Destiny 2 Nightfall Weapon this Week: Full Rotation

by | May 20, 2025 | 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: May 20

This week’s Nightfall weapon is The Slammer (Sword). We cover the most sought-after The Slammer God Rolls here.

The Insight Terminus

Nightfall this week

Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2 Free-to-play

🔗 Nightfall Weapons

New Nightfall weapons

Bungie released/reissued the following Nightfall weapons with Episode: Heresy:

  • Cruel Mercy – Pulse Rifle
  • Lotus-Eater – Rocket-Assisted Sidearm
  • The Palindrome – Hand Cannon

Episode 3 Rotation

There are several Nightfall-specific weapons in Destiny 2, but only 8 are on rotation right now:

This is the Episode: Heresy calendar covering the entire Nightfall rotation until June 3, 2025:

📅 Nightfall Rotation: Episode 3

ArtWeaponTypeElementAmmoRotationWeek #
Scintillation art Destiny 2ScintillationLinear Fusion RifleStrand Element StrandHeavy ammo Destiny 2 HeavyFebruary 4, 2025Week 1
Rake Angle art Destiny 2Rake AngleGlaiveStasis StasisSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialFebruary 11, 2025Week 2
Shadow Price art Destiny 2Shadow PriceAuto RifleArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryFebruary 18, 2025Week 3
The Palindrome artThe PalindromeHand CannonArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryFebruary 25, 2025Week 4
PLUG ONE.1 artPLUG ONE.1Fusion RifleArc ArcSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialMarch 4, 2025Week 5
Lotus-Eater art Destiny 2Lotus-EaterSidearmVoid VoidSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialMarch 11, 2025Week 6
Scintillation art Destiny 2ScintillationLinear Fusion RifleStrand Element StrandHeavy ammo Destiny 2 HeavyMarch 18, 2025Week 7
Rake Angle art Destiny 2Rake AngleGlaiveStasis StasisSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialMarch 25, 2025Week 8
Shadow Price art Destiny 2Shadow PriceAuto RifleArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryApril 1, 2025Week 9
The Palindrome artThe PalindromeHand CannonArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryApril 8, 2025Week 10
PLUG ONE.1 artPLUG ONE.1Fusion RifleArc ArcSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialApril 15, 2025Week 11
Lotus-Eater art Destiny 2Lotus-EaterSidearmVoid VoidSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialApril 22, 2025Week 12
Scintillation art Destiny 2ScintillationLinear Fusion RifleStrand Element StrandHeavy ammo Destiny 2 HeavyApril 29, 2025Week 13
Rake Angle art Destiny 2Rake AngleGlaiveStasis StasisSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialMay 6, 2025Week 14
Shadow Price art Destiny 2Shadow PriceAuto RifleArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryMay 13, 2025Week 15
The Palindrome artThe PalindromeHand CannonArc ArcPrimary ammo Destiny 2 PrimaryMay 20, 2025Week 16
PLUG ONE.1 artPLUG ONE.1Fusion RifleArc ArcSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialMay 27, 2025Week 17
Lotus-Eater art Destiny 2Lotus-EaterSidearmVoid VoidSpecial ammo Destiny 2 SpecialJune 3, 2025Week 18

Nightfall weapons this week Destiny 2 900p

Nightfall weapon rotation, Destiny 2

Best Destiny 2 Nightfall weapons

Our Tier list starts with the S Tier weapons and moves down from there and covers both PvE and PvP:

ItemWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmo?Element?RequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier RankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerksBest of?
Warden's LawWarden's Law art
Warden's Law
Hand Cannon
Hand CannonHeavy BurstPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst

PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy )
PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip

► While Warden's Law is only known for one thing (absurdly high DPS with the Hunter's Lucky Pants), it does exceptionally well at it. Although it definitely isn't a meta pick outside of that one use case, that alone bursts it above most of the pack; plus, it's an extremely fun and unique gun to use regardless!
Season 22
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst

PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy )
PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip
Top-tier
The SlammerThe Slammer art Destiny 2
The Slammer
Sword
SwordVortexHeavyStasisFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Stasis Stasis | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Vortex

PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel

► The Slammer is one of the best Vortex Frame Swords currently available. The mere presence of Cold Steel and Eager Edge makes it incredibly unique but also one of the best utility-based Swords in the game.
Season 23
Slot: Stasis Stasis | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Vortex

PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel
Top-tier
ScintillationScintillation art Destiny 2
Scintillation
Linear Fusion Rifle
Linear Fusion RifleAdaptiveHeavyStrandFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Strand Element Strand | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Envious Assassin) + Bait and Switch (also good: Surrounded)

► In PvE, Scintillation is one of the best linear fusion rifles out there. Despite the current meta favoring rocket launchers and heavy grenade launchers, the top LFRs continue to hold their ground. Scintillation is an easy addition to those options.
The Final Shape
Slot: Strand Element Strand | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Rewind Rounds (also good: Envious Assassin) + Bait and Switch (also good: Surrounded)
Top-tier
Rake AngleRake Angle art Destiny 2
Rake Angle
Glaive
GlaiveAggressiveSpecialStasisFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Stasis Stasis | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Replenishing Aegis + Chill Clip or Close to Melee

► One of the best glaives currently available, Rake Angle is an outstanding choice for those looking to dip their toes into the weapon type. Of course, glaives are still yet to see a season where they're meta, but giving this one a try isn't a bad idea.
Episode 2
Slot: Stasis Stasis | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Replenishing Aegis + Chill Clip or Close to Melee
Top-tier
Lotus-EaterLotus-Eater art Destiny 2
Lotus-Eater
Sidearm
SidearmRocket-AssistedSpecialVoidFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted

PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Feeding Frenzy or Reconstruction) + Destabilizing Rounds

► Overall, Lotus-Eater is a monster inside of PvE thanks to the current state of Rocket Sidearms, as well as the buffs to Destabilizing Rounds. In PvP, it won’t make many waves due to Rocket Sidearms not being as strong there.
Episode 3
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Rocket-Assisted

PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Feeding Frenzy or Reconstruction) + Destabilizing Rounds
Top-tier
Horror's LeastHorror's Least art
Horror's Least
Pulse Rifle
Pulse RifleRapid-FirePrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesS › BestNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

S



Excels in:
PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
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
Top-tier
Uzume RR4Uzume RR4 art
Uzume RR4
Sniper Rifle
Sniper RifleAdaptiveSpecialSolarFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
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)

► Uzume RR4 has always been an underrated pick for both PvE and PvP. While some options outclass it in various scenarios, there's no questioning Uzume's versatility and overall strength. If you're searching for a well-rounded option that won't do you wrong, Uzume RR4 may be worth farming.
Season 14
Slot: Solar 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)
Top-tier
Silicon NeuromaSilicon Neuroma art
Silicon Neuroma
Sniper Rifle
Sniper RifleAggressiveSpecialKineticFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
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 falls into the large pool of snipers that are great at face value but are desperately awaiting a buff to help them out. Its strong perk pool for both PvE and PvP makes it an easy choice for any 72 RPM sniper enthusiast, but the weapon probably won't become mainstream without a significant shift in the meta.
Season 16
Slot: Kinetic 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
Top-tier
Wendigo GL3Wendigo GL3 art

Wendigo GL3
Grenade Launcher
Grenade LauncherAdaptiveHeavyArcFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Rolls: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Field Prep) + Explosive Light (also good: Cascade Point)

► Wendigo GL3's old curated roll is still available, and with spike grenades, it's actually better than its original incarnation for PvE. Try out Cascade Point for a different spin on DPS. For PvP, Grenade Launchers are top-tier, and the Wendigo GL3 is no exception. Impulse Amplifier + Rangefinder allows for a projectile speed of 58m/s, making securing kills remarkably easy with this weapon.
Season 19
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Rolls: Auto-Loading Holster (also good: Field Prep) + Explosive Light (also good: Cascade Point)
Top-tier
Cruel Mercy class=
Cruel Mercy
Pulse Rifle
Pulse RifleHeavy BurstPrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst

PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Keep Away) + Frenzy (also good: Rolling Storm)

PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf or Keep Away + Desperado or Headseeker

► Cruel Mercy has a lot going for it and definitely excels past a lot of its pulse rifle competition. If pulse rifles ever fully enter the meta, this is definitely one to look out for.
Episode 3
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst

PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Keep Away) + Frenzy (also good: Rolling Storm)

PvP God Roll: Lone Wolf or Keep Away + Desperado or Headseeker
Top-tier
Pre Astyanax IVPre Astyanax IV art
Pre Astyanax IV
Combat Bow
Combat BowPrecisionPrimarySolarFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Archer's Tempo + Successful Warm-Up (also good: Explosive Head)

► With its roll of Archer's Tempo and Successful Warm-Up, Pre Astynax is essentitally the new Hush. But if a 540 draw time isn't for you, it's got a swathe of perks that are sure to perform very well in any content.
Season 22
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Archer's Tempo + Successful Warm-Up (also good: Explosive Head)
Top-tier
Wild StyleWild Style art Destiny 2
Wild Style
Grenade Launcher
Grenade LauncherDouble FireSpecialSolarFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Double Fire

PvE God Roll: Reconstruction or Envious Assassin + Incandescent or Vorpal Weapon

► Wild Style's perk pool got a facelift with TFS, and its now a solid option for your energy slot. Reconstruction lets you fire and forget, and Vorpal, as well as Bait and Switch, allows it to fit right into a damage rotation.
Season 23
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Double Fire

PvE God Roll: Reconstruction or Envious Assassin + Incandescent or Vorpal Weapon
Top-tier
Shadow PriceShadow Price art Destiny 2
Shadow Price
Auto Rifle
Auto RiflePrecisionPrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvP God Roll: Attrition Orbs (also good: Stats for All) + Voltshot (also good: One for All)

► Auto rifles as a whole just aren't in a great spot right now, but Shadow Price does its best to excel (at least when used in tandem with an Arc build).
The Final Shape
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Precision

PvP God Roll: Attrition Orbs (also good: Stats for All) + Voltshot (also good: One for All)
Top-tier
The PalindromeThe Palindrome art
The Palindrome
Hand Cannon
Hand CannonAdaptivePrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

A



Excels in:
PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload (also good: Elemental Capacitor) + Magnificent Howl (also good: Opening Shot)

► Even with its new element, The Palindrome fails to compete with top dogs like Sunshot and Zaouli’s Bane. Regardless, the weapon offers a solid selection of perks that allow it to excel, especially for those wanting an Arc option.
Episode 3
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload (also good: Elemental Capacitor) + Magnificent Howl (also good: Opening Shot)
Top-tier
BrayTech OspreyBrayTech Osprey art Destiny 2
BrayTech Osprey
Rocket Launcher
Rocket LauncherHigh-ImpactHeavyVoidFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Lasting Impression
PvP God Roll: Cluster Bomb + Chain Reaction

► The original Braytech Osprey was mediocre, and the reissued version follows this trend. While it does have a handful of perks that make other rockets top-tier, Osprey is almost entirely outclassed by top options like Apex Predator and Cold Comfort.
Season 21
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Lasting Impression
PvP God Roll: Cluster Bomb + Chain Reaction
PLUG ONE.1PLUG ONE.1 art
PLUG ONE.1
Fusion Rifle
Fusion RiflePrecisionSpecialArcFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Reservoir Burst (also good: Controlled Burst)

► Now rolling with Reconstruction, PLUG ONE.1 is a rather strong fusion rifle, for its frame at least. While Rapid-Fires will continue to dominate, having a double mag size with Reservoir Burst is a match made in heaven.
Season 14
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Precision

PvE God Roll: Reconstruction + Reservoir Burst (also good: Controlled Burst)
Duty BoundDuty Bound art
Duty Bound
Auto Rifle
Auto RifleAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Stats for All + One for All

► 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 + One for All
The Militia's BirthrightThe Militia's Birthright
The Militia's Birthright
Grenade Launcher
Grenade LauncherLightweightSpecialKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Lightweight

God Rolls: Ambitious Assassin (also good: Slideways) + Auto-Loading Holster

► With slightly better perks than its original version, the reprisal of Militia's Birthright hasn't made it any more enticing than the several other Kinetic GL's out there. Nice to have, but not worth farming for.
Season 18
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Lightweight

God Rolls: Ambitious Assassin (also good: Slideways) + Auto-Loading Holster
Loaded QuestionLoaded Question art Destiny 2
Loaded Question
Fusion Rifle
Fusion RifleHigh-ImpactSpecialArcFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Overflow) + Controlled Burst (also good: Reservoir Burst)

► A reprised Pinnacle reward, Loaded Question's return has been well received. Not only does it keep Reservoir Burst, but the inclusion of Overflow and Envious means higher uptime for the perk, letting it perform quite well in higher-end content.
Season 21
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Overflow) + Controlled Burst (also good: Reservoir Burst)
UndercurrentUndercurrent art Destiny 2
Undercurrent
Grenade Launcher
Grenade LauncherWaveSpecialArcFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvE
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Wave

PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Field Prep) + Voltshot

► If you lack The Witch Queen DLC or just can't find a raid group, Undercurrent is your best replacement for Forebearance. While not as strong, it can surely compete thanks to Voltshot being as powerful as it is.
Season 23
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Wave

PvE God Roll: Demolitionist (also good: Field Prep) + Voltshot
Mindbender's AmbitionMindbender's Ambition art
Mindbender's Ambition
Shotgun
ShotgunAggressiveSpecialSolarFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

B



Excels in:
PvP
Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvP God Rolls: Threat Detector + Fragile Focus

► Mindbender's Ambition is a decent all-rounder. It isn't best-in-class anywhere in the game, but it will get the job done provided it has the right rolls, and a good Adept Mod socketed.
Season 18
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvP God Rolls: Threat Detector + Fragile Focus
THE SWARMTHE SWARM art
THE SWARM
Machine Gun
Machine GunHigh-ImpactHeavyArcFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

C



Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Vorpal Weapon

► With a weak archetype, poor stats, and an uninspiring perk selection, this is a weapon you can safely ignore...
Season 13
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact

PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Vorpal Weapon
The ComedianThe Comedian art
The Comedian
Shotgun
ShotgunAggressiveSpecialVoidFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

C



Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)

► With a weak archetype, poor stats, and an uninspiring perk selection, this is a weapon you can safely ignore...
Season 15
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Aggressive

PvE God Roll: Lead From Gold + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Trench Barrel)
The HotheadThe Hothead art
The Hothead
Rocket Launcher
Rocket LauncherAdaptiveHeavyArcFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

C



Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
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)

► With a weak archetype, poor stats, and an uninspiring perk selection, this is a weapon you can safely ignore...
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)
BuzzardBuzzard art
Buzzard
Sidearm
SidearmAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

C



Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Overflow) + Kinetic Tremors (also good: Frenzy)

► With a weak archetype, poor stats, and an uninspiring perk selection, this is a weapon you can safely ignore...
Season 20
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

God Rolls: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Overflow) + Kinetic Tremors (also good: Frenzy)
D.F.A.D.F.A. art
D.F.A.
Hand Cannon
Hand CannonAdaptivePrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesD › WorstNightfall: The OrdealsCheckmark icon V3

D



Nightfall: The Ordeals
Destiny 2 Icon (final) Destiny 2
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage

► One of the absolute worst options within its archetype; do not waste your time farming one of these...
Season 17
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Adaptive

PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage

These are the different Tier levels used for this tier list:

  • S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons.
  • A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
  • B Tier – Average: Either decent weapons or weapons that fit a very specific niche/use case.
  • C Tier – Weak: Mediocre weapons that are easily outclassed by the competition.
  • D Tier – Worst: Weapons that don’t have much to offer and don’t deserve your attention.

How to Farm Nightfall weapons

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.

Drop rates

In Destiny 2, 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:

Difficulty Recommended Level Drop rate
Advanced 2015 Uncommon
Expert 2025 Common
Master 2030 Common
Grandmaster 2040 Common+

Nightfall Weapon Focusing

You can also use your earned Nightfall Engrams to focus them into the weapons you’re actively chasing. Just keep in mind that you can’t focus a weapon until you find it in Nightfalls.

Focusing costs

The cost to focus an Engram into a Nightfall weapon will vary between standard weapons and adept weapons:

Cost Weapon Adept Weapon
Engram 1 3
Glimmer 20,000 50,000
Adept Cipher 0 10

Legacy focusing & cost

You can also use your engrams to focus legacy Nightfall weapons, i.e., Nightfall weapons that are not part of this Episode’s rotation.

The cost to focus an Engram into a Legacy Nightfall weapon will vary between previously discovered weapons by the player and new weapons:

Cost Weapon “New” Weapon
Engram 3 7
Glimmer 25,000 10,000
Legendary Shards 25 100

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.

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.

Adept Nightfall Ciphers

When completing Grandmaster Nightfalls, players will also acquire Adept Nightfall Ciphers. The number of Ciphers that players earn depends on whether players qualify for Platinum, Gold, or Silver rewards at the end of the Nightfall:

  • Platinum = 2
  • Gold = 1
  • Silver = 0

Before you go…

Looking for top-tier gear? You should definitely check out these Trials weapons.

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 (and now Diablo 4) 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
16 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
  4. Nathanael

    Please update. Weapons such as the SWARM are available and on rotation.

    Reply
  5. Parsus77

    I would suggest a change in the perk selection on Hot-Head. First-off, Lasting Impression is considered worse than Explosive Light for several reasons and Field Prep + Clown Cartridge as well as Demolitionist still see use despite the otherwise superior options of Apex Predator and Cold Comfort.

    The tiering is also pretty silly. Hot-Head is a significantly stronger drop than anything else in the S tier by a large margin.

    Reply
  6. GRAPHITE

    How is it that buzzard isnt in the rotation list this season yet it is currently the nightfall weapon drop? Please update ur list.

    Reply
  7. Veggies

    Duty Bound has a typo. The God Roll is listed as “Frenzy Rampage”.

    Reply
  8. Neofox

    SWARM is in rotation today not Wardens law

    Reply
  9. Cryha

    Since when are Vortex frame swords bad?

    Reply
    • Nyxiee

      Their DPS is very poor in comparison to other options, like Lament and Bequest.

      If you don’t have either, highly recommend acquiring them – vortex frame damage is abysmal on bosses.

      Reply
  10. gatekeeperjim

    I suggest a re-review of your tier lists and descriptions. Some if not most are completely out of date and some are just completely wrong.
    For example the listing for Shadow Price…”weak archetype??”, “poor perk selection?”
    The Shadow Price Has been updated with a new perk pool this season, not to mention 450 AR’s are among the strongest archetype for the AR’s…do you actually play this game????

    Reply
    • Ric Molina

      There is a reason we use dates and clearly mention up to what season a guide is applicable. TFS is here and that means we need to update roughly half of our content. As we need day jobs to buy food (creating content for Destiny 2 doesn’t pay much), we do it as fast as humanly possible.

      Reply
  11. carlos

    This page needs to be updated now that Palindrome is arc.

    Reply
  12. Gareth_Extremis

    I was really excited for the Rake Angle Glaive on March 25th, unfortunately the schedule is off and the Rake Angle Nightfall will be on April 8th. The schedule didn’t include wild style or the Slammer sword.

    Reply
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