Best Shotguns in Destiny 2: Tier List for PvP and PvE

Shotguns have been through a lot lately, especially in PvP. Several nerfs & buffs to specific archetypes, traits, and even exotics, have completely changed the shotgun meta. But now that the dust has settled, Shotguns remain extremely lethal and continue to sit among the best Special weapons, especially for PvP.

This guide covers every Shotgun in Destiny 2, including Exotic and Legendary shottys, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Updated as of Season of Defiance (S20). See Updates.

Destiny 2 Shotguns Tier List: Top-tier Options

This Tier list features the Top-tier Exotic and Legendary Shotguns in the game and covers both PvE and PvP:

Name	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
Heritage	Heritage	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination PvP God Roll:Slideshot + Offhand Strike ► Heritage is an absolute staple in the Kinetic Slot and will forever hold a place as a go-to option in my loadouts. It can hit like a truck with Recombination and can get up to double its regular magazine size. It wastes majors and bosses alike and is an option that we 100% recommend you grind for.	Season 12	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination PvP God Roll:Slideshot + Offhand Strike	Top-tier
Conditional Finality	Conditional Finality	Shotgun	Exotic	Special	Stasis	Lightfall	Yes	S › Best	Root of Nightmares Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Dual barrels split into Stasis and Solar damage. Landing nearly all Stasis pellets will freeze targets; landing nearly all Solar pellets will ignite targets." ► Conditional Finality is remarkable. In PvE, it has Champion stunning capabilities and excellent potential damage with a hot-swap setup, rivaling even Izanagi's Burden. In PvP, it has great handling, solid 1-hit kill range, and can take down supers with its Freeze-Ignite effect.	Season 20	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Dual barrels split into Stasis and Solar damage. Landing nearly all Stasis pellets will freeze targets; landing nearly all Solar pellets will ignite targets."	Top-tier
The Chaperone	The Chaperone	Shotgun	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Quest		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Exotic Quest Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon." ► It certainly requires more skill than your average pellet shotgun, but in the right hands, The Chaperone is the deadliest shotgun in the entire game. Because of its excellent base stats and Precision-slug frame, The Chaperone has the longest one-hit kill distance of any shotgun in the game, provided you can hit your headshots.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon."	Top-tier
Duality	Duality	Shotgun	Exotic	Special	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Kiosk		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Beyond Light	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic 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 still, to this day, one of the most potent Special Weapons in the game. It is the king of shotgun versatility, and in the hands of a skilled player, it can turn any lobby upside-down with its unique Pellet/Slug Shotgun playstyle. It's also a very stylish weapon netting it some bonus points.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic 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."	Top-tier
Retold Tale	Retold Tale	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Shattered Throne		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Shattered Throne Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Killing Wind ► Once reigning alongside Dust Rock Blues during the Forsaken era, Retold Tale benefitted a lot from the nerfs to Aggressive Shotguns, and thus has risen up the ranks to become one of the most consistent and powerful shotguns in the game with its solid perk pool.	Season 13	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Killing Wind	Top-tier
Found Verdict	Found Verdict	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Vault of Glass Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► Found Verdict is one of the most sought-after Shotguns in the entire game. Despite Precision Frames being the top dog, a Timelost Found Verdict can still pull ahead of the competition with the right roll and an Adept mod socketed.	Season 14	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Fractethyst	Fractethyst	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Xûr		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► As Precision Shotguns are clearly at the top of the Shotgun meta right now, some will argue that Fractethyst is the best PvP Shotgun in the game. Excellent base stats and top-tier perks make Fractethyst a sought-after weapon among PvP players.	Season 15	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Matador 64	Matador 64	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	S › Best	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind) ► Matador 64 is one of the best Shotguns in the game. Being part of the Precision Frame family gives it a boost, but its excellent perks bring it the extra mile, with Opening Shot and Perpetual Motion both being high-value perks.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind)	Top-tier
Imperial Decree	Imperial Decree	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Engram Focusing		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Engram Focusing Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: Threat Detector (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► Aggressive shotguns are one of the best options for PvP due to their pellet spread and high damage. Imperial Decree comes with excellent perks, making it a contender for Best Shotgun for the kinetic slot. Plus, it can be crafted, which cuts down on the luck required to get a god roll.	Season 20	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: Threat Detector (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Prophet of Doom	Prophet of Doom	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	A › Strong	Garden of Salvation Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Garden of Salvation Raid Shadowkeep	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + One-Two Punch (also good: Rampage) PvP God Roll: Slideways + Opening Shot ► Prophet of Doom is a powerful all-around option that can succeed in PvE and PvP due to its performing Archetype and solid perks. However, some stronger options outclass it.	Season 8	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + One-Two Punch (also good: Rampage) PvP God Roll: Slideways + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Wastelander M5	Wastelander M5	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dares of Eternity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Subsistence + One-Two Punch PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► The Wastelander is one of the nicest feeling Shotguns in the entire game. With a unique Hip-Fire reticle and an overall 'snappy' feel, many players will still opt for the Wastelander, despite Lightweights not being in the best of spots right now.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Subsistence + One-Two Punch PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Gunnora's Axe	Gunnora's Axe	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Iron Banner		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Threat Detector) + Opening Shot (also good: Iron Reach) PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Vorpal Weapon ► With an interesting perk pool and great stats, Gunnora's Axe is great for those who enjoy slug shotguns. It's hard to say if the meta will ever turn it into a must-have, but Gunnora's is still an excellent pick that can excel in the right hands.	Season 19	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Threat Detector) + Opening Shot (also good: Iron Reach) PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Vorpal Weapon	Top-tier
Legend of Acrius	Legend of Acrius	Shotgun	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires blasts of high-damage Arc energy that over penetrates enemies. Its radar detects enemies from farther away." ► Legend of Acrius can put out some incredible damage numbers in the right scenario. With its Trench Barrel catalyst, Legend of Acrius is slowly returning to its former glory and packs an incredible punch to any close-range boss.	Season 1	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires blasts of high-damage Arc energy that over penetrates enemies. Its radar detects enemies from farther away."	Top-tier
Tractor Cannon	Tractor Cannon	Shotgun	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon emits a powerful impulse that pushes enemies away, suppresses their abilities, and makes them more vulnerable to all incoming damage." ► Tractor Cannon is still one of the game's most fun weapons and remains quite a powerful option. Being able to suppress enemies in PvP and weaken enemies in PvE is really useful. Plus, booping people out of the map or against the walls in PVP will never gets old.	Season 1	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon emits a powerful impulse that pushes enemies away, suppresses their abilities, and makes them more vulnerable to all incoming damage."	Top-tier
First In, Last Out	First In, Last Out	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Slideshot) ► First In, Last out is an excellent option in PvE, especially for boss damage. With its combination of Auto-Loading Holster and Vorpal Weapon, players can use it alongside a Heavy Weapon to dish seriously high boss DPS.	Season 11	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Slideshot)	Top-tier
Nessa's Oblation	Nessa's Oblation	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Void	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Root of Nightmares Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Rolls: Fourth Time’s the Charm (also good: Reconstruction) + Focused Fury ► Nessa's Oblation introduces some much needed competition to the Energy slot. With perks like Reconstruction, Focused Fury, or Fourth Time's the Charm, Nessa's is a real contender for the top spot. However, some may prefer First In, Last Out.	Season 20	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Rolls: Fourth Time’s the Charm (also good: Reconstruction) + Focused Fury	Top-tier
Felwinter's Lie	Felwinter's Lie	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP Preferred Perks: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Slideshot) ► Felwinter's Lie is in a better spot than it used to be, but some of the best Precision Shotguns still outclass it. But as an easy-to-acquire weapon with a fixed roll, Felwinter's Lie is a solid backup while you find a better alternative.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP Preferred Perks: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Slideshot)	Top-tier
Astral Horizon	Astral Horizon	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris Lightfall	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► Astral Horizon offers incredibly high Range in exchange for poor Handling, and, to some players, this may be a worthwhile tradeoff. However, much of that range depends on Opening Shot, making it a must-have perk here.	Season 10	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Blasphemer	Blasphemer	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Moon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Moon Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Opening Shot ► Blasphemer comes with brilliant perks such as Quickdraw and Opening Shot, making it snappy and accurate. Blasphemer is easy to use and an excellent option for players learning to use Slug Shotguns.	Season 13	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Compass Rose	Compass Rose	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Seasonal	A › Strong	Event: Solstice		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Event: Solstice Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Snapshot Sights (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► Compass Rose is a menace of a Shotgun and one of the most prominent 'sleeper' picks right now. It is part of a strong archetype, and the only thing preventing it from being S-tier is the absence of Opening Shot in its perk pool.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Snapshot Sights (also good: Vorpal Weapon)	Top-tier
The Inquisitor	The Inquisitor	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Arc	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris Lightfall	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind) ► The Inquisitor is one of the stronger options if you are looking for an energy Slug Shotgun to use. However, you will be better served in the long run by Exotics like Duality, or a solid pellet shotgun like the Matador 64.	Season 18	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind)	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Shotguns: The complete list

This database includes every viable Shotguns currently in the game:

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?
	Conditional Finality	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Stasis	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Stasis	Best ❘ S	PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid		Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Duality	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Kiosk		Beyond Light	Season 12	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Legend of Acrius	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Exotic Kiosk		Free-to-Play	Season 1	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Lord of Wolves	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 4	Energy	No
	The Chaperone	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Quest		Beyond Light	Season 4	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	The Fourth Horseman	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Shadowkeep	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvE	Exotic Kiosk		Shadowkeep	Season 10	Energy	No
	Tractor Cannon	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 1	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	A Sudden Death	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Average ❘ B	PvP	Prophecy Dungeon		Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	Astral Horizon	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Trials of Osiris		Lightfall	Season 10	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Basso Ostinato	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Void	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	Terminal Overload		Lightfall	Season 20	Energy	No
	Blasphemer	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Moon		Free-to-Play	Season 13	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Bonechiller	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Average ❘ B	-	Europa		Free-to-Play	Season 12	Energy	No
	Compass Rose	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Seasonal	Special	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Event: Solstice		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Dead Weight	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Worst ❘ D	-	Playlist: Gambit		Free-to-Play	Season 17	Energy	No
	Deadpan Delivery	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	-		Recovered Red War		Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	No
	Felwinter's Lie	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Exotic Kiosk		Free-to-Play	Season 10	Energy	No	Top-tier
	First In, Last Out	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Fortissimo-11	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	Vanguard Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	No
	Found Verdict	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvP	Vault of Glass Raid		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Fractethyst	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	Best ❘ S	PvP	Xûr		Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Gunnora's Axe	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 19	Energy	No	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Hand in Hand	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Energy	No
	Heritage	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Beyond Light	Season 12	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Reconstruction
	IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	-	Operation: Seraph Shield		Free-to-Play	Season 19	Energy	Craftable		Incandescent
	Imperial Decree	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Engram Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Last Man Standing	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Season 21	Yes	Special	Solar	-		Fishing		Season 21	Season 21	Energy	No
	Matador 64	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	Special	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon		30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Mindbender's Ambition	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	-	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Free-to-Play	Season 18	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Nessa's Oblation	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Void	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid		Lightfall	Season 20	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Destabilizing Rounds,Repulsor Brace,Reconstruction
	No Reprieve	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	-	-	Xûr		Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	Craftable
	One Small Step	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Weak ❘ C	-	Moon		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Prophet of Doom	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	Special	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Garden of Salvation Raid		Shadowkeep	Season 8	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Ragnhild-D	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	Craftable
	Reckless Endangerment	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Weak ❘ C	-	Exotic Kiosk		Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	No
	Retold Tale	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Best ❘ S	PvP	Shattered Throne		Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Retrofuturist	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Riiswalker	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Special	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Seventh Seraph CQC-12	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Weak ❘ C	PvP	Xûr		Free-to-Play	Season 10	Energy	No
	Sojourner's Tale	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	Swordbreaker	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Strand			Crota's End Raid		Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	Craftable
	The Comedian	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Worst ❘ D	-	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	The Deicide	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	The Inquisitor	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Arc	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Trials of Osiris		Lightfall	Season 18	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Toil and Trouble	Shotgun	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	Until Its Return	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Strand	Season 21	Yes	Special	Strand	-		Seasonal activity		Season 21	Season 21	Kinetic	Craftable
	Wastelander M5	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Wishbringer	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Worst ❘ D	-	Playlist: Crucible		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No
	Without Remorse	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	Presage		Beyond Light	Season 17	Energy	Craftable		Incandescent
	Xenoclast IV	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	Average ❘ B	PvP	Vanguard Focusing		Free-to-Play	Season 12	Energy	No

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.

Best Destiny 2 Shotguns in 2023

Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best Shotguns in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):

5. Conditional Finality

Excels in PvE

Conditional Finality, the latest Raid Exotic, is a quirky but powerful option in PvE and PvP. It can be a part of numerous damage rotations in a DPS loadout, and its Champion-stunning potential makes it a viable choice in content that features Champions like Nightfalls or Master Raids.

In PvP, it has a unique pellet spread depending on the element the gun is firing, which is beneficial to the one-hit-kill range of the Shotgun. It can also deal with Supers if you freeze and ignite them, making it a top pick across the entire game.

Exotic Perk: “Dual barrels split into Stasis and Solar damage. Landing nearly all Stasis pellets will freeze targets; landing nearly all Solar pellets will ignite targets.”

How to get it: Conditional Finality can be acquired from the Root of Nightmares raid.

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?
	Conditional Finality	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Stasis	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Stasis	Best ❘ S	PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid		Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

4. The Chaperone

Excels in PVP

The Chaperone, known by some in the community as the ‘Maperone,’ can kill from absolutely ridiculous ranges when it gets going. With its ‘Roadborn’ perk, the Chaperone can begin killing in SMG territory; it can get really oppressive and brutal to fight.

While the Chaperone is a little harder to master than some other Shotguns like Duality, its undeniable strength makes up for its lack of ease of use. Even before you manage to get the ‘Roadborn’ perk going, you can still kill at ranges higher than the regular Slug Shotgun, and with the constant nerfs to pellet-based shotguns, it may be well worth your time to begin learning the Chaperone playstyle.

Exotic Perk: “Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon.”

How to get it: The Chaperone 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?
	The Chaperone	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Quest		Beyond Light	Season 4	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

3. Fractethyst

Excels in PVP

Fractethyst is the best option if you are looking for a good Kinetic Shotgun. It doesn’t take up your exotic slot, has excellent base stats, and is also a Precision Frame Shotgun, meaning that it is naturally better than the competition due to its favorable pellet spread.

The perks that Fractethyst comes with are also best-in-class, Quickdraw and Slideshot are both brilliant perks in the first column, and Opening Shot is arguably the best Shotgun perk in the entire game, making Fractethyst lose out in practically no areas.

Overall, Fractethyst is a real contender for the top spot in terms of PvP Shotguns, and based on what primary ammo weapon you like to use, you may prefer to use the Fractethyst over some of the competition.

PVP God roll:

• Perk 1: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot)
• Perk 2: Opening Shot

How to get it: Fractethyst is hard to acquire these days. Xûr may randomly sell it on weekends from time to time.

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?
	Fractethyst	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	Best ❘ S	PvP	Xûr		Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

2. Matador 64

Excels in PVP

Matador 64 is the strongest Shotgun for several reasons. It is a part of the Precision Frame, granting it better pellet spread and, thus, more consistent one-hit-kills, it has some of the best base stats on a Precision Frame Shotgun, and it also comes with the best perks that can come on a Shotgun. Perpetual Motion, Threat Detector, and Pulse Monitor are all excellent options in the first column, and it comes with the staple perk that is Opening Shot, too, instantly putting it in contention for the top spot.

While others may prefer the Fractethyst over Matador, Matador does come with slightly better base stats than the Fractethyst, and it can also be target-farmed in the Grasp of Avarice Dungeon, making it more accessible than the Fractethyst. It can also be paired with some of the best PvP weapons in the game, like No Time to Explain, The Immortal, Ace of Spades, and more.

PVP God roll: Matador 64 can be acquired by completing the Grasp of Avarice dungeon.

• Perk 1: Threat Detector
• Perk 2: Elemental Capacitor (also good: Well Rounded)

How to get it: Matador 64

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?
	Matador 64	Shotgun	Precision	Legendary	Special	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	Special	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon		30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Energy	No	Top-tier

1. Heritage

Excels in PVE and PVP

In PvE, Heritage is simply a cut above the rest. One of my favorite weapons, the Heritage, can come with Reconstruction and Recombination, an exclusive Deep Stone Crypt perk combination, or more standard perks like Focused Fury. With these perks, Heritage can pump out some serious damage against very tanky enemies and is my go-to if I need a high-damage legendary special weapon.

Heritage is also quite powerful in PvP. Slideshot and Offhand Strike or Moving Target, combined with a clean scope, make Heritage quite a menace in PvP. Heritage can be crafted too, meaning that, eventually, you will be able to craft your god roll of this gun.

Overall, the Heritage should always be ready to go in your Kinetic slot for practically all types of content.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster)
• Perk 2: Recombination

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Slideshot
• Perk 2: Offhand Strike (also good: Moving Target)

How to get it: Heritage can be acquired from the Deep Stone Crypt raid.

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?
	Heritage	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Beyond Light	Season 12	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Reconstruction

Shotguns and the PvP Meta: TTK

We covered in detail which Shotguns are considered top-tier (and should be farmed) and which can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other Special weapons in PvP?

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
Sniper Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Sniper Rifles are in an excellent spot right now. After the nerfs to Linear Fusion Rifles, it only makes sense that Sniper usage picked up. And with weapons that come stacked with aim assist and excellent perks, such as the 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
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
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. We have a TTK guide/chart that includes TTK figures, but that mostly applies to Primary weapons, not Specials.

For PvP, you want a Special weapon that can consistently get you a one-hit kill. Shotguns are quite consistent and can be easy to use, provided you can get close enough to your opponent. In the grand scheme of things, Shotguns are among the top Special weapons to bring to the Crucible.

Shotguns and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Shotguns compare to other Special weapons in PvE?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		►Fusion Rifles are absolutely insane right now. There were a ton of viable options already and newer options, such as The Eremite, can roll with perk combinations that can turn them into monsters. This, on top of certain Exotic options like Merciless, makes Fusion Rifles a staple option for either backup DPS or just general major clear. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Cartesian Coordinate	PVE Specials
Shotguns	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Shotguns are excellent right now. They can be used in traditional hot-swap loadouts when combined with Tractor Cannon in a raid setting, and they remain strong at both major clear and burst damage. However, they can achieve some of the highest damage combos in the game due to their ease of use, high burst damage, and perks like One-Two Punch. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (90 RPM) - Example: Wastelander M5	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	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Sniper Rifles have improved a tad, but not that much. They are still too slow for most players' liking, but they can still be a solid backup DPS option. These are commonly used in many longer-range DPS scenarios, but other than that, they remain mediocre. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (140 RPM) - Example: Supremacy	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

Keep in mind that when it comes to PvE, DPS is one of the most important factors. As you know, the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. This D2 DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2.

When it comes to actual DPS, Shotguns are in a good place, but they require you to get up close and personal to enemies:

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	21,799	25,351	396,792	With Catalyst		Sleeper Simulant	Buffed	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Aggressive	15,559	17,367	381,218	-		Stormchaser	New	Heavy
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	16,556	17,991	273,456	-		One Thousand Voices	Same	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	15,182	17,844	389,320	With Marksman Sights		The Queenbreaker	Buffed	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Precision	14,979	17,844	356,880	-		Reed's Regret	Buffed	Heavy
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	14,699	16,216	206,880	-		Merciless	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	12,171	13,918	255,528	-		Bastion	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Rapid-Fire	11,224	12,355	161,406	-		Cartesian Coordinate	Same	Special
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	11,325	13,412	287,500	-		Arbalest	Same	Special
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	11,325	13,412	287,500	-		Lorentz Driver	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	9,771	11,033	225,075	-		Jötunn	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Aggressive	9,677	10,774	250,236	-		Coriolis Force	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	9,675	10,532	312,963	With Catalyst		Telesto	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Adaptive	9,109	9,881	153,552	-		Trinary System	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Precision	8,112	9,148	188,685	-		Deliverance	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	High-Impact	8,917	9,917	233,025	-		Glacioclasm	Same	Special
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	3,601	-	740,985	-		Witherhoard	Same	Special

Endgame content

Shotguns certainly offer decent DPS numbers, especially after the buffs to pellet shotguns. But as shotguns can only be effective at close quarters, they remain extremely risky and difficult to use in endgame content (Master and Grandmaster difficulty).

Some players can make it work, but other weapon types will be better suited for the job. On the other hand, shotguns can be very effective (and fun) in casual content to medium content, including dungeons and raids in normal mode.

Your turn

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