Best Hand Cannons in Destiny 2: Tier List (Heresy Meta)

Hand cannons have been at the top of the PvP Meta since the early days of Destiny 1. 10 years later, they remain at the top for the Crucible. And thanks to a few notable buffs recently released, Hand cannons have become meta for PvE too. 

This guide covers all Hand Cannons in Destiny 2 and their best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.

Top Tier Hand Cannons (Episode 3)

This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary Hand cannons right now, including the reissued The Fatebringer and The Palindrome:

Item	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
Exalted Truth	Exalted Truth Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Void	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	Trials of Osiris		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Destabilizing Rounds + One for All or Repulsor Brace PvP God Roll: Slideshot or Keep Away + Precision Instrument or Opening Shot ► Exalted Truth’s newest version is arguably one of the best hand cannons in the game. With a host of options for both PvE and PvP, this hand cannon is something to chase for all players.	Season 19	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Destabilizing Rounds + One for All or Repulsor Brace PvP God Roll: Slideshot or Keep Away + Precision Instrument or Opening Shot	Top-tier
Warden's Law	Warden's Law Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy ) PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip ► While Warden's Law is only known for one thing (absurdly high DPS with the Hunter's Lucky Pants), it does exceptionally well at it. Although it definitely isn't a meta pick outside of that one use case, that alone bursts it above most of the pack; plus, it's an extremely fun and unique gun to use regardless!	Season 22	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy ) PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip	Top-tier
Fatebringer	Fatebringer Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Vault of Glass Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Frenzy (also good: Firefly ) PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload or Opening Shot and Eye of the Storm ► Overall, Fatebringer is amazing in PvE thanks to the Origin Trait and solid perk combos available on the weapon. In PvP, Fatebringer is a good competitor, but it is slightly worse than some of the top options.	Episode 3	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Frenzy (also good: Firefly ) PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload or Opening Shot and Eye of the Storm	Top-tier
Sunshot	Sunshot Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Engram		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy." ► While it may not have access to the Season 23 Artifact that made it truly pop, Sunshot continues to dominate the current PvE meta. Even if you aren't rocking a Solar build, this weapon is a great option for any PvE activity you dive into.	Season 1	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy."	Top-tier
Malfeasance	Malfeasance Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Quest		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders." ► Malfeasance has always been a fascinating weapon, and with the buffs to Hand Cannons, it quickly became one of the strongest Kinetic Primaries in the game, especially against Taken enemies. Malfeasance is even stronger when using the Lucky Pants Exotic, allowing for ridiculous damage.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."	Top-tier
Zaouli’s Bane	Zaouli’s Bane Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	King's Fall Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent ► On top of offering excellent base stats (which can only be expected from a raid weapon), the Zaouli's Bane can also roll with an extremely lethal and unique perk combination: Explosive Payload + Incandescent. With a strong Solar 3.0 Build, a Zaouli's Bane with Incandescent can be a monster in mid to high-end PvE content.	Season 18	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent	Top-tier
Midnight Coup	Midnight Coup Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Onslaught Activity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Firefly or Explosive Payload + Frenzy or One for All ► Midnight Coup offers a plethora of perks. While the classic Outlaw and Rampage combo is still strong, Midnight Coup offers insane perk combinations that set it apart, and help it excel, be it for ad clear or taking down Majors.	Into the Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Firefly or Explosive Payload + Frenzy or One for All	Top-tier
Yesterday's Question	Yesterday's Question Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Primary	Arc	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	Trials of Osiris		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Voltshot) ► Yesterday's Question is effectively an energy slot version of Warden's Law. Nation of Beasts and similar options may continue to be more popular picks for those who don't like the Heavy Burst frame, but these weapons combined with Lucky Pants are a force to be reckoned with.	Episode 2	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Voltshot)	Top-tier
Ace of Spades	Ace of Spades Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Kiosk		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights." ► Arguably the best 140 RPM hand cannon in the game, Ace of Spades has a lot to offer. With excellent base stats and some of the best perks around, namely Momento Mori, which is like Kill Clip on steroids and the ability to see your radar while zoomed in, this weapon has a bit of everything.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights."	Top-tier
Thorn	Thorn Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Kiosk		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage." ► Thorn has rocketed right back into the meta with the release of its Exotic Catalyst. This catalyst provides practically everything: Range, Mobility, Handling, and Stability upon a single kill, or absorbing a remnant. This allows for constant kill-chaining and lets good players take over any lobby.	Season 6	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage."	Top-tier
Hawkmoon	Hawkmoon Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	S › Best	Xûr		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Xûr Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus." ► Hawkmoon is one of the strongest Exotic Hand Cannons in PvP. It can consistently 2-tap (and even 1-tap) opposing Guardians, provided you are accurate enough. In the hands of an experienced player, Hawkmoon is definitely something to fear.	Season 12	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus."	Top-tier
Rose	Rose Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Lightweight	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Playlist: Crucible		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Explosive Payload (also good: Eye of the Storm) ► Rose was a reward from competitive PvP, so it makes sense that it's a monster in The Crucible. The weapon has absurd stats and perks that allow it to rocket past its competition. Sure, it's harder to obtain than other options, but this grind is easily worth it if you're an avid Crucible player.	Season 19	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Explosive Payload (also good: Eye of the Storm)	Top-tier
Lumina	Lumina Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration." ►Lumina is one of the most unique Exotics in Destiny 2, allowing you to heal allies and spread one of the most potent damage buffs in the game. If you're looking to optimize a DPS phase—or want to play a more significant support role—this is a fantastic pick. This applies to PvP too.	Season 7	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration."	Top-tier
Austringer	Austringer Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Presage		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Presage Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder) ► With a fanbase that rivals that of Spare Rations, nearly everyone was waiting for the day that Austringer came back. That day has come, and Austringer is once again a great pick for anything in the game. With amazing stats, even better perks, and the ability to be crafted, it's hard to not see why people love this weapon.	Season 17	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder)	Top-tier
Word of Crota	Word of Crota Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Precision	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Crota's End Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Crota's End Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Demolitionist) + Sword Logic (also good: Destabilizing Rounds) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Sword Logic ► Word of Crota is in the running for the best 180 RPM hand cannon in the game, competing with other top-tier options such as Posterity. While it continues to be difficult to recommend 180 RPM options over other archetypes, Word of Crota excels in its own field and could become a top option with future sandbox changes.	Season 22	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Demolitionist) + Sword Logic (also good: Destabilizing Rounds) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Sword Logic	Top-tier
Sightline Survey	Sightline Survey Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Precision	Primary	Arc	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	A › Strong	Echoes Activities		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Enlightened Action + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Fragile Focus) + Kill Clip (also good: Precision Instrument) ► While 180 RPM hand cannons are notoriously disliked (especially in PvE), Sightline Survey is one of the best of the bunch. Offering some solid perks for all areas of the game, it may be with grinding if you're a fan of the way it feels to use.	The Final Shape	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Enlightened Action + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Fragile Focus) + Kill Clip (also good: Precision Instrument)	Top-tier
Nation of Beasts	Nation of Beasts Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	Forsaken Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Last Wish Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Eddy Current) + Voltshot (also good: Collective Action) ► Nation of Beasts was treated well with the Last Wish weapon refresh. While it's not the absolute strongest option out there, it's one of the best pairings for Arc builds in PvE.	Season 4	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Eddy Current) + Voltshot (also good: Collective Action)	Top-tier
Ancient Gospel	Ancient Gospel Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Void	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Garden of Salvation Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Garden of Salvation Raid Shadowkeep Pack	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Destabilizing Rounds + Explosive Payload ► Garden of Salvation loot finally got a refresh, and it caused weapons like Ancient Gospel to finally have a place in the meta once more. Especially with Destabilizing Rounds in the first column, Ancient Gospel is a great option for Void subclass users.	Season 8	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Destabilizing Rounds + Explosive Payload	Top-tier
Posterity	Posterity Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Precision	Primary	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Rapid Hit) + One for All (also good: Rampage) ► With an extremely strong perk pool and amazing stats, Posterity is easily one of the best 180 RPM Hand Cannon in the game. The problem is it belongs to the weak Precision Frame archetype... While it isn't the best choice now, it might be worth picking up a roll you like when 180s get buffed.	Season 12	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Rapid Hit) + One for All (also good: Rampage)	Top-tier
Bold Endings	Bold Endings Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Primary	Stasis	The Final Shape	Yes	A › Strong	The Pale Heart		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Headstone (also good: Rapid-Hit) + Demolitionist or Collective Action ► Bold Endings has some stiff competition from Warden's Law, and people tend to still prefer the latter. While Bold Endings does well in the stat department, Warden's Law is better at what heavy burst hand cannons are primarily used for: boss damage.	The Final Shape	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Headstone (also good: Rapid-Hit) + Demolitionist or Collective Action	Top-tier
Maahes HC4	Maahes HC4 Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit or Repulsor Brace + Frenzy or Destabilizing Rounds ► As with many other Void weapons in the game, Maahes HC4 greatly benefitted from the recent Destabilizing Rounds buff. Despite it not recieving too much press, this weapon is outstanding as both a workhorse option and one to synergize with Void builds.	The Final Shape	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit or Repulsor Brace + Frenzy or Destabilizing Rounds	Top-tier
Unloved	Unloved Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Primary	Strand	The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Yes	A › Strong	Sundered Doctrine Dungon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Sundered Doctrine Dungon The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Hatchling) + Frenzy (also good: Elemental Honing) ► Unloved is a decent utility option in PvE, especially as Heavy Burst Hand Cannons are quite good for damage.	Episode 3	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Hatchling) + Frenzy (also good: Elemental Honing)	Top-tier
Crimil's Dagger	Crimil's Dagger Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	A › Strong	Iron Banner		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Rangefinder (also good: Outlaw ) + Kill Clip ► Though Aggressive Frame Hand Cannons were significantly nerfed a while ago, Crimil's can still two-tap with Kill Clip active. However, without the perk active, Crimil's Dagger (and any other 120 RPM hand cannon) lags behind the competition in PVP.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Rangefinder (also good: Outlaw ) + Kill Clip	Top-tier
Igneous Hammer	Igneous Hammer Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Primary	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Rampage ► Igneous Hammer definitely isn't as popular as it was when it was first released, but the weapon still sees use in all areas of the game. With excellent stats and some top-tier perks on its side, Igneous continues to be one of the better 120 RPM hand cannons available.	Season 13	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Rampage	Top-tier
Cantata-57	Cantata-57 Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Gunsmith		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Gunsmith Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder ) ► Cantata-57 has definitely lost popularity since its initial release with The Witch Queen, but that doesn't mean it's not worth using! With a well-rounded balance of great perks and stats, this hand cannon still rivals top picks in The Crucible while being easier to obtain.	Season 16	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder )	Top-tier
Luna's Howl	Luna's Howl Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Precision	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Onslaught Activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Encore or Eye of the Storm + Magnificent Howl or Kill Clip ► Given that Magnificent Howl was nerfed, Luna’s won’t be as overpowered as it used to be. However, its new suite of perks makes it one of the most powerful 140s for PvP, plus, it has the stats of a precision frame in terms of accuracy. This is a perfect dueling weapon for the hand cannon aficionados.	Into the Light	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Encore or Eye of the Storm + Magnificent Howl or Kill Clip	Top-tier
The Palindrome	The Palindrome Hand Cannon	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload (also good: Elemental Capacitor) + Magnificent Howl (also good: Opening Shot) ► Even with its new element, The Palindrome fails to compete with top dogs like Sunshot and Zaouli’s Bane. Regardless, the weapon offers a solid selection of perks that allow it to excel, especially for those wanting an Arc option.	Episode 3	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload (also good: Elemental Capacitor) + Magnificent Howl (also good: Opening Shot)	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Hand Cannons: Complete List

These are all the viable Hand Cannons currently in the game:

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?
	Ace of Spades	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 4	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Crimson	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvP	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 2	Kinetic	No
	Eriana's Vow	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	Special	Solar	B › Average	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	No	Shadowkeep Pack	Season 8	Energy	No
	Hawkmoon	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvP	Xûr	No	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Lumina	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 7	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Malfeasance	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	No	Free-to-Play	Season 4	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Sturm	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	D › Worst	-	Exotic Kiosk	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Kinetic	No
	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
	The Last Word	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 5	Kinetic	No
	Thorn	Hand Cannon	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 6	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Ancient Gospel	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	Primary	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Garden of Salvation Raid	Yes	Shadowkeep Pack	Season 8	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Annual Skate	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	Austringer	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Presage	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 17	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Better Devils	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Strand	B › Average	PvE	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	The Final Shape	Kinetic	No
	Bold Endings	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	The Final Shape	Yes	Primary	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	The Pale Heart	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Bottom Dollar	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	C › Weak	-	Playlist: Gambit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Cantata-57	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvP	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Combined Action	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	C › Weak	-	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	No		Voltshot
	Crimil's Dagger	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvP	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Crisis Inverted	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	C › Weak	-	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No
	D.F.A.	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	D › Worst	-	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 17	Kinetic	No
	Dire Promise	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Kinetic	No
	Epochal Integration	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Seasonal activity	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	No
	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
	Exuviae	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Episode 2: Revenant	Yes	Primary	Stasis	B › Average	PvE	Revenant Activities	No	Episode 2: Revenant	Episode 2	Kinetic	No
	Eyasluna	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	30th Anniversary	Yes	Primary	Stasis	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon	No	30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Kinetic	No
	Fatebringer	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Vault of Glass Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Episode 3	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Finite Impactor	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Arc	D › Worst	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	Frontier's Cry	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	D › Worst	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No
	Igneous Hammer	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	The Final Shape	Season 13	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	IKELOS_HC_v1.0.3	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Void	C › Weak	-	Operation: Seraph's Shield	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 19	Energy	Craftable		Repulsor Brace
	Judgment	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	C › Weak	-	Prophecy Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Kinetic	No
	Kept Confidence	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Strand	B › Average	PvP	Xûr	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	Craftable
	Loud Lullaby	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	Moon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Luna's Howl	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	PvP	Onslaught Activity	No	Free-to-Play	Into the Light	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Maahes HC4	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	A › Strong	PvE	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	The Final Shape	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Malediction	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	PvP	Playlist: Pursuit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	No
	Midnight Coup	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Onslaught Activity	No	Free-to-Play	Into the Light	Kinetic	No	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors
	Nation of Beasts	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Last Wish Raid	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Season 4	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Nature of the Beast	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No
	Optative	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	B › Average	PvE	Undying	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Energy	Craftable
	Posterity	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot,Reconstruction
	Pure Poetry	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	Vanguard Focusing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	No
	Rose	Hand Cannon	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvP	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 19	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Round Robin	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Primary	Strand	B › Average	PvP	Neomuna	Yes	Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	Craftable
	Seventh Seraph Officer Revolver	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	D › Worst	PvE	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Kinetic	No		Reconstruction
	Sightline Survey	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Echoes Activities	Yes	Episode 1: Echoes	The Final Shape	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Something New	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Timed-Event	Primary	Stasis	B › Average	-	Event: Solstice	No	Free-to-Play	Season 17	Kinetic	No
	Spare Rations	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	PvP	Fishing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Kinetic	No		Kinetic Tremors
	Survivor's Epitaph	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	PvP	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Targeted Redaction	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	C › Weak	PvE	Xûr	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	Craftable
	The Palindrome	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 3	Energy	No	Top-tier
	The Steady Hand	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Kinetic	D › Worst	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Kinetic	No
	True Prophecy	Hand Cannon	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	PvP	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Kinetic	No
	Trust	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Playlist: Gambit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Unloved	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Strand	The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Yes	Primary	Strand	A › Strong	PvE	Sundered Doctrine Dungon	No	The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Episode 3	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Vulpecula	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	D › Worst	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No
	Waking Vigil	Hand Cannon	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	B › Average	PvP	Shattered Throne Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No		Voltshot
	Warden's Law	Hand Cannon	Heavy Burst	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Word of Crota	Hand Cannon	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Crota's End Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Sword Logic
	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

Tier Ranks used for our list:

• S+ Tier – Meta: Weapons so good they singlehandedly shifted the current meta
• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Either decent weapons or weapons that fit a very specific niche/use case.
• C Tier – Weak: Mediocre weapons that are easily outclassed by the competition.
• D Tier – Worst: Weapons that don’t have much to offer and don’t deserve your attention.

Best D2 Hand Cannons Today

Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best hand cannons in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):

5. Warden’s Law

Excels in PvE

Coming in at #5 on our list is currently one of the most unique legendary weapons in the game: Warden’s Law.

Even though Bungie has recently added more entries to the heavy burst frame, they simply don’t compare to Warden’s Law. And while it only has one purpose in the current meta, its strengths in that area are enough to boost it above most of its competition.

When combined with the Lucky Pants Hunter exotic, Warden’s Law can pump out absurdly high DPS. Many still prefer other options that take special and heavy ammo instead, but having a weapon that’s easy to use and never runs out of ammo for DPS is still extremely desirable.

Sure, Warden’s Law may be nothing more than a fun pick for Warlocks and Titans, but its unmatched DPS strength on the Hunter class is enough to boost it above most of the competition. These are the top Warden’s Law God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: ourth Time’s the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy )
• PvP God roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip

How to get it: Warden’s Law is a Nightfall Weapon that can be acquired from Nightfall completions, Engrams, and/or rank-ups.

Name: Warden's Law

Type: Hand Cannon Archetype: Heavy Burst

Ammo: Primary Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: Season 22

Source: Nightfall: The Ordeals Requires: Free-to-Play

4. Malfeasance

Excels in PvE

Originally released as one of the weakest exotics out at the time, Malfeasance now excels in many PvE activities.

The most obvious pairing for Malfeasance is the same as Warden’s Law: Lucky Pants. While only Hunters can take advantage of the synergy, the damage you can put out with this combination of exotics is absurd.

Even so, Malfeasance can hold its ground without Lucky Pants just as well. With high base damage through Explosive Shadow, a boost to damage against Taken enemies with Taken Predator, Vorpal Weapon with its catalyst, and the ability to stun Unstoppable champions, Malfeasance can do just about anything. While deciding to run this over a different exotic is something you’ll rarely see, the intrinsic power of Malfeasance is unparalleled.

Exotic Perk: “Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders.”

How to get it: We cover How to get Malfeasance + Catalyst here.

Name: Malfeasance

Type: Hand Cannon Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Primary Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: Season 4

Source: Exotic Quest Requires: Free-to-Play

3. Lumina

Excels in PVE and PVP

Lumina is the premier support Exotic, allowing you to heal and empower allies with ease.

In PvE, Lumina’s 35% damage bonus is one of the highest in the game. Banner Shield is the only one that surpasses it at 40%, but that requires someone to be locked in a Super. This makes Lumina a powerful option in casual and hardcore content alike.

Lumina increases damage by 15% in The Crucible, which is still significant. Its healing abilities are also potent here and can quickly help teammates cheat death. This weapon is the clear choice for Guardians wanting to strengthen their support role in a fireteam. Plus, you’ll reap the rewards in the form of your own damage buff.

Exotic Perk: “Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip-fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration.”

How to get it: Lumina can be acquired from Exotic engrams or occasionally from Xûr.

Name: Lumina

Type: Hand Cannon Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Primary Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: Season 7

Source: Exotic Kiosk Requires: Forsaken Pack

2. Fatebringer

Excels in PVE and PVP

Fatebringer has always been a fan-favorite Hand Cannon, thanks to the weapon’s punchy feel and overall strength. While the perk refresh isn’t as exciting as some might have hoped, Fatebringer retains its status as a meta option for both PvE and PvP.

In PvE, Fatebringer comes with some typical Hand Cannon perks like Explosive Payload and Frenzy and its staple Firefly perk. All these, and a few others, such as the new Elemental Honing perk, will be decent options for PvE.

In PvP, Fatebringer has never really been the top dog, but it has always been a viable pick. Currently, options such as Rose and Igneous Hammer are the best Hand Cannons in PvP, but Fatebringer shouldn’t be slept on as a viable alternative. Fatebringer is STier for PvE and A-tier for PvP. These are the top Fatebringer God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Explosive Payload + Frenzy (also good: Firefly)
• PvP God roll: Explosive Payload or Opening Shot + Eye of the Storm

How to get it: Fatebringer can be acquired from the King’s Fall Raid.

Name: Fatebringer

Type: Hand Cannon Archetype: Adaptive

Ammo: Primary Element: Kinetic

Craftable: Yes Released: Episode 3

Source: Vault of Glass Raid Requires: Free-to-Play

1. Sunshot

Excels in PvE

Sunshot has consistently been an outstanding weapon throughout Destiny 2’s history but recently has become one of the best PvE weapons in the game. Even without any synergies, Sunshot is able to dominate most PvE activities. With relatively high damage per shot and explosions that do a fair bit of work as well, Sunshot is perhaps the smoothest-feeling ad clearing hand cannon Destiny 2 has to offer.

Finding synergies within the Solar subclasses, however, is where Sunshot takes off. Both Solar subclasses and Sunshot are absurdly powerful on their own, but utilizing fragments like Ember of Empyrean or Solar-based seasonal mods pushes their potency to its limit.

While some cases may call for different hand cannons or primary weapons entirely, Sunshot is both fun and strong, making it one of the best weapons currently obtainable in Destiny 2.

Exotic Perk: “This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy.”

How to get it: We cover How to get Sunshot + Catalyst here.

Name: Sunshot

Type: Hand Cannon Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Primary Element: Solar

Craftable: No Released: Season 1

Source: Exotic Engram Requires: Free-to-Play

Hand Cannons and the PvP Meta: TTK

We covered which  Hand Cannons are considered top-tier (and should be farmed) and which ones can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other primary weapons in PvP?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Hand Cannons feel great right now and can deal with all the other meta options, provided they are in the hands of a skilled player. They are unbelievably forgiving in terms of aim-assist and can compete at solid ranges. Hand Cannons are the jack of all trades, and while they may not dominate up close or far away, they are incredibly scary to face in a mid-range duel. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Igneous Hammer	PVP Primaries
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Pulse Rifles have seen a resurgence in the past few seasons, with constant buffs to all types of Pulse Rifles. It is hard not to find success with one due to the high-flinch potential of Rapid-Fire Pulses or the lethal time-to-kill of High-Impact Pulses. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (340 RPM) - Example: The Messenger	PVP Primaries
Auto Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Auto Rifles are remarkably easy to use. Options like Khvostov or The Summoner both excel at medium range, and if you can close the gap on Pulse Rifles, you can easily take advantage of the high flinch factor and solid time-to-kill that Auto Rifles have. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 7G-0X	PVP Primaries
Sidearms	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Sidearms have lost their place at the top of the meta, but they remain a solid pick, especially for players using a Controller, as they inherently have manageable stability with a rapid time-to-kill. Honestly, the main reason they've lost their place at the top is due to how powerful SMGs are right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (325 RPM) - Example: Forgiveness	PVP Primaries
Submachine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► SMGs have lost a little bit of power as aggressive play isn't as prevalent as it once was, but you can definitely still succeed with certain SMGs, especially on close-range maps. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (720 RPM) - Example: Unending Tempest	PVP Primaries
Combat Bows	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Bows are incredibly unique. They have a remarkably slow time to kill, however, this isn't where Bows shine. Hotswap builds with bows can be incredibly potent and don't require much learning either. Bows also provide incredible value when teamshooting opponents. Despite this, Bows on their own are quite mediocre and need something behind them to really shine. ► Best Archetype: Precision (Slower Draw Time) - Example: Strident Whistle	PVP Primaries
Scout Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Scout Rifles are struggling right now. In most situations, the maps are too small to benefit the long range of a Scout rifle. An Aggressive or High-Impact Pulse Rifle will better serve your needs. Plus, Scout Rifles are abysmal up close. There are one or two outliers that shine but, on the whole, Scout Rifles are in a weak spot. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (260 RPM) - Example: Fang of Ir Yût	PVP Primaries

Remember that when it comes to PvP, TTK is perhaps the most important factor. As you know, the lower the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2.

That said, TTK is only half of the picture. With decent range and the ability to peek-shoot (shoot and cover), hand cannons are extremely powerful dueling weapons. There’s a reason the vast majority of elite PvP players main a hand cannon. Hand cannons are not the easiest to master, but they do have a high skill ceiling. Those who know how to master hand cannons will often come on top of most of their duels in The Crucible.

Hand Cannons and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Hand Cannons compare to other primary weapons in PvE?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Pulse Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Pulse Rifles are in a great place right now. They offer good range and pretty decent damage, allowing you to take down some beefier targets nicely. There are also some excellent pulses in the game right now, like Insidious, Sacred Provenance, or New Purpose. Unfortunately, High-Impact and Aggressive frames are the only archetypes worth your time, as the others rely on Exotic Perks or god rolls to compete. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (450 RPM) - Example: Insidious	PVE Primaries
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	PVE Primaries
Auto Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Auto Rifles are in a good place right now, options like Khvostov are incredibly potent, and utility picks such as No Hesitation make Auto Rifles a very solid option for those wanting to use a good Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Khvostov 76-0X	PVE Primaries
Combat Bows	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Bows are a high-damage, high-range option for players who prefer to keep their distance. The main issue with bows is that they are slow at clearing ads (outside of Trinity Ghoul). and when you have to deal with ads up close, bows can massively struggle. However, their solid range and excellent damage make them a strong option. ► Best Archetype: Precision - Example: Under Your Skin	PVE Primaries
Submachine Guns	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► SMGs are not so hot anymore, due to the buffs to other weapon archetypes, as well as the prevalence of ability usage at close range, there is little space for SMGs to compete these days. ►Best Archetype- Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven	PVE Primaries
Scout Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	PVE Primaries
Sidearms	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Aside from a few select sidearms with certain perks, there really isn't much of a reason to use Sidearms. They have slightly higher damage numbers than SMGs, but typically come with significantly less range. Outside of top-tier weapons like a god-roll Brigand's Law or High Albedo, there is no real reason to run a sidearm. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (491 RPM) - Example: High Albedo	PVE Primaries

Keep in mind that when it comes to PvE, DPS is one of the most important factors. As you know, 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.

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Special and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Trace Rifles and Best Destiny 2 Linear Fusion Rifles, too.

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