2) Gunslinger
If it wasn’t for the June update, the Gunslinger sub-class would probably be at the bottom of this list. However, there is no denying that the nerf to Trip Mines impacted their viability in both PvE and PvP. Thankfully, this was balanced out with buffs to Swarm Grenades and passives like Scavenger and Chain of Woes.
Yet, it’s the sheer killing power now afforded to the Golden Gun super that pushes it over the edge. There once was a time when this powerful ability could barely knick a yellow bar enemy, but now it tears straight through them. As it should, especially since the Golden Gun is clearly designed to deal a ton of damage to one specific target. There is no other sub-class in the game that can now output the sheer damage, which makes it quite a potent class for focusing on bosses in Nightfalls and Strikes.
The problem, sadly, is that there was a point when the Golden Gun was useful in higher level content like King’s Fall. However, once everyone leveled up and acquired better gear, it became infinitely obviously that the Shadow Shot’s pure utility was the go-to choice. Which honestly is disappointing given that Golden Gun is a truly powerful super when wielded in the hands of an expert marksman. It’s just too bad the game design overall doesn’t reward this class like it does for ones that buff damage.
