What is the Dark Ether Reaper origin trait in Destiny 2?

Weapon traits in Destiny 2 can make or break a weapon depending on their strength. Take the origin trait of the Pale Heart weapons for example, which causes final blows to generate Super energy. Running them in all three slots gives some crazy super generation, while weapons like The Call and No Hesitation are excellent in their own right.

Episode: Revenant brings a new origin trait that’s mentioned in a handful of seasonal artifact mods, but isn’t fully explained. Here’s what the Dark Ether Reaper origin trait is in Destiny 2, and how you can best use it.

What does the Dark Ether Reaper trait do in Destiny 2?

The Dark Ether Reaper origin trait is a trait exclusive to new weapons added with Episode: Revenant. These weapons, like the new armor, are available from Season Pass rewards, Revenant Engrams, and Episode: Revenant activities. The last two go hand in hand since additional engrams can be earned from playing activities. The trait itself causes final blows with those weapons to spawn Dark Ether charges. These can be detonated early by shooting them or running into them. Doing so refills your weapon from reserves.

This trait is reminiscent of Warmind Cells from long ago in Destiny’s history. They’re very good for primary ammo weapons since you won’t have to reload your weapons too often while damaging nearby foes. However, Special and Heavy ammo weapons can benefit from these bonuses. too.

Which seasonal mods affect these weapons?

A good handful of the seasonal mods give bonuses to Dark Ether Reaper weapons or gain bonuses while you wield them. The Dark Ether Reaper-related bonuses are as follows:

• Killing Breeze – Dark Ether Reaper weapon final blows cause you to build mobility faster.
• Enhanced Ether Generator – Dark Ether Reaper origin trait has a chance to spawn an extra Dark Ether charge. Weapons with the Dark Ether Reaper origin trait are overcharged when that modifier is active.
• Wind Chill – Rapid precision hits from Dark Ether Reaper weapons grant additional stacks of Frost Armor.
• Brain Freeze – Dark Ether Reaper weapons deal more damage to frozen combatants.
• Conductive Cosmic Crystal – Dark Ether Reaper weapons deal bonus damage to targets affected by Stasis debuffs.

Brain Freeze is most useful mod for a ton of Stasis builds, but other mods here can provide serious bonuses for using these weapons. If you’re going to use the weapons anyway, be sure to slap some of these on.