Playing Destiny 2 is all about chasing the strongest weapon. That becomes obvious the second you start playing. However, true power comes from a great loadout, not a single weapon. For that reason, you will soon find yourself chasing the best D2 weapons per slot: Kinetic, Energy, and Heavy.
In this guide, we cover the best Energy weapons in Destiny 2, explain what makes them special, and provide you with a comprehensive list, including every Energy weapon in the game.
Updated as of Season of the Witch (S22).
What are Energy weapons in Destiny 2?
Energy weapons are those that can only sit on your Guardian’s Energy slot. But unlike Kinetic weapons, Energy weapons can do elemental damage: Either Solar, Arc, or Void damage.
Kinetic weapons may be able to deal more damage to unshielded enemies, but Special weapons can tear through enemy shields, as long as you use a matching element.
Kinetic and Energy weapons do have one thing in common: They both include Primary and Special ammo weapons. The more expensive Heavy ammo is reserved for Power weapons.
Pro tip: You can easily tell whether a weapon sits in the Kinetic or Energy slot simply by looking at its icon orientation. Special weapons point to the right.
Best Energy weapons in Destiny 2: Tier list
The list below includes what we consider the top-tier Energy weapons in the game for PvE and PvP.
| 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Choir of One | Auto Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Void | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes |  Special |  Void | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Quest | Yes |  Episode 1: Echoes | The Final Shape | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | |
 | Divinity | Trace Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Arc | Shadowkeep Pack | Yes | Special |  Arc | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Quest |  No |  Shadowkeep Pack | Season 8 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes |  Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Engram | No |  Free-to-Play | Season 1 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Lord of Wolves | Shotgun | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Special |  Solar | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Engram | No | Free-to-Play | Season 4 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Red Death Reformed | Pulse Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Season Pass | No | Free-to-Play | The Final Shape | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Still Hunt | Sniper Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Solar | The Final Shape | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Quest | No |  The Final Shape | The Final Shape | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Engram | No | Free-to-Play | Season 1 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Arc | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvE | Exotic Engram | No |  Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Acasia's Dejection | Trace Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Solar | Lightfall | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Root of Nightmares Raid | Yes |  Lightfall | Season 20 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent,Reconstruction |
 | Albedo Wing | Glaive | Aggressive | Legendary | Special | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Event: Dawning | No | Free-to-Play | Season 23 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Ammit AR2 | Auto Rifle | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Gunsmith | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 18 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | Beloved | Sniper Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Solar | Beyond Light Pack | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvP | Presage | Yes |  Beyond Light Pack | Season 17 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | BxR-55 Battler | Pulse Rifle | Legacy PR-55 | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Dares of Eternity | Yes | Free-to-Play | 30th Anniversary event | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | CALUS Mini-Tool | Submachine Gun | MIDA Synergy | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Beyond Light Pack | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Presage | Yes | Beyond Light Pack | Season 17 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | Chronophage | Trace Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Void | Episode 1: Echoes | Yes | Special | Void | S › Best | PvE | Echoes Activities | Yes | Episode 1: Echoes | The Final Shape | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | |
 | Claws of the Wolf | Pulse Rifle | Rapid-Fire | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | The Final Shape | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Compass Rose | Shotgun | Precision | Legendary | Special | Solar | Free-to-Play | Timed-Event | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvP | Event: Solstice | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | 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 |
 | Elsie's Rifle | Pulse Rifle | High-Impact | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvP | Onslaught Activity | No | Free-to-Play | Into the Light | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Exalted Truth | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Void | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Season 19 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Repulsor Brace |
 | Forbearance | Grenade Launcher | Wave | Legendary | Special | Arc | The Witch Queen | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE | Vow of the Disciple Raid | Yes |  Witch Queen | Season 16 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Bait and Switch |
 | Forbearance (Brave) | Grenade Launcher | Wave | Legendary | Special | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE | Onslaught Activity | No | Free-to-Play | Into the Light | Energy | No | Top-tier | Bait and Switch |
 | Gnawing Hunger | Auto Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Drifter Focusing | No | Free-to-Play | Season 11 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Greasy Luck | Glaive | Rapid-Fire | Legendary | Special | Solar | Lightfall Dungeon Key | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Ghost of the Deep Dungeon | No | Lightfall Dungeon Key | Season 21 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | 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 |
 | Horror's Least | Pulse Rifle | Rapid-Fire | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvP | Nightfall: The Ordeals | No | Free-to-Play | Season 17 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3 | Shotgun | Rapid-Fire | Legendary | Special | Solar | The Witch Queen | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Yes | Witch Queen | Season 19 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.3 | Submachine Gun | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | The Witch Queen | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Yes | Witch Queen | Season 19 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Voltshot |
 | Joxer's Longsword | Pulse Rifle | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Playlist: Crucible | No | Free-to-Play | Episode 3 | Energy | No | Top-tier | ||
 | Judgment of Kelgorath | Glaive | Aggressive | Legendary | Special | Solar | The Witch Queen | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Yes | Witch Queen | Season 19 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | Keen Thistle | Sniper Rifle | Aggressive | Legendary | Special | Solar | The Final Shape | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Episode 3 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | 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 | |
 | Matador 64 | Shotgun | Precision | Legendary | Special | Arc | 30th Anniversary | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvP | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon | No |  30th Anniversary | 30th Anniversary event | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Mechabre | Sniper Rifle | Aggressive | Legendary | Special | Arc | Free-to-Play | Timed-Event | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvP | Event: Festival of the Lost | No | Free-to-Play | Episode 2 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Voltshot |
 | Mercurial Overreach | Sniper Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvP | Crucible Competitive | No | Free-to-Play | Season 21 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Non-Denouement | Combat Bow | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Arc | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Salvation's Edge Raid | Yes | The Final Shape | The Final Shape | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Voltshot,Chaos Reshaped |
 | Nullify | Pulse Rifle | Heavy Burst | Legendary | Primary | Solar | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Salvation's Edge Raid | Yes | The Final Shape | The Final Shape | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent,Chaos Reshaped |
 | Point of the Stag | Combat Bow | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | Season 10 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Prophet of Doom | Shotgun | Precision | Legendary | Special | Arc | Shadowkeep Pack | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvP | Garden of Salvation Raid | Yes | Shadowkeep Pack | Season 8 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | |
 | Psychopomp | Grenade Launcher | Area Denial | Legendary | Special | Arc | Episode 3: Heretic | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE | Heretical Activities | No |  Episode 3: Heretic | Episode 3 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Scavenger's Fate | Shotgun | Precision | Legendary | Special | Void | Episode 2: Revenant | Yes | Special | Void | S › Best | PvP | Revenant Activities | No |  Episode 2: Revenant | Episode 2 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Shayura's Wrath | Submachine Gun | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Void | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Season 14 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Techeun Force | Fusion Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Arc | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Last Wish Raid | Yes | Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Reconstruction |
 | The Eremite | Fusion Rifle | High-Impact | Legendary | Special | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Special | Solar | S › Best | PvE | Xûr | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 22 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | |
 | The Riposte | Auto Rifle | Lightweight | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvP | Crucible Competitive | No | Free-to-Play | The Final Shape | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | The Summoner | Auto Rifle | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Season 23 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Incandescent |
 | Trustee | Scout Rifle | Rapid-Fire | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Beyond Light Pack | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Deep Stone Crypt Raid | Yes | Beyond Light Pack | Season 12 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent,Reconstruction |
 | Under Your Skin | Combat Bow | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Void | The Witch Queen | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE | Vox Obscura | Yes | Witch Queen | Season 16 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | |
 | Unexpected Resurgence | Glaive | Adaptive | Legendary | Special | Arc | The Final Shape | Yes | Special | Arc | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Season 21 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Voltshot |
 | Unvoiced | Shotgun | Pinpoint Slug | Legendary | Special | Void | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Yes | Special | Void | S › Best | PvE + PvP | Sundered Doctrine Dungon | No | The Final Shape Dungeon Key | Episode 3 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Vouchsafe | Scout Rifle | Lightweight | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | S › Best | PvE | Shattered Throne Dungeon | No | Free-to-Play | Season 13 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Yesterday's Question | Hand Cannon | Heavy Burst | Legendary | Primary | Arc | The Final Shape | Yes | Primary | Arc | S › Best | PvE | Trials of Osiris | No | The Final Shape | Episode 2 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
 | Zaouli’s Bane | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | S › Best | PvE | King's Fall Raid | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 18 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent |
As a reminder, these are the different Tier levels used for our rankings:
- S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapon types.
- A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapon types, 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.
Energy weapons list: The complete list
In case you’re looking for something much more specific (i.e., an Energy precision Fusion rifle) that you couldn’t find above, this list includes every viable Energy weapon in Destiny 2:
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Before you go…
Looking for more weapons? The following guides cover the other two weapon slots in the game:
By now, you know everything there is to know about Energy weapons in Destiny 2: What makes them special, how to recognize them, and which ones are the best. This will hopefully help you get one step closer to the perfect loadout, combining top-tier armor, mods, and weapons.
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