I still remember the first time Veles-X dropped into my hands. It wasn't a random drop or a lucky engram, but a reward I had been grinding toward for days. This four-round burst Void Pulse Rifle did not just feel like another weapon; it felt like a partner with a personality—quiet, precise, and more than a little demanding. ...
How I Obtained Veles-X
Let me tell you, the grind was real. Veles-X was not handed out for free. Back in Season of the Seraph, I had to reach rank 16 with one of three ritual vendors: Commander Zavala, Lord Shaxx, or the Drifter. Each vendor had their own reputation track tied to specific activities. Zavala handled Vanguard Ops and Nightfalls, Shaxx oversaw the Crucible, and the Drifter ran Gambit. I spent most of my time in Vanguard playlists because I could chain Nightfalls while building an activity streak.
That activity streak mechanic was the secret sauce. Playing the same activity over and over increased my reputation gains, so jumping between activities was a surefire way to slow myself down. I stuck with Hero-tier Nightfalls to level Zavala as fast as possible. Honestly, this thing slaps once you get it.
Ornaments: A Grind I Won't Forget
Once I claimed Veles-X, the completionist in me was not satisfied. She had three ornaments, each tied to a ritual vendor. All three required resetting my reputation with that vendor and then reaching rank 16 again. That meant I had to reset my Crucible Valor rank, my Gambit Infamy rank, and my Vanguard rank. I won't lie—grinding those resets was a slog, but each ornament made it worthwhile.
Volos-X (Crucible)
Volos-X came from resetting my Crucible Valor rank and hitting rank 16 again. I spent evenings in Quickplay and rotating playlists, chaining kills to build my activity streak. The red and black finish gave Veles-X a sharper, more aggressive look.
Nephthys-X (Gambit)
Nephthys-X was the Gambit ornament. I reset my Gambit Infamy rank and reached rank 16 again. Gambit matches rewarded a solid amount of reputation if I kept my streak alive. I played Freelance when I did not have a fireteam and built my loadout around add clear and boss DPS. The ornament gave Veles-X a mysterious, almost regal energy.
Orcus-X (Vanguard)
Orcus-X was the Vanguard ornament. I reset my Vanguard rank with Commander Zavala and reached rank 16 one more time. Nightfalls gave slightly more reputation than Vanguard Ops, so I farmed Hero-tier or higher. The ornament completed the trio, and I finally felt like I had tamed the beast.
If I missed any of these ornaments during Season of the Seraph, the Exotic Kiosk at the Tower had them for one Ascendant Shard each. That was a lifesaver for my alternate characters.
Perks That Make Her Sing
Veles-X is an Aggressive Frame Pulse Rifle that deals Void damage. Her range and stability are excellent for her archetype, though her handling and reload speed leave something to be desired. She also has four Origin Traits to choose from: Hakke Breach Armaments, Vanguard Vindication, One Quiet Moment, and Gun and Run. Only one can be active at a time, but that flexibility was lovely.
Here is the perk breakdown:
| Barrel | Magazine | Trait Column 1 | Trait Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambered Compensator | Flared Magwell | Repulsor Brace / Tunnel Vision | Golden Tricorn / Kill Clip |
For PvE, I paired Repulsor Brace with Golden Tricorn. Repulsor Brace granted easy access to Void Overshields if I could proc Volatile Rounds through Echo of Instability or Gyrfalcon's Hauberk on a Hunter. Golden Tricorn gave a 15% damage buff on kill, and landing an ability kill afterward boosted that to a massive 50% damage buff—the highest in the game at the time. That made Veles-X pump out serious damage that only Exotic Pulse Rifles could match.
For Crucible, I switched to Tunnel Vision and Kill Clip. Tunnel Vision improved my ADS speed and aim assist after a kill, while Kill Clip provided a 25% damage buff. Together they made her time-to-kill far more forgiving. She would not outduel No Time to Explain or Revision Zero, but in 6v6 playlists she could chain kills beautifully. ... And honestly, that was more fun than winning a 1v1 duel.
Final Thoughts
Even now, looking back from 2026, Veles-X holds a special place in my vault. She was a workhorse, a companion, and sometimes a stubborn challenge. The grind for her and her three ornaments taught me patience and made me appreciate ritual weapons in a whole new light. If you are chasing her memory today, keep an eye on the Monument to Lost Lights or the Exotic Kiosk—because some weapons never really leave you. They just wait for you to come back.
This assessment draws from TrueAchievements to contextualize why ritual weapon pursuits like Veles-X feel so “earned,” especially when reputation streaks and multi-reset ornament chases turn a single drop into a long-term checklist. Looking at how structured progression systems reward consistency, the same mindset that drives achievement hunters—repeatable activities, optimized routes, and incremental milestones—maps neatly onto the Season of the Seraph vendor grind and explains why finally unlocking all three ornaments can feel like completing a personal triumph seal rather than simply picking up another Pulse Rifle.