There are a lot of things players need to account for when gearing up for the PvE side of Destiny 2, and with so many weapons available in the game, picking a gun that's good at certain scenarios can be a little tricky. While every weapon in the game is viable in PvE, some are simply built different.
There's always going to be better options as Destiny 2 receives content updates, but the following weapon choices should remain solid regardless of the meta. All the weapons here are great for general PvE use, and this list should help players build a loadout according to the needs of different situations.
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10 Osteo Striga
Great for Single Target and AOE Situations
- Kinetic SMG with AOE poison effects
- Synergizes with Necrotic Grips to spread poison to enemies
Osteo Striga is a very special Exotic SMG. It fires homing projectiles that slowly zigzag towards enemies, and once enough of them hit a target's weakspot (or if they land a final hit), they cause explosions that poison nearby enemies. This is an excellent weapon for all types of content, but it shines best in add-dense encounters in endgame activities.
It's hard to find anything bad to say about Osteo Striga apart from the usual drawbacks players can find from an SMG. This gun's range is relatively low, and its fire rate isn't as high as some other SMGs. However, its damage profile is solid, and players can expect it to be useful anywhere and at any time.
9 Barrow-Dyad
A Weird and Wonderful Single-Target Monster
- Craftable Exotic SMG
- Great for crowds and tough targets
Despite its funny appearance, Barrow Dyad is an excellent primary weapon for dealing with both minor and major enemies. As it spits bullets, it builds up Blight charges that turn its ammunition into Blighted Seekers, which can deal incredible damage to single targets. Not only that, but it can be crafted to use fan-favorite PvE damage perks like Hatchling, One For All, and Target Lock. Barrow Dyad takes a bit of getting used to, but players who master its playstyle are rewarded with a weapon that's both strong and fun to use.
8 Sunshot
The OG Wave Clear Weapon
- Massive AOE damage potential
- Randomly drops from Exotic Engrams
- Excellent for many Solar builds
As far as Hand Cannons go, Sunshot remains one of the best ones to use for PvE simply because of its Exotic perk. This weapon can clear an entire horde of weak enemies with a single shot, and it has amazing synergy with Scorch-based Solar builds.
Guardians who want a reliable primary weapon can always fall back to Sunshot. It's not the best when it comes to dealing with yellow-bar enemies, but when the fireteam is up against a swarm of weaker targets, this Hand Cannon is one of the best, if not the best, weapon to pull out.
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7 Khvostov-7G-0X
The Lightbearer's Workhorse
- Reliable in almost all scenarios
- Deals a steady stream of Kinetic damage
- Obtained after the Final Shape campaign
"Workhorse" is the best term to describe the Exotic version of the Khvostov Auto Rifle. It deals respectable damage, but every seventh shot from this gun deals more damage, and the bullet ricochets towards a nearby enemy. Khvostov isn't as exciting as the other two weapons above, but it's good against all kinds of enemies outside of bosses.
6 Quicksilver Storm
For When Bullets Aren't Enough
- Fires grenades with its alternate fire mode
- Synergizes with Strand abilities and Seasonal Perks
If Khvostov feels a little too plain, then Quicksilver Storm should be enough to spice things up. Not only does this fast-firing Auto Rifle intermittently shoot mini-missiles, but it can also swap to a grenade launcher mode that deals very high damage for a Primary Ammo weapon. Quicksilver Storm is an excellent weapon to use even if players aren't rocking Strand builds.
5 Outbreak Perfected
Kneel Before the Swarm
- Extremely high DPS potential for a primary weapon
- Works best in a team with multiple Outbreak Perfected users
Out of all primary weapons in Destiny 2, Outbreak Perfected stands out as a very effective boss killer, especially when multiple Guardians are using it. This weapon creates swarms of nanites on rapid hits or Precision Kills, and those deal surprising amounts of damage. Outbreak Perfected is an excellent choice for players who are struggling with high-health enemies, and that includes even raid bosses.
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4 Rocket Sidearms
Pocket Rocket Launchers
- High burst damage with good range
- Great against all targets if used properly
With how good Rocket-Assisted Frame Sidearms are in Destiny 2, it's hard to just recommend one. All of them, even the ones with sub-par perk rolls, are so incredibly good for taking out priority targets, especially in hectic close-quarters fights. There are plenty of options to choose from, and while each of them are unique, they're all extremely effective in all kinds of PvE content.
3 Psychopomp
Great for Melting Hordes and Tough Targets Alike
- Special Ammo Arc Area Denial GL
- Can drop with Ambitious Assassin and Rolling Storm
Psychopomp is the answer to situations where players are flooded by dozens of tanky targets at once. It's an Area Denial Grenade Launcher with a special Ambitious Assassin + Rolling Storm god roll that's capable of tremendous crowd control. This gun can load three grenades at once under the right conditions, and when paired with Bolt Charge, Psychopomp can create breathing room for the fireteam in no time at all.
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2 Hezen Vengeance
An Absolute Boss Killer
- Rolls with Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch
- Perfect for any tough enemy
The S26 version of the Hezen Vengeance Rocket Launcher from the Vault of Glass raid is a beast of a gun. It has a number of good perk combos, but the synergy between Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch is nothing short of magical. With a Hezen Vengeance like this, players will be able to lay down so much damage during DPS phases without so much as reloading this Rocket Launcher, making it a top-tier pick across any meta.
1 Queenbreaker
Extreme Single Target DPS Potential
- Can switch between single shot and burst-fire modes
- Catalyst grants the Rewind Rounds perk
- Capable of laying down extreme DPS against bosses
As of Episode: Heresy, Queenbreaker has landed a spot among the best weapons in the game thanks to two things: its ability to fire in three-shot bursts, and its Catalyst, which gives the gun Rewind Rounds. With these two traits combined, Queenbreaker becomes capable of doling out immense amounts of punishment during boss DPS phases. Players who want a simple but powerful weapon should consider taking Queenbreaker out for a spin.
Destiny 2
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For TEEN for Blood, Language, and Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bungie
- Publisher(s)
- Bungie
- Engine
- Tiger Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Cross Save
- yes
- Expansions
- Destiny 2: Forsaken, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Destiny 2: Lightfall
- Franchise
- Destiny
- Number of Players
- 1-6 (Co-Op)
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- no
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 100+
- X|S Optimized
- YES
- PS Plus Availability
- Essential, Extra, & Premium (The Witch Queen)
