As you start getting serious with Destiny 2, one of your first questions always is: What are the best weapons in the game?
And that’s not an easy question to answer, as it depends on whether you’re interested in PVP or PVE, casual or endgame content, etc.
Today, we focus on the best PVP weapons in 2021 that remain viable as of Season 15, aka, Season of the Lost.
In this guide, we cover both Exotic and Legendary weapons (including their PVP god rolls), the current PVP meta, and provide quick guides on how to obtain the top PVP exotics. For the sake of clarity, we’ll split our selection of weapons into three categories: Primary ammo weapons, Special ammo weapons, and Heavy weapons.
A big thank you to Pattycakes for helping me put together this list. Pattycakes is one of my favorite Destiny 2 content creators focused on PVP and someone you should definitely check out.
Destiny 2 Best PVP Primary weapons
In this section, we cover the best primary PVP weapons. And by primary, we mean either Kinetic or Energy weapons that use Primary ammo. If you sometimes get confused between Kinetic and Primary weapons, just remember Primary weapons use “normal” ammo, aka, white ammo boxes:
About TTK: Measured in seconds, TTK, or time-to-kill, is critical in PVP, because the lowest the TTK (generally less than a second), the faster you can kill your opponent. You can read all about it in our TTK guide.
| Weapon | Type | Source ❘ Requirements | Optimal TTK | PVP Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Exotic Kiosk  | 0.87 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights." ► Arguably the best hand cannon in the game, Ace of Spades has a lot to offer. With excellent base stats and some of the best perks around, namely Momento Mori, Ace of Spades is one of the most dominating kinetic primaries in the Crucible. Ace of Spades was barely seen when 150 RPM hand cannons were a thing, but now that those are no more, Ace of Spades has reclaimed its place as king. Good Alternatives: Hawkmoon / Thorn. |
 The Messenger | Pulse Rifle | Trials of Osiris  | 0.67 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Desperado (also good: Kill Clip) ► This returning weapon from Destiny 1 is hands down the best Pulse rifle right now. Belonging to the High-Impact archetype, The Messenger benefits from one of the fastest TTKs in the game. On top of that, it has best-in-class base stats and excellent perks. And while all of its perks are good, it can also roll with the exclusive Desperado perk. With Desperado, which greatly increases its rate of fire after a precision kill, its TTK is massively reduced, allowing it to duel absolutely anyone and even go for insane killing sprees in 6v6 modes. Good Alternative: Cold Denial. |
 Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle | Vault of Glass Raid  | 0.77 | Slot:  Energy | Ammo: PrimaryExotic Perk: "This weapon fires a single bolt with each trigger pull. Defeating targets builds stacks of Overcharge. Swap firing modes when fully Overcharged to charge up and fire more powerful linear fusion shots." ► Buffed in literally 7 different ways this season, Vex Mythoclast is truly one of the most overpowered weapons in the entire game. While technically a Fusion, the Vex acts like a souped-up auto rifle. It features a fast time-to-kill and extreme ease of use thanks to its massive stability which helps it shoot like a laser. Bungie did warn that a nerf is incoming, but in the meantime, the Vex Mythoclast remains a true menace in the Crucible. It is no wonder many continue to run the Vault of Glass, hoping to get lucky... Decent Alternative: Scathelocke. |
 The Palindrome | Hand Cannon | Nighfall: The Ordeals | 0.87 | Slot:  Energy | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: AdaptivePVP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Quickdraw) + Rangefinder ► Among the many great Nightfall weapons out there, The Palindrome is the absolute best. It has great stats, excellent perks, and can dominate in both PVE and PVP. On top of that, it also comes with that smooth "feel" you'd want from a hand cannon. Exotic hand cannons tend to grab all the spotlight, but make no mistake, The Palindrome is arguably the best legendary 140 RPM hand cannon. Plus, sitting in the Energy slot, it can be paired with all the top special kinetic weapons, including The Chaperone and Eye of Sol. Decent Alternative: Finite Impactor. |
 Shayura's Wrath | Submachine Gun | Trials of Osiris | 0.80 | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: PrecisionPVP God Roll: Tunnel Vision (also good: Killing Wind) + Kill Clip ► One of the latest weapons to come out of Trials of Osiris, Shayura's Wrath is perhaps the best PVP SMG we have seen in a while. As a 600 RPM weapon, Shayura's Wrath offers a competitive TTK, but more importantly, it has an insane range for an SMG. That surprisingly long range, great stats, consistency, and an excellent Perk selection make Shayura's Wrath a must-have for PVP, especially now that 600 RPM auto rifles have been toned down. Decent Alternative: Riskrunner. |
 Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle | Exotic Quest  | 0.80 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "Chaining precision hits grants bonus damage and quickens reload speed. Future drops of this weapon have random rolls." ► Dead Man's Tale was a real game-changer. Before its release, it was unimaginable to see a scout rifle dominate the Crucible, but here we are. With excellent stats and the ability to 2-tap guardians once its Exotic perk is active, Dead Man's Tale is extremely lethal at long ranges. But this weapon only becomes truly special once you unlock its Catalyst. When fully Masterworked, it hip fires more quickly and with barely any penalties to aim assistance. By the way, with the ability to roll with random perks, there are a couple of nasty rolls out there, including one with Vorpal Weapon for when Supers start to appear. Good Alternative: MIDA Multi-Tool. |
 Multimach CCX | Submachine Gun | Iron Banner | 0.67 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PVP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction (also good: Killing Wind) + Kill Clip (also good: Iron Grip) ► It had been a while since an SMG was considered a top choice for PVP, but the Multimach CCX quickly rose to the top. While close-quarters combat is mostly dominated by shotguns, Multimach CCX remains viable thanks to its decent range, consistency, and insanely fast time-to-kill (one of the fastest among primary ammo weapons). The Multimach CCX may be a favorite among SMG aficionados, but good luck finding a good roll. Unfortunately, this weapon is locked behind the terrible Iron Banner reward system, which means it will all come down to your luck when turning tokens... Decent Alternative: Stochastic Variable. |
 Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Vault of Glass Raid | 0.87 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PVP God Roll: Explosive Payload (also good: Killing Wind) + Opening Shot (also good: Firefly) ► Fatebringer is the most iconic weapon from the Vault of Glass raid. And on paper, Fatebringer has a lot to offer: great stats and great perks. One could argue Fatebringer is the best kinetic legendary 140 RPM hand cannon available, but unlike The Palindrome, it has to compete with all the excellent Exotic hand cannons in that slot, plus, many prefer the "feel" of The Palindrome. Decent Alternative: Dire Promise. |
 Darkest Before | Pulse Rifle | Prophecy Dungeon | 0.80 | Slot:  Energy | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-FirePVP God Roll: Heating Up (also good: Moving Target) + Multikill Clip ► Darkest Before is one of the biggest surprises this season. It's not a High-Impact Pulse and it doesn't have the best TTK, yet it can absolutely shred in PVP while simultaneously feeling great in your hands. It also benefits from great stats, which are the best you can find among rapid-fire pulses. As a Rapid-Fire pulse, Darkest Before isn't great at peak shooting, but if used aggressively, it can easily dominate medium-range engagements. Plus, it's much easier to farm than all the other Rapid-Fire pulses in the game. Good Alternative: Gridskipper. |
 Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle | Exotic Engram | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 5-round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration, and increased movement speed." ► First of all, Vigilance Wing is easy to use. Other archetypes, such as High-impact pulses, may have a faster time-to-kill, but they are extremely unforgiving. Vigilance Wing, on the other hand, has a TTK that remains competitive but is much more forgiving. Indeed, this weapon lets you get kills without having to hit too many crits. This, combined with its range, makes it a nearly unstoppable force in mid to long-range engagements. Good Alternative: No Time to Explain. |
If you’re looking for a video version of a great PVP weapons guide, this Tier list from Pattycakes is a must-see:
Destiny 2 Best PVP Special weapons
In this section, we cover the best Special PVP weapons. And by Special, we mean either kinetic or Energy weapons that use Special ammo. If you sometimes get confused between Energy and Special weapons, just remember, Special weapons use “Special” ammo, aka, green ammo boxes:
| Weapon | Type | Source ❘ Requirements | Optimal TTK | PVP Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Chaperone | Shotgun | Exotic Quest | - | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: SpecialExotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon." ► The Chaperone is a slug shotgun with incredible range and an easy contender for best PVP shotty in Destiny 2. Because of its excellent base stats and its single-slug frame, The Chaperone has the longest one-hit kill distance of any shotgun in the game, at around 12 meters, provided you can hit your headshots. In the hands of a skilled player, this is an incredibly lethal weapon able to map enemies from afar. Decent Alternative: Blasphemer. |
 Fractethyst | Shotgun | Season Pass | - | Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: PrecisionPVP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Killing Wind+ Opening Shot ► The only non-sunset Kinetic Precision shotgun still in the game, Fractethyst ticks all the boxes. As a Precision frame shotgun, is has better range than Aggressives and does more damage than Lightweights. This makes Precision frames the perfect compromise when looking for an all-around shotty. On top of that, Fractethyst has access to all the top perks, including Quickdraw and Opening Shot. As an added bonus, Fractethyst is extremely easy to farm this season via the Umbral engrams system. Decent Alternative: Astral Horizon. |
 Main Ingredient | Fusion Rifle | World Loot Pool | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: PrecisionPVP Preferred Perks: Under Pressure + High Impact Reserves (also good: Tap the Trigger) ► To see the Main Ingredient in a top PVP weapons list would have been laughable just a few seasons ago. That's the power of sandbox changes right there. And also a reminder of why you should keep good rolls in your Vault, just in case. A recent rework to Fusion rifles made them, in general, better suited for PVP. And some of them even managed to rise to the top of the meta. That is the case of the Main Ingredient, which features the right charge time, damage per bolt, and perks. With good range and stability, the Main Ingredient can be the perfect tool against shotgun apes or just map people from surprising distances. Good Alternative: Cartesian Coordinate. |
 Uzume RR4 | Sniper Rifle | Nighfall: The Ordeals | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: AdaptivePVE God Roll: Triple Tap (also good: Clown Cartridge) + Explosive Payload (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PVP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Explosive Payload (also good: High-Impact Reserves) ► The most sought-after Sniper rifle this season, at least within the PVP community, Uzume RR4 has a lot going for it, including decent stats and the must-have perk any decent Sniper should have: Snapshot Sights. While it still suffers from the recent nerfs done to Snipers in PVP, it still offers tons of ease of use and consistency thanks to its relatively high Aim assistance and 50 zoom level. Good Alternative: Occluded Finality. |
 Found Verdict | Shotgun | Vault of Glass Raid | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: AggressivePVP God Roll: Slideshot (also good: Surplus) + Opening Shot ► Aggressive shotguns were recently hit hard with nerfs. Not once, but twice. Still, Found Verdict remains the best aggressive shotgun in the game. It certainly sees more competition from other archetypes, but with the right perks, Found Verdict remains an S-tier shotgun to bring to the Crucible. On the other hand, Found Verdict is not as easy to obtain, as say, the Felwinter's Lie. Unlike Felwinter's, finding a good Found Verdict will require several trips to the Vault of Glass raid. Good Alternative: Felwinter's Lie. |
 Adored | Sniper Rifle | Pursuit Weapon | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: AdaptivePVP Preferred Perks: Killing Wind + Snapshot Sights ► The natural replacer of the fan-favorite (but now retired) Beloved sniper rifle, Adored has a lot going for it. With a fairly low zoom stat at 45, decent sights, and high aim assist, Adored offers a great combination of lethality and ease of use. Even better, it's a legendary sniper that offers a great static roll for PVP and can be paired with one of the excellent Exotic hand cannons in the kinetic slot. Good Alternative: UZUME RR4. |
 Eye of Sol | Sniper Rifle | Trials of Osiris | - | Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: AggressivePVP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► Eye of Sol is a solid 90 RPM sniper akin to the now retired, Beloved. Featuring a reasonable 45 zoom stat and good aim assistance, Eye of Sol can also roll with great perk options. That said, it remains one of the toughest weapons to farm in this list as it's locked behind Trials of Osiris. Keep an eye out in case it becomes the 3-win reward to grab yourself a couple (through the weekly bounty). Good Alternatives: Praedyth's Revenge or Succession. |
 Duality | Shotgun | Exotic Kiosk | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: ExoticExotic Perk: "Fires a pellet spread in hip-fire or a single high-damage slug while aiming. Pellet final blows grant a stacking precision damage and reload speed buff. Precision hits with slugs extend the duration." ► Duality is a unique shotgun that combines the strengths of both pellet and slug shotguns. It has always been a fun exotic to use but the recent nerfs to pellet shotguns helped it become a dominating force in the Crucible. While it can reach the insane one-hit-kill distances of The Chaperone, Duality can get quite close to it. And in slug mode, it's much easier to use in very close quarters than The Chaperone. Overall, this is one versatile shotgun that is well-deserving of your Exotic slot. Decent Alternative: Sojourner's Tale. |
 Lorentz Driver | Linear Fusion Rifle | Season Pass | - | Slot: Energy | Ammo: SpecialExotic Perk: "This weapon marks targets. Final blows on marked targets generate telemetry patterns which, when picked up, grant bonus ability energy. Collecting 3 telemetry patterns without dying grants bonus damage for a long duration. Also, a precision final blow with this weapon creates an implosion that pulls in nearby targets and damages them with an additional detonation." ► Lorentz Driver is one of the strongest Linear Fusion we have ever seen. It does everything Arbalest can do, but much better, thanks to superior stats and exponentially better exotic traits. Some call it broken, due to its insane aim assistance that can give you free headshots that no other weapon would have. With low zoom, good aim assist and a nasty implosion on precision kills, Lorentz Driver is an excellent weapon for mid to long-range encounters. Decent Alternative: Telesto. |
 Riiswalker | Shotgun | Iron Banner | - | Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: LightweightPVP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Iron Reach ► One of the two new weapons from Iron Banner, Riiswalker was introduced at the perfect time. Now that aggressive shotguns were indirectly nerfed with the removal of Quickdraw (making them much clunkier to use), other archetypes can finally take a breather. All Lightweight shotguns suddenly became more viable and Riiswalker is the best Lightweight shotgun there is. It has best stats and excellent perks, which is why all the top players who want to take a break from Felwinter's Lie are enjoying Riiswalker. Patty just released an excellent video comparing the two. Decent Alternative: Seventh Seraph CQC-12. |
Destiny 2 Best PVP Heavy weapons
In this section, we cover the best Heavy PVP weapons, also known as Power weapons. Unlike Primary and Special weapons that can be in either the Kinetic or Energy slots, Heavy weapons can only be in the Heavy slot. In other words, we’re talking about the weapons that use “heavy” ammo, aka, purple ammo boxes:
| Weapon | Type | Source ❘ Requirements | Optimal TTK | PVP Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
 Commemoration | Machine Gun | Deep Stone Crypt Raid | 0.53 | Slot: Heavy | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: AdaptivePVP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Eye of the Storm (also good: Rampage) ► Machine guns are popular in PVP because they offer an excellent ammo economy. When used right, one ammo brick can result in 4-5 kills. Commemoration is one of the few legendary machine guns that survived weapon sunsetting, which is why it easily earned a spot here. On top of that, being a Void machine gun with excellent stats make it the natural replacement of the fan-favorite Hammerhead. Good Alternative: Corrective Measure. |
 Heir Apparent | Machine Gun | Guardian Games | - | Slot: Heavy | Ammo: HeavyExotic Perk: "This weapon can be fired only when fully spun up. While at full health, spinning up this weapon protects you with an Arc Shield." ► Heir Apparent has always been a fun-to-use weapon in Destiny 2. And while it was perceived as a gimmick for an entire year, now that it finally received a Catalyst, it became a true menace. With its Catalyst, Heir Apparent can make you virtually unkillable, allowing you to shred any guardian that stands in your way. Heir Apparent particularly shines in low-stakes games such as 6v6 modes. Good Alternative: Thunderlord. |
 The Wardcliff Coil | Rocket Launcher | Exotic Engram | - | Slot: Heavy | Ammo: HeavyExotic Perk: "This weapon fires a volley of rockets and automatically reloads on ammo pickup." ► Arguably the best PVP rocket launcher in the game, The Wardcliff Coil is incredibly lethal and could potentially wipe an entire team. On top of that, it's a consistent and reliable weapon that can practically guarantee kills, even in competitive modes. Many players prefer not to use their Exotic slot on a Heavy weapon, but The Wardcliff Coil is so powerful it, can even easily shut down supers from range. Good Alternative: Eyes of Tomorrow. |
 Tomorrow's Answer | Rocket Launcher | Trials of Osiris | - | Slot: Heavy | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-ImpactPVE God Roll: Tracking Module + Cluster Bomb ► Able to roll with Tracking Module and Cluster Bomb, Tomorrow's Answer is a good, reliable rocket launcher for PVP. It's not anywhere as consistent as The Warcliff Coil, for example, but it won't require your Exotic slot. You do have to play Trials to get it, which makes other rocket launchers, such as this season's Ascendancy, just as appealing. Good Alternative: Ascendancy. |
 Xenophage | Machine Gun | Exotic Quest | - | Slot: Heavy | Ammo: HeavyExotic Perk: "Fires high-powered explosive ammunition. Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification." ► A top choice for both PVE and PVP, Xenophage is a must-have Power weapon. In PVP, it remains as strong as it has always been. You can easily use its explosive rounds to two-shot kill any guardian, and you can even kill guardians behind cover by shooting the ground or nearby objects. PS: Xenophage is particularly good in Trials on longer-range maps. Good Alternative: Thunderlord. |
Destiny 2 PVP Meta
Every sandbox change comes with a new 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 weapon types for PVP.
PS: If you’re looking for the complete rundown of the state of the current Meta for PVP and PVE, check out our Destiny 2 Meta guide.
We just covered the absolute best PVP weapons right now, but it’s equally important to understand how the different weapon types compare to each other.
What is 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.
These are the different Tier levels used for these Tier lists:
- S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapon types.
- A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapon types, 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.
The list starts with S Tier and moves down until it reaches the bottom Tier. Also, remember that the PVE meta is completely different than the PVP meta!
PVP Primary weapons meta
| Weapon Type | Tier | Role ❘ Current State |
|---|---|---|
 Hand Cannons | Best ❘ S | Hand Cannons are and have always been the top PVP choice in Destiny. Nerfs can bring them slightly down and give other weapon types a chance, but in the end, the top players will always gravitate towards hand cannons. It all comes down to the very nature of hand cannons. They can deal a lot of damage in a short amount of time, meaning they are perfect at peak shooting in and out of cover (something an auto rifle, for example, cannot do). |
 Pulse Rifles | Best ❘ S | Sometimes referred to as "dad rifles", pulse rifles are generally easier to use, have a good range, and good aim assist. And with the recent buff to the High-Impact archetype, top pulses, such as The Messenger, have become some of the most lethal weapons in the Crucible. And by the way, not all Pulses behave the same. Some, such as Adaptive frames, are somewhat easy to use and could be considered "Dad rifles", whereas High-impacts are harder to master but have some of the most lethal time-to-kill in the entire game. |
 Sidearms | Strong ❘ A | For some reason, Sidearms have never been particularly popular in PVP. But things are definitely changing, especially since their target acquisition was buffed last year. You now see more and more top players main sidearms alongside their favorite sniper. On paper, sidearms certainly have a limited range, which puts them in direct competition with shotguns, but Sidearms still offer the best TTKs among primary weapons in Destiny 2. Don't be surprised to see them gain momentum as shotguns continue to receive nerfs. |
 Auto Rifles | Average ❘ B | Auto rifles had their 15 minutes of fame when they received a significant buff in Season of the Worthy, especially the 600 RPM variants. But Auto rifles were quickly reigned in and brought back to their usual place: the middle of the pack. Every now and then, an outlier will see some usage in the Crucible, such as the new Chroma Rush, but in general, ARs suffer from a big drawback: They force you to stay out of cover all the time (unlike a hand cannon or pulse), which makes them less effective in competitive modes or against skilled users. |
 Submachine Guns | Average ❘ B | SMGs are far from being the "meta" choice in PVP. Other weapons types can be almost as lethal while significantly offering better range. Still, SMGs can get the job done. In fact, a very good SMG with the right perks, such as the new Shayura's Wrath or the Multimach CCX, can be a true menace in the Crucible, with low TTKs and decent range. |
 Combat Bows | Average ❘ B | Combat bows are definitely a niche choice for PVP. You will rarely see a guardian using a bow in the Crucible, and that's because bows are far from being the most optimal tool to get the job done. With a headshot, bows can "almost" kill an enemy, but during the time you'll need to shoot a second arrow, your enemy will be either gone or you will be already dead. Exceptions such as Le Monarque do exist of course, but in general, you'll be better served with other weapon types. |
 Scout Rifles | Weak ❘ C | To be clear, everything this applies to every Scout rifle in the game, except Dead Man's Tale, an exponentially superior Scout than the rest. Whether we're talking about PVE or PVP, Scout rifles have been in a sad state for a long time. In PVP, they have some of the worst TTKs in the game and will lose most fights in close to medium range. They do offer good range, but most maps cater to closed-quarter combat. |
PVP Special weapons meta
| Weapon Type | Tier | Role ❘ Current State |
|---|---|---|
 Shotguns | Best ❘ S | ► Shotguns are so strong right now, they have been officially identified as a problem. They are simply too dominant in the current sandbox. Shotguns are extremely lethal, easy to use, and encourage players to use them even more than primary weapons. And as Destiny 2's maps are relatively crowded (they were conceived for 8 players only), close-quarters combat is heavily encouraged, thus allowing shotguns to shine. |
 Sniper Rifles | Strong ❘ A | ► Sniper rifles have always been a top choice for PVP. But unlike shotguns, they have a higher skill-ceiling. In other words, it's harder to master a sniper, but in the hands of a skilled player, there's nothing deadlier than a sniper rifle in the entire game. Overall, snipers are in a weird place right now. Recent nerfs to their flinch and aim assist have made them harder to use, which lead to even more people using shotguns. But if you do cross paths with a sniper user, beware. If they are still using one, it's because they know how to use it... |
 Trace Rifles | Strong ❘ A | ► If you try to use Trace Rifles as any other Special weapon, you'll be very disappointed. Shotguns, snipers, and even fusion rifles are meant to be one-hit-kill weapons. Trace rifles, on the other hand, are not. They are slow. But if you try to use them as a primary weapon, you'll see their true potential. With enough ammo, they behave like souped-up auto rifles, reaching the TTK of some of the best primary weapons in the game. |
 Fusion Rifles | Average ❘ B | ► Fusion rifles have been struggling for a while. After their big range nerf a few seasons ago, mainly due to the infamous Erentil FR4, Fusion rifles have lagged behind shotguns and snipers. Bungie is clearly trying to rectify the situation, offering a few minor buffs here in there. Fusion rifles still have a long way to go before becoming competitive again, but standouts such as Bastion or the newer PLUG.ONE can still dominate a lobby. |
 Grenade Launchers | Average ❘ B | ► The reign of Special ammo Grenade launchers came to an end the day the Mountaintop was retired. And the Crucible has been a happier place ever since. Jokes aside, Mountaintop was a real problem. It was too strong, downright broken, while the rest of its kind left a lot to be desired. These days, special ammo grenade launchers have finally found some balance. Some of the latest breechloaded grenade launchers are very good on paper, but unlike Mountaintop, they require some skill to be lethal in the Crucible. |
For the sake of clarity, weapon categories consisting of only 1 or 2 exotics have been excluded. For example, Eriana’s Vow is too unique to be representative of an entire weapon type.
If you’re particularly interested in these unique exotics, check out our Exotic Tier list including every exotic weapon currently in the game.
PVP Heavy weapons meta
| Weapon Type | Tier | Role ❘ Current State |
|---|---|---|
 Rocket Launchers | Best ❘ S | Rocket launchers are in a great place right now for PVP. As ammo economy is not an issue in the Crucible, their insane high-burst damage per rocket allows them to shine. Rocket launchers, and especially the exotics, can basically guarantee a kill without requiring much skill nor effort. And if used right, you can easily get multi kills in 6v6 modes. Rocket launchers even have a place in competitive modes, namely the Wardclif Coil, due to their consistency. |
 Machine Guns | Strong ❘ A | Machine guns are always a safe bet in PVP. They have excellent TTK, are very consistent from medium to long-range, and have enough ammo to kill easily 2 to 3 guardians, 4 if you play your cards right. Not all machine guns were created equal, though, as some of them are much stronger than the rest, especially the exotics (Heir Apparent immediately comes to mind). But with the right perks, legendary Machine guns can also shine |
Grenade Launchers | Average ❘ B | Grenade launchers can be good options in PVP. They are powerful and can come with great perks, including the newish Chain Reaction, which can easily net you multi kills when hitting enemies grouped together. When used with something like Proximity grenades, grenade launchers can be even more reliable and easy to use. Compared to the other Power weapon in the game, grenade launchers remain strong contenders. And when you take into account the exotics, namely The Colony, they can basically give you free kills. |
 Swords | Weak ❘ C | Swords may be a top-tier choice in PVE due to their high-risk, high reward approach. But in PVP, the risk is much higher than the reward. You can, of course, use a sword to benefit from the third-person view and wait for opponents around corners. But in many situations, you could find yourself completely vulnerable out in the open while chasing an enemy. On top of that, 3-peeking with swords is considered a douchy approach by the community, and with reason! |
 Linear Fusion Rifles | Weak ❘ C | Linear fusion rifles are in the middle of an identity crisis. They are stronger than sniper rifles and have more aim assistance, but they still require Heavy ammo and a headshot to one-shot an enemy. On top of that, they also have a charge time to take into account. Compared to a sniper rifle that fires immediately and only uses Special ammo, Linear Fusion rifles make little sense for the Crucible. In PVP, you want a Heavy weapon that can either easily down several guardians or guarantee a kill in a high-stakes match. It isn't impossible to do with a linear fusion rifle, but other weapon types can accomplish that more easily. |
The Meta can change in a heartbeat, but you can rest assured, though, this overview is up to date with the current Season of the Splicer and will be updated as soon as a new meta arrives.
Destiny 2 Best PVP loadouts
Up until now, we have split our top PVP guns into Primaries, Special and Heavy weapons. This makes sense when comparing weapons against each other.
But once you start building towards the ultimate loadout, a weapon’s slot becomes crucial. That’s because you can only carry one Kinetic, one Energy, and one Heavy weapon at a time. For example, if you’re committed to using an Igneous Hammer as your primary weapon, then your Special weapon will have to be Kinetic.
In this section, we’ll share some of the most popular PVP loadouts right now. This is how our Top PVP weapons look like, filtered by slot and not by ammo type:
Destiny 2 Best PVP Kinetic weapons:
| Name | Type | Ammo type | Element | Source | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Exotic Kiosk | Forsaken |
| The Messenger | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Trials of Osiris | Beyond Light |
| Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Exotic Quest | Deluxe Edition |
| Multimach CCX | Submachine Gun | Primary | Kinetic | Iron Banner | Free-to-Play |
| Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Vault of Glass Raid | Free-to-Play |
| Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Exotic Engram | Free-to-Play |
| The Chaperone | Shotgun | Special | Kinetic | Exotic Quest | Beyond Light |
| Eye of Sol | Sniper Rifle | Special | Kinetic | Trials of Osiris | Beyond Light |
| Riiswalker | Shotgun | Special | Kinetic | Iron Banner | Free-to-Play |
Destiny 2 Best PVP Energy weapons:
| Name | Type | Ammo type | Element | Source | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle | Primary | Solar | Vault of Glass Raid | Free-to-Play |
| The Palindrome | Hand Cannon | Primary | Void | Nighfall: The Ordeals | Free-to-Play |
| Shayura's Wrath | Submachine Gun | Primary | Void | Trials of Osiris | Beyond Light |
| Darkest Before | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Arc | Prophecy Dungeon | Free-to-Play |
| Fractethyst | Shotgun | Special | Stasis | Shattered Realm | Season 15 |
| Main Ingredient | Fusion Rifle | Special | Arc | World Loot Pool | Free-to-Play |
| Uzume RR4 | Sniper Rifle | Special | Solar | Nighfall: The Ordeals | Free-to-Play |
| Found Verdict | Shotgun | Special | Arc | Vault of Glass Raid | Free-to-Play |
| Adored | Sniper Rifle | Special | Arc | Pursuit Weapon | Free-to-Play |
| Duality | Shotgun | Special | Solar | Exotic Kiosk | Deluxe Edition |
| Lorentz Driver | Linear Fusion Rifle | Special | Void | Season Pass | Free-to-Play |
Loadout 1*:
| Kinetic | Energy | Heavy |
| The Messenger | Duality | Wardcliff Coil |
*My current go-to loadout!
Loadout 2:
| Kinetic | Energy | Heavy |
| Ace of Spades | Felwinter’s Lie | Ascendency |
Loadout 3:
| Kinetic | Energy | Heavy |
| Fractethyst | The Palindrome | Wardcliff Coil |
Loadout 4:
| Kinetic | Energy | Heavy |
| Fatebringer | Uzume RR4 | Heir Apparent |
Destiny 2 Best PVP Exotics: How to get them
These are the detailed steps on how to acquire all the top PVP exotics in Destiny 2 mentioned before:
1. Exotic Engrams: How to get Wardcliff Coil and Vigilance Wing
All of these weapons can be found as random exotic engrams. This is bad news if you don’t already have them as you won’t be able to actively work to get them.
In a nutshell, there are only a few ways you can get exotic engrams in Destiny 2:
- From the Season pass (the Free track offers while the Paid track offers )
- From Xur: Either as his random exotic engram or as his weekly Exotic weapon for sale
- As a random World drop
There isn’t much more that can be said about grinding Exotic engrams, only that they have a higher chance to drop from end-game activities. If finding this exotic is your priority, Nightfall: The Ordeals are for you. And the higher the difficulty (Master level and above), the higher the chance to get one.
2. Exotic kiosk: How to get Ace of Spades, Heir Apparent, and Duality
With the release of Beyond Light on November 20, 2020, several Exotics became available via the new Exotics kiosk in the tower, called the Monument to Lost Lights. The Monument to Lost Lights includes weapons that used to be part of Exotic quests that are no longer in the game. Nowadays, weapons such as Bastion, Thorn, and Le Monarque can be instantly acquired at the Exotics kiosk, provided you have the necessary materials. We cover all the weapons and materials from the Monument to Lost Lights here.
3. Exotic Quests: How to get Dead Man’s Tale and The Chaperone, and Xenophage
The difficulty of an exotic quest can vary from long and hard (such as Xenophage’s quest) to fast and easy (The Chaperone).
In any case, you can find every single exotic quest in this guide. It also includes the difficulty of the quest itself and links to the best video guides I could find.
The Last Word
We did our best to include both Legendary weapons and Exotics, as well as the top tier, most difficult to obtain weapons, and easier to get, yet still great alternatives.
Did we miss your current favorite PVP weapon? Do you have a particularly good PVP loadout you would like to share? Let us know in the comments section below!
For the record, this list is based on my experience playing the PC version of the game.
Felwinter’s is a shotty not a handgun 🙂
Yep, that was a typo…. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
The shadow price has got to be one of the bets auto rifles in the game (in my opinion) as long as you hit your shots it has almost the same if not better ttk than 140 handcannons and is better at range
Auto Rifle tier list coming soon, stayed tuned 🙂