As you get more invested in Destiny 2, one of your biggest concerns will be getting the best guns in the game. But that can be confusing, as it depends on whether you’re looking for weapons for PvP, PvE, casual, or endgame content.
Today, we focus on the best PvE weapons today, including Exotic and Legendary weapons (including their PvE god rolls).
Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.
Best PvE Primary weapons
In this section, we cover the best Primary PvE weapons. PS: By Primary, we mean Kinetic or Energy weapons that use Primary ammo. Just remember Primary weapons use “normal” ammo, aka white ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo? | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Outbreak Perfected Pulse Rifle | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Zero Hour | Zero Hour Free-to-Play | Slot:  Kinetic | Ammo:  Primary | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "This weapon creates SIVA nanite swarms on rapid hits and precision kills and does more damage to enemies based on the number of SIVA nanites that attach to them." ► Potentially being one of the best weapons across the entire game, Outbreak Perfected can easily handle anything you throw at it. It ranges from viable to exceedingly powerful across Destiny and is definitely a weapon you need to have. | PVE |
 Hung Jury SR4 Scout Rifle | Scout Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Onslaught Activity | Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: PrecisionPvE God Roll: Kinetic Tremors (also good: Shoot to Loot) + Firefly or Explosive Payload ► Hung Jury is a good kinetic option for high-level content as it comes with suitable perks. Kinetic Tremors, Shoot to Loot, and Explosive Payload are all excellent options, and Precision Scout Rifles are decent. | PVE |
 Rufus's Fury Auto Rifle | Auto Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Lightfall | Yes | Root of Nightmares Raid | Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall | Slot:  Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-FirePvE God Rolls: Demolitionist (also good: Reconstruction) + Frenzy (also good: Adrenaline Junkie) PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + 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 |
 Khvostov 7G-0X Auto Rifle | Auto Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | The Final Shape | Yes | The Pale Heart | The Pale Heart The Final Shape | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Every seventh bullet from this weapon deals additional damage and ricochets to nearby targets. Features the Shoot to Loot perk." ► Khvostov may have lost a step in PvP, but it's still a remarkably easy-to-use option in The Crucible. In PvE, Khvostov is still arguably the best Kinetic weapon in the entire game, generates a ton of Super energy while also having Shoot to Loot. It's hard to find a situation where Khvostov isn't viable. | PVE |
 Unloved Hand Cannon | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Yes | Sundered Doctrine Dungon | Sundered Doctrine Dungon The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy BurstPvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Hatchling) + Frenzy (also good: Elemental Honing) ► Unloved is a decent utility option in PvE, especially as Heavy Burst Hand Cannons are quite good for damage. | PVE |
 Graviton Lance Pulse Rifle | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot:  Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Second shot of a burst rips a hole through space-time, doing high damage and recoil with no falloff. Kills with this weapon cause enemies to detonate and spawn tracking Void projectiles." ► Graviton Lance is a beast of a weapon. It clears out entire rooms thanks to its explosive capabilities. It also synergizes well with certain builds, making it an excellent option right now. | PVE,PVP |
 Sunshot Hand Cannon | Hand Cannon | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot:  Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy." ► Sunshot is a top-of-the-line primary weapon and still dominates in all forms of content. It is perfect for almost all types of PvE content, and you can't really go wrong with it at all. | PVE |
 Le Monarque Combat Bow | Combat Bow | Primary | Energy | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies." ► Le Monarque has had a true rise in power with Episode: Heresy. While it has always been a solid pick in PvE and PvP, it's never truly burst into the meta. However, with the release of Storm's Keep and the raw strength of Bolt Charge, Le Monarque is one of the best weapons available for higher-level content and primary ammo DPS. | PVE |
 Zaouli’s Bane Hand Cannon | Hand Cannon | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | King's Fall Raid | King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: AdaptivePvE 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 |
 No Hesitation Auto Rifle | Auto Rifle | Primary | Energy | The Final Shape | Yes | The Pale Heart | The Pale Heart The Final Shape | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: SupportPvE God Roll: Physic (also good: Demolitionist) + Circle of Life (Also good: Incandescent) ► The first Support Frame auto rifle to enter the game, No Hesitation set an extremely high bar. Able to put out both substantial damage and healing (with perks to assist with each), there's very little to hate about this weapon. | PVE |
Best PvE Special weapons
In this section, we cover the best Special PvE weapons. PS: By Special, we mean kinetic or Energy weapons that use Special ammo. Just remember, Special weapons use “Special” ammo, aka green ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo? | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unloved Hand Cannon | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Yes | Sundered Doctrine Dungon | Sundered Doctrine Dungon The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy BurstPvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Hatchling) + Frenzy (also good: Elemental Honing) ► Unloved is a decent utility option in PvE, especially as Heavy Burst Hand Cannons are quite good for damage. | PVE |
 Praedyth's Revenge Sniper Rifle | Sniper Rifle | Special | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Vault of Glass Raid | Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo:  Special | Archetype: Rapid-FirePvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds or Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Envious Arsenal) + Bait and Switch (also good: Elemental Honing) ► Best known for its ability to get a whopping 68% damage buff with Elemental Honing, Praedyth’s Revenge is situationally broken. Even so, when ignoring those niche use cases, the weapon easily competes with weapons like The Supremacy that have dominated the meta for years. | PVE |
 Scatter Signal Fusion Rifle | Fusion Rifle | Special | Kinetic | Lightfall | Yes | Starcrossed | Starcrossed Lightfall | Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-FirePvE God Roll: Overflow + Controlled Burst (also good: Slice) PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Under-Over ► Scatter Signal is the Fusion rifle everybody's talking about in Season of the Wish. With amazing PvE perks, including Overflow and Controlled Burst, and the benefits of the Rapid-Fire Frame, it's easy to see why Scatter Signal is one of the most sought-after weapons this season. | PVE |
 Perfect Paradox Shotgun | Shotgun | Special | Kinetic | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes | Dawn Engrams | Dawn Engrams Episode 1: Echoes | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-FirePvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Pugilist) + One-Two Punch ► Perfect Paradox is the go-to Shotgun for any player running a melee build. The weapon's Rapid-Fire archetype massively favours it, as well as the 'Cast No Shadows' Origin Trait, boosting the weapon's synergy with melee-focused playstyles even more. | PVE |
 Lost Signal Grenade Launcher | Grenade Launcher | Special | Kinetic | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes | Echoes Activities | Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes | Slot:  Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Area DenialPvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + One For All or Vorpal Weapon ► Lost Signal is part of a brand-new grenade launcher Frame called Area Denial Frame. This new frame behaves similarly to the top-tier Witherhoard Exotic. Just like its forebearer, Lost Signal is great at dealing damage over time and creating ample crowd control. | PVE |
 Tinasha's Mastery Sidearm | Sidearm | Special | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Iron Banner | Iron Banner Free-to-Play | Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-AssistedPvE God Roll: Air Trigger (also good: Loose Change) + Chill Clip (also good: Desperate Measures) ► Like all Rocket Sidearm, this weapon performs extremely well in PvE. On top of that, as a Stasis weapon, it features the coveted Chill Clip perk. Also, it is the only Rocket Sidearm with the Air Trigger perk, which grants a Reload Speed buff while airborne and a free Reserve mod. Overall, it is best to ignore this weapon for PvP. | PVE |
 Lord of Wolves Shotgun | Shotgun | Special | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage. Hold to swap to a longer, more powerful burst." ► Lord of Wolves is one of the best exotics available at the moment. Thanks to its ridiculously high DPS at close range, it is the best option for any boss within its range. While it may struggle with bosses that are very ranged, it absolutely mauls close-up bosses, making it the best DPS option for bosses that fall within its range. | PVE |
 Buried Bloodline Sidearm | Sidearm | Special | Energy | Lightfall Dungeon Key | Yes | Warlord's Ruin Dungeon | Warlord's Ruin Dungeon Lightfall Dungeon Key | Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Fires two tracking bolts that leech health from the target. Rapid final blows with this weapon grant Devour to the wielder." ► Buried Bloodline is one of the best Exotics in the game right now. Having access to Devour on all subclasses is nothing short of overpowered. While it isn't meta defining enough to break into the S+ tier, it definitely gets close. | PVE |
 Aberrant Action Sidearm | Sidearm | Special | Energy | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes | Echoes Activities | Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-AssistedPvE 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 |
 Choir of One Auto Rifle | Auto Rifle | Special | Energy | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes | Exotic Quest | Exotic Quest Episode 1: Echoes | Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Fires extended-range, heavy-caliber projectiles at a reduced rate of fire. Deals increased precision damage when aiming down sights. Rapid final blows cause targets to explode into a pool of radiolarian fluid. Hip firing launches multiple projectiles." ► Choir of One does absolutely everything. It serves as a decent add-clear weapon, it can burst major enemies, and it can also serve as a decent backup damage weapon. Despite nerfs, Choir of One still remains comfortably as arguably the best Exotic in the entire game. | PVE |
 VS Velocity Baton Grenade Launcher | Grenade Launcher | Special | Energy | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Yes | Vesper's Host Dungeon | Vesper's Host Dungeon The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Area DenialPvE God Roll: Demolitionist or Unrelenting + Attrition Orbs or Destabilizing Rounds ► VS Velocity Baton is a part of the newish area denial family of grenade launchers. In PvE, VS Velocity Baton has some interesting picks in both columns. While none of them are bound to make for a meta pick, there’s definitely some room for this weapon to shine in the current sandbox. | PVE |
Destiny 2 Best PvE Heavy weapons
In this section, we cover the best Heavy weapons for PvE. In other words, weapons that use “heavy” ammo, aka purple ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo? | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Queenbreaker Linear Fusion Rifle | Linear Fusion Rifle | Heavy | Heavy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot:  Arc | Ammo:  Heavy | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Fires a long-range precision Arc bolt that blinds enemies on hit. It has a slower charge time and deals greater damage." ► A weapon that has been virtually useless for years now, The Queenbreaker is finally getting its fifteen seconds of glory. The Queenbreaker is arguably the strongest Exotic weapon in Episode: Heresy. A combination of Linear Fusion Rifle buffs and a long-overdue rework to Queenbreaker has seen this weapon skyrocket to the top of the Exotic pile. | PVE |
 Hezen Vengeance Rocket Launcher | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Vault of Glass Raid | Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: AggressivePvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal + Bait and Switch (also good: Elemental Honing) PvP God Roll: Cluster Bomb + Vorpal Weapon ► Hezen Vengeance has quickly cemented itself as the best rocket launcher currently available. With outstanding perks, a potent origin trait, and both craftable and adept variants, this weapon is a must-have for all Guardians. | PVE |
 Gjallarhorn Rocket Launcher | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | 30th Anniversary | Yes | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Rounds fired split into tracking cluster missiles upon detonation. Gain increased handling and reload speed when standing near allies. Firing this weapon also grants Wolfpack Rounds to nearby allies wielding non-Exotic Rocket Launchers." ► Gjallarhorn is still one of the greats. Despite the fact that other options are generally preferred for boss damage right now, rockets are still solid, and Gjallarhorn is an absolute must when using them. | PVE |
 VS Chill Inhibitor Grenade Launcher | Grenade Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Yes | Vesper's Host Dungeon | Vesper's Host Dungeon The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-FirePvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal (also good: Demolitionist) + Bait and Switch ► A gun so good, Bungie accidentally made the god roll almost impossible to get. VS Chill Inhibitor rolls with a devestating combo of Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch, both of which activate off of the same conditions, and makes for a solid DPS weapon. | PVE |
 Cynosure Rocket Launcher | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Playlist: Vanguard | Playlist: Vanguard Free-to-Play | Slot: Strand | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: PvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal (also good: Clown Cartridge) + Explosive Light (also good: Bipod) ► Cynosure is an excellent option for PvE players thanks to the perks present on the weapon. In PvP, it will be a solid pick, but nothing too overpowered. | PVE |
Destiny 2 PvE Meta
Every sandbox change comes with a new weapons meta. And while we love to criticize Bungie for not changing the meta often enough, the last few seasons have significantly altered the hierarchy of PvE weapon types in Destiny 2.
About DPS: DPS, or damage per second, is important for PvE because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. You can read all about it in our DPS guide.
We covered the absolute best PvE weapons this season, but it’s still important to understand how the different weapon types compare with each other.
PvE Primary weapons meta
| Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pulse Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► Pulse Rifles are in a great place right now. They offer good range and pretty decent damage, allowing you to take down some beefier targets nicely. There are also some excellent pulses in the game right now, like Insidious, Sacred Provenance, or New Purpose. Unfortunately, High-Impact and Aggressive frames are the only archetypes worth your time, as the others rely on Exotic Perks or god rolls to compete. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (450 RPM) - Example: Insidious | PVE Primaries |
 Hand Cannons | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer | PVE Primaries |
 Auto Rifles | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A |  | ► Auto Rifles are in a good place right now, options like Khvostov are incredibly potent, and utility picks such as No Hesitation make Auto Rifles a very solid option for those wanting to use a good Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 76-0X | PVE Primaries |
 Combat Bows | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | - | ► Bows are a high-damage, high-range option for players who prefer to keep their distance. The main issue with bows is that they are slow at clearing ads (outside of Trinity Ghoul). and when you have to deal with ads up close, bows can massively struggle. However, their solid range and excellent damage make them a strong option. ► Best Archetype: Precision - Example: Under Your Skin | PVE Primaries |
 Submachine Guns | B › Average | Average ❘ B |  | ► SMGs are not so hot anymore, due to the buffs to other weapon archetypes, as well as the prevalence of ability usage at close range, there is little space for SMGs to compete these days. ►Best Archetype- Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven | PVE Primaries |
 Scout Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle | PVE Primaries |
 Sidearms | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | - | ► Aside from a few select sidearms with certain perks, there really isn't much of a reason to use Sidearms. They have slightly higher damage numbers than SMGs, but typically come with significantly less range. Outside of top-tier weapons like a god-roll Brigand's Law or High Albedo, there is no real reason to run a sidearm. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (491 RPM) - Example: High Albedo | PVE Primaries |
PvE Special weapons meta
For the sake of clarity, the categories below do not include Exotics that use an abnormal type of ammo, such as Eriana’s Vow or Arbalest. If you’re particularly interested in Exotic weapons, check out our Exotic Tier list.
| Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fusion Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | | ►Fusion Rifles are brilliant right now. Outside of Sniper Rifles, Fusion Rifles are the traditional 'backup damage' weapons due to options like Scatter Signal or Cartesian Coordinate. On top of this, you can use Fusions like Riptide for some utility instead, or even Merciless as a unique burst DPS option. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Scatter Signal | PVE Specials |
 Sniper Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | | ► Sniper Rifles have continued to grow into a strong Special Weapon subtype. With options like The Supremacy, Ikelos Sniper Rifle, and Still Hunt, it's very common for Sniper Rifles to be included in DPS rotations. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (140 RPM) - Example: Supremacy | PVE Specials |
 Shotguns | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | | ► Shotguns are pretty decent right now. Slug Shotguns aren't as strong as they once were, and Shotguns have mostly been demoted to being a funnel for One-Two Punch Melee builds. However, they are definitely still capable, and can be used in a general loadout. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (90 RPM) - Example: Wastelander M5 | PVE Specials |
 Grenade Launchers | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | | ► Grenade Launchers are brilliant right now. They are versatile and are arguably the best pick in almost all areas. GLs have excellent ad control through Blinding Grenades or Wave Frame GLs like Forbearance, and they also have good boss damage in certain hot-swap builds due to Spike Grenades. Simply put, having a strong arsenal of Grenade Launchers is something you should definitely try to do as a player looking to get into high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Wave-Frame - Example: Forbearance | PVE Specials |
 Trace Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► With the nerfs to the double-special ammo economy, Trace Rifles have been knocked down a notch. Using a Primary weapon is just more efficient these days. However, they remain solid utility weapons and a go-to if players still want to run double-special lodouts. They also have a couple of solid Exotic options too, making them a decent pick right now. | PVE Specials |
 Glaives | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Glaives require a bit of getting used to, but when you do, they can grant you crazy levels of damage resistance. However, they are quite a risky pick, especially if you haven't learned how to master them first. Glaives are also one-dimensional. There is basically no reason to use their melee attack, which is unfortunate as that is probably the most fun part of the Glaives. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM) - Example: The Enigma | PVE Specials |
 Linear Fusion Rifles | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | - | ► Linear Fusion Rifles are difficult to rank as there are only two of them. While Arbalest is definitely a powerful weapon, it is by no means a must-pick anymore. And Lorentz Driver isn't exactly a serious contender for PvE. Overall, this archetype is quite weak, especially now that Arbalest isn't the top-pick it used to be. | PVE Specials |
PvE Heavy weapons meta
| 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 |
What is the “Meta”? Meta refers to the most used weapons for a particular activity. Generally, these weapons are the most used because they are the most powerful/efficient. The Meta can change in a heartbeat, but you can rest assured, though, this overview is up to date with the current season and will be updated as soon as a new meta arrives.
These are the different Tier levels used for these Tier lists:
- 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.
Remember that you can only equip one Exotic at a time, which means that finding the top Legendary weapons is extremely important too. We also cover the best Kinetic weapons this season here.
Before you go…
If you’re looking to take your game to the next level in PvE, definitely check out our Top PvP weapons round-up.
See latest Updates
We keep our content up to date! These are the latest changes made to this guide:
- April 1, 2025: General updates based on Episode 3’s Meta.
- July 26, 2024: General updates based on The Final Shape Meta and Episode 1 Meta.
- December 18, 2023: Updates based on the Season 23 meta and the replacement of Osteo Striga, Necrochasm, Ikelos SMG V1.0.3, Zaouli’s Bane, The Other Half Riptide, Nessa’s Oblation, Cold Comfort, Cataclysmic, and The Other Half.
- September 13, 2023: Updates based on the Season 22 meta and the replacement of Rufus’s Fury, Outbreak Perfected, Submission, Unforgiven, Arbalest, Iterative Loop, Cloudstrike, Thunderlord and The Hothead.
- May 1, 2023: Updates based on the Season 20 meta
- April 13, 2022: Updates based on Destiny 2’s Year 5 meta
- March 22, 2021: Updates based on Destiny 2’s Year 4 meta
- September 30, 2020: The guide is published for the first time.
Stay tuned, and don’t forget to bookmark this page for next season!
Good guide, Thank you!
I think you forgot to put the machine guns in the meta list. But it was very helpful! Thank you
Any updates coming to this with the overall weapons guide getting updated?
I’m working on it! This one is completely overdue and desperately needs an update… Sorry for the delay but I hope to have a proper refresh out by Monday the latest!
There’s a typo classing Deafening Whisper as a Fusion rifle
Damn, you’re right! Completely missed that one, thanks for the heads up!
PVE Energy weapons types are not correct.
What do you mean? I’m looking for something to correct but found nothing!
I think he meant you labeled IKELOS_SMG_V1.0.2 as an auto rifle, while in fact it’s an SMG (as suggested in its name lol)
Why is Trinity Ghoul listed as free to play. I thought it was only for the Forsaken DLC that you can get it.
Hilarious. scout rifles are B? sidearms are A ? pure BS . let me know your sidearm load out in a GM or Master raid please
Hi there I was looking over this and was wondering if you were going to be updating the guide for this season or if you were going to be updating it for Witch Queen. There are some outdated recommendations and some mistakes I saw in the loadouts. I’d like to be able to show my newbie friends this page but it’s kinda outdated.
For example you list Nation of Beasts as a kinetic weapon when it’s actually an arc primary hand cannon and you cannot pair it with the Seventh Seraph CQC
So many weapons are missing bro what
I think this would need an update with the season of plunder lol
Why is Taipan-4FR not listed here? The crafted god-roll for Taipan is an absolute staple in raids for boss DPS, with Veist, Firing Line, and Triple Tap. Nearly everyone is running it, and for good reason.
Instead of being rude, please add something constructive. What loadout do you prefer for GM and master raid? I’m sure other people could learn from your experiences.
S20 Machine Guns @ B ? They’re at least A.. Can’t go wrong with Thunderlord, retrofit or commemoration
wish ender is in the kinetic slot and is a primary ammo weapon. multiple guides you have made have wish ender under special/energy slot. very informative and great content – thank you!
Ok, I couldn’t understand as I have it as Kinetic/Primary in my database, and that’s also the case on this post. Found the issue on the loadout section, it has been corrected. Thank you for the heads up!