Intrinsic trait

Intrinsic traits, also simply called intrinsics, are special perks always found on a given weapon that defines its basic behavior in Destiny 2.

Overview

An intrinsic trait is, as the name suggests, an inherent part of a weapon and cannot be swapped out. Different intrinsic traits define the archetype of a weapon, which includes base impact and rate of fire, and are useful in determining what weapon is best for a given playstyle at a glance.

List of intrinsic traits

Generic traits

Intrinsic trait	Available for	Common in-game description	Further details
Adaptive Frame	Auto Rifles Hand Cannons Submachine Guns Fusion Rifles Sniper Rifles Trace Rifles Heavy Grenade Launchers Rocket Launchers Machine Guns Glaives	A well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy.	As the description suggests, weapons with an Adaptive Frame are generally the best well-rounded in their class, being effective at most ranges appropriate for the weapon type with a good rate of fire.
Aggressive Frame	Hand Cannons Scout Rifles Shotguns Sniper Rifles Fusion Rifles Rocket Launchers Glaives	High damage, high recoil.	With the exception of shotguns and sniper rifles, which have lowered fire rates, Aggressive Frame weapons have an increased rate of fire. Fusion rifles fire their bursts all at once in a horizontal line.
High-Impact Frame	Auto Rifles Scout Rifles Pulse Rifles Fusion Rifles Rocket Launchers Machine Guns	Slow-firing and high-damage. This weapon is more accurate when stationary and aiming down sights.	Contrary to the description, High-Impact Frame weapons actually grant their accuracy bonus when crouched, similar to the Firmly Planted perk. High-Impact Frame weapons universally have a slower rate of fire than other weapons, made up for with their higher damage. They tend to also have one of the longest ranges in class.
Lightweight Frame	Auto Rifles Scout Rifles Pulse Rifles Submachine Guns Sidearms Shotguns Special Grenade Launchers	Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped.	Lightweight Frame weapons have a generally higher rate of fire for their class. The movement speed boost can be used to close the gap in combat to take advantage of the rate of fire from a closer range. Also, grenade launchers have remote detonation triggered by releasing the fire button.
Precision Frame	Auto Rifles Scout Rifles Hand Cannons Submachine Guns Sidearms Shotguns Fusion Rifles Rocket Launchers Heavy Grenade Launchers Linear Fusion Rifles	Recoil pattern on this weapon is more predictably vertical.	With the exception of hand cannons and fusion rifles, which have a higher rate of fire, Precision Frame weapons have a somewhat lower rate of fire, for easier recoil control over long distances. Precision Frame weapons generally have a moderately longer to the longest range in their class. Also, grenade launchers have remote detonation triggered by releasing the fire button, and rocket launchers have inherent lock-on tracking. Linear Fusion Rifles fire a single precision bolt.
Rapid-Fire Frame	Auto Rifles Scout Rifles Pulse Rifles Sidearms Shotguns Sniper Rifles Fusion Rifles Heavy Grenade Launchers Machine Guns Glaives	Deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when magazine is empty.	Rapid-Fire Frame weapons have the highest rate of fire of any other weapon in their class with an an accordingly large magazine, making them best suited for closer ranged combat or performing quick follow-up shots. Reload bonus is identical to the Alloy Magazine perk. Shotguns, scout rifles, and sidearms will be inherently fully automatic.
Heavy Burst	Hand Cannons Sidearms Pulse Rifles	Fires a hard-hitting, two-round burst.	Weapons with this intrinsic trait fires a 2-round burst in a magazine.
Adaptive Burst	Pulse Rifles Sidearms Linear Fusion Rifles	Well-rounded, reliable, fires a 3-round burst.	Weapons with this intrinsic trait fires a 3-round burst in a magazine.
Aggressive Burst	Pulse Rifles	Hard-hitting four-burst fire.	Weapons with this intrinsic trait fires a 4-round burst in a magazine.

Bow traits

Bows have their own specific set of intrinsic traits.

Intrinsic trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Lightweight Frame	Combat Bows	Recurve Bow. Draw quickly and move faster while this weapon is equipped. (Reload command) Press: Use while drawn to cancel the shot.	Aside from faster draw times, Lightweight Frame bows have better stability, handling, and arrow nocking speed than their Precision Frame counterparts.
Precision Frame	Combat Bows	Compound Bow. Longer draw time optimized for damage. (Reload command) Press: Use while drawn to cancel the shot.	Aside from slower draw times and better damage, Precision Frame bows have better accuracy than their Lightweight Frame counterparts.

Sword traits

Swords have their own specific set of intrinsic traits.

Intrinsic trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Adaptive Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy uppercut attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy.	Adaptive Frame swords have moderate swing speed and charge rate.
Aggressive Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy slam attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy.	Aggressive Frame swords have very slow swing speed, with a corresponding increase in impact.
Lightweight Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy dash attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy.	Lightweight Frame swords have an almost doubled swing speed.
Caster Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy projectile attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy.	Identical to Adaptive Frame swords stats-wise. Heavy attack is similar to that of the Black Talon Exotic Sword.
Vortex Frame	Swords	(Aim command) Press: Launch a heavy spin attack. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy.	Identical to Adaptive Frame swords stats-wise. Heavy attack is similar to that of the Worldline Zero Exotic Sword, without the teleportation or need to sprint.
Wave Sword Frame	Swords	Heavy attack deploys a shockwave uppercut and launches the user into the air. An immediate follow up swing after the uppercut deploys a homing strike that aggressively seeks a target.	Added in The Final Shape and identical to the Wave Frame intrinsic trait on grenade launchers function-wise.

Unique traits

These intrinsic traits are unique to a certain weapon or selection of weapons outside of the weapon class-specific trait.

Intrinsic trait	Available for	In-game description	Further details
Support Frame	Auto Rifles	Flexible and agile frame capable of healing allies and hurting foes. Harming targets builds a restorative charge. Hip firing at allies while this weapon is charged heals them, with rapid healing increasing weapon damage and bestowing restoration to your allies.	Weapons with this intrinsic frame must build energy similar to those used on glaives by damaging combatants. Shooting at allies with full energy will grant them cure and restoration.
Pinpoint Slug Frame	Shotguns	Fires a single-slug round. This weapon's recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.	Originally a variation of Precision Frame for shotguns, using the same name.
Wave Frame	Special Grenade Launchers	Projectiles release a wave of energy when they contact the ground.	Stats are similar to other grenade launchers. The wave of energy behaves similarly to a Thermite grenade used in Solar subclasses.
Compressed Wave Frame	Heavy Grenade Launchers	Projectiles release a wave of compressed energy when they contact the ground.	Stats are similar to other grenade launchers. The wave of energy behaves similarly to a Thermite grenade used in Solar subclasses.
Double Fire	Special Grenade Launchers	Hard-hitting twin-fire rounds.	Each shot fires two projectiles simultaneously.
Area Denial Frame	Special Grenade Launchers	Burst fire Grenade Launcher. Each projectile creates a lingering pool on impact that deals damage over time.	Each shot fire shots that leave behind an area of effect pool that damages anyone standing within it, similar to Witherhoard.
Rocket-Assisted Frame	Special Sidearms	Sidearm fires self-propelled rocket ammunition. Projectiles explode on impact for high damage.	The stats from these weapons combine the traditional sidearms with the blast radius and velocity used on rocket launchers.
Micro-Missile Frame	The Mountaintop	This weapon fires a high-speed projectile in a straight line and deals reduced self-damage. Move faster with this weapon equipped.	Stats are similar to Lightweight Frame grenade launchers, including movement speed boost. The frame also allows for jumping at great heights and distances with explosive knockback from the weapon.
MIDA Synergy	MIDA Mini-Tool CALUS Mini-Tool	Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped. This weapon grands additional speed benefits when MIDA Multi-Tool is also equipped.	Stats are similar to Lightweight Frame submachine guns.
Together Forever	Drang Drang (Baroque)	This weapon has a well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy. Kills with this weapon reload Sturm and overflow a bonus damage round into it.	Stats are similar to Adaptive Frame sidearms.
Shot Package	Felwinter's Lie	Aggressive frame Shotgun modified to have more uniform pellet spread.	The pellet spread offered by this trait makes the Felwinter's Lie very attractive for consistent one-hit-kill capability at long shotgun ranges in PVP modes. Stats are otherwise similar to other Aggressive Frame shotguns.
Legacy PR-55 Frame	BxR-55 Battler	Customized frame with dramatically increased accuracy, stability, and targeting while hip firing.	Stats are similar to Lightweight Frame pulse rifles, but does not feature the Lightweight Frame movement speed boost.
Exotic perks	Exotic weapons	Varies.	Each Exotic weapon has a unique intrinsic trait that makes it play drastically differently from other weapons. While they may have impact and rate of fire similar to normal intrinsic traits, they do not inherently carry over any benefits of those traits.