Best Trace Rifles in Destiny 2: Tier List (Heresy Meta)

Considered second-tier for too long, Trace rifles are finally in a good place. There are now several Legendary alternatives, and the top Exotic Traces are considered among the best weapons in Destiny 2.

This guide covers all Trace Rifles in Destiny 2 and their best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.

Top Tier Trace Rifles (Episode 3)

This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary Trace rifles right now:

Weapon	Tier Rank	Source ❘ DLC	Verdict	Archetype	Ammo	Element
Divinity Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Shadowkeep Pack	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 for years now. Even though it's significantly past its prime, running this while your fireteam is running precision damage weapons is a no-brainer.	Exotic	Special	Arc
Path of Least Resistance Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield Mission Witch Queen	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Stats for All (also good: Subsistence) + Voltshot (also good: One for All) ► Acting as a mini-Coldheart, Path of Least Resistance is great for Guardians looking for a strong non-exotic weapon pairing for their Arc builds. A solid first column of perks combines with Voltshot to create a weapon that feels potent in any PvE activity you put it up against.	Adaptive	Special	Arc
Microcosm Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a beam of Kinetic light, dealing massive bonus damage to shields. Final blows with this weapon grant Super energy. This weapon gains bonus damage once your Super expires." ► Microcosm is the new 'lazy' DPS option. It pumps out okay damage, but it shines as an ad-clearing and Major killing beast. Microcosm feels like it beams through almost anything but bosses in the game, making it an incredibly powerful weapon to use whenever your Exotic Slot is free.	Exotic	Heavy	Kinetic
Chronophage Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Encore Mission Episode 1: Echoes	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Shoot to Loot (also good: Repulsor Brace) + One for All (also good: Demolitionist) ► While the weapon doesn’t have any perk combinations that make it meta-defining, Chronophage excels at what it’s supposed to in PvE: general utility and a replacement for typical primary weapons.	Adaptive	Special	Void
Keraunios Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Guardian Games Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Shoot to Loot (also good: Supercharged Magazine) + Chain Reaction (also good: Rolling Storm or Jolting Feedback) PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Target Lock ► Keraunios is another standard addition to the Trace Rifle roster. Coming with a variety of new perks such as Jolting Feedback, Detonator Beam, and Recycled Energy as well as interesting options like Triple Tap, Keraunios is an interesting pick.	Adaptive	Special	Arc
Acasia's Dejection Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Rewind Rounds (also good: Reconstruction) + Incandescent (also good: Paracausal Affinity) ► On the same level as Retraced Path, Acasia's Dejection is one of the best legendary trace rifles for generic gameplay. While it does have Solar synergy through Incandescent, it's typically used without builds in mind. This trace rifle is an excellent pick for anyone looking for one that excels in all situations.	Adaptive	Special	Solar
Unsworn Trace Rifle	❘ S Excels in: PvE	Sundered Doctrine Dungeon The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Shoot to Loot (also good: Tear) + Detonator Beam (also good: Killing Tally) ► While Unsworn isn’t too great in The Crucible, it definitely excels in PvE. Especially with newer perks like Detonator Beam and Tear, Unsworn is great in all areas where trace rifles excel.	Adaptive	Special	Strand

Destiny 2 Trace Rifles: Complete List

Art	Name	Type	Ammo	Element	Tier	Excels	Source	Last Update
	Ager's Scepter	Trace Rifle	Special	Stasis	B › Average	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	Season 15
	Coldheart	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Exotic Engram	Season 1
	Divinity	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	Shadowkeep DLC
	Lodestar	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	Episode 3
	Microcosm	Trace Rifle	Heavy	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	The Final Shape DLC
	Prometheus Lens	Trace Rifle	Special	Solar	C › Weak	-	Exotic Engram	Season 2
	Ruinous Effigy	Trace Rifle	Special	Void	C › Weak	-	Exotic Kiosk	Season 11
	The Navigator	Trace Rifle	Special	Strand	B › Average	PvE	Ghost of the Deep Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Wavesplitter	Trace Rifle	Special	Void	C › Weak	-	Exotic Engram	Forsaken DLC
	Acasia's Dejection	Trace Rifle	Special	Solar	S › Best	PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid	Monument of Triumph
	Action Item	Trace Rifle	Special	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Lawless Engram	Renegades DLC
	Appetence	Trace Rifle	Special	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Starcrossed Mission	Season 23
	Chronophage	Trace Rifle	Special	Void	S › Best	PvE	Encore Mission	The Final Shape DLC
	Hollow Denial	Trace Rifle	Special	Void	C › Weak	-	Presage Mission	Season 17
	Incisor	Trace Rifle	Special	Strand	A › Strong	PvE	Trials of Osiris: Legacy	Season 23
	Keraunios	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Guardian Games Engram	Renegades DLC
	Path of Least Resistance	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield Mission	Season 19
	Retraced Path	Trace Rifle	Special	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Dares of Eternity	30th Anniversary
	Ribbontail	Trace Rifle	Special	Strand	C › Weak	-	Reclamation Engram	Edge of Fate DLC
	Unsworn	Trace Rifle	Special	Strand	S › Best	PvE	Sundered Doctrine Dungeon	Monument of Triumph
	Warlord's Spear	Trace Rifle	Special	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Iron Banner Legacy	Episode 3

Tier Ranks used for our list:

• 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.

Best D2 Trace Rifles Today

If you’re prepared to only chase the best of the best, these are the 5 absolute best Tracesin Destiny 2:

5. The Navigator

Excels in PvE

The Navigator is incredibly powerful. Not only does it have some good supporting tools with Woven Mail, but it enables some of the highest damage combos in the game on both Hunter and Titan.

Exotic Perk: “Firing this weapon at an ally grants Woven Mail to both the user and the target. Dealing sustained damage severs the target.”

How to get it: We cover How to get The Navigator + Catalyst here.

Name: The Navigator

Type: Trace Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Strand

Craftable: No Last Update: Monument of Triumph

Source: Ghost of the Deep Dungeon Requires: Free-to-Play

4. Ager’s Scepter

Excels in PvE

Ager’s Scepter is the definitive Stasis weapon; sadly, Stasis isn’t awfully good right now. While it can freeze and lock up entire rooms in ice, it doesn’t really matter when the alternative is to just outright kill the enemies. Ager’s Scepter remains a very powerful option on its own, though.

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.

Name: Ager's Scepter

Type: Trace Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Stasis

Craftable: No Last Update: Season 15

Source: Exotic Kiosk Requires: Beyond Light Pack

4. Unsworn

Excels in PvE

While Unsworn isn’t too great in The Crucible, it definitely excels in PvE. Especially with newer perks like Detonator Beam and Tear, Unsworn is great in all areas where trace rifles excel.

• PvE God roll: Shoot to Loot (also good: Tear) + Detonator Beam (also good: Killing Tally)

How to get it: Unsworn can be acquired from the Sundered Doctrine Dungeon.

Name: Unsworn

Type: Trace Rifle Archetype: Adaptive

Ammo: Special Element: Strand

Craftable: No Last Update: Monument of Triumph

Source: Sundered Doctrine Dungeon Requires: The Final Shape Dungeon Key

2. Microcosm

Excels in PvE

Microcosm is the new ‘lazy’ DPS option. It pumps out okay damage, but it shines as an ad-clearing and Major killing beast. Microcosm feels like it beams through almost anything but bosses in the game, making it an incredibly powerful weapon to use whenever your Exotic Slot is free.

Exotic Perk: “Fires a beam of Kinetic light, dealing massive bonus damage to shields. Final blows with this weapon grant Super energy. This weapon gains bonus damage once your Super expires.”

How to get it: We cover how to get the Microcosm here.

Name: Microcosm

Type: Trace Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Heavy Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Last Update: The Final Shape DLC

Source: Exotic Quest Requires: The Final Shape

1. Divinity

Excels in PvE

Divinity has been a great choice for years now. Even though it’s significantly past its prime, running this while your fireteam is running precision damage weapons is a no-brainer.

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

How to get it: We cover how to get Divinity here.

Name: Divinity

Type: Trace Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Arc

Craftable: No Last Update: Shadowkeep DLC

Source: Exotic Quest Requires: Shadowkeep Pack

Traces and the Meta

How do Trace Rifles compare to other Primary weapons in PvE and PvP?

The PvE Meta

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

Remember that DPS is one of the most important factors when it comes to PvE. As you know, 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.

The PvP Meta

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► With the introduction of fixed (and consistent) pellet spread patterns per archetype and the reversal of some widely disliked nerfs, Shotguns are finally back. With consistent changes in the right direction, Shotguns are once more a staple pick among many PvP players. ► Best Archetype: Precision (65 RPM) - Example: Matador 64	PVP Specials
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Fusion Rifles have been at the top of the meta for a while now, and it doesn't seem to be changing. Fusions can cover the close to medium ranges excellently, and a good Fusion Rifle player can be incredibly frustrating to play against, no matter the range of the engagement. ► Best Archetype: Precision (780ms Charge Time) - Example: Main Ingredient	PVP Specials
Sniper Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Sniper Rifles are still remarkably powerful, but due to certain flinch changes, they've become slightly harder to use. All this, as well as how strong certain Shotguns are, it's natural for Snipers to fall down a tier, but they are still strong, especially in Trials of Osiris. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (90 RPM)- Example: Beloved	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 many players wanting a long range option.	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	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► With their buffs in Season 19 and the hit registration improvements they've seen, Glaives can be quite annoying to play against. That said, they are outclassed by other mid/long range options and can't compete at close range due to their lackluster melee. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM)- Example: The Enigma	PVP Specials
Grenade Launchers	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Grenade Launchers are annoying to play against, and that's about it. They can be used in a hot-swap loadout, but you'll be better served by a Bow like Le Monarque. Grenade launchers can put pressure on your enemies, but they can't bring the heat like some other Special Weapons can. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight - Example: Truthteller	PVP Specials

Remember that when it comes to PvP, TTK is perhaps the most important factor. As you know, the lower the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2.

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Primary and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Hand Cannons and Best Destiny 2 Linear Fusion Rifles, too.

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