their single-target damage in certain encounters.

The Best Psychopomp Rolls to Look Out For

If you manage to get your hands on Psychopomp, here are some of the best perk combinations to aim for:

• Ambitious Assassin + Full Court – Great for dealing increased damage over range, making it useful in PvE encounters where you need to hit high-priority targets from a safe distance.
• Rolling Storm + Envious Arsenal – Ideal for Arc builds, providing a smooth damage cycle while benefiting from Arc synergies.
• Elemental Honing + Frenzy – A strong choice for Prismatic builds, allowing you to capitalize on Elemental damage buffs while maintaining high uptime on damage output.

While Psychopomp won’t necessarily dethrone all other grenade launchers, it carves out a niche that makes it well worth chasing. The ability to fire three consecutive shots without reloading is an incredible advantage, especially in activities that demand sustained crowd control and DPS.

Final Thoughts: Should You Farm for Psychopomp?

If you’re a fan of grenade launchers or enjoy experimenting with unique weapon mechanics, Psychopomp is absolutely worth grinding for. Its combination of perks, Origin Traits, and the ability to break traditional magazine limits makes it a one-of-a-kind weapon in Destiny 2’s ever-expanding arsenal.

That said, keep in mind that getting the perfect roll may take some time. Since Psychopomp isn’t craftable (at least for now), you’ll need to rely on random drops to get your ideal perks. But if you do manage to snag a god roll, you’ll have one of the most interesting and versatile grenade launchers in the game at your disposal.

At the end of the day, Bungie has done a fantastic job making Psychopomp feel special. It’s proof that even within well-established weapon archetypes, there’s still room for innovation and fresh gameplay mechanics. Whether or not it becomes a meta-defining weapon remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—it’s a standout addition to Destiny 2’s sandbox that shouldn’t be overlooked.