Best Pulse Rifles in Destiny 2: Tier List Ranking

by Guest Author | Jan 8, 2022 | Weapons

Sometimes referred to as “Dad rifles”, some love to hate Pulse rifles. They claim Pulses require no skill and are too easy to use. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Granted, some of them are considered to be among the best weapons for PVP in the entire game. But in PVE, they struggle somewhat.

This guide covers every Pulse rifle in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary Pulses, as well as the best rolls for PVE and PVP.

Lists updated as of Bungie’s 30th Anniversary event.

Destiny 2 Pulse rifles Tier list

The Tier list below includes every non-sunset Pulse 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:

Weapon	Archetype	Ammo type	Element	Rank	Requirements	Available?	Source	Tier rank	Source ❘ Requirements	Final Verdict
The Messenger	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	Beyond Light	Yes	Trials of Osiris	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Trials of Osiris	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Desperado ► The best Legendary Pulse Rifle in the entire game, The Messenger is a returning weapon from Destiny 1 that comes with a top-tier perk previously reserved only for Pinnacle weapons: Desperado.
No Time to Explain	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	S › Best	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Exotic Quest	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Exotic Quest	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "Precision shots and shots against combatants affected by Stasis return to the magazine. At 10 stacks, a small portal will open, shooting bullets from an alternate timeline version of this weapon. Precision hits extend the portal's duration." ► No Time to Explain is a PVP powerhouse. Not only is it part of the most deadly Pulse rifles archetype (with insanely low TTKs), it also has great base stats and perks that make it nearly unstoppable when activated.
Darkest Before	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	S › Best	Free-to-Play	Yes	Prophecy Dungeon	Best ❘ S Excels in: PVP	Prophecy Dungeon	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Rapid-Fire PVP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Tunnel Vision) + Rampage (also good: Elemental Capacitor) ► Rapid-Fire pulses are oppressive and excel in medium-range engagements. And while Gridskipper is still great, Darkest Before is the absolute best Rapid-fire currently in the game. It has better base stats and a great sight.
Vigilance Wing	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	Exotic Engram	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Exotic Engram	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 5-round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration, and increased movement speed." ► Vigilance Wing is an excellent weapon to bring to the Crucible. Its ease of use alone nets it an S tier. However, it's also one of the most lethal weapons in the game with a unique 5 burst shot.
BxR-55 Battler	Legacy PR-55	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	Dares of Eternity	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE + PVP	Dares of Eternity	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Legacy PR-55 PVE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Kill Clip (also good: Blunt Execution Rounds) ► The newest Pulse on the block, the BxR is an entirely different beast. Meant to pay homage to Halo’s iconic Battle rifle, the BxR goes above and beyond to fill that role. Not only does it look a lot like the Battle rifle, but it also behaves a lot like it too.
Sacred Provenance	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	Shadowkeep	Yes	Garden of Salvation Raid	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE	Garden of Salvation Raid	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Aggressive Burst PVE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Kill Clip ► Sacred Provenance is an excellent Pulse rifle for PVE and the only reason you don't see it more often is because Pulses are currently in a bad place, DPS-wise. Still, Sacred Provenance is currently the only aggressive, 4-burst Pulse rifle in the game, and you should definitely keep it if you have, for when Bungie will finally buff Pulses in PVE.
The Third Axiom	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	Playlist: Strikes	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVE	Playlist: Strikes	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Adaptive PVE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Killing Wind) + Rampage ► The Third Axiom is the long-lost twin of the Forsaken Pulse rifle, Bygones. Falling into the Adaptive frame archetype, this is a very consistent weapon that will get the job done every time. It also happens to feel great: stable and smooth to fire.
Gridskipper	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Void	A › Strong	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Override	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Override	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Rapid-Fire PVP God Roll: Heating Up (also good: Moving Target) + Multikill Clip ► One of the biggest surprises last season, Gridskipper may not have the insane TTK of High-Impact Pulses. Yet it still shreds in PVP while simultaneously feeling great in your hands.
Legal Action II	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	World Loot Pool	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	World Loot Pool	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Surplus) + Rampage ► Albeit it has average base stats, this gun manages to stand out thanks to its zoom level. Its optics and zoom combine to give the Legal Action II exceptional range. This helps it challenge even Scout rifles in long-range engagements.
Stars in Shadow	High-Impact	Primary	Solar	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	Playlist: Crucible	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Playlist: Crucible	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Outlaw) + Kill Clip ► Stars In Shadow is currently the only Solar Pulse rifle still viable in the game, making it a must-have weapon for higher-level PVE content.
The Time-Worn Spire	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Kinetic	A › Strong	Free-to-Play	Yes	Iron Banner	Strong ❘ A Excels in: PVP	Iron Banner	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Rapid-Fire PVP God Roll: Rampage (also good: Iron Grip) + Moving Target ► The Time-Worn Spire is a reprised Year 1 Iron Banner weapon that has returned with plenty of fantastic perks.
Bad Juju	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	Forsaken	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Average ❘ B Excels in: PVE	Exotic Kiosk	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "Kills refill the magazine, increase damage for a short duration, and grant Super energy based on the number of kills. Fires full-auto." ► Bad Juju is one of the most underrated weapons in Destiny 2. It can be an absolute monster in PVE and gets even better with the catalyst. But unfortunately, it is held back by a poor archetype that does too little damage...
Cold Denial	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	Free-to-Play	Yes	World Loot Pool	Average ❘ B Excels in: PVP	World Loot Pool	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Killling Wind (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Swashbuckler ► Cold Denial is an incredibly satisfying gun to use, from its firing sound to its recoil pattern. As a High-Impact Pulse, it boasts one of the best time-to-kills in the Crucible, at 0.67 seconds.
Jurassic Green	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Solar	B › Average	Free-to-Play	No	Festival of the Lost	Average ❘ B	Festival of the Lost	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Precision PVP God Roll: Heating Up (also good: Rangefinder) + Adrenaline Junkie (also good: Multikill Clip) ► Rapid-Fire pulses are certainly fashionable since the arrival of Gridskipper and Darkest Before. Jurassic Green has slightly lesser base stats but it remains a competent Pulse for PVP.
Outbreak Perfected	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	B › Average	Free-to-Play	Yes	Exotic Kiosk	Average ❘ B	Exotic Kiosk	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "This weapon creates SIVA nanite swarms on rapid hits and precision kills and does more damage to enemies based on the number of SIVA nanites that attach to them." ► Outbreak Perfected said goodbye to its glory days a long time ago. But having said that, it's still a great feeling gun. It’s just a shame that it falls into quite an archetype that can't compete in PVP.
Premonition	High-Impact	Primary	Void	B › Average	Shadowkeep	Yes	Pit of Heresy Dungeon	Average ❘ B	Pit of Heresy Dungeon	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: High-Impact PVP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Rampage ► Premonition used to be one of the top high-impact pulse rifles for PVP, but has been largely replaced by The Messenger in the kinetic slot and a Shadow Star in the Energy slot.
Jian 7 Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Arc	B › Average	Free-to-Play	Yes	Gunsmith	Average ❘ B	Gunsmith	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Adaptive PVE God Roll: Disruption Break (also good: Ful-Auto Trigger) + Rampage ► Jian 7 Rifle falls into some of the same traps as Hailing Confusion does. Its TTK isn't great and so are its base stats.
Last Perdition	Adaptive	Primary	Void	B › Average	Free-to-Play	Yes	World Loot Pool	Average ❘ B	World Loot Pool	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Adaptive PVP God Roll: Rampage (also good: Kill Clip) + Outlaw ► As all Adaptive Pulses, Last Perdition is a consistent weapon that does well all-around but will never truly excel in any aspect of the game. But in spite of that, it remains one of the better choices in the energy slot.
Chattering Bone	Lightweight	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	Forsaken	Yes	Last Wish Raid	Weak ❘ C	Last Wish Raid	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Lightweight PVE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Rangefinder) + Rampage ► Chattering Bone is a disappointing weapon, especially as it requires you to conquer the Last Wish raid for a chance to obtain it.
Hailing Confusion	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	C › Weak	Free-to-Play	Yes	Europa Destination	Weak ❘ C	Europa Destination	Slot: Kinetic \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Adaptive PVE God Roll: Firmly Planted + Demolitionist ► Hailing Confusion has a slower optimal TTK than 340 RPM Pulse rifles, but it's a more forgiving weapon if accuracy is an issue. It also features a clean Red Dot sight and a healthy selection of perks. Overall, it's not a bad weapon, but it's still outclassed by more lethal / less forgiving archetypes.
Graviton Lance	Exotic	Primary	Void	C › Weak	Free-to-Play	Yes	Exotic Engram	Weak ❘ C	Exotic Engram	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary Exotic Perk: "Second shot of a burst rips a hole through space-time, doing high damage and recoil with no falloff. Kills with this weapon cause enemies to detonate and spawn tracking Void projectiles." ► Graviton Lance is an interesting Exotic, however, it is vastly outclassed by several Exotic and Legendary Pulse rifles.
Forge's Pledge	Adaptive	Primary	Solar	C › Weak	Free-to-Play	Yes	Iron Banner	Weak ❘ C	Iron Banner	Slot: Energy \| Ammo: Primary \| Archetype: Adaptive PVP God Roll: Heating Up + Rampage (also good: Multikill Clip) ► On top of being part of an average archetype, Forge's Pledge is missing another key element: A good "feel". Some weapons in Destiny 2 feel good to shoot, some feel fine. And in some rare cases, some, like this one, feel bad.

These are the different Tier levels used for our list:

S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.

Best Destiny 2 Pulse Rifles in 2022

This section not only covers the top Pulses currently in the game, 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 Pulse Rifles for PVE and PVP.

10. Stars in Shadow

Excels in PVP

PvP is where this gun truly shines. As a High-Impact frame Pulse, it too delivers an insanely fast 0.67 seconds time-to-kill. This fast TTK plus Kill Clip makes this weapon a true menace in PVP.

PVP God roll:

Perk 1: Killing Wind (also good: Outlaw)
Perk 2: Kill Clip

How to get it: Stars in Shadow can be acquired by completing PVP matches from the Crucible Playlist.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Stars in Shadow	High-Impact	Solar	Playlist: Crucible

9. Legal Action II

Excels in PVP

Another High-Impact Pulse, Legal Action II has that same insanely fast TTKs as Stars in Shadow and The Messenger.

And whereas it has average base stats, this gun manages to stand out thanks to its zoom level. Its optics and zoom combine to give the Legal Action II exceptional range. This helps it challenge even Scout rifles in long-range engagements.

PVP God roll:

Perk 1: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Surplus)
Perk 2: Rampageli>

How to get it: Legal Action II can be randomly acquired as end-of-match activities or via Legendary and Prime engrams.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Legal Action II	High-Impact	Kinetic	World Loot Pool

8. Gridskipper

Excels in PVP

One of the biggest surprises last season, Gridskipper may not have the insane TTK of High-Impact Pulses. Yet it still shreds in PVP while simultaneously feeling great in your hands.

Gridskipper benefits from all of the best new perks, especially Heating Up, which help it effortlessly chain kills in 6v6 matches. As long as you play aggressively, it can easily dominate medium-range engagements.

PVP God roll:

Perk 1: Heating Up (also good: Moving Target)
Perk 2: Multikill Clip

How to get it: Gridskipper can be acquired by completing Overrides and focusing Umbral engrams.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Gridskipper	Rapid-Fire	Void	Override

7. The Third Axiom

Excels in PVE

The Third Axiom is the long-lost twin of the Forsaken Pulse rifle, Bygones. Falling into the Adaptive frame archetype, this is a very consistent weapon that will get the job done every time. It also happens to feel great: stable and smooth to fire.

On top of having some of the best base stats among Adaptive frame Pulse rifles, The Third Axiom can also roll with a wide range of strong perks, making it a desirable weapon for both PvE and PvP.

PVE God roll:

Perk 1: Feeding Frenzy (also good: Killing Wind)
Perk 2: Rampage

How to get it: The Third Axiom can be acquired by completing Strikes from the Vanguard Playlist.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	The Third Axiom	Adaptive	Arc	Playlist: Strikes

6. Sacred Provenance

Excels in PVE

Sacred Provenance is currently the only aggressive, 4-burst Pulse rifle in the game, making it an absolute fan-favorite among Pulse aficionados.

Some may not like it due to its slow playstyle, but with excellent range and ease of use, Sacred Provenance is without a doubt a top-tier weapon for both PvP and PvE.

PVE God roll:

Perk 1: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw)
Perk 2: Kill Clip

How to get it: Sacred Provenance can be acquired by completing the third encounter in the Garden of Salvation raid.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Sacred Provenance	Aggressive Burst	Kinetic	Garden of Salvation Raid

5. BxR-55 Battler

Best PVE Pulse in Destiny 2

The newest Pulse on the block, the BxR is an entirely different beast. Meant to pay homage to Halo’s iconic Battle rifle, the BxR goes above and beyond to fill that role. Not only does it look a lot like the Battle rifle, it also behaves a lot like it too.

The BxR-55 Battler is all about that extra precision when shooting from the hip. Just like Dead Man’s Tale or even The Last Word on controller, this Pulse excels when shot from the hip. This gives it a lot of flexibility. It can be lethal at long ranges but also close ranges when shot from the hip. Couple with something like Blunt Execution Rounds, this pulse can be an excellent tool for a good PVE melee build.

PVE God roll:

Perk 1: Outlaw (also good: Perpetual Motion)
Perk 2: Kill Clip (also good: Blunt Execution Rounds)

How to get it: BxR-55 Battler can be acquired by completing Dares of Eternity runs or turning in Treasure keys at Xûr’s in Eternity.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	BxR-55 Battler	Legacy PR-55	Solar	Dares of Eternity

4. Vigilance Wing

Excels in PVP

Vigilance Wing is an excellent weapon to bring to the Crucible. Its ease of use alone nets it an S tier. However, it’s also one of the most lethal weapons in the game with a unique 5 burst shot.

Vigilance Wing is indeed quite forgiving and lets you get kills without having to hit too many crits. This, combined with its range, makes it a nearly unstoppable force in the mid to long-range engagements.

Exotic Perk: “This weapon fires a 5-round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration, and increased movement speed.”

How to get it: Vigilance Wing can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Vigilance Wing	Exotic	Kinetic	Exotic Engram

3. Darkest Before

Excels in PVP

Gridskipper set the stage last season and demonstrated that Rapid-Fire Pulses could also excel in PVP. Unlike High-Impact Pulses which are all about insanely fast TTKs as long as you can hit your shots, Rapid-Fires are all about overwhelming your enemies with bullets.

Rapid-Fire pulses are oppressive and excel in medium-range engagements. And while Gridskipper is still great, Darkest Before is the absolute best Rapid-fire currently in the game. It has better base stats and a great sight. Darkest Before is reason enough to run the Prophecy dungeon every week.

PVP God roll:

Perk 1: Surplus (also good: Tunnel Vision)
Perk 2: Rampage (also good: Elemental Capacitor)

How to get it: Darkest Before can be acquired by beating the Prophecy dungeon‘s final boss.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	Darkest Before	Rapid-Fire	Arc	Prophecy Dungeon

2. No Time to Explain

Excels in PVP

No Time to Explain is a PVP powerhouse. Not only is it part of the most deadly Pulse rifles archetype (with insanely low TTKs), it also has great base stats and perks that make it nearly unstoppable when activated.

Its exotic perk ‘Rewind Again’ allows for consistent and forgiving kills. This, combined with its incredible range and clean sights, make it a top-tier option everywhere in the game, including PVE.

Exotic Perk: “Precision shots and shots against combatants affected by Stasis return to the magazine. At 10 stacks, a small portal will open, shooting bullets from an alternate timeline version of this weapon. Precision hits extend the portal’s duration.”

How to get it: No Time to Explain can be acquired by purchasing Beyond Light’s Deluxe edition.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	No Time to Explain	Exotic	Kinetic	Exotic Quest

1. The Messenger

Best PVP Pulse in Destiny 2

The best Legendary Pulse Rifle in the entire game, The Messenger is a returning weapon from Destiny 1 that comes with a top-tier perk previously reserved only for Pinnacle weapons: Desperado.

With Desperado, TTK can be massively reduced, allowing for insane killing sprees, especially with Rapid Hit or Outlaw. The Messenger is also incredible in PvE, due to its top-notch perk selection and generally great stats.

PVP God roll:

Perk 1: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw)
Perk 2: Desperado

How to get it: The Messenger can be acquired via Trials of Osiris engrams and rank ups.

-	Weapons	Archetype	Damage	Source	Requires
	The Messenger	High-Impact	Kinetic	Trials of Osiris

Pulse Rifles 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 weapon in Destiny 2. When it comes to PVP, Pulse rifles are a strong choice. In fact, they probably are the top second choice for competitive players, just behind hand cannons. Some of the top Pulses are even considered “Meta”, especially High-impact Pulses that can reach insane time-to-kills (TTK).

Weapon Type	Archetype	Optimal TTK	Optimal Kill	Body Shot TTK	Other characteristics	Best in Class
Pulse Rifle	High Impact Pulse Rifles 340 RPM	0.67	5 crit 1 body	1.2	High range & recoil, low aim assist	The Messenger
Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Pulse Rifles 450 RPM	0.73	6 crit 2 body	1.6	Excellent range, low aim assist	Sacred Provenance
Pulse Rifle	Rapid Fire Pulse Rifles 540 RPM	0.8	7 crit 2 body	1.4	High aim assist, low range	The Time-Worn Spire
Pulse Rifle	Lightweight Pulse Rifles 450 RPM	0.87	8 crit	1.33	Excellent handling, low range	Chattering Bone
Pulse Rifle	Adaptive Pulse Rifles 390 RPM	0.93	5 crit 2 body	1.4	High handling, decent range	The Third Axiom
Pulse Rifle	Legacy Pulse Rifles 450 RPM	0.87	8 crit	1.6	Excellent handling, low range	BxR-55 Battler

Do keep in mind that TTKs aren’t everything. Versatility and ease of use also come into play. High-Impacts may offer one of the best TTKs in the game, but if you can’t land your shots, the archetype loses all its advantages.

If you’re looking for a more forgiving alternative, Rapid-Fires (Darkest Before) and Adaptives (The Third Axiom) can be excellent choices too.

Pulse Rifles 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. When it comes to actual DPS, Pulses deal very mediocre damage:

Weapon Type	Archetype	Average DPS	Burst DPS	Total Damage	Specs	--	Best in Class	Change?
Pulse Rifle	No Time to Explain	3,687	4,381	371,126	With Catalyst	-	-	Same
Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	2,825	3,246	194,778	High handling, decent range		The Third Axiom	Same
Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	2,771	3,285	137,970	High aim assist, low range		The Time-Worn Spire	Same
Pulse Rifle	Aggressive	2,744	3,232	241,312	Excellent range, low aim assist		Sacred Provenance	Same
Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	2,720	3,281	250,128	High range & recoil, low aim assist		The Messenger	Same
Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	2,573	3,046	160,805	Excellent handling, low range		Chattering Bone	Same

Endgame content

Whereas Pulses can dominate any Crucible match, be it casual 6v6s or Trials of Osiris rounds, they currently struggle in PVE. They have the range and ease of use to compete, but they simply deal too little damage. And since hand cannons and scout rifles recently received a PVE damage buff, Pulse rifles struggle even more.

For this reason, you won’t often see Pulse rifles in PVE endgame content, unless seasonal Pulse rifle mods become available (Anti-barrier, Overload, etc).

Destiny 2 Pulse Rifles: Are they Meta?

We’ve talked about the best Pulses for PVE and PVP already, but how do they compare, in general, with other primary weapon types? In other words:

Are Pulse Rifles good in Destiny 2?

The current Meta for PVE

So, are Pulses good in Destiny 2 PVE? This table summarizes how the several primary weapon types rank against each other in PVE:

Weapon Type	Tier	Role ❘ Current State
Submachine Guns	Best ❘ S	Submachine guns are in a great place right now. With good DPS, decent ammo, and acceptable range, SMGs are seen as the perfect compromise between range and damage. On top of that, specific SMGs such as the IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.2 or Extraordinary Rendition are exceptionally good. True top-tier PVE choices, including endgame activities.
Auto Rifles	Strong ❘ A	Auto rifles, in general, are not as strong as SMGs. They simply cannot do as much damage as SMG. On the flip side, they offer better range, and in some situations, excellent ammo. But a few auto rifles can truly excel and can be easily considered S-tier individually, namely the 720 RPM Chroma Rush and the 600 RPM Gnawing Hunger.
Sidearms	Strong ❘ A	Sidearms may be some of the most slept on weapons in Destiny 2. Most guardians prefer to stay away from them due to their limited range. But on the other hand, their DPS is unmatched as long as you can get close enough to stay within their optimal range. This makes sidearms slightly riskier in endgame content such as Grandmaster content.
Hand Cannons	Strong ❘ A	While Hand cannons easily dominate in PVP, they are currently lackluster in the DPS department. Their DPS is so poor, even Bungie acknowledged it and already announced an incoming PVE buff. But to be fair, they are still viable for Master and Grandmaster content, mainly due to their peak shooting capabilities.
Pulse Rifles	Average ❘ B	Pulse rifles are true work horses. They do reasonable damage, have a good range, and are, overall, safe and easy to use in Master and Grandmaster content. They may not excel in the DPS department, are still extremely solid all-around choices.
Scout Rifles	Average ❘ B	Scout rifles are slowly making a comeback. They will be easily outclassed by every other weapon types in most content, but they are proving to be excellent for endgame content. Their long range, combined with the surprisingly high DPS of some of the best Pulses, makes them finally viable for endgame content.
Combat Bows	Weak ❘ C	Combat bows can truly excel in some niche situations. Namely, in very difficult content in which you want to stay as far away from enemies as possible. With virtually infinite range, bows can deal good damage from insane distances.

The current Meta for PVP

What about PVP? This table summarizes how they rank against each other in PVP:

Weapon Type	Tier	Role ❘ Current State
Hand Cannons	Best ❘ S	Hand Cannons are and have always been the top PVP choice in Destiny. Nerfs can bring them slightly down and give other weapon types a chance, but in the end, the top players will always gravitate towards hand cannons. It all comes down to the very nature of hand cannons. They can deal a lot of damage in a short amount of time, meaning they are perfect at peak shooting in and out of cover (something an auto rifle, for example, cannot do).
Pulse Rifles	Best ❘ S	Sometimes referred to as "dad rifles", pulse rifles are generally easier to use, have a good range, and good aim assist. And with the recent buff to the High-Impact archetype, top pulses, such as The Messenger, have become some of the most lethal weapons in the Crucible. And by the way, not all Pulses behave the same. Some, such as Adaptive frames, are somewhat easy to use and could be considered "Dad rifles", whereas High-impacts are harder to master but have some of the most lethal time-to-kill in the entire game.
Sidearms	Strong ❘ A	For some reason, Sidearms have never been particularly popular in PVP. But things are definitely changing, especially since their target acquisition was buffed last year. You now see more and more top players main sidearms alongside their favorite sniper. On paper, sidearms certainly have a limited range, which puts them in direct competition with shotguns, but Sidearms still offer the best TTKs among primary weapons in Destiny 2. Don't be surprised to see them gain momentum as shotguns continue to receive nerfs.
Auto Rifles	Average ❘ B	Auto rifles had their 15 minutes of fame when they received a significant buff in Season of the Worthy, especially the 600 RPM variants. But Auto rifles were quickly reigned in and brought back to their usual place: the middle of the pack. Every now and then, an outlier will see some usage in the Crucible, such as the new Chroma Rush, but in general, ARs suffer from a big drawback: They force you to stay out of cover all the time (unlike a hand cannon or pulse), which makes them less effective in competitive modes or against skilled users.
Submachine Guns	Average ❘ B	SMGs are far from being the "meta" choice in PVP. Other weapons types can be almost as lethal while significantly offering better range. Still, SMGs can get the job done. In fact, a very good SMG with the right perks, such as the new Shayura's Wrath or the Multimach CCX, can be a true menace in the Crucible, with low TTKs and decent range.
Combat Bows	Average ❘ B	Combat bows are definitely a niche choice for PVP. You will rarely see a guardian using a bow in the Crucible, and that's because bows are far from being the most optimal tool to get the job done. With a headshot, bows can "almost" kill an enemy, but during the time you'll need to shoot a second arrow, your enemy will be either gone or you will be already dead. Exceptions such as Le Monarque do exist of course, but in general, you'll be better served with other weapon types.
Scout Rifles	Weak ❘ C	To be clear, everything this applies to every Scout rifle in the game, except Dead Man's Tale, an exponentially superior Scout than the rest. Whether we're talking about PVE or PVP, Scout rifles have been in a sad state for a long time. In PVP, they have some of the worst TTKs in the game and will lose most fights in close to medium range. They do offer good range, but most maps cater to closed-quarter combat.

Your turn

You now know everything there is to know about Pulse Rifles in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.

Latest changes made to this guide

Things change fast in Destiny 2, especially when a new Season or Expansion launches. For that reason, this post will be updated at least once per season.

With the release of Season of the Lost (Season 15) and Bungie’s 30th Anniversary event, the following weapons were added:

BxR-55 Battler
Jurassic Green
Darkest Before
Legal Action II

Stay tuned and don’t forget to bookmark this page for next season!

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1 Comment

Brendan on January 9, 2022 at 2:50 am

On the darkest before review, it says gridskipper instead of darkest before in its description, in the very first section, overall a very useful tier list!
Reply