Jolt is a pivotal Arc keyword debuff in Destiny 2, introduced with the Arc 3.0 subclass update. When a combatant is Jolted, they are primed to release damaging Arc lightning upon taking further damage.
How Jolt Works
A Jolted target, upon receiving any subsequent damage instance, will periodically emit chain lightning. This lightning strikes the Jolted target itself and arcs to nearby enemies, dealing Arc damage to all affected. The Jolt effect can trigger multiple times as long as the debuff persists on the primary target and it continues to take damage.
- Application: Jolt is applied through various sources. These include specific Arc subclass abilities (such as certain grenades, melees, and Super attacks), Arc Aspects and Fragments, and weapon perks like Voltshot or abilities from certain Exotic armor pieces.
- Triggering Mechanism: Any form of damage dealt to a Jolted enemy can trigger the chain lightning effect. This includes damage from weapons, abilities, or even environmental sources.
- Damage Output: When triggered, the Jolted target takes a significant burst of Arc damage, and additional bolts of lightning chain out to other nearby combatants, also dealing Arc damage. This creates a cascade of damage in enemy groups.
Strategic Advantages of Jolt
Jolt's primary strategic advantage lies in its potent area-of-effect (AoE) damage capabilities. It excels at clearing groups of weaker enemies (add-clear) and significantly boosts overall damage output in encounters with multiple targets. A single Jolted enemy can quickly spread damage throughout a closely packed formation.
Furthermore, Jolt synergizes effectively with other Arc 3.0 mechanics and build-crafting elements. Certain Fragments can enhance Jolt by increasing its duration, the damage of its lightning, or by providing benefits like ability energy regeneration or the creation of Ionic Traces when Jolted targets are defeated. This encourages aggressive playstyles and allows for powerful ability uptime when built around Jolt application.
