Intrinsic trait

Intrinsic Traits are special perks always found on a given weapon that defines its basic behaviour in Destiny 2.

Overview

An Intrinsic Trait is, as the name suggests, an inherent part of a weapon and cannot be swapped out. Different Intrinsic Traits define the archetype of a weapon, which includes base impact and rate of fire, and are useful in determining what weapon is best for a given playstyle at a glance.

List of Intrinsic Traits

Generic Traits

Intrinsic Trait	Available for	Common in-game description	Further details
Adaptive Frame	Auto rifles Pulse rifles Hand cannons Submachine guns Sidearms Fusion rifles Sniper rifles Heavy Grenade launchers Rocket launchers Machine guns	A well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy.	As the description suggests, weapons with an Adaptive Frame are generally the best well-rounded in their class, being effective at most ranges appropriate for the weapon type with a good rate of fire. Some sidearms have an alternate version of this Trait with high stability and 3-round burst fire.
Aggressive Frame	Pulse rifles (as Aggressive Burst) Hand cannons Sidearms (as Aggressive Burst) Shotguns Sniper rifles Fusion rifles Rocket launchers	High damage, high recoil.	With the exception of shotguns and sniper rifles, which have lowered fire rates, Aggressive Frame weapons have an increased rate of fire, and in the case of pulse rifles and sidearms, fire an extra bullet in a burst. Fusion rifles fire their bursts horizontally.
High-Impact Frame	Auto rifles Scout rifles Pulse rifles Fusion rifles Rocket launchers Machine guns	Slow-firing and high-damage. This weapon is more accurate when stationary and aiming down sights.	Contrary to the description, High-Impact Frame weapons actually grant their accuracy bonus when crouched, similar to the Firmly Planted perk. High-Impact Frame weapons universally have a slower rate of fire than other weapons, made up for with their higher damage. They tend to also have one of the longest ranges in class.
Lightweight Frame	Auto rifles Scout rifles Pulse rifles Hand cannons Submachine guns Sidearms Shotguns Special Grenade launchers	Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped.	Lightweight Frame weapons have a generally higher rate of fire for their class. The movement speed boost can be used to close the gap in combat to take advantage of the rate of fire from a closer range. Also, grenade launchers have remote detonation triggered by releasing the fire button.
Precision Frame	Auto rifles Scout rifles Hand cannons Submachine guns Sidearms Shotguns Fusion rifles Rocket launchers Heavy Grenade launchers Linear fusion rifles	Recoil pattern on this weapon is more predictably vertical.	With the exception of hand cannons and fusion rifles, which have a higher rate of fire, Precision Frame weapons have a somewhat lower rate of fire, for easier recoil control over long distances. Precision Frame weapons generally have a moderately longer to the longest range in their class. Also, grenade launchers have remote detonation triggered by releasing the fire button, shotguns fire single slugs instead of a pellet spread, and rocket launchers have inherent lock-on tracking.
Rapid-Fire Frame	Auto rifles Scout rifles Pulse rifles Sidearms Shotguns Sniper rifles Fusion rifles Heavy Grenade launchers Machine guns	Deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when magazine is empty.	Rapid-Fire Frame weapons have the highest rate of fire of any other weapon in their class, making them best suited for closer ranged combat or laying down a barrage of fire. Shotguns, scout rifles, and sidearms will be fully automatic without the need for the Full Auto Trigger System perk.

Bow Traits

Bows have their own specific set of Intrinsic Traits.

Intrinsic Trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Lightweight Frame	Combat Bows	Recurve Bow. Draw quickly and move faster while this weapon is equipped. (Reload command) Press: Use while drawn to cancel the shot.	Aside from faster draw times, Lightweight Frame bows have better stability, handling, and arrow nocking speed than their Precision Frame counterparts.
Precision Frame	Combat Bows	Compound Bow. Longer draw time optimized for damage. (Reload command) Press: Use while drawn to cancel the shot.	Aside from slower draw times and better damage, Precision Frame bows have better accuracy than their Lightweight Frame counterparts.

Sword Traits

Swords have their own specific set of Intrinsic Traits.

Intrinsic Trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Adaptive Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy uppercut attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields.	Adaptive Frame swords have moderate swing speed and charge rate.
Aggressive Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy slam attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields.	Aggressive Frame swords have slow swing speed and charge rate.
Lightweight Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy dash attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields.	Lightweight Frame swords have fast swing speed and charge rate.

Unique Traits

These Intrinsic Traits are unique to a certain weapon or selection of weapons outside of the weapon class-specific Traits.

Intrinsic Trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Double Fire	Warden's Law	Hard-hitting twin-fire rounds.	Each shot fires two projectiles simultaneously. Stats are similar to Aggressive Frame hand cannons.
MIDA Synergy	MIDA Mini-Tool CALUS Mini-Tool	Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped. This weapon grands additional speed benefits when MIDA Multi-Tool is also equipped.	Stats are similar to Lightweight Frame submachine guns.
Together Forever	Drang Drang (Baroque)	This weapon has a well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy. Kills with this weapon reload Sturm and overflow a bonus damage round into it.	Stats are similar to Adaptive Frame sidearms.
Wave Frame	Special Grenade launchers	One-shot handheld Grenade Launcher. Projectiles release a wave of energy when they contact the ground.	Stats are similar to other Special ammo grenade launchers. The wave of energy behaves similarly to a Titan Sunbreaker's Thermite grenade.
Shot Package	Felwinter's Lie	Aggressive frame Shotgun modified to have more uniform pellet spread.	The pellet spread offered by this Trait makes the Felwinter's Lie very attractive for consistent one-hit-kill capability at long shotgun ranges in PVP modes. Stats are otherwise similar to other Aggressive Frame shotguns.
Caster Frame	Temptation's Hook	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy projectile attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields.	Moderate impact and swing speed, with charge rate on par with Lightweight Frame swords. Heavy attack is similar to that of the Black Talon Exotic Sword.
Vortex Frame	Falling Guillotine	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy spin attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields.	Moderate impact, with swing speed and charge rate on par with Adaptive Frame swords. Heavy attack is similar to that of the Worldline Zero Exotic Sword, without the teleportation or need to sprint.
Exotic perks	Exotic weapons	Varies.	Each Exotic weapon has a unique Intrinsic Trait that makes it play drastically differently from other weapons. These are invariably based on a normal Intrinsic Trait, which can generally be determined by comparing the rate of fire to non-Exotic weapons, though it should be noted that some Exotic weapons have a unique rate of fire.