
Status Melee / Conditioner
Each strike of this infested glaive infects its target with viral pathogens. Occasionally, it discharges the spores of rabid, enemy-seeking maggots, either in-flight or on contact with the enemy.
Ordnance Telemetry
Damage
262.0
Crit
15.0%
Crit Mult
2.1x
Status
30.0%
Damage Composition
262.0 total
Weapon dossier
Each strike of this infested glaive infects its target with viral pathogens. Built as a status melee / conditioner option for squad clear and mission pressure.
Pathocyst is not a signature weapon — any frame can use it without a signature passive.
Normal Attack
Impact 57 · Slash 61 · Puncture 55 · Viral 89
Crit 15% / 2.1× · Status 30% · Fire Rate 0.67
Throw
Impact 49 · Slash 78 · Puncture 43 · Viral 118
Thrown · Crit 17% / 2.3× · Status 33% · Fire Rate 0.67 · Projectile 30
Throw Bounce Explosion
Viral 393
AoE · Crit 17% / 2.3× · Status 33% · Fire Rate 0.67 · Falloff 0–4.9m (−50%)
Throw Recall Explosion
Viral 786
AoE · Crit 17% / 2.3× · Status 33% · Fire Rate 0.67 · Falloff 0–4.9m (−0%)
Charged Throw
Impact 127 · Slash 135 · Puncture 121 · Viral 193
Thrown · Crit 21% / 2.5× · Status 35% · Fire Rate 0.83 · Projectile 30
Charged Throw Bounce Explosion
Viral 786
AoE · Crit 21% / 2.5× · Status 35% · Fire Rate 0.83 · Falloff 0–4.9m (−50%)
Charged Throw Recall Explosion
Viral 1572
AoE · Crit 21% / 2.5× · Status 35% · Fire Rate 0.83 · Falloff 0–4.9m (−0%)
Slam Attack
Viral 524
AoE · Crit 15% / 2.1× · Status 30% · Fire Rate 0.67 · Falloff 0–5m (−50%)
Heavy Slam Attack
Viral 786
AoE · Crit 15% / 2.1× · Status 30% · Fire Rate 0.67 · Falloff 0–6m (−30%)
Permanent investments on this weapon copy — separate from the Prime variant.
Doubles mod capacity so endgame builds fit.
Usually the first permanent upgrade on a weapon you plan to main.
Adds or changes polarities so matching mods cost half capacity.
expect multiple Forma for a hungry config.
Unlocks utility options (Exilus on guns; melee focuses on stance polarity + utility mods).
Install when you need ammo, handling, or QoL without sacrificing damage slots.
Lets you install a weapon arcane for a strong passive bonus.
Worth it once the base mod config is already solid.
Unique rolled mod. Disposition 1.35.
Chase clean desirable stats; skip awkward negatives on low-disposition weapons.
Common building blocks for this gun — not a full ranked build, just the mods you’ll see most often.
Crit Chance
Scales crit with combo — the backbone of most crit melee builds.
Status Chance
Scales status with combo for Condition Overload style setups.
Condition Damage
Huge damage when the target already has status effects.
Crit Damage
Standard crit-damage multiplier for Blood Rush crit melees.
Primed Pressure Point / Pressure Point
Base Damage
Flat damage foundation before multipliers.
Attack Speed
On-crit attack speed to keep the combo climbing.
Range mods (Reach / Primed Reach)
Range
Helps pack clear and heavy-attack coverage.
Elemental dual-stats
Elemental
Viral + Heat or Corrosive + Heat depending on the tileset.
Damage/CO → Blood Rush / Weeping Wounds → Crit Damage → Elemental → Range/Speed QoL.
| Mission / Context | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption | Test whether Pathocyst still clears or enables clear when enemies are dense and overlevelled. | |
| Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs | Use Pathocyst when its fire pattern matches fast tile clears — skip if it feels awkward on empty lanes. | |
| Mobile Defense / Excavation | Hold objectives by deleting approach packs with Pathocyst, then reposition. | |
| Open World / Long Sightlines | Long sightlines favor hitscan/sniper/bow patterns over short falloff or melee. | |
| Solo Boss / Single-Target | Fine if Pathocyst has strong single-target multipliers; otherwise bring a dedicated boss weapon. |
Blueprint / parts commonly listed from sources like Zealoid Prelate. Full drop rows are in How to Get below.
Other options if Pathocyst isn’t the right fit.
Another Melee if you want less status than Pathocyst (Ack & Brunt: 10.0%).
Another Melee option if Pathocyst’s handling or acquisition doesn’t fit your farm.