The Qua Nilus II is a 900 RPM Adaptive Frame Strand Submachine Gun introduced in the Edge of Fate expansion. While it doesn’t redefine the SMG meta, its synergy with Strand builds and decent perk pool make it a solid option for Guardians looking to round out their arsenal—especially in close-range encounters.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Qua Nilus II, including how to farm it, the best god rolls for PvE and PvP, and what makes it worth chasing (or skipping).
What Is Qua Nilus II?
- Type: Submachine Gun (SMG)
- Frame: Adaptive Frame – 900 RPM
- Element: Strand
- Ammo: Primary
- Craftable: No
- Source: Edge of Fate – Portal Activities
Adaptive Frame SMGs like Qua Nilus II fire at 900 RPM and sit between Precision and Lightweight frames in feel. They offer a balance between stability and raw fire rate, making them versatile, but not always standout unless perked well.
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Qua Nilus II shares its archetype with other adaptive SMGs like Mirror Imago but falls short in versatility. However, its Strand synergy and a few standout perks offer value for specific builds, particularly for melee-focused or Threadling-based setups.
How to Get Qua Nilus II
Qua Nilus II drops from Portal activities in the Edge of Fate expansion. It may be featured as a Bonus Focus weapon on rotation days, guaranteeing a drop if you achieve a B-grade or higher in the activity.
- Check the activity card in the bottom-left of the screen before launching.
- Occasionally available via Zavala’s weekly Armory offering.
- Boost chances by increasing your weekly rank in the Seasonal Hub.
Note: Qua Nilus II is not craftable, so your only route to a god roll is through repeated drops and farming focused activities.
Qua Nilus II PvE God Roll
For PvE, your focus should be on synergy with your subclass and maximizing ad-clear or melee synergy.
Recommended PvE God Roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel (for improved handling and stability)
- Magazine: Appended Mag or Tactical Mag (slightly increased magazine size and reload)
- Perk 1: Slice or Proximity Power
- Perk 2: Hatchling, Dragonfly, or Swashbuckler
- Masterwork: Reload Speed or Stability
- Origin Trait: Wild Card or Vanguard Determination
Why This Roll Works:
- Slice lets your shots inflict Sever after using your class ability, reducing enemy damage output—excellent for Strand builds.
- Hatchling complements Strand synergy further by spawning Threadlings on precision or multi-kills.
- Proximity Power + Swashbuckler is ideal for melee builds, boosting both melee and weapon damage when near enemies.
Guardians running Strand subclasses will get extra value from Qua Nilus II’s synergy. Slice applies Sever on activation of your class ability, weakening enemies, while Hatchling spawns Threadlings—perfect for crowd control. Pair these perks with Strand Fragments that extend debuff duration or regenerate class abilities to create a powerful ad-clear loop.
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Qua Nilus II PvP God Roll
In PvP, Qua Nilus II doesn’t outperform top-tier Crucible SMGs, but a good roll can still provide decent performance in short to mid-range engagements.
Recommended PvP God Roll:
- Barrel: Smallbore or Hammer-Forged Rifling
- Magazine: Accurized Rounds
- Perk 1: Dynamic Sway Reduction or Encore
- Perk 2: Swashbuckler or Harmony
- Masterwork: Range
- Origin Trait: Vanguard Determination
Why This Roll Works:
- Dynamic Sway Reduction increases accuracy and stability the longer you fire—crucial in high-RPM duels.
- Encore grants stacking bonuses to range, stability, and accuracy after precision kills, great for snowballing in 6v6.
- Swashbuckler synergizes with melee-heavy builds and makes clean-up kills easier.
- Accurized Rounds and Range Masterwork help push your falloff distance to nearly 23m, giving you an edge in mid-range engagements.
If you’re playing in competitive 3v3 modes like Trials of Osiris or Competitive Crucible, Dynamic Sway Reduction is a safer bet than Encore due to its consistency. You’ll benefit from tighter accuracy over time, especially in duels where the time-to-kill window is shorter.
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For players running a double primary build, Binary Orbit is a niche but viable option. It grants bonus damage when no special weapon is equipped and can support high-uptime loadouts for roam-focused PvP styles.
Qua Nilus II Perk (Quick View)
| Slot | PvE Roll | PvP Roll |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Fluted Barrel / Corkscrew Rifling | Smallbore / Hammer-Forged Rifling |
| Magazine | Appended Mag / Tactical Mag | Accurized Rounds |
| Perk 1 | Slice / Proximity Power | Dynamic Sway Reduction / Encore |
| Perk 2 | Hatchling / Dragonfly / Swashbuckler | Swashbuckler / Harmony / Binary Orbit |
| Masterwork | Reload Speed / Stability | Range |
All Available Perks
Perk 1 Options:
- Slice
- Proximity Power
- Encore
- Offhand Strike
- Dynamic Sway Reduction
- Transcendent Moment
Perk 2 Options:
- Hatchling
- Dragonfly
- Swashbuckler
- Binary Orbit
- Surrounded
- Harmony
Origin Traits:
- Vanguard Determination
- Wild Card
Wild Card offers adaptive bonuses based on weapon archetype and excels in more passive or flexible builds. Vanguard Determination, on the other hand, grants damage resistance after using your class ability and getting kills—ideal for aggressive PvE and PvP loadouts.
Is Qua Nilus II Worth Farming?
PvE Verdict:
B-Tier — It can be useful if you lack a solid Strand SMG or want to experiment with new melee/Threadling builds. Synergizes well with exotic armor that boosts ability uptime.
PvP Verdict:
A-Tier (with the right perks) — While not top-tier, it becomes viable with range-focused perks and stacking buffs like Encore or Swashbuckler.
Alternatives to Qua Nilus II
If you’re not satisfied with its performance or drop RNG:
- Mirror Imago (Strand) – Higher PvE value overall.
- Antedate (Arc) – Great for Crucible.
- The Hero’s Burden (Void) – Consistent choice with better damage perks like Destabilizing Rounds.
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Qua Nilus II may not shake up the SMG meta, but it has its niche. With strong Strand synergy, viable rolls for both PvE and PvP, and the ability to support aggressive playstyles, it’s worth grabbing a few copies—especially when it’s the bonus focus drop. Play Now!
