Destiny 2 Assassin's Cowl How To Get

Okay, picture this: me, a Hunter main (obviously), desperately trying to solo the Pit of Heresy. I’m talking dying, a lot. Thrall swarms? Annihilated. Ogres? Less annihilated, more annihilating me. I was convinced I'd be stuck in that dungeon until the heat death of the universe. Then, I remembered something a friend had mentioned in passing – something about an exotic helmet and invisibility. A helmet called... Assassin's Cowl.

Suddenly, the Pit of Heresy didn't seem quite so hopeless. Turns out, Assassin's Cowl is a game-changer, especially for solo content or when you just want to feel like a ninja assassin. So, if you're tired of getting stomped by Hive, or just want to vanish into thin air after every kill, you've come to the right place. Let's dive into how to snag yourself one of these beauties.

Unlocking the Shadowy Goodness: Assassin's Cowl Basics

First things first, Assassin's Cowl isn't just lying around waiting to be picked up (wouldn't that be nice?). You can't buy it from Xur on a whim, and it's not going to magically appear in your postmaster. It's tied to a specific questline, so let's break it down.

To get Assassin's Cowl, you need to complete the Shadowkeep campaign. Yep, that means venturing to the spooky moon and confronting the nightmares that await. I know, I know, campaigns can be a bit of a drag, but trust me, this one's worth it. Besides, the story is actually pretty cool, and you get to hang out with Eris Morn (who is eternally dealing with space horrors, bless her heart). Think of it as a necessary evil on your path to ultimate stealth and survivability.

Here's a quick rundown of the Shadowkeep campaign (to jog your memory or prep you for the journey):

• Step 1: Head to the Moon. Eris Morn will greet you with open arms (and a healthy dose of existential dread).
• Step 2: Follow Eris’s instructions. She'll send you on a series of missions to investigate the mysterious activity on the Moon. This involves fighting Hive, solving puzzles, and generally exploring the creepy landscape.
• Step 3: Deal with the Nightmares. These are manifestations of past traumas and enemies, and they’re not exactly friendly. Prepare for some intense battles!
• Step 4: Confront the source of the Nightmares. This is the final boss fight of the campaign, and it's a tough one. Bring your best gear and be ready to coordinate with your fireteam (if you're playing with friends).

Pro-tip: If you're struggling with the campaign, don't be afraid to ask for help! There are plenty of experienced Guardians out there who would be happy to lend a hand. And remember, even if you're soloing, you can still find helpful guides and resources online.

Post-Campaign Reward: Choose Wisely

Once you've successfully banished the Nightmares and completed the Shadowkeep campaign, congratulations! You've earned yourself a reward. But here's the catch: you don't get Assassin's Cowl automatically. Instead, you'll be presented with a choice between three exotic armor pieces, one for each class:

• Hunter: Assassin's Cowl (the star of our show!)
• Titan: Phoenix Cradle
• Warlock: Stormdancer's Brace

So, if you're a Hunter and you're after Assassin's Cowl, make sure you select it! Don't accidentally pick the Titan or Warlock armor (unless you're planning on switching classes, of course). It's a pretty straightforward choice, but it's always good to double-check.

Side note: If you're feeling adventurous, you could create one character of each class, complete the Shadowkeep campaign on each of them, and collect all three exotic armor pieces. But that's a serious time commitment!

Assassin's Cowl: What Makes It So Good?

Alright, so you've got your Assassin's Cowl. Now what? Well, let's talk about why this helmet is so coveted in the first place.

The Perk: Vanishing Execution

This is the key to Assassin's Cowl's power. The Vanishing Execution perk states: "Melee final blows against weakened combatants, and final blows with a Glaive, grant invisibility and restore health."

In plain English, this means that when you kill an enemy with a melee attack while they're weakened, or with any kill from a glaive, you'll turn invisible and get a chunk of your health back. Pretty sweet, right? This makes you incredibly hard to kill, especially in situations where you're surrounded by enemies.

Why is this so useful?

• Survival: The invisibility and health regeneration can be lifesavers in tough encounters. You can use it to escape dangerous situations, reposition yourself, or simply catch your breath.
• Aggression: You can use the invisibility to get the drop on enemies, flank them, or even assassinate high-value targets without being detected.
• Solo Content: As I mentioned earlier, Assassin's Cowl is fantastic for soloing difficult content like dungeons, raids, and Lost Sectors. The survivability it provides is unmatched.
• Glaive Synergies: The guaranteed invisibility on glaive kills makes this exotic particularly strong if you enjoy running a glaive.

Honestly, I can't recommend Assassin's Cowl enough. It's one of those exotics that completely changes the way you play the game. Once you get used to the invisibility and health regeneration, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Maximizing Your Cowl: Builds and Strategies

Okay, so you understand the power of the Cowl. Now let's explore how to make it even better. Here are a few build ideas and strategies to maximize your Assassin's Cowl potential:

Subclass Synergies:

• Arcstrider: With the Arcstrider subclass, you can use Combination Blow to stack melee damage, making it easier to weaken and kill enemies with your melee attacks. The dodge also recharges melee energy making it a very synergistic build.
• Nightstalker: The Nightstalker subclass has a variety of abilities that synergize well with Assassin's Cowl. For example, you can use Smoke Grenades to weaken enemies or make yourself invisible, then follow up with a melee attack for the kill and a fresh dose of invisibility. Void also has a variety of volatile options now, such as Stylish Executioner, that synergizes well with the Cowl by granting even more invisibility.
• Revenant: The Revenant subclass is also strong with Assassin's Cowl. The Shatterdive ability allows you to quickly freeze and shatter enemies, making them easy targets for your melee attacks.

Mods to Consider:

• Melee Kickstart: When you use your grenade, you regain some melee energy. This is great for Arcstrider, or if you just find yourself struggling for melee uptime.
• Impact Induction: Damaging enemies with melee attacks grants grenade energy. A solid choice in general, especially for void hunters using weaken with their melee.
• Well of Life: Picking up a Void well grants health. This is a fantastic choice for void hunters already making void wells!
• Elemental Charge: Becoming Charged with Light by picking up elemental wells. This will help you make use of other Charged with Light mods!

Weapons:

• Glaives: As mentioned above, any Glaive synergizes well with Assassin's Cowl. Using a Glaive guarantees invisibility on all kills, allowing you to rapidly cycle in and out of stealth.

General Strategies:

• Prioritize Weaker Enemies: Focus on killing weaker enemies with your melee attacks to trigger the invisibility and health regeneration. This will help you stay alive and keep the momentum going.
• Use Cover Wisely: Even with invisibility, you're not invincible. Use cover to your advantage, especially when your invisibility is about to wear off.
• Be Aggressive, But Smart: Don't be afraid to get up close and personal with enemies, but don't be reckless. Use your invisibility to your advantage, and always have an escape plan.

Remember, the best build is the one that works for you. Experiment with different subclasses, mods, and weapons to find a combination that suits your playstyle. And don't be afraid to try new things! You might be surprised at what you discover.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Tips and Tricks

Alright, you're officially an Assassin's Cowl expert. But let's take things one step further with some advanced tips and tricks:

• Timing Your Invisibility: Pay attention to the duration of your invisibility. It's tempting to just run around invisible all the time, but it's more effective to use it strategically. Time your invisibility to coincide with enemy attacks, or to escape from dangerous situations.
• Using Invisibility for Revives: Assassin's Cowl is fantastic for reviving fallen teammates. You can use your invisibility to safely approach them, revive them, and then disappear before the enemies even know you were there. Heroic, right?
• Breaking Line of Sight: If you're being targeted by enemies, break line of sight and activate your invisibility. This will confuse the enemies and give you a chance to reposition yourself or escape.
• The Power of Glaives: Again, I need to mention Glaives. Consider investing in a well-rolled Glaive and playing around with the perk system. You'll get a very potent build.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Shadows

Assassin's Cowl is more than just an exotic helmet. It's a tool that empowers you to play Destiny 2 in a whole new way. It encourages aggressive play, rewards skillful decision-making, and provides a level of survivability that is unmatched by most other exotics.

So, if you're looking for a way to spice up your Hunter gameplay, or if you're simply tired of getting stomped by enemies, I highly recommend giving Assassin's Cowl a try. Complete the Shadowkeep campaign, make the right choice, and embrace the shadows.

And who knows, maybe you'll even be able to solo the Pit of Heresy. I know I eventually did!