Best Swords in Destiny 2: Tier List for PvP and PvE

While not suited for all situations, swords can deal unparallel 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 every Sword in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendaries, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Updated as of Season of Defiance (S20). See Updates.

Destiny 2 Swords Tier List: Top-tier Options

This Tier list features the Top-tier Exotic and Legendary Swords in the game and covers both PvE and PvP:

Name	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
Falling Guillotine	Falling Guillotine	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	World loot pool		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade ► Falling Guillotine is still one of the best Legendary Swords in the entire game. ITs strong Vortex Frame archetype, solid perk pool, and good stats make it a top-tier option.	Season 11	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade	Top-tier
The Lament	The Lament	Sword	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Quest		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Beyond Light	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks." ► Despite some of its targeting issues, the Lament remains one of the best swords in the game. Its Lifesteal perk is a powerful tool, and its ability to shred through high-health targets or Barrier Champions makes it a fun and powerful weapon.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."	Top-tier
Crown-Splitter	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Aggressive	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	World loot pool		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► The Titan-exclusive Crown-Splitter is a beast when it comes to DPS. Chain light attacks on a single target to see what we mean. Able to roll with Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade too, Crownsplitter is a standout pick.	Season 14	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Vorpal Weapon)	Top-tier
Death's Razor	Death's Razor	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Engram Focusing		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Engram Focusing Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Valiant Charge) ► Death's Razor is part of a strong archetype, is craftable, and comes with many solid perks. Classics such as Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade are present, but niche perks like Valiant Charge, Surrounded, and Demolitionist are also available.	Season 20	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Valiant Charge)	Top-tier
Sola's Scar	Sola's Scar	Sword	Caster	Heavy	Solar	Lightfall	No	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris Lightfall	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Caster PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Chain Reaction (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► Sola's Scar can be a fun option, especially with Chain Reaction. It also features top-tier base stats. Having that, there is little reason to ever use it, as Swords are not meant to do ad clear...	Season 13	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Caster PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Chain Reaction (also good: Vorpal Weapon)	Top-tier
Half-Truths	Half-Truths	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dares of Eternity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Eager Edge (also good: Tireless Blade) ► Half-Truths is one of two swords that can roll with the perk Eager Edge. This perk alone sets it above the rest as it is incredibly fun and allows you to travel at outrageous speeds with specific abilities, such as Icarus Dash.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Eager Edge (also good: Tireless Blade)	Top-tier
Eternity's Edge	Eternity's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded ► Eternity’s Edge, a Warlock-specific sword, is the Solar equivalent to Falling Guillotine but without Whirlwind Blade. As a Vortex sword, it ranks higher than most other Legendary swords due to its superior ammo efficiency and high DPS.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded	Top-tier
Caretaker	Caretaker	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Solar	Season 20	Yes	A › Strong	Seasonal activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Seasonal activity Season 20	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Valiant Charge) ► Caretaker comes with the sidegrade to Eager Edge, Valiant Charge. This perk is super fun and grants 16% extra lunge distance over Eager Edge, but it does have a prerequisite. As for its other perks, they can act as decent damage perks but are too niche to excel.	Season 20	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Valiant Charge)	Top-tier
Black Talon	Black Talon	Sword	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Can fire heavy projectile attacks. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Most attacks partially bypass elemental shields." ► With the ability to one-shot enemies at range in PvP and decent burst damage in PvE, Black Talon is strong Exotic. There are other best-in-class alternatives, but Black Talon remains viable.	Season 4	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Can fire heavy projectile attacks. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Most attacks partially bypass elemental shields."	Top-tier
Razor's Edge	Razor's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Iron Banner		Strong ❘ A	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Chain Reaction (also good: Frenzy) ► Razor's Edge is the first-ever Iron Banner sword. It looks cool, it is part of the Vortex archetype, immediately placing it above many other swords. Furthermore, it can roll with a couple of interesting perks and features the Skulking Frenzy Origin trait.	Season 16	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Chain Reaction (also good: Frenzy)	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Swords: The complete list

This database includes every viable Sword currently in the game:

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Abide the Return	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Weak ❘ C	-	Dreaming City		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Bequest	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Beyond Light	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Average ❘ B	-	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Beyond Light	Season 12	Heavy	Craftable
	Black Talon	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 4	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Caretaker	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Season 20	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Seasonal activity		Season 20	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Death's Razor	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	Engram Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier	Destabilizing Rounds
	Eternity's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Falling Guillotine	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Goldtusk	Sword	Lightweight	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Average ❘ B	-	Engram Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable
	Half-Truths	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Heartshadow	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Heavy	Void	Average ❘ B	PvE	Duality Dungeon		Deluxe Edition	Season 17	Heavy	No
	Hero of Ages	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Average ❘ B	PvE	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon		30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	No
	Honor's Edge	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Weak ❘ C	-	Xûr		Free-to-Play	Season 10	Heavy	No
	Just in Case	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Season 21	Yes	Heavy	Solar			Fishing		Season 21	Season 21	Heavy	No
	Nasreddin	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Average ❘ B	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	No
	Negative Space	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No
	Night Terror	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Average ❘ B	-	Moon		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Quickfang	Sword	Lightweight	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Worst ❘ D	PvP	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Razor's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Strong ❘ A	-	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 16	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Sola's Scar	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Lightfall	No	Heavy	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris		Lightfall	Season 13	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Steel Sybil Z-14	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No
	Temptation's Hook	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No
	The Lament	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvE	Exotic Quest		Beyond Light	Season 12	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	The Other Half	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Average ❘ B	PvP	Dares of Eternity		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable
	Thin Precipice	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Strand	Season 21	Yes	Heavy	Strand			Seasonal activity		Season 21	Season 21	Heavy	Craftable
	Throne-Cleaver	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Average ❘ B	-	Engram Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable
	Worldline Zero	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Worst ❘ D	-	Exotic Kiosk		Free-to-Play	Season 3	Heavy	No
	Zephyr	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Stasis	Average ❘ B	PvE	Event: Dawning		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	No

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.

Best Destiny 2 Swords in 2023

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):

5. Falling Guillotine

 Excels in PVE

Fallen Guillotine remains a brilliant option for any Sword enjoyer out there. While it does not have the utility of something like Eager Edge, it does come with the strongest Sword archetype, as well as some of the top damage perks on a sword like Whirlwind Blade, Relentless Strikes, and Surrounded.

Falling Guillotine can be quite the hassle to farm for, though. Thankfully, it has a very small perk pool making it quite likely that you will get your favoured perks quite quickly.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
• Perk 2: Whirlwind Blade

How to get it: Falling Guillotine can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities or via the Gunsmith, Legendary engrams, 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Falling Guillotine	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No	Top-tier

4. The Other Half

Best PVP Sword in Destiny 2

A community favorite, The Other Half isn’t overly different from its Arc counterpart. However, where it does differ is in its second perk column. Half-Truths does not come with a damage perk, while the Other Half comes with three; Frenzy, Whirlwind Blade, and Vorpal Weapon.

The Other Half also comes with the widely popular Eager Edge perk, which is incredibly fun to use and can be used for incredibly fast movement with certain techs with Shatterdive and Well of Radiance, as well as some other options too.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Eager Edge
• Perk 2: 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 at Xûr’s in Eternity.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	The Other Half	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Average ❘ B	PvP	Dares of Eternity		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable

3. Death’s Razor

 Excels in PVE

Death’s Razor does what Falling Guillotine does, but better, more easily, and in different ways. Coming with classic damage perks like Relentless Strikes, Whirlwind Blade, and Surrounded Death’s Razor is already a Vortex Frame powerhouse. However, it can also come with options like Valiant Charge or the new Void perk, Destabilizing Rounds.

Death’s Razor is also craftable, meaning it can get Enhanced perks, furthering the edge that this Sword has over the competition.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
• Perk 2: Whirlwind Blade (also good: Valiant Charge or Surrounded)

How to get it: Death’s Razor can be focused with seasonal engrams at the War Table in the H.E.L.M.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No	Top-tier

2. Crown-Splitter

 Excels in PVE

Titans are still in luck with the Crownsplitter. Still boasting some excellent numbers in the Sword category, Crownsplitter remains one of the top dogs when it comes to Swords. While they may not be in the meta right now, if Swords ever make a return, Crownsplitter will be a very popular pick.

While it may not have Eager Edge of Valiant Charge, it is the powerhouse of Legendary Swords, and god rolls of it should be saved in case it returns to power.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
• Perk 2: Whirlwind Blade (also good: Vorpal Weapon 

How to get it: Crown-Splitter can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities or via the Gunsmith, Legendary engrams, 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No	Top-tier

1. The Lament

Best PvE Sword in Destiny 2

The Lament has always been a powerful pick, and this fact hasn’t changed. It simply has so much going for it. Solid burst damage with the right combos, life steal, and anti-champion capabilities. It also looks pretty cool, which is always a bonus.

While The Lament has had its issues with tracking and FPS, it has always been the go-to Sword for any player wanting to wield one for a while now, and it looks to remain that way for a long time.

Exotic Perk: “Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks.”

How to get it: The Lament can be acquired by completing an Exotic quest.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	The Lament	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvE	Exotic Quest		Beyond Light	Season 12	Heavy	No	Top-tier

Swords and the PvP Meta: TTK

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 consistently deliver one-hit-kills. 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. So, how do they compare to other primary 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
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
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
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 now redundant. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive/Lightweight- Examples: Half-Truths/Quickfang	PVP Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C		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. In PVP, you want a Heavy weapon that can either easily down several guardians or guarantee a kill in a high-stakes match. It isn't impossible to do with a linear fusion rifle, but other weapon types can accomplish that more easily.	PVP Heavies

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
Swords	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Main roles: Add Clear & Single Target damage (i.e. Boss damage). ► Swords have fallen slightly out of the meta since the days of Falling Guillotine, however, they are still a solid pick. Swords like The Lament and Heartshadow are both solid options for slaying majors and dealing good boss damage. They are unfortunately very risky, though, and when Linear Fusion Rifles deal the incredible amount of damage they do right now, it is difficult to recommend Swords. ► Best Archetype: Exotics - Example: The Lament	PVE Heavies
Rocket Launchers	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Main role: Burst Damage (Secondary role: Add Clear) ► Rocket Launchers are solid options. They deal good burst damage and are effective for killing high-health targets like Majors quickly. Their ammo economy is poor, unfortunately, meaning that you will need to be conservative with how you use your rockets. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (20 RPM) - Example: The Hothead	PVE Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Main role: Single Target damage (Secondary role: Burst Damage) ► Linear Fusion Rifles are the cream of the crop. They can deal very high damage consistently. They have solid DPS and incredible total damage, making them amazing for Raids and other high-level pieces of content. There are also plenty of strong options right now, including the Taipan-4FR or Cataclysmic, which both come with excellent perks and have good damage. ► Best Archetype: Precision (533 RPM) - Example: Reed's Regret	PVE Heavies
Machine Guns	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Main role: Add Clear ► Machine Guns are a different kind of Power weapon. Instead of focusing on boss damage (outside of Xenophage), Machine Guns focus on ad clear. And they are excellent at ad clear, especially Thunderlord; however, given that abilities and primary weapons are excellent at add clear, Machine Guns are currently mediocre options for your Heavy slot. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example:	PVE Heavies
Grenade Launchers	D › Worst	Worst ❘ D		► Main role: Add Clear (Secondary role: Single Target Damage). ► Grenade Launchers are in a very sad state right now. Outside of maybe Typhon GL5, Heavy Grenade Launchers are in a terrible spot. They do not have great boss damage and also do not have good add clear, making them very, very pointless in all content. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Typhon GL5	PVE Heavies
Exotic Sniper Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Main role: Single Target damage ► Exotic Snipers are very niche. They are far from the top of the meta right now as they are simply harder to use and in many ways inferior to Linear Fusion Rifles. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Whisper of the Worm	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.

When it comes to actual DPS, Swords are top-tier:

Your turn

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