The Forward Path

For all possible perks, check out The Forward Path over on d2gunsmith.com

The Forward Path is a 600 RPM (Adaptive Frame) Kinetic Auto Rifle, brought back to us in Season 11 Iron Banner. It was in the first batch of IB weapons that featured the new Iron Gaze and Iron Grip perks.

PvP Rolls

The Forward Path, perhaps unsurprisingly given where it drops, is an absolute bear in PvP. 600 RPM ARs dominated the S11 meta and even though they were slightly reined in, they’re still phenomenal. It has terrific base stats including the highest Aim Assist (71) of any Adaptive AR and is just an all-around terrific weapon.

A few interesting videos to consider:

• Incoming Top-Tier Weapons! Prepare for GOD ROLLS - Fallout Plays
• The Forward Path best perk combinations: It’s GOOD! - CoolGuy
• The Forward Path Review (97 Aim Assist & Iron Gaze/Grip Review) - Aztecross

TFP rolls with sights, not barrels, meaning that the appearance and effective range can be materially modified by your choice here.

• 25m: Hitmark, Cleanshot
• 28m: Red-Dot Micro, Red Dot 2 MOA
• 39m: Rifle Scope ST, Rifle Scope SSF. One sticking point for some on these long-range scopes is the muzzle flash. The constrained view combined with muzzle flash can make target acquisition difficult. “When you get down to 20m, tracking targets becomes an issue.” (Aztecross)

  “Chasing Stability”

  Tap the Trigger starts you off stable and Dynamic Sway Reduction keeps you stable. Iron Grip is a crazy boost to Stability.

  Barrels [ 60%]: Red Dot Micro, Red Dot 2 MOA
  Mags    [ 28%]: Steady Rounds
  Perks 1 [ 16%]: Dynamic Sway Reduction
  Perks 2 [ 33%]: Tap the Trigger, Iron Grip
  MWorks  [ 25%]: Stability MW
  

“Knock ‘em Down”

Don’t underestimate the effect of MKC. Here’s how it plays out:

• Base: 9 shots (8C, 1B) - 0.8s TTK // 14B 1.3s
• MKCx1: 7 shots (7C, 0B) - 0.6s TTK // 12B 1.1s

That’s a pretty solid little boost; definitely spicy in sixes.

  Barrels [ 60%]: Red Dot Micro, Red Dot 2 MOA
  Mags    [ 28%]: Steady Rounds
  Perks 1 [ 16%]: Dynamic Sway Reduction
  Perks 2 [ 16%]: Multikill Clip
  MWorks  [ 25%]: Stability MW

“CoolGuy’s Hybrid AR/SMG”

Since damage falloff happens at 20m, you want these super zoomed out scopes and all the Stability and Handling we can get. We’re only going to accept low-zoom scopes because you can only use this as close range and long-zoom scope won’t have any use (and works against you).

  Barrels [ 60%]: Cleanshot IS, Hitmark IS
  Mags    [ 28%]: Steady Rounds
  Perks 1 [ 16%]: Dynamic Sway Reduction
  Perks 2 [ 16%]: Iron Gaze
  MWorks  [ 25%]: Handling MW

PvE Rolls

If you’re looking at The Forward Path from the perspective of a PvE player, you’ll find a standard set of perks from seasons past. As Year 4 rolls on and more Kinetic weapons appear with sweet new perks like Surplus, Wellspring and One for All, TFP will find trouble shining. These are some workhorse rolls that will hold up until that point.

“Robbin’ and Bucklin’“

Classic combo here. Grave Robber creates ammo to reload the mag and that melee kill will activate Swashbuckler x5.

  Barrels [ 60%]: Red Dot Micro, Red Dot 2 MOA
  Mags    [ 28%]: Accurized Rounds
  Perks 1 [ 16%]: Grave Robber
  Perks 2 [ 16%]: Swashbuckler
  MWorks  [ 25%]: Range MW

“Ragin’, Clippin’ and Bucklin’“

While Feeding Frenzy was slightly nerfed, it’s still a terrific perk, activating (and stackin) on any kill. With two kills, you’re at Outlaw level and with three kills you’re beyond Outlaw.

  Barrels [ 60%]: Red Dot Micro, Red Dot 2 MOA
  Mags    [ 28%]: Accurized Rounds
  Perks 1 [ 16%]: Feeding Frenzy
  Perks 2 [ 33%]: Multikill Clip, Swashbuckler
  MWorks  [ 25%]: Range MW