This also happens in Crota's End during the Ir Yut fight (which I solo'd last night. Painful), but seemingly nowhere else.

I have a question about that Knight: when he puts up his black-mirror-shield thing, can you shoot through it, regardless of weapon? I've tried it with numerous guns, and they'll shoot through his shield, but only his shield, of all the knights in the encounter. Has anyone else noticed this? It works with machine guns, scout rifles, handcannons, even the mythoclast sometimes.

#preordercancelled etc.

Is it that useful?

Maybe not completely useful... but it sure is fun shooting Omingul through stuff on that dang stike. Or shooting that night that spawns to the right of where you enter her room.

I still find fusion rifles to be the best for picking damage off a boss or taking down shields. Bonus for a boss like Omnigul, where popping her shields with a fusion is far safer. If ammo allows, I often switch to a rocket launcher, but rarely does 7 rockets take a boss down more than half way.

Is it that useful? I've never been lucky enough to roll a Sniper with AP rounds. I know the Vanguard LDR has them, but I already have an Arc LDR with Field Scout, Outlaw and ... Something I dont remember.

I like it a lot, being the point. Is it worth buying another one just for AP rounds?

Maybe not. I only got it because my other LDR was void. It's really really nice to shoot stuff through walls and to headshot two knights at once, but you only get 4 shots (5 if clown cartridge activates) . It's a tradeoff.

If you're using a sniper in PvE and it's not an exotic or PR, you're doing it wrong.

I disagree about as hard as you can. LDR 5001 is like having an icebreaker without using an exotic slot. That way I can use it and Gjallarhorn at the same time. Fatebringer / LDR / Gjallarhorn is pretty unbeatable in the Death Singer / Crota fight portion of the raid. On the bridge, it's Mythoclast / LDR / Hunger of Crota.

Elsewhere it's great because you get green ammo packs a lot, so Icebreaker's regen ability isn't needed. I only really use Icebreaker on the gatekeeper and Atheon fight, due to the fact you DON'T get green ammo drops. If I had a Black Hammer, there'd be nowhere I'd want to use icebreaker.

If you're using a sniper in PvE and it's not an exotic or PR, you're doing it wrong.

That's a bit much. My Arc Final Boss has served me well, considering I'm just an awful sniper. And Praedyth's Revenge is just going to be better since it's more stable, though the Arc one has perks I like vs. bosses.

And I got the Solar one from the Cruciblebot but I haven't used it much, so it's name eludes me.

Generally I just close quarters and kill everything with Doctor Nope or melees, and save the fusion rifle for shields.

I bring sniper rifles along for boss fights.

There's also survival to consider for the burn-enabled nightfalls/weeklies. For an un-skilled sniper like me, in the time it takes to pop around a corner, find a target, and line up a sniper rifle shot, I'm probably dead (Patience and Time being a possible exception, but only if I'm very careful about the timing). With a fusion rifle, once I have a rough idea where the target is, I start charging, pop out, and fire. The time I'm exposed is much less. I think a sniper could be just as effective, were I able to make quick shots reliably. But I'm not.

I do have an Ice Breaker because the tactical options it offers are just too much to ignore, and for reasons I'm not 100% sure of, I don't seem to have nearly as much trouble hitting with it as with other rifles. Something about the scope and/or the level of aim assist on that one seems to suit me more.

I like it a lot, being the point. Is it worth buying another one just for AP rounds?

But this is irrelevant is PvP

So LDR is only really better because PvE, right ?

Then stability and RoF is king in PvP

Yup, which is why Praedyth's revenge rules PvP.

I need that sniper so much

I'm a raid virgin

I favor the Final Boss over the LDR. Mine came with Armor Piercing rounds, so I've never really had to look to another sniper. It's King in the sniping domain, though Praedyth's revenge is not too far behind (PR is much more noob-friendly, since it has a large clip, high fire rate, and excellent stability).

If you're using a sniper in PvE and it's not an exotic or PR, you're doing it wrong.

I don't usually snipe in Crucible, but I still prefer to use my LDR since I'm comfortable with it. I should probably just use Praedyth's Revenge, but I never do. I suppose if sniping were higher on my priority list I would.

But this is irrelevant is PvP

So LDR is only really better because PvE, right ?

Then stability and RoF is king in PvP

Well, yes, but this entire thread has been about PvE. I doubt they'll ever introduce a sniper that has enough impact to kill with one body shot in PvP.

Gozen-C can do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-RKlqq6vrA

That's with the Final Round perk. You have to burn ammo for it.

Other (better) snipers with the same Impact rating and Final Round should be able to do it as well.