History of Weapon perk

Weapon perks are the choices that change how a weapon plays. Each weapon has a set of perk columns; a random drop rolls perks into some of them, and a crafted weapon lets you pick them (see Weapon crafting). This page is the hub for the column types and links to the individual perk pages.

Perk columns

• Intrinsic / frame: the weapon's archetype, which sets its fire rate, handling and stat profile, for example Adaptive Frame or Precision Frame. Exotic weapons have a fixed intrinsic that is usually the weapon's signature mechanic.
• Barrel: range and scope adjustments (Shattered Vault lists this column as "Optics"). Examples are in Barrel.
• Magazine: ammo capacity, handling and stability. See Magazine.
• Two trait columns: the main combat perks, such as Rampage, Kill Clip, Outlaw and Subsistence. These are the columns most people mean by "perks".
• Origin trait: an innate bonus tied to the source activity or the weapon's manufacturer; see Origin Traits. Sources disagree on which weapons have one: Shattered Vault says weapons obtained before Season 16 have none, while the origin trait system itself was introduced with The Witch Queen.

Random rolls

A weapon from a drop rolls random perks into its trait columns, and sometimes its barrel and magazine. Which perks can roll on a weapon is shown in the "Rolls on" list of each perk page. Seasonal weapons can roll perks added in later updates, so older rolls may not match new ones.

Enhanced perks

Some perks have an enhanced version that does more. They are the last perks to unlock on a crafted weapon and cost more to reshape. Not every perk has one. See Enhanced perks.

Unlocking perks on crafted weapons

A crafted weapon starts with few options. Leveling it through kills and activities unlocks more frames and perks, and all of them are available by level 16. Enhancing needs Ascendant Alloys and Enhancement Prisms. The full process is in Weapon crafting.

Reading a "god roll"

There is no official definition. Shattered Vault says the feel of a weapon depends on the player, so testing is advised. Practical checks:

1. Match the activity. Check whether the perks suit PvE, PvP or both. Light.gg and Shattered Vault colour-code this: red border for PvP-rated perks, blue for PvE-rated, gold for good in both (as of the June 2026 perk list update).
2. Check the frame. The frame sets the weapon's role; the traits should support it.
3. Check community data. Light.gg lists user ratings and the weapons each perk appears on.
4. Check the origin trait against the activity you will use the weapon in.

Perk groupings on the official list were reorganised on June 10, 2026, so older guides may use different names or categories.

Sources

Perk naming and groupings are from the game's perk list as described by Shattered Vault (updated June 2026). Perk effects are on each linked perk page.