The Smite of Merain stands out as a legendary Kinetic pulse rifle in Destiny 2, originally from the iconic King’s Fall raid. Revived in recent seasons, this 390 RPM adaptive frame weapon offers reliable performance across various activities. Its craftability allows Guardians to tailor it perfectly for their playstyle, making it a staple for both casual and competitive players. With strong base stats and flexible perk pools, Smite of Merain excels in close-to-mid range engagements, providing consistent damage output without elemental dependencies.
Key Stats and Intrinsic Traits
Smite of Merain boasts balanced stats that make it user-friendly. Impact sits at 29, range at 43, stability at 50, handling at 47, reload speed at 47, aim assistance at 60, zoom at 17, airborne effectiveness at 21, rounds per minute at 390, magazine at 36, recoil direction at 70, and inventory size at 49. The Adaptive Frame intrinsic ensures a well-rounded grip, sturdy and reliable for sustained fire. This setup supports versatile loadouts, particularly in Kinetic-focused builds where primary damage is crucial.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Impact | 29 |
| Range | 43 |
| Stability | 50 |
| Handling | 47 |
| Reload Speed | 47 |
| Aim Assistance | 60 |
These numbers highlight its strength in stability and aim assistance, ideal for tracking targets during raids or Crucible matches.
Acquiring Smite of Merain
Guardians can obtain Smite of Merain primarily from the King’s Fall raid, targeting the War Priest encounter for the smallest loot pool and highest drop chance. It also drops from the Sisters and Oryx encounters, though with broader pools. The raid is legacy content, accessible to all players, but crafting requires the Witch Queen expansion. To craft, collect five Deepsight (red border) versions, extract their patterns, and unlock enhanced perks at the Enclave.
- Random Rolls: Quick drops from raid checkpoints.
- Deepsight Versions: Essential for pattern progress; farm weekly.
- Harrowed Variant: Features unique cosmetics, improved stats, and Harrowed mods for endgame viability.
Farming tips include using raid boosters or group carries for efficiency, especially for red borders. Once crafted, experiment freely without rng dependency.
Optimal PvE Builds for Add Clear and Boss Damage
In PvE, Smite of Merain shines for add-clear and sustained DPS. The top god roll prioritizes synergy between grenade/melee abilities and damage ramps. Arrowhead Brake enhances recoil control and handling, while Tactical Mag boosts reload, stability, and ammo capacity.
Column 3 perks like Demolitionist (grenade energy on kills), Pugilist (melee buffs post-precision), or Focused Fury (damage when mag is low) set the foundation. Pair with Column 4 options: Adrenaline Junkie (stacking damage from low health/ability kills), Swashbuckler (melee kill stacks), or Vorpal Weapon (boss/vehicle bonus).
| Component | Recommended | Alternatives | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Arrowhead Brake | Corkscrew Rifling, Chambered Compensator | Recoil control, handling |
| Magazine | Tactical Mag | Accurized Rounds, Appended Mag | Balanced stats |
| Perk 3 | Demolitionist | Pugilist, Focused Fury | Ability synergy, damage |
| Perk 4 | Adrenaline Junkie | Swashbuckler, Vorpal | Damage stacks, boss DPS |
Demolitionist + Adrenaline Junkie is meta for grenade-focused builds, refreshing stacks via kills for up to 4.5 seconds of boosted damage and stability. Focused Fury pairs well with precision bursts, while Vorpal aids raid bosses. Masterwork any stat, prioritizing range or stability.
Dominating PvP with Precision and Mobility
PvP favors range and tracking. Hammer-Forged Rifling and Accurized Rounds extend effective range for map control. Moving Target in Column 3 improves ADS speed and acquisition against strafing foes. Column 4: Eye of the Storm (accuracy at low health) or Vorpal for objective modes.
- God Roll PvP: Hammer-Forged, Accurized, Moving Target, Eye of the Storm.
- Excels in 6v6 modes like Control, where mid-range duels dominate.
- High aim assistance aids hip-fire snaps.
This setup counters aggressive rushes, with Eye of the Storm rewarding clutch 1v1s. Alternatives like Kill Clip could work for chain kills, but utility perks edge out.
Crafting Guide: Unlocking Your Perfect Version
Weapon crafting revolutionized Destiny 2, and Smite of Merain benefits immensely. Step 1: Farm five red borders from War Priest. Step 2: Level the weapon at the Enclave to unlock the pattern. Step 3: Reshape with desired perks, including enhanced versions for superior performance.
- Extract patterns via Deepsight Resonance.
- Spend resources (Glacial, Enhancement Cores) for sockets.
- Test in-game; swap as meta shifts.
Harrowed Smite offers visual flair and mod slots, perfect for dungeon/raid flex.
Perk Pool Deep Dive
Smite’s pool is generous, supporting multiple archetypes:
- Add Clear: Demolitionist + One for All (damage after hitting three targets).
- Boss DPS: Focused Fury + Firefly (precision explosions).
- Ability Spam: Pugilist + Swashbuckler for melee loops.
Run & Gun or Outlaw enhance mobility/reloads. Avoid niche perks like Encore unless specced.
Comparisons and Tier Placement
Rated B-Tier overall, Smite competes with pulses like New Purpose or Rufus’s Fury but lacks top meta slots. Kinetic slot versatility keeps it relevant, especially crafted. In King’s Fall, it synergizes with raid mods.
Common Builds and Playstyles
- Grenade Launcher Synergy: Demolitionist/Adrenaline for infinite loops.
- Melee Hunter: Pugilist/Swashbuckler on blade barrages.
- Precision DPS: Focused Fury/Frenzy for majors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Smite of Merain craftable?
Yes, after five Deepsight extractions from King’s Fall.
Best farm spot?
War Priest encounter for focused loot pool.
PvE or PvP stronger?
Leans PvE for ability synergy; solid B-Tier PvP.
Harrowed version worth it?
Yes, for cosmetics and endgame mods.
Meta alternatives?
New Purpose, Shayura’s Wrath for similar roles.
References
- Smite of Merain Boost in Destiny 2 (Red Border/God Roll) — Gamingcy. 2024. https://gamingcy.com/en-us/product/smite-of-merain
- Smite of Merain (Harrowed) God Roll for PvE & PvP, Stats — Mobalytics. 2024. https://mobalytics.gg/destiny-2/weapons/legendary/3407395594-smite-of-merain-harrowed
- How to Get The Smite of Merain (& God Roll) in Destiny 2 — ScreenRant. 2024. https://screenrant.com/smite-of-merain-god-roll-pulse-rifle-destiny-2/

