Introduced in the Renegades expansion of Destiny 2, the Refurbished A499 is the only weapon of its kind across multiple categories. It is both the only Legendary Sniper Rifle and the only Kinetic weapon that can be equipped in the Heavy weapon slot. It is a versatile weapon that excels in PvE, with perks that also make it a compelling option for PvP. Here are the best Refurbished A499 god rolls to look for and how to get them.
Best Refurbished A499 PvE God Rolls
The Refurbished A499 is an excellent PvE burst damage tool. Its one-round magazine means it wants to land high damage with a single shot, making reload speed a top priority alongside handling and stability to more consistently hit targets.
Best PvE Barrels
- Arrowhead Brake
- Corkscrew Rifling
- Fluted Barrel
Best PvE Magazines
- Flared Magwell
- Light Mag
The A499's small magazine makes hitting every shot crucial for good damage output. Perks like Snapshot Sights and No Distractions improve overall consistency so shots are easier to land. Perks like Bewildering Burst and Aggregate Charge increase the value of each shot by boosting damage. Auto-Loading Holster is also useful for longer damage rotations, automatically reloading the A499 while it is stowed.
Recommended PvE Perk Combinations
Best PvE God Roll: Snapshot Sights and Auto-Loading Holster
Snapshot Sights reduces the time to aim down sights, helping you position the weapon to fire at an enemy's weak spot faster. After firing, stowing the weapon triggers Auto-Loading Holster, which reloads it automatically and prepares it for the next burst damage opportunity. This roll is particularly potent for quickly eliminating stunned Champions and dangerous mini-bosses.
No Distractions and Box Breathing
This roll requires a bit of setup but rewards patient players with consistent performance and high damage. Both No Distractions and Box Breathing activate after aiming down sights for a few seconds without firing. No Distractions reduces flinch, making it easier to hit enemy weak spots through incoming fire. Box Breathing grants a bonus to range and precision damage, making hits against weak points even more potent. This combination is best suited to players willing to take the time to activate both perks before firing.
Bewildering Burst and Aggregate Charge
This double-damage combination excels at dealing with enemies in quick succession. After a kill, reloading the A499 activates Bewildering Burst, causing the next shot to launch a Kinetic projectile that detonates into a disorienting blast, slowing combatants and helping with picking off important targets. Aggregate Charge increases the weapon's damage against enemies for each elemental debuff they are inflicted with, making it a natural fit for Prismatic builds that can spread multiple debuffs easily. The increased damage from Aggregate Charge secures kills, which in turn allows Bewildering Burst to stun enemies repeatedly and set up easier follow-up kills.
Best Refurbished A499 PvP God Rolls
While not as dominant as it is in PvE, the Refurbished A499 is a fun PvP option for sniper fans. It allows players to bring a sniper in multiple slots without sacrificing their Exotic weapon choice to the Heavy slot. Much like the PvE version, the PvP A499 prioritizes stability, handling, and reload speed.
Best PvP Barrels
- Arrowhead Brake
- Corkscrew Rifling
- Fluted Barrel
Best PvP Magazines
- Flared Magwell
- Light Mag
In PvP, Heavy ammo is scarce and highly valuable. A Heavy ammo brick gives the Refurbished A499 only two shots, so making every shot count is essential. Snapshot Sights, Moving Target, and No Distractions improve weapon consistency during high-pressure moments. Auto-Loading Holster and Mulligan help keep ammo available so players can reliably fire both shots before losing their brick.
Recommended PvP Perk Combinations
Best PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights and Mulligan
Snapshot Sights speeds up aiming down sights, enabling faster shots before opponents can react. These quick shots can be difficult to land, and wasting precious Heavy ammo is costly. Mulligan provides a safety net , missing a shot has a chance to return it directly to the magazine. Together, this combination lets players take risky shots confidently and extract more value from each Heavy ammo brick.
Moving Target and Mulligan
This roll functions similarly to the Snapshot Sights and Mulligan combination, offering a safeguard for risky shots. When moving while aiming down sights, Moving Target provides a bonus to movement speed and target acquisition, which is useful in sniper duels by encouraging movement to throw opponents off. However, that same movement can make it harder to land shots, which is where Mulligan once again provides a safety cushion with its chance to return missed shots to the magazine.
No Distractions and Auto-Loading Holster
This roll is built for holding down long sightlines and picking off opponents with multiple Sniper Rifles. No Distractions prevents flinch from opponents who fire back when they spot the sniper, making it more reliable to hold aim down sights in one direction for extended periods. Auto-Loading Holster keeps the lane controlled after the first A499 shot is fired , swap to a Special ammo sniper while Auto-Loading Holster reloads the A499, then switch back for the flinch protection No Distractions provides.
Where to Get the Refurbished A499
The Refurbished A499 drops from activities on the Lawless Frontier, a location introduced in the Renegades expansion featuring missions on Venus, Mars, and Europa. Guardians join one of three factions at the Tharsis Cantina and complete Bounty Hunt, Smuggle, and Sabotage jobs to earn loot and reputation with their chosen faction.
The Refurbished A499 is part of the Lawless Frontier loot pool, so successfully completing any jobs there gives a chance for it to drop. Completing activities at a higher Power Level drops the weapon at a higher tier, granting more perks and increasing the likelihood of receiving a god roll.
Players can also purchase Refurbished A499s directly from the Tharsis Cantina by earning reputation with the Fallen gang, the Pikers. Earning reputation ranks with the Pikers unlocks the Refurbished A499 for purchase, with higher ranks granting up to three daily discounts. These purchases are made with credits, the currency that drops from Lawless Frontier activities.
Players hunting for a god roll should pledge to the Pikers and pursue their Priority Contract, completed by finishing jobs in the red Contested Territory missions. Choosing contracts that align with the general Pikers Contract will quickly build reputation, unlocking discounts on Refurbished A499 purchases. By running these activities and steadily increasing Pikers reputation, a strong roll should arrive without much extra effort.
That covers everything you need to know about getting a great Refurbished A499. This is a solid Heavy weapon that performs well across a wide variety of content and will serve as a reliable part of any Guardian's arsenal. For a strong Primary weapon option, check out Kindled Orchid god rolls and how to get them. For one of the best PvE Special weapons Destiny 2 has to offer, take a look at Mint Retrograde god rolls and how to get them. For the full list of Destiny 2 guides, click here.