Best Swords in Destiny 2: Tier List (Heresy Meta)

While not suited for all situations, swords can deal unparalleled damage as long as you can get close enough. And that is the entire deal with swords. They can be extremely lethal, provided you take risks and get up close and personal. Still, the right sword with the right perks can be considered a top-tier option, no matter the situation.

This guide covers all Swords in Destiny 2, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.

Top Tier Swords (Episode 3)

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

Weapon	Tier Rank	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict
Terciopelo-4BL Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Sparrow Racing League Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes (also good: Eager Edge, Burning Ambition) + Chaos Reshaped (also good: Aggregate Charge, Whirlwind Blade) PvP God Roll: Eager Edge (also good: Assassin’s Blade) + En Garde ► Potential to end up being some Guardians new favorite sword. Great damage perks amongst everything else you would want from a sword, and supported by a decent frame. For those out there who want an all-rounder that can do it all, this is the sword for you.
Ergo Sum Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon collects less ammo. Deals increased damage while Transcendent; defeating targets lengthens Transcendence." Has access to an additional random rolled Exotic Perk. ► If you are using Swords, at least one of you is on Ergo Sum. Acting as the Gjallarhorn of Swords, Ergo is a staple of Sword DPS strategies. On top of this, it can serve as a viable option in many builds and even has a couple of high DPS combos you can opt for.
Synanceia Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Reclamation Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Wave PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes (also good: Sharp Harvest or Attrition Orbs) + Elemental Honing (also good: Eager Edge) ► Synanceia has basically every perk you could dream of on a Sword. Eager Edge is great, and it also comes with some other fun utility options like Sharp Harvest and Attrition Orbs. On top of that, Synanceia is great for damage thanks to its Wave frame, while also featuring Elemental Honing and Relentless Strikes.
Praxic Blade Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Renegades	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic PvE God Roll: Hyperblade Catalyst ► Praxic Blade is one of the most unique exotics in Destiny, as it provides a fully customisable weapon that can be tailored to your needs. It has some powerful capabilities and is worth having to hand for any level of PvE content.
Bequest Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► Bequest is THE best sword for DPS and has been for a while. Surrounded is incredible for damage, and with its Adaptive Frame, its ability to be crafted, and its higher base impact of 70, Bequest is easily one of the best swords in the game right now.
The Slammer Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Pinnacle Ops Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel ► The Slammer is one of the best Vortex Frame Swords currently available. The mere presence of Cold Steel and Eager Edge makes it incredibly unique but also one of the best utility-based Swords in the game.
Summun Bonun Sword	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Salvation's Edge Raid The Final Shape	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Wave PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes or Attrition Orbs + Chaos Reshaped ► Summum Bonum is a serious contender in the Swords department. With high damage perks like Chaos Reshaped and Relentless Strikes, but also niche perks such as Attrition Orbs, Summum Bonum is a very powerful option.

Destiny 2 Swords: Complete List

These are all the viable Sword currently in the game:

Art	Name	Type	Ammo	Element	Tier	Excels	Source	Last Update
	Black Talon	Sword	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Exotic Engram	Forsaken DLC
	Ergo Sum	Sword	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	The Final Shape DLC
	Heartshadow	Sword	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Duality Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Praxic Blade	Sword	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	Renegades DLC
	The Lament	Sword	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	Exotic Quest	Beyond Light DLC
	Wolfsbane	Sword	Heavy	Solar			Exotic Quest	Ash & Iron
	Worldline Zero	Sword	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	-	Exotic Kiosk	Season 3
	Abide the Return	Sword	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	Dreaming City Destination	Monument of Triumph
	Abyssal Edge	Sword	Heavy	Strand	A › Strong	PvE	Gunsmith Exclusive	Monument of Triumph
	Aurora Dawn	Sword	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Fireteam Ops	Edge of Fate DLC
	Bequest	Sword	Heavy	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Monument of Triumph
	Caretaker	Sword	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	PvE	Avalon Mission	Lightfall DLC
	Chivalric Fire	Sword	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Solo Ops	Monument of Triumph
	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Heavy	Void	B › Average	PvE	Xûr	Season 14
	Death's Razor	Sword	Heavy	Void	C › Weak	-	Xûr	Lightfall DLC
	Double-Edged Answer	Sword	Heavy	Void	B › Average	PvE	Vanguard Legacy	Season 23
	Dragoncult Sickle	Sword	Heavy	Strand	D › Worst	-	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Eighty-Six	Sword	Heavy	Strand	B › Average	PvE	Seasonal Engram	Renegades DLC
	Eternity's Edge	Sword	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	Xûr	Season 14
	Falling Guillotine (Brave)	Sword	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Onslaught Activity	Monument of Triumph
	False Idols	Sword	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	PvE	The Pale Heart Destination	Monument of Triumph
	Geodetic HSm	Sword	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Lost Sector	Season 22
	Goldtusk	Sword	Heavy	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Xûr	Lightfall DLC
	Half-Truths	Sword	Heavy	Arc	C › Weak	-	Dares of Eternity	30th Anniversary
	Hardline Cut	Sword	Heavy	Arc			Lawless Engram	Monument of Triumph (new)
	Hero of Ages	Sword	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	PvE	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Honor's Edge	Sword	Heavy	Arc	C › Weak	-	Xûr	Season 10
	Ill Omen	Sword	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Encore Mission	The Final Shape DLC
	Just in Case	Sword	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	Xûr	Season 21
	Nasreddin	Sword	Heavy	Arc	B › Average	PvE	EDZ Destination	Monument of Triumph
	Negative Space	Sword	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	PvE	Xûr	Season 11
	Night Terror	Sword	Heavy	Arc	B › Average	-	Moon Destination	Monument of Triumph
	Quickfang	Sword	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Xûr	Season 14
	Razor's Edge	Sword	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Iron Banner Legacy	Witch Queen DLC
	Sola's Scar	Sword	Heavy	Solar	D › Worst	-	Trials of Osiris - Week 1	Monument of Triumph
	Steel Sybil Z-14	Sword	Heavy	Void	C › Weak	-	Crucible Legacy	Season 11
	Stryker's Sure-Hand	Sword	Heavy	Void			Arena Ops	Monument of Triumph (new)
	Sullen Claw	Sword	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvP	Equilibrium Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Summun Bonun	Sword	Heavy	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Salvation's Edge Raid	Monument of Triumph
	Synanceia	Sword	Heavy	Solar	S › Best	PvE	Reclamation Engram	Edge of Fate DLC
	Temptation's Hook	Sword	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	-	World Drops	Monument of Triumph
	Terciopelo-4BL	Sword	Heavy	Solar	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Sparrow Racing League	Monument of Triumph (new)
	The Other Half	Sword	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Dares of Eternity	30th Anniversary
	The Slammer	Sword	Heavy	Stasis	S › Best	PvE	Pinnacle Ops	Monument of Triumph
	Thin Precipice	Sword	Heavy	Strand	D › Worst	-	Xûr	Season 21
	Throne-Cleaver	Sword	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	-	Xûr	Lightfall DLC
	Zephyr	Sword	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Dawning Engram	Monument of Triumph

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 Destiny 2 Swords Today

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

3. The Other Half

 Excels in PvE

The Other Half is the most popular Sword among players thanks to the ‘Eager Edge’ perk. This perk is enjoyable to use and provides versatility through incredible movement, allowing players to use it when damage isn’t necessary but movement is.

The Other Half also comes with some solid damage perks like Whirlwind Blade, Vorpal Weapon, and Frenzy, making it even better. It can take down beefy enemies much easier while also having the movement capabilities of Eager Edge. Simply put, The Other Half is brilliant, and it is definitely recommended. 

• PvE God roll: Eager Edge + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Frenzy)

How to get it: The Other Half can be acquired by completing Dares of Eternity runs or turning in Treasure keys in Eternity.

Name: The Other Half

Type: Sword Archetype: Adaptive

Ammo: Heavy Element: Void

Craftable: Yes Last Update: 30th Anniversary

Source: Dares of Eternity Requires: Free-to-Play

4. Summum Bonum

 Excels in PvE

Summum Bonum is the Salvation’s Edge Sword and comes with the new Wave-Frame archetype. This weapon type isn’t just a gimmick; it deals some solid damage and comes with strong damage perks like Chaos Reshaped, Whirlwind Blade, and Surrounded, all as second-column perk options.

Alongside these top-tier damage perks, Summum Bonum also has access to Relentless Strikes, the primary utility pick for Swords, but it comes with Attrition Orbs, which, when used with Facet of Purpose on a Solar Super or with mods like Recuperation, allows for more flexibility in your loadout as it pretty much removes the need for a Well of Radiance. These are the top Summum Bonum God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Relentless Strikes or Attrition Orbs + Chaos Reshaped

How to get it: Summum Bonum can be acquired from the Salvation’s Edge Raid.

3. The Slammer

 Excels in PvE

Sword viability has fluctuated over the years, which is evidenced by the fact that the most used sword is one purely for movement tech. However, the reintroduction of Crota’s End, as well as a few new dungeon bosses, have made swords fulfill a niche damage roll that they’ve yearned for. The Slammer, thankfully, satisfies both the movement and damage crowds.

For starters, The Slammer rolls with Eager Edge, a perk formerly exclusive to the 30th Anniversary swords, and it is the first sword to get the coveted Bait and Switch. While the perks aren’t the best in tandem with each other, the fact that they appear on here shows that this sword might be able to do it all. It even has Cold Steel for that extra Stasis synergy! These are the top The Slammer God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Relentless Strikes (also good: Eager Edge) + Bait and Switch (also good: Cold Steel)

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

Name: The Slammer

Type: Sword Archetype: Vortex

Ammo: Heavy Element: Stasis

Craftable: No Last Update: Monument of Triumph

Source: Pinnacle Ops Requires: Free-to-Play

2. Falling Guillotine (Brave)

 Excels in PvE

The BRAVE Falling Guillotine is one of the best Swords available right now, thanks to the Sword’s ability to roll with double damage perks. This combination only comes on a few weapons in the entire game, so for it to exist on a true DPS weapon is incredibly fortunate.

To make matters even better, BRAVE Guillotine can also come with Eager Edge, adding some fun movement capabilities to the Sword, making BRAVE Guillotine the best Legendary Sword in the game right now. These are the top Falling Guillotine God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Frenzy + Bait and Switch or Surrounded

How to get it: Falling Guillotine is a Brave weapon that can be acquired from the Onslaught Playlist.

Name: Falling Guillotine (Brave)

Type: Sword Archetype: Vortex

Ammo: Heavy Element: Void

Craftable: No Last Update: Monument of Triumph

Source: Onslaught Activity Requires: Free-to-Play

1. Ergo Sum

 Excels in PvE

Summum Bonum is the Salvation’s Edge Sword and comes with the new Wave-Frame archetype. This weapon type isn’t just a gimmick; it deals some solid damage and comes with strong damage perks like Chaos Reshaped, Whirlwind Blade, and Surrounded, all as second-column perk options.

Alongside these top-tier damage perks, Summum Bonum also has access to Relentless Strikes, the primary utility pick for Swords, but it comes with Attrition Orbs, which, when used with Facet of Purpose on a Solar Super or with mods like Recuperation, allows for more flexibility in your loadout as it pretty much removes the need for a Well of Radiance. We cover the most sought-after Ergo Sum God Rolls here.

Exotic Perk: “This weapon collects less ammo. Deals increased damage while Transcendent; defeating targets lengthens Transcendence.” Has access to an additional random rolled Exotic Perk.

How to get it: We cover How to Get the Ergo Sum here.

Name: Ergo Sum

Type: Sword Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Last Update: The Final Shape DLC

Source: Exotic Quest Requires: The Final Shape

Swords and the PvP Meta: TTK

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

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Rocket Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Rocket Launchers remain a staple in many players' loadouts. They can provide high-range one-shot kills, and can also do AoE damage which can potentially allow you to clear teams if they are close enough together. ► Best Archetype: Precision (15 RPM) - Example: Gjallarhorn	PVP Heavies
Grenade Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Heavy Grenade Launchers are an incredible option for those who are confident in landing their direct hits. They can functionally serve as a Rocket Launcher, but instead of coming with only a single shot, Grenade Launchers can bring 3, which, of course, means more potential kills. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Memory Interdict	PVP Heavies
Machine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Machine Guns are still an incredible option for Control as they can provide many kills. However, they do require multiple shots to kill which can lead to you potentially being Sniped or peak-shot by a Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (450 RPM) - Example: Corrective Measure	PVP Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Linear fusion rifles are in the middle of an identity crisis. They are stronger than sniper rifles and have more aim assistance, but they still require Heavy ammo and a headshot to one-shot an enemy. On top of that, they also have a charge time to take into account. Compared to a sniper rifle that fires immediately and only uses Special ammo, Linear Fusion rifles make little sense for the Crucible.	PVP Heavies
Swords	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Swords are perhaps the most fun option (especially with Eager Edge); however, they are too inconsistent to warrant any competitive use. Furthermore, benefitting from third-person view is no longer possible without Heavy ammo, making the only niche usage swords had redundant. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive/Lightweight- Examples: Half-Truths/Quickfang	PVP Heavies

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. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2.

Having said that, TTK figures rarely apply to Heavy weapons. When choosing a Heavy weapon for PVP, you want something reliable and able to deliver one-hit-kills consistently. Swords can certainly do that but require you to get up close and personal. This carries a lot of risks, which is why you’ll rarely see a Sword user in endgame PvP content.

You can still choose one and have fun with it in 6v6 matches, but you’ll be better off with other weapon types. 

Swords and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Swords compare to other primary weapons in PvE?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Exotic Sniper Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Main role: Single Target damage ► The recent buffs to certain Snipers, like Whisper of the Worm, and the Sniper's Meditation artifact mod make Exotic Sniper Rifles an easy, accessible, and powerful DPS option on bosses like The Witness in particular. Any boss that has a reasonable crit spot and a decently lengthed damage phase can be destroyed by Whisper right now, and you should definitely take advantage of it. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Whisper of the Worm	PVE Heavies
Grenade Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Main role: Add Clear (Secondary role: Single Target Damage). ► Grenade Launchers have finally reached the apex of the DPS meta. Grenade Launchers like Edge Transit and Cataphract GL3 with Envious Assassin and Bait and Switch are incredibly powerful thanks to the amount of burst damage they can put out. Because of this, it's safe to say that Grenade Launchers belong in the top tier of PvE Heavies. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Edge Transit	PVE Heavies
Machine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main role: Add Clear ► With the nerf to double-special loadouts, players can't mindlessly spam Machine Guns at enemies anymore and be rewarded for it. However, Machine guns are still excellent at ad clear and remain decent for DPS. That said, for DPS, they are massively outclassed by Rocket Launchers. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (900 RPM) - Example: Retrofit Escapade	PVE Heavies
Swords	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main roles: Add Clear & Single Target damage (i.e. Boss damage). ► Swords are pretty decent right now. In fact, they are the go-to option for Crota in Crota's End and for the Herald of Finality in Salvation's Edge. However, this is only because of the design of the boss fight and a specific buff to Sword damage against Crota. Outside of these bosses, Swords are a decent but mediocre option as they are simply out-damaged by other heavy weapons. ► Best Archetype: Whirlwind - Example: Falling Guillotine	PVE Heavies
Rocket Launchers	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main role: Burst Damage (Secondary role: Add Clear) ► Rockets aren't as good as they used to be, but they are still definitely usable. In most relevant content such as the most recent raid, Salvation's Edge, Rockets aren't too popular (outside of Still Hunt rotations). Despite this Rockets are still a competitive option, and they do some solid burst damage. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (20 RPM) - Example: Apex Predator	PVE Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main role: Single Target damage (Secondary role: Burst Damage) ► Linear Fusion Rifles might not be the top dogs anymore, but they are still serious contenders when it comes to total damage. Options like Cataclysmic and Briar's Contempt can still see some use in today's meta. However, despite their strengths, most situations do not require the amount of total damage that Linear Fusions offer, and if they do, options like Leviathan's Breath can fill that void very easily. ► Best Archetype: Precision (533 RPM) - Example: Reed's Regret	PVE Heavies

According to Bungie, these are the different roles for Heavy weapons:

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 DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2.

Before you go…

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

You now know everything there is to know about machine guns in Destiny 2, whether that is for PvP or PvE content.