Dead Man’s Tale is making a triumphant return in the Season of the Witch, and it’s better than ever. Introduced in season 13, this craftable Exotic has maintained its power and undergone some minor changes to its perk pool. What’s even better is that players now have the ability to customize the weapon to suit their playstyle, eliminating the reliance on RNG.
The secret to Dead Man’s Tale’s sheer firepower lies in its intrinsic perk, Cranial Spike, which rewards players with a multitude of benefits upon successfully landing precision hits. The available perks for this weapon reflect its innate power.
With its reissue in season 22, Dead Man’s Tale has gained a few new perks while bidding farewell to two old ones. Subsistence and Snapshot Sights are no longer available, but in their place, we now have Rapid Hit, Compulsive Reloader, and Shoot to Loot. Rapid Hit synergizes exceptionally well with Cranial Spike, doubling the benefits it provides.
In addition to these new perks, Dead Man’s Tale boasts an impressive selection of original choices that further enhance its effectiveness. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the Dead Man’s Tale god roll in Destiny 2.
Crafting the Perfect Dead Man’s Tale in Destiny 2
If it has been a while since you last wielded this remarkable weapon, you may notice a slight difference in its feel. The weapon has received several nerfs to reduce its dominance in the Crucible. However, fear not, as it still wields formidable power, especially if you have the right roll.
God rolls are typically a matter of personal preference and depend heavily on playstyle and activity. Our preferred use of Dead Man’s Tale leans towards PvE, but with the recent changes to leveling, having a second one for the Crucible wouldn’t be a bad idea. Here are our recommended god rolls for the crafted Dead Man’s Tale:
Dead Man’s Tale PvE god roll
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel or Arrowhead Brake
- Magazine: Flared Magwell or High-Caliber Rounds
- Perk: Vorpal Weapon
- Stock: Short-Action Stock
We opted for Arrowhead Barrel over Fluted Barrel for the additional handling, but both options have their merits. Smallbore and Corkscrew are also potential choices, offering a variety of benefits, but considering the weapon’s performance in other aspects, we felt they weren’t necessary. Ultimately, the decision lies with you and what you feel your weapon needs.
When it comes to the magazine, Flared Magwell is our preferred choice. With the nerfs to Cranial Spike and its reload speed increase seemingly gone, having a quicker base reload felt more useful than the extra flinch provided by High-Caliber Rounds. However, there’s certainly an argument in favor of the latter.
As for the perk, there is only one option for Dead Man’s Tale, and it has been a staple since its release: Vorpal Weapon. This perk grants you extra damage against Majors and Champions, which is precisely where Dead Man’s Tale excels. To us, the additional damage outweighs any other potential roll. That being said, alternatives such as Rapid Hit, Outlaw, and Fourth Time’s the Charm all have their value when it comes to sustained damage. Shoot to Loot offers some extra utility, especially with Orbs of Power, but we’d personally prioritize other perks.
To round out our Dead Man’s Tale PvE god roll, we recommend Short-Action Stock for improved handling, as we cannot directly impact reload speed. Stability is also helpful, particularly if you’re not accustomed to managing the weapon’s recoil, but we prefer the added handling.
Dead Man’s Tale PvP god roll
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel or Arrowhead Brake
- Magazine: High-Caliber Rounds
- Perk: Rapid Hit (Honorable mention: Moving Target)
- Stock: Short-Action Stock
Our PvP god roll is similar to the PvE version, with two notable differences. We prioritize handling and flinch over reload speed, and we suggest considering Rapid Hit and Moving Target as potential perks. Rapid Hit is our personal favorite, but Moving Target provides a slight boost to aim assist, helping you land your shots with precision.
The chosen parts are all geared towards improving handling, as Dead Man’s Tale doesn’t require a significant amount of range. The exception to this is High-Caliber Rounds, which we have chosen for its added flinch factor.
If you find yourself struggling to land shots and desire more stability, you may opt for Corkscrew Rifling and Hand-Laid Stock.
Remember, the perfect roll for you ultimately depends on your playstyle and preferences. Experiment with different combinations to discover what works best for you. With the right roll, Dead Man’s Tale will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in both PvE and PvP.
So revive this Exotic and craft the perfect Dead Man’s Tale to dominate your enemies in Destiny 2!
