How to Get the Ikelos SMG in Destiny 2: A Comprehensive Guide

The Ikelos SMG, formally known as the Ikelos_SMG_v1.0.3, is a fan-favorite submachine gun in Destiny 2. Renowned for its high rate of fire, solid stability, and potential for powerful perk combinations, this weapon is a valuable addition to any Guardian’s arsenal. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new light, understanding how to obtain this legendary weapon is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step required to add the Ikelos SMG to your collection.

Understanding the Ikelos SMG’s Significance

Before diving into the acquisition process, let’s discuss why the Ikelos SMG is so sought after. This weapon isn’t just a regular legendary; it’s part of the Ikelos set, known for its unique aesthetic and synergy with specific builds. Key advantages of the Ikelos SMG include:

• High Rate of Fire: The SMG’s rapid firing rate makes it exceptionally effective at close to mid-range encounters, allowing for quick elimination of enemies.
• Solid Base Stats: It has naturally decent handling and stability, making it relatively easy to control, even in frantic situations.
• Powerful Perk Pool: The Ikelos SMG can roll with various powerful perks, including options that enhance damage, stability, and survivability, making it highly customizable to different playstyles.
• Warmind Cell Synergy: The most prominent reason Guardians seek this weapon. Specific perk combinations on the Ikelos SMG can generate Warmind Cells, which, when coupled with other Warmind Cell mods, create extremely potent builds capable of clearing adds and applying pressure on bosses.

The Ikelos SMG’s ability to synergize with the Warmind Cell mechanic makes it a top-tier weapon for many players. Its effectiveness in both PvE and PvP scenarios makes it a versatile and valuable choice for a wide range of activities.

Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring the Ikelos SMG

The Ikelos SMG is primarily obtained through the activities in the Season of the Seraph, specifically focusing on the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon and the Seraph Shield missions. Here’s a detailed guide:

Step 1: Accessing the Season of the Seraph Content

First and foremost, you must have access to the Season of the Seraph content, which is obtained by purchasing the season pass or owning the Lightfall Expansion which includes all season passes in its year. If you own neither, you must buy the Lightfall + Annual Pass edition, or purchase the season pass through the Eververse store or by using your game code, once you have the access, you will be able to pursue the content related to this season and thus, be able to access the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon and the Seraph Shield missions.

Step 2: Completing the Season of the Seraph Introduction Quest

To unlock the Seraph Shield mission, which is one of the sources of the Ikelos SMG, you need to complete the introductory quest for the Season of the Seraph. This quest will guide you through the initial steps and introduce you to the story elements of the season. It will take some time to complete, and some of its steps require to unlock all the nodes in the H.E.L.M which is the main hub for the season.

Step 3: Seraph Shield Mission

Once you’ve finished the introductory quest, you can access the Seraph Shield mission. This mission can be launched from the Destinations map. The Seraph Shield Mission is a weekly pinnacle activity which rewards good loot each week. You will be able to get Ikelos weapons, as well as armor pieces here. The drops are not guaranteed, but they have a good chance, as this activity gives specific loot from the season. Running the mission every week will give you more chances to get the Ikelos SMG.

• Understanding the Seraph Shield Mission: This mission is a combination of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving. It involves infiltrating the bunker and defeating enemies.
• Mission Rewards: Completing the mission can reward you with Ikelos weapons, including the SMG. The chance of a drop is higher in the first run of each week, especially with the pinnacle loot.
• Weekly Rotations: The mission’s modifiers and encounters can rotate, ensuring that each week feels unique.

Step 4: Spire of the Watcher Dungeon

Another way to acquire the Ikelos SMG is by completing encounters in the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon, which is also part of the Season of the Seraph content. This dungeon can be launched from the Destinations map, specifically Mars.

• Encounter Rewards: Completing various encounters in the Spire of the Watcher dungeon can drop Ikelos weapons, including the SMG. Each encounter has a specific loot table, so understanding what drops from where will help you get the weapons you want.
• Farming the Dungeon: Once you have completed the dungeon once, you are able to farm it. You are able to get rewards from every encounter each time you do it. However, if you want a specific weapon or armor piece, you must understand which specific encounter drops that loot so you can efficiently farm the loot you need.
• Dungeon Mechanics: The dungeon involves intricate mechanics, requiring teamwork and coordination. It’s recommended to go in with a pre-made fireteam to ensure a smooth experience.

Step 5: Focusing Umbral Engrams at the HELM

After running Seraph Shield or the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon, you will get Season of the Seraph Engrams that you can use to focus for specific loot. To do this, you must unlock the focusing node in the HELM by doing the seasonal quests. Once you unlock it, you will have access to the season’s focusing and you can focus your umbral engrams into Ikelos weapons at the focusing table in the H.E.L.M.

• Focused Decoding: By using your seasonal currency, you can focus your umbral engrams to have a chance to get specific weapons, like the Ikelos SMG.
• Engram Acquisition: Umbral Engrams are acquired from various activities, including strikes, crucible, gambit, and seasonal activities.
• Cost: Focusing an engram requires a seasonal currency and some legendary shards. Ensure you have enough of these before attempting to focus them at the focusing table.

Step 6: Vendor Engrams at the Tower

While less reliable, you can also get the Ikelos SMG from opening packages from vendors at the tower, such as Lord Shaxx, Zavala, and the Drifter. These packages reward random legendary weapons, and, once in a while, you might get an Ikelos SMG to drop.

• Turn in tokens and engrams: After completing activities, you can turn in your vendor tokens at their respective vendors to rank up and get engrams, this also has a chance to drop Ikelos weapons, the drop rates are not guaranteed, so it’s important to keep in mind that this method is very RNG dependant.
• Playlists: All the playlist activities, such as strikes, crucible and gambit, award tokens that you can use to level up and get engrams, all of this is random, so do not expect to get an Ikelos SMG right away.

Recommended Perk Rolls for the Ikelos SMG

Once you obtain the Ikelos SMG, the next step is to identify the ideal perk combinations that synergize with your playstyle. Here are some popular and effective perk rolls for both PvE and PvP:

PvE Perk Rolls

• Subsistence/Surplus + Voltshot: This is a highly sought after combination that benefits from multiple ability kills, giving you ammo back and adding voltage damage to the weapon. This perk combination works especially well with arc subclasses.
• Threat Detector + Dragonfly/Surrounded: The increased reload speed and handling from Threat Detector make the SMG more responsive, while Dragonfly or Surrounded will boost your damage output. Dragonfly procs elemental damage, and Surrounded will boost damage while enemies are nearby.
• Feeding Frenzy/Dynamic Sway Reduction + Frenzy: Feeding Frenzy or Dynamic Sway Reduction will make your reload or stability better, and Frenzy will boost your damage and handling when you are in combat for an extended amount of time.
• Ensemble + Demolitionist: If you are using your abilities frequently, this perk combination will boost your stats when allies are near, and reload the weapon when you get a grenade kill.

PvP Perk Rolls

• Perpetual Motion/Dynamic Sway Reduction + Tap the Trigger: Perpetual Motion and Dynamic Sway Reduction make the stability of the weapon significantly better, and Tap the Trigger will increase accuracy when starting a burst, making this a very consistent choice for close quarters engagements.
• Threat Detector + Moving Target: Threat Detector increases the handling while enemies are close, which is going to happen often in crucible. Moving Target increases movement speed when aiming down sights, making it harder for enemies to track you.
• Surplus/Killing Wind + Rangefinder: Surplus will increase your handling and reload when your abilities are charged, and Killing Wind will give you a stat boost when you get a kill. Rangefinder will increase your range and zoom, making the weapon more effective at longer ranges.
• Tunnel Vision + Killing Wind: Tunnel Vision will boost target acquisition after a kill, and Killing Wind will give you a stat boost after you get a kill. This is a very aggressive perk combination that rewards constant engagements.

Tips for Farming the Ikelos SMG

Farming for the Ikelos SMG can be a grind, so here are some tips to maximize your efficiency:

• Prioritize Pinnacle Rewards: Run the Seraph Shield mission each week to secure the pinnacle reward and the higher chance for loot drops.
• Farm the Dungeon: Focus on farming the Spire of the Watcher dungeon, focusing on the encounters that drop the Ikelos SMG.
• Efficient Loadouts: Use builds that enhance your survivability and damage output to clear the content faster.
• Team Coordination: For the Spire of the Watcher, it is best to have a full fireteam with voice comms to be able to clear it in a consistent and effective way.
• Stock up on materials: Since focusing engrams takes materials, make sure to run other activities in the game that give you said materials so that you can focus engrams without running out.
• Utilize double reward weeks: Bungie will often include double reward weeks during the seasons that will give you more chances to get the loot that you want.

The Power of Warmind Cell Builds

The Ikelos SMG’s true power is unleashed when paired with Warmind Cell builds. Warmind Cells are deployable orbs that explode upon being destroyed, dealing damage to nearby enemies. The Ikelos weapons, including the SMG, are the only ones that can create these Warmind Cells.

How to Build Around Warmind Cells

To use Warmind cells effectively, you will need specific mods that can be purchased from the War Table in the H.E.L.M or from Ada-1. These mods enhance Warmind cells’ effectiveness and create various effects. Key mods to consider are:

• Wrath of Rasputin: Solar splash damage has a chance to create Warmind Cells. This synergizes well with any of the Ikelos weapons that create the cells.
• Warmind’s Decree: When destroying a Warmind Cell, all enemies around are weakened.
• Cellular Suppression: When destroying a Warmind Cell, all enemies around are suppressed.
• Warmind’s Protection: When near a Warmind Cell, your damage resistance is increased.
• Power of Rasputin: When destroying a Warmind Cell, your weapon damage is increased.

Strategies for Warmind Cells

• Create and Destroy Cells Strategically: Don’t just shoot cells; consider the best moment for their explosive effect.
• Use Cell-Enhancing Mods: Incorporate various Warmind Cell mods to create a synergistic, efficient build.
• Pair with Other Abilities: Combine Warmind cells with your subclass abilities to maximize their potential.

Conclusion

The Ikelos SMG is a powerful and versatile weapon, well worth the effort of acquiring it. By following this detailed guide, you’ll understand the different methods for acquiring it, find the perks that suit you the best and how to use Warmind cells effectively to enhance your builds. With patience and strategic farming, you can add this legendary weapon to your collection and experience its power firsthand. Happy hunting, Guardian!