Keen Thistle god roll & best perks

pandapaxxy (PvE / M+KB / Controller): "While this isn't the best PvE sniper, you can still find niche uses with Triple Tap and Vorpal Weapon, or Bait and Switch. It's not the best because this archetype isn't the meta, but it's high damage means each shot will certainly count." Recommended MW: Reload Speed.

Strong alternatives

Arrowhead Brake Appended Mag Bait and Switch Triple Tap Fourth Time's the Charm Envious Arsenal Tactical Mag Vorpal Weapon Extended Mag Fluted Barrel Corkscrew Rifling

pandapaxxy (PvP / M+KB / Controller): "Keen Thistle does have some great options for becoming your next sniper. Snapshot and Opening Shot or Moving Target are both good tried and true options. Closing Time is the best option for if you don't get ammo often as it requires you to be at 1 ammo, or 2 with a magazine boosting perk. Slickdraw is my favorite sniper perk because it forces you to be a little more accurate but gives you all the benefits of old Quickdraw. I understand the community is divided on Slickdraw." Recommended MW: Handling.

Essential perks

Accurized Rounds

Strong alternatives

Snapshot Sights Closing Time Fluted Barrel Opening Shot Moving Target Lone Wolf Slickdraw Corkscrew Rifling Smallbore

Inspired by @PodvsEnemies episode 133 from 11 March 2025 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/49VFDRj05iDXTJDOBqQpga?si=e61731a19fb64938) with @CourtProjects, @Saint_Kabr and @ImpetusAlways (PvE PvE-Boss PvE-BossSpec M+KB Controller): Backup PvE pick for sustained damage against bosses in both general at-level or better, and end-game underlevelled content. First thing to say is that Keen Thistle, while a decent sniper rifle, is an aggressive frame and so not currently a meta pick for DPS. At base, the stats are good by comparison with its peers - 77 Range and 35 Zoom (so a much more open sight than usual), 31 Stability is ×1.1124 flinch resist at 100 Resilience, 31 Handling is 0.43s ready, 0.44s ADS and 0.37s stow speed, 33 Reload Speed is a 3.15s reload, Recoil Direction is 75, and base magazine size is 3 (max 5). With 0/1/2/3 reserves mods, total ammo is 24/26/27/27 (max 27). Use the barrel perk to improve Handling, and then the magazine perk to increase magazine size to the max of 5 with Backup Mag. If you do want to keep a roll for boss damage, in case of a future buff, then the combination of Envious Arsenal (when enhanced, that counts as a extra reserve mod too) and Bait and Switch, as part of a weapon rotation, refills all your weapons and boosts damage by ×1.3 for 10s (11s with enhanced B+S), or Vorpal Weapon for an always-on ×1.15 damage against Majors and Bosses. The reworked Skulking Wolf origin trait can be useful in PvE, making enemies less accurate when firing at you for 10s after getting a kill while at low health, or if you're soloing content, Alacrity provides excellent gunfeel boosts: +20 to Range and Stability, +50 to Reload Speed and +10 to Aim Assist. Recommended MW: Handling with a Backup Mag mod. Also, don't forget to check whether there's a useful Seasonal Fragile mod for the activity you're running.|tags:PvE PvE-Boss PvE-BossSpec M+KB Controller

Essential perks

Envious Arsenal

Strong alternatives

Appended Mag Fluted Barrel Bait and Switch Vorpal Weapon Extended Mag Arrowhead Brake Corkscrew Rifling

Inspired by @PodvsEnemies episode 133 from 11 March 2025 (https://open.spotify.com/episode/49VFDRj05iDXTJDOBqQpga?si=e61731a19fb64938) with @CourtProjects, @Saint_Kabr and @ImpetusAlways (PvE PvE-Boss PvE-BossSpec M+KB Controller): Backup PvE pick for sustained damage against bosses in both general at-level or better, and end-game underlevelled content. First thing to say is that Keen Thistle, while a decent sniper rifle, is an aggressive frame and so not currently a meta pick for DPS. At base, the stats are good by comparison with its peers - 77 Range and 35 Zoom (so a much more open sight than usual), 31 Stability is ×1.1124 flinch resist at 100 Resilience, 31 Handling is 0.43s ready, 0.44s ADS and 0.37s stow speed, 33 Reload Speed is a 3.15s reload, Recoil Direction is 75, and base magazine size is 3 (max 5). With 0/1/2/3 reserves mods, total ammo is 24/26/27/27 (max 27). Use the barrel perk to improve Handling, and then the magazine perk to increase magazine size to the max of 5 with Backup Mag. If you do want to keep a roll for boss damage, in case of a future buff, then the combination of Triple Tap to extend the magazine and Vorpal Weapon for an always-on ×1.15 damage against Majors and Bosses or Fourth Time's the Charm for the memes if you can keep hitting headshots might be worth it. The reworked Skulking Wolf origin trait can be useful in PvE, making enemies less accurate when firing at you for 10s after getting a kill while at low health, or if you're soloing content, Alacrity provides excellent gunfeel boosts: +20 to Range and Stability, +50 to Reload Speed and +10 to Aim Assist. Recommended MW: Handling with a Backup Mag mod. Also, don't forget to check whether there's a useful Seasonal Fragile mod for the activity you're running.|tags:PvE PvE-Boss PvE-BossSpec M+KB Controller

Essential perks

Triple Tap

Strong alternatives

Appended Mag Vorpal Weapon Fluted Barrel Fourth Time's the Charm Extended Mag Arrowhead Brake Corkscrew Rifling