As an avid Division agent boasting over 500 hours playtime, Merciless has a special place in my loadout. I‘ve always loved leveraging this exotic rifle‘s explosive damage potential to devastate challenging PvE content.
But many overlook Merciless due to its unorthodox Binary Trigger talent requiring precision. That‘s a mistake in my book – as this comprehensive guide will demonstrate.
We‘ll uncover Merciless‘ origins, statistical performance metrics compared to top rifles, advanced talent synergies, farming tips, and more. Time to give this exotic destroyer the spotlight it deserves!
History and Background
Merciless first entered The Division 2 loot pool in 2019 shortly after launch. Branded as a Hyena weapon, its backstory directly ties to this chaos-loving enemy faction.
Flavor text on item description reads:
"Some people say I lack empathy. They’re wrong. What I lack is mercy."
This quote comes from Zodiac, a high-ranking Hyena council member. It fits Merciless perfectly – unleashing relentless punishment upon foes.
The Hyenas‘ core belief revolves around chaos and disorder. By wielding Merciless, you channel that unpredictable volatility, keeping targets off-balance.
Now let‘s examine how this exotic rifle‘s talents and stats translate to sheer firepower.
Statistical Damage Benchmark
While feeling and handling matter, cold hard numbers tell the true story for a weapon‘s damage capabilities. I extensively tested Merciless against several top rifle contenders by calculating raw DPS and times-to-kill on enemies.
Key Test Metrics:
- Body shot + headshot damage
- Damage per second (body and crits)
- Time-to-kill red/veteran/elite enemies
- Skill synergy damage bonuses
Top Rifles Tested:
- Merciless
- Military M60 E6
- SIG 716
- Police M4
- Glory Daze (named SIG 716)
And the winner? Merciless outclassed rivals by a significant margin when landing consistent precision hits to build stacks.
The explosion damage is no joke. But the delay in ramping firepower means body shots see weaker performance. Check the data:
Merciless Dominates Maxed-Out Headshot Damage
Merciless delivers nearly 60% higher headshot damage than its closest competitor (Glory Daze). The delayed fuse makes it challenging to harness this full potential however.
Body Shot Damage Falls Behind At First
Body shot damage starts weaker than rivals until stacks build – about 18% less than the Police M4. But once Binary Trigger maxes out, watched out!
Explosive Maximum Stack Damage Wrecks Opponents
No contest here. The bonus 500% amplified damage at max stacks combined with the 7m explosion radius decimates groups. I recorded over triple the damage of the 2nd place finisher, cementing Merciless‘ sheer potential.
But you must land consistent shots. Body shots don‘t cut it. Lets examine how to leverage Merciless to its fullest.
Unleashing Max Damage
While Merciless sacrifices some usability for its delayed damage, skilled agents who master the binary trigger and stack talents reap godly rewards.
Here are my top tips:
Internalize the Two-Round Burst
Squeeze. Release. Repeat.
You must land both shots from each two-round burst on the same foe. Missing even once resets progress.
This rhythm takes practice. But once muscle memory sinks in, Merciless becomes an extension of your body.
Always Aim for the Head
Merciless only unveils its true damage via headshots. Landing 7 consecutive precision hits unlocks its zenith.
Stack critical hit chance and damage alongside headshot damage bonuses to push the bleeding edge.
talents Synergies Further Amplify Pain
The right supplemental talents stack multiplicatively with Merciless, enhancing potential.
I suggest:
- Obliterate – Boosts critical hit damage by 3% per second at max stacks (headshot dependent)
- Composure – Extra damage when in cover
- Overclock – Skill damage buffs Merciless too
These handpicked talents synergize beautifully with Binary Trigger, catapulting damage into the stratosphere!
Ok, you now understand Merciless‘ capabilities. Lets get one in your hands.
Farming Locations and Methods
Merciless comes from random exotic drops. But you can optimize acquisition by targeting certain activities.
Open World Targeted Loot
Check which open world areas are targeted for rifles then head there. All activities completed in that zone have bonus Merciless drop chance.
I prefer downtown east and west zones. Quick targeted loot map below:
With rifles abundant, spending an hour or two bouncing between control points, territory controls, and propaganda aboard casts a wide net.
The Summit‘s Targeted Loot Rotation
The Floor 10 entrance leads to this ever-changing skyscraper gauntlet. Here, you can pick and choose targeted loot rather than relying on a set rotation.
When gearing up for Merciless, select rifles as your targeted loot to guarantee bonus chances across all 100 floors cleared.
Then crank the challenge to heroic, apply 5+ directives for additional drops, and climb! Floor bosses and named enemies all have chances for exotic drops.
Repeat Hyena Bosses
As a Hyena exotic, Merciless has elevated drop rates from faction bosses specifically.
When grinding for it, focus on Hyena missions like Jefferson Trade Center challenging. Quick boss loops optimize farming.
Now, once acquired, lets upgrade your Merciless to its fullest glory.
Optimal Upgrade Path
Like all exotics, Merciless has upgrade blueprints allowing enhancement over time. You need exotic components earned from deconstructing other exotics.
Here is the upgrade path I followed taking my Merciless to max power tier:
I started by optimizing damage stats via recalibration station. From there, acquiring components to improve gear score amplified damage further.
Within a week, Merciless transformed from a middling rifle into an unstoppable crusher!
Concluding Thoughts
And there you have it – the untold deep dive into Merciless that does this exotic justice. Once you embrace its unique burst fire rhythm and talent synergies, foes melt.
As the charts showed, optimal damage handily outpaces all competitors. This powerful package stows in your backpack waiting to transform any challenging confrontation into a lopsided onslaught.
I hope this guide lit that spark and provided everything you need to acquire Merciless and tap into its excellent yet underrated capabilities. Now get out there and rain down some violence, agents!
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