The Ultimate Guide to Destiny 2 Weapons: The Arsenal of the best Guardians

Destiny 2 is known for its thrilling gunplay and a vast array of weapons that offer players an incredible variety of ways to battle the enemies of humanity. From kinetic rifles to energy-powered shotguns, each weapon type in Destiny 2 brings something unique to the battlefield. In this guide, we will dive deep into the world of Destiny 2 weapons, exploring the different categories, notable examples, how to obtain them, and tips for optimizing your loadout. Whether you’re a seasoned Guardian or a newcomer to the game, understanding Destiny 2 Weapons is crucial for success.

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Understanding Destiny 2 Weapons Types

In Destiny 2, weapons are divided into three primary slots: Kinetic, Energy, and Power. Each of these slots offers different types of weapons suited for various combat situations:

1. Kinetic Weapons: These weapons do not deal elemental damage, making them versatile against unshielded enemies. They are typically the primary choice for many players due to their consistent damage output.
2. Energy Weapons: Energy weapons deal elemental damage (Arc, Solar, or Void) and are particularly effective against enemy shields. Matching the element to the shield type can cause an explosion, dealing extra damage.
3. Power Weapons: Power weapons are heavy-hitting, high-damage weapons such as rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and swords. They are used sparingly due to limited ammo but are crucial for taking down tough enemies and bosses.

Destiny 2 Weapons Archetypes

Within these slots, weapons are further categorized into archetypes, each with its own characteristics and playstyles:

• Auto Rifles: Fully automatic rifles that offer a balance between rate of fire and damage.
• Pulse Rifles: Burst-fire rifles that excel at medium range.
• Scout Rifles: Precision rifles designed for long-range combat.
• Hand Cannons: High-damage, slow-firing pistols suited for close to mid-range.
• Sidearms: Quick-firing pistols ideal for close-quarters combat.
• Submachine Guns (SMGs): High rate-of-fire weapons for short-range engagements.
• Shotguns: Devastating weapons at close range, ideal for one-shot kills.
• Sniper Rifles: Precision long-range rifles that deal massive damage with headshots.
• Fusion Rifles: Charge-up weapons that release a burst of energy.
• Grenade Launchers: Explosive weapons that launch grenades, useful for area control.
• Rocket Launchers: High-damage weapons that deal explosive damage over a wide area.
• Swords: Melee weapons that offer powerful slashing attacks.
• Linear Fusion Rifles: Precision energy weapons that fire a focused beam.

2. Exotic Weapons: The Pinnacle of Power

What Makes Exotic Destiny 2 Weapons Special?

Exotic weapons are the most powerful and unique weapons in Destiny 2, often featuring special abilities and perks that set them apart from their Legendary counterparts. Guardians can only equip one Exotic weapon at a time, making the choice of which Exotic to use a crucial decision that can define your playstyle.

Notable Exotic Destiny 2 Weapons

Here are some of the most iconic Exotic weapons in Destiny 2:

1. Gjallarhorn: A returning favorite from Destiny 1, Gjallarhorn is a rocket launcher known for its Wolfpack Rounds, which cause the rockets to split into multiple homing projectiles, making it incredibly effective against groups of enemies and bosses.
2. Ace of Spades: This Hand Cannon, formerly wielded by Cayde-6, features the Memento Mori perk, which grants extra damage rounds after a kill and provides radar while aiming down sights.
3. The Last Word: A fast-firing Hand Cannon with a fan-favorite aesthetic, The Last Word excels in close-range combat, allowing Guardians to fire from the hip with increased accuracy and speed.
4. Sleeper Simulant: A Linear Fusion Rifle with the ability to fire a high-powered laser that can ricochet off surfaces, making it useful for hitting multiple enemies or bouncing shots around corners.
5. Outbreak Perfected: A Pulse Rifle that spawns damaging SIVA nanites upon precision kills, which then attach to other enemies, creating a chain reaction of damage.
6. Divinity: A unique Trace Rifle that creates a critical damage bubble on enemies, making it an essential tool for coordinated fireteam damage strategies in raids.

How to Obtain Exotic Weapons

Exotic weapons can be obtained through various means, including:

• Quests: Many Exotics require completing specific quests, which can range from straightforward tasks to multi-step challenges involving PvE and PvP activities.
• Random Drops: Exotic weapons can also drop randomly from activities, though this is less common.
• Xur: Xur, a mysterious vendor who appears weekly, sells Exotic weapons and armor. While his inventory is random, it’s a reliable way to obtain Exotics you might have missed.
• Raids and Dungeons: Some of the most coveted Exotic weapons are locked behind raid or dungeon encounters, offering a guaranteed drop upon completion.

3. Legendary Weapons: The Backbone of Your Arsenal

The Importance of Legendary Weapons

While Exotic weapons often steal the spotlight, Legendary weapons form the backbone of every Guardian’s arsenal. These weapons offer a wide range of perks and can be customized to fit specific needs, making them versatile tools for both PvE and PvP.

Weapon Rolls and Perks

One of the key features of Legendary weapons is their random rolls, meaning each weapon drop can have different perks. This leads to the concept of “god rolls,” which are ideal perk combinations that maximize the weapon’s effectiveness.

Key Perks to Look For:

• Rampage: Increases damage after kills, stacking up to three times.
• Outlaw: Greatly increases reload speed after a precision kill.
• Kill Clip: Grants increased damage after reloading following a kill.
• Vorpal Weapon: Deals increased damage to bosses, vehicles, and Guardians in their Super.
• Quickdraw: Drastically increases weapon ready and stow speed.
• Snapshot Sights: Faster aiming down sights time.

Crafting and Upgrading Legendary Weapons

With the introduction of weapon crafting in Destiny 2, players can now craft and customize their own Legendary weapons. This system allows for greater control over perks, letting players tailor weapons to their exact preferences.

Notable Legendary Weapons

Some Legendary weapons have become staples in the Destiny 2 community due to their reliability and effectiveness:

1. Fatebringer (Timelost): A Hand Cannon from the Vault of Glass raid, Fatebringer is renowned for its combination of explosive payload and Firefly perks, making it devastating in PvE.
2. The Messenger: A Pulse Rifle obtained from Trials of Osiris, The Messenger is one of the best Destiny 2 Weapons in both PvE and PvP, thanks to its adept mod compatibility and powerful perk options like Desperado.
3. Reed’s Regret: A Linear Fusion Rifle that’s become a go-to choice for boss DPS, Reed’s Regret shines with its ability to roll with perks like Triple Tap and Firing Line.
4. Funnelweb: An SMG that’s often compared to the Recluse, Funnelweb is an excellent weapon for clearing ads, especially when rolled with perks like Subsistence and Frenzy.
5. Igneous Hammer: A Hand Cannon from the Trials of Osiris, Igneous Hammer has been a top choice for PvP due to its high impact and range, paired with perks like Quickdraw and Rampage.

4. Power Weapons: Unleashing Destruction

The Role of Power Weapons

Power weapons are designed for dealing massive damage in short bursts, making them essential for boss fights and high-tier PvP play. With limited ammo, choosing the right power weapon for the situation is key to maximizing its impact.

Popular Power Weapons

1. Gjallarhorn: As mentioned earlier, Gjallarhorn’s ability to wipe out groups of enemies with ease makes it one of the most sought-after power weapons in Destiny 2.
2. The Lament: A sword with the ability to bypass shields and deal massive damage with its Banshee’s Wail perk, The Lament is a must-have for encounters requiring heavy melee damage.
3. Heir Apparent: An Exotic Machine Gun with an Arc shield, Heir Apparent offers both offensive and defensive capabilities, making it unique among power weapons.
4. Xenophage: A machine gun that fires explosive rounds, Xenophage is a reliable choice for dealing consistent damage to bosses and large groups of enemies.
5. One Thousand Voices: A fusion rifle that fires a continuous beam of explosive energy, One Thousand Voices is particularly effective in raids and other PvE activities where sustained damage is needed.

Best Practices for Power Weapon Use

• Save for Bosses: Given the limited ammo, power weapons should primarily be reserved for dealing with bosses or high-value targets.
• Coordinate with Your Team: In activities like raids, coordinating the use of power weapons with your fireteam can ensure that bosses are taken down quickly and efficiently.
• Watch Your Ammo: Power ammo is scarce, so be mindful of when and where you use your power weapon. Picking up ammo bricks dropped by enemies is essential to maintaining a steady supply.

5. PvE and PvP: Optimizing Your Loadout

Building the Perfect PvE Loadout

In PvE, the focus is on maximizing damage output while maintaining survivability. A balanced loadout typically includes a reliable primary weapon for clearing adds, an elemental secondary for shielded enemies, and a power weapon for dealing with bosses.

Example PvE Loadout:

• Kinetic: Fatebringer (Timelost) for consistent add clearing.
• Energy: Divinity for creating damage bubbles on tougher enemies.
• Power: Gjallarhorn for wiping out groups of enemies and dealing massive damage to bosses.

Dominating in PvP Destiny 2 Weapon

PvP loadouts require a different approach, focusing on quick kills, accuracy, and outplaying opponents. High-impact weapons like Hand Cannons and Shotguns are popular choices for their ability to secure kills quickly.

Example PvP Loadout:

• Kinetic: Ace of Spades for its versatility and radar perk.
• Energy: The Last Word for close-quarters engagements.
• Power: Truth (Rocket Launcher) for its tracking capabilities, ensuring that you secure kills with limited ammo.

Adaptability Is Key

One of the most important aspects of Destiny 2 is being able to adapt your loadout to different situations. Whether you’re taking on a raid boss, competing in the Crucible, or exploring new content, being able to swap out weapons to suit the task at hand is crucial.

6. The Future of Destiny 2 Weapons

As Destiny 2 continues to evolve, so too does its arsenal of weapons. Each new season brings fresh additions to the game’s weapon pool, along with balance changes that keep the meta from becoming stale. Guardians can expect more unique weapons with intriguing perks, as well as opportunities to craft and customize their gear to fit their preferred playstyle.

Upcoming Expansions and Weapons

With the upcoming The Final Shape expansion on the horizon, players are eagerly anticipating what new weapons and mechanics Bungie will introduce. New archetypes, Exotic quests, and weapon reworks are all on the table, ensuring that Destiny 2’s weapon ecosystem will remain dynamic and engaging.

Master Your Arsenal

Mastering the vast array of Destiny 2 Weapons is a journey in itself. Whether you’re chasing after the perfect god roll on a Legendary weapon, hunting down the latest Exotic, or perfecting your PvP loadout, there’s always something new to learn and discover. The thrill of finding the right Destiny 2 Weapons that clicks with your playstyle is one of the many reasons why Destiny 2 remains a beloved game among its community.

So, get out there, Guardian. Equip your favorite weapon, dive into the action, and become the legend you’re meant to be in Destiny 2.