Destiny 2 Best Kinetic Weapons right now (Season 22 Meta)

Chasing the best weapons is one of the cornerstones of the Destiny 2 experience. But as you gain more experience, you realize that finding a great weapon is only a piece of the puzzle. To truly take your game to the next level, you’ll need a great loadout. For that reason, you will soon find yourself chasing the best weapons per slot: Kinetic, Energy, and Heavy.

In this guide, we cover the absolute best Kinetic weapons in Destiny 2. We’ll cover both Exotics and Legendary weapons (including their god rolls) for both PvE and PvP.

Updated as of Season of the Witch (S22)

Best Kinetic weapons: Primary ammo

In this section, we cover the best Kinetic weapons that use Primary ammo. Just remember Primary weapons use “normal” ammo, aka, white ammo boxes:

Top PvE Primary weapons

Weapons	Type	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
Wish-Ender	Combat Bow	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Exotic Quest	Exotic Quest Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully drawn Bow, combatants behind walls are highlighted, and arrows pierce shields. Strong against Barrier Champions. One shot can over-penetrate multiple targets." ► Wish-Ender has never been this strong, nor popular. With the newfound intrinsic ability to deal with Anti Barrier Champions with ease, even in Master and Grandmaster levels, and the fact that it effectively hits 3 times per arrow due to its piercing perk, Wish-Ender is currently a monster in PvE.	PVE
Fatebringer	Hand Cannon	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Vault of Glass Raid	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Firefly PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Opening Shot ► One of the most iconic legendary weapons in the game, Fatebringer comes with insane stats and great perks. While it does have some competition, namely Eyasluna, this almost-perfect Hand Cannon holds its ground as an all-time community favorite.	PVE
Osteo Striga	Submachine Gun	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	The Witch Queen Campaign	The Witch Queen Campaign The Witch Queen	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a stream of sentient, toxic projectiles that track the targeted enemy. Landing a final blow or multiple precision hits triggers a burst that poisons nearby targets." ► Feeling extremely nice to use, Osteo Striga became an instant favorite for many. Its poison-spreading effect makes it one of the best ad-clear primaries in PVE, and its enemy-tracking bullets make it an easy-to-use option in PVP. Plus, you can craft your own. What's not to love?	PVE
Quicksilver Storm	Auto Rifle	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Exotic Kiosk Lightfall	Slot: Strand | 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's missing something to be one of the greats.	PVE
Necrochasm	Auto Rifle	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Crota's End Raid	Crota's End Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision final blows with this weapon trigger a Cursed Thrall explosion. Final blows with Cursed Thrall explosions refill the magazine." ► Necrochasm is back and is stronger than ever. With the ability to trigger Cursed Thrall explosions with ease, Necrochasm is one of the best (and most fun) ad clear weapons in Destiny 2 right now.	PVE

Top PvP Primary weapons

Weapons	Type	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
The Immortal	Submachine Gun	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Trials of Osiris	Trials of Osiris Lightfall	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Rolls: Rangefinder (also good: Encore) + Target Lock PvE God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Keep Away) + Hatchling (also good: Demolitionist) ► The Immortal is perhaps the best legendary SMG in the game right now. From absurd PvP-centered stats and perks to synergistic options like Demolitionist and Hatchling for PvE, this weapon has no shortage of outstanding aspects. Sure, stepping into Trials of Osiris can be daunting, but this is worth it.	PVP
No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Beyond Light Campaign	Beyond Light Campaign Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision shots and shots against combatants affected by Stasis return to the magazine. At 10 stacks, a small portal will open, shooting bullets from an alternate timeline version of this weapon. Precision hits extend the portal's duration." ► An exceptional pick in PVP (and a fun one in PVE), No Time to Explain's ability to provide you with an extra set of bullets continues to be helpful in most areas of the game.	PVP
Ace of Spades	Hand Cannon	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights." ► Arguably the best 140 RPM hand cannon in the game, Ace of Spades has a lot to offer. With excellent base stats and some of the best perks around, namely Momento Mori, which is like Kill Clip on steroids and the ability to see your radar while zoomed in, this weapon has a bit of everything.	PVP
Round Robin	Hand Cannon	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Neomuna	Neomuna Lightfall	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Rolls: Killing Wind (also good: Keep Away) + Kill Clip ► Like Crimil's Dagger and Loud Lullaby, Round Robin can 2-tap in The Crucible with Kill Clip. While that alone isn't enough to put it up there with top options like Rose, Round Robin's decent stats and great perks carry it past most of the competition.	PVP
Unending Tempest	Submachine Gun	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Playlist: Crucible	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Target Lock ► Many are calling Unending Tempest the new king of SMGs. This Precision frame SMG has an excellent TTK, great range, and has all the right perks (Target Lock, anyone?) to compete with The Immortal. If you're a fan of SMGs, you need this weapon.	PVP

Best PvP Special weapons: Special ammo

In this section, we cover the best Kinetic weapons that use Special ammo. Not to be confused with Energy weapons, Special weapons use “Special” green ammo boxes:

Top PvE Special weapons

Weapons	Type	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
Heritage	Shotgun	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination PvP God Roll:Slideshot + Offhand Strike ► Heritage is an absolute staple in the Kinetic Slot and will forever hold a place as a go-to option in my loadouts. It can hit like a truck with Recombination and can get up to double its regular magazine size. It wastes majors and bosses alike and is an option that we 100% recommend you grind for.	PVE
Izanagi's Burden	Sniper Rifle	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage." ► A powerhouse of a weapon, Izanagi's Burden can reach some incredible DPS numbers, especially when combined with an Auto-Loading Holster Rocket Launcher. While this combo is slightly more demanding than some other DPS options, it is well worth the effort to unlock this beast's potential.	PVE
Witherhoard	Grenade Launcher	Special	Kinetic	Shadowkeep	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Projectiles fired blight the target or nearby area on impact. Blighted targets take damage over time and blight the nearby area on death." ► Even a few nerfs to this GL couldn't knock it out of the top spot. A true fire-and-forget weapon, Witherhoard can deal with all manner of enemies in just a few shots. Whether it is used as part of a damage rotation, or just to lock an area down, Witherhoard reigns supreme.	PVE
Riptide	Fusion Rifle	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Playlist: Crucible	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Compulsive Reloader) + Chill Clip ► Thanks to Crucible focusing and Chill Clip's ability to combat all champions, Riptide is not only a must-have weapon; it's also extremely easy to get. Riptide currently dominates the PvE meta, and TTK changes to Rapid-Fire fusions mean this could be a welcome addition to a PvP loadout.	PVE

Top PvP Special weapons

Weapons	Type	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
The Chaperone	Shotgun	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Exotic Quest	Exotic Quest Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon." ► It certainly requires more skill than your average pellet shotgun, but in the right hands, The Chaperone is the deadliest shotgun in the entire game. Because of its excellent base stats and Precision-slug frame, The Chaperone has the longest one-hit kill distance of any shotgun in the game, provided you can hit your headshots.	PVP
Fractethyst	Shotgun	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Xûr	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► As Precision Shotguns are clearly at the top of the Shotgun meta right now, some will argue that Fractethyst is the best PvP Shotgun in the game. Excellent base stats and top-tier perks make Fractethyst a sought-after weapon among PvP players.	PVP
Imperial Decree	Shotgun	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Engram Focusing	Engram Focusing Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: Threat Detector (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► Aggressive shotguns are one of the best options for PvP due to their pellet spread and high damage. Imperial Decree comes with excellent perks, making it a contender for Best Shotgun for the kinetic slot. Plus, it can be crafted, which cuts down on the luck required to get a god roll.	PVP
Defiance of Yasmin	Sniper Rifle	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	King's Fall Raid	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot PvE God Roll: Firefly + Firing Line ► Defiance of Yasmin rarely gets any talk, which is strange given how solid its perk pool and stats are. Individual snipers are better in specific activities, but Defiance is a jack of all trades that's hard to beat in terms of overall potency.	PVP

Before you go…

If you’re looking to take your game to the next level in PvE and PvP, definitely check out our Top PvE weapons and Top PvP weapons round-up.

Looking for a specific Kinetic weapon archetype/element not covered by this list? Our Kinetic weapons database covers all viable options in Destiny 2 right now.