Bold Ending Hand Cannon: Is It Any GOOD?

Bold Ending Hand Cannon was welcomed as a new addition to the Final Shape expansion of Destiny 2.

With this review, I’ll examine the Bold Ending Hand Cannon’s gameplay experience and evaluate its performance in various PvP scenarios.

An Initial Disappointment

Initially, I felt a bit disappointed about the Bold Ending being a heavy burst weapon.

Honestly speaking, I had hoped for a different firing archetype. However, extensive use changed this impression significantly. Still, I found the Bold Ending quite enjoyable and believe it will be a decent weapon for players to pursue.

The God Roll and Perks

I tested a roll with Rapid Hit and Eye of the Storm, considering these potentially the best perks for this weapon. Other attributes included:

  • Steady Rounds
  • Full Bore
  • Reload Speed Masterwork

The gameplay revealed a notably sluggish reload speed, making the Reload Speed Masterwork somewhat justifiable. For optimal performance, I suggest aiming for the following

God roll:

  • Small Bore
  • Accurized Rounds
  • Rapid Hit
  • Eye of the Storm (or Moving Target, depending on personal play style)
    Range Masterwork

This setup maximizes the weapon’s potential, especially in terms of range—a crucial aspect for PvP.

PvE and PvP God Roll Recommendations

PvE Roll:

  • Small Bore
  • Flared Magwell
    Headstone
    Demolitionist
    Handling Masterwork

PvP Roll:

  • Hammer-Forged Rifling
  • Accurized Rounds
  • Keep Away
  • Eye of the Storm
  • Range Masterwork

These specific perks and masterworks optimize the weapon for different scenarios, ensuring it performs well in both PvE and PvP situations.

Comparison with Warden’s Law

The Bold Ending appears more consistent in PvP settings than the Warden’s Law, another hand cannon in the same archetype.

Its full craftability makes obtaining the perfect roll more accessible, although it requires engagement with Grand Master Nightfalls to get the desired perks.

Real-World Performance

Despite the suboptimal reload speed, the weapon proved effective in many engagements. I secured 44 defeats in one match on the map Javelin-4. Key observations include:

  • Efficient Two-Bursting: Good aim allows for reliable two-burst kills.
  • Challenges with Reload Speed: The weapon’s slow reload speed (rated at 26) requires players to adapt their playstyle.
  • Melee and Grenade Synergy: Powerful melee abilities and well-timed grenades complement the weapon well.

How to Get Bold Endings in Destiny 2

To acquire the Bold Ending Hand Cannon:

  1. Complete the Convalescence Quest Line after finishing The Final Shape campaign.
  2. Focus Engrams at the Lost City once you’ve added the Bold Ending to your collections.
  3. Craft your Bold Ending by acquiring red-bordered versions and extracting its pattern.

Personal Impressions

I grew increasingly fond of the Bold Ending as gameplay progressed.

Initially skeptical, they found the weapon more enjoyable and effective with each match, especially when landing shots accurately.

However, the slow reload speed remained a recurring limitation, impacting overall performance.

Strengths of Bold Endings

Let me tell you why I love the Bold Ending, and why you might too:

Unique Archetype:

  • You’ll find it’s one of the few Stasis Heavy Burst Hand Cannons in the game. I appreciate its rarity, and you might too.

Strong Perks:

  • When you land precision final blows with Headstone, you’ll spawn stasis crystals. I love how this synergizes with artifact mods and stasis abilities. We both benefit from the recent stasis rework, which doubles our shatter damage in PVE.
  • With Demolitionist, you gain grenade ability energy on kills, and I can reload the weapon instantly when I throw a grenade. You’ll find this perk is a game-changer for grenade-focused builds.

Artifact Synergy:

You can create devastating effects with mods like:

  • Creeping Chill: You’ll make slowed or frozen enemies explode with stasis energy when you defeat them.
  • Winning Hand: “Dealer’s Choice” weapon explosions deal solar damage, increasing area-of-effect potential.
  • Overcharged Armory: We get a 25% damage buff to our “Dealer’s Choice” weapons in activities with overcharged weapons.

PVE Excellence:

I paired Bold Ending with various stasis fragments and mods to create effective PVE builds, and you can too.

The Dealer’s Choice trait is a bonus for both of us, granting super energy on final blows. You can stack this benefit by using multiple “Dealer’s Choice” weapons in your loadout, just like I do.

Weakness of Bold Endings

While I love Bold Ending, you should consider its weakness:

  1. Slow Reload Speed:
    • I find the reload speed frustratingly slow. You’ll need perks like Rapid Hit or Loose Change to mitigate this, or it might affect your efficiency as much as it does mine.
  2. Double-Edged Perks in PVP:
    • Air Trigger increases my reload speed and airborne accuracy, but you’ll notice it decreases target acquisition. I find this detrimental in PVP, and you might too.
    • To The Pain sounds good on paper – we get increased handling and aim assist when taking damage. But I’ve found its benefit only lasts until I stow the weapon or die, limiting its effectiveness. You might experience the same frustration.
  3. Situational Performance:
    • I’ve realized perks like Air Trigger and To The Pain have very niche applications. You might also find them less desirable in broader contexts.
    • The hand cannon’s unique heavy burst nature doesn’t feel as fluid to me in PVP. You might prefer a different archetype for smoother gameplay.
  4. Dragonfly and Headstone Synergy Limitation:
    • I was disappointed to find that Dragonfly’s explosion damage doesn’t shatter the stasis crystals created by Headstone. This reduces the potential combined effectiveness you might have hoped for.
  5. PVP Effectiveness:
    • Compared to Warden’s Law and other archetypes, I don’t feel as strong or reliable with Bold Ending in PVP. You might prefer a 120 RPM hand cannon for better performance in competitive play, just like I do.”

Final Thoughts

The Bold Ending Hand Cannon stands as a promising addition to Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion.

While it may not reach top-tier meta status, it offers a fun and rewarding experience for PvP enthusiasts. My 44 defeats in one PvP match showcase its potential when paired with the right perks and playstyle.

Players looking for a new hand cannon to master should try the Bold Ending, regardless of whether you use a mouse and keyboard or controller. Its craftability, versatility, and enjoyable gameplay make it a worthy pursuit in Destiny 2’s ever-evolving landscape.