Destiny 2 Best Legendary Weapons Today (Episode 1 Meta)

While Exotics tend to get most of the attention, Legendary weapons are the backbone of Destiny 2’s weapons system. But with hundreds of Legendary weapons out there, it’s hard to figure out which ones are worth your attention.

This guide covers the best Legendary weapons in Destiny 2 for PvE and PvP, grouped per slot (Kinetic, Energy, and Heavy).

Updated as of Episode 1: Echoes.

Best Legendary weapons: Primary ammo

These are the best Legendary weapons that use Primary ammo, including Kinetic weapons. Primary weapons use “normal” ammo (white ammo boxes):

Weapons	Type	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
Igneous Hammer Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Primary	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	Trials of Osiris	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Rampage ► Igneous Hammer definitely isn't as popular as it was when it was first released, but the weapon still sees use in all areas of the game. With excellent stats and some top-tier perks on its side, Igneous continues to be one of the better 120 RPM hand cannons available.	PVP
Shayura's Wrath Submachine Gun	Submachine Gun	Primary	Void	The Final Shape	Yes	Trials of Osiris	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace + Kill Clip (also good: Destabilizing Rounds) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Kill Clip ► While chasing Shayura's Wrath is no longer the no-brainer it used to be, the weapon still excels all throughout the game. From complimenting a Void build to helping you excel in The Crucible, this is one of the more well-rounded options out there.	PVP
Zaouli’s Bane Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	King's Fall Raid	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent ► On top of offering excellent base stats (which can only be expected from a raid weapon), the Zaouli's Bane can also roll with an extremely lethal and unique perk combination: Explosive Payload + Incandescent. With a strong Solar 3.0 Build, a Zaouli's Bane with Incandescent can be a monster in mid to high-end PvE content.	PVE
Rose Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Playlist: Crucible	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Explosive Payload (also good: Eye of the Storm) ► Rose was a reward from competitive PvP, so it makes sense that it's a monster in The Crucible. The weapon has absurd stats and perks that allow it to rocket past its competition. Sure, it's harder to obtain than other options, but this grind is easily worth it if you're an avid Crucible player.	PVP
Rufus's Fury Auto Rifle	Auto Rifle	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Root of Nightmares Raid	Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Rolls: Demolitionist (also good: Reconstruction) + Hatchling (also good: Target Lock) PvP God Rolls: Reconstruction + Tap the Trigger ► Even with the introduction of additional strand Auto Rifles into the game, Rufus's Fury remains at the top of the pack with an outstanding perk pool, impressive stability, and versatility in both PvE and PvP.	PVE
Midnight Coup Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Onslaught Activity	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Firefly or Explosive Payload + Frenzy or One for All ► Midnight Coup offers a plethora of perks. While the classic Outlaw and Rampage combo is still strong, Midnight Coup offers insane perk combinations that set it apart, and help it excel, be it for ad clear or taking down Majors.	PVE
Elsie's Rifle Pulse Rifle	Pulse Rifle	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Onslaught Activity	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Zen Moment or Keep Away + Headseeker PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace or Feeding Frenzy + Desperate Measures or Destabilizing Rounds ► Elsie’s Rifle is an extremely powerful pulse rifle inside of the Crucible. It’s got slightly less range than The Messenger, but outside of that? Elsie has it beat. Add on the several stat boosting perks it can roll with, and you’ve got a perfect energy slot contender to The Messenger.	PVP
No Hesitation Auto Rifle	Auto Rifle	Primary	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	The Pale Heart	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Support PvE God Roll: Physic + Circle of Life (Also good: Incandescent) ► No Hesitation is part of a new auto rifle frame called the Support Frame. This new frame is capable of healing your allies, in addition to hurting foes. Rapidly healing allies grants restoration to your allies and increases your weapon damage. Talk about a utility weapon!	PVE
The Riposte Auto Rifle	Auto Rifle	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Crucible Competitive	Crucible Competitive Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Zen Moment + Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Target Lock) ► On paper, The Riposte is arguably the best Auto Rifle in the game, with very high handling, stability, and a decent amount of range. Plus, it features a plethora of strong perks and also benefits from being the only Legendary Lightweight Auto Rifle in the game.	PVP

Best Legendary weapons: Special ammo

These are the best Legendary weapons that use Special ammo. Not to be confused with Energy weapons, Special weapons use “Special” ammo (green ammo boxes):

Weapons	Type	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
Matador 64 Shotgun	Shotgun	Special	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind) ► Matador 64 is one of the best Shotguns in the game. Being part of the Precision Frame family gives it a boost, but its excellent perks bring it the extra mile, with Opening Shot and Perpetual Motion both being high-value perks.	PVP
Felwinter's Lie Shotgun	Shotgun	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP Preferred Perks: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Slideshot) ► Felwinter's Lie is the shotgun you use if you don't have a good Matador 64 or Compass Rose. It is a solid Shotgun with Opening Shot, and you can't go wrong with it, but it will be outclassed by the best-in-class alternatives.	PVP
The Supremacy Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Last Wish Raid	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Lead from Gold) + Bait and Switch (also good: Focused Fury) PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot ► The Supremacy had a small fanbase upon initial release, but its popularity has only grown since its reissue in Season of the Deep. With strong perks, excellent stats, and the ability to be crafted, there's really nothing holding The Supremacy down.	PVE
Fractethyst Shotgun	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
Beloved Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Special	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Presage	Presage Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target (also good: Quickdraw) ► Arguably the community's favorite legendary sniper in the entire franchise, this "beloved" weapon is back and better than ever before. With low zoom, high aim assist, the ability to be crafted, and Snapshot Sights, it's no wonder Beloved is so popular in PVP.	PVP
Mercurial Overreach Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Crucible Competitive	Crucible Competitive Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target) ► Mercurial Overreach is a beast in The Crucible. With great stats, solid and unique perks, and a clean scope, it's no wonder why Guardians are beginning to prefer this over Beloved.	PVP
Riptide Fusion Rifle	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
Indebted Kindness Sidearm	Sidearm	Special	Arc	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon Lightfall Dungeon Key	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Beacon Rounds (also good: Impulse Amplifier) + Voltshot (also good: Adagio) ► Dropping from Warlord's Ruin, Indebted Kindess is the hot weapon to farm for. With the right roll, this goofy little sidearm can actually be the highest DPS special weapon in the game thanks to Adagio or Surrounded. It can even turn into a different damage type thanks to Permeability.	PVE
Someday Shotgun	Shotgun	Special	Kinetic	The Final Shape	Yes	The Pale Heart	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Recombination or Cascade Point ► Someday is arguably one of the strongest Shotguns in the game. With an excellent Precision Frame, brilliant base stats and a very nice perk pool, it's easy to see why Someday is one of the most used Shotguns in PvP right now. It also has some good PvE perks too, making it even better.	PVP
The Call Sidearm	Sidearm	Special	Strand	The Final Shape	Yes	The Pale Heart	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Lead from Gold (also good: Demolitionist) + One for All (also good: Desperate Measures) ► In PvE, The Call is outstanding. While its offerings mostly coincide with Indebted Kindness, its unique Strand element allows it to roll with more unique options as well. Regardless, The Call’s outstanding archetype and well-rounded perk pool are sure to make the weapon a PvE staple.	PVE
Aberrant Action Sidearm	Sidearm	Special	Solar	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	Echoes Activities	Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Heal Clip (also good: Beacon Rounds) + Incandescent (also good: Demolitionist) ► Without Lead from Gold, many high-end PvE players will naturally opt for Aberrant Action’s predecessors. However, its ability to roll with Solar-related perks can’t be understated, and this is the primary draw to the weapon.	PVE

Best Legendary weapons: Heavy ammo

These are the best Legendary weapons that use Heavy ammo. Heavy weapons use “Power” ammo (purple ammo boxes):

Weapons	Type	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Source	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Part of?
Commemoration Machine Gun	Machine Gun	Heavy	Void	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Killing Tally (also good: Rampage) PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Killing Tally ►Commemoration remains a top contender amongst machine guns even years after its introduction. Reconstruction paired with the 30% damage buff offered by Killing Tally, makes this a no-brainer option in PvE. Given that Machine Guns are some of the few heavy weapons in PvP that can reasonably get a lot of kills, it's easy to see why players will enjoy using Commemoration.	PVP
Apex Predator Rocket Launcher	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	Solar	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Last Wish Raid	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Tracking Module) + Bait and Switch (also good: Explosive Light) ► Possibly the most impactful weapon reissue in Destiny 2's history, Apex Predator went from D-Tier to S-Tier in a single season. This drastic shift is due to Apex's ability to roll with powerful perks never-before-seen on a Rocket Launcher: Reconstruction and Bait and Switch. Get your hands on this beast ASAP, as only a few replacements exist.	PVE
The Other Half Sword	Sword	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Dares of Eternity	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Frenzy) ► The Other Half is Half-Truth's stronger sibling. With more perk flexibility while also coming with Eager Edge, it is one of the best swords in the game for general play, and every player should look to have The Other Half in their arsenal.	PVP
Wendigo GL3 Grenade Launcher	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Nightfall: The Ordeals	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Field Prep) + Explosive Light (also good: Cascade Point) ► Wendigo GL3's old curated roll is still available, and with spike grenades, it's actually better than its original incarnation for PvE. Try out Cascade Point for a different spin on DPS. For PvP, Grenade Launchers are top-tier, and the Wendigo GL3 is no exception. Impulse Amplifier + Rangefinder allows for a projectile speed of 58m/s, making securing kills remarkably easy with this weapon.	PVP
Cataphract GL3 Grenade Launcher	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	Strand	The Final Shape	Yes	Trials of Osiris	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Rolls: Impulse Amplifier + Vorpal Weapon ► Grenade Launchers are reliable options for PvP as they can typically secure very easy kills on multiple targets if you are accurate. On top of that, Cataphract features great stats and all the right perks to excel in high stakes PvP.	PVP,PVE
Hammerhead Machine Gun	Machine Gun	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Onslaught Activity	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Rampage (also good: Rewind Rounds) + Killing Tally (also good: Onslaught) PvP God Roll: Rampage (also good: Under-Over) + Tap the Trigger ► In PvE, Hammerhead offers pretty much everything you’d want. Whether you’re using it for ad clear, DPS, or in combination with a Void build, Hammerhead’s can cater in any direction. As for The Crucible, Hammerhead’s consistent and stable feel alone makes it a top-tier choice.	PVP
Edge Transit Grenade Launcher	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Onslaught Activity	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Cascade Point) + Bait and Switch ► With the same perk pool that made Cataphract GL3 so popular upon its release, Edge Transit offers the best heavy grenade launcher experience possible while being extremely easy to obtain.	PVE

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-ups.