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

Auto rifles are slowly making a comeback. They may not be as dominant as they once were, but the top Auto rifles are still considered to be among the best weapons in Destiny 2.

This guide covers all Auto Rifles in Destiny 2 and their best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Updated as of Episode 1: Echoes. See Updates.

Top Tier Auto Rifles (Episode 1)

This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary Auto rifles right now:

Destiny 2 Auto Rifles: Complete List

This database includes every viable Auto rifle currently in the game:

Tier Ranks used for our list:

• S+ Tier – Meta: Weapons so good they singlehandedly shifted the current meta
• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Either decent weapons or weapons that fit a very specific niche/use case.
• C Tier – Weak: Mediocre weapons that are easily outclassed by the competition.
• D Tier – Worst: Weapons that don’t have much to offer and don’t deserve your attention.

Best D2 Auto Rifles Today

Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best Autos in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):

 

5. The Riposte

Excels in PvP

The Riposte is a newcomer to Destiny 2, arriving with The Final Shape, but has quickly become one of the most popular auto rifles, particularly in PvP. So it is only natural that this weapon is available via completing Crucible matches and ranking up your reputation with Lord Shaxx.

In PvP, this weapon’s extraordinary handling, stability, and strong range will allow you to out-duel any guardians that wander into your sights. It has a strong perk pool and boasts a new archetype, as it is the only Lightweight Auto rifle in the game. These are the top The Riposte God Rolls:

• PvP God roll: Zen Moment + Dynamic Sway Reduction

How to get it: The Riposte can be acquired from the PvP Competitive Playlist.

Name: The Riposte

Type: Auto Rifle Archetype: Lightweight

Ammo: Primary Element: Void

Craftable: No Released: The Final Shape

Source: Crucible Competitive Requires: Free-to-Play

 

4. Ammit AR2

Excels in PvE and PvP

In PvE, perk standouts such as Incandescence will ensure this weapon becomes one of your favorites, but the real standout is its unmatched stability.

As for PvP, it has become one of the most popular options due to its strong stability that will have you shredding opposing guardians without missing a single round. These are the top Ammit AR2 God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Stats For All + Incandescent (also good: Adrenaline Junkie)
• PvP God roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Tap the Trigger

How to get it: A craftable Ammit AR2 can be acquired when completing a questline from The Gunsmith.

Name: Ammit AR2

Type: Auto Rifle Archetype: Precision

Ammo: Primary Element: Solar

Craftable: Yes Released: Season 18

Source: Gunsmith Requires: Free-to-Play

 

3. The Summoner

Excels in PvE and PvP

The Summoner is available via the Trials of Osiris legacy engrams as it is not currently in the weekly loot rotation. It is, however, a high-performing auto rifle in both PvP and PvE and worthy of its Trials exclusivity.

In PvE, Overflow and Rampage make a good pairing as you will have a massive magazine to ensure your ability to continue clearing enemies and stacking Rampage

For PvP, this weapon naturally feels at home as its top-notch handling and range can be maximized with perks like Dynamic Sway Reduction and Rangefinder. Never lose a duel again. These are the top The Summoner God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Overflow (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Rampage
• PvP God roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Rangefinder (also good: Rampage)

How to get it: The Summoner is a Trials of Osiris Weapon that can be acquired from Trials completions, Engrams, and/or rank-ups.

Name: The Summoner

Type: Auto Rifle Archetype: Adaptive

Ammo: Primary Element: Solar

Craftable: No Released: Season 23

Source: Trials of Osiris Requires: The Final Shape

 

2. Rufus’s Fury

Excels in PvE and PvP

Available via the Root of Nightmares raid, this weapon is one of the most sought-after in the end-game activity, and for good reason. The weapon is also craftable, opening the door to enhanced traits.

In PvE, you can expect incredible performance from this Strand auto rifle with impressive stability and crowd control. Demolitionist combined with Hatchling will allow you to continuously recharge your grenade ability, synergizing nicely with Strand builds as well.

For PvP, it’s suggested that you go with Reconstruction and Tap the Trigger to maximize your stability and ensure you always have ammo ready for your next duel. These are the top Rufus’s Fury God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Demolitionist (also good: Reconstruction) + Hatchling (also good: Target Lock)
• PvP God roll: Reconstruction + Tap the Trigger

How to get it: Rufus’s Fury can be acquired from the Root of Nightmares Raid.

Name: Rufus's Fury

Type: Auto Rifle Archetype: Rapid-Fire

Ammo: Primary Element: Strand

Craftable: Yes Released: Season 20

Source: Root of Nightmares Raid Requires: Lightfall

 

1. Khvostov 7G-0X

Excels in PvE and PvP

Khvostov’s origins stretch back to the Cosmodrome in Destiny 1, but with the arrival of The Final Shape, it has returned in both exotic and legendary forms. The exotic iteration of this weapon is obtained by first collecting the legendary version and completing a rather lengthy, informal quest in the Pale Heart. Your journey begins by looting every Region Chest available in the Pale Heart and finding hidden piles of Lost Encryption Bits in Cyst Missions that can be unlocked by progressing Micah-10’s “Alone in the Dark” quest. Subsequently, you’ll need to find 8 Visions of the Traveler, again hidden throughout the Pale Heart. Finally, you must kill every Overthrow boss and collect their respective motes.

For PvE, you are unlikely to find a better auto rifle option for your kinetic slot. The gun’s exotic perk The Right Choice makes every seventh bullet from the weapon deal additional damage and ricochet to hit nearby targets, making this an add-clearing machine. It also comes packing Shoot to Loot, which is incredibly useful in endgame activities.

In PvP, this weapon is dominating the Crucible and Trials of Osiris, due to the overall high damage output and the ability to chain damage to multiple opposing guardians via triggering The Right Choice exotic perk. This will prove highly effective at suppressing opponents around corners.

Exotic Perk: “Every seventh bullet from this weapon deals additional damage and ricochets to nearby targets. Also, Shoot to Loot.”

How to get it: We cover How to get the Khvostov 7G-0X here.

Name: Khvostov 7G-0X

Type: Auto Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Primary Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: The Final Shape

Source: The Pale Heart Requires: The Final Shape

Auto Rifles and the PvP Meta: TTK

We covered which Autos are considered top-tier (and should be farmed) and which ones can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other Special weapons in PvP?

Remember that when it comes to PvP, TTK is perhaps the most important factor. As you know, the lower the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. We have a TTK guide/chart that includes TTK figures. When it comes to PvP, top Autos are definitely viable, with more than acceptable TTKs:

That said, the main problem with Auto Rifles is their inability to hold their ground in peek-shooting duels, which at the higher levels of Destiny 2’s PvP, are the norm. 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.

Auto Rifles and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Auto rifles compare to other primary weapons in PvE?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
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
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	PVE Primaries
Auto Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Auto Rifles are in a good place right now, options like Khvostov are incredibly potent, and utility picks such as No Hesitation make Auto Rifles a very solid option for those wanting to use a good Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 76-0X	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
Submachine Guns	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► SMGs are not so hot anymore, due to the buffs to other weapon archetypes, as well as the prevalence of ability usage at close range, there is little space for SMGs to compete these days. ►Best Archetype- Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven	PVE Primaries
Scout Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	PVE Primaries
Sidearms	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► 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

Keep in mind that when it comes to PvE, DPS is one of the most important factors. As you know, the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. This D2 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 behind closer-range weapons such as sidearms and SMGs:

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Special and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Shotguns and Best Destiny 2 Linear Fusion Rifles, too.

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