Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades
Production overview
Manufacturer:	Banshee-44 Tex Mechanica
Style:	Cayde-6
Rarity class:	Exotic
Weapon type:	Hand Cannon
Intrinsic frame:	Adaptive Frame (D2)
Required level:	40 (D1)
Min-max impact:	81 (D1) 84 (D2)
Min-max stability:	13-58 (D1) 50 (D2)
Min-max handling:	31-51 (D1) 50 (D2)
Min-max reload speed:	33-43 (D1) 42 (D2)
Min-max magazine:	12 (D1) 13 (D2)
Specifications
Feed system:	Clip Magazine
Ammunition type:	Primary
Fire mode:	Semi-Automatic
Rate of fire:	22 RPM (D1) 140 RPM (D2)
Damage:	Kinetic
Effective range:	40-62 (D1) 85 (D2)
Hidden stats
Aim assistance:	61-66 (D1) 70 (D2)
Zoom:	15 (D1) 14 (D2)
Recoil:	95 (D1) 100 (D2)
Bounce intensity:	5 (D1) 0 (D2)
Bounce direction:	Tends Vertical (D1 and D2)
Airborne effectiveness:	14 (D2)
Service history
In service:	Cayde-6 Uldren Sov (formerly) The Guardian Guardians
Affiliation:	Cayde-6

"Folding was never an option."

— Cayde-6

Ace of Spades is a Exotic Hand Cannon introduced in The Taken King as a Hunter-exclusive Exotic and the signature weapon of the Vanguard Hunter Cayde-6. It is obtained by reaching Rank 3 Gunsmith reputation with a Hunter and completing the "Back in the Saddle" quest. It was reintroduced in Forsaken and was previously attainable after a lengthy questline following the main story campaign, and made available to all classes. Since the introduction of the Beyond Light expansion, the Ace of Spades can be available for purchase at the Monument to Lost Lights.

Destiny

Gameplay

The Ace of Spades rewards precision kills with two main bonuses: With Firefly, all precision kills become explosive shots that do damage to nearby enemies. With Maverick, precision kills grants a bullet from your ammo reserve into the magazine. Both these perks are more useful against groups of weaker enemies, as they will not activate as frequently with stronger enemies who require multiple shots to bring down, possibly meaning that a player can expend all their ammo without reloading at all.

Perks

• Intrinsic perk
  • Third Eye: Radar stays active while aiming down this weapon's sights.

• Sights
  • Truesight IS: Flexible sight. Light, with good recoil control. Strong target acquisition.
  • Quickdraw IS: Agile sight. Lightning-fast handling.
  • Steadyhand IS: Stable sight. Optimized for excellent recoil control.

• 1st perk
  • Firefly: Precision kills with this weapon cause the target to explode.

• Stat modifiers
  • Reinforced Barrel: Increased Range. Reduced Stability.
  • High Caliber Rounds: Oversize rounds built to stagger targets and leave them reeling. Their mass makes a weapon harder to handle.
  • Perfect Balance: This weapon has extremely low recoil.

• Exotic perk
  • Maverick: Precision kills move one round from your ammo reserves into the magazine.

Grimoire

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

"Don't play your hand unless you're sure you have that ace in the hole."

"Heeeeeeey there, Banshee!"

"Whaddya want, Cayde?"

"Just checking in on that thing I asked you to do."

"I told you, my smuggling days are over—"

"No no shhh no not that! The other thing—"

"What other thing?"

"The custom piece! For—"

"Oh right. Right. Course I'm doing that."

"Yeah? How's it looking?"

"Did all the design myself. So it's looking good."

"Is that... an ace of spades?"

"Yep."

Destiny 2

Gameplay

Unlike its Destiny iteration, the Ace of Spades in Destiny 2 is no longer restricted to Hunters. In PvP, it has proven itself to be an extremely reliable weapon, outperforming hand cannons in the same archetype and others. Memento Mori grants the user radar even when aiming down sights, a trait which is shared with MIDA Multi-Tool. The perk also grants six increased damage bullets after every kill and reload, and when paired with its Firefly perk, gives it an effect similar to the Kill Clip/Outlaw combination seen on other weapons. However, unlike that combination, Memento Mori's effect wears off when the weapon is stowed, the user is killed or when all six bullets are expended, and not over time.

Perks

• Intrinsic: Memento Mori - Reloading after a kill loads magazine with a few extra-damage bullets. Grants radar when aiming down sights.
• Corkscrew Rifling: Balanced barrel.
  • Slightly increases range and stability.
  • Slightly increases handling speed.
• High-Caliber Rounds: Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther.
  • Slightly increases range.
• Exotic Trait: Firefly - Precision kills with this weapon increase reload speed and cause the target to explode, dealing Solar damage to nearby enemies.
• Smooth Grip: This weapon is slightly easier to hold and aim.
  • Slightly increases stability.
  • Slightly increases handling speed.

Catalyst

The Exotic Catalyst for Ace of Spades has a chance of dropping from either kills or completions in Vanguard playlist activities, including Strikes and Nightfalls. The catalyst, once completed after 500 weapon kills, will grant an additional perk:

• Exotic Trait: Funeral Pyre - Firefly deals more damage while Memento Mori is active.

Lore

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

"FOLDING WAS NEVER AN OPTION." —CAYDE-6

---

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CAYDE-6

To whomst it may concern:

I, Cayde-6, being of sound(ish) mind and body, do hereby and henceforth and heretofore leave all my possessions to the person, alien, animal, or natural phenomenon what kills me.

Aforesaid possessions include, but are not limited to:
– The Ace of Spades
– Any and all stashes I've hidden throughout the system
– The Colonel, my faithful friend
– My debts, which follow:

THE ATTACHED FILE IS TOO BIG TO DOWNLOAD

Trivia

• In folklore, the ace of spades is traditionally known as The Death Card due to its long tradition with war.
• The Hunter Vanguard representative Cayde-6 is seen wielding the Ace of Spades in the official Destiny 2 trailer, killing Cabal while fanning the hammer like the Last Word. It's revealed in Destiny 2 that Cayde commissioned Banshee-44 to have the gun built as his signature weapon.
• Ironically in the opening of the Forsaken expansion, Prince Uldren kills Cayde-6 with the Ace of Spades, Cayde's own gun.
• The 'Firefly' Special perk is likely a reference to the television show of the same name. Nathan Fillion, the voice actor for Cayde-6, had a starring role in the show.
• The Ace of Spades features a special reload animation where the player spins the weapon, which is mirrored by an equally embellished reload by Cayde-6 in a cinematic during the Last Call Story mission.
• This weapon makes a striking resemblance to a hand cannon that could be obtained in Destiny, this hand cannon being Hard Luck Mk. 52.
• A Nerf Ace of Spades was released in October, 2024.
  • This is mirrored in game by the Pocket Ace ornament

Gallery

• 

  Ace of Spades in Destiny

• 

  The Ace of Spades' perks tree.

• 

  The Destiny 2 Ace of Spades' perks and overlay.

• 

  Last Hand ornament for the Destiny 2 Ace of Spades.

• 

  Salute to the Colonel ornament.

• 

  Big Blind ornament.

• 

  All In ornament.

• 

  The Vanguard Dare ornament.

• 

  Fifty-Third ornament.

• 

  Ace of Spades collectible pin released by Bungie Store.

• 

  Ace of Spades Nerf gun

• 

  Pocket Ace ornament.

List of appearances

• Destiny: The Taken King (First appearance)
• Destiny 2
  • Forsaken
  • Season of the Wish
  • The Final Shape
  • Episode: Revenant (Mentioned only)