Best Shotguns in Destiny 2: Tier List for PVP and PVE

[toc] Shotguns have gone through a lot lately, especially in PvP. Several nerfs to specific archetypes, traits, and even exotics, have completely changed the shotgun meta.

But as much as Bungie has tried to rein in shotguns in the Crucible, they remain extremely lethal and continue to sit among the best Special weapons in PvP. In PvE, the situation is quite the opposite, with Bungie releasing several buffs aiming to make shotguns more competitive in endgame content. But did it work?

This guide covers every shotgun in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary shotguns, as well as the best rolls for PVE and PVP.

Destiny 2 Shotguns Tier list

The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary shotguns in the game. It starts with the S Tier weapons and moves down from there. It also covers both PVE and PVP, with the “Excels in” column clearly identifying in what area each weapon shines:

Name	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks
Wastelander M5	Wastelander M5	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Dares of Eternity		Best ❘ S 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 ► Wastelander M5 is one of the better-feeling shotguns in Destiny 2. It has a nice hipfire reticle and feels very snappy, even when compared to other Lightweight options. Featuring an excellent perk pool, the Wastelander M5 is one of the best shotguns in the Crucible right now, especially now that it can be crafted.	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
Heritage	Heritage	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	S › Best	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination ► 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
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 its 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."
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."
Riiswalker	Riiswalker	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	S › Best	Iron Banner		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Iron Reach ► It's not often that Iron Banner delivers a must-have weapon, yet Riiswalker was definitely the case. Taking advantage of the indirect nerfs to Aggressive frame shotguns, Riiswalker came out with some of the best stats and PVP perks ever seen on a Lightweight shotgun, including Quickdraw and Iron Reach, which provide absurd amounts of range for barely any cost.	Season 14	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Iron Reach
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 right now. Able to fit Adept mods with its Timelost variant, Found Verdict can reach up to a whopping 68 range with Smallbore, which is a popular all-rounder barrel. It's a stat monster and we definitely recommended it for PvP.	Season 14	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot
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, in my experience, the best Precision shotgun in the game. Its ability to roll with excellent perks such as Opening Shot and Perpetual Motion makes Matador 64 a beast in PvP. It is a staple in my Energy slot if I ever need a shotgun, even in the most competitive of environments.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind)
Without Remorse	Without Remorse	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Solar	Season 17	Yes	S › Best	Seasonal activity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Seasonal activity Season 17	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Elemental Capacitor (also good: Well Rounded) ► Without Remorse is making a lot of noise, with many PvP players frantically grinding it as the first craftable Lightweight shotgun in the game. With Threat Detector and Elemental Capacitor, Without Remorse has become the go-to option for Guardians looking for a super high-handling Shotgun.	Season 17	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Elemental Capacitor (also good: Well Rounded)
Tractor Cannon	Tractor Cannon	Shotgun	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	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."
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
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. Some of the highest damage combos involve First In, Last Out, making it an option we recommend.	Season 11	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Slideshot)
Lord of Wolves	Lord of Wolves	Shotgun	Exotic	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage. Hold to swap to a longer, more powerful burst." ► Lord of Wolves dominated the meta for a good part of early 2022. But Season 17's changes to the Special ammo economy and a specific nerf to the weapon, hurt the Lord of Wolves. However, despite the nerfs, it remains an extremely easy shotgun to use with very high levels of lethality.	Season 4	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage. Hold to swap to a longer, more powerful burst."
Seventh Seraph CQC-12	Seventh Seraph CQC-12	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Xûr		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Vorpal Weapon ► Seventh Seraph CQC is still an excellent option for players wanting a snappy shotgun. A personal favorite of mine, the Seraph CQC performs consistently well to this day and is an option you should not ignore, provided you have the right roll.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Vorpal Weapon
Xenoclast IV	Xenoclast IV	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Playlist: Vanguard		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Playlist: Vanguard Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Killing Wing ► The Xenoclast is still a strong option, however, it has been power crept out of contention by more recent additions such as Without Remorse. Xenoclast IV also suffers from a ridiculously large perk pool which can make it quite discouraging to grind for the god roll.	Season 12	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Slideshot) + Killing Wing
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 is one of the few Legendary Kinetic Slug Shotguns in the game. It also comes with brilliant perks such as Quickdraw and Opening Shot, making it very snappy and accurate. Blasphemer is super easy to use and an excellent option for players learning how to use Slug Shotguns.	Season 13	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Opening Shot
Retold Tale	Retold Tale	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dreaming City		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Dreaming City 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
A Sudden Death	A Sudden Death	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Prophecy Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Prophecy Dungeon Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Threat Detector (also good: Slideshot) + Elemental Capacitor ► A Sudden Death's combination of Threat Detector and Elemental Capacitor provides some of the best handling and swap speeds ever seen on an Aggressive frame shotgun. This is one of the top shotguns for PvP players who main Arc subclasses.	Season 15	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Threat Detector (also good: Slideshot) + Elemental Capacitor
Fractethyst	Fractethyst	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Xûr		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot ► As Aggressive Shotguns continue to receive indirect nerfs, Precision Shotguns are again on the rise, and Fractethyst is no exception. Fractethyst is one of the best Precision Shotguns available and is a consistent option Guardians should not overlook.	Season 15	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Slideshot) + Opening Shot
Ragnhild-D	Ragnhild-D	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Elemental Capacitor ► Currently the second-best PvP shotgun in the game, Ragnhild-D is an unexpected top-tier pick for the Crucible--especially while using an Arc Subclass and Elemental Capacitor.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Elemental Capacitor
Compass Rose	Compass Rose	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	No	A › Strong	Event: Solstice		Strong ❘ A	Event: Solstice Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Snapshot Sights (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► You won't face a Compass Rose often, but don't let that deceive you. Handling isn't an issue for the Compass as it can roll Quickdraw and Snapshot Sights, making it one of the snappiest shotguns in the game. In the right hands and with the right perks, Compass Rose can compete with the best of them.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw + Snapshot Sights (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
The Fourth Horseman	The Fourth Horseman	Shotgun	Exotic	Special	Solar	Shadowkeep	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon's rate of fire is increased significantly and fires full auto. Each successive shot has more damage and more spread." ► Boasting some of the highest burst DPS in the entire game, The Fourth Horseman is an "all or nothing" weapon. It can deal with Majors easily, but as you delve into more challenging content, the Fourth Horseman can become quite a risky weapon to opt for, making it a pretty middle-of-the-pack option.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon's rate of fire is increased significantly and fires full auto. Each successive shot has more damage and more spread."
Felwinter's Lie	Felwinter's Lie	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B 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 suffered heavily from all the recent shotgun changes we've seen. The removal of Quickdraw and the constant nerfs to Pellet Shotgun's kill distance made Felwinter's worse than the competition. However, its intrinsic "Shot Package" frame retains some of its old consistency, making it an acceptable option for PvP.	Season 10	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP Preferred Perks: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Slideshot)
Astral Horizon	Astral Horizon	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	B › Average	Trials of Osiris		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris The Witch Queen	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind) ► Astral Horizon used to be one of the greats... Nowadays, it's not only unobtainable but also a mediocre option compared to more recent alternatives. To be competitive, Astral Horizon requires the Adept form of the gun and also Adept Range, but despite the high range it can theoretically offer, its handling can be abysmal.	Season 10	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Surplus + Opening Shot (also good: Killing Wind)
Sojourner's Tale	Sojourner's Tale	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Xûr		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Moving Target) + Opening Shot ► Before Airborne Effectiveness was a thing, Legendary Slug Shotguns could dominate lobbies due to the airborne precision kills you could easily get. These days, it ain't as easy, and given the dominance of Exotic slugs such as Chaperone and Duality, Sojourner's Tale has fallen behind.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Moving Target) + Opening Shot
Fortissimo-11	Fortissimo-11	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Playlist: Vanguard		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Playlist: Vanguard Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target) ► Fortissimo-11 was the first Shotgun to roll with Adagio, a perk that allowed it to 1-shot Guardians to the body in PvP. Adagio has now been nerfed on Shotguns, which is why Fortissimo-11 fell in the pecking order. However, it's still a consistent Slug Shotgun that you should keep an eye on.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target)
Legend of Acrius	Legend of Acrius	Shotgun	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B	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 is the shadow of its former self. It still packs a decent punch, at least in DPS terms. But nowadays, it's vastly outclassed by rival Exotics in the Heavy slot such as The Lament, Xenophage, and even some legendary options.	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."
Retrofuturist	Retrofuturist	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Pulse Monitor) + Snapshot Sights ► Retrofuturist is a somewhat 'middle of the road' option. It only comes with two mainstay PvP shotgun perks in Quickdraw and Snapshot Sights. Pulse Monitor is another okay option as a substitute, but compared to other Lightweights and other Shotguns in the Energy slot, it fails to match them pound for pound.	Season 13	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Pulse Monitor) + Snapshot Sights
Reckless Endangerment	Reckless Endangerment	Shotgun	Lightweight	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	Exotic Kiosk		Average ❘ B	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Snapshot Sights ► As Season 16's ritual weapon, Reckless Endangerment comes with a set roll. And while this shotgun isn't the best of the best, it's still a very competitive option. With the ability to get an outrageous amount of handling, this set-rolled weapon is a good PVP choice for anyone not wanting to grind a specific weapon for ages.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Snapshot Sights
Prophet of Doom	Prophet of Doom	Shotgun	Precision	Special	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	C › Weak	Garden of Salvation Raid		Weak ❘ C	Garden of Salvation Raid Shadowkeep	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + One-Two Punch (also good: Rampage) ► Prophet of Doom doesn't have terrible base stats. However, its perk pool is severely limited compared to other Shotguns, making it fall short in PvP? And due to the current PvE meta, Prophet of Doom falls short in PvE too, because of its pellet-based nature.	Season 8	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + One-Two Punch (also good: Rampage)
Toil and Trouble	Toil and Trouble	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	World loot pool		Weak ❘ C	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Snapshot Sights (also good: Rampage) ► Toil and Trouble isn't a dreadful pick in the current PVP meta. However, compared to other shotguns, it simply can't compete. It's worse than the superior Aggressive alternatives, including Ragnhild and Found Verdict, and it now struggles against superior Shotgun archetypes such as Lightweight and Precision frames.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Snapshot Sights (also good: Rampage)
Bonechiller	Bonechiller	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Europa		Weak ❘ C	Europa Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + One For All (also good: Demolitionist) ► Bonechiller is in quite a difficult spot. In PvP, it has to compete with options like Duality, and in PvE, it contends with the likes of Heritage. This stiff competition, unfortunately, renders Bonechiller quite underwhelming to use. Combining this with its mediocre perk pool, we can't really recommend Bonechiller.	Season 12	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + One For All (also good: Demolitionist)
The Deicide	The Deicide	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	World loot pool		Weak ❘ C	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + One-Two Punch ► Similar to the One Small Step, The Deicide lives and dies by the One-Two Punch perk. One-Two Punch is mandatory to turn this Rapid-Fire shotgun into a usable weapon for PvE content, but even with the perfect perks, it struggles.	Season 14	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + One-Two Punch
One Small Step	One Small Step	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Moon		Weak ❘ C	Moon Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + One-Two Punch ► One Small Step is the only Rapid-Fire Frame Shotgun in the game that could ever be worth using, and that is because of one single perk: One-Two Punch. Without this perk, One Small Step becomes like all the other Rapid-Fire Shotguns: Mediocre at best.	Season 14	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + One-Two Punch
The Comedian	The Comedian	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	No	C › Weak	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Weak ❘ C	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel) ► The Comedian is truly a joke, no pun intended. It has a woefully bad perk pool and cannot compete in PvP or PvE. Its perks center around ad clear, which is not the role that Shotguns should fill at all. And even in its Adept form, The Comedian still falls short.	Season 15	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)
Dead Weight	Dead Weight	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Playlist: Gambit		Weak ❘ C	Playlist: Gambit Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Subsistence + Frenzy (also good: Demolitionist) ► Dead Weight could have all the perks in the world (and it nearly does, having 12 options per slot), but it would still struggle because Rapid-Fire frame shotguns are notoriously weak in both PvE and PvP right now. However, Dead Weight can fill a niche "ad clear" role with the right perk combination.	Season 17	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Subsistence + Frenzy (also good: Demolitionist)
Wishbringer	Wishbringer	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	D › Worst	Playlist: Crucible		Worst ❘ D	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot ► Wishbringer is another Rapid-Fire shotgun with perks that favor PvP. This immediately puts it into a very low bracket as Rapid-Fire shotguns have a terrible one-hit kill distance in PvP and suffer even more from the latest changes to the Special ammo economy.	Season 11	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot
IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3	IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	D › Worst	World loot pool		Worst ❘ D	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel) ► Long has it been since Rapid-Fire shotguns were part of the meta. And to make matters worst, the IKELOS_SG also suffers from a mediocre perk pool. Rapid-Fire frame Shotguns have been at the bottom of the barrel for a while now, and it will take a substantial buff to bring them up to par.	Season 11	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)
Mindbender's Ambition	Mindbender's Ambition	Shotgun	Aggressive	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Ongoing	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Ongoing...	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: To be confirmed... ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 18	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: To be confirmed...
The Inquisitor	The Inquisitor	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Arc	The Witch Queen	Yes	Ongoing	Trials of Osiris		Ongoing...	Trials of Osiris The Witch Queen	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 18	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug
No Reprieve	No Reprieve	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Special	Stasis	Season 18	Yes	Ongoing	Seasonal activity		Ongoing...	Seasonal activity Season 18	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 18	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Pinpoint Slug

These are the different Tier levels used for our list:

• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
• C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
• D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.

More Destiny 2 Tier lists:

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

Best Destiny 2 Shotguns in 2022

This section not only covers the shotguns currently in the game, it also tells you where you can find them.

PS: This guide covers every weapon source in Destiny 2 and most of the sources below are self-explanatory, but in doubt, you can always leave a comment below or ask away on our Discord server.

Overall, these are our Top 5 favorite Shotguns for PVE and PVP.

5. Without Remorse

Excels in PVP

The new Season of the Haunted Shotgun, Without Remorse, is arguably the best Legendary Shotgun in the game right now. Being able to roll with Threat Detector and Elemental Capacitor makes it blindingly fast and snappy to use.

Without Remorse also comes with the Origin Trait, Extrovert, which grants health when you get kills while surrounded by multiple enemies. This perk can be pretty helpful in PvP for super aggressive players. However, even if you are a more passive player, Without Remorse is still a powerful option as it can hit a very nice 72-range stat with incredible handling speed.

PVP God roll:

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

How to get it: Without Remorse can be acquired by completing Seasonal activities and focusing Umbral engrams.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Without Remorse	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Solar	Season 17	Yes	Special	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvP	Seasonal activity		Season 17	Season 17	Energy	Craftable

4. Duality

Excels in PVP

In a skilled player’s hands, Duality is one of the most potent options in the game. The most versatile Shotgun in the game right now, the Duality can map players in its Slug Shotgun form or surprise enemies with its pellet hipfire mode.

Duality also comes with the perk ‘On Black Wings’, which grants you more precision damage after getting a hipfire kill which can sometimes allow you to go on crazy sprees as your damage (and by extension) range increases. Duality also comes with an excellent catalyst, adding 2 to the magazine and increasing the range by a whopping 20, bumping it up to a Range stat of 95, which is incredible for a Shotgun as it allows you to surprise your opponent with how much further away you can kill from.

All in all, Duality is an excellent option and is worth the time to learn.

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.”

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

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Duality	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Kiosk		Beyond Light	Season 12	Energy	No

3. Lord of Wolves

Excels in PVP

Lord of Wolves is still a top-tier option. It still serves as that easy, cheesy option anyone can pick up and dominate lobbies.

In PvP, the Lord of Wolves is a strange blend between a Rapid-Fire shotgun and a Pulse Rifle. As it fires in bursts, it can sometimes fail to get that one hit kill, requiring a second burst. However, this allows it to kill from some crazy distances. Despite saying this, if you hit a couple of crits in that burst, you can destroy enemies at silly distances.

With the recent changes, Lord of Wolves has taken a hit. It received a direct nerf and has also been massively hit by the Special ammo economy nerf, especially for those long kill streaks, as Lord of Wolves can be quite demanding regarding ammo.

(There is currently a bug that allows for Lord of Wolves to bypass the ammo economy change when ‘Release the Wolves’ is active)

Exotic Perk: “Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage. Hold to swap to a longer, more powerful burst.”

How to get it: Lord of Wolves can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
	Lord of Wolves	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 4	Energy	No

2. The Chaperone

Best PVP Shotgun in Destiny 2

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, it more than makes up for its lack of ease of use with its undeniable strength. 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?
	The Chaperone	Shotgun	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Quest		Beyond Light	Season 4	Kinetic	No

1. Heritage

Best PVE Shotgun in Destiny 2

In PvE, Heritage is simply a cut above the rest. One of my favorite weapons, the Heritage can come with Reconstruction and Recombination, both of which exclusively appear on weapons from the Deep Stone Crypt raid.

Reconstruction reloads your magazine over time up to double its regular size. Simply put, your Heritage can get a crazy number of shots in the magazine, allowing you to unload into a boss. Recombination, which increases the damage of your first shot based on the number of kills you get when the weapon is holstered, is the perk at play. This perk allows Heritage to deal Heavy Weapon level damage for that first shot, allowing you to quickly take down a beefy target like a miniboss or a champion.

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

PVE God roll:

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

How to get it: Heritage can be acquired by completing 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?
	Heritage	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Beyond Light	Season 12	Kinetic	Craftable

Shotguns in PVP: Lethality & TTK

TTK is very important in PVP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. But this only applies to primary weapons. When choosing a Special weapon to bring to the Crucible, you’ll want a weapon that can consistently get you a one-hit kill. Shotguns are nowhere as consistent as they used to be, mainly due to the many nerfs they have received this year.

Still, shotguns remain a top choice for PvP because they are somewhat easy to use and remain excellent for cleanups.

Shotguns in PVE: DPS

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

This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2.

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Shotgun	Exotic	30,469	83,704	209,261	With Catalyst		The Fourth Horseman	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	25,232	25,232	247,730	-		Legend of Acrius	Buffed	Heavy
	Shotgun	Exotic	22,382	29,320	175,920	With "Roadborne" active		The Chaperone	Same	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	17,805	23,200	231,360	With "Release the Wolves"		Lord of Wolves	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	15,955	15,025	249,642	When aiming down sights		Duality	Same	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	15,862	16,451	172,732	After debuff		Tractor Cannon	Same	Heavy
	Shotgun	Precision Slug	11,894	12,983	143,808	-		Heritage	Nerfed	Special
	Shotgun	Lightweight	13,168	15,158	136,418	-		Wastelander M5	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	12,282	18,104	162,938	-		Dead Weight	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Aggressive	11,527	12,651	207,011	-		Found Verdict	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Precision	10,891	12,826	213,101	-		Matador 64	Buffed	Special

Endgame content

Shotguns certainly offer decent DPS numbers, especially after the recent 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). There are players that 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.

Are Shotguns Meta?

How do Shotguns compare, in general, with other Special weapons? Are shotguns good in Destiny 2?

The current Meta for PVE

So, are shotguns good in Destiny 2 PVE? This table summarizes how the several primary weapon types rank against each other in PVE:

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Shotguns overall are pretty good right now. There are a good number of Pellet and Slug shotguns that can be used in most content, and shotguns are also an integral part of many melee builds thanks to the shotgun-exclusive '1-2 Punch' perk. However, their severe lack of range makes them a risky pick for high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Pinpoint Slug - Example: Heritage	PVE Specials
Grenade Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Grenade Launchers are brilliant right now. They are versatile and are arguably the best pick in almost all areas. They can have excellent add control through Blinding Grenades or the Wave Frame archetype, and they can also deal good boss damage in a 'hotswap' build with Spike Grenades. Simply put, having a strong arsenal of Grenade Launchers is something you should definitely prioritize if you're looking to get into high-level content. ► All Breach Grenade Launchers share the same archetype	PVE Specials
Sniper Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C		► Sniper Rifles are not in a great place right now. They are completely outclassed by Linear Fusion Rifles in terms of DPS and are also lacking at ad clear/major killing by Shotguns and Grenade Launchers. Snipers are also quite difficult to use as they are precision-based weapons. They can be used as a backup DPS weapon if you don't have access to an Arbalest, for example, but right now, they are too niche to recomment. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Succession	PVE Specials
Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Fusion Rifles are pretty good right now. They have slightly more range than Shotguns, making them a safer pick in high-level content, however, they lack a top-tier perk such as '1-2 Punch' to rise to S-tier status. Still, they remain a consistent pick for mid to high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Cartesian Coordinate	PVE Specials
Glaives	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Glaives require a bit of getting used to, but when you do, they can grant you crazy levels of damage resistance. However, they are quite a risky pick, especially if you haven't learned how to master them first. Glaives are also one-dimensional. There is basically no reason to use their melee attack, which is unfortunate as that is probably the most fun part of the Glaives. ► All Glaives share the same archetype	PVE Specials
Linear Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► There are only two Linear Fusion Rifles that use Special ammo, but when one of them is arguably the strongest weapon in the game, they have to be ranked S tier. Arbalest is an absolute must-have if you want to take endgame content seriously. Lorentz Driver is an okay option, but Arbalest is completely overpowered and is an excellent pick for whatever content you throw at it.	PVE Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Trace Rifles are a strange pick. Legendary Trace Rifles are a very niche pick right now, but Exotic trace Rifles are all pretty good. Wavesplitter can do well with certain builds, and Divinity is always a good pick, even despite the nerfs.	PVE Specials

The current Meta for PVP

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

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Shotguns have been hit by several nerfs and are no longer the undisputed go-to short-range option. They have lost their 'mapping' potential and even struggle to pick up kills at close range due to inconsistencies. However, Shotguns remain the easiest Special weapons in the game to pick up and slay out with, so for that reason, it still sits comfortably in the A tier. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (80 RPM)- Example: Without Remorse	PVP Specials
Sniper Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Snipers have benefitted massively from the 'Anti-Flinch' changes that have been added with Season of the Haunted. Leaning into high Stability and equipping Sniper Unflinching Mods can allow you to still land the headshot while getting shot by multiple people. They do have a little bit of a learning curve, but if you become skilled with a Sniper, you can be nearly unstoppable. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (90 RPM)- Example: Beloved	PVP Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Trace Rifles are quite a niche pick and will fall short as a competitive option in most players' hands. Even once you learn to master Trace Rifles, you'll be better off with a Special weapon that can provide a one-hit-kill t rather than one that can be out-dueled by a Primary weapon. ► All Archetypes are 1000 RPM - Best Option: Coldheart	PVP Specials
Glaives	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Glaives received a buff going into Season of the Haunted, and have also benefitted from the Special Ammo changes that also launched with Season 17. Simply hitting a single shot will chunk your opponent for 131 damage, and will also provide energy for your Shield which is a chunky 75% damage resist. Glaives require mastery of a certain playstyle, but once you get it down, you can dominate lobbies with ease. ► All Glaives share the same archetype	PVP Specials
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Fusion Rifles have seen buff after buff, and with Season of the Haunted, they finally saw a slight nerf. However, this change hasn't altered the state of Fusion Rifles enough to consider them noticeably weaker than before. They are able to cover the close-medium range excellently and a good Fusion Rifle player can be incredibly hard to beat. ► Best Archetype: Precision (780ms Charge Time) - Example: Main Ingredient	PVP Specials
Grenade Launchers	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Grenade Launchers remain the most 'annoying' option in PvP. The ability to flush players out from cover is not lost on players in PvP, and being able to 1-hit kill with certain rolls allows Grenade Launchers to be a highly tactical, but also lethal option. They also serve as an excellent 'hot-swap' choice to allow for easy cleanups with your Primary weapon. ► Best Archetype: Wave Frame - Example: Dead Messenger	PVP Specials

Your turn

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