How Destiny 2’s new DPS perk beats Bait & Switch if you use it right

Destiny 2 added a new DPS perk in Episode Heresy called Elemental Honing that is a meta option that beats Bait and Switch, but only if you use it correctly.

This perk is intriguing, as the way it works is that you gain a stack of Elemental Honing for each unique element used. Every time you deal damage with a new element, another stack is added up to a maximum of five stacks, and each stack refreshes the timer.

At max stacks, Elemental Weapons deal 35% more damage for 20 seconds, while Kinetic weapons deal 40% more damage. This means all you have to do is use a build that can reliably deal damage from five different elements and the best DPS in the sandbox is all yours.

For most subclasses, this isn’t practical, but Prismatic builds thrive when coupled with Elemental Honing. For example, an optimal DPS rotation on Prismatic Hunter would look something like this:

1. Use Threaded Spike (Strand, 1 stack)
2. Throw an Arcbolt Grenade (Arc, 2 stacks)
3. Activate Trancendence and throw a Hailfire Spike (Stasis & Solar, 4 stacks)
4. Use Shadowshot: Deadfall (Void, 5 stacks)
5. Switch to Elemental Honing weapon and fire for 20 seconds while buff is active.

Both Prismatic Titans and Warlocks can replicate this rotation with their own abilities. You can also substitute in weapons, so Arcbolt could be switched out for an Arc weapon, and Threaded Spike could be replaced by a Strand weapon.

Elemental Honing vs Bait & Switch

For Elemental Honing to see any actual use, it is going to have to beat Bait & Switch, which is currently the most popular DPS perk. Look up any top-tier Rocket Launcher, Linear Fusion Rifle, or Heavy GL, and this is what Guardians are typically using.

Thankfully, Elemental Honing outperforms Bait & Switch, at least on Prismatic builds. If you have access to a range of abilities that cover multiple elements, it makes Elemental Honing worthwhile, as you can earn max stacks in a matter of seconds.

Outside of Prismatic, this perk is a harder sell. Setting it up is a hassle, especially when Bait & Switch only requires you to shoot three guns and you’re done. You simply have to compromise too much when playing a regular subclass, making the benefits of Elemental Honing questionable at best.

Given this, Bait & Switch remains the meta DPS option for most builds, but Elemental Honing comes out on top with Prismatic. As for which perk is best for you, it depends on what subclass you prefer playing.