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Destiny 2 Nightfall Weapon this Week: Full Rotation

by | Mar 21, 2023 | Weapons

Bungie has been doing an excellent job when it comes to adding new weapons to endgame activities. Playlist and Seasonal weapons have been great so far, but Nightfall weapons truly stand out, with a few of them now sitting among the best weapons in the game.

In this guide, we’ll cover all Nightfall: The Ordeal weapons released so far (including their PVP and PVE god rolls) and show you how to farm them.

Nightfall weapon this week: March 21, 2023

The Nightfall weapon this week is The Militia’s Birthright grenade launcher (dropping from The Arms Dealer Strike).

WeekArtWeaponTypeElementAmmoWeek #
21 March 2023The Militia's BirthrightThe Militia's BirthrightGrenade LauncherKinetic symbol Destiny 2 KineticSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialWeek 4

The Arms Dealer

Featured Nightfall this week

Shields: Arc icon Arc, Solar Solar, and Void Void    /     Champions: Shield Piercing rounds Barrier and Unstoppable rounds Unstoppable

Requirements: Free-to-play

New Nightfall weapons from Season 20

Bungie re-released the following Nightfall weapons with Season of Defiance:

  • Buzzard – Sidearm
  • THE SWARM – Machine Gun

Nightfall Weapon rotation for 2023

There are 16 Nightfall-specific weapons in total, but only 6 out of the 15 total weapons are currently on rotation with only one dropping each week. These are the other weapons on rotation this season:

Finally, these are the remaining Nightfall weapons that are not on rotation this season:

  • Duty Bound – Adaptive Auto Rifle
  • Silicon Neuroma – Sniper Rifle
  • D.F.A. – Hand Cannon
  • Horror’s Least– Pulse Rifle
  • PLUG ONE.1 – Fusion Rifle
  • The Comedian – Shotgun
  • The Hothead – Rocket Launcher
  • The Palindrome – Hand Cannon
  • Uzume RR4 – Sniper Rifle

Nightfall weapons this week Destiny 2 900p

Nightfall weapon rotation

2023 Nightfall weapon rotation

WeekArtWeaponTypeElementAmmoWeek #
28 February 2023Hung Jury SR4 artHung Jury SR4Scout RifleKinetic symbol Destiny 2 KineticPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryWeek 1
7 March 2023Mindbender's Ambition artMindbender's AmbitionShotgunSolar SolarSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialWeek 2
14 March 2023Wendigo GL3 art Wendigo GL3Grenade LauncherArc ArcHeavy ammo Destiny 2 HeavyWeek 3
21 March 2023The Militia's BirthrightThe Militia's BirthrightGrenade LauncherKinetic symbol Destiny 2 KineticSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialWeek 4
28 March 2023Week 5
4 April 2023Week 6
11 April 2023Week 7
18 April 2023Week 8
25 April 2023Week 9
2 May 2023Week 10
9 May 2023Week 11
16 May 2023Week 12

💠 Check out our Nightfalls this Week guide for more details about this Nightfall.

Best Destiny 2 Nightfall weapons

Keep in mind that since the release of The Witch Queen expansion, every Nightfall weapon comes with the following Origin Traits.

-TraitSourceActivation | EffectsSpecsSource TypeReleased
Stunning Recovery trait Destiny 2 artStunning RecoveryNightfall: The OrdealsStunning a Champion partially refills the magazine, triggers health regeneration, and improves Recovery for a short duration.+60 HP instantly, +40 HP recovery over 3 secondsActivityThe Witch Queen

Our Tier list 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 where each weapon shines:

⛔ These weapons are on a seasonal rotation. Each season, some weapons will become unobtainable to leave room for previously unavailable weapons to return.

NameWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmoElementRequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier rankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerks
The PalindromeThe Palindrome art
The Palindrome
Hand CannonAdaptivePrimaryVoidFree-to-PlayNoS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + One for All
PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Rangefinder

► With S-Tier perks for both PVE and PVP, great stats, and an adept version, there is nothing to hate about The Palindrome. Plus, it can get max range, can take advantage of Volatile Rounds, and it feels amazing to fire, making it one of the best legendary weapons in the game.
Season 13
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + One for All
PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Rangefinder
Hung Jury SR4Hung Jury SR4 art
Hung Jury SR4
Scout RiflePrecisionPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload (also good: Firefly)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing

► Hung Jury was already a good Scout Rifle in PvE. However, with the recent changes to Scout in Season 17, Hung Jury can now hang with the best in PvP. Box Breathing allows for an easy 3 tap, giving it a fast and reasonably forgiving time-to-kill. Hung Jury is an excellent pick for everyone.
Season 14
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload (also good: Firefly)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing
Uzume RR4Uzume RR4 art
Uzume RR4
Sniper RifleAdaptiveSpecialSolarFree-to-PlayNoS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 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)

► Arguably the most well-rounded sniper on this list, Uzume RR4 is an almost-perfect choice for both PVE and PVP. Sure, it doesn't have the best stats in the game, but the versatility of this weapon is unrivaled. No matter what part of the game you play, a good Uzume will complete your loadout.
Season 14
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 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)
THE SWARMTHE SWARM art
THE SWARM
Machine GunHigh-ImpactHeavyArcFree-to-PlayNoS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Outlaw) + One for All (also good: Vorpal Weapon)

► High-Impact machine guns currently suffer from a lack of identity. That said, THE SWARM can still be great for PVE. It packs a strong punch and can roll with perks that not only improve its lethality but also its handling. It has good base stats too and can use the top-tier Adept Big Ones mod, if you have an Adept version of the gun.
Season 13
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Surplus (also good: Outlaw) + One for All (also good: Vorpal Weapon)
The HotheadThe Hothead art
The Hothead
Rocket LauncherAdaptiveHeavyArcFree-to-PlayNoS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Field Prep) + Lasting Impression (also good: Explosive Light)

► Containing solid stats, S-Tier perks, and an Adept version, The Hothead is often regarded as the best legendary rocket launcher. And because of recent nerfs to the damage of precision frame launchers, Hothead also does more damage than most competitive options.
Season 15
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Field Prep) + Lasting Impression (also good: Explosive Light)
Horror's LeastHorror's Least art
Horror's Least
Pulse RifleRapid-FirePrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The Ordeals
Best

S



Excels in:
PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 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 Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Rapid-Fire

PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion (also good: Heating Up) + Kill Clip
Silicon NeuromaSilicon Neuroma art
Silicon Neuroma
Sniper RifleAggressiveSpecialKineticFree-to-PlayNoA › StrongNightfall: The Ordeals
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Firing Line
PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot

► Silicon Neuroma is one of the few snipers that can roll with Snapshot Sights and Opening Shot, the holy grail of PVP snipers. On top of that, it packs a low zoom value that helps it excel at closer ranges, and thanks to the recent buff to low zoom snipers, it simply feels great to use.
Season 16
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Triple Tap + Firing Line
PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot
PLUG ONE.1PLUG ONE.1 art
PLUG ONE.1
Fusion RiflePrecisionSpecialArcFree-to-PlayNoA › StrongNightfall: The Ordeals
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Bottomless Grief (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Reservoir Burst (also good: Cornered)

► With outstanding range, this weapon proves why Precision archetype Fusions are so strong right now. Feeding Frenzy + Resovoir burst will synergize well with Volatile rounds too.
Season 14
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Bottomless Grief (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + Reservoir Burst (also good: Cornered)
Duty BoundDuty Bound art
Duty Bound
Auto RifleAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayNoA › StrongNightfall: The Ordeals
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Stats for All Perpetual Motion + Frenzy Rampage

► Duty Bound is a decent all-around weapon. It comes with solid perks and can be used effectively pretty much anywhere in the game. 600 RPM Auto Rifles have always had a decent spot in PvE, and Duty Bound does not break this trend.
Season 16
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Stats for All Perpetual Motion + Frenzy Rampage
D.F.A.D.F.A. art
D.F.A.
Hand CannonAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The Ordeals
Average

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage

► A community favorite back in Year 1, D.F.A. has been brought back in, sadly, a pretty average state. This weapon doesn't have the stats or perks to carry it in PVP, and while it can roll Outlaw / Rampage, there isn't too much here for high-level PVE content either.
Season 17
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage
Shadow PricePrice art
Shadow Price
Auto RiflePrecisionPrimaryArcFree-to-PlayNoB › AverageNightfall: The Ordeals
Average

B



Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + One for All (also good: Swashbuckler)

► Shadow Price is a decent option. It features a couple of good perks, but that's about it. Not being part of a good archetype, having no origin trait and mediocre stats lands it in the middle of the pack.
Season 13
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Overflow (also good: Feeding Frenzy) + One for All (also good: Swashbuckler)
The ComedianThe Comedian art
The Comedian
ShotgunAggressiveSpecialVoidFree-to-PlayNoC › WeakNightfall: The Ordeals
Weak

C



Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)

► The Comedian is truly a joke, no pun intended. It has a woefully bad perk pool and cannot compete in PvP or PvE. Its perks center around ad clear, which is not the role that Shotguns should fill at all. And even in its Adept form, The Comedian still falls short.
Season 15
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)
Mindbender's AmbitionMindbender's Ambition art
Mindbender's Ambition
ShotgunAggressiveSpecialSolarFree-to-PlayYesOngoingNightfall: The OrdealsOngoing...

Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...

► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 18
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...
The Militia's BirthrightThe Militia's Birthright
The Militia's Birthright
Grenade LauncherLightweightSpecialKineticFree-to-PlayYesOngoingNightfall: The OrdealsOngoing...

Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Lightweight

God Rolls: To be confirmed...

► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 18
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Lightweight

God Rolls: To be confirmed...
Wendigo GL3Wendigo GL3 art

Wendigo GL3
Grenade LauncherAdaptiveHeavyArcFree-to-PlayYesOngoingNightfall: The OrdealsOngoing...

Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...

► Still too early to tell, review ongoing...
Season 19
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...
BuzzardBuzzard art
Buzzard
SidearmAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesOngoingNightfall: The OrdealsOngoing...

Nightfall: The Ordeals

Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...

Season 20
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: To be confirmed...
  • S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapon types.
  • A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapon types, 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.

Nightfall weapon farm: How to get them

Farming a Nightfall weapon is as straightforward as it gets: they only drop from Nightfall: The Ordeals completions. But you’ll have to wait until the weapon you want is on rotation before you start farming Nightfalls.

But completing a Nightfall is easier said than done. Sometimes referred to as a Nightfall Strike, a Nightfall: The Ordeal is much harder than a Strike, especially on Legend, Master, and Grandmaster difficulties. As soon as you start tackling Legend Nightfalls and above, you’ll have to deal with Match game enemy shields, no matchmaking, and more.

The list of modifiers you’ll have to deal with can be found in the Nightfall selection screen. You can also find them in our Nightfall guide.

Nightfall weapons drop rates

Obviously, most players opt to tackle higher difficulties because the higher the difficulty, the bigger the reward. This applies to Nightfall weapon drops too. Exact drop rates are unknown but the higher the difficulty, the higher the chances to earn a Nightfall weapon:

Hero activity level is now soft cap + 20. Legend is Power cap + 30, and Master is Power cap + 40. Each has a scaling combat delta that keeps you under level in the activity and provides a smoother pathway to Grandmaster.

Nightfall Difficulty Recommended Level Drop rate
Hero TBC Uncommon
Legend TBC Common
Master TBC Common
Grandmaster TBC Common+

Adept Nightfall weapons

On top of offering higher drop rates, completing a Nightfall on the Grandmaster difficulty can also reward you with an Adept weapon.

Nightfall Adept weapons are souped-up versions of the standard Nightfall: The Ordeal weapons. They sport a new design, offer better stats (via an improved Masterwork), and can equip powerful Adept mods, which are superior to normal mods.

Unlike Adept Trials weapons, Adept weapons from Nightfalls can only be farmed once the Grandmaster difficulty becomes available, which is during the latter part of a season. In Season of the Defiance, Grandmaster Nightfalls will become available in March/April, 2023.

Nightfall weapons Destiny 2 featured wide

Nightfall Strike weapons from Season 17

Needless to say, Adept weapons are superior and a major flex (as Grandmaster Nightfalls are not an easy feat for the average player) for hardcore players.

About The Author

Ric Molina
Ric Molina
I've been covering gaming since 2012, and some of my work has been featured by large brands, including MSN.com, Forbes, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more. I've been obsessed with Destiny 2 for years now, and I hope to provide new and returning players with the guides and resources I wish I had when I first started.
More from Ric Molina
5 Comments
  1. An avid Grandmaster and master Vog player

    About the hothead. It should be minimum A tier. It can roll with explosive light and clown cartridge making it one of if not the best legendary rocket to pair with gally if you are not using izanagi rocket strat. Plus with access to adept big ones this makes running rockets in GM’s worth again due to bonus damage to champions and bosses, just make sure you have a hunter running aeons.

    Reply
    • Dotdotdot

      Agreed. Not to mention it gets Auto Loading and even Demo in that first column. A lot of the weapon reviews and grades, on this site, are kinda whack… but the one for Hothead is pretty bad.

      Reply
    • Josh

      he rated at S tier

      Reply
  2. PandAcakes

    Subsistence Vorpal on Silicion neuroma doesn’t really seem like the pvp god roll

    Reply
  3. Dušan Lomen

    OK Super app.

    Reply
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