Refurbished A499 God Roll Guide - Destiny 2 Renegades

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Quick Reference

Understanding the Refurbished A499

The Refurbished A499 represents a significant addition to the Destiny 2 sandbox as part of the Renegades DLC. This Kinetic Disruption Sniper Rifle holds the distinction of being the first legendary Heavy sniper rifle in the game, introducing an entirely new archetype for players to explore.

While the weapon's perk pool is somewhat limited compared to other established options, the Heavy sniper archetype itself offers tremendous potential. The Refurbished A499 serves as an introduction to what this weapon type can accomplish, and even in this entry-level form, it performs remarkably well in endgame content.

Performance Analysis

PvE Performance (S-Tier)

The Refurbished A499 excels in PvE content, earning its S-Tier ranking through raw damage output and sustained DPS capability. Here's what the numbers look like:

This base DPS figure positions the Refurbished A499 competitively against many premier damage strategies in the game. For sustained, low-maintenance damage phases, this sniper rivals or outperforms other legendary DPS options. The weapon also opens up rotation possibilities with Izanagi's Burden, which has received buffs that make swap strategies more viable.

The primary limitation holding the Refurbished A499 back from absolute dominance is its relatively weak perk selection. Despite this constraint, the archetype's inherent power level allows the weapon to compete effectively in high-level PvE content.

PvP Performance (B-Tier)

In the Crucible, the Refurbished A499 occupies a niche role due to its Heavy ammo requirement. As a Heavy weapon, it doesn't fundamentally change the PvP sandbox or provide any groundbreaking advantages over other options. The weapon functions adequately when Heavy ammo is available, but the limited access to ammunition prevents it from being a primary strategy.

The Range stat on the Refurbished A499 is already sufficient to one-shot Guardians at most effective engagement distances, so building around Range isn't necessary. Instead, optimizing for handling and stability makes the weapon feel better to use during the brief windows when Heavy ammo is available.

Complete Perk Pool

The Refurbished A499 can roll with the following perk options:

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PvE God Roll Breakdown

Barrel and Magazine Selection

For PvE, the build philosophy centers on swap-DPS rotations rather than purely sustained damage. Arrowhead Brake provides solid handling improvements that benefit weapon swapping during damage phases. Flared Magwell improves reload speed for smoother sustained fire when needed.

If you prefer a sustained-fire playstyle where you simply fire continuously rather than rotating weapons, prioritize Reload Speed wherever possible in your barrel, magazine, and masterwork selections. This approach reduces downtime between shots and improves overall damage throughput.

For the swap-DPS rotation approach, Handling takes priority. Higher Handling stats enable faster weapon swaps, which directly translates to more damage during boss phases when you're rotating between multiple weapons.

Perk 1 Analysis

The first perk column offers limited standout options for PvE. Snapshot Sights emerges as the recommended choice primarily for quality of life benefits. The enhanced version of Snapshot Sights provides an additional 5 points of Stability, which helps with follow-up shots.

Perk 2 Analysis

The second perk column is where your damage potential lives, though options remain limited. Aggregate Charge stands as the primary recommendation because it offers a substantial damage buff to the weapon. The catch is that Aggregate Charge requires setup to activate, meaning you'll need to invest effort into building stacks before your damage phase.

Box Breathing represents an alternative if you want simpler sustained damage without setup requirements. However, Box Breathing actually reduces your potential DPS because it requires you to remain scoped and still, which inherently means firing fewer shots overall. This makes Aggregate Charge the superior choice despite its setup requirements.

PvP God Roll Breakdown

Barrel and Magazine Selection

PvP optimization for the Refurbished A499 focuses entirely on quality of life improvements. Since the weapon's base Range already ensures one-shot kills at relevant engagement distances, there's no need to invest in Range stats.

Instead, balance Handling and Stability to make the weapon feel responsive and accurate. Fluted Barrel provides Handling benefits for faster ADS and ready speed, while Steady Rounds contributes to Stability for easier follow-up shots if your first doesn't connect.

Perk 1 Analysis

Snapshot Sights remains the top recommendation for PvP, offering the same quality of life benefits as in PvE. The faster ADS speed helps you react to targets quickly, which is crucial in Crucible encounters. The enhanced version's bonus 5 Stability points also contribute to accuracy.

Lone Wolf serves as a solid alternative, particularly for players who aren't confident in landing their shots consistently. This perk provides bonuses when you're operating away from teammates, which can benefit certain playstyles.

Perk 2 Analysis

The second perk column offers little of relevance for PvP. Mulligan emerges as the only meaningful choice because it can occasionally refund ammunition when you miss a shot.

How to Obtain the Refurbished A499

The Refurbished A499 is available through multiple acquisition methods, all tied to the Renegades DLC content:

1. Renegades Campaign: The weapon can drop as a reward while progressing through the Renegades campaign. Simply playing through the story content gives you chances at obtaining the sniper.
2. Renegades Activities: Any activities within the Renegades destination can potentially reward the Refurbished A499. Engaging with the various gameplay offerings in this area provides ongoing opportunities to farm for your desired roll.
3. Fallen Faction Reputation: Within the Lawless Frontier, you can earn reputation with the Fallen faction. Upon reaching Rank 2 with this faction, the Refurbished A499 becomes available as an obtainable reward.

Alternative Weapons to Consider

If the Refurbished A499 doesn't fit your needs or you want options while farming for the perfect roll, consider these alternatives:

Future Outlook

The Refurbished A499 serves as the introduction to legendary Heavy snipers in Destiny 2. Even with its relatively modest perk pool, the weapon demonstrates how powerful this archetype can be. Future Heavy snipers with stronger perk options could potentially reshape the DPS meta entirely.

For now, the Refurbished A499 remains an excellent choice for PvE content and a functional option in PvP when Heavy ammo permits. Players exploring the Renegades content should prioritize obtaining a well-rolled version of this weapon to experience the Heavy sniper archetype firsthand.

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