This post is part 2 of the series "Best Weapon Crafts" and provides both the best initial PVE specifications and the best final PVE specification for craftable weapons.
Blade: Initially Tempered Edge, keep.
Guard: Initially Enduring Guard. No opinion on other guards (yet).
Perk 1: Initially Energy Transfer, then switch to Tireless Blade (Enhanced Perk) (on kill ammo) or Relentless Strike (Enhanced Perk) (on hit ammo) when unlocked.
Perk 2 (Solar): Initially Assassin's Blade then Incandescent (Enhanced Perk) when unlocked.
Perk 2 (General): Initially Assassin's Blade then Assassin's Blade (Enhanced Perk) or Valiant Charge (Enhanced Perk).
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/2508948099/caretaker/
Barrel: Initially Polygonal Rifling then Fluted Barrel when unlocked.
Magazine: Initially Appended Mag then High-Caliber Rounds when unlocked.
Strand Hatchling Build:
Perk 1: Initially Zen Moment then Keep Away (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Perk 2: Initially Demolitionist, then Hatchling (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
General Build:
Perk 1: Initially Zen Moment then Keep Away (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Perk 2: Initially Demolitionist, then Demolitionist (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/392008588/perpetualis/
Barrel: Initially Polygonal Rifle then Corkscrew Rifling when unlocked.
Magazine: Initially Appended Mag, keep.
Perk 1: Initially Moving Target then Outlaw (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Perk 2: Initially Headstone then Headstone (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
>Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/2856514843/syncopation-53/
Barrel: Initially Countermass then Quick Launch when unlocked.
Magazine: Initially Alloy Casing then Spike Granades when unlocked.
Perk 1: Initially Tresh then Auto Loading Holster when unlocked.
Perk 2: Initially Unrelenting then Explosive Light when unlocked.
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/268260372/regnant/
Barrel: Initially Extended Barrel then Arrowhead Brake when unlocked.
Magazine: Initially Accelerated Coils, keep.
Melee Build
Perk 1: Initially Graverobber, keep.
Perk 2 (Solo): Initially Pugilist, keep.
Solar Build
Perk 1: Initially Graverobber, then Envious Assassin when unlucked.
Perk 2: Initially Pugilist then Incandescent or Reservoir Burst when unlocked.
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/1720503118/royal-executioner/
Barrel: Initially Extended Barrel then Arrowhead Brake or Fluted Barrel when unlocked.
I prefer Fluted Barrel.
Magazine: Initially Accelerated Coils, keep.
Perk 1: Initially Fragile Focus then Triple Tap when unlocked.
Perk 2 (Solo): Initially Snapshot Sights then Focused Fury when unlocked.
Perk 2 (Group): Initially Snapshot Sights then Firing Line when unlocked.
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/1911060537/taipan-4fr/
Build #1:
Special Granade Launchers (that are not Wave Frames) are used for disorienting enemies in higher-level content. The following build aims to excel at that.
Tubes: Initially Countermass, then Smart Drift Control when unlocked.
Magazine: Initially Implosion Rounds then Disorientieng Grenades when unlocked.
Perk 1: Initially Turnabout then Envious Assassin (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Perk 2: Initially Danger Zone, then Disruption Break (Enhanced Trait) when unlocked.
Sources: https://www.light.gg/db/items/268260373/prodigal-return/