Trials of Osiris represents competitive Destiny 2 at its most demanding. You need mechanical skill, game sense, and builds that actually work under pressure. Edge of Fate changed everything about stats, Exotic armor, and weapon effectiveness, so knowing which builds perform when it matters most has become more important than ever.
This guide covers the most effective PvP builds for Hunter, Warlock, and Titan classes. We'll break down stat distributions, Exotic armor choices, weapon recommendations, and gameplay strategies that work in real matches. If you're looking to improve your Trials performance or want competitive advantages that make a difference, these builds will help you win more rounds.
Understanding the New Stat System
Health vs Recovery Changes
Edge of Fate completely rewrote how Health regeneration works. The old Recovery system got replaced with a Health stat that behaves very differently:
- 150 Health stat equals the old 100 Recovery from previous seasons
- Anything above 150 Health gives extremely fast regeneration with no breaks in the healing process
- The sweet spot is 150-180 Health because higher values (190-200) actually start slowing down again
- Most players can't realistically hit stats above 180 without giving up other important stats
Super Stat Priority
Super generation got much slower across all classes without any Super stat investment:
- 100 Super is now noticeably faster than the old 100 Super
- You need at least 80-90 Super to get your Super consistently in Trials matches
- 100 Super is strongly recommended for reliable Super generation
Hunter Builds
Invisible Assassin (Void Hunter + Dragon's Shadow)
Playstyle: Stealth-based flanking with superior weapon handling
Subclass Setup
- Super: Spectral Blades
- Class Ability: Gamblers Dodge
- Jump: Strafe Jump
- Melee: Snare Bomb
- Grenade: Scatter Grenade
Reloads equipped weapon from reserves, temporarily boosts all passive benefits, grants improved movement speed, and increases Class Ability stat.
Weapon Loadout
| Weapon Type | Recommended Options | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | 120/140 Hand Cannons, Igneous Hammer | Benefits from handling buffs |
| Secondary | Chaperone, Fusion Rifles | Feels amazing with stability improvements |
| Heavy | Tomorrow's Answer | Safest 3v3 option |
- Use invisibility for repositioning rather than direct engagement
- Capitalize on Dragon's Shadow's handling for quick weapon swaps
- Dodge frequently to maintain buffs and reload weapons
- Exploit flanking routes that capitalize on extended invisibility
- Pair invisibility with aggressive pushes when enemies are distracted
Solar Gunslinger (Solar Hunter + Stompees)
Playstyle: High-mobility aggressive gameplay with throwing knife precision
Stasis Precision (Stasis Hunter + Mask of Bakris)
Playstyle: Precision-based gameplay with Stasis control effects
Kill with Stasis mode enables two-tap with Arc mode. Master mode switching for optimal damage output.
Warlock Builds
Solar Support Specialist (Solar Warlock + Boots of the Assembler)
Playstyle: Team support with improved weapon damage through Noble Rounds
You can't hipfire Lumina due to Noble Round mechanics, requiring ADS in close-quarters situations.
Balanced Solar Warlock
Class Ability Efficiency: 70 Class vs 100 Class shows only a few seconds difference in rift cooldown. Put points elsewhere unless you're rift-focused.
Grenade Timing Research: 90 Discipline vs 100 Discipline shows identical 30-second Firebolt cooldown. Use 90 Discipline if possible.
| Weapon Category | Weapon Stat Benefit | Investment Priority |
|---|---|---|
| 120/140 Hand Cannons | Minimal | Low |
| 390 RPM Pulses | Substantial (two-burst potential) | High |
| 180 Hand Cannons | Three-tap consistency | Medium |
| Golden Tricorn Builds | 103 Weapons enables two-tap | Very High |
Strand Warlock (Prismatic Warlock + The Swarmers)
Playstyle: Debuff-focused gameplay with threadling army
Strand weapon that benefits from artifact perks with consistent severing application and amplified effects.
- Maintain Woven Mail for stat bonuses through Tightly Woven
- Collect Tangles frequently for ability energy via Refresh Threads
- Use Strand damage to destroy Tangles for bigger explosions
- Exploit Elemental Overdrive for Strand weapon damage bonuses
Titan Builds
Auto Rifle Specialist (Sentinel Titan + Actium War Rig)
Playstyle: Sustained damage with improved Auto Rifle performance
Advanced Stat Tips
Health Regeneration Benchmarks
| Health Stat | Regeneration Time | Comparison to Old Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| 150 Health | 6 seconds | Equivalent to old 100 Recovery |
| 180 Health | 5 seconds | Sweet spot - no interruption breaks |
| 190-200 Health | 5+ seconds | Begins slowing down again |
Weapons and Equipment Analysis
Hand Cannon Meta
120 Hand Cannons: Minimal Weapon stat benefit from investment. Prioritize perks and base stats rather than character Weapons stat. Great with handling Exotics like Dragon's Shadow.
140 Hand Cannons: Similar to 120s in Weapons stat scaling. Lumina exception: Noble Rounds provide major damage bonus. General recommendation: Put points into other stats.
150 Hand Cannons: Graviton Spike specific mechanics warrant consideration. Mode switching required for optimal performance. May benefit from moderate Weapons stat investment.
Special Weapon Considerations
| Weapon Type | Dragon's Shadow Synergy | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Shotguns | Excellent | Substantial handling improvements, Chaperone particularly effective |
| Fusion Rifles | Good | Notable stability benefits, valuable for quick-swap gameplay |
| Sniper Rifles | Good | Handling required for competitive play, benefits from targeting mods |
Heavy Weapon Strategy
- Tomorrow's Answer: Safest Rocket Launcher option
- Commemoration: Situational Machine Gun choice
- Avoid risky heavy weapons that require extended exposure
- Broader heavy weapon viability
- Area denial weapons more effective
- Sustained damage options viable
Armor Mod Tips
Universal Mod Recommendations
| Armor Piece | Priority Mods | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Targeting mods, Flight Compensator | Primary weapon accuracy, airborne effectiveness |
| Arms | Dexterity mods, Fastball | Weapon swap speed, grenade accuracy |
| Chest | Unflinching mods, Resistance mods | Flinch reduction, damage resistance |
| Legs | Better Already, Recuperation | Orb-based healing and ability energy |
| Class Item | Distribution, Bomber/Outreach | Ability energy near enemies, cooldown reduction |
Gameplay Strategies by Build Type
Invisibility-Based Gameplay (Void Hunter)
- Use invisibility for repositioning rather than direct engagement
- Flank when enemies are distracted by teammates
- Exploit extended invisibility for deep positioning
- Avoid predictable routes that enemies can anticipate
- Strike when enemies are weak from teammate damage
- Use smoke bombs defensively to break enemy sightlines
- Coordinate with team pushes for maximum effectiveness
- Retreat and reset when detected
Support-Focused Gameplay (Solar Warlock)
Optimal Support Rotation
Stay close to teammates for Noble Round effectiveness, use rifts aggressively with fast regeneration, and coordinate buff timing with team engagements.
Aggressive Mobility Gameplay (Solar Hunter)
- Use Stompees for vertical advantage in engagements
- Combine throwing knives with primary weapon damage
- Exploit Radiant damage for improved time-to-kill
- Maintain knife availability through dodge mechanics
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stat Distribution Errors
Over-investing in Weapon Stats: Most weapons receive minimal benefit from character Weapons stats. Health and Super stats provide more consistent value.
Ignoring Super Generation: Super cooldowns increased substantially in current meta. 100 Super provides major improvement over lower values.
Health Stat Misconceptions: Values above 180 begin to have diminishing returns. 150 minimum provides major improvement over lower values.
Build-Specific Mistakes
| Build Type | Common Mistakes | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon's Shadow Users | Not capitalizing on handling benefits, failing to dodge frequently | Dodge frequently for buff uptime, focus on positioning over invisibility |
| Support Warlock Players | Placing rifts defensively, not staying close for Noble Rounds | Place rifts aggressively, communicate buff timing with teammates |
| Strand Warlock Users | Not using Class Ability enough, ignoring artifact synergies | Frequent Class Ability use for Slice, pick up orbs for unraveling rounds |
Advanced Techniques
Weapon Swapping Tips
Primary weapons for consistent damage, special weapons for burst damage with buffs, heavy weapons benefit from handling improvements.
Ability Energy Management
- Position near enemies when using Class Abilities
- Combine with other energy mods for rapid regeneration
- Prioritize high-traffic areas for maximum effect
- Use Reaper mod after Class Abilities for consistent orbs
- Coordinate with teammates for mutual orb benefits
- Pick up orbs immediately for buff activation
Team Coordination
Communication Priorities
| Communication Type | Information to Share | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Buff Availability | Radiant, Noble Rounds, overshields | Before engagements |
| Ability Cooldowns | Super, grenades, class abilities | During planning phase |
| Positioning Calls | Support placement, flanking routes | Continuous |
| Enemy Status | Debuff status, health levels | Real-time during fights |
Positioning Coordination
- Support players stay close to team
- Flankers communicate timing with team pushes
- Super usage coordinate for maximum impact
- Defensive abilities coordinate with team retreats
- Cover fire during repositioning
- Safe revival positioning
Conclusion
Edge of Fate fundamentally changed Destiny 2's PvP landscape, requiring players to adapt their builds and strategies for improved performance. These builds provide strong foundations for success in Trials of Osiris, but remember that personal playstyle and team composition should influence your final choices.
- Prioritize Health stats between 150-180 for optimal regeneration
- Invest heavily in Super generation (100 recommended, 80+ minimum)
- Choose Exotic armor that complements your preferred engagement style
- Prioritize ability synergies rather than raw Weapons stats for most builds
These configurations will give you competitive advantages in the Crucible. Practice with each build to understand its nuances, and don't hesitate to make minor adjustments based on your personal preferences and team needs.
The most important factor in Trials success remains consistent practice and team coordination, but having the right builds ensures you're competing on even footing with other dedicated players.