Rat King

Rat King is an exotic kinetic sidearm in Destiny 2. It's main perk is Rat Pack, which causes the gun's power to increase when more players with Rat King are nearby. Rat King was acquired by completing the Exotic Quest Rat King's Crew, which was unlocked after completing the Titan World Quest. Nowadays, it is obtained via the Monument to Lost Lights.

Lore
We are small, but we are legion.

The stories are passed from child to child, whispered in the streets and on the playground like any good legend. “Don't ever venture beyond the wall and sight of the Tower,” parents warn, citing these cautionary tales that speak of the boy's many deaths. Exposure. Hunger. Sickness. Cutthroats. Living nightmares. And on. And on. The children, however, have their own truths. To them, the boy never died. They call him the Rat King. The children believe he leads the forgotten among them out of the City on grand adventures. They say he and his misfit army saved the world. But children say many things, and the Vanguard maintains their official stance: there is no Rat King and his army never existed. That's what the elders believe. I choose to believe otherwise.

Perks

 * Rat Pack - This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Stacks up to 6 times.


 * Smallbore - Dual strength barrel. Increases range. Increases stability.


 * Tactical Mag - This weapon has multiple tactical improvements. Slightly increases stability. Slightly increases reload. Slightly increases magazine size.


 * Vermin - Reloading after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility.


 * Smooth Grip - This weapon is slightly easier to hold and aim. Slightly increases stability. Slightly increases handling speed.

Catalyst
The Rat King catalyst is obtained through playlist activity rewards.

One of the more difficult to complete catalysts, this one requires you to experience 1000 kills with Rat Kings being used by fireteam members. This means you cannot complete this solo, you must convince other players to utilise the gun to assist you with progression.


 * Infestation: Improved aim assist and recoil direction. Refreshes health on Vermin invisibility trigger.

Ornaments

 * Black Plague - Equip this Weapon Ornament to change the appearance of Rat King.


 * Catacombs - Equip this Weapon Ornament to change the appearance of Rat King.


 * Climate Change - Equip this Weapon Ornament to change the appearance of Rat King.

Trivia

 * Rat King is named after an aprocyphal phenomenon called a Rat King where several rats have their tails fused together. Mythologically it is treated as a single organism and an omen of bad luck, due to rats association with disease.
 * The initial lore description is also a reference to the Book of Mark (5:9) in the Bible.
 * Cayde-6 refers to the legend of the rat king in his memoirs. Shiro-4 would reportedly spin stories about how their deceased companion Lush had not in fact died but joined the Rat King in his world-saving quests.

List of appearances

 * Destiny 2