The Skyburner’s Oath serves a useful niche in Destiny 2. It’s a fantastic Scout Rifle for dealing with Cabal enemies throughout the game. It can also punch holes in the riot shields the Cabal Phalanx enemies hold.
The Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst gives the weapon a helpful perk that makes it more useful in combat. It’s not necessarily a game-changer, but it will make using the weapon more forgiving. For players interested in the Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst and where to find it, here’s everything you need to know.
Updated on February 20, 2022, by Anastasia Maillot: The Skyburner's Oath has been somewhat laughed at by some players in Destiny 2, given how niche it is and how little use it sees in any game mode really. The only endgame activity it saw any use was the Proving Ground Grandmaster Nightfall, and even then, players were usually better off using something different than this Exotic scout rifle. However, with season 16 just around the corner, and a Cabal seasonal storyline at hand, there might be a time and place where the Skyburner's Oath and its catalyst will become relevant.
What It Does
The Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst provides a single benefit for the Scout Rifle:
- Increase range of the weapon to 30.
It’s a small thing and it’s important to keep in mind that damage is not increased in any way by this perk. That being said, having a more forgiving range is nice in a number of different fights. By and large, players familiar with the weapon pre-Catalyst will notice a bump in damage as enemies on the edge of the previous range are now well within range thanks to the Skyburner’s Catalyst.
Where To Find It
Player’s can find the Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst by finishing Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit matches. It’s a random rare drop so players should expect a decent grind before they’ll find it. It does seem that fighting at higher tier difficulties helps, though players should farm whatever they can complete quickly.
There doesn’t seem to be any way to increase the drop rate. Like many Catalysts, it's simply a matter of farming matches until it appears. Using this Scout Rifle in PVE might be the most efficient method of grinding for this Catalyst.
Upgrading
Once the player obtains the Skyburner’s Oath they’ll want to look into upgrading it. The Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst requires one thousand enemy Cabal kills using the Skyburner’s Oath. It’s important the player meets both criteria or it’ll be a waste of grinding time.
These kills can also be retroactive. If the player had any Cabal kills using the Skyburner’s Oath prior to obtaining the Catalyst they should apply once it’s acquired. One thousand enemies is still a lot, but it does help.
Tips
The best way to find Cabal enemies is through public events in the European Dead Zone. Other alternatives are Lost Sectors on Nessus. Whichever route players choose they’ll need to kill as many Cabal enemies as possible as each one counts towards the upgrade. A few other great places to get Cabal kills are any Cabal-related strikes, such as the Proving Grounds, Arms Dealer and Insight Terminus strikes. While on patrol, head over to locations like Nessus and the EDZ to find plenty of Cabal wandering around.
Fortunately, the Skyburner’s Oath is a fantastic weapon for dealing with Cabal enemies. Especially when facing a Phalanx. Players should become comfortable using this weapon for any Cabal-based event given its unique perks.
Those grinding before the end of Season 15 in these last few days can also load up Cabal battlegrounds, but as Season 16 starts, these battlegrounds are going to get vaulted.
Are The Skyburner's Oath And Its Catalyst Worth It?
Though Season of the Risen does include a Cabal storyline, the Cabal will actually reportedly be allies to the guardians helping to take back the light thanks to Caiatl's technology. This means that it's unlikely players will need to face Cabal enemies, but this isn't a certainty just yet.
In terms of the seasonal artifact, scout rifles in general are going to be key. They will receive an Anti-Barrier champion mod in the artifact, which means every player should have at least one good scout rifle. Is Skyburner's Oath the best choice? Definitely not, and its Catalyst is quite underwhelming, even when comparing its power to some legendary scout rifles. This is made worse by how many Cabal kills it takes to even upgrade the Catalyst after unlocking it.
In conclusion, the Skyburner's Oath and its difficult definitely isn't and shouldn't be a player's main concern going into the Season of the Risen.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen will release on February 22, 2022, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.