Red Death

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Red Death
Other name(s):	Red Death Reformed
Production overview
Rarity class:	Exotic
Weapon type:	Pulse Rifle
Required level:	20 (Year One version) 40 (Year Two version)
Min-max magazine:	27
Specifications
Fire mode:	Burst
Damage:	Kinetic (D1) Solar (D2)

"Vanguard policy urges Guardians to destroy this weapon on sight. It is a Guardian killer."

— Weapon description

"Only rumors tell of the mad Guardian who fashioned this butcher's tool. But its power is undeniable, and fear is a formidable weapon."

— Grimoire description

"This is our 'Heavy Metal' gun."

— Tom Doyle, Bungie Art Lead.

Red Death is an Exotic Pulse Rifle introduced in Destiny Year One. It was formerly owned by a Guardian, until its owner was killed, presumably in battle. It was then taken by a bandit, who repainted it and modified it, among other things hacking the optics and adding new graphics. A Year Two version of Red Death is available in The Taken King.

Red Death makes a return as Red Death Reformed in The Final Shape as part of Episode: Echoes’s seasonal pass.

Gameplay

Year One

In addition to being conventionally powerful, Red Death can restore health and increase reload speed for a short time after every kill. The Red Death can be an incredibly viable asset during the Crota's End raid as the health restoration perk of this weapon effectively negates the "Presence of Crota" debuff which halts normal health regeneration.

Lore

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

First is disassembly, taking extra caution for the well-honed bayonet.

After disassembly comes cleaning. She gathers the swabs, the oils, the corrosive agents.

Red Death clings to the grime of its past battles. She scrapes it with spinmetal wool for hours before the last signs of the skulls stenciled into the body finally vanish.

The team had taken the butcher down before he'd added a mark for Ceto, Light of her Light. The weapon's tally is one short.

Even reduced to pieces, the Red Death is a malevolent presence. It knows its purpose. It wants to continue its work.

After cleaning comes purification.

She reassembles the weapon and cradles it as though to fire. Her Light boils up, turning radiant.

The flare of Solar Light is the advent of warmth after a cold night, the healing power of life itself. Wings spread high on her back and paint scorch marks along the ceiling. In her arms Red Death glows red, then yellow, then white.

It fights the change. She does not let go. Its shadows burn away, one by one, until none are left.

After purification comes dedication.

Slowly, she lets go of her Light. Her wings flicker, then fade. And when Red Death is cold metal in her hands once more, a kernel of Solar Light lingers within. Its purpose made new.

She will find those who would strip Guardians of their final life. She will bring them into the light.

Not for revenge, but for justice.

For Ceto.

Year Two

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Trivia

• The Red Death is constructed and reloads like an Auto Rifle yet it behaves like a Pulse Rifle and is classified as one.
• The Crimson exotic weapon in Destiny 2 is effectively a hand cannon version of Red Death.

Gallery

• 

  Desktop wallpaper of the Red Death.

• 

  Working Concept of the Red Death.

• 

  First-person point-of-view of the Red Death.

• 

  A Hunter wields the Red Death.

• 

  Side profile of the Red Death Pulse Rifle.

• 

  Ornaments for the Red Death.

Browse more images on this article's gallery page.

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
  • The Taken King
• Destiny 2: Season of the Drifter (Mentioned only)
  • Episode: Echoes (As Red Death Reformed)