Owl Guy
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Best PvE weapons Destiny 2: primary, special, and heavy

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Everyone wants to obtain Destiny 2 best PvE weapons in The Final Shape and now you can learn, which ones you should get!

Best PvE Weapons Destiny 2

Table of Contents

  1. Best PvE Primary Weapons Destiny 2
    1. Outbreak Perfected, Pulse Rifle
    2. Khvostov 7g-0x, Auto Rifle
    3. Alethonym, Grenade Launcher
    4. Wish-Ender, Bow
    5. Sunshot, Hand Cannon
    6. Midnight Coup, Hand Cannon
    7. Zaouli’s Bane, Hand Cannon
    8. No Hesitation, Auto Rifle
    9. Nullify, Pulse Rifle
    10. Imminence, Submachine Gun
  2. Best PvE Special Weapons Destiny 2
    1. Choir of One, Auto Rifle
    2. Ergo Sum, Sword
    3. Still Hunt, Sniper Rifle
    4. Buried Bloodline, Rocket Sidearm
    5. Critical Anomaly, Sniper Rifle
    6. Tinasha’s Mastery, Rocket Sidearm
    7. Indebted Kindness, Rocket Sidearm
    8. The Supremacy, Sniper Rifle
    9. Lost Signal, Special Grenade Launcher
    10. The Mountaintop, Special Grenade Launcher
  3. Best PvE Heavy Weapons Destiny 2
    1. Gjallarhorn, Rocket Launcher
    2. Parasite, Grenade Launcher
    3. Tractor Cannon, Shotgun
    4. Microcosm, Trace Rifle
    5. VS Chill Inhibitor, Grenade Launcher
    6. Scintillation, Linear Fusion Rifle
    7. Commemoration, Machine Gun
    8. Apex Predator, Rocket Launcher
    9. The Slammer, Sword
  4. Final Words on the best Destiny 2 PvE weapons

Key Takeaways:

  • This Destiny 2 top PvE weapons list is relevant as of the release of Destiny 2 Episode Revenant
  • The 29 best weapons for each slot are included here, so you’ll have a huge selection of what you might need
  • Each legendary weapon is listed with recommended perks that we advise to obtain for weapon’s maximum effectiveness

After hundreds of hours playing D2, you finally reach the game’s endgame content, which intrigues you like never before. A slew of challenging activities to complete opens up for you, and you’re eager to dive into the action as soon as possible. However, rushing into these activities might not be a good idea because your current loadout might not be suitable in endgame.

We understand the vast collection of guns in D2, therefore we have compiled a list of the Best PvE weapons Destiny 2 has to offer for Guardians. Discover a comprehensive guide on the most efficient primary, special, and heavy weaponry and expert tips on utilizing them to your advantage. Additionally, explore the recommended perks that can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness. Get comfortable, as you are in for a vast array of best PvE weapons to farm in Destiny 2.

Best PvE Primary Weapons Destiny 2

Starting with Primaries is a good idea, as nobody wants to lose access to infinite ammo. Bungie was able to buff some of them in such a way that they now rival even the Special ones. Learn about the best PvE Exotics in Destiny 2, so don’t skip this segment!

Outbreak Perfected, Pulse Rifle

Outbreak Perfected Pulse Rifle

In the Into the Light update, players gained the capability to craft Outbreak Perfected with new perks. Specifically, Rewind Rounds combined with the Pulse Rifle Buff in TFS made this Exotic one of the best Primary weapons in the game. Outbreak Perfected creates Nanites when constantly dealing damage or defeating an enemy. These Nanites attach to enemies, and the more Nanites there are, the more damage this Pulse Rifle deals, making it ideal for both add-clear and single target damage.

Khvostov 7g-0x, Auto Rifle

Khvostov 7g-0x

After many years, Khvostov 7g-0x is back in the hands of Guardians, and this time, you won’t want to put it down. Khvostov is the best primary weapon in this Destiny 2 PvE weapon guide and Its Exotic Perk makes every seventh bullet ricochet, dealing 250% more damage. Additionally, if you pick up an Orb of Power, which can be collected with the built-in Shoot to Loot perk, your next ricocheting bullets will be enhanced. Though it may sound weak, Khvostov 7g-0x is an add-clear monster, doing all the work for you.

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Alethonym, Grenade Launcher

Alethonym best primary weapons for Destiny 2 pve

Alethonym is the second-ever Primary Grenade Launcher and it is already one of the best PvE Kinetic weapons Destiny 2! It features the Micro Missile Frame, causing its projectiles to fly in a straight trajectory and explode on impact, also allowing for Rocket Jumps. Its main feature is generating Special and Heavy Ammo for final blows or dealing damage to powerful combatants. If you’re having trouble with ammo before the Damage Phase or just looking for fun, Alethonym will definitely appeal to you.

Wish-Ender, Bow

Best PvE Bow Destiny 2

If you need a powerful primary weapon to efficiently defeat major foes or Barrier Champions in Grandmaster and other endgame activities, then Wish-Ender is your perfect choice. This bow has the highest damage among all bows because of the Broadhead perk, which allows arrows to pass through the enemy, causing double damage and even hitting combatants behind them. The additional bonus is the ability to look through walls when you aim with a fully drawn bow, which is helpful in PvP and even in PvE (like on Crota’s End’s third encounter). No wonder it is in Destiny 2 PvE Meta weapons list and really good for dealing sustained damage!

Sunshot, Hand Cannon

Sunshot

As stated earlier, Hand Cannons got a significant buff, so Sunshot became one of the Best PvE Hand Cannon Destiny 2 and a perfect choice, especially for any add-clear encounters. With its help, you can blow up foes, and anyone caught in the blast radius obtains ten stacks (or fifteen with Ember of Ashes) of Scorch debuff. Moreover, the unique 150 RPM archetype with explosive rounds make it very effective even against Orange Bar enemies and one of the best PvE Energy weapons in Destiny 2. In PvP, it could be an excellent choice if it is in good hands because it can blow up Guardians while damaging their teammates. Acquired Catalyst is also appreciated if you need better Range and Stability.

Midnight Coup, Hand Cannon

Midnight Coup

Midnight Coup is a perfect example of what the best PvE legendary weapons in Destiny 2 should be. If you love explosions, then the combination of Explosive Payload and Kinetic Tremors will definitely be your favorite. However, if you lack Bonus Damage, Reload Speed, and Handling, Frenzy will be much more useful. If you need an add-clear HC, consider Firefly, which will create an explosion for each Precision Final Blow.

Zaouli’s Bane, Hand Cannon

Zauli's Bane

Zaouli’s Bane can rightfully be considered a Legendary Sunshot due to its Solar energy, explosive damage through Explosive Payload, and ability to cause explosions that scorches enemies thanks to Incandescent. Although it lacks the bonus damage of Midnight Coup, it complements Solar Builds perfectly due to synergies with Fragments and Aspects. If you will get one of the Destiny 2 God Roll weapons, you are going to have a great time with it!

If you are not a Raid player, try Luna’s Howl from Onslaught activity. This Hand Cannon features Heal Clip in the third column, making it appealing to many Guardians with low survivability and one of the D2 best PvE weapons.

No Hesitation, Auto Rifle

No hesitation auto rifle

If you enjoy support roles in games, you will definitely like No Hesitation. This Healing Auto Rifle charges up by dealing any damage, and the charge can be used to heal allies when firing from the hip. This healing ability synergizes well with the Physic and Circle of Life perks, which provide bonus damage and a Restoration buff. If you don’t play with allies often, you can use Demolitionist with Incandescent or Frenzy, though there are other good guns for that. Though, No Hesitation can be easily called the best PvE Legendary Auto Rifle in Destiny 2 right now.

Nullify, Pulse Rifle

Best legendary primary pve weapons destiny 2 nullify

Heavy Burst Pulse Rifles remain among the strongest Primaries, even after nerfs, with Nullify being the standout. Nullify stands out as one of the Destiny 2 meta weapons PvE can offer, and the weapon itself can offer perk combinations for every playstyle:

The main downside is its limited availability, as it requires you to complete the most complex raid in the game.

Imminence, Submachine Gun

Imminence smg

Imminence has an excellent perk pool, making it one of the best SMG for PvE in Destiny 2 and suitable for almost any build. Listing all the perk combinations would take a long time, so we will mention the best ones. Demolitionist is the clear favorite for Grenade Spam builds, and Pugilist is perfect for Prismatic Titans with Consecration. We also recommend using Chaos Reshaped with them for its 35% bonus damage and minor healing during extended combat.

Best PvE Special Weapons Destiny 2

Special ammunition should still be in your loadout to deal with major opponents. Our Destiny 2 PvE weapon tier list will help you decide what you really need.

Choir of One, Auto Rifle

Choir of One

Choir of One is a highly versatile Exotic Special, and it has been one of the best PvE guns Destiny 2 for quite some time. Thanks to it, you can effectively deal with adds, contribute tremendous burst damage, and have huge total damage. All of this is possible due to its unique firing mode, in which hip-firing releases a Wyvern’s Blast, which deals tons of damage and consumes five bullets. Also, while aiming down sights (ADS), it fires hitscan projectiles. Additionally, destroying three red-bar enemies or one powerful enemy creates a void explosion and a radiolaria pool, both dealing substantial damage. Choir of One also has different Catalysts, such as Onslaught, which increases RPM (rate of fire) on final blows.

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Ergo Sum, Sword

Ergo Sum pve list

Ergo Sum is the only Special Sword in the game, and its uniqueness doesn’t stop there. Instead of a unique Exotic Trait, it has eight perks from other weapons, like Gjallarhorn, Riskrunner, or Polaris Lance, making it useful for both DPS and add-clear. Additionally, Ergo Sum has synergy with Prismatic, allowing you to generate ammo from thin air when dealing damage with a Prismatic Grenade, and during Transcendence, the sword has increased damage and faster Charge Rate.

Still Hunt, Sniper Rifle

Best pve special weapons destiny 2

You’ll hardly find a better Sniper Rifle for DPS than Still Hunt, as it can literally turn into a Golden Gun and even has a unique synergy with Celestial Nighthawk. To activate this, you’ll need to either have to use a Raid Banner, collect 12 Orbs of Power, or make six Precision Hits. A great weapon, and easily gets its place in Destiny 2 best PvE weapons list.

Buried Bloodline, Rocket Sidearm

Buried Bloodline Exotic

Buried Bloodline is the only source of Devour on any subclass, making this Exotic extremely strong and unique. If you didn’t know, this buff grants 100 HP and Grenade energy and refreshes itself with any Final Blow, which is particularly powerful on subclasses with low survivability. When the Catalyst is completed, Buried Bloodline will also Weaken targets when you have Devour active, increasing your damage by 15%.

Critical Anomaly, Sniper Rifle

Critical Anomaly

Critical Anomaly will immediately grab your attention with Chill Clip in the third column, allowing it to freeze targets at any range while still having a Damage Perk in the fourth column. If you need a Sniper Rifle exclusively for DPS, Reconstruction or Rewind Rounds will double your mag size.

Tinasha’s Mastery, Rocket Sidearm

Tinasha's Mastery best rocket sidearm pve

Rocket Sidearms remain the most popular archetype even after nerfs. One of the best examples is the new Tinasha’s Mastery. It is one of the best Episode Revenant PvE weapons in Destiny 2, thanks to the Chill Clip perk, which slows enemies. This perk allows the sidearm to stun Overload and Unstoppable Champions, automatically making it the best choice for GMs and Master content.

If you don’t want to wait for Iron Banner, or you’re unlucky with a Godroll, you can craft The Call from Pale Heart, which is also one of the best PvE rocket sidearms in Destiny 2. It also has good perk combinations, such as Demolitionist + One for All or Lead from Gold + Vorpal Weapon.

Indebted Kindness, Rocket Sidearm

Indebted Kindness Sidearm

Like previous Sidearm, Indebted Kindness only has three worthy perks, making Godrolls quite obvious. In the fourth column, the best choice is Voltshot, which helps with add-clear and stunning Overload Champions. In the third column, there are two decent perks: Impulse Amplifier for bonus Reload and Projectile Velocity Speed, or Lead from Gold for Special Ammo when you pick up Heavy ammo. All in all, it can be one of the best add-clear weapons in Destiny 2, if you’re looking for one.

A worthy replacement is Aberrant Action from Echoes, which has Heal Clip and Incandescent. Although this perk combination is ideal for Solar, it will also work well on other subclasses due to easily accessible healing and AoE damage.

The Supremacy, Sniper Rifle

The Supremacy D2

The Supremacy, a Sniper Rifle from Last Wish, is considered the king among DPS Special weapons. It offers perks for all tastes:

A pleasant bonus is the ability to craft this Sniper, especially since it can be done quickly, thanks to Riven’s Wishes. So, if you were looking for the Destiny 2 best DPS weapon for PvE, The Supremacy is your perfect choice.

We recommend the Omniscient Eye from Garden of Salvation as an Energy replacement, which is also one of the Destiny 2 best legendary weapons PvE ever had. Thanks to Fourth Time’s the Charm in the third column, it will have more total damage than The Supremacy, although the only damage perks it has are Precision Instrument and Vorpal Weapon.

Lost Signal, Special Grenade Launcher

Lost Signal d2

Area Denial GLs are essentially legendary versions of Witherhoard that can even surpass it due to their excellent perks. The first representative of this archetype is Lost Signal, and it can be considered the best. It features:  

As you can see, there are many choices, making Lost Signal a very versatile weapon and one of the best weapons in Destiny 2 right now.

VS Velocity Baton is a worthy replacement for Lost Signal in the Energy Slot, though it lacks Auto-Reload perks. Its most interesting perk is Attrition Orbs, which allows you to generate a bunch of Orbs of Power with just a few shots.

The Mountaintop, Special Grenade Launcher

best PvE weapons in Destiny 2

The Mountaintop has become quite a cult Destiny 2 weapon by being one of the best PvE Grenade Launcher in Destiny 2, while not leaving many loadouts until Sunset happened. However, this Special Grenade Launcher once again fell into the hands of the Guardians in Into the Light update, only getting better. Besides being able to make insane Rocket Jumps, it also has wonderful perks. We would advise paying attention to Auto-loading Holster + Recombination for any content, but Vorpal Weapon or Frenzy would be preferable for DPS Phases.

Best PvE Heavy Weapons Destiny 2

Well, here we are at the most crucial weaponry for endgame and DPS Phases. Here, you’ll find various types of ammunition, including even swords.

Gjallarhorn, Rocket Launcher

Best PvE Rocket Launcher

Making the PvE meta list without mentioning Gjallarhorn is impossible because boss DPS from Rocket Launchers wouldn’t be as effective without it. In the original Destiny, Gjallarhorn was magnificent and overpowered on its own, but in D2, it became a great support Rocket Launcher, often surpassing its predecessor.

The first and foremost feature lies in its perks, which make it so amazing. Upon hitting an enemy, your rockets split into cluster missiles, causing additional damage. You can also share this feature with nearby allies who use legendary Rocket Launchers. To accomplish this, stand next to them and fire from our beloved Exotic Rocket Launcher while also increasing reload speed and handling. A pleasant bonus will be the Catalyst, expanding the Magazine by one rocket and simplifying add-clear from Gjallarhorn due to Final Blow with cluster missiles, creating a more potent projectile at the enemy’s location.

Parasite, Grenade Launcher

Parasite

Sometimes, in activities, you need burst damage to instantly eliminate dangerous enemies or quickly deal a lot of damage to a boss, and Parasite is the best at this. This grenade launcher increases its shot damage depending on the enemies killed. You can have a maximum of 20 stacks of Worm’s Hunger, which will equal a 200% bonus damage. Additionally, if you hit yourself with the shot, you will increase the damage of your other weapons by 15% for 10 seconds. If you decide to use Parasite, be sure to use the Solar Holster Mod in your legs.

Tractor Cannon, Shotgun

Tractor Cannon

Although Tractor Cannon has relatively low damage, it has one of the most vital Exotic Traits, allowing it to apply a debuff that increases the damage the enemy takes by 30%. Because of this trait, this shotgun is a very popular choice in raids or dungeons.

Microcosm, Trace Rifle

Best pve heavy weapons destiny 2 microcosm

If you’re headed into content with Subjugators, be sure to bring Microcosm. Thanks to its Exotic Trait, which massively increases damage to shields, this Heavy Trace Rifle deals colossal damage to Subjugators. Additionally, Microcosm itself is powerful, as final blows from this weapon grant Super Energy, and it gains bonus damage after Super ends.

VS Chill Inhibitor, Grenade Launcher

VS Chill Inhibitor

Heavy GLs have long been the most popular and best weapons for DPS, and VS Chill Inhibitor is currently the top choice during Episode: Revenant. Thanks to the new Envious Arsenal perk and Bait and Switch, you can reload the weapon and grant it a 30% damage bonus by simply dealing damage with your other equipped weapons. If you prefer a weapon for Burst Damage, Cascade Point and Explosive Light might be more to your liking. 

If you don’t have access to the Vesper’s Host dungeon, use Edge Transit from Onslaught. It is one of the best legendary heavy weapons in Destiny 2, and this grenade launcher offers nearly identical perks except for Envious Arsenal, which is replaced by Envious Assassin.

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Scintillation, Linear Fusion Rifle

Scintillation Linear Fusion Rifle

If you don’t play raids, check out Scintillation, which is one of the best PvE DPS weapons Destiny 2 ever had and an excellent replacement for Cataclysmic. Although it doesn’t have perks that increase Total Damage, other perks compensate for this drawback. In the third column, any of the listed perks will fix the reloading issue during the damage phases, so choose based on your preference. In the fourth column, all perks are significantly different:

If you came across this article during Dawning, we recommend farming the Mistral Lift as soon as possible. This LFR has one of the best PvE weapons perks in D2, and it is currently the best thanks to the presence of Withering Gaze in the third column, allowing you to weaken the target and deal more damage with your entire Fireteam.

Commemoration, Machine Gun

Commemoration

Machine Guns are highly effective weapons not only in terms of clearing adds but also in taking down tougher enemies such as Champions. It is, therefore, common to see them included in the Grandmaster Loadouts. Among all the Machine Guns available, Commemoration stands out as one of the most pleasing, if not the most pleasing. Its superiority can be attributed to three key factors:

The main thing is you have the ability to craft a Commemoration without a problem. Just wait until Deep Stone Crypt in Raid Rotation and farm the final boss to get one of the best PvE craftable weapons Destiny 2.

Pro Memoria is an excellent replacement for Commemoration. especially considering how easy it is to obtain this Machine Gun. First, note the Origin Trait, which grants you Super energy for Final Blows from this weapon, which is already quite good. Like the previous Machine Gun, it features Reconstruction, but you won’t find Killing Tally here. Instead, you can use Frenzy or Desperate Measures, as they also increase weapon damage. If you’re looking for a weapon for Strand or Grenade builds, you can always use Hatchling or Demolitionist. And, of course, do not forget that you can craft this Machine Gun, too!

Apex Predator, Rocket Launcher

Apex Predator

Although Rocket Launchers are currently inferior to Heavy GLs, they are still a good weapon for any content. Apex Predator with Reconstruction and Bait and Switch has been one of the best PvE weapons D2 has offered. It is one of the greatest Rocket Launchers for DPS for over a year for several reasons: passive reload and good damage bonus. If you’re looking for a Rocket Launcher for general usage, consider Bipod perk on this one, which will double your magazine and reserves, but your rockets will deal 25% less damage.

Apex Predator is not only one, which you can call one of the best PvE Rocket Launchers in Destiny 2. While lacking Bait and Switch, Crux Termination IV can roll with Explosive Light, which increases damage from picked-up Orbs of Power. Additionally, unlike Apex Predator, it is effortless to obtain since it’s a world drop and can be farmed in Lost Sectors with Double Perks. All in all, these are the one of the Destiny 2 best PvE weapons.

The Slammer, Sword

Destiny 2 The Slammer

Previously, Swords from Dares of Eternity were the only ones with the perk Eager Edge, and then with the Season of the Wish, the situation changed with the best PvE swords in Destiny 2.

Recently, The Slammer, a Stasis Vortex Sword, appeared in the Nightfall Rotation, which just had this perk in the third column. What is so good about Eager Edge, you might ask? It’s all about increasing Lunge Distance, which allows you to overcome great distances with a swing of the sword easily. Moreover, The Slammer is much better suited for Shatter/Well Skatings than The Other Half, making it the best choice for Speedrunners. Don’t forget about Cold Steel, which slows down the enemy when inflicted damage, making it easy to kill Overload and Unstoppable Champs.

If you don’t feel like farming Strikes, you can check out the Falling Guillotine from Onslaught. It has a combination of Eager Edge and a damage perk like Vorpal or Frenzy, which, in particular content, can be better than The Slammer.

Final Words on the best Destiny 2 PvE weapons

And that’s all the Destiny 2 Episode Echoes best PvE weapons you should acquire and utilize. The list might seem too extensive because there are so many weapons, but it gives you an extensive selection of equipment for any activities that suit your play style. Sadly, we didn’t include some gun types like trace rifles, but they are not as effective as you think.

Moreover, if this is not enough for you, we recommend taking a look at our articles on essential catalysts and best PvP weapons in Destiny 2. By doing so, you’ll be able to either expand your list or, on the contrary, reinforce your choice since some gun models from here can be found there.

Do you need help with farming and simply don’t have the time for it? You’re in luck because D2 Services from Wowvendor help Guardians around the clock, fulfilling their requests in the shortest time. You’ll be able to get full patterns from our list of Destiny 2 best PvE Weapons 2024 or even get professional assistance in completing activities if you encounter any issues.

Thanks for Reading! Owl is Flying Away.

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Owl Guy
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Comments

Swyhart54says:
 

This list loses all credibility by missing Graviton Lance… how is that not close to the top of this list?

Lucky Discsays:
 

I’d honestly recommend the Subjunctive over the Ikelos because it’s a better archetype, 900 rpm SMGs are just better than 720s.

Subjunctive rolls with Voltshot and threat detector too.

Mitch Hedbergsays:
 

If you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.

Anonymoussays:
 

Reeks of AI generated “shutter”skating and well”scating”. “thitf” column? Yeah… I don’t think so, WowVendor.

Owl Guy
Owl Guysays:
 

Hello!

Thank you for reading my article, and I’m sorry for the grammatical errors. Unfortunately, when writing such extensive guides, sometimes I accidentally make mistakes. Still, I’m happy when such observant readers appear on our blog, and I’ll try to improve myself!

All mistakes that you caught have already been corrected, but if you notice anything else, be sure to report them. I’m constantly working on my articles because, as a Destiny 2 player myself, I want to help you and others pass PvE content.

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