The world of Destiny 2 is filled with exotic gear that not only enhances gameplay but also tells a story. Among these unique armor pieces stands the Mantle of Sunless Kindling, a remarkable Exotic chest armor tailored specifically for Warlocks. This item has captured the attention of players not just for its striking appearance, but for the powerful synergy it offers with Solar subclasses. Designed for players who enjoy aggressive ability usage and Solar ignition mechanics, the Mantle of Sunless Kindling is a must-have in both PvE and certain PvP situations. Its utility, flair, and strategic potential make it one of the most interesting additions in recent Destiny 2 seasons.
Overview of the Mantle of Sunless Kindling
Item Description and Aesthetic
The Mantle of Sunless Kindling is a Solar-themed Exotic chest piece, with glowing embers and charred textures that reflect its close connection to fire and combustion. The armor looks as if it’s forged from smoldering ash, lit with flickers of restrained heat, hinting at the explosive energy stored within. Its visual design complements Solar builds perfectly and stands out among other Exotic options visually. Warlocks who wear this mantle look like walking firestorms, harnessing the might of the sun even in darkness.
Exotic Perk: Dawnshatter Mantle
What makes the Mantle of Sunless Kindling so appealing is its signature perk,Dawnshatter Mantle. This perk increases the energy regeneration and damage output of Solar abilities when ignitions are triggered. Specifically, scoring ignitions with Solar abilities grants increased ability regen for a short time, allowing you to cast grenades, melee attacks, or class abilities more frequently. This effect creates a feedback loop where each ignition feeds into another, turning Warlocks into relentless forces of Solar power.
How to Obtain the Mantle of Sunless Kindling
Acquisition Method
The Mantle of Sunless Kindling can typically be obtained through:
- Legend and Master Lost Sectors (chest armor reward days)
- Random Exotic drops from powerful or pinnacle engrams
- Occasionally available from Xur when RNG favors Warlock chest armor
Farming Lost Sectors is the most consistent method, especially on Legendary or Master difficulty when solo. Players seeking to optimize their builds should aim to unlock this Exotic early, especially if they frequently use Solar subclasses like Dawnblade or Well of Radiance.
Best Builds with Mantle of Sunless Kindling
Solar 3.0 Synergy
The introduction of Solar 3.0 drastically increased the viability of builds focused on ignitions and scorch. The Mantle of Sunless Kindling fits perfectly within this framework, giving players a major boost when playing aggressively. Some of the most powerful combinations include:
- Grenade-focused builds: Combine with Touch of Flame and Fusion Grenades for massive scorch stacking and rapid ignitions.
- Melee builds: Use Incinerator Snap or Celestial Fire to prime enemies, then follow up with scorched AoE for frequent ignition procs.
- Well of Radiance: While more support-oriented, this subclass can benefit from ignition triggers while maintaining strong team utility.
The real power lies in the Mantle’s ability to reward consistent ignition playstyles. Every time you trigger an ignition, your abilities come back faster, which in turn makes more ignitions possible. It’s a cycle of fiery devastation perfect for players who enjoy constant ability uptime.
Recommended Mods and Fragments
To maximize the potential of Mantle of Sunless Kindling, you’ll want to pair it with key fragments and mods:
- Fragments:
- Ember of Singeing Class ability regen when scorching targets.
- Ember of Ashes Apply more scorch stacks, leading to more ignitions.
- Ember of Eruption Increases the area of effect for ignitions.
- Armor Mods:
- Grenade Kickstart and Melee Kickstart Use armor charges to speed up ability cooldowns.
- Firepower Create Orbs of Power with grenade kills to sustain energy loops.
- Explosive Wellmaker Generate Solar wells on ignition kills.
These mods and fragments help build a devastating Solar loop. You’re not just doing damage you’re actively speeding up your abilities every time you use them. The more you ignite, the faster you burn.
Performance in PvE
High-Damage Add Clearing
In PvE activities like Nightfalls, seasonal content, and even raids, the Mantle of Sunless Kindling performs exceptionally well. Add waves that would typically require heavy ammo or supers can be melted away with a single chain of ignitions. The feedback loop ensures that your abilities are almost always available, making you a powerful presence even during long engagements.
Survivability and Utility
Although the Mantle doesn’t offer direct defensive perks, its strength lies in keeping you proactive. When your grenades, melee, and rift abilities are up often, you’re able to control space, clear enemies, and recover health more consistently. For example, using Healing Rift or Ember of Empyrean extends Radiant and Restoration effects with frequent Solar kills, further enhancing your survivability.
Performance in PvP
Situational Viability
In PvP, the Mantle of Sunless Kindling isn’t top-tier, but it can shine in the right hands. With grenade-focused builds and good map control, you can use ignition damage to surprise opponents and disrupt group pushes. However, because ability regen perks are less dominant in Crucible due to time-to-kill and spacing, this Exotic doesn’t outshine others like Ophidian Aspect or Transversive Steps for general use.
Recommended PvP Strategy
If you choose to run this in PvP, lean into:
- Solar grenades with scorch (e.g., Firebolt or Solar Grenade)
- Ember of Ashes and Singeing to apply quick scorch and pressure
- Choke points to maximize AoE damage and burn effects
It can catch enemies off-guard, especially in control points or choke-heavy maps, but it’s best used by players already experienced with Solar playstyles in PvP.
The Mantle of Sunless Kindling is an exotic chest armor designed for Warlocks who want to embody the full destructive potential of the Solar subclass. It turns every ignition into a chance to burn brighter, to move faster, and to strike harder. While it may not dominate the meta in PvP, it stands tall in PvE activities as one of the most enjoyable and powerful tools for Solar Warlocks. If you’re a fan of chaining ability kills, controlling the battlefield through combustion, and looking great while doing it, this exotic deserves a spot in your loadout. From the ashes, you rise over and over again.