More specifically, it needs a range buff. Let's put the Thorns past aside and remember that at the end of the day, it's an exotic weapon. The thorn was perfectly balanced when it was nerfed post year 1. The range nerf made it super weak to the point where even the last word can outgun it in the further hand cannon ranges. I'm not asking for a damage buff, or a stability buff, or a buff to its venom. I'm just asking that it be given a bit more range so it can perform well in hand cannon range.
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another way to help out thorn would be to frontload the dot damage. instead of 2 2 2 2. it could be 4 2 1 1 or 4 1 1 1 1(longer duration) or even 4 2 2(shorter duration but could kill faster)... also could go 5 1 1 1 or 5 2 1(shorter duration) and even 6 11(shorter duration)