Ruinous Effigy

"From the many wings of ruin blows a wind that will reshape this dead world."

- Weapon description

The Ruinous Effigy is an Exotic Trace Rifle in Destiny 2. It is acquired through the Missive exotic quest that became available to players during The Season of Arrivals. It fires a steady Void beam. Enemies killed by this weapon turn into Transmutation Spheres. Transmutation Spheres can be used by the player as weapons.

Overview
The origin of the weapon began with an irregularity in The Drifter's Prismatic Recaster, which mirrors the gravitational disturbances from the Cradle which attracted the attention of Savathûn's Hive. As the Witch Queen seeks to halt the Tower's progress, Eris Morn requests the Guardian's aid in clearing a path to the Tree of Silver Wings. After completing a run through the Interference mission, Eris appeared at the Cradle, stating that she believes the Darkness offers a Gift in the form of a weapon. A newly-grown branch from the tree was removed, and through a series of steps was tempered and reshaped into the Ruinous Effigy.

Perks
Intrinsic Perk: Transmutation - Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres.

Column 1: Barrel - Hammer Forged Rifling - Durable Ranged Barrel.
 * Increases Range

Column 2: Battery - Particle Repeater - Controls recoil for every bolt.
 * Increases Stability

Column 3: Trait - Evolution - Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies.
 * : Light attack
 * : Heavy attack
 * : Guard/Drain nearby combatants

Column 4: Stock - Composite Stock - This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock.
 * Slightly Increases Stability
 * Slightly Increases Handling Speed

Gameplay
This weapon fires a Void beam. Enemies killed by this weapon turn into Transmutation Spheres.

Transmutation Spheres
Transmutation Spheres have 3 abilities: Heavy Attack, Light Attack, and Guard/Drain. The Sphere has an ammo counter that goes down as time passes. The Heavy attack consumes all ammo and does devastating damage to the area around it. A heavy attack at full ammo will do the same damage as a heavy attack at 5 ammo. The Light attack consumes 1 ammo and does a small amount of damage. The Drain/Guard ability slowly damages enemies within the vicinity and regenerates the user's health. It also provides a bonus to damages resistance. This ability slowly consumes ammo and can be used past 1 ammo, but in doing so damages the player.

Catalyst

 * Source: Kill an enemy with a Transmutation Sphere
 * Masterwork Objective: Collect 5,000 points. 1 point is awarded for every enemy killed, while 34 points are awarded for every Savathun's Eye destroyed with the weapon.
 * Enemies damaged by Transmutation Spheres take more damage from the Ruinous Effigy.

Lore
"That's not right."

Banshee-44 taps a spectral analyzer against the Effigy's frame.

Commander Zavala turns, closes the lid on a small golden weapon case, and walks to Banshee's side. "What have you found?"

"Well, it's not petrified wood, but it is organic."

"That's troubling," Zavala says and moves to run his fingers over the weapon's frame.

"I wouldn't."

A shallow cold saps the heat from Zavala's fingertips; he pulls back. "This wasn't in Eris's report." His voice is thin and stark with disappointment, as if spoken through dead winter air.

"Guardian doesn't seem to notice either." Banshee clinks the analyzer into a tool tray. "Leeches a bit, kicks out Void. Sig's hazy, though. Wild."

Long quiet overtakes the workshop, imposed by shuttered windows and empty streets below.

They stand over the weapon. Banshee stares down and nods along to the ambient static

"What were you saying?" The weapon master's voice is framed in apology.

Zavala puts a hand on Banshee's shoulder, smiles, and gestures to the weapon. "Equipment that uses the wielder's Light is not unprecedented."

"It doesn't use it; it eats it. Thing's got an appetite. Works almost like, uh… a converter."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Nah. Guardian doesn't even seem to notice. I'll get you a write-up."

Trivia

 * The Ruinous Effigy is one of the three trace rifles that isn't manufactured by Omolon.
 * During the Quest to build the Ruinous Effigy, a transmission excerpt from Eris states that the Touch of Malice was used as a blueprint for the Ruinous Effigy. She comments that, while the Touch of Malice was "crude, vicious", the Ruinous Effigy "is a thing of beauty".

List of appearances

 * Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals