Intro to Destiny Rising Best Wolf Build

Wolf is a Solar Offense character in Destiny: Rising, specializing in aggressive combat and high burst damage. This guide covers the best builds, weapons, and artifacts to maximize Wolf’s potential in both PvP and PvE, along with recommended alternatives if you don’t have his optimal setup. You’ll also find tips on choosing the best teammates to complement his playstyle, whether you’re focusing on raw damage, survivability, or balanced team compositions.

PVP Offense

Recommended Weapons

Primary WeaponHeavy Weapon
Sworn Oath
Royal Contravene

Recommended Artifacts

Slot 1
Ring of AbundanceSlot 2
Inverted TenacitySlot 3
Ring of MoraleSlot 4
Ring of Reflection

Wolf is a powerful character overall, but experienced opponents can find ways to counter their melee-focused Super and Signature 2. Because of this, it’s important to boost Wolf’s defenses while equipping reliable, easy-to-use weapons that ensure consistent performance.

That said, skilled melee players can still take advantage of Wolf’s kit—his Super and Signature 2 naturally pull him into close combat, creating opportunities to outmaneuver and outplay enemies in the thick of battle.

PVE Offense

Primary WeaponHeavy Weapon
Sworn Oath
Satiyaaliksni Smart Bomb Slot 1
Nimble VeilSlot 2
Healing VeilSlot 3
Courageous PlanetesimalSlot 4
Valiant Veil

Wolf’s PvE build centers around using their Signature 2 to tear through groups of enemies with ease. However, since Wolf is comparatively weaker against bosses, it’s best to pair them with an ally who can handle high single-target damage and finish off tougher foes.

PvP Weapons

Primary Heavy

Recommended


Sworn OathA well-rounded weapon that’s simple and reliable to use.

Avoid reloading too soon to take advantage of the bonus damage in the second half of the magazine.

Lacks any significant drawbacks, but also doesn’t offer a standout strength.

Alternative


Sweet BusinessHuge magazine and Intrinsic Trait reduce the need for frequent reloading.

Can shred enemies once the Rate of Fire ramps up.

Aside from damage and magazine size, other stats feel weaker until the weapon is fully spun up.

Recommended


Satiyaaliksni Smart BombCommonly upgraded since it’s a free Exotic that Wolf relies on during story quests.

Gains a free Catalyst upgrade through the main story.

Holding fire helps land shots more reliably against evasive enemies.

Alternative


HON1 Khanom KhrokA well-balanced weapon that’s simple and reliable to use.

The effective range boost doesn’t provide much value on grenade launchers.

Requires strong Traits to fully unlock its potential.

Depending on the skill level of your opponents, it’s often better to rely on weapons that are easy to handle and consistently effective. While Sweet Business can perform exceptionally well, its drawback is that you may be taken out before it fully spins up to reach maximum damage.

PvE Weapons

Primary Heavy

Recommended


Sworn OathA well-rounded weapon that’s simple and reliable to use.

Avoid reloading too soon to take advantage of the bonus damage in the second half of the magazine.

Lacks any significant drawbacks, but also doesn’t offer a standout strength.

Alternative


Sweet BusinessHuge magazine and Intrinsic Trait reduce the need for frequent reloading.

Can shred enemies once the Rate of Fire ramps up.

Aside from damage and magazine size, other stats feel weaker until the weapon is fully spun up.

Recommended


Satiyaaliksni Smart BombCommonly upgraded since it’s a free Exotic that Wolf relies on during story quests.

Gains a free Catalyst upgrade through the main story.

Holding fire helps land shots more reliably against evasive enemies.

Alternative


HON1 Khanom KhrokA well-balanced weapon that’s simple and reliable to use.

The effective range boost doesn’t provide much value on grenade launchers.

Requires strong Traits to fully unlock its potential.

Although Wolf primarily excels as a melee-focused caster, they still have access to several strong PvE weapon options. Sworn Oath serves as a reliable all-around choice, while Smart Bomb stands out as a free weapon that’s great for clearing groups of enemies.

If you prefer, you can swap your Exotic slot for Sweet Business, but Smart Bomb is generally recommended since it’s available to all players and provides consistent value.

PvP Artifacts

Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3 Slot 4

Best Artifact


Ring of AbundanceIncreased overshields and boosted healing make the user significantly tankier.

Anti-heal effects are less of a concern as long as overshields are maintained.

Best to focus on overshields, since healing becomes less impactful when they can be gained consistently.

Alternate Options


Nimble VeilGreat for speedrunning and bypassing enemy mobs.

Requires careful cooldown management since the effect only lasts 3 seconds.

The added damage reduction is always a valuable bonus.
Healing RadiationExcellent for melee-focused characters who benefit from extra healing.

Becomes more effective when paired with teammates that apply multiple debuffs.

Can be countered by enemies or characters that block healing effects.

Best Artifact


Inverted TenacityServes as a strong emergency option when your HP drops too low.

Gives Supports more time and leeway to heal you.

Dropping below 38% HP is already dangerous, so it’s best not to rely on being in that range.

Alternate Options


Healing VeilA reliable way to sustain the user and keep them safe.

Needs good cooldown management to maintain effectiveness.

Can be countered by crowd control or anti-heal effects.

Best Artifact


Ring of MoraleEncourages a balanced playstyle between offense and defense.

Proper cooldown management is key to getting the most out of it.

Performs even better when paired with allies who can provide overshields.

Alternate Options


Courageous PlanetesimalExcellent for buff casters who frequently spam abilities.

Proper cooldown management is crucial to maximize its value.

Use non-damaging or weaker abilities first if the buff isn’t active to get the most out of it.
Bellicose RadiationValuable in situations where you’re constantly under damage-over-time effects.

Works best when triggered by a weak DoT for safer activation.

Less effective in PvE since a strong team can often prevent DoT effects altogether.

Best Artifact


Ring of ReflectionProvides a damage boost while supporting a more defensive playstyle.

Becomes stronger when both the user and allies can consistently generate overshields.

Aim to maintain an overshield-to-HP ratio between 36–100% to maximize the damage bonus.

Alternate Options


Valiant VeilA reliable damage buff that’s always valuable to have.

Needs good cooldown management to maintain effectiveness.

Effective whether the movement ability is used offensively or defensively.
Rampaging RadiationEncourages a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.
Demands careful cooldown management to avoid excessive HP loss.

Works best with builds or teammates that can provide strong support, since sacrificing HP is always dangerous.

PvE Artifacts

Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3 Slot 4

Best Artifact


Nimble VeilGreat for speedrunning or bypassing groups of enemies.

Demands precise cooldown management since the effect only lasts 3 seconds.

The added damage reduction is always a welcome bonus.

Alternate Options


Ring of AbundanceIncreased overshields and boosted healing make the user much tankier.

Anti-heal effects are less threatening as long as overshields are maintained.

Best to focus on overshields, since constant access to them reduces the value of healing.
Healing RadiationExcellent for melee-focused characters who benefit from extra healing.

Scales in effectiveness when your team can apply multiple debuffs.

Can be countered by enemies or characters that block healing.

Best Artifact


Healing VeilA solid way to sustain the user and keep them safe.

Requires careful cooldown management to get the most out of it.

Vulnerable to counterplay from crowd control and anti-heal effects.

Alternate Options


Inverted TenacityA strong emergency tool when your HP drops too low.

Gives Supports more time to react and heal you.

Dropping below 38% HP is already dangerous, so it’s best not to rely on being in that range.
Resolute RadiationDamage reduction is always a valuable stat to have.

More effective in PvP, where debuffs are encountered more frequently.

Less impactful on teams that can reliably protect you and prevent debuffs from landing.

Best Artifact


Courageous PlanetesimalExcellent for casters who frequently spam abilities.

Needs proper cooldown management to get full value.

Use weaker or non-damaging abilities first if the buff isn’t active.

Alternate Options


Ring of MoraleEncourages a playstyle that balances both offense and defense.

Proper cooldown management is essential to maximize its effectiveness.

Performs even better when paired with allies who can provide overshields.
Bellicose RadiationValuable in situations where you’re constantly under damage-over-time effects.

Works best when triggered by a weak DoT for safer activation.

Less effective in PvE since a strong team can often prevent DoT effects altogether.

Best Artifact


Valiant VeilA reliable damage buff that’s always valuable.

Needs careful cooldown management to get the most benefit.

Effective whether the movement ability is used for offense or defense.

Alternate Options


Ring of ReflectionProvides a damage boost while supporting a more defense-oriented playstyle.

Becomes stronger when both the user and allies can consistently generate overshields.

Maintain an overshield-to-HP ratio of 36–100% to maximize the damage bonus.
Rampaging RadiationEncourages a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.
Demands careful cooldown management to avoid excessive HP loss.

Works best with builds or teammates that can provide strong support, since sacrificing HP is always dangerous.

In PvE modes, survivability isn’t as big of a concern when you’re backed by a strong team. Instead, the focus should be on maximizing your ability to clear mobs quickly. This setup revolves around Wolf’s Signature 2, so ensuring consistent resets is key to getting the most out of the build.

Recommended Teammates

PVP


FinnalaCan group enemies with her Signature 1, making it easier for Wolf to land attacks.

Standing near Wolf during Signature 2 helps reduce incoming gunfire damage.

Suffers from a melee weakness that skilled players can easily exploit.
IkoraCan group enemies together, making it easier for Wolf to land their attacks.

Provides steady AoE chip damage that helps Wolf secure Signature 2 resets.

In certain situations, she may fall short compared to generally stronger PvE characters like Tan-2 or Jolder.

These characters pair especially well with Wolf in PvP modes. Keep in mind, though, that their synergy is strongest when played alongside Wolf specifically—other characters may prove to be better teammates depending on your overall team composition.

PvE


Jolder


FinnalaCan dive in alongside Wolf and use Taunt to redirect enemy aggro.

Finnala’s Signature 2 and Jolder’s Super both help Wolf stay safer in fights.

Jolder is usually the stronger pick overall, as her Super provides more value to the entire team.
AttalCan heal Wolf more easily when they move quickly from target to target.

Able to Blind enemies, giving Wolf added safety while fighting in melee range.

Less effective than Tan-2 if Wolf focuses on a boss and stays in one place.
Ning FeiA strong diving partner who also prefers to engage aggressively.
Clones help redirect aggro away from Wolf, giving them more breathing room.
Can sometimes deal too much damage, preventing Wolf from getting Signature 2 resets if it’s cast on an already dying target.

These are some of the characters that pair well with Wolf in PvE game modes. Although, they may be less effective depending on the mission’s scenario, so make sure to check if they’ll be a generally good pick first.

Conclusion

Wolf is a powerful Solar melee caster who excels at cutting through groups of enemies with their Signature 2 and pressuring opponents in close combat. While they can be countered by skilled players and struggle against bosses without the right support, the right builds, weapons, artifacts, and teammates can make Wolf a dominant force in both PvE and PvP. With proper cooldown management and smart team synergy, Wolf becomes a versatile character capable of carrying fights and adapting to different game modes.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)

❓ Is Wolf better in PvE or PvP?

Wolf performs well in both, but shines more in PvE where their Signature 2 can clear waves of enemies quickly. In PvP, skilled opponents can counter their melee-focused kit.

❓ What are the best weapons for Wolf?

Sworn Oath is a reliable all-around option, while Smart Bomb is great for mob clearing. Sweet Business can also work, though it requires setup time.

❓ Which artifacts should I use with Wolf?

Focus on artifacts that boost survivability with overshields or enhance ability cooldowns to maximize Signature 2 resets.

❓ Who are the best teammates for Wolf?

Wolf pairs well with allies who can generate overshields, heal consistently, or group enemies together, making it easier to secure kills and resets.

❓ What is Wolf’s biggest weakness?

Wolf struggles against bosses and can be punished in PvP if their melee-focused abilities are predicted or countered.