Desolate Hands
Used by Baruuk
Desolate Hands
Summon a bevy of orbiting daggers to seek out enemy guns, destroying them with a small explosion. Combine with Elude to double the range.
Introduced in Update 24.2 (2018-12-18)
Ability stats
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- See in-game / wiki ability card for rank values
- Summon a bevy of orbiting daggers to seek out enemy guns, destroying them with a small explosion.
Info
- Desolate Hands is Baruuk’s ability 3.
- Summon a bevy of orbiting daggers to seek out enemy guns, destroying them with a small explosion.
- Use it with the rest of the kit — especially Elude, Lull — instead of casting it in isolation.
- Ability Strength, Duration, Range, and Efficiency each matter differently; check Mod Scaling below before dumping all four.
Tips & Tricks
- Read the battlefield first — cast Desolate Hands when it actually solves the room, not on cooldown habit.
- Pair Desolate Hands with movement and energy economy so you’re not stranded after a big spend.
- On Steel Path, confirm whether Desolate Hands still carries without strip, Viral, or a squad buff.
- If you never press 3, it’s the first Helminth candidate on Baruuk.
Ability dossier · Desolate Hands
Synergies
- Desolate HandsElude
Use Desolate Hands to set up Elude, or follow Elude with Desolate Hands while enemies are vulnerable.
- Desolate HandsLull
Use Desolate Hands to set up Lull, or follow Lull with Desolate Hands while enemies are vulnerable.
- Desolate HandsSerene Storm
Use Desolate Hands to set up Serene Storm, or follow Serene Storm with Desolate Hands while enemies are vulnerable.
Mod Scaling
Strength
- Strength matters if Desolate Hands scales effect power; otherwise dump it for other stats.
Duration
- Duration is low priority on Desolate Hands unless an augment or lingering effect needs it.
Range
- Increases Desolate Hands’s reach, radius, or targeting distance.
Efficiency
- Desolate Hands costs energy each cast — Efficiency (or strong regen) keeps the loop comfortable on long missions.
Priority
Stack the stats that actually move this ability’s needle, then Efficiency for uptime.
Mission Use Cases
| Mission | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Desolate Hands still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Use Desolate Hands to control or delete the swarm on the objective, then reposition. |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Cast Desolate Hands only when it saves time — skip it on empty tiles. |
| Spy / Rescue / Quiet Routes | If Desolate Hands is loud or forces combat, save it for after the vault; if it’s stealth-friendly, use it to stay safe. |
Comparisons
- VS
Vs similar tools on other frames — Desolate Hands is tuned for Baruuk’s loop — don’t judge it as a standalone subsume without the rest of the kit.
Elude
Lull
Serene Storm