Best DPS Weapons Destiny 2: DPS Chart

Short for Damage per Second, DPS dictates how much damage you can deal to Bosses or Majors per second. 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.

Destiny 2 DPS Chart: Spreedsheet

Updated as of Season of the Wish (S23).

In this section, DPS refers to the average damage per second a weapon can inflict. You can read more about the methodology used here. We will keep things simple and focus on the Sustained DPS values of every weapon archetype in the game, therefore excluding Damage perks.

The table below also includes examples of the most popular weapons per archetype.

Destiny 2 Highest DPS Weapons: Heavy ammo

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Sustained DPS	Mag DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Combat Bow	Exotic	38636	38636	780645	/w Catalyst		Leviathan's Breath	Buffed	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	37425	37425	791532	-		Deathbringer	Same	Heavy
	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	36113	36113	1023196	/w Catalyst		Whisper of the Worm	Buffed	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	32139	32139	467950	x20 Averaged		Parasite	Same	Heavy
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	31862	35866	525080	-		One Thousand Voices	Same	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	31433	49979	346771	-		The Prospector	Same	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	29717	34498	703216	/w Catalyst		Sleeper Simulant	Buffed	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Adaptive	27019	37692	358074	-		Memory Interdict	Same	Heavy
	Glaive	Exotic	26729	28310	641699	-		Winterbite		Heavy
	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	25884	37128	587922	With "Personal Assistant"		D.A.R.C.I.	Nerfed	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Rapid-Fire	25569	37715	346978	-		Berenger's Memory	Same	Heavy
	Shotgun	Exotic	23248	29425	609900	-		Legend of Acrius	Buffed	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Exotic	22457	33064	562088	-		Xenophage	Same	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Exotic	22235	136514	1378482	-		Grand Overture	Same	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	22014	32618	251622	-		The Colony	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	21665	21665	604460	-		Two-Tailed Fox	Same	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Exotic	21247	30971	1994829	-		Thunderlord	Buffed	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	20901	25186	483576	With "Marksman Sights"		The Queenbreaker	Buffed	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Compressed Wave	20777	33600	319200	With Spike Grenades		Dimensional Hypotrochoid	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	20179	29058	363220	-		Gjallarhorn	New	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Aggressive	19866	21459	712188	-		Stormchaser	New	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	19536	25267	284256	-		Truth	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Adaptive	19003	19003	401913	-		Apex Predator	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Aggressive	19003	19003	401913	-		Hezen Vengeance	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	18761	18761	609720	-		Eyes of Tomorrow	Same	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Exotic	18721	23640	945600	-		Heir Apparent	Buffed	Heavy
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Precision	18490	20453	500066	-		Reed's Regret	Buffed	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Exotic	17752	17752	433152	-		The Wardcliff Coil	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Precision	17346	17346	354382	-		Ascendancy	Same	Heavy
	Rocket Launcher	Hakke Precision	16096	16096	365390	-		Palmyra-B	Same	Heavy
	Shotgun	Exotic	15949	18136	285642	After debuff		Tractor Cannon	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Lightweight	703286		703288	-		Quickfang	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Aggressive	694000		694000	-		Crown-Splitter	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Exotic	693680		667667	-		Worldline Zero		Heavy
	Sword	Exotic	589995		576998	-		Heartshadow		Heavy
	Sword	Adaptive	545216		550614	-		Half-Truths	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Exotic	468225		485568	-		Black Talon	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Caster	444176		453432	-		Sola's Scar	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Vortex	437262		439574	-		Falling Guillotine	Same	Heavy
	Sword	Exotic	63051		917118	-		The Lament	Same	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Rapid-Fire	13880	18930	779916	-		Recurrent Impact	Buffed	Heavy
	Machine Gun	Exotic	12771	18204	1074280	-		Deterministic Chaos		Heavy
	Machine Gun	Adaptive	12124	16290	977400	-		Commemoration	Buffed	Heavy
	Machine Gun	High-Impact	11837	15060	1104400	-		THE SWARM	Buffed	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	10630	10630	1013420	-		Anarchy	Same	Heavy
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	3410	3922	70596	-		Salvation's Grip		Heavy

Destiny 2 Best DPS Weapons: Special ammo

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Sustained DPS	Mag DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Shotgun	Exotic	29183	134242		/w Catalyst		The Fourth Horseman	Buffed	Special
	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	28226	34280		-		Cloudstrike	Same	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	26229	25858	620587	-		Conditional Finality		Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	25204	35055		/w Catalyst, "Release the Wolves"		Lord of Wolves	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	24772	44011	225078	With "Roadborne"		The Chaperone	Same	Special
	Shotgun	Exotic	24202	24202		/w Catalyst, aiming down sights		Duality	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	23413	24551	451119	-		Merciless	Same	Special
	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	22200	22200		/w Catalyst, 4x "Honed Edge"		Izanagi's Burden	Same	Special
	Sidearm	Exotic	19321	25653	669552	-		Forerunner	Same	Special
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	18170	20574	488819	-		Arbalest	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	17963	20882	701631	-		Bastion	Same	Special
	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	16778	23240	368520	-		IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	16156	18956		/w Catalyst		Jötunn	Same	Special
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	16027	16027		Max "Enrage"		Ex Diris		Special
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Exotic	15800	17891	425063	-		Lorentz Driver	Same	Special
	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	15391	19722	302404	-		Succession	Same	Special
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	15272	17801	474680	With "First Glance"		Eriana's Vow	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	15195	18525	685425	-		Ruinous Effigy		Special
	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	15140	19307	386136	-		Uzume RR4	Same	Special
	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	15140	19307	386136	-		Borealis		Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	15126	16859	546240	-		Delicate Tomb		Special
	Sidearm	Rocket-Assisted	14188	14595	595476	-		Indebted Kindness		Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	14047	15491	470316	/w Catalyst		Telesto	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Aggressive	14030	14867	318752	-		Coriolis Force	Same	Special
	Shotgun	Rapid-Fire	13985	24052	319704	-		Dead Weight	Buffed	Special
	Fusion Rifle	High-Impact	13961	15043	431585	-		Glacioclasm	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	13819	16638	410868	At Max charge		Coldheart	Buffed	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Rapid-Fire	13440	14519	360954	-		Cartesian Coordinate	Same	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Adaptive	13236	14607	388850	-		Trinary System	Same	Special
	Sidearm	Exotic	13024	14760	761616	-		Buried Bloodline		Special
	Glaive	Exotic	12964	15327	379335	-		Vexcalibur		Special
	Shotgun	Pinpoint Slug	12889	17718	343455	-		Heritage	Nerfed	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Exotic	12711	14853	406525	-		Tessellation		Special
	Shotgun	Lightweight	12628	18816	297065	-		Wastelander M5	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Aggressive	12411	15708	398559	-		Found Verdict	Buffed	Special
	Shotgun	Precision	11686	15912	358006	-		Matador 64	Buffed	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	11265	13585	543400	Average		Wavesplitter	Buffed	Special
	Fusion Rifle	Precision	10334	11331	334026	-		Deliverance	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	10295	11388		With "Judgement"		Divinity	Same	Special
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	9779	9779		-		Witherhoard	Same	Special
	Glaive	Rapid-Fire	9719	11237	261268	-		Greasy Luck		Special
	Grenade Launcher	Double Fire	9490	9490	322854	-		Wilderflight	Same	Special
	Glaive	Adaptive	9159	9829	332413	-		Ecliptic Distaff		Special
	Glaive	Exotic	9159	9829	310967	-		Edge of Action		Special
	Glaive	Aggressive	8905	9169	366750	-		Albedo Wing		Special
	Glaive	Exotic	8650	11237	261268	-		Edge of Concurrence		Special
	Trace Rifle	Adaptive	8489	10170	407478	-		Appetence		Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	8389	10170	394596	-		The Navigator		Special
	Glaive	Exotic	7913	9776	430155	-		Edge of Intent		Special
	Grenade Launcher	Lightweight	7757	7757	289041	-		Ignition Code	Same	Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic	7413	8940	298000	-		Prometheus Lens	Buffed	Special
	Grenade Launcher	Wave	6741	6741	251160	-		Forbearance	Same	Special
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	6741	6741	251160	-		Dead Messenger		Special
	Trace Rifle	Exotic		27587	354947	/w Catalyst		Ager's Scepter	Same	Special

Destiny 2 DPS Weapons:Primary ammo

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Sustained DPS	Mag DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	16561	18221		-		Tommy's Matchbook	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	15788	15788		w/ Catalyst, Rounds + Rockets		Quicksilver Storm	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	15706	15706		w/ Catalyst, "Guidance Ring"		Hierarchy of Needs		Primary
	SMG	Exotic	15700	22425		With "Ravenous Beast"		Tarrabah	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	14607	18390		Laser mix		Final Warning		Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	14153	14153		"TOM"		Touch of Malice		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	11328	14573		With x5 "nanites"		Outbreak Perfected	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	10943	13668		/w Catalyst		Malfeasance	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	10741	10741		-		Wish-Ender	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	10723	12702		Precision damage DPS		Cerberus+1	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	10678	15274		/w Catalyst		Hawkmoon	Same	Primary
	SMG	Exotic	10666	14300		-		Osteo Striga	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	9843	9843		4-burst, Rounds + "Hunter's Trace"		Revision Zero		Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	9749	11841		-		Devil's Ruin	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	9614	11814		-		Vex Mythoclast	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	9370	9370		w/ Catalyst and x6 "Causality Arrows"		Ticuu's Divination		Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	9313	11022		Average per mag		Sweet Business	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	8560	11022		With "Rat Pack x2"		Rat King	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	8022	8022		With "Perfect Fifth"		Polaris Lance	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	7748	9640		/w Catalyst		Traveler's Chosen		Primary
	Sidearm	Omolon Adaptive	7718	9084		High stability, decent elsewhere		The Vision	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Adaptive (3-burst)	7718	9084		High aim assist, decent elsewhere		Drang	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	7588	8396		When aiming down sights		Skyburner's Oath	Same	Primary
	Grenade Launcher	Exotic	7555	7555		/w Catalyst		Fighting Lion	Same	Primary
	SMG	Exotic	7460	11124		"Ride the Bull" average		The Huckleberry	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	7270	10770		/w Catalyst		Dead Man's Tale	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	SUROS Rapid-Fire	7250	9128		Good recoil, very low range & aim assist		Punching Out	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Precision	7079	8441		Excellent aim assist, low stability & handling		A Swift Verdict	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Lightweight	7031	9054		High handling, very low range		Redback-5si	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Aggressive Burst	6973	7860		High aim assist, low stability & handling		Brass Attacks	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	6551	8441		-		Cryosthesia 77K		Primary
	SMG	Exotic	6498	9540		w/ "Arc Conductor"		Riskrunner	Same	Primary
	SMG	Lightweight	6463	9255		High aim assist and handling, low range		Funnelweb	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	6389	6389		-		Le Monarque	Same	Primary
	SMG	Exotic	6359	9255		Grounded		The Manticore		Primary
	SMG	Aggressive	6293	8904		High range, low aim assist		Unforgiven	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	6285	7117		-		Graviton Lance	Same	Primary
	SMG	Precision	6149	8180		Excellent range & aim assist, low handling		Shayura's Wrath	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	6115	8471		-		Wicked Implement		Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	6098	7022		"Soul Devourer"		Thorn	Same	Primary
	Sidearm	Exotic	6075	9084		-		Trespasser		Primary
	SMG	Adaptive	6065	8685		High stability & range, poor recoil		The Hero's Burden	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	5623	5623		-		The Jade Rabbit		Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	5616	6023		-		Centrifuse		Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	5513	9803		-		The Last Word	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Rapid-Fire	5456	6216		High aim assist, low range		Chroma Rush	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	5435	6840		-		Necrochasm	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	5394	5394		w/ Catalyst; "Time-skip Portal"		No Time to Explain	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	5382	6630		-		Monte Carlo		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	5330	6316		-		Vigilance Wing	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	5306	7223		Spinning Up mode		SUROS Regime	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Precision	5172	6023		High range, low aim assist		Shadow Price	Same	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Adaptive	5115	6030		High handling		Gnawing Hunger	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	5055	5889		High stability, very low range		Aisha's Embrace	Buffed	Primary
	Auto Rifle	Exotic	4991	6030		-		Hard Light		Primary
	Auto Rifle	High-Impact	4823	5436		Excellent range, low stability		Age-Old Bond	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	4780	5717		-		MIDA Multi-Tool		Primary
	Scout Rifle	Precision	4672	5307		High stability, decent elsewhere		Vision of Confluence	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	4636	6418		"Momento Mori"		Ace of Spades		Primary
	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	4627	5113		Excellent range, low aim assist		The Scholar	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	4552	6730		-		Crimson	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	4493	5197		Excellent aim assist & handling, low range		Night Watch	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Precision	4336	5244		High stability, poor handling		Posterity	Buffed	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Lightweight	4327	5215		-		Rose		Primary
	Combat Bow	Precision	4318	4318		680 ms Draw time		Under Your Skin	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	4207	4207		-		Trinity Ghoul		Primary
	Combat Bow	Lightweight	4179	4179		640 ms Draw time		Arsenic Bite-4b	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	4152	4788		High aim assist, low range		Piece of Mind	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	4071	5120		-		Sturm		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	4039	4589		High handling, decent range		The Third Axiom	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	4018	5215		-		Lumina		Primary
	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	3992	4654		High range, low stability and handling		Igneous Hammer	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Exotic	3985	5363		-		Sunshot		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	3983	4465		High range & recoil, low aim assist		The Messenger	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	3943	4418		Excellent range, low aim assist		Insidious	Same	Primary
	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	3934	4741		Good stability, decent range		Eyasluna	Same	Primary
	Combat Bow	Exotic	3896	3896		-		Verglas Curve		Primary
	Hand Cannon	Double Fire	3884	4902		-		Warden's Law		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	3883	4589		-		Collective Obligation		Primary
	Scout Rifle	Exotic	3872	4085		x5 Revolution mix		Symmetry		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	3839	4455		Excellent handling, low range		Ogma PR6	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Legacy PR-55	3804	4455		Excellent handling, low range		BxR-55 Battler	Same	Primary
	Scout Rifle	Aggressive	3449	4656		-		Long Arm		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0	9810		String of Curses x5		Bad Juju		Primary

These are important things to understand when reading these tables:

1. Damage perks will significantly change maximum DPS values

Just as the Destiny 2 Meta and TTK values, DPS values can dramatically change from season to season. Make sure you revisit this page at least once per season. Also, these tables use the excellent data from the Destiny 2: Quantum Damage-ics spreadsheet. A big thank you to XboxUser123 for a great job.

About the Destiny 2 DPS Meta: Power Weapons

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 are 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 especially true for Heavy weapons:

Based on that, when choosing a Power weapon, always keep in mind the type of damage you need.

DPS Chart: Methodology

About the DPS numbers: As mentioned before, the DPS figures used for this Tier list come from the excellent Destiny 2: Quantum Damage-ics database.

As explained in that document:

Mag DPS or “True DPS” > The amount of DPS without considering reloading or of a single magazine. It is the same in both the DPS of a single magazine and the DPS of omitting reloads entirely and focusing solely on damage and fire rate. Note that some weapons have a unique 1-mag DPS compared to their theoretical “True DPS” counterpart due to how they work (ex. The Fourth Horseman).

Sustained DPS > The amount of DPS while also considering reloading. This is the DPS you would expect to have for DPS phases, assuming you had infinite reserves. Note that this also assumes you reload the frame you finish firing the weapon, with the combat loop of: shoot > shoot > … > shoot > shoot last round & reload > repeat.

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!