Best Sniper Rifles in Destiny 2: Tier List (Heresy Meta)

Sniper Rifles used to dominate both PvP and PvE content in Destiny 2, but several nerfs knocked them down a few pegs. But slowly, Snipers are coming back, thanks to recent changes that make them easier to use in PvP and more lethal in PvE. If you’re looking to deal a lot of pain from a safe distance, Sniper Rifles are for you.

This guide covers all Sniper Rifles in Destiny 2 and their best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Update based on Episode 3: Heresy. See Updates.

Top Tier Sniper Rifles (Episode 3)

This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary Snipers right now:

Item	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
The Supremacy	The Supremacy Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	S › Best	Last Wish Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Lead from Gold) + Bait and Switch (also good: Focused Fury) PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot ► The Supremacy had a small fanbase upon initial release, but its popularity has only grown since its reissue in Season of the Deep. With strong perks, excellent stats, and the ability to be crafted, there's really nothing holding The Supremacy down.	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Lead from Gold) + Bait and Switch (also good: Focused Fury) PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Succession	Succession Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	S › Best	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Recombination (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Snapshot Sights ► Despite the stigma most community members have against 72 RPM snipers, Succession still finds its way into most Guardian's inventories. If 72RPM snipers ever receive a buff, Succession may become one of the best special weapons in entire the game.	Season 12	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Recombination (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Snapshot Sights	Top-tier
Succession (Brave)	Succession (Brave) Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Onslaught Activity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Recombination (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Snapshot Sights ► Despite the stigma most community members have against 72 RPM snipers, Succession still finds its way into most Guardian's inventories. If 72RPM snipers ever receive a buff, Succession may become one of the best special weapons in entire the game.	Into the Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Recombination (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Snapshot Sights	Top-tier
Critical Anomaly	Critical Anomaly Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Stasis	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	Salvation's Edge Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Salvation's Edge Raid The Final Shape	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds or Chill Clip + Firing Line or Triple Tap PvP God Roll: Quickdraw or Opening Shot + Snapshot Sights or Explosive Payload ► Snipers are in a very good place, and the rolls on Critical Anomaly set it above most others. Not only can it roll with Rewind Rounds and Triple Tap, but it’s the first sniper to roll with Chill Clip. Being able to apply Slow or Freeze from a great distance will always come in handy as the difficulty rises.	The Final Shape	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds or Chill Clip + Firing Line or Triple Tap PvP God Roll: Quickdraw or Opening Shot + Snapshot Sights or Explosive Payload	Top-tier
Keen Thistle	Keen Thistle Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	Trials of Osiris		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Lone Wolf) + Opening Shot (also good: Closing Time) PvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal (also good: Triple Tap) + Bait and Switch (also good: Fourth Time’s the Charm) ► Keen Thistle is a outstanding option for nearly every portion of the game. With a perk pool that’s absolutely stocked with meta options, new and veteran players alike will likely be chasing this weapon soon enough.	Episode 3	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Lone Wolf) + Opening Shot (also good: Closing Time) PvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal (also good: Triple Tap) + Bait and Switch (also good: Fourth Time’s the Charm)	Top-tier
Whisper of the Worm	Whisper of the Worm Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	The Whisper		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	The Whisper Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Higher base precision damage. Rapidly landing three precision hits refills the magazine and missing a shot has a chance to return ammo." ► Whisper of the Worm is unrivaled in the total damage department, but as the current meta doesn't require such levels of total damage, players may prefer more burst options such as Grenade Launchers, Rocket Launchers, or Still Hunt.	Season 3	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Higher base precision damage. Rapidly landing three precision hits refills the magazine and missing a shot has a chance to return ammo."	Top-tier
Izanagi's Burden	Izanagi's Burden Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Kiosk		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage." ► A powerhouse of a weapon, Izanagi's Burden can reach some incredible DPS numbers, especially when combined with a Bait and Switch Heavy Weapon. Due to how popular Bait and Switch is, Izanagi's is the perfect weapon to deal a chunk of damage with, before swapping to your main damage-dealing Heavy weapon.	Season 5	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage."	Top-tier
Still Hunt	Still Hunt Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Special	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Quest		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Pick up Orbs of Power or land precision hits to charge this weapon's Super bar. Once full, [Alternate Weapon Action] to fire Golden Gun shots. This weapon gains passive bonuses to target acquisition, aim down sight speed, and flinch resistance. The bonus increases when this weapon's super mode is active." ► Despite Still Hunt taking a backseat to other options as of recent, the weapon is still insanely powerful in many cases, especially with Celestial Nighthawk. While you won't see it (or any other exotic special weapons) often in high-level content, this is a great pick for those wanting to mix it up.	The Final Shape	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Pick up Orbs of Power or land precision hits to charge this weapon's Super bar. Once full, [Alternate Weapon Action] to fire Golden Gun shots. This weapon gains passive bonuses to target acquisition, aim down sight speed, and flinch resistance. The bonus increases when this weapon's super mode is active."	Top-tier
Praedyth's Revenge	Praedyth's Revenge Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Vault of Glass Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds or Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Envious Arsenal) + Bait and Switch (also good: Elemental Honing) ► Best known for its ability to get a whopping 68% damage buff with Elemental Honing, Praedyth’s Revenge is situationally broken. Even so, when ignoring those niche use cases, the weapon easily competes with weapons like The Supremacy that have dominated the meta for years.	Episode 3	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds or Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Envious Arsenal) + Bait and Switch (also good: Elemental Honing)	Top-tier
Eye of Sol	Eye of Sol Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Kinetic	The Final Shape	No	S › Best	Trials of Osiris		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Trials of Osiris The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Surplus) + Snapshot Sights (also good: Opening Shot) ► Because of its similar stats and perks, Eye of Sol is said to be a kinetic version of Beloved. And while it is a little harder to obtain, its low zoom, high aim assist, and S-Tier perks in both columns make it easily worth the effort.	Season 10	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Surplus) + Snapshot Sights (also good: Opening Shot)	Top-tier
Beloved	Beloved Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	S › Best	Presage		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Presage Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target (also good: Quickdraw) ► Arguably the community's favorite legendary sniper in the entire franchise, this "beloved" weapon is back and better than ever before. With low zoom, high aim assist, the ability to be crafted, and Snapshot Sights, it's no wonder Beloved is so popular in PVP.	Season 17	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target (also good: Quickdraw)	Top-tier
Mercurial Overreach	Mercurial Overreach Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Crucible Competitive		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Crucible Competitive Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target) ► Mercurial Overreach is a beast in The Crucible. With great stats, solid and unique perks, and a clean scope, it's no wonder why Guardians are beginning to prefer this over Beloved.	Season 21	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target)	Top-tier
Mechabre	Mechabre Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Timed-Event	S › Best	Event: Festival of the Lost		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Event: Festival of the Lost Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target (also good: Opening Shot) ► Immediately grabbing the community's attention with its solid perks and stats, Mechabre is the rare case of an event weapon that's worth the grind. Being 72 RPM also means Beloved and Mercurial Overreach can't directly replace it, so farming it next time Festival of the Lost is around isn't a bad idea.	Episode 2	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target (also good: Opening Shot)	Top-tier
Omniscient Eye	Omniscient Eye Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Special	Solar	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Garden of Salvation Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Garden of Salvation Raid Shadowkeep Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf + Snapshot Sights PvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal + Precision Instrument ► Omniscient Eye's recent refresh served it well, adding some much-needed variety to the sniper's perk pool. That said, there are still better options out there, and this one is really only worth chasing if you're new to the game or just really like Garden of Salvation.	Season 8	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf + Snapshot Sights PvE God Roll: Envious Arsenal + Precision Instrument	Top-tier
Cloudstrike	Cloudstrike Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Special	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Quest		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision final blows generate a lightning bolt at the target's location. Rapid precision hits create a lightning storm at the point of impact." ► While Cloudstrike is noticeably weaker and less popular than it was at release, the weapon continues to be a solid pick in both PvE and PvP. Most scenarios do call on you to utilize a different exotic, but if you have an open slot, Cloudstrike won't let you down.	Season 12	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision final blows generate a lightning bolt at the target's location. Rapid precision hits create a lightning storm at the point of impact."	Top-tier
Uzume RR4	Uzume RR4 Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + High-Impact Reserves (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Explosive Payload) ► Uzume RR4 has always been an underrated pick for both PvE and PvP. While some options outclass it in various scenarios, there's no questioning Uzume's versatility and overall strength. If you're searching for a well-rounded option that won't do you wrong, Uzume RR4 may be worth farming.	Season 14	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + High-Impact Reserves (also good: Vorpal Weapon) PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Explosive Payload)	Top-tier
Thoughtless	Thoughtless Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Stasis	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Vox Obscura		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Vox Obscura Witch Queen	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Overflow + Firing Line (also good: Focused Fury) PvP God Roll: Firmly Planted (also good: Steady Hands) + Snapshot Sights ► While Thoughtless is considered old news at this point, it continues to excel in both PvE and PvP. Sure, better options are always being released (Critical Anomaly comes to mind), but this weapon still holds its own if you have a solid roll.	Season 16	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Overflow + Firing Line (also good: Focused Fury) PvP God Roll: Firmly Planted (also good: Steady Hands) + Snapshot Sights	Top-tier
Silicon Neuroma	Silicon Neuroma Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Firing Line PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot ► Silicon Neuroma falls into the large pool of snipers that are great at face value but are desperately awaiting a buff to help them out. Its strong perk pool for both PvE and PvP makes it an easy choice for any 72 RPM sniper enthusiast, but the weapon probably won't become mainstream without a significant shift in the meta.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Firing Line PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot	Top-tier
Defiance of Yasmin	Defiance of Yasmin Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	King's Fall Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot PvE God Roll: Firefly + Firing Line ► Defiance of Yasmin rarely gets any talk, which is strange given how solid its perk pool and stats are. Individual snipers are better in specific activities, but Defiance is a jack of all trades that's hard to beat in terms of overall potency.	Season 18	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot PvE God Roll: Firefly + Firing Line	Top-tier
Embraced Identity	Embraced Identity Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Void	The Final Shape	Yes	A › Strong	The Pale Heart		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Reconstruction) + Fourth Time’s The Charm or Precision Instrument ► Embraced Identity comes with some solid perks that help it establish itself as THE option for players looking to have a good Void swap weapon while also having a solid backup DPS weapon.we	The Final Shape	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Reconstruction) + Fourth Time’s The Charm or Precision Instrument	Top-tier
IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3	IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3 Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Special	Solar	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Operation: Seraph's Shield		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield Witch Queen	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Triple Tap) + High-Impact Reserves ► While IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3 has been grossly underrated for most of its time in the game, it rarely sees use these days. The weapon continues to be the best Solar 140 RPM sniper in the game, but that's too niche to warrant a ranking higher than what we give it here.	Season 19	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Triple Tap) + High-Impact Reserves	Top-tier
Naeem's Lance	Naeem's Lance Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Special	Strand	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	A › Strong	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon Lightfall Dungeon Key	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Precision Instrument ► Naeem's Lance was immediately forgotten about after its release with Warlord's Ruin, but we don't think that's completely warranted. With the combination of Reconstruction and Precision Instrument, Naeem's can become one of the most capable 140 RPM snipers for PvE.	Season 23	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Precision Instrument	Top-tier
1000 Yard Stare	1000 Yard Stare Sniper Rifle	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Special	Void	30th Anniversary	Yes	A › Strong	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: No Distractions) + Snapshot Sights ► 1000 Yard Stare has been out for a while but has yet to decline in popularity; its excellent stats and S-Tier perks have kept it in the meta even through newer releases. If you're looking for a solid Legendary sniper rifle that combines ease of use and lethality, 1000 Yard Stare is for you.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: No Distractions) + Snapshot Sights	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Snipers: Complete List

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?
	Borealis	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	D › Worst	-	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Energy	No
	Cloudstrike	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Special	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Exotic Quest	No	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Energy	No	Top-tier
	D.A.R.C.I.	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	C › Weak	-	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Heavy	No
	Ice Breaker	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Yes	Special	Solar	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Vesper's Host Dungeon	No	The Final Shape Dungeon Key	Episode 2	Energy	No
	Izanagi's Burden	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 5	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Still Hunt	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Solar	S › Best	PvE	Exotic Quest	No	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Whisper of the Worm	Sniper Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	S › Best	PvE	The Whisper	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 3	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	1000 Yard Stare	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Void	30th Anniversary	Yes	Special	Void	A › Strong	PvP	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon	No	30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Energy	No	Top-tier
	A Distant Pull	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	B › Average	PvE	Xûr	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Kinetic	Craftable
	Adored	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	B › Average	PvP	Exotic Kiosk	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Energy	No
	Albruna-D	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Playlist: Gambit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 19	Energy	No
	Apostate	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	C › Weak	-	Moon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Beloved	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Special	Solar	S › Best	PvP	Presage	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 17	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Bite of the Fox	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Special	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	Critical Anomaly	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Stasis	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Stasis	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Salvation's Edge Raid	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Chaos Reshaped,Bait and Switch
	Defiance of Yasmin	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	King's Fall Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Distant Tumulus	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	C › Weak	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Energy	No
	Embraced Identity	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Void	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Void	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	The Pale Heart	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Eye of Sol	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	The Final Shape	No	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	The Final Shape	Season 10	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Far Future	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Father's Sins	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Void	The Witch Queen	Yes	Special	Void	B › Average	PvP	Wellspring	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 16	Energy	Craftable
	Frozen Orbit	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	B › Average	PvP	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Fugue-55	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	D › Worst	-	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No
	Gallu RR3	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	C › Weak	-	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 17	Energy	No
	IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	The Witch Queen	Yes	Special	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 19	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Irukandji	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Stasis	C › Weak	-	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	No
	Keen Thistle	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Solar	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	The Final Shape	Episode 3	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Last Foray	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	C › Weak	-	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Locus Locutus	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	B › Average	PvE	Xûr	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	Craftable
	Long Shadow	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	Luna Regolith III	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	B › Average	PvE + PvP	Playlist: Vanguard	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Mechabre	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Timed-Event	Special	Arc	S › Best	PvP	Event: Festival of the Lost	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 2	Energy	No	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Mercurial Overreach	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	S › Best	PvP	Crucible Competitive	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Naeem's Lance	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Strand	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	Special	Strand	A › Strong	PvE	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	No	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Season 23	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Occluded Finality	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	No	Special	Arc	C › Weak	PvP	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	Omniscient Eye	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Shadowkeep Pack	Yes	Special	Solar	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Garden of Salvation Raid	Yes	Shadowkeep Pack	Season 8	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Persuader	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	C › Weak	-	Recovered Red War	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	No
	Praedyth's Revenge	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE	Vault of Glass Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Episode 3	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Shepherd's Watch	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No
	Silicon Neuroma	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Sole Survivor	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Arc	B › Average	PvE	Fishing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Energy	No		Voltshot
	Sovereignity	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Void	Episode 2: Revenant	Yes	Special	Void	B › Average	PvE	Revenant Activities	No	Episode 2: Revenant	Episode 2	Energy	No
	Succession	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Reconstruction
	Succession (Brave)	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Onslaught Activity	No	Free-to-Play	Into the Light	Kinetic	No	Top-tier	Reconstruction
	The Domino	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	The Final Shape	Energy	No		Incandescent
	The Long Walk	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	C › Weak	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	The Supremacy	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S › Best	PvE + PvP	Last Wish Raid	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Season 4	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors,Bait and Switch
	Thoughtless	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Stasis	The Witch Queen	Yes	Special	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Vox Obscura	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 16	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Tranquility	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Kinetic	D › Worst	-	Moon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Kinetic	No
	Twilight Oath	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	B › Average	PvP	Shattered Throne Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Uzume RR4	Sniper Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Veleda-F	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Void	B › Average	PvP	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Episode 2	Energy	No
	Volta Bracket	Sniper Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Special	Strand	Lightfall	Yes	Special	Strand	B › Average	PvP	Neomuna	Yes	Lightfall	Season 20	Kinetic	Craftable
	Widow's Bite	Sniper Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Special	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Special	Solar	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No

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 Sniper Rifles Today

If you’re prepared to only chase the best of the best, these are the 5 absolute best Snipers in Destiny 2:

5. Succession (Brave)

Excels in PvE and PvP

Despite the stigma most community members have against 72 RPM snipers, Succession still finds its way into most Guardian’s inventories. If 72RPM snipers ever receive a buff, Succession may become one of the best special weapons in entire the game. These are the top Succession God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Reconstruction + Recombination (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
• PvP God roll: Moving Target + Snapshot Sights

How to get it: Succession is an Onslaught weapon that can be acquired from activity completions, Engrams, and/or rank-ups..

Name: Succession (Brave)

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Aggressive

Ammo: Special Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: Into the Light

Source: Onslaught Activity Requires: Free-to-Play

4. Mercurial Overreach

Excels in PvP

Mercurial Overreach is a beast in The Crucible. With great stats, solid and unique perks, and a clean scope, it’s no wonder why Guardians are beginning to prefer this over Beloved. These are the top Mercurial Overreach God Rolls:

• PvP God roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot (also good: Moving Target)

How to get it: Mercurial Overreach can be acquired from the PvP Competitive Playlist.

Name: Mercurial Overreach

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Adaptive

Ammo: Special Element: Arc

Craftable: No Released: Season 21

Source: Crucible Competitive Requires: Free-to-Play

3. Critical Anomaly

Excels in PvE and PvP

Snipers are in a very good place, and the rolls on Critical Anomaly set it above most others. Not only can it roll with Rewind Rounds and Triple Tap, but it’s the first sniper to roll with Chill Clip. Being able to apply Slow or Freeze from a great distance will always come in handy as the difficulty rises. These are the top Critical Anomaly God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Rewind Rounds or Chill Clip + Firing Line or Triple Tap
• PvP God roll: Quickdraw or Opening Shot + Snapshot Sights or Explosive Payload

How to get it: Critical Anomaly can be acquired by completing the Salvation’s Edge Raid.

Name: Critical Anomaly

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Aggressive

Ammo: Special Element: Stasis

Craftable: Yes Released: The Final Shape

Source: Salvation's Edge Raid Requires: The Final Shape

2. Izanagi’s Burden

Excels in PvE

A powerhouse of a weapon, Izanagi’s Burden can reach some incredible DPS numbers, especially when combined with a Bait and Switch Heavy Weapon. Due to how popular Bait and Switch is, Izanagi’s is the perfect weapon to deal a chunk of damage with, before swapping to your main damage-dealing Heavy weapon.

Exotic Perk: “Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage.”

How to get it: Izanagi’s Burden can be purchased at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower.

Name: Izanagi's Burden

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Kinetic

Craftable: No Released: Season 5

Source: Exotic Kiosk Requires: Forsaken Pack

1. The Supremacy

Excels in PvE

The Supremacy had a small fanbase upon initial release, but its popularity has only grown since its reissue in Season of the Deep. With strong perks, excellent stats, and the ability to be crafted, there’s really nothing holding The Supremacy down. These are the top The Supremacy God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Lead from Gold) + Bait and Switch (also good: Focused Fury)
• PvP God roll: Snapshot Sights (also good: Discord) + Opening Shot

How to get it: The Supremacy can be acquired from the Last Wish Raid.

Name: The Supremacy

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Rapid-Fire

Ammo: Special Element: Kinetic

Craftable: Yes Released: Season 4

Source: Last Wish Raid Requires: Forsaken Pack

Snipers and the Meta

How do Snipers compare to other Special weapons in PvE and PvP?

The PvE Meta

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		►Fusion Rifles are brilliant right now. Outside of Sniper Rifles, Fusion Rifles are the traditional 'backup damage' weapons due to options like Scatter Signal or Cartesian Coordinate. On top of this, you can use Fusions like Riptide for some utility instead, or even Merciless as a unique burst DPS option. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Scatter Signal	PVE Specials
Sniper Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Sniper Rifles have continued to grow into a strong Special Weapon subtype. With options like The Supremacy, Ikelos Sniper Rifle, and Still Hunt, it's very common for Sniper Rifles to be included in DPS rotations. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (140 RPM) - Example: Supremacy	PVE Specials
Shotguns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Shotguns are pretty decent right now. Slug Shotguns aren't as strong as they once were, and Shotguns have mostly been demoted to being a funnel for One-Two Punch Melee builds. However, they are definitely still capable, and can be used in a general loadout. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (90 RPM) - Example: Wastelander M5	PVE Specials
Grenade Launchers	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Grenade Launchers are brilliant right now. They are versatile and are arguably the best pick in almost all areas. GLs have excellent ad control through Blinding Grenades or Wave Frame GLs like Forbearance, and they also have good boss damage in certain hot-swap builds due to Spike Grenades. Simply put, having a strong arsenal of Grenade Launchers is something you should definitely try to do as a player looking to get into high-level content. ► Best Archetype: Wave-Frame - Example: Forbearance	PVE Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► With the nerfs to the double-special ammo economy, Trace Rifles have been knocked down a notch. Using a Primary weapon is just more efficient these days. However, they remain solid utility weapons and a go-to if players still want to run double-special lodouts. They also have a couple of solid Exotic options too, making them a decent pick right now.	PVE Specials
Glaives	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Glaives require a bit of getting used to, but when you do, they can grant you crazy levels of damage resistance. However, they are quite a risky pick, especially if you haven't learned how to master them first. Glaives are also one-dimensional. There is basically no reason to use their melee attack, which is unfortunate as that is probably the most fun part of the Glaives. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM) - Example: The Enigma	PVE Specials
Linear Fusion Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Linear Fusion Rifles are difficult to rank as there are only two of them. While Arbalest is definitely a powerful weapon, it is by no means a must-pick anymore. And Lorentz Driver isn't exactly a serious contender for PvE. Overall, this archetype is quite weak, especially now that Arbalest isn't the top-pick it used to be.	PVE Specials

Remember that DPS is one of the most important factors when it comes to PvE. 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.

The PvP Meta

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Shotguns	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► With the introduction of fixed (and consistent) pellet spread patterns per archetype and the reversal of some widely disliked nerfs, Shotguns are finally back. With consistent changes in the right direction, Shotguns are once more a staple pick among many PvP players. ► Best Archetype: Precision (65 RPM) - Example: Matador 64	PVP Specials
Fusion Rifles	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Fusion Rifles have been at the top of the meta for a while now, and it doesn't seem to be changing. Fusions can cover the close to medium ranges excellently, and a good Fusion Rifle player can be incredibly frustrating to play against, no matter the range of the engagement. ► Best Archetype: Precision (780ms Charge Time) - Example: Main Ingredient	PVP Specials
Sniper Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Sniper Rifles are still remarkably powerful, but due to certain flinch changes, they've become slightly harder to use. All this, as well as how strong certain Shotguns are, it's natural for Snipers to fall down a tier, but they are still strong, especially in Trials of Osiris. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (90 RPM)- Example: Beloved	PVP Specials
Linear Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► The special ammo Linear Fusion category of weapon is rather barren, but the two weapons that occupy it, Arbalest and Lorentz Driver, are both forces to be reckoned with. While they have received some deserved nerfs throughout Seasons 17-19, they remain a solid choice for many players wanting a long range option.	PVP Specials
Trace Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Trace Rifles are quite a niche pick and will fall short as a competitive option in most players' hands. Even once you learn to master Trace Rifles, you'll be better off with a Special weapon that can provide a one-hit-kill t rather than one that can be out-dueled by a Primary weapon. ► All Archetypes are 1000 RPM - Best Option: Coldheart	PVP Specials
Glaives	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► With their buffs in Season 19 and the hit registration improvements they've seen, Glaives can be quite annoying to play against. That said, they are outclassed by other mid/long range options and can't compete at close range due to their lackluster melee. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM)- Example: The Enigma	PVP Specials
Grenade Launchers	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Grenade Launchers are annoying to play against, and that's about it. They can be used in a hot-swap loadout, but you'll be better served by a Bow like Le Monarque. Grenade launchers can put pressure on your enemies, but they can't bring the heat like some other Special Weapons can. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight - Example: Truthteller	PVP Specials

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.

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Primary and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Pulse Rifles and Best Destiny 2 Rocket Launchers, too.

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