Best Destiny 2 Scout Rifles for PvE and PvP: 2022 Tier list

Scout rifles have come a long way. They went from the worst primary weapons in the entire game to must-have tools for endgame content. In fact, some of them are considered to be among the top weapons in Destiny 2.

Scout rifles are definitely “back,” but some archetypes remain much stronger than the rest. This guide covers every Scout Rifle in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary Scouts, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Destiny 2 Scout Rifle Tier list

The Tier list below includes every Exotic and non-sunset legendary Scout Rifle 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
Hung Jury SR4	Hung Jury SR4	Scout Rifle	Precision	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: Precision PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload (also good: Firefly) PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing ► Hung Jury was already a good Scout Rifle in PvE. However, with the recent changes to Scout in Season 17, Hung Jury can now hang with the best in PvP. Box Breathing allows for an easy 3 tap, giving it a fast and reasonably forgiving time-to-kill. Hung Jury is an excellent pick for everyone.	Season 14	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload (also good: Firefly) PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing
Night Watch	Night Watch	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	World loot pool		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Explosive Payload (also good: Multikill Clip) ► Night Watch is an excellent option, it is part of one of the best PvE archetypes right now, and it also comes with some fantastic perks such as Rapid Hit and Explosive Payload. Night Watch is always a weapon that I seriously consider when tackling challenging piece of PvE content.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Explosive Payload (also good: Multikill Clip)
Tarnished Mettle	Tarnished Mettle	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Arc	Season 18	Yes	S › Best	Seasonal activity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Seasonal activity Season 18	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Voltshot (also good: Shoot to Loot + Explosive Payload) ► Tarnished Mettle Scout Rifle is one of the first two weapons to roll with the perk 'Voltshot'. Voltshot is one of the strongest perks in the game right now, as it turns your gun into a mini Trinity Ghoul. Ignoring Voltshot, though, Tarnished Mettle comes with S-tier perks and is the best Arc Scout Rifle in the game right now.	Season 18	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Voltshot (also good: Shoot to Loot + Explosive Payload)
Doom of Chelchis	Doom of Chelchis	Scout Rifle	Precision	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	King's Fall Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + One For All (also good: Firefly + Frenzy) ► The King's Fall Scout Rifle, Doom of Chelchis, comes stacked with brilliant perks. It has combos like Firefly and Dragonfly and damage perks like One for All and Frenzy; you just can't go wrong with Chelchis. With the 'Runneth Over' origin trait, you can stack the magazine high to just lay on high health targets.	Season 18	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + One For All (also good: Firefly + Frenzy)
Touch of Malice	Touch of Malice	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	King's Fall Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage and then regenerates itself. Rapidly defeating three targets restores health. Precision hits drain combatants' life force and charge up a ball of darkness." ► Touch of Malice is finally back. Whilst largely untouched compared to D1, the addition of its new perk "Charged with Blight," combined with the abundance of healing now available, makes Touch of Malice a primary ammo DPS monster. Perhaps the best DPS primary in the game right now.	Season 18	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage and then regenerates itself. Rapidly defeating three targets restores health. Precision hits drain combatants' life force and charge up a ball of darkness."
The Jade Rabbit	The Jade Rabbit	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Engram		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot, return ammo to the magazine, and increases its stability." ► The Jade Rabbit is one of the most potent options in PvP right now, with a very easy-to-use scope, excellent stability and a perk that furthers the potency and ease of use of High-Impact scout rifles.	Season 2	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot, return ammo to the magazine, and increases its stability."
Dead Man's Tale	Dead Man's Tale	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	A › Strong	Xûr		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Xûr Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Chaining precision hits grants bonus damage and quickens reload speed. Future drops of this weapon will have random rolls. PvE God Roll: Vorpal Weapon (also good: Killing Wind) ► Dead Man's Tale has been reworked to receive improved stats and an increased rate of fire, instead of the plain increased damage it used to offer. While this lowers the potency of Dead Man's Tale, it remains a powerful option due to its high damage per shot and incredible range.	Season 13	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Chaining precision hits grants bonus damage and quickens reload speed. Future drops of this weapon will have random rolls. PvE God Roll: Vorpal Weapon (also good: Killing Wind)
Vision of Confluence	Vision of Confluence	Scout Rifle	Precision	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Vault of Glass Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds + Firefly (also good: Frenzy) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Kill Clip ► With the recent Scout Rifle buffs, Vision of Confluence is no longer only an option in PvE. With the right roll, Vision of Confluence can be a real menace in the Crucible. Vision also has stronger ad clear than some other Scout Rifles with Rewind Rounds and Firefly.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds + Firefly (also good: Frenzy) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Kill Clip
Servant Leader	Servant Leader	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Playlist: Gambit		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Playlist: Gambit Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Rapid Hit) + Kill Clip ► Servant Leader remains the only Kinetic Rapid-Fire frame scout in the game, and it also comes with tons of solid perks. However, this is also a weakness as there are 12 perk options per column, making it a 1/144 chance to get the correct two perks you want. However, a solid roll will serve you well.	Season 15	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Rapid Hit) + Kill Clip
Skyburner's Oath	Skyburner's Oath	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Engram		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon lobs large, explosive, seeking slugs when firing from the hip. When aiming down sights, the slugs travel fast and straight, with higher damage and a lower rate of fire." ► Skyburner's Oath received a significant buff with the launch of Season 17. Hipfire shots now apply scorch, which, when stacked high enough, causes an ignition. However, you are locked to hipfiring your weapon to take advantage of this. To maximize the potential of Skyburner's, you also have to run a Solar subclass, limiting you further.	Season 1	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon lobs large, explosive, seeking slugs when firing from the hip. When aiming down sights, the slugs travel fast and straight, with higher damage and a lower rate of fire."
Vouchsafe	Vouchsafe	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dreaming City		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Dreaming City Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload ► Vouchsafe is one of my favorite Scout Rifles in the game. It's part of a favorable PvE archetype and can roll with Explosive Payload, which staggers enemies in PvE. It feels very nice to use and is a workhorse in all difficulties of PvE content.	Season 13	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload
Aisha's Embrace	Aisha's Embrace	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Void	The Witch Queen	No	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Trials of Osiris The Witch Queen	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Vorpal Weapon ► With a small and extremely well-rounded perk pool, it's hard to get a bad roll of Aisha's Embrace. That, combined with its Scout Rifle range, large magazine size, and frequent seasonal champion mods make Aisha's a great pick for anything PvE. The Rapid-Fire archetype is the only thing holding Aisha's back, as Lightweight and Precision frames are currently stronger.	Season 16	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Vorpal Weapon
MIDA Multi-Tool	MIDA Multi-Tool	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon boosts move speed. Radar stays active while aiming down sights." ► MIDA Multi-Tool is still one of the strongest Scout Rifle picks in PvP. It provides an increased movement speed, High-Caliber Rounds that flinch your opponent, and a reasonably competitive time-to-kill. It isn't the 'best' option because it is out-damaged by High-Impact Scout rifles such as Jade Rabbit or Polaris Lance.	Season 1	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon boosts move speed. Radar stays active while aiming down sights."
Polaris Lance	Polaris Lance	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision hits return ammo to the mag. Landing 4 precision hits loads a delayed Solar explosive round for your next shot." ► Polaris Lance has skyrocketed up the ranks with the Scout Rifle buffs for PvP. With its exotic perk, Polaris behaves like a budget version of the Hawkmoon. Once you get that explosive shot primed, you can two-tap players with low enough Resilience or comfortably 1 crit 2 body opponents making the gun incredibly easy to use.	Season 3	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision hits return ammo to the mag. Landing 4 precision hits loads a delayed Solar explosive round for your next shot."
Transfiguration	Transfiguration	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Last Wish Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Rampage + Kill Clip ► Transfiguration has one stand-out roll that is massively potent: Rampage and Kill Clip. With both of these perks active, Transfiguration can kill in 2 shots giving it a blindingly fast time to kill. However, aside from this combination, Transfiguration doesn't offer much more outside of that.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Rampage + Kill Clip
Talons of the Eagle	Talons of the Eagle	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	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: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Outlaw + Explosive Payload (also good: Opening Shot + Moving Target) ► Talons of the Eagle is a solid choice for Scout Rifle lovers. Its second perk column is stacked with strong perks like Opening Shot, Moving Target, and Explosive Payload, which all massively benefit the weapon in some way. It outclasses its Legendary Kinetic slot competition, making it a go-to option for PvP.	Season 11	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Outlaw + Explosive Payload (also good: Opening Shot + Moving Target)
The Scholar	The Scholar	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	B › Average	Trials of Osiris		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris The Witch Queen	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE/PvP God Roll: Opening Shot (also good: Snapshot Sights) + Vorpal Weapon ► The Scholar is a decent option for Scout Rifle lovers. Its perk pool doesn't offer anything too gameplay-altering, but it does come with a fair share of quality-of-life perks that can make the difference for many players.	Season 10	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE/PvP God Roll: Opening Shot (also good: Snapshot Sights) + Vorpal Weapon
Eternal Blazon	Eternal Blazon	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Kill Clip (also good: Overflow + One for All) ► Eternal Blazon is an option that doesn't see much use for some reason. It has a solid perk pool with damage options such as Kill Clip or utility options such as Disruption Break, making it viable in the game's hardest pieces of content. If you get a good roll of Eternal Blazon, don't sleep on it.	Season 13	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Kill Clip (also good: Overflow + One for All)
Staccato-46	Staccato-46	Scout Rifle	Precision	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Shoot to Loot) + Incandescent (also good: Explosive Payload) ► Staccato-46 contains some exceptional new perks, including Incandescent. However, its rolls aren't very useful in high-end PvE content (where scout rifles are primarily used). Unless you're a huge scout rifle fan, there isn't a reason to run this weapon over something like Strident Whistle or CALUS Mini-Tool.	Season 17	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Shoot to Loot) + Incandescent (also good: Explosive Payload)
The Guiding Sight	The Guiding Sight	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	B › Average	Iron Banner		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Iron Banner Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Vorpal Weapon ► The Guiding Sight comes with some okay perks. Rapid Hit is always a solid choice; however, in column 2, there isn't anything that stands out. Given that High-Impacts fall short in PvE compared to Lightweights and Precisions, you need to look at PvP rolls, of which there are none, making this an average Scout Rifle.	Season 12	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Vorpal Weapon
Trustee	Trustee	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Solar	Beyond Light	Yes	B › Average	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Surplus)+ Eye of the Storm (also good: High-Impact Reserves) ► Trustee is a decent option, and in the right hands, it has the potential to pop off. However, it is simply outclassed by High-Impact Scout Rifles right now, making it a hard option to recommend.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Surplus)+ Eye of the Storm (also good: High-Impact Reserves)
Contingency Plan	Contingency Plan	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	B › Average	World loot pool		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Surplus + Kill Clip ► Contingency Plan is a very underrated option for PvP. It has a surprisingly fast time-to-kill when Kill Clip is active, and it also fires quickly, which can flinch your opponent off target. However, despite its potential with Kill Clip, it remains an average option due to its limited lethality without a damage perk.	Season 15	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Surplus + Kill Clip
Tears of Contrition	Tears of Contrition	Scout Rifle	Precision	Primary	Kinetic	Season 17	Yes	B › Average	Seasonal activity		Average ❘ B Excels in: PvP	Seasonal activity Season 17	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Explosive Payload ► Even though Tears of Contrition is easily outclassed in PvE, it can excel in PvP. A 180 RPM weapon with Explosive Payload is always deadly, but with a 1-second TTK, it can be hard to justify. But if you play into it and are a good shot, it can work. For the vast majority, however, sticking to a Hand Cannon or SMG is best.	Season 17	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Explosive Payload
Symmetry	Symmetry	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Arc	Shadowkeep	Yes	C › Weak	Exotic Kiosk		Weak ❘ C	Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision hits build up Dynamic Charge. Swapping to Arc Seeker mode increases damage and partially reloads the magazine. Arc Seekers track toward combatants you target." ► Symmetry isn't necessarily a bad option. It has a unique exotic perk and can kill enemies in two shots with enough stacks of Dynamic Charge. However, it requires constant precision to take full advantage of that perk. With alternatives such as High-Impact Pulse Rifles and Scout Rifles, Symmetry as an Exotic option struggles to keep up.	Season 9	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision hits build up Dynamic Charge. Swapping to Arc Seeker mode increases damage and partially reloads the magazine. Arc Seekers track toward combatants you target."
Pleiades Corrector	Pleiades Corrector	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	World loot pool		Weak ❘ C	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm + Wellspring (also good: Demolitionist) ► Pleiades Corrector is an 'okay at best' option. Despite it being a Lightweight frame, it comes with some seriously lackluster perks, having only a single option as a damage perk and many perks that are simply not great. Having a good roll makes this gun viable, but overall, there are better options.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm + Wellspring (also good: Demolitionist)
Pointed Inquiry	Pointed Inquiry	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	C › Weak	Throne World		Weak ❘ C	Throne World Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's The Charm + Adaptive Munitions ► Perhaps one of the weaker options released with The Witch Queen, the Pointed Inquiry is a mediocre Scout Rifle. It handles poorly and feels rather clunky due to its High-Impact frame and lacks many top-tier perks, with the only decent options being Shoot to Loot and Adaptive Munitions for Match Game content.	Season 16	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's The Charm + Adaptive Munitions
Royal Chase	Royal Chase	Scout Rifle	Precision	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	D › Worst	Xûr		Worst ❘ D	Xûr Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Full Auto Trigger System + Multikill Clip ► Royal Chase comes with an incredibly poor perk pool. In the first perk column, there is not a single good option available; in the second column, the only somewhat good option is Multikill Clip. Overall, there are plenty of better alternatives out there, and right now, there is no reason to use Royal Chase.	Season 12	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Full Auto Trigger System + Multikill Clip
Jararaca-3sr	Jararaca-3sr	Scout Rifle	VEIST Rapid-Fire	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Ongoing	World loot pool		Ongoing...	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: VEIST Rapid-Fire God Rolls: To be confirmed... ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 19	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: VEIST Rapid-Fire God Rolls: To be confirmed...
Long Arm	Long Arm	Scout Rifle	Aggressive	Primary	Arc	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Ongoing	Spire of the Watcher Dungeon		Ongoing...	Spire of the Watcher Dungeon Deluxe Edition	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive God Rolls: To be confirmed... ► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...	Season 19	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive 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.

More Destiny 2 Tier lists:

	Auto Rifles	Primary
	Combat Bows	Primary
	Fusion Rifles	Special
	Glaives	Special
	Grenade Launchers	Special Heavy
	Hand Cannon	Primary
	Linear Fusion Rifle	Heavy
	Machine Guns	Heavy
	Pulse Rifle	Primary
	Rocket Launcher	Heavy
	Scout Rifle	Primary
	Shotgun	Special
	Submachine Guns	Primary
	Swords	Heavy
	Trace Rifles	Special

Best Destiny 2 Scout Rifles in 2022

Overall, these are our Top 5 favorite Scout Rifles for PvE and PvP.

PS: This guide covers every weapon source in Destiny 2, but in doubt, you can always ask me on Twitter.

5. The Jade Rabbit

Best PvP Scout in Destiny 2

The Jade Rabbit has only recently risen to prominence in the PvP scene with the changes to High-Impact Scout rifles.

You may wonder what exactly makes Jade Rabbit special. There are several things. First off is the incredible scope. It takes up very little of your screen, which lets you adjust your aim and swap targets faster. It also has High Caliber Rounds which flinches your opponent slightly more, which always helps in a 1v1 duel. Finally, it comes with Zen Moment making it feel effortless to use (especially on a controller).

The Jade Rabbit also effectively has infinite range, which lets you easily hold any lane on every single map and hit that optimal .8s time to kill. Overall the Jade Rabbit is a super solid all-rounder in the Crucible and is an easy time for anyone wanting to use Scout Rifles.

Exotic Perk: “Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot, return ammo to the magazine, and increases its stability.”

How to get it: The Jade Rabbit 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?
	The Jade Rabbit	Scout Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvP	Exotic Engram		Free-to-Play	Season 2	Kinetic	No

4. Hung Jury SR4

Excels in PvE and PvP

The Hung Jury was a Destiny 1 favourite, and since its return to Destiny 2 in Season of the Splicer, it has been a top pick. It is a part of the Precision frame archetype, which notably received some buffs in PvP during Season of the Haunted.
Hung Jury can roll with the perk Box Breathing. This perk’s damage bonus bumps Hung Jury’s damage up to 99 on a headshot, allowing you to 2 tap enemy guardians running 8 resilience or lower.

Hung Jury can also come with Explosive Payload, which is an excellent option for PvP if you don’t want to use Box Breathing, but it is also excellent in PvE as it staggers enemies when hit. If you pair this with Rapid Hit, you have an absolute workhorse of a Scout that will serve you excellently in all types of content.

PvE God roll:

• Perk 1: Rapid Hit
• Perk 2: Explosive Payload (also good: One for All)

PvP God roll:

• Perk 1: Rapid Hit
• Perk 2: Box Breathing (also good: Moving Target)

How to get it: Hung Jury SR4 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?
	Hung Jury SR4	Scout Rifle	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No

3. Night Watch

Excels in PvE

Players can still argue Night Watch is the nicest feeling and best Scout Rifle in the game. It has many solid rolls and all the S-tier perks you want. Night Watch has so many good perks that I would say that out of the 10 different perks that can drop on Night Watch, only 3 of them are bad. All of the others are excellent choices and will serve you well.

My roll of Rapid Hit and Explosive Payload is incredible. It feels nice to fire, it has a very clean scope and, like the Hung Jury, is a consistent workhorse.
Night Watch, unfortunately, isn’t as strong in PvP as some of the competition, but it more than makes up for that in PvE having total viability no matter how challenging the content is.

PvE God roll:

• • Perk 1: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence)
  • Perk 2: Explosive Payload (also good: Multikill Clip)

  How to get it: Night Watch can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities, from the Gunsmith, Legendary engrams 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?
  	Night Watch	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Best ❘ S	PvE	World loot pool		Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No

   

  2. Doom of Chelchis

  Excels in PvE

  Since the launch of Deep Stone Crypt, Raid weapon quality has taken a massive turn for the better, and the King’s Fall’s Doom of Chelchis is no exception. This precision frame Scout Rifle comes with excellent perks like Explosive Payload, Frenzy or One for All, which are amazing perks in endgame content.

  Doom of Chelchis can slowly be farmed, too, by purchasing it from the cache for your 1 weekly Deepsight weapon (provided you have already had the gun drop normally). If you are lucky, however, you can have it drop from secret chests or specific encounters. See which encounters Doom of Chelchis can drop from on our King’s Fall loot table.

  Once you get all your patterns, you can craft it, meaning you can get your desired God Roll, unlike Night Watch and Hung Jury.

  PvE God roll:

  • Perk 1: Explosive Payload(also good: Firefly)
  • Perk 2: One For All (also good: Frenzy)

  How to get it: Doom of Chelchis can be acquired by completing the King’s Fall raid.

  Art	Weapon	Type	Archetype	Rarity	Ammo	Element	Requirements	In loot pool?	Ammo?	Element?	Tier	Excels	Source	Craftable?	Requires	Released	Slot	Can be Crafted?
  	Doom of Chelchis	Scout Rifle	Precision	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	King's Fall Raid		Free-to-Play	Season 18	Energy	Craftable

   

  1. Tarnished Mettle

  Best PvE Scout in Destiny 2

  Tarnished Mettle is the Season of Plunder Scout Rifle, and it has almost everything going for it. It has a favourable Lightweight archetype, it can roll with the classic strong perks like Rapid Hit, Explosive Payload and Shoot to Loot, but it can also roll with the new perk, Voltshot.

  Voltshot is a cut above the rest when it comes to perks. It essentially turns your Legendary weapon into Trinity Ghoul. Jolting enemies is incredibly potent, making this Scout Rifle an add-clearing monster (which is typically something Scout Rifles can struggle with). Voltshot also pairs wonderfully with specific Fragments and Aspects.

  Tarnished Mettle is also Arc, allowing it to synergise even further with any Arc 3.0 build you want to run. Tarnished Mettle will hold its own no matter what you throw at it and will serve as a jack-of-all-trades, master of all weapon, making it a clear cut above the rest.

  PvE God roll:

  • Perk 1: Rapid Hit (also good: Shoot to Loot)
  • Perk 2: Votshot (also good: Explosive Payload)

  How to get it: Tarnished Mettle 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?
  	Tarnished Mettle	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Season 18	Yes	Primary	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvE	Seasonal activity		Season 18	Season 18	Energy	Craftable

  Scouts 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.

  TTK is very important in PvP, because the lowest the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. But this only applies to primary weapons.

  -	Weapon Type	Archetype	Optimal TTK	Optimal Kill	Body Shot TTK	Specs	---	Best in Class
  	Scout Rifle	High-Impact 150 RPM	0.80	3 crit	1.60	Excellent range, low aim assist		The Scholar
  	Scout Rifle	Lightweight 200 RPM	0.90	4 crit	1.8	Excellent aim assist & handling, low range		Night Watch
  	Scout Rifle	Precision 180 RPM	1.00	2 crit 2 body	1.67	High stability, decent elsewhere		Vision of Confluence
  	Scout Rifle	Rapid Fire 260 RPM	0.93	3 crit 2 body	1.4	High stability, very low range		Aisha's Embrace

  Scouts in PvE: DPS

  DPS is important for PvE, because 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.

  -	Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
  	Scout Rifle	Exotic	4,476	5,866	568,588	With Catalyst		Dead Man's Tale	Same	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	Exotic	3,785	4,470	353,984	With "Perfect Fifth"		Polaris Lance	Same	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	Rapid-Fire	3,352	4,104	170,460	High stability, very low range		Aisha's Embrace	Buffed	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	Lightweight	3,318	3,807	219,264	Excellent aim assist & handling, low range		Night Watch	Same	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	Exotic	3,206	3,598	259,020	When aiming down sights		Skyburner's Oath	Same	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	High-Impact	3,347	3,931	374,255	Excellent range, low aim assist		The Scholar	Same	Primary
  	Scout Rifle	Precision	3,359	3,888	228,096	High stability, decent elsewhere		Vision of Confluence	Same	Primary

  Are Scout rifles Meta?

  How do Scouts compare, in general, with other Primary weapons? Are they good in Destiny 2?

  The current Meta for PvE

  This table summarizes how the several Primary weapon types rank against each other in PvE:

  Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
  Submachine Guns	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► SMGs are doing very well right now. They have good DPS to tear through ads and beefier orange bar enemies, but also come with excellent perks. There are a plethora of good SMGs you can go for right now, like Funnelweb, Unforgiven, Every Waking Moment, or Extraordinary Rendition, the choice is completely yours. They may struggle slightly in super high-end content, but they are still definitely usable. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven	PVE Primaries
  Auto Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Auto Rifles currently feel like a worse version of SMGs. They have a bit more range, but outside of the absolute top-shelf content such as Grandmaster Nightfalls, range isn't too much of a factor. And if you are actively tackling difficult content, Auto Rifles aren't exactly the best pick either, making Autos a decent, but outclassed option right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Gnawing Hunger	PVE Primaries
  Sidearms	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► 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
  Hand Cannons	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► While Hand Cannons routinely dominate the PvP meta, they are often outclassed by weapon types that can either offer better DPS or better range. There are a couple of solid options, such as Fatebringer or Zaouli's Bane, but putting those aside, you'll be better off using something else. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	PVE Primaries
  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
  Scout Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Scout Rifles have come a long way. They are a solid and consistent option for anyone that prefers a safer and slower playstyle. They also shine in high-level content due to their excellent range. The best part about Scout Rifles, however, is their versatility across archetypes. Basically, every type of Scout Rifle is viable and can be used anywhere in the game. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	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

  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
  Hand Cannons	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Hand Cannons are in a bit of a strange spot. Many will argue that they are still the best weapons in the game, however, due to the prevalence of Pulse Rifles and Sidearms, and certain special weapons like Arbalest and Lorentz Driver, Hand Cannons have slowly been pushed out of many players' main pick. They are still excellent duelling weapons though, and feel amazing to use so they still retain a strong ranking. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Eyasluna	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
  Sidearms	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Sidearms recently received a monumental buff to their ease of use and effective range by increasing auto-aim fall-off distance by 30%. This means that Sidearms simply can kill from further away, and more easily. Sidearms are particularly potent on a controller. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (300 RPM) - Example: Drang	PVP Primaries
  Auto Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Auto Rifles aren't doing greét right now. They contest a similar range as Hand Cannons, however, they lack the peak shooting potential that Adaptive Hand Cannons bring. They can also be contested at close range by SMGs, making them difficult to use everywhere. However, a good player can still find value in an Auto Rifle as they do provide high flinch and constant damage. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (600 RPM) - Example: Gnawing Hunger	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	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Scouts have been tuned down to make them less potent in the hands of the average player. However, good scout rifle players will still be able to do pretty well in lobbies, however, they may find themselves outmatched by Pulse Rifles. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (150 RPM) - Example: Polaris Lance	PVP Primaries
  Submachine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► A few SMGs were recently hit with a range and/or damage nerf that knocked them down a peg or two. However, SMGs still have fast TTKs at short to medium ranges but are slightly outclassed by Sidearms now. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (900 RPM)- Example: Borrowed Time	PVP Primaries

  Your turn

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