Best Sidearms in Destiny 2: Tier List (Heresy Meta)

Sidearms are some of the most slept-on weapons in Destiny 2. Many Guardians are convinced that sidearms are too limited in range, and they see no reason to use one instead of a Pulse rifle or SMG. But the truth is, Sidearms have the highest damage output in the entire game, and that applies to PvP and PvE.

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

Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.

Top Tier Sidearms (Episode 3)

These are the best Exotic and Legendary sidearms right now:

Item	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
Drang (Baroque)	Drang (Baroque) Sidearm	Sidearm	Together Forever	Primary	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	S › Best	Presage		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Presage Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Together Forever PvE God Roll: Wellspring + Incandescent PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Swashbuckler) + Rampage ► One of the strongest sidearms in the game, Drang (Baroque), is back and has excellent rolls for every part of the game. Incandescent alone makes it great for PvE (although not as good as CALUS Mini-Tool), and it's high zoom stat and well-rounded first column make it a good PvP pick too.	Season 17	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Together Forever PvE God Roll: Wellspring + Incandescent PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Swashbuckler) + Rampage	Top-tier
Heliocentric QSc	Heliocentric QSc Sidearm	Sidearm	Lightweight	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Lost Sector		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Lost Sector Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Heal Clip + Incadescent (also good: Surrounded) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Kill Clip (also good: Precision Instrument) ► A sidearm for all content, Heliocentric is a world drop worth farming for. Even non-sidearm enjoyers will get a kick out of this. Solid stats, solid perks, solid synergy, and target farmable? What more could you want?	Season 22	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Heal Clip + Incadescent (also good: Surrounded) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Kill Clip (also good: Precision Instrument)	Top-tier
The Call	The Call Sidearm	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Special	Strand	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	The Pale Heart		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Lead from Gold (also good: Demolitionist) + One for All (also good: Desperate Measures) ► In PvE, The Call is outstanding. While its offerings mostly coincide with Indebted Kindness, its unique Strand element allows it to roll with more unique options as well. Regardless, The Call’s outstanding archetype and well-rounded perk pool are sure to make the weapon a PvE staple.	The Final Shape	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Lead from Gold (also good: Demolitionist) + One for All (also good: Desperate Measures)	Top-tier
Tinasha's Mastery	Tinasha's Mastery Sidearm	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Iron Banner		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Air Trigger (also good: Loose Change) + Chill Clip (also good: Desperate Measures) ► Like all Rocket Sidearm, this weapon performs extremely well in PvE. On top of that, as a Stasis weapon, it features the coveted Chill Clip perk. Also, it is the only Rocket Sidearm with the Air Trigger perk, which grants a Reload Speed buff while airborne and a free Reserve mod. Overall, it is best to ignore this weapon for PvP.	Episode 2	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Air Trigger (also good: Loose Change) + Chill Clip (also good: Desperate Measures)	Top-tier
Lotus-Eater	Lotus-Eater Sidearm	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Feeding Frenzy or Reconstruction) + Destabilizing Rounds ► Overall, Lotus-Eater will be a monster inside of PvE thanks to the current state of Rocket Sidearms, as well as the buffs to Destabilizing Rounds. In PvP, it won’t make many waves due to Rocket Sidearms not being as strong there.	Episode 3	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Feeding Frenzy or Reconstruction) + Destabilizing Rounds	Top-tier
Forerunner	Forerunner Sidearm	Sidearm	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Quest		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires full auto with increased rate of fire. Deals increased precision damage to unshielded targets. Tapping the trigger gives it less recoil and improves accuracy." ► Forerunner is incredibly powerful in both PvE and PvP. Based on usage, Forerunner doesn't seem that good, but in PvP, it is incredibly frustrating to play against. In PvE, it can easily take care of high-priority enemies like Tormentors, making it an outstanding option all-around.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires full auto with increased rate of fire. Deals increased precision damage to unshielded targets. Tapping the trigger gives it less recoil and improves accuracy."	Top-tier
Forgiveness	Forgiveness Sidearm	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Arc	The Final Shape	Yes	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Demolitionist + Adrenaline Junkie PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Adrenaline Junkie ► The first sidearm with an Adept variant; many have been waiting for something like it. Sadly, it only partially lived up to expectations. Its base stats are easily best in class and can benefit even more from Adept mods, giving it a great feel at base. However, its perks are fairly niche for PvP, making a lot of players pass on this weapon for now.	Season 17	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Demolitionist + Adrenaline Junkie PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Adrenaline Junkie	Top-tier
Boudica-C	Boudica-C Sidearm	Sidearm	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Gunsmith		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Gunsmith Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Pugilist (also good: Threat Detector) + Swashbuckler PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Swashbuckler (also good: Multikill Clip) ► For a precision frame, Boudica outshines all others. While this world drop sidearm might be hard to find, the rolls on this make it the best 260 RPM out there right now, so it is indeed worth your time.	Season 18	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Pugilist (also good: Threat Detector) + Swashbuckler PvP God Roll: Threat Detector + Swashbuckler (also good: Multikill Clip)	Top-tier
Final Warning	Final Warning Sidearm	Sidearm	Exotic	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Quest		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest Lightfall	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Holding down the trigger marks targets and loads multiple bullets, which fire in a burst with increased stability on trigger release. Hitting a marked target with a fully charged burst will unravel them. Hipfiring Projectiles will track marked targets and deal increased body shot damage. Aiming Projectiles have greatly increased velocity and deal extra critical hit damage." ► Final Warning is a bit of a gimmick weapon, but it definitely has its merits. In PvP, it can be incredibly frustrating to play against, but the weapon does have a noticeable skill curve to be used effectively against good players. In PvE, with the catalyst, Final Warning can do incredible damage and burst Majors, or be a good swap weapon when out of ammo.	Season 20	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Holding down the trigger marks targets and loads multiple bullets, which fire in a burst with increased stability on trigger release. Hitting a marked target with a fully charged burst will unravel them. Hipfiring Projectiles will track marked targets and deal increased body shot damage. Aiming Projectiles have greatly increased velocity and deal extra critical hit damage."	Top-tier
Insurmountable	Insurmountable Sidearm	Sidearm	Precision	Primary	Void	Episode 2: Revenant	Yes	A › Strong	Revenant Activities		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Revenant Activities Episode 2: Revenant	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Repulsor Brace) + Desperate Measures (also good: One for All or Destabilizing Rounds PvP God Roll: To the Pain (also good: Lone Wolf) + Closing Time ► While it might not be as strong as other sidearms, Insurmountable is still powerful in its own right. Not only does it have a solid grenade build combo, but with Destabilizing Rounds being buffed, you also have a solid Void synergy combo too!	Episode 2	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Repulsor Brace) + Desperate Measures (also good: One for All or Destabilizing Rounds PvP God Roll: To the Pain (also good: Lone Wolf) + Closing Time	Top-tier
Anonymous Autum	Anonymous Autum Sidearm	Sidearm	Lightweight	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Playlist: Crucible		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Eddy Current + Voltshot or Frenzy PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf + Precision Instrument or Kill Clip ► Reprised with an extremely powerful perk pool, Anonymous Autmn is worth the Crucible grind. Rolling with both Arc and general perks, this sidearm has a bit of everything for everyone.	Episode 2	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Roll: Eddy Current + Voltshot or Frenzy PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf + Precision Instrument or Kill Clip	Top-tier
Division	Division Sidearm	Sidearm	Heavy Burst	Primary	Arc	Episode 3: Heretic	Yes	A › Strong	Heretical Activities		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Heretical Activities Episode 3: Heretic	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Eddy Current + Voltshot PvP God Roll: To the Pain + Sword Logic ► While non-rocket sidearms have been overshadowed as of recent, Division tries its best to stand out among other new primary weapons. To this end, Divison does excel in casual activities, but quickly falls flat when entering more competitive environments.	Episode 3	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Eddy Current + Voltshot PvP God Roll: To the Pain + Sword Logic	Top-tier
Cryosthesia 77K	Cryosthesia 77K Sidearm	Sidearm	Exotic	Primary	Stasis	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Kiosk Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to fire a Charged Shot when Liquid Cooling is active. Final blows with this weapon enable a Charged Shot for a short duration. Targets hit by this shot are instantly frozen." ► Cryosthesia is an incredibly frustrating weapon to play against in the Crucible, but it has a hard time competing with the top meta picks in terms of raw duelling potential. This sidearm is definitely powerful, but there are better options out there.	Season 14	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to fire a Charged Shot when Liquid Cooling is active. Final blows with this weapon enable a Charged Shot for a short duration. Targets hit by this shot are instantly frozen."	Top-tier
Peacebond	Peacebond Sidearm	Sidearm	Adaptive	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	No	A › Strong	Iron Banner		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Headstone (also good: Subsistence) + Rimestealer or Frenzy (also good: Desperate Measures) ► Returning with a refreshed perk pool, Peacebond aims to deliver on the hype it once had. Putting Headstone in column 3 makes this a cut above the rest and opens column 4 for damage perks that let this sidearm shine.	Season 15	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Headstone (also good: Subsistence) + Rimestealer or Frenzy (also good: Desperate Measures)	Top-tier
Punching Out	Punching Out Sidearm	Sidearm	SUROS Rapid-Fire	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Vanguard Focusing		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Vanguard Focusing Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: SUROS Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Over Flow + Kill Clip ► Punching Out is a strong sidearm that can truly excel with the right roll. For instance, Over Flow + Kill Clip on this full Auto Suros Sidearm can make it a beast in PvE (and PvP to some extent).	Season 15	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: SUROS Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Over Flow + Kill Clip	Top-tier
Brigand's Law	Brigand's Law Sidearm	Sidearm	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Xûr		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Threat Detector + Voltshot (also good: Surrounded) ► Brigand's Law is one of the best primaries in the game, and it's easy to see why. Voltshot pairs very nicely with any Arc build, Threat Detector and Surrounded will almost always be active, and the origin trait lets it punch out at range!	Season 18	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Threat Detector + Voltshot (also good: Surrounded)	Top-tier
Indebted Kindness	Indebted Kindness Sidearm	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Special	Arc	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	A › Strong	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon Lightfall Dungeon Key	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Beacon Rounds (also good: Impulse Amplifier) + Voltshot (also good: Adagio) ► Dropping from Warlord's Ruin, Indebted Kindess is the hot weapon to farm for. With the right roll, this goofy little sidearm can actually be the highest DPS special weapon in the game thanks to Adagio or Surrounded. It can even turn into a different damage type thanks to Permeability.	Season 23	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Beacon Rounds (also good: Impulse Amplifier) + Voltshot (also good: Adagio)	Top-tier
Buried Bloodline	Buried Bloodline Sidearm	Sidearm	Exotic	Special	Void	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	A › Strong	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon Lightfall Dungeon Key	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires two tracking bolts that leech health from the target. Rapid final blows with this weapon grant Devour to the wielder." ► Buried Bloodline is a very unique and fun exotic to use. It allows you to obtain Devour on non-void subclasses, which is immensely strong and works brilliantly with builds that are all about spamming Grenades as much as possible.	Season 23	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Fires two tracking bolts that leech health from the target. Rapid final blows with this weapon grant Devour to the wielder."	Top-tier
Aberrant Action	Aberrant Action Sidearm	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Special	Solar	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	A › Strong	Echoes Activities		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Heal Clip (also good: Beacon Rounds) + Incandescent (also good: Demolitionist) ► Without Lead from Gold, many high-end PvE players will naturally opt for Aberrant Action’s predecessors. However, its ability to roll with Solar-related perks can’t be understated, and this is the primary draw to the weapon.	The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted PvE God Roll: Heal Clip (also good: Beacon Rounds) + Incandescent (also good: Demolitionist)	Top-tier
Rat King	Rat King Sidearm	Sidearm	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility." ► The change to Rat King's recoil has massively boosted its strength in PvP. It's feels like an absolute laser beam and is amazing for 1v3 situations thanks to its invisibility and regen capabilities.	Season 1	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility."	Top-tier
Liminal Vigil	Liminal Vigil Sidearm	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Stasis	Witch Queen Dungeon Key	Yes	A › Strong	Spire of the Watcher Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Spire of the Watcher Dungeon Episode 3: Heretic	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvP God Rolls: Tap the Trigger + Desperado (also good: Surrounded) ► The only non-Pulse rifle to get Desperado, Liminal Vigil is a powerhouse of a sidearm. Tap the Trigger will always be active, giving you a significant advantage over others, while Desperado will let you lower the already insane TTK even more. Pair it with a sniper to really wreck the house.	Season 19	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvP God Rolls: Tap the Trigger + Desperado (also good: Surrounded)	Top-tier
Senuna SI6	Senuna SI6 Sidearm	Sidearm	Omolon Adaptive	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Lost Sector		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Lost Sector Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Omolon Adaptive PvP God Rolls: Under Pressue + Headseaker ► Senuna has some stiff competition in its slot, but Headseeker's recent buff has let it shine. While it has some decent PvE rolls too, this is easily one of the best PvP sidearms out there.	Season 20	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Omolon Adaptive PvP God Rolls: Under Pressue + Headseaker	Top-tier
Drang	Drang Sidearm	Sidearm	Adaptive	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Gunsmith		Strong ❘ A	Gunsmith Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP Roll: Moving Target + Rangefinder ► An extremely easy weapon to get straight from the Gunsmith, you will be better off chasing the Drang (Baroque) version of this weapon.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP Roll: Moving Target + Rangefinder	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Sidearms: Complete List

Art	Name	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?
	Buried Bloodline	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Void	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	Special	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	No	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Season 23	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Cryosthesia 77K	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Stasis	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Primary	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	No	Beyond Light Pack	Season 14	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Devil's Ruin	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Solar	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	Primary	Solar	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Shadowkeep Pack	Season 9	Energy	No
	Final Warning	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Primary	Strand	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest	No	Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Forerunner	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest	No	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Rat King	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Traveler's Chosen	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Shadowkeep Pack	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	Trespasser	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Arc	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Arc	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Witch Queen	Season 17	Energy	No
	A Swift Verdict	Sidearm	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	B › Average	PvP	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	Aberrant Action	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Legendary	Special	Solar	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	Special	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Echoes Activities	Yes	Episode 1: Echoes	The Final Shape	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Allied Demand	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvP	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	No
	Anonymous Autum	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 2	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Boudica-C	Sidearm	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Brass Attacks	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Breachlight	Sidearm	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	Primary	Strand	B › Average	-	Dawn Engrams	No	Episode 1: Echoes	The Final Shape	Kinetic	No
	Brigand's Law	Sidearm	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Xûr	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Buzzard	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	No		Kinetic Tremors
	Controlling Vision	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	The Final Shape	Kinetic	No
	Division	Sidearm	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Episode 3: Heretic	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Heretical Activities	No	Episode 3: Heretic	Episode 3	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Drang	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	-	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Drang (Baroque)	Sidearm	Together Forever	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Primary	Solar	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Presage	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 17	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Empirical Evidence	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvE	Throne World	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	Craftable
	Enigma's Draw	Sidearm	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Kinetic	No
	Farewell	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Fioritura-59	Sidearm	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 19	Energy	No		Repulsor Brace
	Forgiveness	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Arc	The Final Shape	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	The Final Shape	Season 17	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Heliocentric QSc	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	High Albedo	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	Europa	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Kinetic	No
	Indebted Kindness	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Legendary	Special	Arc	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	Special	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	No	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Season 23	Energy	No	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Insurmountable	Sidearm	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	Episode 2: Revenant	Yes	Primary	Void	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Revenant Activities	No	Episode 2: Revenant	Episode 2	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Last Dance	Sidearm	Omolon Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No
	Liminal Vigil	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Witch Queen Dungeon Key	Yes	Primary	Stasis	A › Strong	PvP	Spire of the Watcher Dungeon	No	Episode 3: Heretic	Season 19	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Lonesome	Sidearm	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	Lotus-Eater	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	S › Best	PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 3	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Mykel's Reverence	Sidearm	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Primary	Strand	B › Average	PvE	Root of Nightmares Raid	Yes	Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	Craftable
	Peacebond	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Punching Out	Sidearm	SUROS Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Vanguard Focusing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Redback-5si	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	C › Weak	-	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No
	Senuna SI6	Sidearm	Omolon Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	A › Strong	PvP	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Seventh Seraph SI-2	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	B › Average	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Energy	No
	Spoiler Alert	Sidearm	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No
	The Call	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Legendary	Special	Strand	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Strand	S › Best	PvE	The Pale Heart	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	The Fool's Remedy	Sidearm	SUROS Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Solar	B › Average	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No
	The Keening	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	B › Average	PvE	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	The Vision	Sidearm	Omolon Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	C › Weak	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	Tinasha's Mastery	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	S › Best	PvE	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 2	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

Tier Ranks used for our list:

• S+ Tier – Meta: Weapons so good they singlehandedly shifted the current meta
• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Either decent weapons or weapons that fit a very specific niche/use case.
• C Tier – Weak: Mediocre weapons that are easily outclassed by the competition.
• D Tier – Worst: Weapons that don’t have much to offer and don’t deserve your attention.

Best D2 Sidearms Today

If you’re prepared to only chase the best of the best, these are the 5 absolute best sidearms in the game right now:

5. Drang (Baroque)

Excels in PvP

One of the strongest sidearms in the game, Drang (Baroque), is back and has excellent rolls for every part of the game. Incandescent alone makes it great for PvE (although not as good as CALUS Mini-Tool), and it’s high zoom stat and well-rounded first column make it a good PvP pick too.

• PvE God roll: Wellspring + Incandescent
• PvP God roll: Moving Target + Rampage

How to get it: Drang (Baroque) can be acquired from the Presage Exotic Mission.

Name: Drang (Baroque)

Type: Sidearm Archetype: Together Forever

Ammo: Primary Element: Solar

Craftable: Yes Released: Season 17

Source: Presage Requires: Beyond Light Pack

4. Lotus-Eater

Excels in PvE

Overall, Lotus-Eater will be a monster inside of PvE thanks to the current state of Rocket Sidearms, as well as the buffs to Destabilizing Rounds. In PvP, it won’t make many waves due to Rocket Sidearms not being as strong there. These are the top Lotus-Eater God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Feeding Frenzy or Reconstruction) + Destabilizing Rounds

How to get it: Lotus-Eater is a Nightfall weapon.

Name: Lotus-Eater

Type: Sidearm Archetype: Rocket-Assisted

Ammo: Special Element: Void

Craftable: No Released: Episode 3

Source: Nightfall: The Ordeals Requires: Free-to-Play

3. Tinasha’s Mastery

Excels in PvE

Like all Rocket Sidearm, this weapon performs extremely well in PvE. On top of that, as a Stasis weapon, it features the coveted Chill Clip perk. Also, it is the only Rocket Sidearm with the Air Trigger perk, which grants a Reload Speed buff while airborne and a free Reserve mod. Overall, it is best to ignore this weapon for PvP. These are the top Tinasha’s Mastery God Rolls:

• PvE God roll:Air Trigger (also good: Loose Change) + Chill Clip (also good: Desperate Measures)

How to get it: Tinasha’s Mastery is an Iron Banner weapon.

Name: Tinasha's Mastery

Type: Sidearm Archetype: Rocket-Assisted

Ammo: Special Element: Stasis

Craftable: No Released: Episode 2

Source: Iron Banner Requires: Free-to-Play

2. Heliocentric QSc

Excels in PvE and PvP

A sidearm for all content, Heliocentric is a world drop worth farming for. Even non-sidearm enjoyers will get a kick out of this. Solid stats, solid perks, solid synergy, and target farmable? What more could you want? These are the top Heliocentric QSc God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Heal Clip + Incandescent (also good: Surrounded)
• PvP God roll: Moving Target + Kill Clip (also good: Precision Instrument)

How to get it: Heliocentric QSc can be acquired from Legend/Expert Lost Sectors.

Name: Heliocentric QSc

Type: Sidearm Archetype: Lightweight

Ammo: Primary Element: Solar

Craftable: No Released: Season 22

Source: Lost Sector Requires: Free-to-Play

1. The Call

Excels in PvE

In PvE, The Call is outstanding. While its offerings mostly coincide with Indebted Kindness, its unique Strand element allows it to roll with more unique options as well. Regardless, The Call’s outstanding archetype and well-rounded perk pool are sure to make the weapon a PvE staple. These are the top The Call God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Lead from Gold (also good: Demolitionist) + One for All (also good: Desperate Measures)

How to get it: The Call is a Pale Heart Weapon that can be acquired within the Pale Heart destination.

Name: The Call	Type: Sidearm Archetype: Rocket-Assisted	Ammo: Special Element: Strand	Craftable: Yes Released: The Final Shape	Source: The Pale Heart Requires: The Final Shape
Name: Refusal of the Call	Type: Glaive Archetype: Adaptive	Ammo: Special Element: Strand	Craftable: No Released: Episode 3	Source: Heresy Activities Requires: Episode 3: Heretic

Sidearms and the Meta

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

The PvE Meta

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Pulse Rifles are in a great place right now. They offer good range and pretty decent damage, allowing you to take down some beefier targets nicely. There are also some excellent pulses in the game right now, like Insidious, Sacred Provenance, or New Purpose. Unfortunately, High-Impact and Aggressive frames are the only archetypes worth your time, as the others rely on Exotic Perks or god rolls to compete. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (450 RPM) - Example: Insidious	PVE Primaries
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	PVE Primaries
Auto Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Auto Rifles are in a good place right now, options like Khvostov are incredibly potent, and utility picks such as No Hesitation make Auto Rifles a very solid option for those wanting to use a good Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 76-0X	PVE Primaries
Combat Bows	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Bows are a high-damage, high-range option for players who prefer to keep their distance. The main issue with bows is that they are slow at clearing ads (outside of Trinity Ghoul). and when you have to deal with ads up close, bows can massively struggle. However, their solid range and excellent damage make them a strong option. ► Best Archetype: Precision - Example: Under Your Skin	PVE Primaries
Submachine Guns	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► SMGs are not so hot anymore, due to the buffs to other weapon archetypes, as well as the prevalence of ability usage at close range, there is little space for SMGs to compete these days. ►Best Archetype- Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven	PVE Primaries
Scout Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	PVE Primaries
Sidearms	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Aside from a few select sidearms with certain perks, there really isn't much of a reason to use Sidearms. They have slightly higher damage numbers than SMGs, but typically come with significantly less range. Outside of top-tier weapons like a god-roll Brigand's Law or High Albedo, there is no real reason to run a sidearm. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (491 RPM) - Example: High Albedo	PVE Primaries

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

The PvP Meta

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Hand Cannons feel great right now and can deal with all the other meta options, provided they are in the hands of a skilled player. They are unbelievably forgiving in terms of aim-assist and can compete at solid ranges. Hand Cannons are the jack of all trades, and while they may not dominate up close or far away, they are incredibly scary to face in a mid-range duel. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Igneous Hammer	PVP Primaries
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Pulse Rifles have seen a resurgence in the past few seasons, with constant buffs to all types of Pulse Rifles. It is hard not to find success with one due to the high-flinch potential of Rapid-Fire Pulses or the lethal time-to-kill of High-Impact Pulses. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (340 RPM) - Example: The Messenger	PVP Primaries
Auto Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Auto Rifles are remarkably easy to use. Options like Khvostov or The Summoner both excel at medium range, and if you can close the gap on Pulse Rifles, you can easily take advantage of the high flinch factor and solid time-to-kill that Auto Rifles have. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 7G-0X	PVP Primaries
Sidearms	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Sidearms have lost their place at the top of the meta, but they remain a solid pick, especially for players using a Controller, as they inherently have manageable stability with a rapid time-to-kill. Honestly, the main reason they've lost their place at the top is due to how powerful SMGs are right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (325 RPM) - Example: Forgiveness	PVP Primaries
Submachine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► SMGs have lost a little bit of power as aggressive play isn't as prevalent as it once was, but you can definitely still succeed with certain SMGs, especially on close-range maps. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (720 RPM) - Example: Unending Tempest	PVP Primaries
Combat Bows	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Bows are incredibly unique. They have a remarkably slow time to kill, however, this isn't where Bows shine. Hotswap builds with bows can be incredibly potent and don't require much learning either. Bows also provide incredible value when teamshooting opponents. Despite this, Bows on their own are quite mediocre and need something behind them to really shine. ► Best Archetype: Precision (Slower Draw Time) - Example: Strident Whistle	PVP Primaries
Scout Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Scout Rifles are struggling right now. In most situations, the maps are too small to benefit the long range of a Scout rifle. An Aggressive or High-Impact Pulse Rifle will better serve your needs. Plus, Scout Rifles are abysmal up close. There are one or two outliers that shine but, on the whole, Scout Rifles are in a weak spot. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (260 RPM) - Example: Fang of Ir Yût	PVP Primaries

Remember that when it comes to PvP, TTK is perhaps the most important factor. As you know, the lower the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2. That said, TTK is only half of the picture. With limited range as a downside but extremely high burst damage as an upside, Sidearms can wreak havoc in PvP, provided you are willing to get close and personal.

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Special and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Glaives and Best Destiny 2 Rocket launchers, too.

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