Destiny: Hunter Class Guide – Gunslinger Subclass

The Hunter class focuses primarily on mobility and precision. In an intense battle, the Hunter is designed to pick a spot, fire off a few rounds, and move to a new location. This makes them very well mated with the Scout Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Rocket Launcher build. You never want to be caught in one place for very long as a Hunter.

Gunslinger Specifics

Each subclass has its own unique style, meaning that when you play different subclasses the feel of the character will change. This guide is set to focus on the Hunter’s Gunslinger subclass. The Gunslinger’s primary theme is accuracy over all else.  Try to build your Gunslinger to take advantage of that.

Attribute Points

Like most RPGs, Destiny also has attribute points, but they work slightly different. Attribute points are only acquired through equipping gear that has points on it. Below are the attribute points and how they affect the Gunslinger.

• Intellect: Reduces the cooldown time of Golden Gun, allowing you to use it more often.
• Discipline: Reduces the cooldown of grenades, allowing you to use them more often.
• Strength: reduces the cooldown of Throwing Knife, allowing you to use it more often.

Grenades

Here I’ll cover all three grenade tiers available to Gunslinger. To unlock higher tiers, you have to actively use your grenades. Whether it levels up based on kills with a grenade or just by use, I haven’t figured out yet. To use your grenades, push L1 or the left shoulder button depending on which system you’re using.

Incendiary Grenade

“An explosive grenade that catches enemies on fire, causing additional damage over time.” This is your basic grenade option, and is most effective when thrown in to large groups of enemies. This grenade comes in very handy during the Devil’s Lair mission.

Swarm Grenade

“A grenade which detonates on impact, releasing multiple drones that seek nearby enemies.” Another grenade that is good for using in large groups of enemies. This grenade is more useful as a deterrent when you’re moving to a new location, since it detonates on impact.

Tripmine Grenade

“An explosive grenade that sticks to surfaces and detonates when enemies pass through its laser trigger.” This grenade is best used for taking out waves of Hive Thralls or Fallen Stealth Vandals that are rushing towards you.

Jump

The Hunter’s Jump modifier is Double Jump. This is the same for both Gunslinger and Blade Dancer, where they differentiate is the upgrades. To jump, push X or A depending on the system you use. Jump modifiers are really more about personal preference than anything else.

Double Jump

“Jump a second time after leaving the ground.”  Allows for higher/farther jumps.

Better Control

“Upgrades Double Jump for better directional control while in the air.” This upgrade allows for more mobility when using Double Jump as an evasive tactic.

Triple Jump

“Upgrades Double Jump with a third jump.” This upgrade allows for covering more distance or sharper directional changes in the air by using the last jump in a different direction.

Higher Jump

“Upgrades Double Jump for even greater height.” For those jumps that you can just almost make.

Special

The Gunslinger’s special is Golden Gun. The upgrades are preference based for this option. To use your special, press L1 and R1 or the Xbox equivalent at the same time. 

Golden Gun

“Summon a flaming pistol which disintegrates enemies with Solar Light.” A high-powered, three-shot gun that doesn’t consume ammo.

Deadeye

“Significantly increases the accuracy of Golden Gun.” This comes in handy if you have a hard time hitting enemies while using Golden Gun. If you don’t seem to have any trouble, I’d recommend going with a different option once you unlock them.

Combustion

“Killing enemies with Golden Gun causes them to explode.” This option is good for shooting in to groups of enemies, dealing more overall damage at once than you would otherwise. 

Gunfighter

“Reduces the cooldown of Golden Gun, allowing it to be used more often.” This option is good if you tend to use Golden Gun whenever it’s available. Otherwise, it’s not very beneficial.

Melee Skill

The Gunslinger’s melee skill is Throwing Knife. To use this skill, press R1 or the Xbox equivalent just like you would for a basic melee attack when the icon is full.

Throwing Knife

“Throw a knife from a distance.” This allows you to deal more damage in one hit than a normal melee attack would do. It’s also useful for weakening/killing an enemy while moving to a new location.

Circle of Life

“Killing an enemy with Throwing Knife while Golden Gun is active extends the duration of Golden Gun.” This upgrade also boosts your Gunslinger’s base Armor stat. If you’re consistent with your Golden Gun uses I’d recommend giving this upgrade a shot.

Incendiary Blade

“Throwing Knife catches enemies on fire, dealing additional damage over time.” This is good if you tend to save Throwing Knife for enemies that can’t be killed in one hit, allowing you to do more damage than normal.

Knife Juggler

“Precision kills with Throwing Knife immediately resets its cooldown.” If you’re good at getting precision kills with the Throwing Knife, this is the best option of the three.

Bonuses

There are four bonus trees with different options for different playstyles. It seems you’re only allowed to have one bonus in each tree. Below I’ve listed the bonuses based on their tree.

Path

The first tree is your Path bonus. There are three options.

• Path Forgotten: Raises base Armor and Agility.
• Path Forbidden: Raises base Recovery and Agility.
• Path Unknown: Raises base Armor and Recover.

Boosts

This tree doesn’t have a specific title or theme. Each option is completely unique.

• Scavenger: Picking up ammo reduces the cooldown of your grenade and Throwing Knife.
• Keyhole: Golden Gun overpenetrates and can damage multiple targets.
• Gunslinger’s Trance: Precision kills increase weapon stability. Stacks up to three times.

Way

The third tree is your “Way of the …” option. These are more specialised boosts to your base stats.

• Way of the Drifter: Minor increases to Armor, Recovery, and Agility.
• Way of the Fearless: Massive increase to Armor.
• Way of the Nomad: Massive increase to Recovery, with a minor increase to Agility.

Miscellaneous

These bonuses all seem to be independent of each other. Unlike the other three trees, this tree isn’t started by obtaining a certain level. This tree appears to be unlocked by reaching a certain number of Precision Kills,

• Chain of Woe: Precision kills increases weapon reload speed. Stacks up to three times.
• Over the Horizon: Increases the range of Golden Gun.
• Gambler’s Dagger: Gain an additional Throwing Knife.

That wraps up the Gunslinger specific details and recommendations guide. Please look forward to the Bladedancer, as well as both Titan and Warlock subclass breakdowns coming soon.