Patience and Time

Exotic #5: Patience and Time

As the 'other' sniper rifle in the exotic class of rarity, Patience and Time is often compared to the Ice Breaker, and could be considered its complete opposite. 

How to Obtain:

   Reward from Legendary Engram

   Reward from Nightfall Strike

   Reward from Raid Chests

Patience and Time is an Arc-based sniper rifle boasting high stats in the Stability and Rate of Fire departments. In this instance, it's quite the different weapon compared to the Ice Breaker, as while the Fire Rate is high, and the recoil is low, the Impact suffers compared to its counterpart. However, Arc elemental damage is a highly useful type that allows you to take on two extremely frustrating enemies, especially at higher levels: shielded variants of Axis Harpies, and Captains. The recoil is, while still fairly noticeable during testing, extremely low and very manageable, allowing controlled and precise fire on a single target. The reload speed is also above average, and while the 4 shot magazine is disappointing, you may receive an upgrade that allows for an extended magazine. 

Obviously, the weapon's titular upgrade, 'Patience and Time,' is the main selling point of the weapon. Once you realise what that upgrade does, which is providing a cloak for you while scoped in, you feel a desperate urge to unlock it. In my head, I imagined an unstoppable machine that enabled a constant cloak that only ever dissipated while reloading. However, the Cloak function operates identically to the Hunter's Bladedancer crouching mechanic. After crouching for three seconds, you cloak activate for ten seconds, unless you either shoot or break ADS. This does feel a little stunted, as it essentially means that you only have the freedom to line up one perfect shot, and not unlimited time in which to do it in. However, after spending more time with the gun, and becoming used to its function, you realise what a valuable tactical tool it is. Provided you take your time with it (clue's in the name), the cloak actually allows you to set up a barrage of shots due to the stagger, scout an area, and prevent flinch effects when first firing. While not actually turning you into an army-slaying, invisible beast, it is a very effective tool.

However, the power, combined with the lack of magazine size, unless you're lucky enough to receive the extended mag upgrade, means that it doesn't deal enough damage with the limited ammunition available at its disposal. Where I to make a recommendation, I would, despite the Ice Breaker's many advantages, still take Patience and Time over it - mostly due to the awesome factor that comes with the cloak. 

Practicality: 7/10

Abilities: 10/10

Stats: 8/10

Ossim Possim: 10/10

The Ice Breaker

Exotic #1: Ice Breaker

As a weapon that was recently for sale, I feel as if the Ice Breaker, as a highly valuable exotic special weapon, is well worth a post. 

How to Obtain:
   Purchase from Xur, 17 Strange Coins.
   Reward from Legendary Engram
   Reward from Nightfall Strike
   Reward from Raid Chests

Even without its abilities, the gun's stats by themselves render it a valuable addition to your armory. Impact-heavy snipers are fairly rare to come by. Not to mention that fire is a versatile element that allows you to effectively combat Wizards, the bane of Guardians at higher levels, Centurions, and Shanks. While the weapon's recoil is fairly significant, its sheer power more than makes up for it. 

Its abilities are also unique and quite possibly among the best. The Ice Breaker does not suffer from spare ammunition and the curse of having magazines/reloading, something I thought they would have solved a few hundred years in the future. However, the Ice Breaker stands apart from the crowd in that its ammo regenerates. Neither Ammo Synths nor Special Ammo pickups make any difference, and while this may be an inconvenience in times of emergency, at most times, the constantly regenerating ammo, that stacks up to 6 shots, that can be fired as fast as the fire rate allows, is a blessing. It allows you to take on any bosses in a strike without concern of ammo; your primary, heavy, grenades and super can all be used to take on minor enemies while you use your ice breaker to hammer away at bosses' health. The ammo regen rate could be considered slow, but if you have patience, or even occasionally switch to a primary or heavy while the ammo regenerates, then it's barely noticeable. Provided you aren't just pulling the trigger all the time, with properly aimed shots, you can fire roughly nine times, not 6, before having to wait some time. 

What is unfortunate is that the Ice Breaker's main ability, that makes its 'victims spontaneously combust,' is a huge disappointment. Not only does the explosion have no noticeable or worthwhile visual effect, but it has a very small blast radius. Also, it plays against the weapon's strengths. This is a weapon best for focusing on individual, high value targets, that usually require a fireteam's concentrated fire to take down. 

Despite its main ability, both Mulligan (missed shots have a chance to be returned to the magazine) and its ammunition regen, combined with the gun's element and very high Impact stat, make the Ice Breaker an essential addition to your Guardian's armoury. 

Practicality: 9/10

Abilities: 8/10

Stats: 9/10

Ossim Possim: 9/10