Destiny 2 Iron Banner weapons Tier List: Ranked for PVE & PVP

Iron Banner is back for the second time this season. And while the activity itself is in desperate need of a revamp, it remains a good source of Pinnacle reward, high stat armor, and a few great weapons.

Not every Iron Banner weapon is a winner, but a few of them can truly be considered some of the best in the entire game. This guide covers every Iron Banner weapon in Destiny 2, including the best rolls for PVE and PVP.

Destiny 2 Iron Banner Weapons: Ranked

The Tier list below includes every non-sunset legendary Iron Banner weapon in the game. Keep in mind that moving forwards, all Iron Banner weapons will come with the following Origin Trait:

It starts with the S Tier weapons and moves down from there. It also covers both PVE and PVP, with the “Excels in” column clearly identifying where each weapon shines:

⛔ These weapons are on a seasonal rotation. Each season, some weapons will become unobtainable to leave room for previously unavailable weapons to return.

These are the different Tier levels used for our list:

• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, 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.

Best Destiny 2 Iron Banner weapons in 2022

This section covers the top Iron Banner weapons in Destiny 2, including those that can’t be obtained this season. This can be frustrating for those of you who didn’t have a chance to get these before, but rest assured, all the unobtainable weapons will eventually return.

 

5. Archon’s Thunder

 Excels in PVE

Even though Machine Guns aren’t the PVE meta right now, Archon’s Thunder still packs a punch and is very underrated.

With its high damage per bullet, you’ll be able to chunk down both red bar enemies and Elite/Miniboss-level enemies with ease. Plus, with the chance to roll with Rampage or High-Impact Reserves in the second column, you’ll be able to get even more damage out and demolish everything standing in your way.

While LMGs can lack in DPS, they’re still a great option for some situations. Even during a boss fight they can be useful–pair this with Divinity, and you’ll have ad clear on lock while also helping your team with damage.

With its high damage per bullet and additional damage perks, Archon’s Thunder is a great pick for any PVE activity when you need some extra help with ad clear.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster)
• Perk 2: Rampage

Art	Name	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	Available?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Obtainable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Craftable?
	Archon's Thunder	Machine Gun	High-Impact	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PVE	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No

 

4. The Time-Worn Spire

Excels in PVP

With its 0.80s TTK and great perk combinations, The Time-Worn Spire is an outstanding option for any Pulse Rifle user out there.

In the first column, this pulse can roll with tons of great perks. With Slideways and Under Pressure, you can get tons upon tons of stability, making this weapon compete with some of the longest-range weapons in the game currently. Moving Target and Feeding Frenzy are also good, depending on how you play.

The second column is also filled with a couple of different amazing perks. Iron Grip provides even more stability, allowing this gun to fire in a nearly straight line. Rampage (and even Vorpal Weapon) can also be used to buff your damage a bit more.

Overall, because of its ability to get tons of stability and differing sights, The Time-Worn Spire is one of the best Pulse Rifles in the game for PVP and is never a bad option.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Under Pressure (also good: Quickdraw)
• Perk 2: Iron Grip (also good: Rampage)

Art	Name	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	Available?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Obtainable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Craftable?
	The Time-Worn Spire	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PVP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 13	Kinetic	No

 

3. Orewing’s Maul

Best PVE Iron Banner weapon in Destiny 2

While this Grenade Launcher doesn’t seem like much at first, Orewing’s Maul is actually an S-Tier pick in PVE with the right perks.

The bulk of this weapon’s utility doesn’t actually come from a perk in the last two columns; instead, it comes from a magazine option: Blinding Grenades. This perk allows this weapon to completely inhibit your enemy’s ability to fight back, allowing you to get the upper hand in a fight in seconds.

Paired with Field Prep or Auto-Loading Holster, you can blind everything in sight, something extremely useful in any PVE activity–even Grandmaster Nightfalls and Master Raids.

While special ammo Grenade Launchers aren’t amazing as a whole right now in PVE, the utility that Blinding Grenades gives is unmatched, making Orewing’s Maul a great choice.

PVE God roll:

• Perk 1: Quickdraw (also good: Field Prep)
• Perk 2: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Demolitionist)

Art

Name

Type

Archetype

Rarity

Ammo

Element

Requirements

Available?

Ammo?

Element?

Tier

Excels

Source

Obtainable?

Requires

Released

Slot

Craftable?

 

2. Riiswalker

Excels in PVP

Riiswalker is one of the best shotguns in the game as it comes with some unique perk combos, among other things.

To begin, Riiswalker is one of only two kinetic pellet shotguns in the game (that aren’t sunset) that can roll with Quickdraw. This already makes it an extremely great pick, as Quickdraw is an S-Tier perk for shotguns.

Additionally, because its an Iron Banner weapon, Riiswalker can roll with Iron Reach in the second column. This adds almost 20 range, which is the most important stat when talking about the consistency of shotguns.

Lastly, this weapon belongs to the Lightweight archetype, which gives you an extra bump in Mobility and movement speed. While not needed, these buffs are a nice cherry on top.

Riiswalker is a great special weapon for any PVP player and is one of the best shotguns in the game.

PVP God roll:

• Perk 1: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus)
• Perk 2: Iron Reach

Art	Name	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	Available?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Obtainable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Craftable?
	Riiswalker	Shotgun	Lightweight	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PVP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No

 

1. Multimach CCX

Best PVE Iron Banner weapons in Destiny 2

Submachine Guns have always been a great pick in PVP, and the Multimach CCX is one of the best out there.

Lightweight Frame SMGs in general are very good, as they have an amazing TTK at 0.67s. Additionally, they provide a nice Mobility and movement speed buff.

In the first column, Killing Wind is the best choice, giving this weapon some extra range. In the second, the two most popular options are Iron Reach (for extra range) or Kill Clip (for extra damage).

With the great traits that this can get, plus the ability to change sights, Multimach CCX is able to get insane amounts of range for an SMG, making it one of the best PVP weapons in the game.

Overall, the Multimach CCX is a great and well-rounded choice because of its quick TTK, nice intrinsic movement speed and Mobility buffs, and its ability to get near-max range.

PVP God roll:

• Perk 1: Killing Wind (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction)
• Perk 2: Kill Clip (also good: Iron Reach)

Art	Name	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	Available?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Obtainable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Craftable?
	Multimach CCX	Submachine Gun	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PVP	Iron Banner		Free-to-Play	Season 13	Kinetic	No

Your turn

You now know everything there is to know about weapons dropping from Iron Banner in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.

So, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!