Submachine guns are not the most popular choice right now in Destiny 2, but they are powerful regardless in both PvE and PvP. In fact, some of the top-tier weapons in the game are submachine guns that are considered staples for any player to have in their vault, so this weapon archetype is nothing to scoff at, even players prefer to play at longer range.
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Submachine gun gameplay is usually limited by its short range, as well as (in some cases) small magazine size. This means that players will want to find submachine guns with perks that increase range or provide powerful buffs from kills, such as better stability or ability regeneration. Here are some of the best submachine guns Destiny 2 players can get, as well as some suggestions for great perks, and where to find these weapons.
Updated on August 21, 2024, by Nathan Halsey: Submachine guns are currently on a downward trend as of writing this article, but this is most likely a temporary occurrence as opposed to a permanent spot for the weapon type. As of now, Auto Rifles have largely encroached into their limelight, and many of them are able to perform better over submachine guns generally, and submachine guns have become more of a niche pick as a result. This is especially true in PvP, which is still seeing Auto Rifles like Khvostov 7G-0x dominate the field. With that in mind, these are the best of the best in terms of submachine guns and should be first for consideration when building into the weapon type.
12 Prolonged Engagement
Best For Stasis Synergy
- How To Get: Strikes, Vanguard Engram Focusing
- Best Perks: Outlaw, Headstone
- Element: Stasis
- Frame: Lightweight, 900 RPM
Prolonged engagement is an interesting weapon because, in many ways, it's brought down by its element. While it has all the makings of a good submachine gun, the way Stasis operates in the Destiny 2 sandbox almost sabotages the weapon from shining more.
This is because currently, Stasis is best used with Special weapons like Ager's Scepter, Critical Anomaly, and Riptide. Because of this, the weapon is in a tough position, but this doesn't mean it should be completely ignored. Outlaw and Headstone make a potent combo, allowing users to reload incredibly fast after each Headstone proc. If Stasis ever goes on the rise and becomes as varied in its use as the other elements, Prolonged Engagement will undoubtedly become the submachine gun of choice for Stasis users if ever the need arises.
11 Unforgiven
Easy Reloads
- How To Get: Duality Dungeon
- Best Perks: Demolitionist paired with either Golden Tricorn or Frenzy
- Element: Void
- Frame: Aggressive, 720 RPM
Unforgiven is a unique weapon in the sense that it benefits significantly from and plays around its origin trait just as much as its perks. Bitterspite rolls on every Duality weapon, and increases the speed of the player's next reload depending on how much damage they take.
This, combined with perks like Frenzy, essentially guarantees that every reload is going to be a fast one, something incredibly beneficial for submachine guns that are balanced around their slow reload times. This, paired with the ability to get Demolitionist in the first column allows this gun to integrate well into Void builds that revolve around grenades and buffs they provide, like Devour and Volatile Rounds.
10 Submission
Versatile and Craftable
- How To Get: Vow of the Disciple Raid
- Best Perks: Substisence or Encore, paired with Frenzy, Thresh, or Demolitionist
- Element: Kinetic
- Frame: Lightweight Frame, 900 RPM
The Vow of the Disciple raid comes with an SMG, called Submission. This is actually one of the most interesting SMGs in Destiny 2, mainly due to the number of fantastic perks it can roll with. Moreover, players don't even need to wait for the perfect roll, since unlocking Submission's pattern five times allows players to craft one themselves, level it, and gain access to even better Enhanced Perks at level 16. Submission definitely is more of a PvE SMG, but it's possible to make it work in PvP as well if the player is confident.
Perpetual Motion and Swashbuckler can work wonderfully for PvP, for example. Players looking to use this in PvE, however, have a ton of options between Subsistence and Encore, and even Thresh, which helps with Super energy regeneration. The downside is that it's a Kinetic weapon, so it won't necessarily play well into Elemental builds even if it does work for building Transcendence with Prismatic.
9 Tarrabah
Two Weapons In One
- How To Get: Purchased from the Monument to Lost Lights Exotic Kiosk
- Element: Solar
- RPM: 720 RPM (900 RPM With Ravenous Beast Active)
For players who believe that SMGs are incapable of dealing good damage, the Tarrabah Exotic SMG is proof that this is simply not true. Once an Exotic drop from the Crown of Sorrow raid, Tarrabah can now be found at the Exotic Kiosk at the Tower and purchased for enough Glimmer, an Exotic, Cipher, and Spoils of Conquest, which are obtained through completing raid encounters.
The Tarrabah stores damage into it in the form of Ravenous Beast. Once this is full, players can switch its firing mode and essentially turn the gun into a Special weapon, prolonging the buff so long as they can deal constant damage. This Solar Exotic can do well in low-mid difficulty PvE because of its ability to punch up when it needs to. It's also a great choice for Crucible players looking to fill an Exotic slot in their build, so long as they can play around not being able to switch weapons, which will reset Ravenous Beast progression.
8 The Recluse
Easy Farm And High Perk Variety
- How To Get: Onslaught
- Best Perks: Feeding Frenzy, Subsistence, or Repulsor Brace and Master of Arms, Destabilizing Rounds, and Frenzy
- Element: Void
- Frame: Lightweight Frame, 900 RPM
The Recluse is a great Void submachine gun pick in PvE, and it’s easy to farm as well. It has just about every perk that one would expect on a submachine gun, with perks to play into its elements like Destabilizing Rounds and Repulsor Brace, as well as good reload perks like Frenzy, Feeding Frenzy, Subsistence, and Enlightened Action.
The gun’s signature perk, Master of Arms, is also amazing for people who like to switch weapons often, and completely exclusive to the weapon, giving 15% weapon damage when getting a kill with any other weapon.
7 Imminence
Unique Perk Options Make This A Strand Must-Have
- How To Get: Salvation's Edge Raid
- Best Perks: Perpetual Motion, Slice, Enlightened Action, and Firefly Chaos Reshaped, Hatchling
- Element: Strand
- Frame: Lightweight Frame, 900 RPM
Coming from the Salvation's Edge, Imminence is not only strong in PvE, but is a good 900 RPM for PvP. The gun has a lot of perks that help it integrate well into Strand builds, like Hatchling and Sever, as well as generally applicable perks like Chaos Reshaped, Desperate Measures, and Firefly.
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Some of these perks are exclusive to this gun as well, with this weapon being the first Strand Weapon to roll with Firefly. While this doesn’t have the strongest synergy with Strand, it does help with Prismatic and, it is both a damage and reload perk in one.
6 Multimach CCX
Good in PvP With Flexibility In PvE
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- How To Get: Iron Banner
- Best Perks: Attrition Orbs or Dynamic Sway Reduction, and Frenzy or Target Lock
- Element: Kinetic
- Frame: Lightweight Frame, 900 RPM
Many iterations of Multimach CCX have graced Destiny 2 during its lifespan, so it should be stated that this entry belongs to the Season 23: Season of the Wish version of Multimach CCX. This submachine gun excels at single-target damage, making it a great choice for PvP, but limiting its ad-clear in PvE. Its best use outside the Crucible is building Super and Transcendence energy on Prismatic.
Good perks in its second column would be either Kinetic Tremors or Frenzy, to give it a boost to reload, and its best option in the first perk column for PvE is Attrition Orbs to build super as fast as possible, as well as proc mods that require Armor Charges. While arguably not as good as The Immortal in PvP, this weapon has much more flexibility in PvE, making it a much less niche weapon to use.
5 Shayura's Wrath
For PvP Dominating Stats, and PvE Flexibility
- How To Get: Trials of Osiris
- Best Perks: Keep Away or Repulsor Brace and Kill Clip, Target Lock, or Destabilizing Rounds
- Element: Void
- Frame: Precision Frame, 600 RPM
This Void SMG, Shayura's Wrath, is one of the many weapons players have a chance of receiving as a reward for completing games and challenges in the Trials of Osiris. Given how this game mode can be daunting for many players, this SMG might feel a bit unattainable for some. However, players only need to win rounds in order to gain access to Trials engrams and focusing at Saint-14 over in the Tower Hangar.
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Shayura's Wrath is a PvP favorite, and it's evident just from its stats, which are higher across the board in nearly every category when compared to other submachine guns in its archetype. There are a few options that Crucible players can play around with, with Kill Clip, Target Lock, and Cascade Point being the most sought-after. Those not afraid of challenging themselves in Trials should spend a bit of time and grind for this weapon, and potentially its Adept version as well, which is available during its respective week at the Lighthouse after going Flawless.
4 Osteo Striga
Homing Projectile Submachine Gun
- How To Get: Complete The Witch Queen campaign
- Element: Kinetic
- RPM: 600 RPM
The Witch Queen expansion introduced players to weapon crafting, and that also included Exotic weapons. One of the first Exotics that players have access to is the Osteo Striga SMG, which is extremely unique due to it firing projectiles thanks to its Screaming Swarm perk. These projectiles may take a second to reach their target, but they assist well in aiming.
That said, it also excelled, and still does to a degree, in PvP. However, for it to really be effective, players will need to level the Exotic SMG to level 16 to unlock its catalyst. Final blows with the Osteo Striga create a poisonous burst, the spread of which is improved once its catalyst is unlocked as well. This makes it a solid choice for add-clearing one fully Masterworked, but it can also be a menace in PvP against teams that like to stick together a bit too much.
3 IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.3
For Having Uniquely Devastating Traits
- How To Get: Operation: Seraph's Shield Exotic Mission (On Rotation)
- Best Perks: Feeding Frenzy, Voltshot
- Element: Arc
- Frame: Aggressive Frame, 720 RPM
The IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.3 is the aptly named third iteration of the weapon, released in Season 19: Season of the Seraph. This weapon always had great stats, but this version knocks it out of the park when it comes to perks. In PvE, the undisputed roll is Voltshot in the second column, and either Perpetual Motion or Feeding Frenzy in the first.
This weapon is unique in the sense that it has a unique ammo type exclusive to the weapon, called Seraph Rounds, which over-penetrate targets and ricochet off of surfaces. This, paired with its origin trait Rasuputin's Arsenal which restores half of your magazine when breaking a shield in PvE or PvP, makes this weapon great for add-clear as skilled players can shoot multiple targets at once, and constantly refill their ammo while breaking shields.