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

❘ Updated: 2024-12-04T10:55:38

Destiny 2 guardian with sniper rifle in PvP.

Bungie

The Destiny 2 PvP meta is constantly shifting, with new weapons being added all the time, and Episode Revenant 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 a range of buffs and nerfs this season to keep the meta fresh.

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, and these are the meta weapons to avoid being left behind.

Auto Rifles, Hand Cannons, and Pulse Rifles are currently the best primary weapons, while Shotguns and Sniper Rifles are the best special weapons, offering unrivaled lethality for taking down enemy Guardians.

These are the absolute best PvP weapons we’d recommend using in the current meta for Competitive and Trials of Osiris, with each being the strongest of the meta weapon types:

Auto Rifle: Khvostov 7G-0X and The Summoner
Hand Cannons: Ace of Spades and Rose
Pulse Rifle: Bygones and Elsie’s Rifle
Shotguns: Conditional Finality and Scavenger’s Fate
Sniper Rifles: Cloudstrike and Beloved

Image of the Khvostov 7G-0X exotic auto rifle being held in Destiny 2.

The guns listed above are the best to use in the Crucible, which is why they are also the most used by high-level players. They all offer a fast TTK, have great stats, and offer either a phenomenal perk pool or powerful Exotic perks that are perfect for PvP.

Ideally, you’ll want to farm god rolls and obtain all of these weapons to make sure you are prepared for every occasion, with each excelling on different maps. For example, meta snipers like Cloudstrike are fantastic on open maps (Disjunction, Radiant Cliffs, Vostok, etc), while Shotguns like Conditional Finality and Matador 64 dominate CQB maps (Burnout, Dead Cliffs, Rusted Lands, etc).

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

Primary Kinetic Weapons

Bygones

Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 25 (Reprised)
PvP God Roll: Keep Away/Lone Wolf + Headseeker

It might look like it was taken straight out of the Cold War, but this retro Pulse Rifle is one of the best options you can use in PvP. Added as the reprised Gambit gun of Revenant, Bygones is a fantastic weapon with high stats and the proven perk combination of Keep Away and Headseeker. You can even run Lone Wolf as an alternative, a new perk that is perfect for flanking and making game-winning plays.

Crimil’s Dagger

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 24 (Reprised)
PvP God Roll: Slideways/Air Trigger + Precision Instrument

Crimil’s Dagger was reprised in Episode: Echoes but came into its own in Revenant Act 2 after 120 RPM Hand Cannons were buffed. Following these changes, it is now a meta weapon that hits hard and gets access to the two best reloading perks in PvP: Slideways and Air Trigger. This is effectively the top-slot equivalent to Igneous Hammer, which is a huge compliment given how popular that gun is.

Rose

Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Lightweight
Debut Season: Season 19 (Reprised)
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 (Reprised)
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

Deadlock

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 25
God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot

This is yet another Shotgun that gets the legendary roll of Threat Detector + Opening Shot, which has been the meta in PvP ever since Metador 64 was added in Season 16. Unlike Matador, you can get this gun from PvP itself, with it being a drop from Competitive. That means those who want to focus on PvP content can while also scoring themselves one of the best shotguns the Crucible has ever seen.

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.

Imperial Decree

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Weapon Frame: Aggressive
Debut Season: Season 18 (Reprised)
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 reprised 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
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 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.

Khvostov 7G-0X

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: The Right Choice, Shoot to Loot
Catalyst: N/A
Debut Season: Season 24

When it first arrived in The Final Shape, Khvostov was by far the best Exotic in PvP, but nerfs since have brought it back in line. However, it remains an incredible weapon and the strongest overall Auto Rifle for those confident in their tracking skills. Unlocking Khvostov is a lot of work, but it’s well worth the grind given how powerful this weapon is.

Outbreak Perfected

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

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.

The Chaperone

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Kinetic
Exotic Perks: Precision Slug, The Roadborn
Catalyst: N/A
Debut Season: Season 4

The Chaperone is a simple weapon that is extremely effective, being a Slug Shotgun that has the most range of any option in the game. Even better, if you activate The Roadborn, it receives boosts to handling, range, rate of fire, and precision damage, turning it into an extremely well-rounded weapon that is terrifying to come up against.

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

Primary Energy Weapons

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 (Reprised)
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 (Reprised)
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 Riposte

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Lightweight
Debut Season: Season 24
God Roll: Tap the Trigger + Dynamic Sway Reduction

Auto Rifles aren’t in the best spot right now, with Hand Cannons dominating medium range and Pulse Rifles being favored for long-range duels. However, The Riposte is an exception thanks to its remarkable accuracy when used with both Tap the Trigger and Dynamic Sway Reduction. This perk combination and its high stats allow The Riposte to compete at any range in a way other ARs just can’t.

The Summoner

Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
Element: Solar
Weapon Frame: Adaptive
Debut Season: Season 23 (Reprised)
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 (Reprised)
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.

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.

PLUG ONE.1

Weapon Type: Fusion Rifle
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 25 (Reprised)
God Roll: Under Pressure/Lone Wolf + Closing TIme

You won’t see too many Fusion Rifles in The Crucible these days, but if you do, there’s a good chance it will be this one. PLUG ONE.1 has gotten a stacked perk pool that includes Under Pressure and Closing Time. These have incredible synergy with one another, providing big stat boosts that are completely passive, locking in this reprised weapon’s well-earned spot as the best Fusion Rifle in PvP right now.

Prophet of Doom

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Arc
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 25 (Reprised)
God Roll: Threat Detector + Opening Shot/Closing Time

They did it. Bungie has officially given you a reason to farm Garden of Salvation. This reprised Arc Shotgun is a direct upgrade to Matador 64, which is crazy to say given how dominant that weapon has been for so long. This is effectively a craftable version of Matador 64 with better stats. You can’t complain with that, especially since GoS is one of the easiest raids to farm in the game.

Scavenger’s Fate

Weapon Type: Shotgun
Element: Void
Weapon Frame: Precision
Debut Season: Season 25
God Roll: Lone Wolf + Closing Time

The addition of Lone Wolf has transformed the shotgun meta, with old favorites like Matador 64 slowly being phased out. In its place are newcomers like Scavenger’s Fate, which gets access to both Lone Wolf and Closing Time, two incredible perks that provide passive boosts to key stats like range, handling, and aim assist. The best part is this is a seasonal gun, so practically anyone can get it.

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

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. Its Catalyst can also be unlocked now, 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

Archon’s Thunder

Weapon Type: Machine Gun
Element: Stasis
Weapon Frame: High-Impact
Debut Season: Season 25 (Reprised)
God Roll: High-Impact Reserves + Killing Tally/Tap the Trigger

Machine Guns have made somewhat of a comeback in PvP, with their blisteringly fast TTKs making them an appealing option. There are several good options, but Archon’s Thunder stands out as the best, with its double damage perk roll allowing it to delete enemy Guardians in an instant. The only downside is that you’ll need to farm Iron Banner to get this, leaving yourself at the mercy of skill-based matchmaking.

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 (Reprised)
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 (Reprised)
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.

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.

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