Scout Rifles are currently the second-least used weapon type, ahead of only Sidearms that have been in that game for ~7 weeks, as opposed to just over 10 months. What I want to know is: why? They answer several problems and complaints that people seem to have at the moment
Snipers OP - Scout Rifles are the only weapons that can actually compete with Snipers at long range reliably, so why are they not used?
Thorn needs a range nerf - see above
Auto Rifle buff - Some of the high RoF Scout Rifles can be rolled with Full Auto to provide a weapon that fires faster than a Focus Fire Auto Rifle of the SUROS Impact/RoF denomination, while also dealing more damage and having more range, so why not use them? Good examples are the Deadshot Luna and the NL Shadow. Makeshift AR right there.
Thorn/TLW are broken with 2-shots - High impact Scout Rifles can score 3-hit kills that no one can complain about, hell, The Scholar can 2-shot. If you're looking for a counter, try MIDA Multi-Tool, the hidden talent of High-Calibre rounds and the speedy movements it allows for turn you into a someone that screams "You can't beat what you can't hit"
If you were to ask me (here we go, yet another opinion), I think the reason behind their disuse is the abuse of Shotguns. I shan't lie, there is no worse weapon to be caught using than a Scout Rifle if a Shotgun comes round the corner, ready to blow your head off. I'd be very interested to know anyone else's reasons and thoughts on the matter.
Perhaps, if nothing is going to be nerfed, a slight Scout Rifle buff is in order? The last one was in October and has shown no signs of increased usage
Edit 1: It's great to have found a plethora of Scout Rifle users like myself, and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading and debating the points raised here. For now, I'm going to sleep, so will be unable to reply to any of you for the next few hours (rest assured, I shall do my best to get back to you ASAP). Thank you all very much for keeping this post as active as it has been!
Edit 2: The answer I have been given many times now is "Why use them when Hand Cannons are available?". This is exactly the problem the Crucible faces at the moment. A Scout Rifle requires precision and nerve, but Exotic Hand Cannons can be put to stellar use by just about anyone, so there is no incentive to not use them - the bad players use them in hopes of raising their K/D by using something overpowered, and the good players use them so they don't fall behind to everyone else using the same weapons. Someone I used to be friends with, and now despise, has a K/D of 3.97 and 41942 kills with The Last Word, almost double the kills I have in Crucible full stop. From what I understand, he's ranked the 11th best player in the world (according to DestinyTracker). Combine those kind of stats with the sheer numbers of people using TLW/Thorn, it amazes me that this has gone on for so long.
Edit 3: Seriously, massive thanks to everyone who has kept this in the "Trending" section for the last 15-16 hours, stoking the fire of debate with each new point raised. I owe you all one :D
Edit 4: Out of curiosity, I'm wondering who has seen Datto's video that complains about the current state of Crucible ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHenCd2BWNQ for those of you who are interested and yet to see it). It sums up pretty much every non-Scout Rifle related thing I could say, and unlike myself, he's a big enough personality in the community to cause a change
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I use MIDA all the time. I have bounced between using Hawkmoon, Vex, Thorn and settled on MIDA. I will fully admit I run with MIDA and a Rangefinder Matador for in tight, but if possible I prefer to fight from a distance with MIDA staggering the Thorn using bastards.
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Mida multi tool. Is my favorite in game primary, I'vr been trying to find a lengendary I like but not having much luck. B-line trama is my cqc map weapon currently. I'm not sure about the shadow or luna yet.
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When I murder guardians in the crucible or IB it is always with my legendary Salvation State/Fang/VoC, period. To me its the most versatile, it can compete with snipers on distance engagements and if used properly with the right strategy and shotgun, you can do great. I never used to use shotguns but with the prevalence of Thorn/TLW's I need something to compliment the scout for close range.
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You see them more then Auto Rifles guaranteed.
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The Hand Cannons are the problem. They have identical range and more impact. It's so sad when you can get outgunned by someone using a Thorn or Last Word when you even have a Heavy LMG. I don't even use LMGs anymore.
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Scout rifles suck in pvp
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Tropical the island breeze All of nature wild and free This is where I long to be La isla bonita And when the samba played The sun would set so high Ring through my ears and sting my eyes Your Spanish lullaby
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I main a scout rifle everytime in the crucible. I second a shotgun in my other slot. Best of both worlds.
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I run MIDA, or Salvation State, depending on my secondary slot. I love scout rifles, always have, but id be lying if I said I didn't pad my stats with Red Death. There has to be some balance figured out, I shouldnt get out ranged by thorn!
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Once the thorn is nerfed into the ground and tlw is adjusted the mida will reign supreme
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I use vision of confluence thing wrecks in crucible
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Edited by Combo164: 7/13/2015 4:12:55 AMMainly because of the fact that they're long range weapons and most maps cater to close quarter engagements. Not to mention the fact that the exotic handcannons and pulse kill faster than any scout can dream of. (I say exotics mainly because legendary handcannons or pulse usually dont kill as fast as their exotic higher ups) The main thing that needs changing is the map layouts. I don't think buffing damage should happen simply because making scouts stronger or basically near handcannon strength will then make handcannons obsolete, since scouts would then be better in clip size and range if the damage were similar between the two. Same issue as the beta when scouts were much better than handcannons overall. Also, anyone know a good roll for Lunar scout? Mines currently has rodeo, high caliber rounds, explosive rounds, something else in middle and zen moment at the end. Note i have yet to unlock any of them.
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Lack of ranged maps where the scout rifles excel (combined arms maps). Also, the exotic hand cannons pretty much have the same range with no damage drop off.
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I rock my mida multi-tool! You just need to play less aggressively with scout rifles to be successful
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Scouts are unused because of Thorn and Last Word
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Why are scout rifles not being used in pvp? The answer is Thorn.
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I use scout rifles all the time
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There are 2 reasons Thorn The last word. That or hand cannons in general
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Because right now there's no reason to use scout rifles when hand cannons have the same range.
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Im a solid last word and sniper user and a few days ago i got pooped on by a deadshot luna with full auto. I was absolutely dumbfounded by how fast it shot
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You look cute today
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Because they can be out ranged. Thorn has no real penalty to range. I use MIDA as my main in crucible and it works decently.
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Handcannons do everything Scout Rifles can do, but better in their proper range. Most maps are the perfect size for Handcannons, ergo Scout Rifles are impractical.
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Because they suck... Stop asking stupid questions
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They aren't used because these good for nothin kids don't want to think outside the box. You break shields with the snipers or fusion rifle then finish them off with a scout rifle or pulse rifle. This was the tactic in the old halo ce days. Nobody wants to weapon switch anymore for some reason.
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Because exotic hand cannons