Best Auto Rifles in Destiny 2: Tier List for PvP and PvE

[toc] Auto rifles are not as dominant as they were just a few seasons ago, and while most Guardians have moved on to more popular options, the top Auto rifles remain some of the best weapons in Destiny 2.

But because auto rifles, in general, aren’t necessarily considered the best weapon type, we’ll be ranking them based on their relative strength to each other.

This guide covers every Auto rifle in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary auto rifles, as well as the best rolls for PVE and PVP.

Updated as of Season of the Seraph (S19). See Updates.

Destiny 2 Auto Rifles Tier list

This Tier list features every Exotic and Legendary auto rifle in the game. It starts with the S Tier weapons and moves down from there. It also covers both PvE and PvP, with the “Excels in” column clearly identifying in what area each weapon shines:

Name	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks
Gnawing Hunger	Gnawing Hunger	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	World loot pool		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Rampage (also good: Rampage PvP God Roll: Tap the Trigger + Kill Clip (also good: Rampage) ► Gnawing Hunger is still one of the best Auto Rifles in the game. It is a part of the Adaptive archetype and comes with a host of solid PvP and PvE perks. Gnawing has taken us through the most endgame pieces of content, and will therefore always be on-hand to use.	Season 11	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Rampage (also good: Rampage PvP God Roll: Tap the Trigger + Kill Clip (also good: Rampage)
Chroma Rush	Chroma Rush	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Unobtainable		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Unobtainable Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage Adrenaline Junkie PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Tunnel Vision) + Tap the Trigger (also good: Kill Clip) ► Chroma Rush has it all. Good base stats, good perks, and is part of a decent archetype. In PvE, it has a menagerie of perks to pick from, including Rampage, Adrenaline Junkie, and Kill Clip. In PvP, it can either be a consistent laser beam, or a lethal beast with different rolls.	Season 14	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage Adrenaline Junkie PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Tunnel Vision) + Tap the Trigger (also good: Kill Clip)
The Summoner	The Summoner	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Solar	The Witch Queen	No	S › Best	Trials of Osiris		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris The Witch Queen	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Multikill Clip PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Rangefinder) + Multikill Clip (also good: Rampage) ► The Summoner has a lot going for it: Good base stats, a good archetype, and really solid perks. Overall, The Summoner can succeed everywhere in the game and it will never let you down.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Multikill Clip PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Rangefinder) + Multikill Clip (also good: Rampage)
Scathelocke	Scathelocke	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Adrenaline Junkie (also good: Osmosis) PvP God Roll: Tunnel Vision (also good: Heating Up) + Eye of the Storm (also good: Multikill Clip) ► A returning favorite from Year 1, Scathelocke brings some solid stats and good perks to the table. Osmosis gives it versatility, while perks such as Adrenaline Junkie or Rampage can provide lethality. Scathelocke just 'feels' powerful.	Season 15	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Adrenaline Junkie (also good: Osmosis) PvP God Roll: Tunnel Vision (also good: Heating Up) + Eye of the Storm (also good: Multikill Clip)
The Last Breath	The Last Breath	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Prophecy Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Prophecy Dungeon Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Demolitionist) + Frenzy (also good: Adrenaline Junkie) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Rangefinder ► The Last Breath is a must-have auto rifle for PVE. It has all the right perks to excel and can compete in most pieces of content. It also offers lots of versatility. Damage perks, utility perks, the Last Breath has it all.	Season 15	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Demolitionist) + Frenzy (also good: Adrenaline Junkie) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Rangefinder
Tigerspite	Tigerspite	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dreaming City		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Dreaming City Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Outlaw) + Frenzy (also good: Kill Clip) ► For some reason, Tigerspite just feels great to use. It also comes with solid damage perks that scale nicely into endgame content. While it is part of the weaker 450 RPM archetype, Tigerspite can still hold its own.	Season 14	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Outlaw) + Frenzy (also good: Kill Clip)
Duty Bound	Duty Bound	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	A › Strong	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Stats for All Perpetual Motion + Frenzy Rampage ► Duty Bound is a decent all-around weapon. It comes with solid perks and can be used effectively pretty much anywhere in the game. 600 RPM Auto Rifles have always had a decent spot in PvE, and Duty Bound does not break this trend.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Stats for All Perpetual Motion + Frenzy Rampage
Quicksilver Storm	Quicksilver Storm	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Lightfall Pre-Order	Yes	A › Strong	Pre-order bonus		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Pre-order bonus Lightfall Pre-Order	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade." ► Quicksilver Storm is a fun and unique weapon. Combining an Auto Rifle with a Rocket Launcher and a Grenade Launcher, Quicksilver Storm is quite the all-rounder, however, it isn't quite fully there in terms of strength to be one of the greats.	Season 18	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade."
Ammit AR2	Ammit AR2	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Stats For All + Incandescent (also good: Adrenaline Junkie) ► We love the Ammit. It has a decent number of good perks and feels nice to use. The only thing going against the Ammit is its Precision Frame archetype which isn't the worst but certainly isn't the best.	Season 18	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Stats For All + Incandescent (also good: Adrenaline Junkie)
Sweet Sorrow	Sweet Sorrow	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Deluxe Edition	Yes	A › Strong	PsiOps Battlegrounds		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	PsiOps Battlegrounds Deluxe Edition	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Killing Wind) + Tap the Trigger ► Sweet Sorrow feels extremely nice to fire and comes with the deadly perk combo of Perpetual Motion + Tap the Trigger. Plus, it's craftable! Sweet Sorrow can be a dueling beast, but unfortunately, the current long-range meta doesn't allow it to shine.	Season 16	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Killing Wind) + Tap the Trigger
Lodbrok-C	Lodbrok-C	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Rolls: Perpetual Motion (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Tap the Trigger (also good: Kill Clip) ► There's something about the Lodbrok that makes it special. It has extremely clean sights, and with Perpetual Motion + Tap the Trigger, you get a very consistent dueling weapon on your hands. Lodbrok can contest excellent ranges and surprise enemies, but it will still get beaten by superior long-range weapons.	Season 19	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Rolls: Perpetual Motion (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Tap the Trigger (also good: Kill Clip)
Monte Carlo	Monte Carlo	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Shadowkeep	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Engram		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Engram Shadowkeep	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage with this weapon reduces melee cooldown and can fully charge your melee with each kill. Melee kills and kills with this weapon increase damage." ► Monte Carlo is a decent auto rifle with a clean aesthetic and nice stats overall. Its exotic perk grants you melee energy with hits and kills, and on top of that, it also comes with an exotic version of Swashbuckler, which is a nice touch and pairs really well with melee-focused playstyles.	Season 8	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage with this weapon reduces melee cooldown and can fully charge your melee with each kill. Melee kills and kills with this weapon increase damage."
Tommy's Matchbook	Tommy's Matchbook	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Solar	Shadowkeep	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Sustained fire with this weapon overheats it, increasing damage but burning the user. Overheat damage is reduced while hip firing." ► Tommy's Matchbook can literally melt opponents. It has an outrageous bodyshot time to kill of 0.77 seconds when the perk gets going and can rip through most enemies in PvE. However, as you enter harder content, or face better players, Tommy's Matchbook becomes MUCH harder to use, and requires a very skilled hand to succeed with.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Sustained fire with this weapon overheats it, increasing damage but burning the user. Overheat damage is reduced while hip firing."
Seventh Seraph Carbine	Seventh Seraph Carbine	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Xûr		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Frenzy (also good: Swashbuckler) ► The Seventh Seraph Carbine is painfully mediocre as it offers nothing that special in terms of perks. However, the one thing it does have is its ability to make Warmind Cells, and should they ever become meta again, The Seraph Carbine will be a decent pick as it is the only Warmind Cell generating Auto in the game.	Season 10	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Frenzy (also good: Swashbuckler)
Chrysura Melo	Chrysura Melo	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Xûr		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Ensemble (also good: Outlaw) + Dragonfly ► This auto rifle offers many of the interesting new perks released last year. With the right rolls, it can even be a fun weapon to use in PvE. Unfortunately, High-Impact auto rifles still lag behind stronger archetypes such as Adaptives or even Rapid-Fires. For this reason alone, Chysura Melo simply can't stand out.	Season 15	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Ensemble (also good: Outlaw) + Dragonfly
Krait	Krait	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Stats for All) + Headstone (also good: One for All) ► Mimicking Valakadyn from Year 1, Krait immediately became a fan favorite when it came out. These days though, it is easily outclassed by not only other Stasis weapons, but also other Rapid-Fire Auto Rifles, leaving very little room for Krait to breathe.	Season 16	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Stats for All) + Headstone (also good: One for All)
Dark Decider	Dark Decider	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Iron Banner		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Rolls: Subsistence + Voltshot ► While Dark Decider can roll with two of the most popular PvE perks currently available (Subsistence and Voltshot), this combination lacks synergy. Voltshot requires you to reload after a kill, but Subsistence reloads your weapon automatically, making for a gun that's only slightly above average.	Season 19	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Rolls: Subsistence + Voltshot
Hard Light	Hard Light	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Engram		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds fired from this weapon have reduced damage falloff, over-penetrate targets, and ricochet off hard surfaces dealing extra damage. It can also change its damage type." ► The days of Hard Light's domination over the Crucible are long gone, and these days it sits in the middle of the pack. It does have its niche uses and fun ways to ricochet kill enemies, but many Legendary alternatives surpass it in both PvE and PvP.	Season 1	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds fired from this weapon have reduced damage falloff, over-penetrate targets, and ricochet off hard surfaces dealing extra damage. It can also change its damage type."
SUROS Regime	SUROS Regime	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Engram		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "The bottom half of each magazine deals bonus damage and can return health on kill. Holding down the trigger increases rate of fire." ► SUROS Regime's ability to combine a higher damage per bullet and a faster rate of fire can absolutely shred opposing Guardians. This makes SUROS an incredibly oppressive option if used correctly. It has fallen slightly behind, though, especially in this current long-range meta.	Season 3	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "The bottom half of each magazine deals bonus damage and can return health on kill. Holding down the trigger increases rate of fire."
Braytech Werewolf	Braytech Werewolf	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	B › Average	Event: Festival of the Lost		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Event: Festival of the Lost Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Under Pressure) + Tap The Trigger (also good: Eye of the Storm) ► Braytech Werewolf is a decent pick. It has a number of solid dueling perks that offer consistency; however, it lacks that lethal edge that other weapon types have, making it a solid, but mediocre option.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Under Pressure) + Tap The Trigger (also good: Eye of the Storm)
Herod-C	Herod-C	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Playlist: Gambit		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Playlist: Gambit Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Moving Target (also good: Tap the Trigger) ► With its subpar perks and lacking archetype, Herod-C doesn't have too much going for it. Its giant perk pool also doesn't help either... It can be used as a niche counter to Citan's Ramparts, thanks to its Hakke origin trait, which deals extra damage to barricades in PvP.	Season 16	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Moving Target (also good: Tap the Trigger)
False Promises	False Promises	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Killing Wind) + Eye of the Storm ► False Promises is a bit of a sleeper pick. It does have slightly worse base stats than, say, Age Old Bond, but its perk pool is much more interesting. It can be a good dueling weapon thanks to its surprisingly long range; however, options like No Time to Explain and Dead Man's Tale will still beat it.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Killing Wind) + Eye of the Storm
Shadow Price	Shadow Price	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	No	B › Average	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Average ❘ B	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + One for All (also good: Swashbuckler) ► Shadow Price is a decent option. It features a couple of good perks, but that's about it. Not being part of a good archetype, having no origin trait and mediocre stats lands it in the middle of the pack.	Season 13	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + One for All (also good: Swashbuckler)
Arc Logic	Arc Logic	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Moon		Average ❘ B	Moon Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Frenzy Rampage ► Arc Logic is a middle-of-the-road option. It isn't bad by any means, but it also lacks anything too special to offer. It feels somewhat wonky to use and there are better 600 RPM autos out there instead.	Season 14	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Frenzy Rampage
Sorrow's Verse	Sorrow's Verse	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Playlist: Crucible		Average ❘ B	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Rampage ► Sorrow's Verse is a competent auto rifle. It comes with decent stats, a clean sight, and good overall perks. In fact, some guardians actually love this weapon and will proudly bring it to the Crucible. Unfortunately for this weapon, there are simply superior options out there.	Season 15	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Rampage
Sweet Business	Sweet Business	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Exotic Quest		Weak ❘ C	Exotic Quest Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Larger magazine. Increased accuracy when firing from the hip. Picking up ammo for this weapon immediately reloads it." ► Sweet Business is fun, but that's about it. It can have an excellent TTK when it's ramped up, but when enemies hear a revved-up Sweet Business, they will simply either take cover or peek shoot. This renders the Sweet Business mostly ineffective.	Season 1	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Larger magazine. Increased accuracy when firing from the hip. Picking up ammo for this weapon immediately reloads it."
Age-Old Bond	Age-Old Bond	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Void	Forsaken Pack	Yes	C › Weak	Last Wish Raid		Weak ❘ C	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE/PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Kill Clip ► Age-Old Bond falls in the rankings due to its poor archetype. High-Impacts aren't exactly the strongest of picks right now when it comes to PvE or PvP... However, with the right roll, you could find some success with Age-Old Bond.	Season 4	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE/PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Kill Clip
Cerberus+1	Cerberus+1	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Exotic Engram		Weak ❘ C	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoots erratic bullets from all gun barrels at the same time. Aiming this weapon reduces the spread of its projectiles." ► To say Cerberus+1 is a niche option is an understatement. Cerberus is excellent at dealing with Titan Barricades, especially Citan's Rampart barricades, but other than that, this is a poor weapon, too erratic to do anything notable with.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoots erratic bullets from all gun barrels at the same time. Aiming this weapon reduces the spread of its projectiles."
Reckless Oracle	Reckless Oracle	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Void	Shadowkeep	Yes	C › Weak	Garden of Salvation Raid		Weak ❘ C	Garden of Salvation Raid Shadowkeep	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Under Pressure) + Kill Clip ► Poor Reckless Oracle doesn't stand a chance. It is locked behind a raid and doesn't bring anything special to the table. It behaves like a 720 RPM SMG, but lacks great perks and has to face extremely strong competition.	Season 8	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Under Pressure) + Kill Clip
Horror Story	Horror Story	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	C › Weak	Event: Festival of the Lost		Weak ❘ C	Event: Festival of the Lost Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Moving Target ► Horror Story isn't part of the best archetype and doesn't offer great perks either. It falls flat in both PvE and PvP as there are simply superior options out there.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Moving Target
The Forward Path	The Forward Path	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	C › Weak	Iron Banner		Weak ❘ C	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Eye of the Storm ► When The Forward Path first came out, it was exciting because we thought it could be a kinetic version of Gnawing Hunger… But there’s something about this auto that makes it unwieldy. It has decent stats, nice scopes, and awesome perks. Still, this auto rifle just feels bad to use...	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Eye of the Storm
The Number	The Number	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	World loot pool		Weak ❘ C	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Surplus + Multikill Clip ► The Number features decent perks, albeit slightly below-average stats. Surplus and Multikill Clip can nicely compensate for The Number’s poor base stats. Unfortunately, what hurts The Number the most, is its archetype and high precision requirement for a decent TTK.	Season 14	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Surplus + Multikill Clip
Come to Pass	Come to Pass	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Arc	The Witch Queen	Yes	C › Weak	Wellspring		Weak ❘ C	Wellspring The Witch Queen	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Adaptive Munitions ► Come to Pass looks good on paper and can offer a roll that should do great in endgame content. It's just too bad it's part of a lacking archetype that desperately needs some attention.	Season 16	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Adaptive Munitions
Arctic Haze	Arctic Haze	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	D › Worst	Europa		Worst ❘ D	Europa Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Dragonfly ► There’s not much in favor of Arctic Haze. It has poor base stats, a bad perk pool, and just feels unwieldy to use. It has no upsides and can be outranged and outmatched by basically most other weapons in the game.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Dragonfly
Firefright	Firefright	Auto Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Season 17	Yes	D › Worst	Seasonal activity		Worst ❘ D	Seasonal activity Season 17	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Threat Detector + Surrounded ► Firefright was a massive disappointment. Part of the recently buffed Precision archetype, Firefright still can't be saved due to its atrocious perk pool. In other words, any other auto rifle will serve you better than this...	Season 17	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Threat Detector + Surrounded

These are the different Tier levels used for our list:

• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
• C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
• D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.

More Destiny 2 Tier lists:

	Auto Rifles	Primary
	Combat Bows	Primary
	Fusion Rifles	Special
	Glaives	Special
	Grenade Launchers	Special Heavy
	Hand Cannon	Primary
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Heavy
	Machine Guns	Heavy
	Pulse Rifle	Primary
	Rocket Launcher	Heavy
	Scout Rifle	Primary
	Shotgun	Special
	Submachine Guns	Primary
	Swords	Heavy
	Trace Rifles	Special

Best Destiny 2 Auto Rifles in 2023

This section not only covers the top Auto rifles currently in the game, it also tells you where you can find them. And while most of the sources below are self-explanatory, this guide covers every weapon source in Destiny 2. If still in doubt, you can always leave a comment below or ask away on our Discord server.

Overall, these are our Top 5 favorite Autos for PVE and PVP.

5. Sweet Sorrow

Excels in PvP

Sweet Sorrow really has that special something. It feels great to fire and has an amazing PvP perk combo which can outduel even some of the deadliest mid-range duelling options. Mastering the feeling behind this Auto Rifle feels very rewarding to do, and succeeding with it really is enjoyable. It is, ironically, a ‘sweet sorrow’ to use. You can feel the potential, but more lethal, long range options cut it down, but it will still serve you nicely.

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Perpetual Motion (also good: Killing Wind)
• Perk 2: Tap the Trigger

How to get it: Sweet Sorrow drops from the PsiOps Battleground Seasonal activity. It can also be crafted at the Enclave on the Throne World.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Sweet Sorrow	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Primary	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvP	PsiOps Battlegrounds		Deluxe Edition	Season 16	Energy	Craftable

4. Quicksilver Storm

 Excels in PvE

Quicksilver Storm really is unique. It is a 3-in-1 weapon making it quite the all-rounder. The base auto rifle form is decent and has the characteristics of a Rapid-Fire frame at 720 RPM, but the additional rockets and Grenade Launcher form are what help it stand out.

The Grenade Launcher can dispatch higher health Elite enemies with relative ease, and simply having that burst damage versatility is always nice on a primary ammo weapon these days.

Quicksilver Storm is a solid pick, and no matter what content you throw at it, it will put in a solid shift for you.

Exotic Perk: “”Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade.”

How to get it: Quicksilver Storm can be acquired by purchasing Lightfall’s Deluxe edition.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Quicksilver Storm	Auto Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Lightfall Pre-Order	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Pre-order bonus		Lightfall Pre-Order	Season 18	Kinetic	No

3. The Summoner

Excels in PvE and PvP

The Summoner is truly a contender for the top spot, and in some people’s opinion, it will always be the best Auto Rifle in the game.

However, in my experience, it falls short because it sort of ‘requires’ certain perks to truly compete in PvP and has inferior perks than the competition for PvE. It is also currently unobtainable as of writing, and when it is, it is locked behind Trials of Osiris, which can be pretty daunting for some players.

Having said that the Summoner can be an absolute powerhouse in the right hands and with the right perks. It can outduel many other weapons within its effective range thanks to its raw damage output and devastating range with the right perk combo.

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Overflow (also good: Perpetual Motion)
• Perk 2: Multikill Clip (also good: Rampage)

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Moving Target (also good: Rangefinder)
• Perk 2: Multikill Clip (also good: Rampage)

How to get it: The Summoner can be acquired via Trials of Osiris engrams and rank ups.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	The Summoner	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	The Witch Queen	No	Primary	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvP	Trials of Osiris		The Witch Queen	Season 10	Energy	No

2. Chroma Rush

Best PVE Auto Rifle in Destiny 2

Chroma Rush is brilliant. It has a clean scope, excellent perks for PvE and PvP. It barely misses the top spot because it sits in the Kinetic slot, meaning it does not have an element, making it hard to justify in match game content. However, its amazing perks, feel, and solid base stats bring it up the ranks.

There are so many perk combos that work on this gun. You can opt for consistency with Moving Target and Tap the Trigger, or go all in on kill-chaining with Tunnel Vision and Kill Clip.

Overall, Chroma Rush really is special and truly holds its own across the entire game.

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Moving Target (also good: Tunnel Vision)
• Perk 2: Tap the Trigger (also good: Kill Clip)

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Subsistence)
• Perk 2: Rampage (also good: Adrenaline Junkie)

How to get it: Chroma Rush can be acquired by completing Overrides and focusing Umbral engrams.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Chroma Rush	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Unobtainable		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No

1. Gnawing Hunger

Excels in PvE and PvP

Gnawing Hunger grabs the top spot for a good number of reasons. Firstly, it has extremely solid base stats. Secondly, it has excellent perks. For instance, Subsistence and a damage perk on a 600 RPM elemental Auto Rifle is a killer combo. Finally, Gnawing Hunger is Void, meaning it can do wonders with Volatile Rounds, namely Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk.

Gnawing Hunger really has it all. It has a clean scope, is easy to use, and doesn’t have that many perks, making it easy to get the god roll you want. It holds its own very easily in PvP and cleans house in PvE.

Gnawing Hunger is one of my personal favorite weapons of all time in PvE, and will always be ready for me to break out, no matter the content.

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Subsistence
• Perk 2: Swashbuckler (also good: Rampage/Demolitionist)

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Tap the Trigger (also good: Zen Moment)
• Perk 2: Kill Clip (also good: Rampage)

How to get it: Gnawing Hunger can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities or via Legendary and Prime engrams.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Gnawing Hunger	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No

Auto Rifles in PVP: Lethality & TTK

TTK is particularly important in PvP because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2.

When it comes to PvP, top Autos are definitely viable, with more than acceptable TTK numbers:

That said, it should be obvious by now that the main problem with Auto Rifles is their inability to hold their ground in a peek-shooting duel, which at the higher levels of Destiny 2’s PvP is a huge flaw. This is inherent to the entire auto rifle archetype, and only a few select A and S tier options can hold their own in duels against more Meta choices.

You might think that Tommy’s burn or SUROS’ rate of fire are gimmicks, but these perks allow them to challenge weapons that would otherwise dominate them in a peek shooting battle.

600 RPM auto rifles were very oppressive for a few seasons when they were buffed, but since their nerf, we haven’t seen them much. It is by far the existence of stronger peek shooting options that has kept auto rifles out of fashion.

The 450 and 360 RPM Auto Rifles, on the other hand, feel like a tremendous amount of work to get a kill compared to most other meta options. It would be great to see these get some love in a future balance patch.

Auto Rifles in PvE: DPS

DPS is important for PVE because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2.

When it comes to actual DPS, Auto rifles are right in the middle. Superior to Pulses, for example, but slightly behind closer-range weapons such as sidearms and SMGs:

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	7,097	8,481	744,915	With "perfect" RNG		Cerberus+1	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	6,086	7,144	507,738	-		Vex Mythoclast	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	5,430	6,280	413,550	At Max rate of fire		Sweet Business	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	4,391	5,513	259,200	At Max rate of fire		SUROS Regime	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	3,906	4,542	280,847	High aim assist, low range		Chroma Rush	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	3,555	4,300	295,840	High handling		Gnawing Hunger	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Precision	3,369	4,073	225,888	High range, low aim assist		Shadow Price	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	3,361	3,993	298,144	Excellent range, low stability		Age-Old Bond	Same	Primary

Destiny 2 Auto Rifles: Are they Meta?

We’ve talked about the best Auto Rifles for PVE and PVP already, but how do they compare, in general, with other primary weapon types? In other words:

Are Auto Rifles good in Destiny 2?

The current Primary weapons Meta for PvE

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Submachine Guns	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► SMGs are doing very well right now. They have good DPS to tear through ads and beefier orange bar enemies, but also come with excellent perks. There are a plethora of good SMGs you can go for right now, like Funnelweb, Unforgiven, Every Waking Moment, or Extraordinary Rendition, the choice is completely yours. They may struggle slightly in super high-end content, but they are still definitely usable. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven	PVE Primaries
Auto Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Auto Rifles currently feel like a worse version of SMGs. They have a bit more range, but outside of the absolute top-shelf content such as Grandmaster Nightfalls, range isn't too much of a factor. And if you are actively tackling difficult content, Auto Rifles aren't exactly the best pick either, making Autos a decent, but outclassed option right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Gnawing Hunger	PVE Primaries
Sidearms	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Aside from a few select sidearms with certain perks, there really isn't much of a reason to use Sidearms. They have slightly higher damage numbers than SMGs, but typically come with significantly less range. Outside of top-tier weapons like a god-roll Brigand's Law or High Albedo, there is no real reason to run a sidearm. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (491 RPM) - Example: High Albedo	PVE Primaries
Hand Cannons	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► While Hand Cannons routinely dominate the PvP meta, they are often outclassed by weapon types that can either offer better DPS or better range. There are a couple of solid options, such as Fatebringer or Zaouli's Bane, but putting those aside, you'll be better off using something else. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	PVE Primaries
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Pulse Rifles are in a great place right now. They offer good range and pretty decent damage, allowing you to take down some beefier targets nicely. There are also some excellent pulses in the game right now, like Insidious, Sacred Provenance, or New Purpose. Unfortunately, High-Impact and Aggressive frames are the only archetypes worth your time, as the others rely on Exotic Perks or god rolls to compete. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (450 RPM) - Example: Insidious	PVE Primaries
Scout Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Scout Rifles have come a long way. They are a solid and consistent option for anyone that prefers a safer and slower playstyle. They also shine in high-level content due to their excellent range. The best part about Scout Rifles, however, is their versatility across archetypes. Basically, every type of Scout Rifle is viable and can be used anywhere in the game. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	PVE Primaries
Combat Bows	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Bows are a high-damage, high-range option for players who prefer to keep their distance. The main issue with bows is that they are slow at clearing ads (outside of Trinity Ghoul). and when you have to deal with ads up close, bows can massively struggle. However, their solid range and excellent damage make them a strong option. ► Best Archetype: Precision - Example: Under Your Skin	PVE Primaries

The current Primary weapons Meta for PvP

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Hand Cannons	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Hand Cannons are in a bit of a strange spot. Many will argue that they are still the best weapons in the game, however, due to the prevalence of Pulse Rifles and Sidearms, and certain special weapons like Arbalest and Lorentz Driver, Hand Cannons have slowly been pushed out of many players' main pick. They are still excellent duelling weapons though, and feel amazing to use so they still retain a strong ranking. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Eyasluna	PVP Primaries
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Pulse Rifles have seen a resurgence in the past few seasons, with constant buffs to all types of Pulse Rifles. It is hard not to find success with one due to the high-flinch potential of Rapid-Fire Pulses or the lethal time-to-kill of High-Impact Pulses. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (340 RPM) - Example: The Messenger	PVP Primaries
Sidearms	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Sidearms recently received a monumental buff to their ease of use and effective range by increasing auto-aim fall-off distance by 30%. This means that Sidearms simply can kill from further away, and more easily. Sidearms are particularly potent on a controller. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (300 RPM) - Example: Drang	PVP Primaries
Auto Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Auto Rifles aren't doing greét right now. They contest a similar range as Hand Cannons, however, they lack the peak shooting potential that Adaptive Hand Cannons bring. They can also be contested at close range by SMGs, making them difficult to use everywhere. However, a good player can still find value in an Auto Rifle as they do provide high flinch and constant damage. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Gnawing Hunger	PVP Primaries
Combat Bows	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Bows are incredibly unique. They have a remarkably slow time to kill, however, this isn't where Bows shine. Hotswap builds with bows can be incredibly potent and don't require much learning either. Bows also provide incredible value when teamshooting opponents. Despite this, Bows on their own are quite mediocre and need something behind them to really shine. ► Best Archetype: Precision (Slower Draw Time) - Example: Strident Whistle	PVP Primaries
Scout Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Scouts have been tuned down to make them less potent in the hands of the average player. However, good scout rifle players will still be able to do pretty well in lobbies, however, they may find themselves outmatched by Pulse Rifles. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (150 RPM) - Example: Polaris Lance	PVP Primaries
Submachine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► A few SMGs were recently hit with a range and/or damage nerf that knocked them down a peg or two. However, SMGs still have fast TTKs at short to medium ranges but are slightly outclassed by Sidearms now. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (900 RPM)- Example: Borrowed Time	PVP Primaries

Your turn

You now know everything there is to know about Auto Rifles in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.

Ranking criteria

For the record, as much as we tried to keep this list as objective as possible, it’s still based on our personal experience playing the PC version of the game.

Finally, if you’re wondering what criteria was used to build this Tier list, these are the main factors I took into account:

• Lethality: The higher the effective DPS and usability, the higher the ranking.
• Consistency: Some weapons may not have the highest DPS numbers, but they are so consistent they more than make up for their lower DPS numbers.
• Ease of use: Similar to the point above, some weapons are very effective because they are easy to use and don’t require too much skill or setup. This is also rewarded with higher rankings.
• PVE/PVP Performance: High lethality in either PVE or  PVP is equally valuable. However, a weapon that is good at both PVE and PVP should rank higher than one that is slightly better on only PVE or PVP.
• Fun factor: Not the most important factor, but it also helps if the weapon is damn fun to shoot with!

If you strongly disagree with some of the rankings here, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. By the way, what is your personal favorite?