Best Pulse Rifles in Destiny 2: Tier List for PvP & PvE

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. In fact, some of them are considered to be among the best weapons in the entire game.

Today we cover every Pulse Rifle in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendaries, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

 Updated as of Season of the Wish (S23). See Updates.

Destiny 2 Best Pulse Rifles: Top-tier Options

This Tier list features the Top-tier Exotic and Legendary Pulses right now, including the Insidious:

Item	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
BxR-55 Battler	BxR-55 Battler	Pulse Rifle	Legacy PR-55	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Dares of Eternity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Legacy PR-55 PvE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Demolitionist) + Incandescent (also good: Kill Clip) PvE God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Kill Clip ► The BxR has always been a powerful pulse rifle, but it recently got even better. Now with the ability to roll with Incandescent (and the ability to craft it), this pulse rifle continues to dominate most areas of the game.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Legacy PR-55 PvE God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Demolitionist) + Incandescent (also good: Kill Clip) PvE God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Kill Clip	Top-tier
Oversoul Edict	Oversoul Edict	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Crota's End Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE + PvP	Crota's End Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Englightened Action) + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Headseeker (also good: Moving Target) ► From the returning Crota's End raid, Oversoul Edict is one of the best legendary pulses, bar none. Its perk pool has something for everyone and is a solid pick for all manners of content. It is also craftable, so a god roll is only five red borders away.	Season 22	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Englightened Action) + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Headseeker (also good: Moving Target)	Top-tier
Graviton Lance	Graviton Lance	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Exotic Engram		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Exotic Engram Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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 a beast of a weapon. It clears out entire rooms thanks to its explosive capabilities. It also synergizes well with certain builds, making it an excellent option right now.	Season 1	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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."	Top-tier
Horror's Least	Horror's Least	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Heating Up) + Kill Clip ► Able to dominate in the Crucible at mid-range, Horror's Least is one of the best pulse rifles in the game. With great stats, an Adept variant, and a well-rounded perk pool, this weapon is a beast and worth grinding if you're a pulse rifle fan.	Season 17	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Heating Up) + Kill Clip	Top-tier
No Time to Explain	No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	A › Strong	Beyond Light Campaign		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Beyond Light Campaign Beyond Light	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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." ► An exceptional pick in PVP (and a fun one in PVE), No Time to Explain's ability to provide you with an extra set of bullets continues to be helpful in most areas of the game.	Season 12	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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."	Top-tier
The Messenger	The Messenger	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Kinetic	Lightfall	No	A › Strong	Trials of Osiris		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris Lightfall	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE & PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Kill Clip(also good: Desperado) ► Because Desperado is no longer exclusive to this pulse (and because the perk has suffered from a handful of nerfs), The Messenger isn't as popular as it once was. Kill Clip allows this weapon to continue to excel in PVP, but it isn't the monster it was previously.	Season 13	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE & PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Kill Clip(also good: Desperado)	Top-tier
Insidious	Insidious	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Arc	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Vow of the Disciple Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Vow of the Disciple Raid Witch Queen	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Dragonfly) + Rampage PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Heating Up) + Rampage ► One of very few 4-burst pulse rifles, people had big expectations for this weapon. And with outstanding perk combinations for both PVE and PVP, Insidious blew those out of the water. With an S-Tier Origin Trait and no terrible perks in its pool, there's not much to hate about this pulse rifle. For PVP in particular, Aggressive Burst Pulses hit like a truck, flinching opponents with ease.	Season 16	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Dragonfly) + Rampage PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Heating Up) + Rampage	Top-tier
New Purpose	New Purpose	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Stasis	Deluxe Edition	Yes	A › Strong	Duality Dungeon		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Duality Dungeon Deluxe Edition	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Headstone (also good: Desperado) PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Tunnel Vision) + Desperado ► For those not wanting to grind out The Messenger, New Purpose is the next best thing. Desperado was recently nerfed and is now significantly less potent, but it's still crazy fun in both PvE and PvP. Plus, New Purpose's Stasis element and Headstone can also play an integral part in a PvE Stasis build.	Season 17	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Headstone (also good: Desperado) PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Tunnel Vision) + Desperado	Top-tier
Battle Scar	Battle Scar	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Lost Sector		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Lost Sector Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Shoot to Loot) + Kinetic Tremors PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Keep Away) + Headseeker ► Yet another world drop to make waves, Battle Scar is an exceptionally strong pulse rifle with an equally strong perk pool. Not only that but its origin trait buffs practically all stats for the low cost of simply dealing damage and not dying. The only problem is getting it to drop.	Season 20	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Shoot to Loot) + Kinetic Tremors PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Keep Away) + Headseeker	Top-tier
Phyllotactic Spiral	Phyllotactic Spiral	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Arc	Lightfall	Yes	A › Strong	Neomuna		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Neomuna Lightfall	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Compulsive Reloader) + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Kill Clip (also good: Headseeker) ► The first pulse rifle to get Voltshot, Phyllotactic Spiral has been highly sought after since its release with Lightfall. Its range lets users activate Keep Away more consistently, which aids in the reload speed when proc'ing Voltshot. The only issue you'll find with it is getting it in the first place.	Season 20	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvE God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Compulsive Reloader) + Voltshot PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Kill Clip (also good: Headseeker)	Top-tier
Different Times	Different Times	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Strand	Season 21	Yes	A › Strong	Seasonal activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Seasonal activity Season 21	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Hatchling PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Headseeker ► Our first Strand pulse, while just a reskin of Outlast, is a fairly powerful Rapid-Fire. Rapid-fires continue to be a solid choice for PvP, and in PvE, they synergize extremely well with Tangle or Threadling-based builds. And on top of it all, it's craftable!	Season 21	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Hatchling PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Headseeker	Top-tier
Belisarius-D	Belisarius-D	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Crucible Competitive		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Crucible Competitive Free-to-Play	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Slice (also good: Rapid Hit) + Hatchling PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Keep Away) + Headseeker (also good: Kill Clip) ► Our first new aggressive burst in over a year, Belisarius-D is one competitive reward you don't want to miss. With stats comprable to Blast Furnace and a suite of perks to ramp those up to 11, this pulse can compete with the heavyweights, like Messenger and Piece of Mind.	Season 23	Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Slice (also good: Rapid Hit) + Hatchling PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Keep Away) + Headseeker (also good: Kill Clip)	Top-tier
Chattering Bone	Chattering Bone	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Last Wish Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Kill Clip) + Kinetic Tremors (also good: Rampage) ► A simple perk refresh, and now Chattering Bone is one of the best pulse rifles in the game. One of very few guns to get Kill Clip in column 3, Chattering has perk combos that will dominate in any content, no matter the difficulty. And did I mention its craftable?	Season 4	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Kill Clip) + Kinetic Tremors (also good: Rampage)	Top-tier
Outbreak Perfected	Outbreak Perfected	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Zero Hour		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Zero Hour Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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's theme and great firing feel alone make it a popular PVE choice. And with buffs to Exotic primary weapon damage, it's now an excellent option for casual PVE content.	Season 6	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic 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."	Top-tier
Collective Obligation	Collective Obligation	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Primary	Void	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Vow of the Disciple Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Vow of the Disciple Raid Witch Queen	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon leeches Void debuffs when damaging targets that are suppressed, weakened, or volatile. Once charged, damage from this weapon applies the same Void debuffs that were leeched. Weapon automatically reloads when you gain Devour, a Void overshield, or become invisible." ► With the ability to debuff everything in sight, Collective Obligation can do things no other weapon can. That being said, you're almost required to create a build with it to make it worth your exotic slot. While this weapon has potential, having to work so hard to make your exotic feel "exotic" isn't great.	Season 16	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon leeches Void debuffs when damaging targets that are suppressed, weakened, or volatile. Once charged, damage from this weapon applies the same Void debuffs that were leeched. Weapon automatically reloads when you gain Devour, a Void overshield, or become invisible."	Top-tier
Smite of Merain	Smite of Merain	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	King's Fall Raid		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Focused Fury) + Adrenaline Junkie (also good: One for All) ► From its synergistic combinations like Demolitionist and Adrenaline Junkie to its ability to roll with two damage perks at once, Smite of Merain's perks alone make it a solid choice for PVE. 4-burst pulse rifles will continue to be the most potent option, but this can be a unique alternative.	Season 18	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Focused Fury) + Adrenaline Junkie (also good: One for All)	Top-tier
Veles-X	Veles-X	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Kiosk		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Kiosk Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace + Golden Tricorn (also good: Kill Clip) ► Veles-X is a perfect sidekick to any Void 3.0 build and one of the better ritual weapons we've gotten recently. If you don't have Collective Obligation, Veles-X is an exceptional pick.	Season 19	Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace + Golden Tricorn (also good: Kill Clip)	Top-tier
Disparity	Disparity	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Primary	Stasis	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Operation: Seraph's Shield		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield Witch Queen	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Headstone (also good: Kill Clip) ► Being both a Stasis and 4-burst pulse rifle, Disparity doesn't have much competition. Even if it did, however, it would still excel—its S-Tier perks make it an excellent choice for medium-level PVE content.	Season 19	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive Burst PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Headstone (also good: Kill Clip)	Top-tier
Adhortative	Adhortative	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Primary	Solar	Season 23	Yes	A › Strong	Undying		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Undying Season 23	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Heal Clip + Incadescent (also good: Golden Tricorn) ► Yet another refresh done right, Adhorative is a solid PvE pulse rifle for most content. While it comes with the standard fare of perks, the real power is in the Solar 3.0 synergy, rolling with both Incadescent and Heal Clip.	Season 23	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Heal Clip + Incadescent (also good: Golden Tricorn)	Top-tier
The Time-Worn Spire	The Time-Worn Spire	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	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: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Under Pressure (also good: Quickdraw) + Iron Grip (also good: Rampage) ► The Time-Worn Spire is a reprised Year 1 Iron Banner weapon that returned with plenty of fantastic perks. It belongs to one of the better archetypes, which, coupled with solid perks, can be a great choice for PVP.	Season 13	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Under Pressure (also good: Quickdraw) + Iron Grip (also good: Rampage)	Top-tier
Jurassic Green	Jurassic Green	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Seasonal	A › Strong	Event: Festival of the Lost		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Event: Festival of the Lost Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Headseeker ► With a refreshed perk pool, Jurassic Green is easily an A-tier rapid fire for PvP. Boasting the same range and PvP god roll as Oversoul Edict, this is a pulse worth grinding for.	Season 15	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Keep Away (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Headseeker	Top-tier
Piece of Mind	Piece of Mind	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	A › Strong	Vox Obscura		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Vox Obscura Witch Queen	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Overflow) + Moving Target ► With a TTK of 0.80s, Piece of Mind is a solid PVP choice. It's not a High-Impact Pulse and it doesn't have the best TTK, yet it can absolutely shred in PVP while simultaneously feeling great in your hands. As a Rapid-Fire pulse, Piece of Mind isn't great at peak shooting, but if used aggressively, it can easily dominate medium-range engagements.	Season 16	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Overflow) + Moving Target	Top-tier
Psi Hermetic V	Psi Hermetic V	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Lost Sector		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Lost Sector Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Enlightened Action) + Kill Clip (also good: Headseeker) ► More than a Stasis Messenger, Psi Heremetic has a small but strong perk pool that will please any player. While it has some decent PvE perks, you might want to wait until Season 23 as pulses are getting a buff then, which could turn this into a solid endgame option.	Season 22	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: High-Impact PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Enlightened Action) + Kill Clip (also good: Headseeker)	Top-tier
Scalar Potential	Scalar Potential	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Primary	Arc	Season 23	Yes	A › Strong	Seasonal activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Seasonal activity Season 23	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Headseeker ► Lacking any worthwhile PvE perks, Scalar is a monster in PvP, though its held back thanks to its low stability. However, given the nature of rapid-fire pulses, this shouldn't be too much of a problem, especially with Headseeker.	Season 23	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire PvP God Roll: Keep Away + Headseeker	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Pulse Rifles: The complete list

This database includes every viable Pulse currently in the game:

Art	Weapon	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?
	No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Beyond Light Campaign	No	Beyond Light	Season 12	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Outbreak Perfected	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Zero Hour	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 6	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Bad Juju	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	No	Forsaken Pack	Season 7	Kinetic	No
	Vigilance Wing	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Kinetic	No
	Revision Zero	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 19	Kinetic	Craftable
	Graviton Lance	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Best ❘ S	PvE	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 1	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Collective Obligation	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Void	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Vow of the Disciple Raid	No	Witch Queen	Season 16	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Sacred Provenance	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Shadowkeep	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvE	Garden of Salvation Raid	No	Shadowkeep	Season 8	Kinetic	No
	Cold Denial	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Kinetic	No
	The Time-Worn Spire	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	The Messenger	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Lightfall	No	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	Lightfall	Season 13	Kinetic	No	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors
	Hailing Confusion	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Weak ❘ C	-	Europa	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Kinetic	No
	Chattering Bone	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Forsaken Pack	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Last Wish Raid	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Season 4	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors
	Legal Action II	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Kinetic	No
	Piece of Mind	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Vox Obscura	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 16	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Syncopation-53	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Average ❘ B	PvP	Gunsmith	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	Craftable
	Perses-D	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Weak ❘ C	-	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Kinetic	No
	New Purpose	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Deluxe Edition	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Duality Dungeon	No	Deluxe Edition	Season 17	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Smite of Merain	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE	King's Fall Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Stay Frosty	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Average ❘ B	PvP	Event: Dawning	No	Free-to-Play	Season 19	Kinetic	No
	Disparity	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 19	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Autumn Wind	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvP	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	No
	Battle Scar	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Kinetic	No	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors
	Different Times	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Season 21	Yes	Primary	Strand	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Seasonal activity	Yes	Season 21	Season 21	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier
	Nightshade	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Strand	Average ❘ B	PvP	Recovered Red War	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	No
	Psi Hermetic V	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Stasis	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Belisarius-D	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Strand	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Crucible Competitive	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Kinetic	No	Top-tier
	Relentless	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Strand	Ongoing...	-	Prophecy Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Kinetic	No
	Blast Furnace	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic		No	Primary	Kinetic	Ongoing...	-	Onslaught Activity	No		Into the Light	Kinetic	No
	Stars in Shadow	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Weak ❘ C	-	Playlist: Crucible	No	Free-to-Play	Season 12	Energy	No
	The Third Axiom	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	Weak ❘ C	-	Vanguard Focusing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 13	Energy	No
	Premonition	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Void	Shadowkeep	Yes	Primary	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	Pit of Heresy Dungeon	No	Shadowkeep	Season 13	Energy	No
	Last Perdition	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Weak ❘ C	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Energy	No
	Jian 7 Rifle	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	Worst ❘ D	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Energy	No
	Gridskipper	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Average ❘ B	PvP	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Energy	No
	Darkest Before	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	Prophecy Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Energy	No
	Forge's Pledge	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	No	Primary	Solar	Weak ❘ C	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No
	Jurassic Green	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Seasonal	Primary	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Event: Festival of the Lost	No	Free-to-Play	Season 15	Energy	No	Top-tier	Incandescent
	BxR-55 Battler	Pulse Rifle	Legacy PR-55	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity	Yes	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Ogma PR6	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvE	Gunsmith	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Energy	No
	Insidious	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Arc	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Vow of the Disciple Raid	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 16	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Bait and Switch
	Horror's Least	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvP	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 17	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Yesteryear	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Average ❘ B	PvE + PvP	Playlist: Gambit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 18	Energy	No		Repulsor Brace
	Veles-X	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	Legendary	Primary	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Void	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Exotic Kiosk	No	Free-to-Play	Season 19	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Jorum's Claw	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Energy	No		Incandescent
	Phyllotactic Spiral	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Lightfall	Yes	Primary	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Neomuna	Yes	Lightfall	Season 20	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot
	Outlast	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Season 21	Yes	Primary	Solar	Average ❘ B	PvP	Fishing	No	Season 21	Season 21	Energy	No
	Oversoul Edict	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Arc	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Crota's End Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Voltshot,Sword Logic
	Adhortative	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Season 23	Yes	Primary	Solar	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Undying	Yes	Season 23	Season 23	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Scalar Potential	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	Legendary	Primary	Arc	Season 23	Yes	Primary	Arc	Strong ❘ A	PvP	Seasonal activity	Yes	Season 23	Season 23	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Elsie's Rifle	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Void		No	Primary	Void	Ongoing...	-	Onslaught Activity	No		Into the Light	Energy	No

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 2024

Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best Pulses in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):

5. The Messenger

Excels in PVP

Now rolling with Headseeker, Messenger is back on top for legendary PvP pulse rifles.

While The Messenger has been around since Chosen, Season 21’s reissuing granted it the coveted Headseeker perk, which has become a top dueling pick since its buff. Pair that with the insane base stats, and it’s no wonder people are coming back around to The Messenger. And if you’re a fan of the old-fashioned roll, rest assured that Desperado is still there to give you that wicked RPM buff.

Grab your buddies and test your might in the Trials of Osiris to get one of these today!

• PvP God roll: Rapid-Hit + Headseeker

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

Art	Weapon	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?
	The Messenger	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	Legendary	Primary	Kinetic	Lightfall	No	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Trials of Osiris	No	Lightfall	Season 13	Kinetic	No	Top-tier	Kinetic Tremors

4. Revision Zero

 Excels in PVE

A two-in-one weapon, Revision Zero is here to switch things up.

A craftable exotic from Season of the Seraph, Revision Zero is just as powerful as it is interesting. Boasting intrinsic Anti-Barrier capabilities and a sniper mode, Rev can achieve peak performance in any PvE content. It truly shines in the endgame, where the higher base damage, thanks to being an exotic primary, can pick off ads with ease, and it can now one-shot barriers thanks to the Season 23 buff!

Exotic Perk: “Precision hits grant targeting data. Swap to the alternate scope, loading high-damage rounds based on the amount of targeting data. Strong against Barrier Champions. Increased movement speed and target acquisition when moving while aiming down sights.”

How to get it: Revision Zero can be acquired from the Operation: Seraph’s Shield Exotic Mission.

Art	Weapon	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?
	Revision Zero	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	The Witch Queen	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Average ❘ B	PvE	Operation: Seraph's Shield	Yes	Witch Queen	Season 19	Kinetic	Craftable

3. Outbreak Perfected

 Excels in PVE

A Day One raid staple, Outbreak Perfected is the true workhorse of the game.

Once a secret mission reward, Outbreak can be acquired by any player through the Monument to Lost Light in the Tower, and it’s one of few exotics recommended to new players for a good reason. Alone it can dish out exceptional damage, but when paired with others, it can shred bosses and high-tier enemies with ease as the nanites stack quicker, meaning longer uptime and better damage. All for the low cost of simply hitting critical shots.

If a primary DPS weapon is missing from your life, pick up Outbreak today!

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.”

How to get it: Outbreak Perfected can be purchased at the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower.

Art	Weapon	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?
	Outbreak Perfected	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE	Zero Hour	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 6	Kinetic	Craftable	Top-tier

2. No Time to Explain: Best PvP Pulse Rifle

Excels in PvE and PvP

I don’t even have time to explain why No Time to Explain is S-tier

Ok, maybe I do. Returning with part of its D1 functionality, NTTE quickly became a PvP nightmare when it was released in Beyond Light, and no amount of nerfs have been able to take that away. While it falls slightly behind the likes of The Messenger in terms of stats, the Time-Slip portal is a non-denominational Arc Buddy, granting you free damage so long as you’ve hit 10 crits or shots against Stasis-affected targets. Did I also mention that each of those hits returns a bullet to the mag?

Exotic Perk: “Precision shots and shots against combatants slowed or frozen by Stasis will return to the magazine. At 10 stacks of Rewind Again, 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 completing the Beyond Light campaign.

Art	Weapon	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?
	No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	Exotic	Primary	Kinetic	Beyond Light	Yes	Primary	Kinetic	Strong ❘ A	PvE + PvP	Beyond Light Campaign	No	Beyond Light	Season 12	Kinetic	No	Top-tier

1. BxR-55 Battler: Best PvE Pulse Rifle

Excels in PvE and PvP

The OG of all pulses, the BxR-55 Battler, or just the Battler, is one of the best legendary pulses in the game.

Dropping from Dares of Eternity, the Battler is a reskin of the classic Halo burst rifle, and it even demonstrates that in its intrinsically better hip fire accuracy. This lets it play much better in close-quarters situations, and the perks are just icing on the cake. Kill Clip turns it into a two-burst machine, and Killing Wind will help push out that two-burst range even more. In PvE, even though pulses are a tough sell, the Battler performs just as well against these aliens as it did in Halo.

Hop into Dares today to start getting that pattern so you, too, can own a piece of history.

• PvE God roll: Outlaw + Incandescent
• PvP God roll: Killing Wind + Kill Clip

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.

Art	Weapon	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?
	BxR-55 Battler	Pulse Rifle	Legacy PR-55	Legendary	Primary	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Primary	Solar	Best ❘ S	PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity	Yes	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Energy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent

Pulse Rifles and the PvP Meta: TTK

We already covered which Pulses are top-tier (and should be farmed) and which ones can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other primary weapons in PvP?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Hand Cannons feel great right now and can deal with all the other meta options, provided they are in the hands of a skilled player. They are unbelievably forgiving in terms of aim-assist and can compete at solid ranges. Hand Cannons are the jack of all trades, and while they may not dominate up close or far away, they are incredibly scary to face in a mid-range duel. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Igneous Hammer	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
Submachine Guns	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► SMGs remain a staple of the PvP meta. SMGs absolutely shred enemies at close range and as soon as their top option is nerfed, a new top-tier SMG is introduced to replace it. SMGs have been, and seemingly will remain, meta for a long time to come. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (720 RPM) - Example: The Immortal	PVP Primaries
Sidearms	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Sidearms have lost their place at the top of the meta, but they remain a solid pick, especially for players using a Controller, as they inherently have manageable stability with a rapid time-to-kill. Honestly, the main reason they've lost their place at the top is due to how powerful SMGs are right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (325 RPM) - Example: Forgiveness	PVP Primaries
Auto Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► After a couple of recent changes and buffs, Auto Rifles are feeling great to use right now, especially in the more casual Crucible playlists. While they may not have the juice to compete with some of the top dogs, they are still a solid pick and can help you frag out with relative ease. ► Best Archetype: Precision (450 RPM) - Example: Ammit AR2	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	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C		► Scout Rifles are struggling right now. In most situations, the maps are too small to benefit the long range of a Scout rifle. An Aggressive or High-Impact Pulse Rifle will better serve your needs. Plus, Scout Rifles are abysmal up close. There are one or two outliers that shine but, on the whole, Scout Rifles are in a weak spot. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (260 RPM) - Example: Fang of Ir Yût	PVP Primaries

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.

When it comes to PvP, top Pulses can dominate the Crucible:

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Optimal TTK	Optimal Kill	Body Shot TTK	Specs	---	Best in Class
	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive 390 RPM	0.93	5 crit 2 body	1.47	High handling, decent range		The Third Axiom
	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight 450 RPM	0.87	7 crit 1 body	1.33	Excellent handling, low range		BxR-55 Battler
	Pulse Rifle	Rapid Fire 540 RPM	0.80	7 crit 2 body	1.40	High aim assist, low range		Piece of Mind
	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact 340 RPM	0.67	5 crit 1 body	1.20	High range, low aim assist		The Messenger
	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive 450 RPM	0.73	7 crit 1 body	1.60	Excellent range, low aim assist		Insidious
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0.77	7 crit 1 body	1.72	4-Burst mode		Revision Zero
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0.7	8 crit	1.20	-		Vigilance Wing
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0.87	7 crit 1 body	1.33	-		Bad Juju
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0.87	7 crit 1 body	1.33	-		Outbreak Perfected
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	1.00	4 crit 2 body	1.87	-		Graviton Lance

Some of the top Pulses are considered “Meta”, especially High-impact Pulses that can reach insane time-to-kills (TTK). 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 can be an excellent choice too.

Pulse Rifles and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Pulses compare to other primary weapons 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
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
Hand Cannons	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer	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
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: Rapid-Fire (720 RPM)- Example: Quicksilver Storm	PVE Primaries
Scout Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle	PVE Primaries
Sidearms	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C		► 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

Keep in mind that when it comes to PvE, DPS is one of the most important factors. 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.

When it comes to actual DPS, Pulse rifles are average:

-	Weapon Type	Archetype	Sustained DPS	Mag DPS	Total Damage	Specs	---	Best in Class	Change?	Ammo
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	11328	14573		With x5 "nanites"		Outbreak Perfected	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	9843	9843		4-burst, Rounds + "Hunter's Trace"		Revision Zero		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	6285	7117		-		Graviton Lance	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	5394	5394		w/ Catalyst; "Time-skip Portal"		No Time to Explain	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	5330	6316		-		Vigilance Wing	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Rapid-Fire	4152	4788		High aim assist, low range		Piece of Mind	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Adaptive	4039	4589		High handling, decent range		The Third Axiom	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	High-Impact	3983	4465		High range & recoil, low aim assist		The Messenger	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Aggressive Burst	3943	4418		Excellent range, low aim assist		Insidious	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	3883	4589		-		Collective Obligation		Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Lightweight	3839	4455		Excellent handling, low range		Ogma PR6	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Legacy PR-55	3804	4455		Excellent handling, low range		BxR-55 Battler	Same	Primary
	Pulse Rifle	Exotic	0	9810		String of Curses x5		Bad Juju		Primary

Endgame content

Whereas Pulses could dominate any Crucible match, be it casual 6v6s or Trials of Osiris rounds, they struggled in PvE for the longest time. They had the range and ease of use to compete, but they simply dealt too little damage. Luckily, the recent buffs given to Pulses (plus the buffs planned for next season) allow them to finally compete and become viable options in PvE.

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Special and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Breech Grenade Launchers and Best Destiny 2 Machine Guns, too.

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