Best Destiny 2 PvP weapons: Meta guns for Competitive & Trials of Osiris

❘ Updated: 2024-07-17T14:03:15

Guardian aiming with Sniper Rifle in Destiny 2 PvP.

Bungie

Destiny 2’s PvP meta is constantly shifting, with new weapons being added all the time, and Echoes Act 2 is no exception, giving Guardians plenty of fresh options to consider.

Contrary to what some Destiny players may think, the Crucible remains an extremely popular battleground for Guardians to test their mettle against one another. Bungie knows this too, with the developer adding three new maps for Guardians to try out back in Season 23.

One of the biggest draws of PvP is the challenge of buildcrafting and finding the best Legendary and Exotic weapons to dominate the competition. This is especially tricky as more powerful guns are released, forcing players to farm new god rolls with every update.

Unsurprisingly, the PvP Meta is made up of the best weapons in the sandbox. There are all sorts of reasons why a weapon can excel in the Crucible, like having a stacked perk pool, offering a fast TTK, or just feeling great to use. Either way, you’ll need to use these meta weapons to avoid being left behind.

Best Top Slot Weapons for PvP (Kinetic, Stasis, Strand)

Primary Kinetic Weapons

Hung Jury SR4

Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Box Breathing

Hung Jury SR4 was already fantastic when it was released in Season 20, and the reissued variant from Onslaught is equally strong. The main reason to use this over other Scout Rifles is that it gets access to Box Breathing, allowing for a 670 ms TTK against 100 Resilience. That’s extremely competitive, making Hung Jury SR4 an excellent option on larger maps.

Midnight Coup

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload + Zen Moment

Also reissued as part of Onslaught’s loot table, Midnight Coup is an excellent Hand Cannon that can compete against the very best. It not only feels great but also has really good stats for an Adaptive Frame. This is just an incredibly well-rounded weapon that Hand Cannon enthusiasts are sure to love.

Rose

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Lightweight
Debut Season: Season 19 (Reissued)
God Roll: Slideshot/Rapid Hit + Explosive Payload

Rose is the best Legendary Hand Cannon in PvP right now. It offers the consistency and damage of an Adaptive frame, yet also has the handling and movement buffs of a Lightweight Frame. The only thing preventing this from completely taking over PvP is that it can be time-consuming to farm. Even so, if you’re willing to put in the time, Rose is the gun you want.

The Messenger

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: High-Impact
Debut Season: Season 21 (Reissued)
PvP God Roll: Rapid Hit + Headseeker/Keep Away

The Messenger is an extraordinary Pulse Rifle that delivers some of the most consistent two-burst kills possible. It effectively plays like a Legendary version of No Time To Explain, and given how dominant that Exotic has been in PvP, that’s far from a bad thing. Unfortunately, The Messenger is exclusive to Trials of Osiris, so it’s not the easiest gun to farm for casual players.

Unending Tempest

Weapon Type: SMG
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction + Target Lock

Meet the gun that killed off The Immortal. Even after both SMGs and Target Lock were nerfed in PvP, Unending Tempest has remained a powerhouse. It has great sights, a fast TTK, and is one of the easiest guns to dominate with. It doesn’t matter if you are a top player or a complete newbie, farming an Unending Tempest god roll is a must.

Special Kinetic Weapons

Defiance of Yasmin

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 18
God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot

When it comes to top slot Sniper Rifles, your options are limited. Most of the best PvP snipers are energy weapons, but Defiance of Yasmin is the exception to that rule. Received as a drop from King’s Fall, this raid gun is incredible, with it not only having high Aim Assistance but also the dream perk combination of Snapshot Sights and Opening Shot.

Fractethyst

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Quickdraw/Slideshot + Opening Shot

Having first appeared before The Witch Queen was even released, Fractethyst is one of the oldest weapons on this list. The thing is, it still works as well as ever, with Opening Shot pairing really well with either Quickdraw or Slideshot. It may be three years old, but Fractethyst is still the best Stasis Shotgun for PvP, and arguably the best Special Legendary weapon altogether.

Imperial Decree

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 18 (Reissued)
God Roll: Slideshot + Opening Shot

If you like Precision Frame Shotguns, Fractethyst is unmatched, but those who prefer Aggressive Frames will want to use Imperial Decree. Its reissued variant is a PvP monster, with Slideshot negating the need to reload, and Opening Shot making it super consistent. Unfortunately, Imperial Decree is fairly hard to acquire now, as it is no longer available from seasonal activities.

Scatter Signal

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Surplus + Kickstart

Fusion Rifles aren’t in the best place currently, but if you do enjoy using them. then Scatter Signal is an excellent choice. The standout perk here is Kickstart, which provides a huge damage boost when sliding. This is a great fit on a Rapid-Fire Frame, as the faster fire rate makes it practical to slide into enemies and burst them down before they can react.

Someday

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 24 (Episode: Echoes)
God Roll: Threat Detector/Elemental Capacitor (Arc) + Opening Shot

Meta top slot shotguns have been tricky to come by in Destiny 2, with Fractethyst and Imperial Decree god rolls being so hard to get these days. Thankfully, Echoes Act 1 added Someday, a Precision Frame shotgun that is among the very best in PvP. It has great range and handling, plus Someday is easy to farm with it being one of the craftable weapons available from The Pale Heart.

Exotic Kinetic Weapons

Ace of Spades

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Memento Mori, Firefly
Catalyst: Funeral Pyre
Debut Season: Season 4

As Exotic Weapons go, Ace of Spades is about as simple as they come. By killing enemy players, you trigger Memento Mori, empowering your next six shots. These empowered shots deal more damage and will destroy other Guardians if you land your shots. Ace of Spades is as easy to use as it is satisfying, so it’s no surprise to see so many players still using this classic gun.

Conditional Finality

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Stasis
Exotic Perks: Split Decision, Paracausal Pellets
Catalyst: N/A
Debut Season: Season 8

Conditional Finality is a shotgun that shoots flames out of one barrel and ice out of the other. The fire triggers Ignitions, dealing more damage, while the Ice freezes enemies, leaving them defenseless. What really makes Conditional Finality so good in PvP is its incredible Handling, which makes it the perfect candidate for playing aggressively and getting up close.

Forerunner

Weapon Type: Sidearm
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Full Stop, Pace Yourself
Catalyst: The Rock
Debut Season: Season 15

Forerunner was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Crucible changes made in Season 23. While it may be a Sidearm, it’s better used as a highly mobile Scout Rifle that excels in medium-range gunfights. If used right, Forerunner can outgun just about anything, largely thanks to its ability to kill in just three shots despite having a relatively fast fire rate of 200 RPM.

Outbreak Perfected

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: The Corruption Spreads, Parasitism
Catalyst: The Corruption Spreads (Enhanced)
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)

Before Season 23, Outbreak Perfected sucked in PvP. Its handling and reload speed were both so slow, that it was hard to justify ever using it. However, Season 23 added a craftable variant that lets you choose which barrel and grip to equip. This alone would have elevated the Exotic Pulse Rifle into the PvP meta, but it can now also use Headseeker, which seals its place amongst the elite.

Thorn

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Mark of the Devourer, Soul Devourer
Catalyst: Refined Soul
Debut Season: Season 6

Thorn previously got left behind by power creep, with so many other incredible Hand Cannons taking its place. That is until it got a new catalyst in Season 23. With its catalyst, Thorn gets a massive Range boost, once again making it competitive. If that’s enough for you, Remnants also grant additional Range, Mobility, and Handling, turning this iconic Hand Cannon into an indisputable powerhouse.

Best Energy Weapons for PvP (Arc, Solar, Void)

Primary Energy Weapons

Claws of the Wolf

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire
Debut Season: Season 24 (Reissued)
God Roll: Headseeker + Zen Moment/Kill Clip

At least from the perspective of a PvP main, Claws of the Wolf was the most interesting addition to Iron Banner in Echoes. This fantastic Pulse Rifle rolls Headseeker in the third column, which is always bound to result in something special. Partner that with another damage perk like Zen Moment or Kill Clip, and you’ll get plenty of work done with Claws of the Wolf.

Elsie’s Rifle

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Zen Moment + Headseeker

Previously known as The Stranger’s Rifle, Elsie’s Rifle is Destiny 2’s take on an old classic. Though largely useless in PvE, Elsie’s Rifle is incredible in PvP, where it is one of the few remaining Pulse Rifles that can reliably two-burst enemy Guardians. In particular, Zen Moment in the third slot is incredible on a Pulse Rifle, as it makes this weapon extremely consistent.

Igneous Hammer

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 22 (Reissued)
God Roll: Keep Away + Eye of the Storm

If you like the feel of Aggressive Hand Cannons, Igneous Hammer is the gun for you. With Keep Away procced, this Hand Cannon is practically a pocket Scout Rifle. A Scout Rifle with fast handling and access to just about every meta PvP perk at that. Sure, Keep Away and Eye of the Storm are incredible, but you can also use Rapid Hit, Rangefinder, Moving Target, or Opening Shot.

Prosecutor

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Zen Moment + Target Lock/Tap the Trigger

The refreshed Prophecy loot table came and went, with a lot of players overlooking it. However, that’s not to say it didn’t introduce some great weapons, with Prosecutor being the standout. This Arc Auto Rifle is currently the best AR in Destiny 2. It isn’t just dominant in PvP, but somehow has a stacked perk pool for PvE too. Do yourself a favor, go and farm Prophecy’s first encounter to get one of these.

The Summoner

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Dynamic Sway Reduction/Zen Moment + Target Lock

If Precision Auto Rifles aren’t your thing, consider using The Summoner instead of Prosecutor. This Adaptive Frame AR feels great to use and gets access to several top-tier PvP perks. It has an incredible TTK while also being laser-accurate, which is more than enough to cement its place in The Final Shape’s PvP meta.

Special Energy Weapons

Beloved

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 17 (Reissued)
God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Moving Target/Quickdraw

Beloved has been one of the most popular Sniper Rifles for some time now for two main reasons: It’s got a stacked perk pool and low zoom. Low zoom may sound like a bad thing, but it makes it easier to use Beloved more aggressively, which is perfect for high-skill players. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get a craftable version of Beloved these days, at least without using Deepsight Harmonizers.

Felwinter’s Lie

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Shot Package (Unique)
Debut Season: Season 10
God Roll: Curated Roll

Acquired from the Legacy Gear section of the Exotic Archive and by far the oldest weapon on this list, Felwinter’s Lie still kicks ass four years after it debuted. Despite its mediocre stats and nonexistent perk pool, this old favorite passes the test of time thanks to its unique weapon frame, which grants it a uniform pellet spread perfect for one-tapping Guardians.

Matador 64

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Threat Detector/Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot

At this point, Matador 64 is the most meta gun of Destiny 2’s meta guns. Ever since it was released, this Arc Shotgun has been top-tier in PvP. While its perks are great, it’s more so the unique feel of this weapon that makes it so popular. It’s so easy to use and yet also so incredibly strong. Plus, it’s fairly easy to farm too, with it being a common drop from Grasp of Avarice.

Retold Tale

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Quickdraw/Slideshot + Snapshot Sights

Surprisingly, this weapon being reissued back in Season 23 didn’t do much for its viability. That’s not a big problem though, as it was already excellent. Just as before, pair Quickdraw or Slideshot with Snapshot Sights for a fast-handling, lethal Shotgun that is devastating up close. As it’s a Precision Frame, you can even stretch its Range to still cause enemies serious problems up to 7 meters.

The Epicurean

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Snapshot Sights/Surplus + Rangefinder/Backup Plan

For those that prefer Precision Fusion Rifles to their Precision cousins, The Epicurean offers a great option for a reliable one-shot kill. You can either crank up its range with Surplus and Rangefinder or boost the Solar weapon’s handling with Snapshot Sights and Backup Plan. Either way, this is a fantastic PvP weapon that can dominate any lobby.

Exotic Energy Weapons

Cloudstike

The Cloudstrike exotic sniper rifle from Destiny 2.

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Mortal Polarity, Stormbringer
Catalyst: Triple Tap
Debut Season: Season 12

For the most part, Cloudstrike is just a Sniper Rifle that feels great to use. What helps it stand out is Mortal Polarity, its unique Exotic Perk which reigns lightning down every time you secure a final blow. In PvP, this lightning strike can take out multiple Guardians at once, giving you the potential for some incredible, montage-worthy plays.

Graviton Lance

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Void
Exotic Perks: Black Hole, Cosmology
Catalyst: Vorpal Weapon, Turnabout
Debut Season: Season 1

Before it was nerfed in Season 23, Graviton Lance was unbelievably dominant. Even after that nerf, it remains one of the best weapons in PvP. It won’t be chaining multi-kills together like before, but for one-on-one gunfights, it is still a beast. Don’t be fooled by its Pulse Rifle identity either, Graviton Lance plays like a meta Scout Rifle more than anything.

Jotunn

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Charge Shot, Shield Disorient
Catalyst: Cornered, Incandescent
Debut Season: Season 5

It’ll take some practice, but once you know what you’re doing, Jotunn is one of the deadliest Special ammo weapons in PvP. This turbo toaster plays like a micro Rocket Launcher with tracking projectiles. Just be aware that Jotunn has developed a reputation for being a toxic weapon. So, don’t be surprised if the enemy team’s language gets increasingly colorful as you dominate them with it.

Red Death Reformed

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Redemption, Inverse Relationship
Catalyst: Helping Hand
Debut Season: Season 24 (Episode: Echoes)

Red Death Reformed is an Exotic weapon added in The Final Shape that excels in PvP. It is a solid enough Pulse Rifle from a TTK standpoint, but it’s the gun’s self-healing that makes it truly extraordinary. This Exotic Pulse Rifle grants Cure on every final blow, constantly healing you up. As of Echoes Act 2, its Catalyst can be unlocked too, which improves healing further by adding an AOE effect on every other kill.

Vex Mythoclast

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Timeless Mythoclast, Temporal Unlimiter
Catalyst: Calculated Balance
Debut Season: Season 14

Vex Mythoclast is another Exotic weapon that doesn’t play anything like you’d expect. Despite being a Fusion Rifle, this Raid Exotic is best treated like an Auto Rifle. It’s a rather excellent Auto Rifle at that. The only thing keeping it in check is its reduced 360 RPM fire rate, but if one day it returns to 390 RPM, you can be damn sure a Vex Mythoclast meta will follow closely.

Best Heavy Weapons for PvP

Heavy Legendary Weapons

Cataphract GL3

Weapon Type: Heavy Grenade Launcher
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Chain Reaction

As many unfortunate players have found out by now, Cataphract GL3 is really hard to farm. However, if you can put up with the grind and enjoy Trials of Osiris, it is currently the best Heavy weapon in PvP. You’ll want both Proximity Mines and Impulse Amplifier, with the other perks being far less important. Good luck on the grind!

Edge Transit

Weapon Type: Heavy Grenade Launcher
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Explosive Light

If you don’t feel like spending hours and hours farming the god roll Cataphract GL3, go and get Edge Transit instead. It’s 95% as good, rolls more or less the same perks, and is much, much easier to farm. Now that weapon attunement has been removed from Onslaught, it is slightly more time-consuming to get, but nothing compared to Cataphract GL3.

Hammerhead

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Under-Over + Tap The Trigger

Machine Guns are often overlooked in PvP as other Heavy weapons have insta-kill potential. While Hammerhead can’t do that, it does still offer a fast TTK that will demolish any other automatic Primary or Special weapon. A few LMGs are viable right now, like Heir Apparent and Commemoration, but Hammerhead’s access to Tap The Trigger makes it especially consistent at long range.

Semiotician

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Impulse Amplifier + Explosive Light

Although Rocket Launchers are generally outclassed by Grenade Launchers in PvP, Semiotician is at least worth considering. A High-Impact Frame with access to Impulse Amplifier has a lot of killing potential, offering both a big blast radius and fast projectile velocity. There’s a good chance you have this craftable from Season 22, so be sure to give it a go the next time you queue into The Crucible.

The Other Half

Weapon Type: Sword
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 15
God Roll: Eager Edge + Vorpal Weapon

Truthfully, this could be any Sword with Enhanced Eager Edge. Switch it out for Half-Truths if you like, they both work equally well. The main point is that this perk lets you lunge forward as far as possible, providing unmatched mobility. Use this in unison with Grapple, and the other team is going to have a really hard time beating you. It’s not easy to use properly, but The Other Half is deadly in the right hands.

Heavy Exotic Weapons

Deathbringer

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Void
Exotic Perks: Dark Deliverance, Dark Descent
Catalyst: Dead Weight
Debut Season: Season 8

This bizarre Exotic Rocket Launcher is strong in PvP, but you have to use it right. The premise of Deathbringer is that you fire an orb above the enemy team, which then explodes and rains down Void damage, instantly killing any Guardians it hits. This is great for retaking objectives, by pressuring enemy players off the point, letting you sweep in for a free capture.

Gjallarhorn

Gjallerhorn exotic rocket launcher from Destiny 2.

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Solar
Exotic Perks: Wolfpack Rounds, Pack Hunter
Catalyst: More Wolves
Debut Season: Season 15

Outside of maybe Tractor Cannon at a push, Gjallarhorn is the only Exotic Heavy Weapon worth using in PvP. It won’t always be as strong as one of the many meta Heavy Grenade Launchers, but its heat-seeking rounds and massive area of effect make it comically easy to use. Anyone who enjoys Gambit will know just how strong this can be when used correctly.

Thunderlord

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Reign Havoc, Feeding Frenzy
Catalyst: Return Stroke
Debut Season: Season 4

While there are probably better weapons to use your Exotic slot on, Thunderlord is the old faithful, which is rarely a bad option. Much like Cloudstrike, it can produce lighting strikes that stun and hit other players. It has a fast TTK and excellent stats, making it a perfectly serviceable option for those who don’t enjoy using Grenade Launchers or Rocket Launchers.

Wardcliff Coil

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Arc
Exotic Perks: Mad Scientist, Mechanized Autoloader
Catalyst: Pinpoint Guidance Module
Debut Season: Season 1

While it’s not recommended to use Wardcliff Coil as a go-to weapon, this Exotic Rocket Launcher can catch other teams completely off guard if used right. When fired, it shoots a volley of rockets, barraging the enemy teams, and wiping them all out at once if they are close together. It has the potential to turn around a fight with a single trigger pull, which isn’t true of most other weapons.

That’s all for the best PvP Weapons to use in Destiny 2. Be sure to check out the best PvE weapons to round off your loadouts, as well as the meta Hand Cannons, Auto Rifles, SMGs, and Rocket Launchers, so that you are as well informed on the current sandbox as possible.