Best Destiny 2 PvE weapons: Meta guns in Into The Light

❘ Updated: 2024-05-16T18:23:21

Bungie

Using the best PvE weapons makes beating Destiny 2’s hardest content much easier. To help you overcome what lies ahead, we’ve put together this list detailing Into The Light’s meta for Kinetic, Special, and Heavy weapons.

Although off-meta guns can be fun, it’s best to stick to the top-tier weapons when tackling more demanding content. The difference between a decent gun and a meta gun is huge and can be the lone reason why you clear a Raid, Dungeon, or Grandmaster Nightfall.

With randomized perks and different archetypes, there are always going to be guns that stand out above the competition. The PvE meta forms from these powerful weapons, and if you want the best DPS possible you’ll need to use them.

Here are the best PvE weapons in Destiny 2 Into the Light that you should be using on your loadouts.

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Destiny 2 best PvE weapons in Into The Light

Destiny 2 best PvE weapons in Into The Light

The Destiny 2 meta is made up of the best weapons you can use. A great weapon might excel because of its raw damage, or because it provides incredible utility. Either way, it’s essential that you are using the strongest loadout possible.

To make sure that’s the case, these are all the weapons you’ll want to be using:

Best Top Slot Weapons (Kinetic, Stasis, Strand)

Primary Weapons

Midnight Coup

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Firefly + One for All

Kinetic Hand Cannons have been strong ever since the weapon type first got buffed in Season 21, but there weren’t too many good options. The introduction of Midnight Coup has fixed that though bringing back a powerful classic weapon with a refreshed perk pool including Firefly in the third slot.

Rufus’s Fury

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire Frame
Debut Season: Season 20
God Roll: Reconstruction + Target Lock

In the early days of Lightfall, there weren’t many good Strand weapons. However, Rufus’s Fury was the exception and even now three seasons on it is still a phenomenal option. Right now, Rapid-Fire Frames are the best ARs, and very few of them have better perks than this Root of Nightmares drop.

Warden’s Law

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Heavy Burst
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Fourth Time’s the Charm + Vorpal Weapon

Warden’s Law is strong regardless of how you use it, but this Hand Cannon truly comes into its own when paired with Lucky Pants. That combination lets Hunters reach unbelievable DPS values that can compete with Heavy weapons. It also makes Warden’s Law by far the highest-damage primary weapon in Destiny 2, so it wouldn’t feel right to leave it off this list.

Special Weapons

Riptide

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire Frame
Debut Season: Season 17
God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Chill Clip

The Chill Clip nerf in Season 22 did hurt the Riptide a little, but its fast fire rate has allowed it to remain meta even after those changes. The Stasis Fusion Rifle’s main strength is that it can stun Unstoppable Champions without relying on the seasonal artifact. It’s also just a great all-around weapon though that deals solid damage.

Scatter Signal

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Strand
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire Frame
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Overflow + Controlled Burst

Meet Riptide’s Strand-powered cousin. Scatter Signal is the most popular top slot weapon in Destiny 2 Into The Light thanks to its impressive damage. It can even be used as a utility weapon with Slice severing combatants, weakening their damage output by 40%. This versatility and how easy it is to get make it no surprise Scatter Signal has emerged as one of the best PvE weapons.

Succession

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Reconstruction + Vorpal Damage/Recombination

There are only two Legendary Sniper Rifles worth using in PVE. These are Succession and The Supremacy, with the former being the better all-around option. It’s a great all-purpose precision weapon that offers amazing burst damage for taking out tankier targets. Succession also thrives in higher-difficulty content where keeping your distance is often necessary to survive.

The Mountaintop

Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Micro-Missile Frame
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster/Overflow + Recombination

The Mountaintop was once the most dominant PvP weapon in Destiny 2, but these days it’s PvE where the Grenade Launcher excels. Its newly reissued variant hits super hard when Recombination is charged up and can even be used to make platforming sequences easier by rocket jumping.

Exotic Weapons

Izanagi’s Burden

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 5
Catalyst: Peerless Edge

While some Exotic weapons are used for their utility, others are solely used to deal damage. Izanagi’s Burden is one of those Exotics that’s sole purpose is to hit hard. With some practice, you can weave both
Honed Edge and Peerless Edge into DPS rotations to massively boost your total damage. Just be sure to land the precision shot afterward or it’ll all be for nothing.

Osteo Striga

Weapon Type: SMG
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 16
Catalyst: Toxic Overload

Osteo Striga is perhaps the only Precision frame SMG worth using right now. In spite of its suboptimal frame, this meta Exotic is extremely strong. The combination of Screaming Swarm and Toxic Overload allows Osteo Striga to spread poison and wipe out large groups of adds with ease. Even better, it can be combined with Necrotic Grips for one of the nastiest builds in the sandbox.

Quicksilver Storm

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire Frame
Debut Season: Season 18
Catalyst: Nano-entanglement

Truthfully, Quicksilver Storm almost missed out on this list after its nasty nerf in Season 23. However, it remains a great weapon as long as you make sure to fire as many grenades as possible. Its base damage is nothing special anymore though, and there are other Auto Rifles that are better suited to general use.

Witherhoard

Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Lightweight
Debut Season: Season 11
Catalyst: Silent Alarm

Rather than being overpowered, Witherhoard’s real strength is its versatility. It can be used for overtime damage against bosses, for clearing adds, and to inflict the Blighted debuff. This Grenade Launcher even has fantastic ammo economy, which makes it easy to spam fire without having to worry about when the next Special Ammo brick will appear.

Best Energy Weapons (Arc, Solar, Void)

Primary Weapons

Calus Mini Tool

Weapon Type: SMG
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: MIDA Synergy
Debut Season: Season 17
God Roll: Unrelenting/Threat Detector + Incandescent

The Calus Mini Tool isa somewhat old weapon that doesn’t get the praise it deserves. While the likes of Recluse and IKELOS_SMG_V.1.0.3 are excellent in their own right, Calus Mini Tool’s access to Enhanced Incandescent puts it in another league. That’s especially true in Season 23, where Solar weapons are incredible thanks to the seasonal artifact boosting them.

Heliocentric QSc

Weapon Type: Sidearm
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: MIDA Synergy
Debut Season: Season 22
God Roll: Heal Clip + Incandescent

Just last season, it would have been unimaginable to put a Sidearm on any meta weapons list. However, this season’s Piercing Sidearms mod has given Guardians the opportunity to try them out. After doing so, Destiny 2 players discovered that Heliocentric QSc is extremely good. It feels great to use, offers sustain through Heal Clip, and is even a powerful add-clear weapon.

Ros Arago IV

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Rewind Rounds + Onslaught

Adaptive frame Auto Rifles don’t see that much use in PvE. The frame’s slower fire rate doesn’t feel great to use, but what would happen if you took this frame and gave it some way to shoot faster? You’d end up with Ros Arago IV. This primary powerhouse is undoubtedly meta, and outputs more DPS than most Trace Rifles when it ramps up. The bad news is it’s only available as a world drop, so good luck getting one.

Zaouli’s Bane

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 18
God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent

A lot of factors came together to elevate Zaouli’s Bane to top-tier. Most notably, the current seasonal artifact’s Solar focus and Season 21’s Hand Cannon buff. While several Solar Hand Cannons are incredible in this meta, Zaouli’s Bane is the best as Explosive Payload lets it deal with tankier enemies in a way its competitors just can’t.

Special Weapons

Forbearance

Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Wave Frame
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Ambitious Assassin + Chain Reaction

Forbearance is getting nerfed soon, but for now, it remains the best add-clear weapon in Destiny 2. It’s incredibly easy to use, and once Chain Reaction is procced, nothing can stand it its way. When your team tells you they need more add-clear, this is the weapon you should be equipping.

Indebted Kindness

Weapon Type: Sidearm
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Rocket-Assisted Frame
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Beacon Rounds/Lead from Gold + Voltshot

Synergy with this season’s artifact wasn’t the only buff Sidearms got. The Warlord’s Ruin dungeon introduced Indebted Kindness, the first-ever Rocket Sidearm. Its debut has not disappointed either, with this gun turning out to be the best anti-Barrier Champion weapon in Destiny 2. It also offers viable add-clear thanks to Voltshot, and has fantastic ammo economy.

Exotic Weapons

Divinity

Weapon Type: Trace Rifle
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 8
Catalyst: N/A

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why Divinity is so popular. This Exotic Trace Rifle is absurd as it can debuff enemies to take 15% more damage from all sources, stuns Overload Champions, and makes it way easier to land precision hits. It’s so strong that if you enter a Raid where someone isn’t using Divinity, it’s probably better to just leave and find a new group.

Polaris Lance

Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
Debut Season: Season 3
Catalyst: Dragonfly

It didn’t last long, but Polaris Lance was arguably the best weapon in Destiny 2 PvE at the start of Season 23. It got nerfed soon after, with its Ignition damage being dropped considerably. Regardless, Polaris Lance is still a brilliant weapon that is perfect for high-end content. Just sit back and pick off enemies one by one, taking advantage of this primary’s infinite ammo and self-loading magazine.

Sunshot

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Unique (150 RPM)
Debut Season: Season 1
Catalyst: +27 Range, +18 Stability

Sunshot is a truly great Hand Cannon that has the best add-clear of any primary weapon in Destiny 2. The best part is that it’s easy to use. All you have to do is defeat targets and let the fireworks begin. With Season 23’s artifact, Sunshot is even stronger than normal. Be sure to try it out before the season ends, or you’ll regret it.

Trinity Ghoul

Weapon Type: Bow
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame:
Debut Season: Season 4
Catalyst: Forked Lightning

Sunshot is the best add-clear primary weapon as it works in every piece of content. However, Trinity Ghoul actually beats it in easier content and even holds its own in medium-tier activities. If you can one-shot enemies at a given power level, Trinity Ghoul is an outrageously strong option that’s hard to overlook.

Best Heavy Weapons

DPS Weapons

Apex Predator

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 21 (Reissued)
God Roll: Reconstruction + Bait and Switch

Apex Predator is the finest example of why reissuing weapons is such an important part of Destiny 2. This Solar Rocket Launcher was terrible when it was first released alongside Last Wish. Six years on, it’s now the best Rocket Launcher in Destiny 2 offering great ease of use, and incredible DPS for just about any boss encounter.

Crux Termination IV

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Reconstruction + Explosive Light/Bipod

What on Earth was Bungie cooking when they came up with Crux Termination IV? Despite being a world drop, this Arc Rocket Launcher is spectacularly strong featuring all kinds of meta-defining rolls. It straight up outclasses almost every raid, dungeon, and GM Nightfall heavy weapon. The bad news is that it’s a pain to farm, but if you happen to get a god roll Crux Termination IV, be sure to try it out.

Doomed Petitioner

Weapon Type: Linear Fusion Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Reconstruction + Precision Instrument

The Linear Fusion Rifle meta had gotten stale with the same old Taipan-4FR and Cataclysmic dominating it. Thankfully, Season 23 added Doomed Petitioner, which has freshened up the meta with it being the new best LFR for DPS. It’s really easy to get a god roll too as this is a craftable seasonal weapon.

Edge Transit

Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Envious Assassin + Bait and Switch

Heavy Grenade Launchers have been lurking around Destiny 2’s PvE meta for a little while. The first glimpse of their potential came with Cataphract GL3, but with the Strand HGL being exclusive to Trials of Osiris, most players didn’t bother getting it. Now though, Edge Transit offers the exact same god roll while being far easier to farm.

Add-clear Weapons

Hammerhead

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
God Roll: Rampage/Rewind Rounds + Killing Tally

Having dominated the Machine Gun meta for 11 seasons, Commemoration has finally been supplanted by Hammerhead. It’s a funny twist really, as this was originally the weapon the Void LMG replaced, and now it’s taken its throne back. Being able to roll Rampage in the third slot is already absurd, but then adding Killing Tally to that is crazy! There’s no doubt that Hammerhead is a must-farm weapon.

Hullabaloo

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Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Compressed Wave Frame
Debut Season: Season 23
God Roll: Voltshot + Chain Reaction

In the grand scheme of things, Hullabaloo isn’t meta. However, that’s more so because add-clear Heavy weapons aren’t meta rather than it being bad. This weapon’s unique combination of Voltshot + Chain Reaction is the stuff of dreams. So much so, that if you are in a situation where you only need to worry about add-clear and not DPS at all, this Grenade Launcher outclasses even Hammerhead.

Exotic Weapons

Dragon’s Breath

Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: High-Impact
Debut Season: Season 23
Catalyst: Pyromancer

From Anarchy to Witherhoard, weapons that deal overtime damage have always featured in Destiny 2’s meta. Given this, it’s no surprise Dragon’s Breath is so popular. Fire a shot, switch to a Special DPS weapon, switch back, and shoot again. All you have to do is follow this simple rotation to output some of the best DPS possible.

Thunderlord

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 4
Catalyst: Return Stroke

No, Thunderlord is not a good boss DPS weapon. Whoever is telling you otherwise is trolling or ill-informed. However, it is a genuine jack-of-all-trades Exotic with no real downside. From taking out champions to mowing down adds, there’s not too much that this lightning-spewing Machine Gun can’t do.

Tractor Cannon

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Unique (80 RPM)
Debut Season: Season 1
Catalyst: +3 Magazine, +50 Inventory Size

Similar to Divinity, Tractor Cannon is a utility weapon that debuffs enemies. After being shot by this bizarre-looking Exotic, combatants take 30% more damage from all sources. That makes Tractor Cannon a fantastic option to suppress bosses and let your team deal more damage. It can even be partnered with another shotgun with One-Two Punch and Synthoceps for some remarkable DPS.

Whisper of the Worm

Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Unique (80 RPM)
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reissued)
Catalyst: Whispered Breathing

Assuming you can land precision hits over and over, Whisper of the Worm is a top-tier DPS weapon. It isn’t overly forgiving and just isn’t viable in some encounters, but where it excels, it is seriously strong. Its craftable variant didn’t change too much, though you can now run Field Prep which is great for long damage phases.

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