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

Sidearms are some of the most slept on weapons in Destiny 2. Many Guardians are convinced that sidearms have low range and limited range and they see no reason to use one instead of a hand cannon or Pulse rifle.

But the truth is, Sidearms may have limited range but they generally have the highest damage output in the entire game, and that applies to PvP and PvE.

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

Destiny 2 Sidearms Tier list

The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary Sidearm 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:

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:

Best Destiny 2 Sidearms in 2022

This section not only covers the top Sniper Rifles 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 Sniper Rifles for PvE and PvP.

 

5. Forerunner

Excels in PVP

One of this writer’s personal favorite Exotics, the Forerunner is an exotic anyone familiar with the Halo Magnum will easily fall in love with. The Forerunner, like Sidearms in Destiny 1, uses Special ammo and packs quite a serious punch. Meant to be hip-fired for up close combat, this sidearm can also zoom in and pick off far away targets. PVP or PVE players will both quickly discover what an incredible sidearm the Forerunner can be in the right hands.

Forerunner will deal extra damage to unshielded enemies on precision hits. Regular enemies, Majors, even stunned Champions fall quickly as a result. Even Guardians can get killed in three precision hits up close or from across the map. If you haven’t completed the quest for this exotic it is strongly recommended that you do so. You won’t regret it.

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.”

How to get it: Forerunner can be acquired by completing an Exotic quest.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Forerunner	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Quest		Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

 

4. Peacebond

Excels in PvE

The Peacebond is an Iron Banner sidearm and Destiny’s first that deals Stasis damage. It fires a three-shot burst and is incredibly deadly in both PVE and PVP. Peacebond is also the only gun on this list that can roll with the perk Headstone, which will spawn a Stasis Crystal upon a precision kill. If you’re looking for a sidearm that can lend to any Stasis build this is the one for you.

Peacebond has a nice following in the Crucible as it shoots far and feels very easy to use. Be sure to pick one up during Iron Banner week and give it a try.

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Rangefinder
• Perk 2: Headstone (also good: Subsistence, Swashbuckler, Snapshot Sights)

How to get it: Peacebond can be acquired by completing Iron Banner matches and turning in Iron Banner tokens.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Peacebond	Sidearm	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Stasis	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

 

3. Drang (Baroque)

Best PvE Sidearm in Destiny 2

Once a reward from Calus in the Menagerie, Drang (Baroque) has returned with the Leviathan in Season of the Haunted. And this time, it’s craftable!  Like the original Drang, this version still pairs with the exotic hand cannon Strum as well, reloading it when kills with Drang (Baroque) are made and vice versa. Easy to use and with great base stats you’ll quickly see why this sidearm is so popular once you pick it up.

Drang (Baroque) stands out with a base good range, aim assist, and higher zoom stat than most sidearms. The gunplay Drang (Baroque) sports on top of those values make it an absolute blast to use in PVP or PVE.

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Well-Rounded
• Perk 2: Incandescent (also good: Rampage, Swashbuckler)

How to get it: Drang (Baroque) is a Haunted weapon that can be acquired at the Derelict Leviathan.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Drang (Baroque)	Sidearm	Together Forever	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Derelict Leviathan		Free-to-Play	Season 17	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier

 

2. Forgiveness

Best PvP Sidearm in Destiny 2

Forgiveness is a recent addition to the Destiny 2 loot pool being brought in for Trials of Osiris during Season of the Haunted.  This gun is a 2-shot burst and falls into the Aggressive archetype. Many are calling it the new Breachlight, a popular sidearm now sunset. But most agree that Forgiveness is better due to its potential perk package. This writer agrees.

Forgiveness is also a forgiving (no pun intended) sidearm at its base. High base range, Aim Assist, and Airborne Effectiveness all lend themselves to giving the Guardian pulling the trigger a strong sense of comfort and stability. If you’re brave enough to go into Trials of Osiris and come out with one of these, make sure you don’t overlook it!

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Demolitionist
• Perk 2: Rapid Hit

How to get it: Forgiveness can be acquired via Trials of Osiris engrams and rank ups.

Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Forgiveness	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Lightfall	Yes	Primary	Arc	Strong ❘ A	-	Trials of Osiris		Lightfall	Season 17	Energy	No	Top-tier

 

1. Traveler’s Chosen

Excels in PvE and PvP

Traveler’s Chosen was once a broken gun given at the start of Destiny 2 during the fall of the tower.  Since then it has come back, and better than ever, as an exotic weapon. When you get a kill with Traveler’s Chosen you gain a stack of a buff called “Gathering Light.” You gain three stacks per Guardian kill in PVP. With each stack gained your handling, target acquisition, and reload speed will all increase. Getting just three stacks can take this weapon to the top, but gaining more than three will take this sidearm to Number 1 in any build. It doesn’t stop there though! At any time you can hold your reload button and consume the stacks of Gathering Light to replenish your abilities- more stacks giving more energy.

For PVP this is probably the best sidearm period. In PVE you can use Traveler’s Chosen to supplement any ability build and over power it.

Exotic Perk: “Final blows grant stacks of Gathering Light. Consuming stacks, grant melee, grenade, and class ability energy based on the number of stacks. Each stack of Gathering Light improves this weapon’s reload, handling, and target acquisition.”

How to get it: Traveler’s Chosen 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?	Best of?	Top Perk?
	Traveler's Chosen	Sidearm	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Shadowkeep	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk		Shadowkeep	Season 11	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

Sidearms in PvP: Lethality & TTK

TTK is particularly important in PvP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. You can read all about it in our TTK guide below.

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.

Sidearms 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.

Are Sidearms Meta?

How do Sidearms compare, in general, with other Primary weapons? Are they good in Destiny 2?

The current Meta for PvE

This table summarizes how the several Primary weapon types rank against each other in PvE:

The current Meta for PvP

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

Your turn

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