As you get more invested in Destiny 2, one of the first questions you’ll have is: What are the best guns in the game?
That question is not as easy to answer, as it all depends on whether you’re looking for the top weapons for PvP, PvE, casual, or endgame content. Today, we’ll focus on the best PvE weapons right now. We’ll cover both Exotic and Legendary weapons (including their PvE god rolls) and give you an overview of the current PvE meta.
Updated as of Season of the Wish (S23). See Updates.
Best PvE Primary weapons
In this section, we cover the best Primary PvE weapons. And by Primary, we mean either Kinetic or Energy weapons that use Primary ammo. Just remember Primary weapons use “normal” ammo, aka, white ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow | Primary | Energy | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Forsaken Pack | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Fires an arrow that splits when released. Aiming down sights and fully drawing the bow both decrease the spread. Precision kills grant the next shot chain-lightning capabilities." ► Trinity Ghoul has always been brilliant for ad-clear, and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. Despite the more ability-focused meta we have right now, Trinity Ghoul is still a top contender for ad-clear in all PvE content. | PVE |
 CALUS Mini-Tool | Submachine Gun | Primary | Energy | Beyond Light | Yes | Presage | Presage Beyond Light | Slot: PvE God Roll: Unrelenting (also good: Moving Target) + Incandescent ► Able to roll with the excellent perk Incandescent, CALUS Mini-Tool immediately cemented itself as a top-tier pick with the release of Solar 3.0. Plus, it's one of the few top-tier craftable SMGs currently in the game, meaning it's one of the easiest to get as well. | PVE,Meta |
 Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: 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." ► Over the summer, Graviton Lance received a whopping 67% PvE damage buff, making it tear through enemies with ease, especially with its AoE detonations. Plus, its catalyst now provides Vorpal Weapon. On the PvP side of things, it can still compete in longer range maps. | PVE |
 Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Vault of Glass Raid | Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Firefly PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload + Eye of the Storm ► One of the most iconic legendary weapons in the game, Fatebringer comes with insane stats and great perks. While it does have some competition, namely Eyasluna, this almost-perfect Hand Cannon holds its ground as an all-time community favorite. | PVE,PVP |
 Wish-Ender | Combat Bow | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Exotic Quest | Exotic Quest Forsaken Pack | Slot: Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully drawn Bow, combatants behind walls are highlighted, and arrows pierce shields. Strong against Barrier Champions. One shot can over-penetrate multiple targets." ► Wish-Ender has never been this strong, nor popular. With the newfound intrinsic ability to deal with Anti Barrier Champions with ease, even in Master and Grandmaster levels, and the fact that it effectively hits 3 times per arrow due to its piercing perk, Wish-Ender is currently a monster in PvE. | PVE |
 Epochal Integration | Hand Cannon | Primary | Energy | Season 21 | Yes | Seasonal activity | Seasonal activity Season 21 | Slot: PvE Fixed Roll: Stats for All + Incandescent PvP Fixed Roll: Keep Away + Eye of the Storm ► Epochal Integration is an easy-to-obtain and powerful Solar hand cannon. Because of how strong Solar is right now, a solid Solar weapon like Epochal Integration can easily excel. It beats out the competition mostly due to its ease of access, but also because Stats for All and Incandescent are excellent perks. | PVE |
 Quicksilver Storm | Auto Rifle | Primary | Kinetic | Lightfall | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Lightfall | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade." ► Quicksilver Storm is unique, particularly due to its ability to produce homing rockets that transform it into a grenade launcher hybrid. The exotic perks on offer here will be more useful in PvE, but the homing rockets alone will prove effective in PvP as well. | PVE |
 Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy." ► One of very few Lightweight Hand Cannons left in the game, Sunshot feels exceptionally great to use even while disregarding its exotic perk. However, looking at how many explosions you can set off with this weapon, it's clear why the community often regards Sunshot as both fun and a beast at ad clear. | PVE,PVP |
 Lumina | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration." ►Lumina is one of the most unique Exotics in Destiny 2, allowing you to heal allies and spread one of the most potent damage buffs in the game. If you're looking to optimize a DPS phase—or want to play a more significant support role—this is a fantastic pick. This applies to PvP too. | PVE |
 Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Quest | Exotic Quest Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders." ► Malfeasance has always been a fascinating weapon, and with the buffs to Hand Cannons, it quickly became one of the strongest Kinetic Primaries in the game, especially against Taken enemies. Malfeasance is even stronger when using the Lucky Pants Exotic, allowing for ridiculous damage. | Gambit,PVE |
Arc | Ammo: 
Primary | Archetype: Exotic
Solar | Ammo: 
Void | Ammo: 
Kinetic | Ammo: 
Strand | Ammo: ⚠️ PS: This will soon be updated to include a few of the excellent Brave weapons, such as Midnight Coup, The Mountaintop, Hammerhead, and Edge Transit.
Best PvE Special weapons
In this section, we cover the best Special PvE weapons. And by Special, we mean either kinetic or Energy weapons that use Special ammo. Just remember, Special weapons use “Special” ammo, aka, green ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle | Primary | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: 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." ► Over the summer, Graviton Lance received a whopping 67% PvE damage buff, making it tear through enemies with ease, especially with its AoE detonations. Plus, its catalyst now provides Vorpal Weapon. On the PvP side of things, it can still compete in longer range maps. | PVE |
Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Quest | Exotic Quest Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders." ► Malfeasance has always been a fascinating weapon, and with the buffs to Hand Cannons, it quickly became one of the strongest Kinetic Primaries in the game, especially against Taken enemies. Malfeasance is even stronger when using the Lucky Pants Exotic, allowing for ridiculous damage. | Gambit,PVE |
 Cartesian Coordinate | Fusion Rifle | Special | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | World loot pool | World loot pool Free-to-Play | Slot: PvE God Roll: Lead from Gold + Vorpal Weapon ► As a Solar weapon, Cartesian Coordinate synergizes perfectly with a powerful Solar Heavy weapon to generate lots of Elemental Surges. Plus, featuring solid perks and being part of a competitive weapon frame, Cartesian remains a staple in the energy slot Fusion Rifle meta. | PVE |
 Heritage | Shotgun | Special | Kinetic | Beyond Light | Yes | Deep Stone Crypt Raid | Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light | Slot: PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Recombination PvP God Roll:Slideshot + Offhand Strike ► Heritage is an absolute staple in the Kinetic Slot and will forever hold a place as a go-to option in my loadouts. It can hit like a truck with Recombination and can get up to double its regular magazine size. It wastes majors and bosses alike and is an option that we 100% recommend you grind for. | PVE |
 Divinity | Trace Rifle | Special | Energy | Shadowkeep | Yes | Exotic Quest | Exotic Quest Shadowkeep | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and  disrupts them."► Divinity has been a great choice since it was released back in Shadowkeep. Even though a recent nerf reduced its debuff potential to 15%, this trace rifle still proves its worth through the ability to make crits way easier to hit. Plus, it's still considered the best Overload weapon in the game. | PVE |
 Izanagi's Burden | Sniper Rifle | Special | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage." ► A powerhouse of a weapon, Izanagi's Burden can reach some incredible DPS numbers, especially when combined with an Auto-Loading Holster Rocket Launcher. While this combo is slightly more demanding than some other DPS options, it is well worth the effort to unlock this beast's potential. | PVE |
 Witherhoard | Grenade Launcher | Special | Kinetic | Shadowkeep | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Projectiles fired blight the target or nearby area on impact. Blighted targets take damage over time and blight the nearby area on death." ► Even a few nerfs to this GL couldn't knock it out of the top spot. A true fire-and-forget weapon, Witherhoard can deal with all manner of enemies in just a few shots. Whether it is used as part of a damage rotation, or just to lock an area down, Witherhoard reigns supreme. | PVE |
 Merciless | Fusion Rifle | Special | Energy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Non-lethal hits make this weapon charge faster. Reloading immediately after a kill increases weapon damage for a short time." ► Merciless is unmatched in the Fusion Rifle department. With the changes to the Conserve Momentum perk lasting through reloading, Merciless became a beast overnight and can put out some ridiculous burst damage. | PVE |
 Forbearance | Grenade Launcher | Special | Energy | The Witch Queen | Yes | Vow of the Disciple Raid | Vow of the Disciple Raid The Witch Queen | Slot: PvE God Roll: Ambitious Assassin (also good: Unrelenting) + Chain Reaction ► Forbearance is widely regarded as the best Wave Frame in the entire game. With the ability to roll the combo that made Salvager's Salvo famous, this weapon is an ad-clear machine. Not to mention, Wave Frames are extremely fun to use, and the Origin Trait is a nice cherry on top! | PVE |
 Conditional Finality | Shotgun | Special | Kinetic | Lightfall | Yes | Root of Nightmares Raid | Root of Nightmares Raid Lightfall | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Dual barrels split into Stasis and Solar damage. Landing nearly all Stasis pellets will freeze targets; landing nearly all Solar pellets will ignite targets." ► Conditional Finality is remarkable. In PvE, it has Champion stunning capabilities and excellent potential damage with a hot-swap setup, rivaling even Izanagi's Burden. In PvP, it has great handling, solid 1-hit kill range, and can take down supers with its Freeze-Ignite effect. | PVE,PVP |
 The Eremite | Fusion Rifle | Special | Energy | Season 22 | Yes | Seasonal activity | Seasonal activity Season 22 | Slot: PvE God Roll: Envious Assassin (also good: Compulsive Reloader) + Reservoir Burst (also good: Controlled Burst) ► A fusion to match Loaded Question, The Eremite quickly became a favorite thanks to it being craftable, and with some solid perks to boot. Like most high-impact fusions, the only real issue you'll have with it is the slower charge time. | PVE |
 Scatter Signal | Fusion Rifle | Special | Kinetic | Season 23 | Yes | Seasonal activity | Seasonal activity Season 23 | Slot: PvE God Roll: Overflow + Controlled Burst (also good: Slice) PvP God Roll: Perpetual Motion + Under-Over ► Scatter Signal is the Fusion rifle everybody's talking about in Season of the Wish. With amazing PvE perks, including Overflow and Controlled Burst, and the benefits of the Rapid-Fire Frame, it's easy to see why Scatter Signal is one of the most sought-after weapons this season. | PVE,PVP |
Special | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
Stasis | Ammo: Destiny 2 Best PvE Heavy weapons
In this section, we cover the best Heavy weapons for PvE. In other words, weapons that use “heavy” ammo, aka, purple ammo boxes:
| Weapons | Type | Ammo | Slot | Requirements | In loot pool? | Source | Source ❘ DLC | Verdict | Part of? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Apex Predator | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Last Wish Raid | Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack | Slot: PvE God Roll: Reconstruction (also good: Tracking Module) + Bait and Switch (also good: Explosive Light) ► Possibly the most impactful weapon reissue in Destiny 2's history, Apex Predator went from D-Tier to S-Tier in a single season. This drastic shift is due to Apex's ability to roll with powerful perks never-before-seen on a Rocket Launcher: Reconstruction and Bait and Switch. Get your hands on this beast ASAP, as only a few replacements exist. | PVE,Meta |
 Tractor Cannon | Shotgun | Heavy | Heavy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Exotic Engram | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "This weapon emits a powerful impulse that pushes enemies away, suppresses their abilities, and makes them more vulnerable to all incoming damage." ► Ever since Divinity was nerfed, players now use Tractor Cannon instead, as it is extremely easy to use and applies one of the strongest debuffs in the entire game. To truly be an optimal Fireteam, someone should always have a Tractor Cannon on hand. | PVE |
 Leviathan's Breath | Combat Bow | Heavy | Heavy | Shadowkeep | Yes | Exotic Kiosk | Exotic Kiosk Shadowkeep | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Fires a massive heavy bolt that stuns unshielded combatants. Strong against Unstoppable Champions. When fully drawn, the bolt creates a large concussive blast that knocks combatants back." ► With a catalyst and a direct buff, Leviathan's Breath has gone from zero to hero. Not only does it make short work of Champions and apply Volatile, but it's also able to one-shot any super in PvP! Plus, Leviathan's Breath is relatively easy to use and can put up some of the highest total damage numbers in the game. | PVE |
 Gjallarhorn | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | 30th Anniversary | Yes | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Rounds fired split into tracking cluster missiles upon detonation. Gain increased handling and reload speed when standing near allies. Firing this weapon also grants Wolfpack Rounds to nearby allies wielding non-Exotic Rocket Launchers." ► While significant damage nerfs in PvE have caused Gjallarhorn to fall into a purely-support pick for most, it continues to dominate the meta in most areas of the game. If your fireteam runs rocket launchers for a raid or dungeon boss encounter, you're nearly guaranteed to see one player running this exotic. | PVE |
 Dragon's Breath | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Heavy | Free-to-Play | Yes | Season Pass | Season Pass Free-to-Play | Slot: Exotic Perk: "Rockets embed themselves in struck targets and periodically eject incendiary fuel that inflicts Scorch. The longer this weapon goes without firing, the more fuel the next rocket contains. Igniting nearby targets partially replenishes fuel. This weapon refills itself from reserves upon gaining maximum fuel." ► The last Season Pass exotic to become meta was Witherhoard in Season 11. Thankfully, after 12 seasons, we got another one: Dragon's Breath. This is one of the easiest to get but strongest Rockets we've ever seen. Using this exotic in DPS rotations on a Solar Subclass can net some outrageous damage. | PVE |
Heavy | Archetype: AdaptiveDestiny 2 PvE Meta
Every sandbox change comes with a new weapons meta. And while we love to criticize Bungie for not changing the meta often enough, the last few seasons have significantly altered the hierarchy of PvE weapon types in Destiny 2.
About DPS: DPS, or damage per second, is important for PvE, because the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. You can read all about it in our DPS guide.
We covered the absolute best PvE weapons this season, but it’s still important to understand how the different weapon types compare with each other.
PvE Primary weapons meta
| 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 |
PvE Special weapons meta
For the sake of clarity, the categories below do not include Exotics that use an abnormal type of ammo, such as Eriana’s Vow or Arbalest. If you’re particularly interested in Exotic weapons, check out our Exotic Tier list.
| Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fusion Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | | ►Fusion Rifles are absolutely insane right now. There were a ton of viable options already and newer options, such as The Eremite, can roll with perk combinations that can turn them into monsters. This, on top of certain Exotic options like Merciless, makes Fusion Rifles a staple option for either backup DPS or just general major clear. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (500ms Charge Time) - Example: Cartesian Coordinate | PVE Specials |
 Shotguns | S › Best | Best ❘ S | | ► Shotguns are excellent right now. They can be used in traditional hot-swap loadouts when combined with Tractor Cannon in a raid setting, and they remain strong at both major clear and burst damage. However, they can achieve some of the highest damage combos in the game due to their ease of use, high burst damage, and perks like One-Two Punch. ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (90 RPM) - Example: Wastelander M5 | PVE Specials |
 Grenade Launchers | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► Grenade Launchers are brilliant right now. They are versatile and are arguably the best pick in almost all areas. They can have excellent add control through Blinding Grenades or the Wave Frame archetype, and they can also deal good boss damage in a 'hotswap' build with Spike Grenades. Simply put, having a strong arsenal of Grenade Launchers is something you should definitely prioritize if you're looking to get into high-level content. ► All Breach Grenade Launchers share the same archetype | PVE Specials |
 Sniper Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Sniper Rifles have improved a tad, but not that much. They are still too slow for most players' liking, but they can still be a solid backup DPS option. These are commonly used in many longer-range DPS scenarios, but other than that, they remain mediocre. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (140 RPM) - Example: Supremacy | PVE Specials |
 Trace Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► With the nerfs to the double-special ammo economy, Trace Rifles have been knocked down a notch. Using a Primary weapon is just more efficient these days. However, they remain solid utility weapons and a go-to if players still want to run double-special lodouts. They also have a couple of solid Exotic options too, making them a decent pick right now. | PVE Specials |
 Glaives | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Glaives require a bit of getting used to, but when you do, they can grant you crazy levels of damage resistance. However, they are quite a risky pick, especially if you haven't learned how to master them first. Glaives are also one-dimensional. There is basically no reason to use their melee attack, which is unfortunate as that is probably the most fun part of the Glaives. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (55 RPM) - Example: The Enigma | PVE Specials |
 Linear Fusion Rifles | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | | ► Linear Fusion Rifles are difficult to rank as there are only two of them. While Arbalest is definitely a powerful weapon, it is by no means a must-pick anymore. And Lorentz Driver isn't exactly a serious contender for PvE. Overall, this archetype is quite weak, especially now that Arbalest isn't the top-pick it used to be. | PVE Specials |
PvE Heavy weapons meta
| Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rocket Launchers | S › Best | Best ❘ S | | ► Main role: Burst Damage (Secondary role: Add Clear) ► If an S+ category existed, Rocket Launchers would be there. They absolutely dominate the DPS meta for any boss that isn't Crota and easily outclass other options thanks to their flexibility in damage rotations and their ability to be spammed at bosses. Rockets are incredibly strong right now, and it wouldn't be surprising if they received some tuning soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (20 RPM) - Example: The Hothead | PVE Heavies |
 Machine Guns | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | | ► Main role: Add Clear ► With the nerf to double-special loadouts, players can't mindlessly spam Machine Guns at enemies anymore and be rewarded for it. However, Machine guns are still excellent at ad clear and remain decent for DPS. That said, for DPS, they are massively outclassed by Rocket Launchers. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (900 RPM) - Example: Retrofit Escapade | PVE Heavies |
 Swords | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | | ► Main roles: Add Clear & Single Target damage (i.e. Boss damage). ► Swords are in a good spot right now. In fact, they are the go-to option for Crota in Crota's End. However, this is only because of a modifier that increases Sword damage against Crota. Outside of this specific boss, Swords are a decent option that doesn't excel simply because they are out-damaged by other heavy weapons. ► Best Archetype: Whirlwind - Example: Falling Guillotine | PVE Heavies |
Linear Fusion Rifles | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | | ► Main role: Single Target damage (Secondary role: Burst Damage) ► Linear Fusion Rifles might not be the top dogs anymore, but they are still serious contenders when it comes to total damage. Options like Cataclysmic and Briar's Contempt can still see some use in today's meta. However, despite their strengths, most situations do not require the amount of total damage that Linear Fusions offer, and if they do, options like Leviathan's Breath can fill that void very easily. ► Best Archetype: Precision (533 RPM) - Example: Reed's Regret | PVE Heavies |
Grenade Launchers | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Main role: Add Clear (Secondary role: Single Target Damage). ► Grenade Launchers are on the rise, and with a couple of changes, we could see them soar to the top of the pile. For now, though, they remain a mediocre option with a couple of outliers, such as the Cataphract GL3, which is mainly good because it has Bait and Switch, not because it's a Grenade Launcher. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Cataphract GL3 | PVE Heavies |
Exotic Sniper Rifles | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | - | ► Main role: Single Target damage ► Exotic Snipers still require more help. D.A.R.C.I remains a complete joke, and Whisper of the Worm isn't strong enough to bring the ranking up. While Whisper is a surprisingly decent option, it requires a teammate using Divinity in most situations, unless you are very consistent with your shots. And even then, Rocket Launchers are still superior DPS options. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Whisper of the Worm | PVE Heavies |
What is the “Meta”? Meta refers to the most used weapons for a particular activity. Generally, these weapons are the most used because they are the most powerful/efficient. The Meta can change in a heartbeat, but you can rest assured, though, this overview is up to date with the current season and will be updated as soon as a new meta arrives.
These are the different Tier levels used for these Tier lists:
- 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.
Destiny 2 Best PvE loadouts
Until now, we have split our Top PvE guns into Primaries, Special and Heavy weapons. This makes sense when comparing weapons against each other.
But once you start building towards the ultimate loadout, a weapon’s slot becomes crucial. That’s because you can only carry one Kinetic, one Energy, and one Heavy weapon at a time. For example, if you’re committed to using Trinity Ghoul as your Primary weapon, then your Special weapon will have to sit on the Kinetic slot.
Best PvE weapons, Destiny 2
These are some of the most lethal PvE loadouts right now:
| - | Kinetic | -- | Special | --- | Heavy | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Witherhoard | | CALUS Mini-Tool | | Apex Predator | PVE |
| Wish-Ender |  | Nessa's Oblation |  | Cataclysmic | PVE |
 | Osteo Striga | ,  | Forbearance,Forbearance (Brave) |  | Cold Comfort | PVE |
Remember that you can only equip one Exotic at a time, which means that finding the top Legendary weapons is extremely important too. We also cover the best Kinetic weapons this season here.
Before you go…
If you’re looking to take your game to the next level in PvE, definitely check out our Top PvP weapons round-up.
See latest Updates
We keep our content up to date! These are the latest changes made to this guide:
- December 18, 2023: Updates based on the Season 23 meta and the replacement of Osteo Striga, Necrochasm, Ikelos SMG V1.0.3, Zaouli’s Bane, The Other Half Riptide, Nessa’s Oblation, Cold Comfort, Cataclysmic, and The Other Half.
- September 13, 2023: Updates based on the Season 22 meta and the replacement of Rufus’s Fury, Outbreak Perfected, Submission, Unforgiven, Arbalest, Iterative Loop, Cloudstrike, Thunderlord and The Hothead.
- May 1, 2023: Updates based on the Season 20 meta
- April 13, 2022: Updates based on Destiny 2’s Year 5 meta
- March 22, 2021: Updates based on Destiny 2’s Year 4 meta
- September 30, 2020: The guide is published for the first time.
Stay tuned, and don’t forget to bookmark this page for next season!
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.
20 Comments
pizzaman on November 12, 2020 at 1:44 am
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Cody on November 19, 2020 at 12:49 am
I think you forgot to put the machine guns in the meta list. But it was very helpful! Thank you
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DonPool on January 13, 2021 at 4:52 am
Any updates coming to this with the overall weapons guide getting updated?
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Ric (aka Prim) on January 16, 2021 at 3:14 pm
I’m working on it! This one is completely overdue and desperately needs an update… Sorry for the delay but I hope to have a proper refresh out by Monday the latest!
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Rae on February 23, 2021 at 7:25 am
There’s a typo classing Deafening Whisper as a Fusion rifle
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Ric (aka Prim) on February 25, 2021 at 10:52 am
Damn, you’re right! Completely missed that one, thanks for the heads up!
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classzero on March 23, 2021 at 5:36 pm
PVE Energy weapons types are not correct.
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Ric (aka Prim) on March 24, 2021 at 4:02 pm
What do you mean? I’m looking for something to correct but found nothing!
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Django on May 25, 2021 at 12:24 pm
I think he meant you labeled IKELOS_SMG_V1.0.2 as an auto rifle, while in fact it’s an SMG (as suggested in its name lol)
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Superhobo on February 21, 2023 at 5:57 am
Why is Trinity Ghoul listed as free to play. I thought it was only for the Forsaken DLC that you can get it.
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Whataloadofbull on August 14, 2021 at 4:17 am
Hilarious. scout rifles are B? sidearms are A ? pure BS . let me know your sidearm load out in a GM or Master raid please
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Acklow on January 27, 2022 at 6:17 am
Hi there I was looking over this and was wondering if you were going to be updating the guide for this season or if you were going to be updating it for Witch Queen. There are some outdated recommendations and some mistakes I saw in the loadouts. I’d like to be able to show my newbie friends this page but it’s kinda outdated.
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Acklow on January 27, 2022 at 6:20 am
For example you list Nation of Beasts as a kinetic weapon when it’s actually an arc primary hand cannon and you cannot pair it with the Seventh Seraph CQC
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Spicyy on July 4, 2022 at 7:50 pm
So many weapons are missing bro what
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Yuzuki on September 21, 2022 at 11:50 pm
I think this would need an update with the season of plunder lol
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Iunnrais on January 26, 2023 at 8:31 am
Why is Taipan-4FR not listed here? The crafted god-roll for Taipan is an absolute staple in raids for boss DPS, with Veist, Firing Line, and Triple Tap. Nearly everyone is running it, and for good reason.
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ItsSonnyInIT on February 27, 2023 at 8:53 am
Instead of being rude, please add something constructive. What loadout do you prefer for GM and master raid? I’m sure other people could learn from your experiences.
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Nico on May 9, 2023 at 4:48 pm
S20 Machine Guns @ B ? They’re at least A.. Can’t go wrong with Thunderlord, retrofit or commemoration
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cozyi on May 31, 2023 at 12:32 pm
wish ender is in the kinetic slot and is a primary ammo weapon. multiple guides you have made have wish ender under special/energy slot. very informative and great content – thank you!
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Ric Molina on May 31, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Ok, I couldn’t understand as I have it as Kinetic/Primary in my database, and that’s also the case on this post. Found the issue on the loadout section, it has been corrected. Thank you for the heads up!
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