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.
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 tables below use the excellent data from the Damage Chart Madness spreadsheet. A big thank you to Reddit user IAMADragonAMAA for a great job done.
Destiny 2 DPS values: The Witch Queen edition
List updated as of The Witch Queen’s release (S16).
Damage numbers: In this section, DPS refers to the average damage per second a weapon can inflict. You can read more about the methodology used here.
Just as the Destiny 2 Meta and TTK values, DPS values can also dramatically change from season to season. The tables below are up to date with Season of the Risen:
Heavy Weapons
- | Weapon Type | Archetype | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | Specs | -- | Best in Class | Change? | Ammo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket Launcher | Deathbringer | 31,129 | - | 429,583 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Shotgun | Legend of Acrius | 25,232 | 25,232 | 247,730 | - | - | - | Buffed | Heavy | |
Rocket Launcher | Gjallarhorn | 23,312 | - | 200,484 | - | - | - | New | Heavy | |
Grenade Launcher | Parasite | 22,720 | - | 293,776 | At x20 Averaged | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Linear Fusion Rifle | Sleeper Simulant | 21,799 | 25,351 | 396,792 | With Catalyst | Buffed | Heavy | |||
Grenade Launcher | The Prospector | 20,529 | 25,567 | 148,752 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Sword | Aggressive | 20,429 | - | 413,487 | With Jagged Edge | Crown-Splitter | Same | Heavy | ||
Sword | Black Talon | 19,968 | - | 312,599 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Sniper Rifle | Whisper of the Worm | 19,892 | 19,892 | 397,848 | With Catalyst | - | - | Buffed | Heavy | |
Sword | The Lament | 19,071 | - | 587,097 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Sniper Rifle | D.A.R.C.I. | 18,383 | 22,836 | 205,527 | With "Personal Assistant" | - | - | Buffed | Heavy | |
Grenade Launcher | Adaptive | 18,327 | 21,855 | 131,130 | With Spike Grenades | Crowd Pleaser | Same | Heavy | ||
Sword | Vortex | 18,094 | - | 279,650 | With Jagged Edge | Falling Guillotine | Same | Heavy | ||
Sword | Adaptive | 17,532 | - | 319,822 | With Jagged Edge | Honor's Edge | Same | Heavy | ||
Sword | Lightweight | 17,466 | - | 435,241 | With Jagged Edge | Quickfang | Same | Heavy | ||
Rocket Launcher | Truth | 17,322 | - | 132,222 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Fusion Rifle | One Thousand Voices | 16,556 | 17,991 | 273,456 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Rocket Launcher | Two Tailed Fox | 16,500 | - | 306,072 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Shotgun | Tractor Cannon | 15,862 | 16,451 | 172,732 | After debuff | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Grenade Launcher | Rapid-Fire | 15,273 | 22,236 | 133,418 | With Spike Grenades | Outrageous Fortune | Same | Heavy | ||
Linear Fusion Rifle | The Queenbreaker | 15,182 | 17,844 | 389,320 | With Marksman Sights | - | - | Buffed | Heavy | |
Sword | Caster | 15,078 | - | 298,546 | With Jagged Edge | Sola's Scar | Same | Heavy | ||
Linear Fusion Rifle | Precision | 14,979 | 17,844 | 356,880 | - | Threaded Needle | Buffed | Heavy | ||
Rocket Launcher | Aggressive | 14,695 | - | 202,790 | With Impact Casing | Hezen Vengeance | Same | Heavy | ||
Grenade Launcher | Precision | 14,655 | 18,061 | 195,057 | With Spike Grenades | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Rocket Launcher | Adaptive | 14,528 | - | 200,480 | - | Hoosegow | Same | Heavy | ||
Rocket Launcher | The Wardcliff Coil | 14,440 | - | 226,704 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Rocket Launcher | High-Impact | 14,368 | - | 198,282 | - | Code Duello | Same | Heavy | ||
Rocket Launcher | Precision | 14,208 | - | 196,077 | - | Royal Entry | Same | Heavy | ||
Grenade Launcher | The Colony | 14,050 | 17,089 | 102,536 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Machine Gun | Xenophage | 12,613 | 14,243 | 246,870 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Machine Gun | Heir Apparent | 12,171 | 13,740 | 366,400 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Rocket Launcher | Eyes of Tomorrow | 11,850 | - | 261,888 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Machine Gun | Grand Overture | 9,575 | 10,997 | 395,880 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Machine Gun | Thunderlord | 9,307 | 12,823 | 242,544 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Machine Gun | Rapid-Fire | 7,352 | 9,855 | 201,042 | - | Thermal Erosion | Same | Heavy | ||
Machine Gun | Adaptive | 6,466 | 8,595 | 265,872 | - | Commemoration | Same | Heavy | ||
Machine Gun | High-Impact | 5,940 | 7,938 | 317,520 | - | THE SWARM | Same | Heavy | ||
Grenade Launcher | Anarchy | --> | 5,777 | 346,608 | - | - | - | Same | Heavy | |
Combat Bow | Leviathan's Breath | --> | 14,151 | 363,878 | With Catalyst | - | - | Buffed | Heavy |
Special Weapons
- | Weapon Type | Archetype | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | Specs | -- | Best in Class | Change? | Ammo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shotgun | Fourth Horseman | 27,204 | 74,736 | 186,840 | With Catalyst | - | - | Buffed | Special | |
Shotgun | The Chaperone | 22,382 | 29,320 | 175,920 | With "Roadborne" active | - | - | Nerfed | Special | |
Shotgun | Lord of Wolves | 17,515 | 23,050 | 221,280 | With "Release the Wolves" | - | - | Same | Special | |
Trace Rifle | Ager's Scepter | 16,300 | 16,920 | 437,664 | With Catalyst Proc'd | - | - | Same | Special | |
Shotgun | Duality | 15,955 | 15,025 | 249,642 | When aiming down sights | - | - | Buffed | Special | |
Sniper Rifle | Cloudstrike | 15,926 | 19,784 | 178,059 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Sniper Rifle | Izanagi's Burden | 15,056 | - | 181,880 | With Catalyst | - | - | Same | Special | |
Fusion Rifle | Merciless | 14,699 | 16,216 | 206,880 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Fusion Rifle | Bastion | 12,171 | 13,918 | 255,528 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Shotgun | Precision Slug | 11,894 | 12,983 | 143,808 | - | Heritage | Nerfed | Special | ||
Shotgun | Lightweight | 11,715 | 13,485 | 121,368 | - | Seventh Seraph CQC-12 | Buffed | Special | ||
Hand Cannon | Eriana's Vow | 11,603 | 12,456 | 224,208 | With "First Glance" | - | - | Same | Special | |
Fusion Rifle | Rapid-Fire | 11,548 | 12,712 | 166,068 | - | Null Composure | Same | Special | ||
Linear Fusion Rifle | Arbalest | 11,325 | 13,412 | 287,500 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Linear Fusion Rifle | Lorentz Driver | 11,325 | 13,412 | 287,500 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Shotgun | Rapid-Fire | 10,927 | 16,107 | 144,963 | - | IKELOS_SG_v1.0.2 | Buffed | Special | ||
Sidearm | Forerunner | 10,416 | 12,890 | 278,424 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Sniper Rifle | Rapid-Fire | 10,040 | 13,445 | 86,430 | - | IKELOS_SR_v1.0.2 | Same | Special | ||
Fusion Rifle | Jötunn | 9,771 | 11,033 | 225,075 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Shotgun | Aggressive | 9,736 | 10,685 | 174,840 | - | Found Verdict | Buffed | Special | ||
Fusion Rifle | Aggressive | 9,677 | 10,774 | 250,236 | - | Coriolis Force | Same | Special | ||
Fusion Rifle | Telesto | 9,675 | 10,532 | 312,963 | With Catalyst | - | - | Same | Special | |
Trace Rifle | Coldheart | 9,500 | 10,667 | 359,132 | At Max charge | - | - | Same | Special | |
Shotgun | Precision | 9,230 | 10,869 | 180,594 | - | Retold Tale | Buffed | Special | ||
Trace Rifle | Wavesplitter | 8,961 | 9,998 | 266,614 | With Orb pick up | - | - | Same | Special | |
Fusion Rifle | Adaptive | 8,955 | 9,714 | 150,948 | - | Trinary System | Same | Special | ||
Sniper Rifle | Adaptive | 8,725 | 11,398 | 121,576 | - | Uzume RR4 | Same | Special | ||
Sniper Rifle | Aggressive | 8,611 | 11,191 | 139,883 | - | Succession | Same | Special | ||
Fusion Rifle | Precision | 8,252 | 9,306 | 191,940 | - | PLUG ONE.1 | Same | Special | ||
Fusion Rifle | High-Impact | 8,131 | 9,042 | 212,475 | - | Glacioclasm | Same | Special | ||
Trace Rifle | Divinity | 7,182 | 7,455 | 192,836 | With debuff | - | - | Same | Special | |
Grenade Launcher | Lightweight | 6,779 | 15,617 | 197,809 | With Spike Grenades | Salvager's Salvo | Buffed | Special | ||
Trace Rifle | Prometheus Lens | 6,320 | 7,140 | 285,600 | - | - | - | Same | Special | |
Grenade Launcher | Lightweight | 6,241 | 14,376 | 182,096 | - | Ignition Code | Buffed | Special | ||
Grenade Launcher | Witherhoard | 3,601 | - | 740,985 | - | - | - | Same | Special |
Primary Weapons
- | Weapon Type | Archetype | Average DPS | Burst DPS | Total Damage | Specs | -- | Best in Class | Change? | Ammo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMG | Tarrabah | 12,250 | 15,615 | 468,450 | With "Ravenous Beast" | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Sidearm | Rat King | 9,902 | 12,863 | 216,095 | With "Rat Pack x5" | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Hand Cannon | Hawkmoon | 8,979 | 10,980 | 564,704 | Landing all crits | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Hand Cannon | Malfeasance | 7,766 | 9,230 | 323,033 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | Cerberus+1 | 7,097 | 8,481 | 744,915 | With "perfect" RNG | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Pulse Rifle | Outbreak Perfected | 6,145 | 7,340 | 422,810 | With averaged 'nanites" | - | - | Same | Primary | |
SMG | Osteo Striga | 6,114 | 8,450 | 331,240 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | Vex Mythoclast | 6,086 | 7,144 | 507,738 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | Sweet Business | 5,430 | 6,280 | 413,550 | At Max rate of fire | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Sidearm | Aggressive Burst | 5,331 | 6,193 | 320,151 | High aim assist, low stability & handling | Brass Attacks | Same | Primary | ||
Sidearm | Lightweight | 5,284 | 6,645 | 149,510 | High handling, very low range | Anonymous Autumn | Same | Primary | ||
Grenade Launcher | Fighting Lion | 5,256 | 9,713 | 161,883 | With Catalyst | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Sidearm | Adaptive | 5,137 | 6,431 | 192,937 | High aim assist, decent elsewhere | Drang | Same | Primary | ||
Sidearm | Adaptive (3-burst) | 5,137 | 6,431 | 192,937 | High aim assist, decent elsewhere | Drang | Same | Primary | ||
Sidearm | Omolon Adaptive | 5,020 | 6,355 | 356,452 | High stability, decent elsewhere | The Last Dance | Same | Primary | ||
Sidearm | SUROS Rapid-Fire | 4,881 | 6,380 | 140,353 | Good recoil, very low range & aim assist | The Fool's Remedy | Same | Primary | ||
SMG | The Huckleberry | 4,813 | 8,198 | 245,925 | With "Ride the Bull x2" | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Sidearm | Precision | 4,742 | 6,193 | 205,794 | Excellent aim assist, low stability & handling | Lonesome | Same | Primary | ||
Sidearm | Devil's Ruin | 4,683 | 6,125 | 202,125 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
SMG | Lightweight | 4,663 | 6,833 | 180,378 | High aim assist and handling, low range | Multimach CCX | Same | Primary | ||
SMG | Aggressive | 4,591 | 6,558 | 206,031 | High range, low aim assist | IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.2 | Same | Primary | ||
Scout Rifle | Dead Man's Tale | 4,476 | 6,769 | 568,588 | With Catalyst | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | SUROS Regime | 4,391 | 5,513 | 259,200 | At Max rate of fire | - | - | Same | Primary | |
SMG | Adaptive | 4,300 | 6,075 | 187,110 | High stability & range, poor recoil | Riskrunner | Same | Primary | ||
Hand Cannon | Thorn | 4,087 | 5,347 | 268,106 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Hand Cannon | The Last Word | 3,965 | 5,438 | 162,400 | With Fan Fire x4 | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | Rapid-Fire | 3,906 | 4,542 | 280,847 | High aim assist, low range | Reckless Oracle | Same | Primary | ||
SMG | Precision | 3,875 | 5,645 | 220,155 | Excellent range & aim assist, low handling | Seventh Seraph VY-7 | Same | Primary | ||
Scout Rifle | Polaris Lance | 3,785 | 4,470 | 353,984 | With "Perfect Fifth" | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Pulse Rifle | No Time to Explain | 3,687 | 4,381 | 371,126 | With Catalyst | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Pulse Rifle | Vigilance Wing | 3,602 | 4,222 | 215,100 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Auto Rifle | Adaptive | 3,555 | 4,300 | 295,840 | High handling | Gnawing Hunger | Same | Primary | ||
Auto Rifle | Precision | 3,369 | 4,073 | 225,888 | High range, low aim assist | Shadow Price | Same | Primary | ||
Auto Rifle | High-Impact | 3,361 | 3,993 | 298,144 | Excellent range, low stability | False Promises | Same | Primary | ||
Scout Rifle | Rapid-Fire | 3,352 | 4,104 | 170,460 | High stability, very low range | Trustee | Same | Primary | ||
Scout Rifle | Lightweight | 3,318 | 3,807 | 219,264 | Excellent aim assist & handling, low range | Night Watch | Same | Primary | ||
Hand Cannon | Crimson | 3,250 | 4,398 | 358,800 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Scout Rifle | Skyburner's Oath | 3,206 | 3,598 | 259,020 | When aiming down sights | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Scout Rifle | High-Impact | 3,046 | 3,578 | 340,578 | Excellent range, low aim assist | The Guiding Sight | Same | Primary | ||
Scout Rifle | Precision | 3,015 | 3,489 | 204,688 | High stability, decent elsewhere | Royal Chase | Same | Primary | ||
Hand Cannon | Aggressive | 2,965 | 3,843 | 224,816 | High range, low stability and handling | Igneous Hammer | Same | Primary | ||
Hand Cannon | Precision | 2,865 | 3,639 | 131,004 | High stability, poor handling | Posterity | Same | Primary | ||
Pulse Rifle | Adaptive | 2,825 | 3,246 | 194,778 | High handling, decent range | The Third Axiom | Same | Primary | ||
Pulse Rifle | Rapid-Fire | 2,771 | 3,285 | 137,970 | High aim assist, low range | The Time-Worn Spire | Same | Primary | ||
Pulse Rifle | Aggressive Burst | 2,744 | 3,232 | 241,312 | Excellent range, low aim assist | Sacred Provenance | Same | Primary | ||
Hand Cannon | Adaptive | 2,724 | 3,464 | 163,295 | Good stability, decent range | Ace of Spades | Same | Primary | ||
Pulse Rifle | High-Impact | 2,720 | 3,281 | 250,128 | High range & recoil, low aim assist | The Messenger | Same | Primary | ||
Pulse Rifle | Graviton Lance | 2,707 | 2,984 | 271,733 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Pulse Rifle | Lightweight | 2,573 | 3,046 | 160,805 | Excellent handling, low range | Chattering Bone | Same | Primary | ||
Combat Bow | Lightweight | --> | 3,265 | 229,704 | 640 ms Draw time | Arsenic Bite-4b | Same | Primary | ||
Combat Bow | Precision | --> | 3,215 | 252,221 | 680 ms Draw time | Biting Winds | Same | Primary | ||
Combat Bow | Le Monarque | --> | 3,969 | 357,225 | - | - | - | Same | Primary | |
Combat Bow | Wish Ender | --> | 4,137 | 391,952 | vs. non-Taken | - | - | Same | Primary |
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 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:
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!
Latest changes
Things change fast in Destiny 2, especially the Meta. The weapons we call the best one day can completely change the next. All it takes are a few minor changes on Bungie’s end. For that reason, this ranking will be updated at least once per season.
Changes introduced this season:
The following items were added to the ranking:
- Parasite exotic
- Grand Ouverture archetype
The following weapons types received noticeable changes:
- Rocket Launchers
- Several Exotics
Seems to be broken for me? All 3 sections show heavy weapons.
That was a bad bug… Thanks a lot for letting me know, that bug would have stayed up there for a while if you hadn’t altert me. Cheers
thunderlord and heir apparent thumbnails are switched
Thanks for the heads up! It is now corrected!
What outbreak dps
seems like Tarrabah is missing from the primary weapon list.
Can you update this to the Witch Queen changes.
There is no way promethous lens deals 285k burst damage :/
You’re absolutely right. That was an error on my database (it was showing the same as Total damage). Corrected now, thanks for the heads up!
No witch queen legendary or crafted weapons are top of their class? Was curious how a crafted weapon at level 20 would stack up.
Only witch queen exotics made the cut?
Sorting by average dps on heavy weapons section shows the top 5 results out of order