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Tractor Cannon Exotic Shotgun - Destiny 2

Tractor Cannon has been around since Destiny 2 launched but it remains one of the most useful Exotic Shotguns for endgame content.

Sam Chandler

January 27, 2021 11:45 PM

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Tractor Cannon has been in Destiny 2 since the very beginning and yet it remains a must-have item. Regardless of player skill, this unique Exotic Shotgun can help solo players and teams bridge any gaps in damage in endgame activities. If you’re looking for a Heavy option while you farm for Anarchy, or if you’re trying to increase the damage of your whole team, Tractor Cannon should be your first port of call.

Tractor Cannon

Tractor Cannon was first available when Destiny 2 launched back in 2017. Since then, it’s undergone some slight changes to how its damage buff works. Previously, it would increase all Void damage by 50% and other damage at a lower rate. Now, the Void component is gone and instead everything receives the same flat boost.

In a slot mainly dominated by Grenade Launchers, Sniper Rifles, Rocket Launchers, and Swords, Tractor Cannon is one of only two Shotguns. While the other weapons might focus on damage output, Tractor Cannon is perfect for the support player.

How to get Tractor Cannon

Tractor Cannon can only be acquired through random Exotic Engrams. This means Exotic Engrams in the Season Pass tracks, ones that drop from enemies, as well as other reward sources like raids and Nightfalls. Unfortunately, Tractor Cannon cannot be purchased from the Monument to Lost Light as its primary source was not removed from the game (like Anarchy’s was when Beyond Light launched).

Tractor Cannon perks

Tractor Cannon features a few standard perks that increases its range, stability, and manages the handling speed.

• Extended Barrel – Weighty barrel extension. Increase range, decreases handling speed, and moderately control recoil.
• Particle Repeater – Constrains recoil for every bolt. Increases stability.
• Composite Stock – This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. Slightly increases stability and handling speed.

However, the main reason you’ll be using Tractor Cannon is for its two Exotic perks:

• The Scientific Method – Damaging an opponent temporarily increases speed and handling.
• Repulsor Force – This weapon emits a powerful impulse that pushes enemies away, suppresses their abilities, and makes them more vulnerable to all incoming damage.

How and when to use Tractor Cannon

One of the main benefits of Tractor Cannon is that it is an enemy debuff as opposed to a player buff. This means that it does not need to compete with Well of Radiance or Weapons of Light and in fact pairs rather nicely with them.

Because Tractor Cannon debuffs targets, it can be quite useful for underlevelled players or those struggling with tough enemies in raids and other endgame content. By using Tractor Cannon, it essentially gives the player a short-term buff allowing them to take down otherwise extremely challenging foes. An example of this might be the Champions in raids, like the Garden of Salvation or Deep Stone Crypt.

The obvious drawback to using Tractor Cannon is that it means a one player is unable to offer the huge damage of The Lament, Anarchy, or something else. However, more often than not, the debuff more than makes up for this loss in damage output from one person by improving the damage of five others.

Tractor Cannon lore

Property of Ishtar Collective. WARNING: Gravity propulsor beam can cause serious injury or even death.

Chioma Esi met Maya in their undergraduate gym. They got into an argument about deadlifting: was it necessary, was it practical, why was Chioma making so much noise? Maya Sundaresh just couldn't stand the notion that some things were done for their own sake, not because they had any use.

Decades later they joined the Ishtar Collective on Venus to study the enigmatic ruins unearthed by the Traveler's terraforming. The first time it happened—Vex code leaping across an airgap, surfing the quantum vacuum from simulation to reality, infecting a utility frame—Chioma pulled an alarm while Maya tried to grab the precious frame with a cargo-grade gravity grapple. She couldn't lift the grapple. Chioma grabbed it, pinned the frame to the wall, and won the argument.

Tractor Cannon is a valuable weapon in many players’ hands. For those that are struggling to kill an enemy one-on-one, this can be a boon, for teams that want more damage, it will help melt bosses. Be sure to check out the Shacknews Destiny 2 guide for even more helpful Exotic weapon overviews.

Sam Chandler

Guides Editor

Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can message him on X: @SamuelChandler