Short for Damage per Second, DPS dictates how much damage you can deal to Bosses or Majors. Combining burst damage, rate of fire, and reload speeds, DPS is the best indicator of a weapon’s lethality in PVE.
For the sake of clarity, DPS in Destiny 2 is calculated per archetype and not per weapon (excluding some Exotics). For example, all adaptive Sniper Rifles deal the same damage per bullet at the same rate of fire and therefore do the same DPS. What differentiates them are aesthetics, stat distribution, and perks.
In this post, we will keep things simple and focus on the base DPS values of every weapon archetype in the game, therefore excluding Damage perks. The table below will also include examples of the best weapons per archetype.
The chart below uses the excellent data from the Damage Chart Madness spreadsheet. A big thank you Reddit user IAMADragonAMAA for a great job.
Destiny 2 DPS values as of Season 14
Just as the Destiny 2 Meta and TTK values, DPS values can also dramatically change from season to season. The data below is up to date with Season of the Splicer:
Damage numbers: In this guide, DPS refers to the average damage per second a weapon can inflict. You can read more about the methodology used here.
Heavy Weapons
| - | Weapon Type | Archetype | Specs | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | -- | Best in Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Grenade Launchers | Adaptive | With Spike Grenades perk | 18,327 | 21,855 | 131,130 |  | Crowd Pleaser |
| Grenade Launchers | Anarchy | - | - | 8,252 | 990,240 |  | Anarchy |
| Grenade Launchers | The Colony | - | 14,050 | 17,089 | 102,536 |  | The Colony |
| Grenade Launchers | The Prospector | - | 20,529 | 25,567 | 148,752 |  | The Prospector |
| Grenade Launchers | Rapid-Fire | With Spike Grenades perk | 15,273 | 22,236 | 133,418 |  | Outrageous Fortune |
| Grenade Launchers | Precision | With Spike Grenades perk | 14,655 | 18,061 | 195,057 | - | - |
 | Linear Fusion Rifles | Precision | - | 13,521 | 16,107 | 322,140 |  | Threaded Needle |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | The Queenbreaker | With Marksman Sights | 13,705 | 16,107 | 351,430 |  | The Queenbreaker |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | Sleeper Simulant | With its Catalyst | 16,242 | 20,211 | 316,344 |  | Sleeper Simulant |
 | Machine Guns | High-Impact | - | 4,952 | 6,618 | 264,728 |  | THE SWARM |
| Machine Guns | Thunderlord | - | 7,758 | 10,688 | 202,158 |  | Thunderlord |
| Machine Guns | Adaptive | - | 5,388 | 7,161 | 221,527 |  | Commemoration |
| Machine Guns | Rapid-Fire | - | 6,129 | 8,215 | 167,581 |  | Thermal Erosion |
| Machine Guns | Heir Apparent | - | 10,144 | 11,453 | 305,400 |  | Heir Apparent |
| Machine Guns | Xenophage | - | 14,680 | 17,584 | 228,592 |  | Xenophage |
 | Rocket Launchers | Adaptive | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 |  | Hoosegow |
| Rocket Launchers | Aggressive | With Impact Casing perk | 14,687 | - | 202,685 |  | Hezen Vengeance |
| Rocket Launchers | High-Impact | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 |  | Code Duello |
| Rocket Launchers | Precision | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 |  | Royal Entry |
| Rocket Launchers | The Wardcliff Coil | - | 14,440 | - | 226,704 |  | The Wardcliff Coil |
| Rocket Launchers | Eyes of Tomorrow | - | 11,850 | - | 261,888 |  | Eyes of Tomorrow |
| Rocket Launchers | Deathbringer | - | 31,129 | - | 429,583 |  | Deathbringer |
| Rocket Launchers | Two Tailed Fox | - | 16,500 | - | 306,072 |  | Two-Tailed Fox |
| Rocket Launchers | Truth | - | 17,322 | - | 132,222 |  | Truth |
 | Shotguns | Tractor Cannon | - | 11,879 | 12,320 | 129,360 |  | Tractor Cannon |
| Shotguns | Legend of Acrius | - | 21,602 | 21,602 | 212,090 |  | Legend of Acrius |
 | Sniper Rifles | Whisper of the Worm | - | 17,924 | 17,924 | 268,866 |  | Whisper of the Worm |
| Sniper Rifles | D.A.R.C.I. | - | 15,265 | 18,963 | 170,667 |  | D.A.R.C.I. |
 | Swords | Adaptive | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,532 | - | 319,822 |  | Honor's Edge |
| Swords | Aggressive | With Jagged Edge perk | 20,429 | - | 413,487 |  | Crown-Splitter |
| Swords | Vortex | With Jagged Edge perk | 18,094 | - | 279,650 |  | Falling Guillotine |
| Swords | Caster | With Jagged Edge perk | 15,078 | - | 298,546 |  | Sola's Scar |
| Swords | Lightweight | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,466 | - | 435,241 |  | Quickfang |
| Swords | The Lament | - | 19,071 | - | 587,097 |  | The Lament |
| Swords | Black Talon | - | 19,968 | - | 312,599 |  | Black Talon |
 | Fusion Rifles | One Thousand Voices | - | 16,556 | 17,991 | 273,456 |  | One Thousand Voices |
 | Combat Bows | Leviathan's Breath | - | - | 12,291 | 242,585 |  | Leviathan's Breath |
Special Weapons
| - | Weapon Type | Archetype | Specs | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | -- | Best in Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenade Launchers | Adaptive | With Spike Grenades perk | 18,327 | 21,855 | 131,130 | | Crowd Pleaser |
| Grenade Launchers | Anarchy | - | - | 8,252 | 990,240 | | Anarchy |
| Grenade Launchers | The Colony | - | 14,050 | 17,089 | 102,536 | | The Colony |
| Grenade Launchers | The Prospector | - | 20,529 | 25,567 | 148,752 | | The Prospector |
| Grenade Launchers | Rapid-Fire | With Spike Grenades perk | 15,273 | 22,236 | 133,418 | | Outrageous Fortune |
| Grenade Launchers | Precision | With Spike Grenades perk | 14,655 | 18,061 | 195,057 | - | - |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | Precision | - | 13,521 | 16,107 | 322,140 | | Threaded Needle |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | The Queenbreaker | With Marksman Sights | 13,705 | 16,107 | 351,430 | | The Queenbreaker |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | Sleeper Simulant | With its Catalyst | 16,242 | 20,211 | 316,344 | | Sleeper Simulant |
| Machine Guns | High-Impact | - | 4,952 | 6,618 | 264,728 | | THE SWARM |
| Machine Guns | Thunderlord | - | 7,758 | 10,688 | 202,158 | | Thunderlord |
| Machine Guns | Adaptive | - | 5,388 | 7,161 | 221,527 | | Commemoration |
| Machine Guns | Rapid-Fire | - | 6,129 | 8,215 | 167,581 | | Thermal Erosion |
| Machine Guns | Heir Apparent | - | 10,144 | 11,453 | 305,400 | | Heir Apparent |
| Machine Guns | Xenophage | - | 14,680 | 17,584 | 228,592 | | Xenophage |
| Rocket Launchers | Adaptive | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Hoosegow |
| Rocket Launchers | Aggressive | With Impact Casing perk | 14,687 | - | 202,685 | | Hezen Vengeance |
| Rocket Launchers | High-Impact | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Code Duello |
| Rocket Launchers | Precision | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Royal Entry |
| Rocket Launchers | The Wardcliff Coil | - | 14,440 | - | 226,704 | | The Wardcliff Coil |
| Rocket Launchers | Eyes of Tomorrow | - | 11,850 | - | 261,888 | | Eyes of Tomorrow |
| Rocket Launchers | Deathbringer | - | 31,129 | - | 429,583 | | Deathbringer |
| Rocket Launchers | Two Tailed Fox | - | 16,500 | - | 306,072 | | Two-Tailed Fox |
| Rocket Launchers | Truth | - | 17,322 | - | 132,222 | | Truth |
| Shotguns | Tractor Cannon | - | 11,879 | 12,320 | 129,360 | | Tractor Cannon |
| Shotguns | Legend of Acrius | - | 21,602 | 21,602 | 212,090 | | Legend of Acrius |
| Sniper Rifles | Whisper of the Worm | - | 17,924 | 17,924 | 268,866 | | Whisper of the Worm |
| Sniper Rifles | D.A.R.C.I. | - | 15,265 | 18,963 | 170,667 | | D.A.R.C.I. |
| Swords | Adaptive | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,532 | - | 319,822 | | Honor's Edge |
| Swords | Aggressive | With Jagged Edge perk | 20,429 | - | 413,487 | | Crown-Splitter |
| Swords | Vortex | With Jagged Edge perk | 18,094 | - | 279,650 | | Falling Guillotine |
| Swords | Caster | With Jagged Edge perk | 15,078 | - | 298,546 | | Sola's Scar |
| Swords | Lightweight | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,466 | - | 435,241 | | Quickfang |
| Swords | The Lament | - | 19,071 | - | 587,097 | | The Lament |
| Swords | Black Talon | - | 19,968 | - | 312,599 | | Black Talon |
| Fusion Rifles | One Thousand Voices | - | 16,556 | 17,991 | 273,456 | | One Thousand Voices |
| Combat Bows | Leviathan's Breath | - | - | 12,291 | 242,585 | | Leviathan's Breath |
Primary Weapons
| - | Weapon Type | Archetype | Specs | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | -- | Best in Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenade Launchers | Adaptive | With Spike Grenades perk | 18,327 | 21,855 | 131,130 | | Crowd Pleaser |
| Grenade Launchers | Anarchy | - | - | 8,252 | 990,240 | | Anarchy |
| Grenade Launchers | The Colony | - | 14,050 | 17,089 | 102,536 | | The Colony |
| Grenade Launchers | The Prospector | - | 20,529 | 25,567 | 148,752 | | The Prospector |
| Grenade Launchers | Rapid-Fire | With Spike Grenades perk | 15,273 | 22,236 | 133,418 | | Outrageous Fortune |
| Grenade Launchers | Precision | With Spike Grenades perk | 14,655 | 18,061 | 195,057 | - | - |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | Precision | - | 13,521 | 16,107 | 322,140 | | Threaded Needle |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | The Queenbreaker | With Marksman Sights | 13,705 | 16,107 | 351,430 | | The Queenbreaker |
| Linear Fusion Rifles | Sleeper Simulant | With its Catalyst | 16,242 | 20,211 | 316,344 | | Sleeper Simulant |
| Machine Guns | High-Impact | - | 4,952 | 6,618 | 264,728 | | THE SWARM |
| Machine Guns | Thunderlord | - | 7,758 | 10,688 | 202,158 | | Thunderlord |
| Machine Guns | Adaptive | - | 5,388 | 7,161 | 221,527 | | Commemoration |
| Machine Guns | Rapid-Fire | - | 6,129 | 8,215 | 167,581 | | Thermal Erosion |
| Machine Guns | Heir Apparent | - | 10,144 | 11,453 | 305,400 | | Heir Apparent |
| Machine Guns | Xenophage | - | 14,680 | 17,584 | 228,592 | | Xenophage |
| Rocket Launchers | Adaptive | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Hoosegow |
| Rocket Launchers | Aggressive | With Impact Casing perk | 14,687 | - | 202,685 | | Hezen Vengeance |
| Rocket Launchers | High-Impact | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Code Duello |
| Rocket Launchers | Precision | - | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | | Royal Entry |
| Rocket Launchers | The Wardcliff Coil | - | 14,440 | - | 226,704 | | The Wardcliff Coil |
| Rocket Launchers | Eyes of Tomorrow | - | 11,850 | - | 261,888 | | Eyes of Tomorrow |
| Rocket Launchers | Deathbringer | - | 31,129 | - | 429,583 | | Deathbringer |
| Rocket Launchers | Two Tailed Fox | - | 16,500 | - | 306,072 | | Two-Tailed Fox |
| Rocket Launchers | Truth | - | 17,322 | - | 132,222 | | Truth |
| Shotguns | Tractor Cannon | - | 11,879 | 12,320 | 129,360 | | Tractor Cannon |
| Shotguns | Legend of Acrius | - | 21,602 | 21,602 | 212,090 | | Legend of Acrius |
| Sniper Rifles | Whisper of the Worm | - | 17,924 | 17,924 | 268,866 | | Whisper of the Worm |
| Sniper Rifles | D.A.R.C.I. | - | 15,265 | 18,963 | 170,667 | | D.A.R.C.I. |
| Swords | Adaptive | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,532 | - | 319,822 | | Honor's Edge |
| Swords | Aggressive | With Jagged Edge perk | 20,429 | - | 413,487 | | Crown-Splitter |
| Swords | Vortex | With Jagged Edge perk | 18,094 | - | 279,650 | | Falling Guillotine |
| Swords | Caster | With Jagged Edge perk | 15,078 | - | 298,546 | | Sola's Scar |
| Swords | Lightweight | With Jagged Edge perk | 17,466 | - | 435,241 | | Quickfang |
| Swords | The Lament | - | 19,071 | - | 587,097 | | The Lament |
| Swords | Black Talon | - | 19,968 | - | 312,599 | | Black Talon |
| Fusion Rifles | One Thousand Voices | - | 16,556 | 17,991 | 273,456 | | One Thousand Voices |
| Combat Bows | Leviathan's Breath | - | - | 12,291 | 242,585 | | Leviathan's Breath |
These are important things to understand when reading these tables:
- Damage perks will significantly change maximum DPS values
- Times-to-kills are listed with optimal damage (maximum damage at close range) and damage falloff will dramatically affect the listed numbers (SMGs and sidearms in particular).
Destiny 2 Power Weapons: What is the Meta?
Keep in mind that the top Power weapons are not only defined by their raw DPS or Total Damage. Many other things come into play. Some of them, almost as important as raw damage.
For example, just as damage numbers and ease of use are extremely important, a weapon’s role is critical too. This is specially true for Heavy weapons:
| Role | Explanation | Target Weapon types |
| Add Clear | Clearing weaker enemies faster than you could with a primary ammo weapon. For most content, primaries do the add clear job perfectly well, so this is most useful in high difficulty PvE. |
Main: Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers, Swords Secondary: Rocket Launchers |
| Single Target Damage | Burning down a boss. |
Main: Linear Fusion Rifles, Exotic Snipers, Swords Secondary: Grenade Launchers, Machine Guns |
| Burst Damage | Burning down a champion quickly, or for bosses with multiple damage phases, clearing a phase quickly. |
Main: Rocket Launchers Secondary: Linear Fusion Rifles |
Based on that, when choosing a Power weapon, always keep in mind the type of damage you need.
Methodology
About the DPS numbers: As mentioned before, the DPS figures used for this Tier list come from the excellent Damage Chart Madness database.
As explained in that document:
Average DPS represents a weapons performance when emptying all of its reserves, with only full magazines. This factors in that the first magazine is already loaded, and you keep firing until the last mag is empty. Effectively, a combination of Burst DPS and Sustain DPS. The most accurate representation of a gun’s performance in most circumstances.
Bear in mind this number is done with luna/rally/fieldprep reload buffs
That document also includes Sustained DPS in case you want to get into the nitty-gritty.
The Last Word
Seasoned PVE players have a good understanding of the current PVE meta, and by extension, DPS values. However, if all of this is new to you, the chart above will help you better decide what weapons to bring to your next PVE challenge.
And by the way, even if you’re a veteran, it’s always good to have these figures at hand!
0 Comments