In the dynamic world of Destiny 2, crafting the perfect Hunter build is essential for conquering challenging PvE content like raids, dungeons, and Grandmaster Nightfalls, as well as excelling in PvP. This guide explores the best Hunter builds for 2025, with a focus on the top-tier Shrouded Liar build for PvE, based on the latest Episode 3: Heresy meta. Whether you’re a seasoned Guardian or new to the game, these builds will elevate your gameplay.The Lightfall expansion introduced a new subclass called Strand, giving Guardians more opportunities to defeat foes. With the right build, you can make the most out of this new power, and in this guide, we share two mighty Titan builds that will help you excel at PvE content. Let’s go!
What Makes a Hunter Build the Best?
Choosing the Destiny 2 best Hunter build involves evaluating several key factors:
- Damage Output: The ability to deal significant damage, especially in endgame content.
- Survivability: Staying alive in high-pressure situations through defensive mechanics.
- Utility: Providing team benefits like buffs, debuffs, or crowd control.
- Synergy: How well gear, abilities, and mods work together.
- Meta-Relevance: Alignment with the current game meta, including seasonal updates and Exotics.
With these criteria in mind, let’s dive into the top Hunter builds for PvE in 2025, starting with the standout Shrouded Liar build.
Top Hunter Builds for PvE
Based on recent community insights and meta analysis, here are the top PvE Hunter builds for 2025, tailored for endgame content.
1. Shrouded Liar (Prismatic)
The Shrouded Liar build is widely regarded as the Destiny 2 best Hunter build for PvE in 2025, excelling in endgame activities like raids, dungeons, and expert content. Its combination of high melee damage, frequent Invisibility, and crowd control makes it a versatile and powerful choice.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Excels In | Endgame (Dungeons, Raids, Expert content) |
Mandatory Gear | Liar’s Handshake or Relativism with Spirit of the Liar, Still Hunt Exotic Sniper |
Aspects | Stylish Executioner, Winter’s Shroud |
Fragments | Facet of Purpose, Facet of Protection, Facet of Dawn, Facet of Courage, Facet of Ruin |
Abilities | Golden Gun, Duskfield Grenade, Combination Blow, Gambler’s Dodge |
Stats Priority | Resilience > Discipline > Intellect |
Mods |
|
Gameplay Loop | Use Combination Blow with Gambler’s Dodge and Winter’s Shroud for Invisibility and high melee damage. Freeze enemies with Duskfield Grenade for shatter damage, stack Combination Blow to x3, and prime with primary or Cross Counter melee. |

2. The Transcendent Tank (Prismatic)
Designed for Grandmaster Nightfalls, this build prioritizes survivability and ability regeneration, making it ideal for the toughest PvE content.
Category | Details |
Excels In | Grandmasters |
Mandatory Gear | Relativism with Spirit of Inmost Light and Spirit of Cyrtarachne |
Aspects | Stylish Executioner, Ascension or Winter’s Shroud |
Fragments | Facet of Purpose, Facet of Dawn, Facet of Protection, Facet of Hope, Facet of Balance |
Abilities | Golden Gun or Silkstrike, Grapple, Threaded Spike, Gambler’s Dodge |
Stats Priority | Resilience > Discipline > Recovery |
Mods |
|
Gameplay Loop | Maintain damage resistance with Woven Mail and Sever, maximize Empowered Abilities for ability regen, use Ascension dodges for Amplified and Jolt, aim for 32% damage resistance from Facet of Protection and Transcendence. |

3. Jolting Resolve (Arc)
This Arc-based build offers excellent damage resistance and add-clear capabilities, suitable for endgame activities.
Category | Details |
Excels In | Endgame |
Mandatory Gear | Gifted Conviction, Multimach CCX |
Aspects | Ascension, Stylish Executioner |
Fragments | Facet of Hope, Facet of Purpose, Facet of Protection, Facet of Dawn, Facet of Solitude |
Abilities | Silktrike or Silence and Squall, Grapple, Threaded Spike, Gambler’s Dodge |
Stats Priority | Max Resilience > Discipline > Recovery |
Mods |
|
Gameplay Loop | Jolt enemies with Gifted Conviction for damage resistance, Sever with Threaded Spike and Facet of Solitude, pair with Kinetic weapon for Transcendence bar, generate Orbs with Attrition Orbs and Kinetic Tremors. |
Detailed Analysis of the Shrouded Liar Build
The Shrouded Liar build is considered the Destiny 2 best Hunter build for PvE due to its exceptional synergy and versatility. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its components:
- Exotic Choice: Liar’s Handshake or Relativism with Spirit of the Liar enhances Combination Blow, delivering massive melee damage. The Still Hunt Exotic Sniper adds high single-target damage for bosses.
- Aspects and Fragments: Stylish Executioner and Winter’s Shroud enable frequent Invisibility, crucial for survivability and repositioning. Fragments like Facet of Purpose and Facet of Protection boost ability regeneration and damage resistance.
- Abilities: Golden Gun provides high single-target damage, Duskfield Grenade offers crowd control, and Combination Blow with Gambler’s Dodge ensures ability uptime and Invisibility.
- Mods: Mods like Hands-On and Heavy Handed maximize ability regeneration, while Heavy Ammo Finder ensures ammo for Still Hunt.
This build shines in endgame content where survivability and damage are critical. Invisibility allows safe repositioning, while high melee damage and Golden Gun handle both adds and bosses effectively.
Other Notable PvE Builds
While the Shrouded Liar is the top choice, other builds offer unique strengths:
- Igneous Strike (Prismatic): This build, noted in TheGamer’s guide, focuses on high melee damage (100K+ with buffs) and frequent Supers, making it a strong alternative for aggressive playstyles.
- Threaded Ascension (Threadrunner): Offers absurd survivability and burst DPS with Cyrtarachne’s Facade, ideal for close-range combat and add clear.
- Void Anchor (Nightstalker): Excels in crowd control with Orpheus Rig, perfect for spamming tethers in Onslaught or Grandmasters.
Top Hunter Builds for PvP
For players interested in PvP, the following builds are highly effective in the Crucible:
Build Name | Subclass | Exotic | Playstyle |
Dragon’s Ascension | Arcstrider | The Dragon’s Shadow | All-purpose, high mobility with Blink and Ascension jumps |
Mark Of Radiance | Gunslinger | Fr0st-EE5 | Constant damage buffs, weapon-focused |
Volatile Executioner | Nightstalker | Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk | Aggressive, constant Invisibility and overshields |
These builds, detailed in TheGamer’s guide, cater to various PvP playstyles, from mobility-focused to aggressive Invisibility tactics.
How to Use the Shrouded Liar Build
To maximize the Shrouded Liar build’s potential:
- Prioritize Melee and Grenade Uptime: Use Gambler’s Dodge to refresh Combination Blow, stacking it to x3 for maximum damage.
- Leverage Invisibility: Trigger Stylish Executioner and Winter’s Shroud to stay invisible, allowing safe repositioning or revives.
- Use Duskfield Grenade Strategically: Freeze groups of enemies to set up shatter damage, especially in add-heavy encounters.
- Maximize Still Hunt: Use the Exotic Sniper for boss DPS, ensuring Heavy Ammo Finder mods keep you stocked.
This build is best suited for endgame content where you need to balance damage and survivability, such as in raids or dungeons.
Conclusion
The Shrouded Liar build stands out as the Destiny 2 best Hunter build for PvE in 2025, offering a perfect blend of damage, survivability, and utility. Its synergy between Liar’s Handshake, Still Hunt, and Prismatic abilities makes it a top choice for endgame content. However, builds like The Transcendent Tank and Jolting Resolve provide excellent alternatives for specific scenarios, while PvP builds like Dragon’s Ascension cater to competitive players. Experiment with these builds to find the one that best suits your playstyle, and stay updated with the latest meta changes to keep your Hunter at the top of their game.