[toc] Last year, a major reword and a significant buff transformed this previously mediocre weapon type into one of the most lethal and powerful alternatives in the entire game.
While not suited for all situations, swords can deal unparallel damage as long as you can get close enough.
In this guide, we’ll cover both Exotic and Legendary swords (including their PVP and PVE god rolls) and provide a verdict on how good each weapon is.
Swords in Destiny 2: High-risk, high-reward, Swords are closed-range Power weapons that excel at ad clearing and single target damage. Among the best PVE options, these are currently considered top tier.
Destiny 2 Swords Tier list
List updated as of The Witch Queen’s release (S16).
The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary Sword 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
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 the second-best legendary sword in the game. Its god-roll combination of Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade and strong archetype make it better than almost all competition.
Season 11
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
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 arguably the best sword (and one of the best weapons) 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."
► The Titan exclusive Crown-Splitter is the king of DPS when it comes to swords, as you can chain light attacks on a single target. Its DPS number even beats exotics like The Lament. Overall, Crown-Splitter is an excellent option.
► Sola's Scar has a caster archetype putting it slightly above Adaptive swords but lower than Vortex ones. However, Sola's Scar's advantage is that it can attack from range due to its archetype. This range, combined with Chain Reaction, has some interesting potential for add clear.
► Eternity’s Edge, Warlocks' 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 their superior ammo efficiency and high DPS.
Season 14
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded
Hero of Ages
Hero of Ages
Sword
Vortex
Heavy
Arc
30th Anniversary
Yes
A › Strong
Grasp of Avarice Dungeon
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Grasp of Avarice Dungeon
30th Anniversary
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex
PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Unrelenting) + Chain Reaction (also good: One for All)
► Hero of Ages is an excellent arc alternative to the fan-favorite Falling Guillotine. Its perk selection is rather niche and leans into an add clearing playstyle with perks such as One for All, Demolitionist, and Chain Reaction.
30th Anniversary event
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex
PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Unrelenting) + Chain Reaction (also good: One for All)
Heartshadow
Heartshadow
Sword
Exotic
Heavy
Void
Deluxe Edition
Yes
A › Strong
Duality Dungeon
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Duality Dungeon
Deluxe Edition
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Heavy attacks made with full Sword energy turn you invisible and fire exploding Void projectiles. Remaining invisible grants this weapon increased damage. Hitting a target with this weapon’s projectiles while invisible weakens them."
► While Heartshadow does require you to change your playstyle a bit due to its unique perks and heavy attack, it can be extremely useful in the right hands. Not only are Invisibility and Weaken irreplaceable buffs for PVE, but they also allow this sword to have great synergy with a Void subclass. Plus, Heartshadow is extremely fun to use!
Season 17
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Heavy attacks made with full Sword energy turn you invisible and fire exploding Void projectiles. Remaining invisible grants this weapon increased damage. Hitting a target with this weapon’s projectiles while invisible weakens them."
► 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.
► Adaptive swords are generally nothing to write home about, however, Zephyr has an ace up its sleeve with the perk Cold Steel. With the Cold Steel perk, Zephyr can slow enemies on hit and allow you to activate the artifact perk Focusing Lens by yourself.
30th Anniversary event
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Cold Steel
Black Talon
Black Talon
Sword
Exotic
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Exotic Engram
Average
❘ B
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."
► Black Talon is the definition of a mediocre option. It can pump out decent burst damage in higher-level content but takes up your exotic slot. And while it can neutralize Supers very quickly in PvP, there are a plethora of options that can do it even better.
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."
Quickfang
Quickfang
Sword
Lightweight
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
World loot pool
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvP
World loot pool
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Lightweight
PvE God Roll: Tireless Blade + Assassin’s Blade
► Quickfang is the Hunter-specific sword, and as its name suggests, it allows you to move faster due to its unique Lightweight archetype. The movement speed buff allows you to reposition swiftly in PvP. You also get a different running animation while holding the sword, giving it some style points.
► 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.
► Like its "other half"', The Other Half lives and dies by the Eager Edge perk. A fun option in PvE and a surprisingly strong option in PvP, make it rank above other Adaptive archetype swords.
► Temptation's Hook is another Caster frame sword. But unlike Sola's Scar, it can't roll with some of the more lethal PvE perks; however, it is slightly more suited for PvP thanks to perks such as En Garde or Vorpal Weapon.
► Honor's Edge, like most other Adaptive swords, is simply outclassed. It also has a lacking perk pool with the only good perks being Relentless Strikes and Surrounded. It does offer a niche option in Shattering Blade which net it a few bonus points though.
Season 10
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surounded
Negative Space
Negative Space
Sword
Adaptive
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
C › Weak
World loot pool
Weak
❘ C
World loot pool
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
► Despite being able to roll with top-tier perks such as Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade and having access to interesting perks such as Disruption Break and Disruption Break, it simply can't compete with superior frames.
Season 11
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
Steel Sybil Z-14
Steel Sybil Z-14
Sword
Adaptive
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
C › Weak
World loot pool
Weak
❘ C
World loot pool
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
► Steel Sybil Z-14 can roll with two of the best sword perks in the game, it's also Void which synergizes well with Void 3.0 builds, Volatile Rounds, and Font of Might. But as an Adaptive frame sword, it still lacks compared to the competition.
Season 11
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
Night Terror
Night Terror
Sword
Adaptive
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
C › Weak
Moon
Weak
❘ C
Moon
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
► Night Terror is another Adaptive Frame sword; however, it receives some bonus points as it offers a good number of solid perks such as Relentless Strikes, Whirlwind Blade, Vorpal Weapon, and Surrounded. It's also relatively easy to target farm.
Season 14
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
Worldline Zero
Worldline Zero
Sword
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
D › Worst
Exotic Kiosk
Worst
❘ D
Exotic Kiosk
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Press while sprinting to launch a heavy blink attack. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields."
► Worldline Zero has seen an unfortunate fall from grace. Previously the king of speedrunning with Shatterdive Skating or Warlock Skating, Worldline Zero's quirks have been removed, and it is now sadly one of the worst weapons in the game.
Season 3
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Press while sprinting to launch a heavy blink attack. Attacks partially bypass elemental shields."
Bequest
Bequest
Sword
Adaptive
Heavy
Arc
Beyond Light
Yes
D › Worst
Deep Stone Crypt Raid
Worst
❘ D
Deep Stone Crypt Raid
Beyond Light
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded
► Bequest suffers from being an Adaptive Frame, and top of that, it can't roll with the typical top-tier sword perks including Whirlwind Blade or even Vorpal Weapon. But to make matters worse, as a Deep Stone Crypt weapon, it is more difficult to obtain than most other swords in the game.
Season 12
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded
Abide the Return
Abide the Return
Sword
Adaptive
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
D › Worst
Dreaming City
Worst
❘ D
Dreaming City
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
► Abide the Return, unfortunately, does nothing that no other sword can't already do. Its limited perk pool and poor archetype make it an option that isn't worth your heavy slot.
Season 14
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade
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.
This section not only covers the top Swords currently in the game, but it also tells you where you can find them. This guide covers every weapon source in Destiny 2 and most of the sources below are self-explanatory, but in doubt, you can always leave a comment below or ask away on our Discord server.
Overall, these are our Top 10 favorite swords for PVE and PVP.
10. Quickfang
Excels in PVP
Quickfang is one of a kind. It is the only Lightweight sword in the game, and similar to other Lightweight weapons, you move faster with it when you are wielding it.
In PvE, it falls short. It doesn’t rival Vortex or Aggressive frames and even struggles to keep up with Adaptive archetypes in terms of pure DPS output, but thankfully for Quickfang, this isn’t where this sword finds its niche. Quickfang, being a Lightweight, allows you to reposition much faster in PvP game modes. Unfortunately for the sword, you can’t even draw it unless you have ammo in game modes such as Trials of Osiris or Competitive. However, when you get ammo, with perks such as Assassin’s Blade, which gives you movement speed on kill, you will be moving a decent chunk faster than a regular sword.
Quickfang also has a different running animation that looks cool and makes your head harder to hit from behind, which can help, especially against players using precision weapons like Snipers or Hand Cannons, which are both very common in PvP.
PVP God roll:
Perk 1: Tireless Blade
Perk 2: Assassin’s Blade
How to get it: Quickfang 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?
Quickfang
Sword
Lightweight
Legendary
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Void
Average
❘ B
PvP
World loot pool
Free-to-Play
Season 14
Heavy
No
9. Black Talon
Excels in PVP
Black Talon is the first ranged sword to be introduced to Destiny 2. Firing a ranged void strike on a heavy attack with tracking and one-shot supers on a direct hit is always nice to have up your sleeve.
The sword not only looks stylish, but it is also very nice to use. The heavy void attack can be used while in the air or on the ground and can be involved in combos to quickly eliminate beefier targets in PvE or takedown multiple Guardians in the Crucible.
Black Talon has pretty good DPS, even slightly higher than The Lament’s DPS. However, its total damage is lacking due to the high ammo consumption of the ranged attack.
This ammo problem is not only an issue in PvE but also PvP, as you can only really get two attacks out from the heavy attack of Black Talon, making it a pretty low kill potential heavy option. Furthermore, while it can easily take down a Super, there are many super killing options in the game now, such as Snipers, Fusion Rifles, or even consistent damage from a primary weapon can scare off a super. So, as a result, the need for Black Talon has slowly dwindled since its release back in Forsaken.
Exotic Perk: “Can fire heavy projectile attacks. Heavy attacks are stronger with full energy. Most attacks partially bypass elemental shields.”
How to get it: Black Talon can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Black Talon
Sword
Exotic
Exotic
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Void
Average
❘ B
PvP
Exotic Engram
Free-to-Play
Season 4
Heavy
No
8. Half-Truths
Excels in PVP
The Half-Truths sword is one of the first two swords to roll with the ‘Eager Edge’ perk. Since the perk’s release, it has grown to be a fan favorite in the community as it increases your lunge distance by 100% immediately after switching to the sword. This, of course, allows you to go much faster, but it can also be paired with many other abilities to reach insane speeds. Abilities such as Icarus Dash come to mind, but even some abilities such as Shatterdive, Well of Radiance, or Ward of Dawn can also help you reach incredible speeds with correctly timed inputs.
Because of the Eager Edge perk, you can lunge at people from great distances in PvP, making this legendary sword a solid option in high-stakes PvP.
Aside from this, Half-Truths doesn’t have a ton going for it. It can only roll with some mediocre perks and not some of the core damage options you look for on a sword such as Whirlwind Blade or Surrounded. Half-Truths also suffers from being an Adaptive archetype sword. This type of sword has some of the lowest DPS numbers and total damage numbers compared to other archetypes such as Vortex or Aggressive.
PVP God roll:
Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
Perk 2: Eager Edge (also good: Tireless Blade)
How to get it: Half-Truths 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?
Half-Truths
Sword
Adaptive
Legendary
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Arc
Average
❘ B
PvP
Dares of Eternity
Free-to-Play
30th Anniversary event
Heavy
Craftable
7. Razor’s Edge
Excels in PVE
Razor’s Edge, dubbed ‘the Lightsaber sword’ by many in the community, is the first Iron Banner sword to be released. Being an Iron Banner weapon, it comes with the origin trait ‘Skulking Wolf’, which gives enhanced radar and invisibility on your opponents’ radars during a Hunt.
In PvE, it sees some success too. It is part of the Vortex archetype, immediately placing it above most other swords. However, it is a little lacking compared to some of its immediate competition like Falling Guillotine, Hero of Ages or Eternity’s Edge. It can’t roll with either Whirlwind Blade or Surrounded, the best two damage perks on a sword.
However, Razor’s Edge is Void and can also roll with Chain Reaction allowing for a very niche add clear build. However, I would recommend aiming for a damage perk like Frenzy or even One for All.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
Perk 2: Chain Reaction (also good: Frenzy)
How to get it: Razor’s Edge can be acquired by completing Iron Banner matches and turning in Iron Banner tokens.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
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
6. Hero of Ages
Excels in PVE
Hero of Ages is an interesting sword. It can roll with a couple of intriguing perk combinations that can provide a high fun factor. The most standout combination is Demolitionist or Unrelenting and Chain Reaction. Demolitionist is a solid perk on its own and combined with the additional add clear that Chain Reaction brings, you will be able to get grenade energy very quickly.
On the other hand, however, Unrelenting can provide a lot more survivability as the explosive kills from Chain Reaction will contribute to kills to proc Unrelenting. This perk choice is personal preference; however, given how strong Grenades are with certain Void 3.0 Fragments and Aspects, I recommend Demolitionist.
In terms of damage, Hero of Ages is in an okay spot. It is a Vortex Frame that places it above many other swords. However, like Razor’s Edge, it lacks a proper damage perk like Whirlwind Blade or Surrounded, putting it below a few different options.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Demolitionist (also good: Unrelenting)
Perk 2: Chain Reaction (also good: One for All)
How to get it: Hero of Ages can be acquired by completing any Grasp of Avarice encounter.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Hero of Ages
Sword
Vortex
Legendary
Heavy
Arc
30th Anniversary
Yes
Heavy
Arc
Strong
❘ A
PvE
Grasp of Avarice Dungeon
30th Anniversary
30th Anniversary event
Heavy
No
5. Eternity’s Edge
Excels in PVE
Eternity’s Edge is the Warlock-specific sword. Being a Vortex Frame automatically places it higher than most other swords. However, Eternity’s Edge is bolstered by the fact that it can roll with Relentless Strikes and Surrounded, some of the best perks on a sword.
The main downsides to Eternity’s Edge are the rest of its perks, they are lacking, with the only other decent perk being Thresh, but even that is somewhat underwhelming, so you need to land the god roll when it comes to perks. Eternity’s Edge doesn’t bring much to the table in PvP, it can roll with Assassin’s Blade, but there are much better options if you want to use a sword inside the Crucible.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Relentless Strikes
Perk 2: Surrounded
How to get it: Eternity’s Edge 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?
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
4. The Other Half
Best PVP Sword in Destiny 2
The Other Half is in the same boat as Half-Truths. It lives and dies by the Eager Edge perk. Without it, The Other Half is a mediocre at best option. Despite rolling some desirable perk combinations such as Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade, it is still an Adaptive Frame, making it automatically weaker than most other types of swords.
The Other Half places slightly higher than Half-Truths as it can roll with those perks that are best on swords, and it is also Void, meaning it is a lot more friendly with Void 3.0 builds; however, this advantage will shift once Arc 3.0 is released in the season(s) to come.
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?
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. Falling Guillotine
Excels in PVE
Falling Guillotine is still the king of Vortex swords, which means it’s the best Vortex sword, but it is also better than almost every other Legendary sword as the Vortex frame is the strongest type of sword in the game. It can roll with the god roll combination of Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade, but it can also roll with Surrounded, making two of the four potential perks in the second slot S tier perks on swords.
In PvP, like all other Vortex swords, Falling Guillotine doesn’t bring anything to the table as it can’t even roll with Assassin’s Blade making it next to useless in the Crucible.
However, Falling Guillotine is a Void weapon, making it Void 3.0 build-friendly, and that’s always a bonus. Unfortunately, it is not easily obtained, but you should definitely hold onto it if you get the dream roll of Relentless Strikes and Whirlwind Blade to drop.
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?
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
2. Crown-Splitter
Excels in PVE
When it comes to sword DPS, the Crown-Splitter is unrivalled. A simple chain of light attacks over and over is enough to have the highest damage in the game. It also comes with the incredibly high single instance burst damage from the heavy attack making it a sword that can cover all types of damage. Crown-Splitter also receives some style points as the running animation is really cool as you wield a massive broadsword in a single hand.
In PvP, while it might not be the most optimal choice, it is better than many other options. You can deal considerable damage to supers with correct timing on the heavy attack.
What makes Crown-Splitter even better is its perk pool. It can roll with Relentless Strikes, perfect for the high DPS combo, but it can also roll with Whirlwind Blade, which synergizes even better with the light attack damage cycle. It can also roll other perks such as Vorpal Weapon or Surrounded; however, these are either a lower damage buff or riskier to activate.
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?
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
1. The Lament
Best PVE Sword in Destiny 2
The Lament is still top dog when it comes to swords as it does so much. Good damage, lifesteal, and it has anti-barrier capabilities. It shreds through champions while giving you that safety net of some healing on hit and also has an engaging gameplay loop with the varying combos that you can do when revving the sword.
The best combo to do with the sword to net you the highest total damage and DPS on average is five light attacks, one heavy attack while revving the sword, and two light attacks while the sword is recharging. Once it is recharged, rinse and repeat. This is a fast combo, and it gives you multiple instances of healing while also dealing good consistent damage, saving the massive final burst of the heavy attack for the end.
As of Season 16, The Lament has tracking issues, but these have been ignored due to it being a bug. Once these bugs are fixed, Lament will be leagues ahead of other swords simply due to its versatility.
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?
The Lament
Sword
Exotic
Exotic
Heavy
Solar
Beyond Light
Yes
Heavy
Solar
Best
❘ S
PvE
Exotic Quest
Beyond Light
Season 12
Heavy
No
Swords in PVP: Lethality & TTK
This TTK guide includes the TTKs for every primary weapon in Destiny 2. TTK is particularly important in PVP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent.
That said, 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 with consistency. Swords can certainly do that but do 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. More on that below.
Swords in PVE: Ad clearing
DPS is important for PVE, because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major.
But before we look into damage numbers and ease of use (two of the most important factors to take into account in PVE), we need to be clear about the role Swords are supposed to fill. According to Bungie, these are the different roles for Heavy weapons:
Role
Explanation
Target Weapon types
Add Clear
Clearing weaker enemies faster than you could with a primary ammo weapon. For most content, primaries do the add clear job perfectly well, so this is most useful in high difficulty PvE.
Main: Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers, Swords
Secondary: Rocket Launchers
Single Target Damage
Burning down a boss.
Main: Linear Fusion Rifles, Exotic Snipers, Swords
Secondary: Grenade Launchers, Machine Guns
Burst Damage
Burning down a champion quickly, or for bosses with multiple damage phases, clearing a phase quickly.
Main: Rocket Launchers
Secondary: Linear Fusion Rifles
Based on that, when using a Sword, you’re looking for an ad clear or single target damage weapon. The ad clear part of the equation is easy to achieve, as one swipe will get rid of any red bar enemy. When it comes to single target damage, Swords can do well, provided the enemy doesn’t have a stomp mechanic that will instantly kill you or throw you a mile away…
This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2. When it comes to actual DPS, Swords can do well, probably you can get (and stay) close to your target:
-
Weapon Type
Archetype
Average DPS
Burst DPS
Total Damage
Specs
---
Best in Class
Change?
Ammo
Are Swords Meta?
We already covered the best Swords for PVE and PVP, but how do they compare, in general, with other Heavy weapon types? In other words:
The current Meta for PVE
So, are Swords good in Destiny 2’s PVE? This table summarizes how the several Heavy weapon types rank against each other 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
The current Meta for PVP
What about PVP? This table summarizes how they rank against each other 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
Your turn
You now know everything there is to know about Swords in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.
Latest changes made to this guide
Things change fast in Destiny 2, especially when a new Season or Expansion launches. For that reason, this post will be updated at least once per season.
With the release of Season of the Risen (Season 16), the following weapons were added:
Half-Truths
Hero of Ages
The Other Half
Zephyr
Razor’s Edge
Stay tuned and don’t forget to bookmark this page for next season!
About The Author
Matthew Evans
Games have been a part of my life for the better part of my age, I've been hooked on them for years, and Destiny 2 is no exception. I've racked up countless hours and plenty of experience, which I hope to share with Blueberries who want to get involved with Destiny.
0 Comments