Zhuge

This devastating automatic crossbow is the perfect marriage of ancient Earth weaponry and Tenno technology. Built as a status primary / primer option for squad clear and mission pressure.

Signature

Zhuge is not a signature weapon — any frame can use it without a signature passive.

When to Pick

• You want a Rifle that fits a status primary / primer play pattern.
• Your loadout needs what Zhuge does well — check Mission Usefulness below before investing Forma.
• You’re ready to Catalyze / Forma it if you plan to main it on Steel Path.

• Normal Attack

  Impact 5 · Slash 20 · Puncture 75

  Projectile · Crit 20% / 2× · Status 35% · Fire Rate 4.17 · Projectile 90

• Normal Attack (Projectile): Impact 5.0, Slash 20.0, Puncture 75.0.

Permanent investments on this weapon copy — separate from the Prime variant.

• Orokin CatalystCapacity

  Doubles mod capacity so endgame builds fit.

  Usually the first permanent upgrade on a weapon you plan to main.

• FormaPolarity

  Adds or changes polarities so matching mods cost half capacity.

  expect multiple Forma for a hungry config.

• Exilus Weapon AdapterSlot

  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.

• Primary Arcane AdapterArcane

  Lets you install a weapon arcane for a strong passive bonus.

  Worth it once the base mod config is already solid.

• Riven ModRiven

  Unique rolled mod. Disposition 1.2.

  Chase clean desirable stats; skip awkward negatives on low-disposition weapons.

• Zhuge PrimeVariant

  The primed version — stronger stats and usually better polarities.

  Upgrade path when relics/parts are available.

Common building blocks for this gun — not a full ranked build, just the mods you’ll see most often.

• Galvanized Chamber

  Multishot

  Core multishot — usually the first damage slot.

• Serration

  Base Damage

  Flat rifle damage foundation — still the default +Damage slot under Galvanized suites.

• Critical Delay

  Crit Chance

  Strong crit-chance option; fire-rate trade is often acceptable.

• Vital Sense

  Crit Damage

  Standard crit-damage multiplier.

• Galvanized Scope

  Crit / Headshots

  Excellent when you can keep headshots; optional for pure spray.

• Rifle Elementalist

  Status Damage

  Boosts elemental DoTs once procs are in the build.

• Elemental dual-stats

  Elemental

  Viral + Heat or Corrosive + Heat for Steel Path.

• Vigilante Armaments

  Multishot / Set

  Budget multishot plus Vigilante set crit chance.

• Ammo Mutation / Magazine mods

  QoL

  Keeps long missions comfortable on hungry guns.

Multishot

Usually the highest value damage slot — more projectiles, more procs, more clear.

Critical

Stack crit chance/damage when the weapon’s crit stats justify a crit suite.

Elemental

Faction/elemental lines for Steel Path; Viral+Heat is a safe default on many guns.

Fire Rate

Fire rate raises DPS but burns ammo — pair with reload/ammo economy when needed.

Check the How to Get table for blueprint / part drop sources.