[toc] In spite of recent buffs, machine guns are still going through something of an identity crisis. They are supposed to be a good DPS option against single targets, but they’re still from for that.
Having said that, when it comes to ad clear and dealing with red bar enemies, the best machine guns can easily compete with the best weapons in the game.
This guide covers every Machine gun in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendaries, as well as the best rolls for PVE and PVP.
Destiny 2 Machine Gun Tier list
The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary machine gun in the game. 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 in what area each weapon shines:
Name
Weapons
Type
Archetype
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Rank
Source
Available?
Tier rank
Source ❘ DLC
Final Verdict
Released
Perks
Commemoration
Commemoration
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Void
Beyond Light
Yes
S › Best
Deep Stone Crypt Raid
Best
❘ S
Excels in: PvE + PvP
Deep Stone Crypt Raid
Beyond Light
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Under Pressure PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Under Pressure
► Machine guns are popular in PVP because they offer an excellent ammo economy. When used right, one ammo brick can result in 4-5 kills. And Commemoration just so happens to be one of the top machine guns for PVP. It may not have as high base stats as Hammerhead, but it more than makes up for it with great perks. Commemoration has a lot of potential for PVE too. With the right perks, it can outclass most other legendary machine guns for ad clear.
Season 12
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Under Pressure PvP God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Under Pressure
Corrective Measure
Corrective Measure
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
S › Best
Vault of Glass Raid
Best
❘ S
Excels in: PvE + PvP
Vault of Glass Raid
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Subsistence) + One for All (also good: Firefly)
► Whereas Commemoration was made to shine in PVP, Corrective Measure was clearly conceived to shine in PVE. On top of the excellent base stats one should expect from a raid weapon, Corrective Measure also features best-in-class perks. With Rewind Rounds and Firefly, this could be the best ad clear legendary machine gun in the entire game.
Season 14
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Subsistence) + One for All (also good: Firefly)
THE SWARM
THE SWARM
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
S › Best
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Best
❘ S
Excels in: PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Outlaw) + One for All (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
► High-Impact machine guns currently suffer from a lack of identity. That said, THE SWARM can still be great for PVE. It packs a strong punch and can roll with perks that not only improve its lethality but also its handling. It has good base stats too and can use the top-tier Adept Big Ones mod, if you have an Adept version of the gun.
Season 13
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Outlaw) + One for All (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
Thunderlord
Thunderlord
Machine Gun
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Forsaken Pack
Yes
A › Strong
Exotic Engram
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE + PvP
Exotic Engram
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."
► Thunderlord is still (arguably) the king of machine guns for ad clear. Its ability to speed up its rate of fire and rain down lightning on enemies is no joke, even in higher-level content. However, Thunderlord receives a lot of flak for being an Exotic that may not be worth your exotic slot, especially when there are legendaries that can almost keep up with it.
Season 4
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."
Archon's Thunder
Archon's Thunder
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
A › Strong
Iron Banner
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Rampage
► Even though machine guns aren't the strongest option right now, those in the High-Impact Archetype (such as THE SWARM or Archon's Thunder) are best. If you're in need of a heavy-duty ad clear, this gun can fill that role well.
Season 14
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Rampage
Fixed Odds
Fixed Odds
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Solar
Deluxe Edition
Yes
A › Strong
Duality Dungeon
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Duality Dungeon
Deluxe Edition
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvP God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Incandescent (also good: Rampage)
► With some scattered good picks in the first column and an almost-perfect second column of perks, Fixed Odds is one of the better PvE machine guns in the game. With the recent buff to machine gun damage and unique perks such as Incandescent and Killing Tally, Fixed Odds is a great choice anywhere.
Season 17
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvP God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Incandescent (also good: Rampage)
Xenophage
Xenophage
Machine Gun
Exotic
Heavy
Solar
Shadowkeep
Yes
A › Strong
Exotic Quest
Strong
❘ A
Exotic Quest
Shadowkeep
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Fires high-powered explosive ammunition. Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification."
► Xenophage has seen many ups and downs. Unnecessary changes turned it into a joke and the weapon remained in that state for a long time. But now that Xenophage was returned to its original state, it's once again an excellent PVE weapon that never disappoints.
Season 8
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Fires high-powered explosive ammunition. Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification."
Heir Apparent
Heir Apparent
Machine Gun
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
B › Average
Event: Guardian Games
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE + PvP
Event: Guardian Games
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "This weapon can be fired only when fully spun up. While at full health, spinning up this weapon protects you with an Arc Shield."
► Heir Apparent became a true menace when it finally received a Catalyst. It was so strong, it was eventually nerfed. Heir Apparent is not what it once was anymore, but it can still shine in casual PvE thanks to its good ad-clearing capabilities and ammo economy.
Season 10
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "This weapon can be fired only when fully spun up. While at full health, spinning up this weapon protects you with an Arc Shield."
Seventh Seraph SAW
Seventh Seraph SAW
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Xûr
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
Xûr
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Vorpal Weapon
► The Seventh Seraph SAW is an excellent option for high-level PVE content. The damage that High-Impact machine guns can deal enemies is nothing to scoff at. The extra reserves from Field Prep and increased major damage from Vorpal Weapon is a perk combination that shouldn't be ignored.
Season 10
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Vorpal Weapon
Avalanche
Avalanche
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
B › Average
Event: Dawning
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
Event: Dawning
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Swashbuckler
► Avalanche is one of the weaker 450 rounds per minute machine guns. Its perks aren't any better than its competitor's and it can also 'feel' weak to use. It seems to have an odd spread pattern when firing making it not feel as accurate compared to other 450s or slower firing machine guns.
Season 12
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Swashbuckler
Grand Overture
Grand Overture
Machine Gun
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Exotic Kiosk
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Heavy slug launcher that charges, then fires full auto while the trigger is held. Land hits with the slug launcher to load missiles and then fire to launch all missiles in a single volley."
► Grand Overture is a strong option when compared to other machine guns. For example, it has one of the best DPS outputs for a machine gun right now. However, it can't be considered top-tier as it's lacking when it comes to ad clear, which is what machine guns are used for right now.
Season 16
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic
Exotic Perk: "Heavy slug launcher that charges, then fires full auto while the trigger is held. Land hits with the slug launcher to load missiles and then fire to launch all missiles in a single volley."
Recurrent Impact
Recurrent Impact
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Heavy
Stasis
Deluxe Edition
Yes
B › Average
PsiOps Battlegrounds
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
PsiOps Battlegrounds
Deluxe Edition
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Perpetual Motion) + One for All (also good: Headstone)
► Recurrent Impact edges slightly higher than its Rapid-Fire competition as it comes with the origin trait 'Land Tank' which makes you tankier with each kill. This, along with Subsistence can make you an ad clearing, tanky teammate that can mow through enemies.
Season 16
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Subsistence (also good: Perpetual Motion) + One for All (also good: Headstone)
Chain of Command
Chain of Command
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Stasis
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Exotic Kiosk
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Free-to-Play
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
Static Roll: Adrenaline Junkie + Demolitionist
► Chain of Command is a "jack of all trades, master of none" weapon. From complimenting a grenade-centric build with Adrenaline Junkie + Demolitionist to focusing on elemental shields with Osmosis or Adaptive Munitions, this machine gun can fit any role you need. That said, if you have a good Corrective Measure or THE SWARM, there's no reason to use this instead.
Season 17
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
Static Roll: Adrenaline Junkie + Demolitionist
Thermal Erosion
Thermal Erosion
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Heavy
Solar
Beyond Light
Yes
C › Weak
Empire Hunts
Weak
❘ C
Empire Hunts
Beyond Light
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Wellspring (also good: Demolitionist)
► Thermal Erosion manages to slightly outclass some of its Rapid-Fire competition as it can roll with a few stronger perks that are better suited for 'build-crafting', such as Wellspring or Demolitionist. However, in harder content, it will struggle to match the harder-hitting archetypes.
Season 12
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Wellspring (also good: Demolitionist)
A Fine Memorial
A Fine Memorial
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
C › Weak
Moon
Weak
❘ C
Moon
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Demolitionist
► A Fine Memorial can roll with a few decent perks, however, it has to face tough competition, such as Commemoration and Corrective Measure. For that reason alone, it is hard to recommend it as a top choice
Season 14
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Demolitionist
Shattered Cipher
Shattered Cipher
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
No
D › Worst
Unobtainable
Worst
❘ D
Unobtainable
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Rampage
► Shattered Cipher comes with a decent number of interesting perks, however, they all simply aren't exceptional, especially on a Rapid-Fire frame like Shattered Cipher. Field Prep is a must-have for the extra ammo it brings, but overall you will be better off using another option.
Season 14
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Field Prep + Rampage
Planck's Stride
Planck's Stride
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Heavy
Arc
Season 18
Yes
Ongoing
Seasonal activity
Ongoing...
Seasonal activity
Season 18
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 18
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
Qullim’s Terminus
Qullim’s Terminus
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Stasis
Free-to-Play
Yes
Ongoing
King's Fall Raid
Ongoing...
King's Fall Raid
Free-to-Play
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 18
Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
Retrofit Escapade
Retrofit Escapade
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Heavy
Void
Season 19
Yes
Ongoing
Seasonal activity
Ongoing...
Seasonal activity
Season 19
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 19
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
Unwavering Duty
Unwavering Duty
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Heavy
Solar
The Witch Queen
Yes
Ongoing
Trials of Osiris
Ongoing...
Trials of Osiris
The Witch Queen
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 19
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
Terminus Horizon
Terminus Horizon
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Arc
Deluxe Edition
Yes
Ongoing
Spire of the Watcher Dungeon
Ongoing...
Spire of the Watcher Dungeon
Deluxe Edition
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 19
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
God Rolls: To be confirmed...
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.
This section not only covers the top Machine guns currently in the game, but it also tells you where you can find them. This guide covers every weapon source in Destiny 2 and most of the sources below are self-explanatory, but in doubt, you can always leave a comment below or ask away on our Discord server.
Overall, these are our Top 10 favorite machine guns for PVE and PVP.
10. Avalanche
Excels in PVE
Avalanche is one of the weaker 450rpm machine guns compared to some of its competitors which appear further up the rankings. Avalanche is simply outpaced and outmatched in terms of stats, feel, and perks when compared to other options. One thing Avalanche does have going for it though is its broad selection of strong perks. Options such as Subsistence, Swashbuckler, Vorpal Weapon or Killing Wind are all strong picks that can elevate Avalanche a decent amount.
Furthermore, Avalanche is an Adaptive Frame machine gun which means it actually isn’t too bad of a pick in the Crucible. Machine guns have always been strong in PvP with their blindingly fast time-to-kill and massive flinch they provide. This, on top of being relatively easy to control, makes Avalanche an (albeit weaker) option in most places in the game.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Subsistence
Perk 2: Swashbuckler
How to get it: Avalanche can only be acquired during the Dawning event (usually in December-January).
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Avalanche
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Legendary
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
Heavy
Solar
Average
❘ B
PvE
Event: Dawning
Free-to-Play
Season 12
Heavy
No
9. Recurrent Impact
Excels in PVE
Recurrent Impact is a Rapid-Fire frame machine gun. This, for a lot of players, can be an instant turn-off as the decreased damage and stability aren’t fully compensated for by the increased rate of fire. However, Recurrent Impact is a seasonal weapon that comes with the Origin Trait known as Land Tank.
Land Tank is incredibly strong and even rivals the new raid Origin Trait that drops on all raid weapons from Vow of the Disciple. Simply, Land Tank makes you stronger with kills which, obviously, you are going to be getting a lot of with a machine gun. At 3 stacks of the Land Tank buff, you gain around a 15% damage reduction which, when stacked with some other damage reduction options, can slowly turn you into a literal land tank.
Recurrent Impact also comes with the added bonus of being craftable. This makes it a lot easier to chase the god roll and also allows you to craft the weapon with enhanced perks which objectively makes it stronger than its Rapid-Fire competition.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Subsistence (also good: Perpetual Motion)
Perk 2: One for All (also good: Headstone)
How to get it: Recurrent Impact can be acquired by completing Seasonal activities and focusing Umbral engrams.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Recurrent Impact
Machine Gun
Rapid-Fire
Legendary
Heavy
Stasis
Deluxe Edition
Yes
Heavy
Stasis
Average
❘ B
PvE
PsiOps Battlegrounds
Deluxe Edition
Season 16
Heavy
Craftable
8. Grand Overture
Excels in PVE
The new Exotic from this Season’s pass, Grand Overture, lands in 8th place in our rankings because it may pack a strong punch, but it can suffer from ammo problems and fails to have strong ad clear capabilities.
One thing that cannot be denied with Grand Overture, however, is the fun factor. Building up missiles and then being able to unload a barrage of them is a really fun and actually quite powerful option. Grand Overture is in a weird spot as it doesn’t do too well at ad clear but it doesn’t do better than other options at dealing big damage to a single target. It is sort of a ‘jack of all trades, master of none option. The barrage can be launched at adds to clear out a full wave of enemies or it can be fired at a beefier target, however, there are simply stronger options out there.
Overall, Grand Overture is a versatile option but struggles to really shine as it simply isn’t the best in any area of the game.
Exotic Perk: “Heavy slug launcher that charges, then fires full auto while the trigger is held. Land hits with the slug launcher to load missiles and then fire to launch all missiles in a single volley.”
How to get it: Grand Overture can be acquired from the Season Pass (either the paid or free track).
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Grand Overture
Machine Gun
Exotic
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Arc
Average
❘ B
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Free-to-Play
Season 16
Heavy
No
7. Heir Apparent
Excels in PVE and PVP
Heir Apparent used to be the absolute bane of the Crucible. The arc shield was ridiculously tanky and the amount of ammo you received allowed you to just mow through everyone. Nowadays, Heir Apparent isn’t as oppressive in the meta, however, it still shines as a strong pick in both PvE and PvP areas of the game.
Heir Apparent has an absolute ton of ammo both in the magazine but also in reserves allowing you to just lay on the trigger and stomp through enemies. Because of the higher reserves it also manages to hold up in higher-level content too. Another advantage that Heir Apparent has is the Arc Shield it provides when spun up. The shield can definitely help you survive, especially when receiving Arc damage.
The main downsides to Heir Apparent are that it takes up your exotic slot which is a common downside to Exotic machine guns and that it requires you to ‘spin up’ the gun before you can even begin to fire it which can be fatal if you are stuck spinning up the gun while enemies are firing at you.
Exotic Perk: “This weapon can be fired only when fully spun up. While at full health, spinning up this weapon protects you with an Arc Shield.”
How to get it: Heir Apparent can only be acquired during the Guardian Games event (usually in April-May).
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Heir Apparent
Machine Gun
Exotic
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
Heavy
Arc
Average
❘ B
PvE + PvP
Event: Guardian Games
Free-to-Play
Season 10
Heavy
No
6. Archon’s Thunder
Excels in PVE
Archon’s Thunder is the machine gun from the Iron Banner. It is the worst out of the High-Impact frames, however, this in no way means that it is a bad option as High-Impact frames really pack a punch in high-level content such as Master raids or Grandmaster Nightfalls.
Archon’s Thunder can also double down on the higher impact with a damage perk such as Rampage to really be able to deal some noticeable damage to beefier enemies in harder content. Field Prep is also excellent on Archon’s Thunder as it increases the maximum reserves that the gun can hold which is excellent for content where you simply need more ammo as enemies just have higher health pools.
Overall, despite being the weakest of the 360rpm machine guns, Archon’s Thunder is still a very strong choice in most parts of the game.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster)
Perk 2: Rampage
How to get it: Archon’s Thunder can be acquired by completing Iron Banner matches and turning in Iron Banner tokens.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Archon's Thunder
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Legendary
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
Heavy
Solar
Strong
❘ A
PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 14
Heavy
No
5. Seventh Seraph SAW
Excels in PVE
The Seventh Seraph SAW is a very strong option. Not only can it create Warmind Cells, which can provide some nice utility effects despite the nerfs that Warmind Cells have seen, but it is also a High-Impact frame meaning it is able to output more damage and therefore more killing potential in all difficulties in PvE content.
As with many other machine guns, Field Prep is a brilliant choice for the Seventh Seraph LMG as machine guns can really burn through ammo meaning that extra few bullets can really make a difference.
Seventh Seraph SAW can also roll with a couple other of interesting perks in the first perk slot such as Clown Cartridge or Auto-Loading Holster which both provide some very nice utility to the weapon by either extending the magazine or making sure your gun is always ready to go. In the second slot, the gun can roll with two noticeably strong options, those being Vorpal Weapon and Firing Line. Both increase damage by 15% and 20% respectively and can help the LMG out when it comes to Elite (yellow-bar) enemies.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Field Prep
Perk 2: Vorpal Weapon
How to get it: Seventh Seraph SAW can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities or via Legendary and Prime engrams.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Seventh Seraph SAW
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Legendary
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Arc
Average
❘ B
PvE
Xûr
Free-to-Play
Season 10
Heavy
No
4. Thunderlord
Excels in PVE and PVP
Thunderlord still reigns strong in the machine gun weapon type as its lightning-quick ability to clear ads with its lightning bolts from the sky is near second to none (it is also super cool which nets it bonus points). It is still the unarguable king of machine guns when it comes to heavy weapons and with its increasing fire rate, as you hold the trigger down, it becomes good for mounting damage on yellow bar enemy.
Unfortunately, Thunderlord comes with the common downside of being exotic which in itself sounds ironic, but by being an exotic weapon, it restricts you into running legendaries in your other slots which can be replaced by other valuable exotics.
Thunderlord also receives some flak for not doing its job of being the add clearing king that much better than some of its competition and while this partly rings true, Thunderlord should not be scoffed at and if machine guns ever receive a noticeable buff, Thunderlord should be one of the first things you turn to.
Exotic Perk: “Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time.”
How to get it: Thunderlord can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Thunderlord
Machine Gun
Exotic
Exotic
Heavy
Arc
Forsaken Pack
Yes
Heavy
Arc
Strong
❘ A
PvE + PvP
Exotic Engram
Forsaken Pack
Season 4
Heavy
No
3. Commemoration
Excels in PVE and PVP
The Commemoration is an incredibly powerful option. The Deep Stone Crypt machine gun can roll with perks that are unique to the Deep Stone Crypt raid, and some of these perks are amazing.
One perk that is undeniably insane on Commemoration is Reconstruction. This perk, while not firing, reloads itself by 10% of its total magazine every 4 seconds, this perk can even allow you to have a magazine size double the base amount. With a magazine perk such as Extended Mag, you can see up to 146 bullets in your magazine at once if you let Reconstruction fully load up your machine gun which is incredible. However, to fully see the potential of Commemoration, you are going to want a damage perk such as Rampage or even a perk to help with add clear like Dragonfly. Both of these perks (especially Rampage) when combined with Reconstruction can reign havoc practically everywhere in the game.
Commemoration is also one of the stronger options in PvP too, with an open scope, you can easily see a lot of what is in front of you. This, combined with the fact that it is an Adaptive frame, allows it to lay down some damage and net you free, easy kills in the Crucible.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Reconstruction
Perk 2: Under Pressure (also good: Rampage)
PVP God roll:
Perk 1: Dynamic Sway Reduction
Perk 2: Under Pressure
How to get it: Commemoration can be acquired by completing the Deep Stone Crypt raid.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Commemoration
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Legendary
Heavy
Void
Beyond Light
Yes
Heavy
Void
Best
❘ S
PvE + PvP
Deep Stone Crypt Raid
Beyond Light
Season 12
Heavy
Craftable
2. Corrective Measure
Excels in PVE
Corrective Measure, the Vault of Glass machine gun, is the best Adaptive frame machine gun in the game right now. It can roll with terrific perks, feels incredible, has an easy-to-use scope, and also comes with a ‘Timelost’ version of the weapon. The Corrective Measure can roll with the Vault of Glass specific perk called Rewind Rounds which is an incredibly powerful option that refills the magazine from reserves based on the number of hits in the magazine. This allows you to lay on the trigger and deal incredible damage, especially with a perk such as One For All or another Vault of Glass exclusive perk (somewhat), Firefly. Both of these perks can help with add clear and allow you to take the Corrective Measure to another level.
As mentioned earlier, Corrective Measure has a ‘Timelost’ variant which is essentially just an Adept version of the gun that can only be obtained through the completion of Master Vault of Glass when Atheon is dropping Timelost loot.
Unfortunately, the Timelost Corrective Measure doesn’t roll with Rewind Rounds, but it does roll with the next best thing which is Subsistence. The best part about Timelost Corrective Measure though is that you don’t have to grind out a specific drop, it comes with a curated drop. Timelost loot can also equip ‘Adept’ Mods such as Adept Big Ones which is a powerful option when it comes to Machine Guns as it can give it that little bump needed against Elite enemies.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Rewind Rounds (also good: Subsistence)
Perk 2: One for All (also good: Firefly)
How to get it: Corrective Measure can be acquired by completing the first, third or fifth encounter of the Vault of Glass raid.
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
Corrective Measure
Machine Gun
Adaptive
Legendary
Heavy
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Void
Best
❘ S
PvE + PvP
Vault of Glass Raid
Free-to-Play
Season 14
Heavy
No
1. THE SWARM
Best PVE Machine gun in Destiny 2
The Swarm is the perfect machine gun for high-level content. It ticks every box, it has good perks, it is a High-Impact Frame, it has good base stats and it even has an Adept variant, previously obtainable (and potentially obtainable in the future) in Grandmaster Nightfalls. High-Impact Frames are already able to output higher damage than the rest of the competition, but when you are able to add on perks that not only increase damage (on top of the additional damage from Adept Big Ones) but also get perks that improve the feel of the gun such as Surplus, Bottomless Grief or even Outlaw, you can begin to see why The Swarm is such a favorable option.
Even if you aren’t able to snag the adept form of the gun, it is still an incredible option due to its base stats, general feel, and incredible perk selection as in each column there are at least 3 perks that are powerful choices. Simply put, The Swarm outpaces the competition due to its superior frame, excellent perk pool, and Adept variant.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Surplus (also good: Outlaw)
Perk 2: One for All (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
How to get it: THE SWARM can be acquired by completing Nightfall: The Ordeals (the highest difficulties have increased drop rates).
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Craftable?
Requires
Released
Slot
Can be Crafted?
THE SWARM
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Legendary
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
Heavy
Arc
Best
❘ S
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Free-to-Play
Season 13
Heavy
No
Machine Guns in PVP: Lethality & TTK
TTK is particularly important in PVP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. You can read all about it in our TTK guide below.
This TTK guide includes the TTKs for every primary weapon in Destiny 2. This means you won’t find machines guns on there, but trust me when I tell you machine guns have blazing fast TTKs. Plus, they offer generous amounts of ammo when picking up a Heavy brick in the Crucible, allowing you to dispose of 2 or 3 enemies with ease if you are careful.
That can’t be said of almost every other Heavy weapon type in the game. Granted, a rocket launcher could grant you a triple kill, but that will be a rare occurrence. That alone makes machine guns a strong pick, especially in 6v6 modes where chaining kills comes easier.
Machine guns in PVE: Ad clearing
DPS is important for PVE, because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major.
But before we look into damage numbers and ease of use (two of the most important factors to take into account in PVE), we need to be clear about the role machine guns are supposed to fill. According to Bungie, these are the different roles 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 using a machine gun, you’re looking for an ad clear or single target damage weapon. The ad clear part of the equation is clearly achieved, as machine guns excel at ad clearing. Unfortunately, that can’t be said for single target damage.
This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2. When it comes to actual DPS, machine guns still leave a lot to be desired:
-
Weapon Type
Archetype
Average DPS
Burst DPS
Total Damage
Specs
---
Best in Class
Change?
Ammo
Destiny 2 Machine guns: Are they Meta?
We already covered the best machine guns for PVE and PVP, but how do they compare, in general, with other Heavy weapon types? In other words:
Are machine guns good in Destiny 2?
The current Meta for PVE
So, are machine guns good in Destiny 2 PVE? This table summarizes how the several Heavy weapon types rank against each other in PVE:
Weapon Type
Rank
Tier
Trend
Role ❘ Current State
Category
Swords
B › Average
Average
❘ B
► Main roles: Add Clear & Single Target damage (i.e. Boss damage).
► Swords have fallen slightly out of the meta since the days of Falling Guillotine, however, they are still a solid pick. Swords like The Lament and Heartshadow are both solid options for slaying majors and dealing good boss damage. They are unfortunately very risky, though, and when Linear Fusion Rifles deal the incredible amount of damage they do right now, it is difficult to recommend Swords.
► Best Archetype: Exotics - Example: The Lament
PVE Heavies
Rocket Launchers
A › Strong
Strong
❘ A
-
► Main role: Burst Damage (Secondary role: Add Clear)
► Rocket Launchers are solid options. They deal good burst damage and are effective for killing high-health targets like Majors quickly. Their ammo economy is poor, unfortunately, meaning that you will need to be conservative with how you use your rockets.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive (20 RPM) - Example: The Hothead
PVE Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles
S › Best
Best
❘ S
► Main role: Single Target damage (Secondary role: Burst Damage)
► Linear Fusion Rifles are the cream of the crop. They can deal very high damage consistently. They have solid DPS and incredible total damage, making them amazing for Raids and other high-level pieces of content. There are also plenty of strong options right now, including the Taipan-4FR or Cataclysmic, which both come with excellent perks and have good damage.
► Best Archetype: Precision (533 RPM) - Example: Reed's Regret
PVE Heavies
Machine Guns
B › Average
Average
❘ B
-
► Main role: Add Clear
► Machine Guns are a different kind of Power weapon. Instead of focusing on boss damage (outside of Xenophage), Machine Guns focus on ad clear. And they are excellent at ad clear, especially Thunderlord; however, given that abilities and primary weapons are excellent at add clear, Machine Guns are currently mediocre options for your Heavy slot.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example:
PVE Heavies
Grenade Launchers
D › Worst
Worst
❘ D
► Main role: Add Clear (Secondary role: Single Target Damage).
► Grenade Launchers are in a very sad state right now. Outside of maybe Typhon GL5, Heavy Grenade Launchers are in a terrible spot. They do not have great boss damage and also do not have good add clear, making them very, very pointless in all content.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Typhon GL5
PVE Heavies
Exotic Sniper Rifles
C › Weak
Weak
❘ C
-
► Main role: Single Target damage
► Exotic Snipers are very niche. They are far from the top of the meta right now as they are simply harder to use and in many ways inferior to Linear Fusion Rifles.
► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Whisper of the Worm
PVE Heavies
The current Meta for PVP
What about PVP? This table summarizes how they rank against each other in PVP:
Weapon Type
Rank
Tier
Trend
Role ❘ Current State
Category
Rocket Launchers
S › Best
Best
❘ S
-
► Rocket Launchers remain a staple in many players' loadouts. They can provide high-range one-shot kills, and can also do AoE damage which can potentially allow you to clear teams if they are close enough together.
► Best Archetype: Precision (15 RPM) - Example: Gjallarhorn
PVP Heavies
Machine Guns
A › Strong
Strong
❘ A
-
► Machine Guns are still an incredible option for Control as they can provide many kills. However, they do require multiple shots to kill which can lead to you potentially being Sniped or peak-shot by a Primary Weapon.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive (450 RPM) - Example: Corrective Measure
PVP Heavies
Grenade Launchers
S › Best
Best
❘ S
► Heavy Grenade Launchers are an incredible option for those who are confident in landing their direct hits. They can functionally serve as a Rocket Launcher, but instead of coming with only a single shot, Grenade Launchers can bring 3, which, of course, means more potential kills.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Memory Interdict
PVP Heavies
Swords
C › Weak
Weak
❘ C
-
► Swords are perhaps the most fun option (especially with Eager Edge), however, they are too inconsistent to warrant any competitive use. Furthermore, benefitting from third-person view is no longer possible without Heavy ammo, making the only niche usage swords had now redundant.
► Best Archetype: Adaptive/Lightweight- Examples: Half-Truths/Quickfang
PVP Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles
C › Weak
Weak
❘ C
Linear fusion rifles are in the middle of an identity crisis. They are stronger than sniper rifles and have more aim assistance, but they still require Heavy ammo and a headshot to one-shot an enemy.
On top of that, they also have a charge time to take into account. Compared to a sniper rifle that fires immediately and only uses Special ammo, Linear Fusion rifles make little sense for the Crucible. In PVP, you want a Heavy weapon that can either easily down several guardians or guarantee a kill in a high-stakes match. It isn't impossible to do with a linear fusion rifle, but other weapon types can accomplish that more easily.
PVP Heavies
Your turn
You now know everything there is to know about machine guns in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.
About The Author
Matthew Evans
Games have been a part of my life for the better part of my age, I've been hooked on them for years, and Destiny 2 is no exception. I've racked up countless hours and plenty of experience, which I hope to share with Blueberries who want to get involved with Destiny.
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