Best Destiny 2 Shotguns: PVE and PVP Tier list ranking

As Destiny 2’s Season 13 begins, many players, including both veterans and New Lights, wonder what the meta is and what weapons they should bring to PVP and PVE.

But with so many weapons to chose from, this can be a daunting question to tackle. We’ll help you cover the basics, with a dedicated series of posts covering all the weapon types in D2. But today, we present you with an in-depth overview of a weapon type that has been top tier since Destiny 1: Shotguns.

In this guide, we’ll cover both Exotic and Legendary shotguns (including their PVP and PVE god rolls) and provide a verdict on how good each weapon is. But more importantly, this tier list will also give you a good overview of where shotguns as a whole stand today.

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Destiny 2 Shotguns Tier list

These are the different Tier levels used for this ranking:

• 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 the S Tier and moves down from there. It also covers both PVE and PVP, with the “Excels in” column clearly identifying where each weapon shines.

About TTK & DPS: You’ll see us talk a lot about TTK, or time-to-kill, and DPS, damage per second, throughout this guide. TTK is important in PVP, because the lower the TTK, the quicker you can kill your opponent. DPS is important for PVE, because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss.

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Best Destiny 2 PVP Shotguns

When it comes to PVP, Shotguns remain as strong as they have ever been. It’s no wonder many players barely use their primary weapons anymore. If you’re looking for the best PVP shotgun in Destiny 2, there are 2 clear (and equally viable) alternatives:

• Aggressive Pellet Shotguns
• Precision Slug Shotguns (such as The Chaperone and Heritage)

But overall, the king remains unchallenged:

 

Felwinter’s Lie

Weapon Type:	Shotgun	Slot:	Energy
Ammo:	Special	Source:	Exotics Kiosk

The undeniable king of the Crucible, Felwinter’s Lie has the most kills in PVP in the entire game. In spite of receiving an indirect nerf (with the removal of the Quickdraw perk), it’s still the go-to shotgun for the vast majority of players. Why? Because it’s incredibly consistent, has extreme one-hit-kill distances (for a pellet shotgun), and is very easy to use.

Good PVP alternatives

Name	Archetype	Element	Rank	Excels	Source	Requirements	Weapon	Tier rank	Source ❘ Requirements	Verdict
Found Verdict	Aggressive	Arc	S › Best	PVP	Vault of Glass Raid	Free-to-Play	Found Verdict	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Vault of Glass Raid	Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PVP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► The new shotgun from the Vault of Glass raid, Found Verdict is one of the most sought-after weapons in the game right now. Finally, a new shotgun is able to challenge to current PVP king: Felwinter's Lie. Sitting in the same slot, Found Verdict is just as good as Felwinter's. In fact, some would argue that a god-roll Found Verdict is even better. But finding a god-roll won't be easy considering you'll have to conquer the Vault of Glass many, many times, for a chance to find it. If you are lucky to have a good roll, hold on to it. If you aren't as lucky, Felwinter's is still an excellent choice.
The Chaperone	Exotic	Kinetic	S › Best	PVP	Exotic Quest	Beyond Light	The Chaperone	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Exotic Quest	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special Exotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon." ► With unparalleled range and accuracy, The Chaperone is the deadliest exotic shotgun in PVP. 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. The fact that The Chaperone is a slug shotgun means it has significantly more range than pellet shotguns, such as Felwinter's. But getting one-hit-kills require good aim and only precision hits. And when its Exotic trait, The Roadborn, is active, The Chaperone can reach insane one-hit-kill distances.
Astral Horizon	Aggressive	Kinetic	S › Best	PVP	Trials of Osiris	Free-to-Play	Astral Horizon	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Trials of Osiris	Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PVP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Killing Wind ► A god-rolled Astral Horizon is to many the only legendary shotgun that can rival Felwinter's Lie. It is remarkably consistent and is the only pellet shotgun in the game that can keep up with Felwinter's Lie in the Kinetic slot. And as Astral Horizon sits in the Kinetic slot, you can use it alongside fan-favorites such as Gnawing Hunger or Stars in Shadow, two of the best Primary PVP weapons that sit in the Energy slot.
Riiswalker	Lightweight	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVP	Iron Banner	Free-to-Play	Riiswalker	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Iron Banner	Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PVP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Iron Reach ► It's been a while since Iron Banner delivered a new weapon worthy of our time, yet Season 14's Riiswalker is most definitely a game-changer. Taking advantage of the indirect nerfs to Aggressive frame shotguns, Riiswalker comes with some of the best stats and PVP perks ever seen on a Lightweight shotgun. It may not be as consistent as Felwinter's but it's really close. Plus, as a Lightweight, it encourages a different play style and a well-deserved change from this year's stale PVP meta.

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Best Destiny 2 PVE Shotguns

In PVE, deciding what shotgun to use is even easier. If you’re looking for the most lethal, DPS-dealing shotgun, you’ll have to go with a top-tier Slug shotgun:

 

Heritage

Weapon Type:	Shotgun	Slot:	Kinetic
Ammo:	Special	Source:	Raid

Unlike Felwinter’s Lie, Heritage is an excellent shotgun you’ll have to work for. Locked behind the Deep Stone Crypt raid, getting a good roll will require consistent raiding. But once you have a good roll, namely, a roll including the elusive Recombination + Reconstruction combo, you’ll have one of the best PVE weapons in the entire game (both in terms of DPS numbers and ease of use).

Good PVE alternatives

Name	Archetype	Element	Rank	Excels	Source	Requirements	Weapon	Tier rank	Source ❘ Requirements	Verdict
First In, Last Out	Precision Slug	Arc	S › Best	PVE	World Loot Pool	Free-to-Play	First In, Last Out	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVE	World Loot Pool	Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision Slug PVE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Outlaw) + Vorpal Weapon ► First In, Last Out is one of the best PVE Special weapons in the game right now. In fact, it's a go-to option when dealing with the Deep Stone Crypt's final boss. Also a slug shotgun, First In, Last Out can deal insane damage and is right up there with Heritage in terms of DPS and lethality. And thanks to its wide range of great perks, First In, Last Out can sometimes surpass Heritage. For example, when dealing with certain Bosses and Majors thanks to the Vorpal Weapon perk.
Blasphemer	Precision Slug	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVE	Moon Destination	Free-to-Play	Blasphemer	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE	Moon Destination	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision Slug PVE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Swashbuckler PVE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Swashbuckler ► Blasphemer is a returning kinetic slug shotgun from the Moon. As mentioned before, slug shotguns are in a great place right now for PVE, and Blasphemer benefits from that. However, Blasphemer has very stiff competition in the likes of Heritage or First In, Last Out. It does have a good sunset cap though and will last longer than both. But right now, it simply lags behind in terms of stats and PVE perks.
Seventh Seraph CQC-12	Lightweight	Solar	A › Strong	PVE + PVP	Gunsmith	Free-to-Play	Seventh Seraph CQC-12	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE + PVP	Gunsmith	Slot: Energy | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PVP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Vorpal Weapon PVE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Trench Barrel ► Seventh Seraph CQC is a great alternative as it can roll with top-tier perks and benefits from the Lightweight's archetype benefits, such as faster movement speed and improved aim-down sights. However, most favor the more popular Aggressive Frame shotguns as they simply have a further one-hit kill distance than Lightweight. However, Seventh Seraph CQC shouldn't be ignored.

The best Kinetic shotgun in Destiny 2?

Finally, a word about Kinetic VS Energy shotguns… If you, for example, are convinced that Igneous Hammer is your go-to primary weapon, you’ll need a good shotgun in the Kinetic slot:

Name	Archetype	Element	Rank	Excels	Source	Requirements	Weapon	Tier rank	Source ❘ Requirements	Verdict
Heritage	Precision Slug	Kinetic	S › Best	PVE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Beyond Light	Heritage	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision Slug PVE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination ► Heritage is the star of the Deep Stone Crypt raid. It's currently the best-in-class slug shotgun when it comes to dealing incredible DPS and is a go-to option for PVE content. Slug shotguns are the DPS kings of Destiny 2 right now, and that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. But on top of having excellent base stats, Heritage can roll with fantastic perks that are unique to the DSC raid, and being a Kinetic weapon means it intrinsically deals10% more damage than its Energy counterparts.
The Chaperone	Exotic	Kinetic	S › Best	PVP	Exotic Quest	Beyond Light	The Chaperone	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Exotic Quest	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special Exotic Perk: "Fires a single-slug precision round. Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon." ► With unparalleled range and accuracy, The Chaperone is the deadliest exotic shotgun in PVP. 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. The fact that The Chaperone is a slug shotgun means it has significantly more range than pellet shotguns, such as Felwinter's. But getting one-hit-kills require good aim and only precision hits. And when its Exotic trait, The Roadborn, is active, The Chaperone can reach insane one-hit-kill distances.
Astral Horizon	Aggressive	Kinetic	S › Best	PVP	Trials of Osiris	Free-to-Play	Astral Horizon	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Trials of Osiris	Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PVP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Killing Wind ► A god-rolled Astral Horizon is to many the only legendary shotgun that can rival Felwinter's Lie. It is remarkably consistent and is the only pellet shotgun in the game that can keep up with Felwinter's Lie in the Kinetic slot. And as Astral Horizon sits in the Kinetic slot, you can use it alongside fan-favorites such as Gnawing Hunger or Stars in Shadow, two of the best Primary PVP weapons that sit in the Energy slot.
Riiswalker	Lightweight	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVP	Iron Banner	Free-to-Play	Riiswalker	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Iron Banner	Slot: KInetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PVP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Iron Reach ► It's been a while since Iron Banner delivered a new weapon worthy of our time, yet Season 14's Riiswalker is most definitely a game-changer. Taking advantage of the indirect nerfs to Aggressive frame shotguns, Riiswalker comes with some of the best stats and PVP perks ever seen on a Lightweight shotgun. It may not be as consistent as Felwinter's but it's really close. Plus, as a Lightweight, it encourages a different play style and a well-deserved change from this year's stale PVP meta.
Blasphemer	Precision Slug	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVE	Moon Destination	Free-to-Play	Blasphemer	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE	Moon Destination	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision Slug PVE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Swashbuckler PVE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Fourth Time's the Charm) + Swashbuckler ► Blasphemer is a returning kinetic slug shotgun from the Moon. As mentioned before, slug shotguns are in a great place right now for PVE, and Blasphemer benefits from that. However, Blasphemer has very stiff competition in the likes of Heritage or First In, Last Out. It does have a good sunset cap though and will last longer than both. But right now, it simply lags behind in terms of stats and PVE perks.

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Destiny 2 Shotguns sources: How to get them

The table above includes a column titled “Drops from  ❘ Requirements“. This section goes deeper and includes more detailed steps on how to acquire all the shotguns still viable in Destiny 2:

Destiny 2 Exotic Shotguns sources

This is how you can obtain the several Exotic shotguns in our Tier list:

• Exotic Quest: Some Exotics, such as The Chaperone, require you to complete a dedicated Exotic quest. For more information, check out our Exotic Quests hub.
• Exotics Kiosk: Most Exotic nowadays can be acquired via the Exotics Kiosk in the tower, officially called the Monument to Lost Lights. You can read all about it, including costs and requirements, here.
• Random Engrams: Finally, some Exotics can only randomly drop while playing the game or by acquiring Exotic engrams (most notably from the Season Pass or from Xur).

If you’re interested in the Legendary shotguns, read on.

Destiny 2 Legendary Shotguns sources

This is how you can obtain the several Legendary shotguns in our Tier list:

• Deep Stone Crypt Raid: Some elite weapons, such as Heritage, can only be found in the Deep Stone Crypt raid. For a detailed overview of all the weapons found in the newest Destiny 2 raid, this loot table covers both weapons and armor per encounter.
• Trials of Osiris: Astral Horizon can only drop while getting wins in the endgame PVP mode Trials of Osiris, Destiny 2’s endgame (and brutal) PVP mode. Beware that drops rotate weekly, so you’ll have to patient and wait until Astral Horizon becomes part of the weekly drops.
• Prophecy Dungeon: The IKELOS shotgun can only drop from Destiny 2’s newest dungeon. For a detailed overview of all the weapons found in Prophecy, this loot table covers both weapons and armor per encounter.
• World Loot Pool: Some Legendaries can only randomly drop while playing the game, either as end of matches rewards or when finding Legendary engrams.

Finally, several sources (such as Playlists, Garden of Salvation raid, etc) are self-explanatory, but in doubt, you can always leave a comment below with your question or ask away on our Discord.

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Ranking criteria

For the record, as much as we tried to keep this list as objective as possible, it’s still based on our personal experience playing the PC version of the game.

Finally, if you’re wondering what criteria was used to build this Tier list, these are the main factors I took into account:

• Lethality: The higher the effective DPS and usability, the higher the ranking.
• Consistency: Some weapons may not have the highest DPS numbers, but they are so consistent, they more than make up for their lower DPS numbers.
• Ease of use: Similar to the point above, some weapons are very effective because they are easy to use and don’t require too much skill or setup. This is also rewarded with higher rankings.
• PVE/PVP Performance: High lethality in either PVE or  PVP is equally valuable. However, a weapon that is good at both PVE and PVP should rank higher than one that is slightly better on only PVE or PVP.
• Fun factor: Not the most important factor, but it also helps if the weapon is damn fun to shoot with!

If you strongly disagree with some of the rankings here, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. By the way, what is your personal favorite?