Not too long ago, Destiny 2 unveiled its season pass for the upcoming Season of the Undying, with one major reward being the next exotic hand cannon, Eriana's Vow. This new exotic is fan service in many ways, as many had been requesting a hand cannon that can effectively operate as a sniper rifle, and it seems this combination with be incredibly deadly, especially in Crucible.
To unlock Eriana's Vow, Destiny 2 players have two options. It is unlocked via purchase of the Season of the Undying, which comes with purchase of the Shadowkeep expansion, or it can be unlocked for free when players reach rank 35 of the season pass. Considering the massive amount of content coming with Shadowkeep, it seems more like it'll be the former, but the latter is a nice option for those who can't pick it up right away.
Eriana's Vow is basically a sniper-hand cannon combo that fires 90 rounds per minute, uses special ammo, and features a scope for precision hits. It comes with two perks: "Looks Can Kill" and "Death at First Glance." The former equips the Destiny 2 weapon with the aforementioned scope and pierces shields to deal direct damage, and the latter gives players about 45% bonus damage on the first shot.
This translates to a 2-shot kill with headshots, and with bonuses active, it can deal 108 damage to bodies and 164 damage to the head (other bonuses can increase this even further). YouTuber Datto recently uploaded a Shadowkeep SPOILER video (so those who want to remain fresh should skip the video) showcasing the new weapon, as well as the returning maps, Twilight Gap and Widow's Court, and a look at the new map, Fragment. Destiny 2 players interested in the weapon and uncaring of Crucible spoilers would do well to watch the video.
It's worth mentioning that this video is made on an older build of the game, but chances are, differences will be slight. Understandably, there does seem to be some balance with the fact that this weapon will be widely available, but that said, it looks like it is going to be a monster in PVP, at least in the opening weeks of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep.
Destiny 2's Shadowkeep expansion launches October 1 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.