Best Trace Rifles in Destiny 2: 2022 Tier List for PvP and PvE

Considered second-tier for too long, Trace rifles are making a comeback. First of all, they finally received dedicated ammo scavenger and ammo finder mods. This greatly improved their ammo economy and DPS potential.

On top of that, the most recent additions have been stellar, namely Ager’s Scepter, which many consider one of the best weapons in the game. This guide covers every Trace rifle in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary Traces, as well as the best rolls for PVE and PVP.

Destiny 2 Trace rifles Tier list

The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary Trace rifle 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	Best of?
The Navigator	The Navigator	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Strand	Deluxe Edition	Yes		Ghost of the Deep Dungeon			Ghost of the Deep Dungeon Deluxe Edition	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic	Season 21	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic
Ager's Scepter	Ager's Scepter	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Stasis	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Kiosk		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk Beyond Light	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon generate a slowing burst around the defeated target. Stasis final blows transfer ammo to this weapon's magazine from reserves." ► Ager's Scepter is one of the strongest kinetic special weapon choices right now, allowing you to slow and freeze with ease. With its absurd stats, perks, and an S-Tier catalyst, this trace rifle is a staple for anyone wanting to create a Stasis build or just clear ads.	Season 15	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon generate a slowing burst around the defeated target. Stasis final blows transfer ammo to this weapon's magazine from reserves."	Top-tier
Divinity	Divinity	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Quest		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Shadowkeep	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and disrupts them." ► Divinity has been a great choice since it was released back in Shadowkeep. Even though a recent nerf reduced its debuff potential to 15%, this trace rifle still proves its worth through the ability to make crits way easier to hit. Plus, it's still considered the best Overload weapon in the game.	Season 8	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and disrupts them."	Top-tier
Coldheart	Coldheart	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon shoots a steady cold fusion-powered laser that does exponentially more damage the longer it remains on a target." ► Originally, Coldheart's exotic perk was simply that it was a trace rifle. But finally, after years and years of community persuading, Bungie added a unique trait to it: the ability to generate Ionic Traces. While this doesn't put it on the level of Divinity or Ager's Scepter, it provides an excellent addition to those on an Arc subclass.	Season 1	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon shoots a steady cold fusion-powered laser that does exponentially more damage the longer it remains on a target."	Top-tier
Wavesplitter	Wavesplitter	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Laser damage has three power levels that oscillate while the trigger is held down. Collecting an Orb of Light grants a short period of maximum power." ► Wavesplitter is incredibly slept on. With the mod changes in Lightfall, Orbs of Power are now everywhere, which allows Wavesplitter to enter its 'supercharged' mode more often, making it a suppressing machine and giving it viability in almost all pieces of content.	Season 4	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Laser damage has three power levels that oscillate while the trigger is held down. Collecting an Orb of Light grants a short period of maximum power."	Top-tier
Retraced Path	Retraced Path	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dares of Eternity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Incandescent (also good: One for All) ► The first legendary trace rifle to be released, Retraced Path still struggles to find its niche in the game. However, with solid perks like Subsistence and Incandescent, this weapon does see good use in everyday activities and is the strongest non-exotic trace rifle overall.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Incandescent (also good: One for All)	Top-tier
Acasia's Dejection	Acasia's Dejection	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Solar	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Root of Nightmares Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive God Rolls: Rewind Rounds (also good: Reconstruction) + Incandescent	Season 20	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive God Rolls: Rewind Rounds (also good: Reconstruction) + Incandescent	Top-tier
Prometheus Lens	Prometheus Lens	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Engram		Average ❘ B	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a Solar trace beam and generates a damaging heat field that grows while the weapon continues to fire. Kills with this weapon return a fraction of the ammo used." ► Other than the notorious "Laser Tag Weekend" that it caused, Prometheus Lens has never seen much use. While it can be a fun alternative to other special weapons at times (and can excel, to a certain extent, with ammo-based mods), there aren't many scenarios where Prometheus is utilized.	Season 2	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a Solar trace beam and generates a damaging heat field that grows while the weapon continues to fire. Kills with this weapon return a fraction of the ammo used."
Ruinous Effigy	Ruinous Effigy	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Special	Void	Shadowkeep	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B	Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres. Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies." ► One of the most "exotic" feeling weapons Destiny 2 has to offer, Ruinous Effigy easily beats out most other options in terms of fun factor. Plus, with various buffs to this weapon's special abilities (such as its drain and ball slam), Ruinous can be an excellent major-killing option in low-tier PVE.	Season 11	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres. Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies."
Hollow Denial	Hollow Denial	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Seasonal activity		Weak ❘ C	Seasonal activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Swashbuckler (also good: Killing Tally) ► Hollowed Denial initially sparked some interest in the community through its unique perks, such as Killing Tally. However, now that the weapon has been in the wild for a while, most people have lost interest. Its intrinsically low damage and ammo reserves make these perks hard to use, resulting in a mediocre weapon.	Season 17	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Swashbuckler (also good: Killing Tally)
Path of Least Resistance	Path of Least Resistance	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Ongoing	Seasonal activity		Ongoing...	Seasonal activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive God Rolls: To be confirmed... ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 19	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive God Rolls: To be confirmed...

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.

More Destiny 2 Tier lists:

	Auto Rifles	Primary
	Combat Bows	Primary
	Fusion Rifles	Special
	Glaives	Special
	Grenade Launchers	Special Heavy
	Hand Cannon	Primary
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Heavy
	Machine Guns	Heavy
	Pulse Rifle	Primary
	Rocket Launcher	Heavy
	Scout Rifle	Primary
	Shotgun	Special
	Submachine Guns	Primary
	Swords	Heavy
	Trace Rifles	Special

Best Destiny 2 Trace Rifles in 2022

This section not only covers the top Trace rifles currently in the game, 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 all the Trace Rifles currently in the game, ranked from worst to best.

8. Hollow Denial

While Hollow Denial did receive some excitement at launch for its unique perks, in recent times, it hasn’t lived up to its full potential.

Killing Tally is easily the most exciting perk in Hollow Denial’s pool. Previously only available on the now sunset 21% Delerium, many players had high hopes for the reintroduction of this massively strong trait. Sadly, Hollow Denial doesn’t let Killing Tally shine. With the lack of Subsistence or Overflow in the first column, it feels like you run out of ammo before Killing Tally does anything.

Other than that, Hollow Denial’s perks aren’t anything too crazy. Apart from Lead from Gold and Swashbuckler, there’s hardly anything to chase for both PVE and PVP.

As a whole, trace rifles tend to rely on their perks and unique abilities to be potent, not raw damage. Because of that, Hollow Denial gets the short end of the stick here, resulting in its placement at #8.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Lead From Gold
• Perk 2: Swashbuckler (also good: Killing Tally)

How to get it: Hollow Denial can be acquired by completing Seasonal activities and focusing Umbral engrams.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Hollow Denial	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	Seasonal activity		Free-to-Play	Season 17	Energy	Craftable

7. Wavesplitter

Initially a Playstation exclusive way back in Forsaken, Wavesplitter contains a simple yet fun concept that can stand out if you play into it.

The main gimmick of this weapon is that it grants a high-energy firing mode after collecting an Orb of Power. While the community was originally hoping for a catalyst to help proc this more often, Orbs of Power no longer generate from Masterworked weapons.

Because there’s no reliable way of triggering its perk without a mod, Wavesplitter has been pushed aside by most. However, some have embraced Wavesplitter’s suppressing and damage-dealing potential, resulting in some creative builds for casual content.

While Wavesplitter isn’t the most potent option out there by far, it’s not a bad option if you’re looking for something to build around.

Exotic Perk: “Laser damage has three power levels that oscillate while the trigger is held down. Collecting an Orb of Light grants a short period of maximum power.”

How to get it: Wavesplitter 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Wavesplitter	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 4	Energy	No	Top-tier

6. Prometheus Lens

 Excels in PVE

The culprit of the notorious “Laser Tag Weekend” mishap in the Crucible, Prometheus Lens hasn’t captured much of the community’s attention since.

With a recent change to the weapon that added the ability to scorch targets, Prometheus Lens has found a niche in PVE. Even though most players would side with a gun rolled with Incandescent, Prometheus can sometimes be a fun option in casual content.

In regards to PVP, Prometheus frequently fluctuates between being mediocre and viable. Containing decently good stats and a straightforward perk, this trace rifle can be a good choice when trace rifles are meta.

Overall, Prometheus Lens is just about average here. When the meta favors trace rifles, Prometheus can be a great option. However, more potent weapons can frequently replace this gun.

Exotic Perk: “Fires a Solar trace beam and generates a damaging heat field that grows while the weapon continues to fire. Kills with this weapon return a fraction of the ammo used.”

How to get it: Prometheus Lens 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Prometheus Lens	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	-	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 2	Energy	No

5. Coldheart

 Excels in PVE

Coldheart was a trace rifle with no other notable perks for the longest time. However, as of Season of the Plunder, Coldheart has the opportunity to generate Ionic Traces, making it slightly more desirable.

In PVE, Coldheart is still slightly outclassed. With entirely new options with stronger synergies, such as Delicate Tomb, Coldheart’s unique abilities are having difficulty keeping up.

On the flip side, Coldheart is pretty good for a trace rifle in the Crucible. Ionic Traces offer a sizable amount of ability energy, and since abilities currently rule the Crucible, that puts Coldheart in an excellent position.

When it comes down to it, Coldheart is still generally regarded as the most basic of trace rifles. That said, now that this weapon has gotten much-needed additions to its perk selection, it could also be seen as severely underrated.

Exotic Perk: “This weapon shoots a steady cold fusion-powered laser that does exponentially more damage the longer it remains on a target.”

How to get it: Coldheart 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Coldheart	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 1	Energy	No	Top-tier

4. Ruinous Effigy

 Excels in PVE

Ruinous Effigy is arguably the most entertaining exotic in the Destiny series, and its enjoyable gameplay loop more than makes up for its average utility.

In The Witch Queen, Bungie reverted the previous nerfs to the Transmutation sphere’s Drain ability. As a result, new PVE builds with the weapon started popping up everywhere. Utilizing everything from Devour to Invisibility, the community could finally use Ruinous Effigy’s traits to their full potential.

In contrast, Ruinous Effigy in PVP is still nothing more than a fun option to mess around with. Though entertaining, dunking on people with Transmutation spheres can’t be utilized entirely in most Crucible game modes.

Ruinous Effigy’s usefulness is still up for debate, but its fun factor definitely isn’t. With such a complex pair of traits, there isn’t a more “exotic” feeling exotic in the game.

Exotic Perk: “Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres. Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies.”

How to get it: Ruinous Effigy can be purchased at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower.

3. Retraced Path

 Excels in PVE

The first legendary trace rifle in Destiny’s history, even just the existence of Retraced Path shocked the community. And while this weapon still struggles to find its place in the game, its top-tier perks make it worth considering over other options.

For PVE, perks like Subsistence, Feeding Frenzy, and Incandescent make Retraced Path an excellent choice for casual content. Despite this, the trace rifle suffers the same fate as many others—hardcore players will find it a poor choice due to its lower-than-average damage.

In the Crucible, Retraced Path is just about average. With trace rifles’ overall PVP mediocracy and few desirable perks, there’s little reason to run this over anything else.

Retraced Path is an excellent choice for those looking to run a trace rifle without using an exotic slot. That said, most of the time, it’s worth fully committing to the cause and instead running Divinity or Ager’s Scepter.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Subsistence (also good: Feeding Frenzy)
• Perk 2: Incandescent (also good: One for All)

How to get it: Retraced Path can be acquired by completing Dares of Eternity runs or turning in Treasure keys at Xûr’s in Eternity.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Retraced Path	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Dares of Eternity		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier

2. Divinity

Best PvE Trace rifle in Destiny 2

Widely regarded as the best trace rifle ever since its release in Shadowkeep, it may be surprising to some to see Divinity at #2. However, with recent nerfs to Divinity and the rise of build crafting, we believe Divinity is no longer at the top.

After such a long time of providing an easy 30% debuff for raid and Grandmaster groups, Bungie finally reduced this to 15% in Season 19. Nevertheless, Divinity is undoubtedly worth running because of its crit bubble and Overload-stunning capabilities.

Divinity has never been a PVP-oriented weapon, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. Some players run it for fun once in a blue moon, but you’re much better off running this weapon in PVE activities.

Because it has always had so much going for it, Divinity’s usage rates most likely won’t be affected much by Season 19’s nerfs. Regardless, they were enough for another trace rifle to take the throne on this list.

Exotic Perk: “Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and disrupts them.”

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

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Divinity	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	Special	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvE	Exotic Quest		Shadowkeep	Season 8	Energy	No	Top-tier

1. Ager’s Scepter

Excels in PvE and PvP

Finally, there’s a weapon that can top Divinity’s dominant reign as the king of trace rifles: Ager’s Scepter.

With build crafting becoming the new endgame, the tremendous utility that Ager’s Scepter offers is being noticed by the community. The pure slowing and freezing potential of Ager’s base form is unparalleled, but subclass synergies and the catalyst can take this even further.

Allowing the freezing of large groups of ads in a second, the catalyst’s unique firing mode is a force to be reckoned with. And with so many Aspects and Fragments to choose from in the Stasis subclasses, Ager’s Scepter is top-tier for build crafting potential.

While it may sometimes be overlooked, Ager’s Scepter has little to no competition in Grandmaster-ready builds. With that and an S-tier catalyst on its side, it’s clear why Ager’s has finally bested Divinity.

Exotic Perk: “Final blows with this weapon generate a slowing burst around the defeated target. Stasis final blows transfer ammo to this weapon’s magazine from reserves.”

How to get it: Ager’s Scepter can be purchased at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Ager's Scepter	Trace Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Stasis	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Stasis	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk		Beyond Light	Season 15	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

Trace Rifles in PvP: Lethality & TTK

TTK is particularly important in PVP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. You can read all about it in our TTK guide below.

This TTK guide includes the TTKs for every weapon in Destiny 2. But first, let’s set the right expectations: Trace Rifles are viable and fun, but they cannot be considered a top PVP weapon in Destiny 2.

Having said that, if you commit to them, equip ammo finder and scavenger mods, and use it as a Primary weapon (like a souped-up Auto rifle), they can get the job done:

For the record, a 0,67 seconds TTK is extremely fast and matches the fastest Primary weapons in the entire game (the top sidearms and SMGs). Trace Rifles have better range too, but on the other hand, they use Special ammo, which means you’ll have to be much more careful with how you spend ammo.

Using a Trace rifle may seem like a gimmick, but these days, with the right ammo mods and the right mindset, you can have tons of fun with them. This video from our friend Pattycakes shows you exactly how:

Trace Rifles in PvE: DPS

DPS is important for PvE, because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major.

This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2. When it comes to actual DPS, Traces can do ok numbers:

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	19,551	20,295	524,964	With Catalyst Proc'd		Ager's Scepter	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	11,394	12,795	430,765	At Max charge		Coldheart	Buffed	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	10,755	12,000	320,000	With Orb pick up		Wavesplitter	Buffed	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	8,612	8,940	231,248	With debuff		Divinity	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	7,581	8,565	342,600	-		Prometheus Lens	Buffed	Special

Endgame content

Trace rifles do not excel in endgame content, thanks to their DPS numbers. Granted, some, such as Ager’s Scepter, can deal insane DPS. But for the most part, Traces excel thanks to the unique things they bring to the table. For example, Divinity is king for endgame PVE content due to the immense support it provides to teammates.

Trace Rifles in Destiny 2: Are they Meta?

We’ve talked about the best Traces for PVE and PVP already, but how do they compare, in general, with other primary weapon types? In other words: Are Trace Rifles good in Destiny 2?

The current Meta for PVE

This table summarizes how the several special weapon types rank against each other in PVE:

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Shotguns overall are pretty good right now. There are a good number of Pellet and Slug shotguns that can be used in most content, and shotguns are also an integral part of many melee builds thanks to the shotgun-exclusive '1-2 Punch' perk. However, their severe lack of range makes them a risky pick for high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Pinpoint Slug - Example: Heritage	PVE Specials
Grenade Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Grenade Launchers are brilliant right now. They are versatile and are arguably the best pick in almost all areas. They can have excellent add control through Blinding Grenades or the Wave Frame archetype, and they can also deal good boss damage in a 'hotswap' build with Spike Grenades. Simply put, having a strong arsenal of Grenade Launchers is something you should definitely prioritize if you're looking to get into high-level content. ► All Breach Grenade Launchers share the same archetype	PVE Specials
Sniper Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C		► Sniper Rifles are not in a great place right now. They are completely outclassed by Linear Fusion Rifles in terms of DPS and are also lacking at ad clear/major killing by Shotguns and Grenade Launchers. Snipers are also quite difficult to use as they are precision-based weapons. They can be used as a backup DPS weapon if you don't have access to an Arbalest, for example, but right now, they are too niche to recomment. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Succession	PVE Specials
Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Fusion Rifles are pretty good right now. They have slightly more range than Shotguns, making them a safer pick in high-level content, however, they lack a top-tier perk such as '1-2 Punch' to rise to S-tier status. Still, they remain a consistent pick for mid to high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Cartesian Coordinate	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. ► All Glaives share the same archetype	PVE Specials
Linear Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► There are only two Linear Fusion Rifles that use Special ammo, but when one of them is arguably the strongest weapon in the game, they have to be ranked S tier. Arbalest is an absolute must-have if you want to take endgame content seriously. Lorentz Driver is an okay option, but Arbalest is completely overpowered and is an excellent pick for whatever content you throw at it.	PVE Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Trace Rifles are a strange pick. Legendary Trace Rifles are a very niche pick right now, but Exotic trace Rifles are all pretty good. Wavesplitter can do well with certain builds, and Divinity is always a good pick, even despite the nerfs.	PVE Specials

The current Meta for PVP

This table summarizes how they rank against each other in PVP:

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Shotguns received a significant change in Season 19 that made their pellet spread more consistent overall. With pre-determined spread patterns per archetype, and the reversal of some widely disliked nerfs, Shotguns are coming back. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (65 RPM)- Example: Matador 64	PVP Specials
Linear Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► The special ammo Linear Fusion category of weapon is rather barren, but the two weapons that occupy it, Arbalest and Lorentz Driver, are both forces to be reckoned with. While they have received some deserved nerfs throughout Seasons 17-19, they remain a solid choice for players wanting a long-range option.	PVP Specials
Sniper Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Sniper Rifles are in an excellent place right now. After the nerfs to Linear Fusion Rifles, it only makes sense that Sniper usage picks up, and with options that come stacked with aim assist and excellent perks like Defiance of Yasmin or Beloved, it's easy to see why Snipers have risen up the ranks. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (90 RPM)- Example: Beloved	PVP Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Trace Rifles are quite a niche pick and will fall short as a competitive option in most players' hands. Even once you learn to master Trace Rifles, you'll be better off with a Special weapon that can provide a one-hit-kill t rather than one that can be out-dueled by a Primary weapon. ► All Archetypes are 1000 RPM - Best Option: Coldheart	PVP Specials
Glaives	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Glaives are somewhat of a sleeper pick. However, with the Season 19 buffs and hit registration improvements they received, they can be quite annoying to play against. However, they do remain heavily outclassed by other mid to long-range options, and can't compete at close range due to the lackluster melee. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM)- Example: The Enigma	PVP Specials
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Fusion Rifles have seen buff after buff, and with Season of the Haunted, they finally saw a slight nerf. However, this change hasn't altered the state of Fusion Rifles enough to consider them noticeably weaker than before. They are able to cover the close-medium range excellently and a good Fusion Rifle player can be incredibly hard to beat. ► Best Archetype: Precision (780ms Charge Time) - Example: Main Ingredient	PVP Specials
Grenade Launchers	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Grenade Launchers remain the most 'annoying' option in PvP. The ability to flush players out from cover is not lost on players in PvP, and being able to 1-hit kill with certain rolls allows Grenade Launchers to be a highly tactical, but also lethal option. They also serve as an excellent 'hot-swap' choice to allow for easy cleanups with your Primary weapon. ► Best Archetype: Wave Frame - Example: Dead Messenger	PVP Specials

Your turn

You now know everything there is to know about Trace Rifles in Destiny 2, whether that is for PvP or PvE content.