The Crucible has seen better days. The Beyond Light expansion and latest seasonal update have taken weapons and maps away, and Iron Banner just brought refreshed versions of last season’s set. Trials of Osiris is back, but Destiny 2’s PvP needs some serious attention to make it a mode worth playing.
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The good news? Weapon meta play has stayed relatively consistent, meaning fan favorites and new options in the same class are great to play with. But what are the best PvP weapons in Destiny?
Best PvP Weapons in Destiny 2
The current meta for PvP in Season of the Hunt heavily favors a combination of pulse rifles with a long draw distance and shotguns equipped with ammo regen and auto-reload inherent perks. If you’re playing on PC, hand cannons are still stupidly overpowered and worth using alongside a pulse rifle. And if none of those weapon types interest you, there’s a select mix of auto rifles and snipers that are still viable.
With all that in mind, let’s dive into the best crucible weapons in Destiny 2.
Best PvP Kinetic Weapons Destiny 2
You’ll likely end up using your Exotic slot when choosing a kinetic weapon. We highly recommend sticking with hand cannons if you’re on PC. On console, you have your pick of pulse rifles, auto rifles, or training to become a lights out hand cannon runner.
1. Ace of Spades
One of the Destiny 2 best exotic PvP weapons
A lucky weapon made luckier thanks to an exotic upgrade.
Why is it one of the best? The Ace of Spades takes advantage of hand cannons being so powerful on PC while still being useful for experienced console players. It compliments that meta advantage with explosive headshots and extra damage after reloading, which can be further augmented by a roll equipped with Dragonfly and Rampage. This weapon encourages you to be more accurate and rewards you for doing it.
Leverage it for long-range play and look for armor mods that help minimize your kickback.
How do I get it? You need to own the Forsaken expansion, finish the campaign and pick up an Exotic quest from Banshee-44.
2. Crimson
The best quick-fire hand cannon for PvP in Destiny 2
This weapon shouldn’t technically exist, but Guardians with itchy trigger fingers are sure glad it does.
Why is it one of the best? If the Ace of Spades is your best long-range option, the Crimson is your hip-fire king. Thanks to the rapid 3-round bursts from the Banned Weapon intrinsic perk and the incredibly high impact, this hand cannon acts more like a sidearm. It may take a few rounds to lay someone out from a distance, but up close, it serves as your best alternative to a shotgun.
The best way to leverage the quick but light damage is by rolling a Cruel Remedy perk to help keep you healed when dealing with Guardians up close.
How do I get it? Acquire it through random Exotic Engram world drops or purchases from Xûr.
3. No Time to Explain
The best revamped pulse rifle for PvP in Destiny 2
Another outdated legendary weapon overhauled into an effective long-range Exotic.
Why is it one of the best? If you love playing stasis, which is incredibly broken, in Crucible, you’ll want to equip No Time to Explain. Hit enemies with a stasis grenade, a punch, or super and light them up to keep returning ammo to your clip. It’s best in Crucible once you’ve unlocked the Catalyst and can amplify your ammo regen and additional fire with the Time Slip perk. Since it works more like an auto rifle, you can easily rock dual pulse rifles and still find a balance of long-range accuracy and crowd control.
How do I get it? Finish the Beyond Light campaign or purchase the expansion option that includes it as a pre-order perk.
4. Vigilance Wing
The best Exotic pulse rifle for PvP in Destiny 2
A traditional Trials weapon that led the charge for unique and useful inherent perks for pulse rifles.
Why is it one of the best? This pulse rifle provides advanced burst fire and a health regeneration perk built for Trials of Osiris. If a fireteam member goes down, you gain health, which can be crucial when coming down to the wire. This is only expanded in larger match sizes, which can turn you invincible for a few moments when your team goes down. The main drawback is the lower impact and damage output, making this better suited for tag-teaming than facing down enemies solo.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Exotic Engram drop, with a greater chance of acquiring in Trials of Osiris.
5. SUROS Regime
The best Exotic auto rifle for PvP in Destiny 2
A tried and true death machine that has remained one of the best auto rifles around since it first dropped.
Why is it one of the best? Whether you’re running selective fire or full auto, SUROS Regime will mow down enemies as it gradually increases its firing speed. It’s one of those weapons that feels like cheating because of how good it feels to fire, especially when aiming down sites. It isn’t quite as powerful as it once was but is still so good to play alongside a strong, short-range shotgun.
How do I get it? Complete weekly Powerful or Pinnacle activities or decrypt Umbral or Exotic Engrams.
6. Revoker
The best Legendary long-range PvP weapon in Destiny 2
A very forgiving sniper rifle introduced during Season of Opulence.
Why is it one of the best? Thanks to the Reversal of Fortune inherent perk, this sniper rifle can literally never run out of ammo, as long as you don’t hit anyone. In Crucible, where your ammo reserves are limited, this is an incredible benefit. You also earn this weapon fully Masterworked, with Snapshot sites and an incredibly high impact and range combination for your base stats. For those that like playing from a distance or taking headshots when moving, this will likely become your favorite sniper moving forward.
How do I get it? Complete the “In Your Sights” mission chain from Lord Shaxx. It requires 300 sniper rifle kills in crucible matches, 50 sniper precision kills in crucible matches, and 3500 Glory points in competitive PvP to acquire.
Best PvP Energy Weapons Destiny 2
In Crucible, it’s all about switching between a long-range and short-range weapon. You’ll want to focus on using shotguns, pulse rifles, or an auto rifle that compliments your kinetic weapon choice. With that in mind, here are the Destiny 2 best weapons for Crucible.
1. Mindbender’s Ambition
The best energy weapon for PvP in Destiny 2
One of the Destiny 2 best energy weapons PvP? That honor goes to Mindbender’s Ambition, a shotgun that defies every update and remains a top choice within the Crucible.
Why is it one of the best? This shotgun was built for taking on multiple Guardians. The Aggressive Frame lets you fire off quick shots that can still be effective at a distance thanks to the Quickdraw and Snapshot perks. It’s perfect for mid-range or close-quarters combat and is only held back by a smaller clip and heavy kickback.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop by defeating the fanatic in the Hollowed Lair strike.
2. Stars in Shadow
One of the Destiny 2 best Legendary PvP weapons
This weapon’s name describes how it works. It allows you to stay hidden and let your opponents only see the flash of your muzzle.
Why is it one of the best? Stars in Shadow can easily become your best complimentary weapon option thanks to the deep perk pool. Depending on what you use for your Kinetic slot, you can try to reroll perks that turn this energy pulse rifle into your missing link. We recommend you decide on your Kinetic weapon first and see what perks you’ll need to get the most out of this weapon for PvP.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Crucible drop.
3. Felwinter’s Lie
The best shotgun for PvP in Destiny 2
A weapon known as the best option for Crucible, Felwinter’s Lie is currently unattainable for those who didn’t participate during Season of the Worthy.
Why is it one of the best? Felwinter’s Lie is the truest iteration of a shotgun that the Destiny team has ever produced. It has terrible range, but thanks to the perk options, it can be a one-shot weapon at any time. And with the shot package frame, it slowly spreads damage across your shot, meaning that your power hits harder than most and has the potential to one-shot beyond its range. This would be the top option if it weren’t impossible to acquire.
How do I get it? It’s currently not obtainable.
4. Cloudstrike
The best Exotic sniper rifle in Desitny 2
The best sniper rifle to hit Destiny 2 in a long time, Cloudstrike is among the best Destiny 2 PvP weapons for long-range action.
Why is it one of the best? Perks fuel this sniper and amplify the arc damage. Stormbringer activates lightning storms after scoring three rapid precision hits, and Mortal Polarity sends a lightning bolt when landing a final precision blow. This weapon is best if you’re incredibly accurate with snipers, but can be a deadly AOE tool if you can land the hits.
How do I get it? Unlock and complete Elective Difficulty Empire Hunts to acquire it as a random Exotic Engram drop.
Best PvP Power Weapons Destiny 2
Stick with machine guns or grenade launchers for Crucible, or opt for a sword if you like to live dangerously. Avoid rocket launchers for now, as the AOE is nerfed to be almost useless right now.
1. Seventh Seraph SAW
The best machine gun for PvP in Destiny 2
A slow-firing but powerful weapon built to shut down enemy supers.
Why is it one of the best? This high-impact machine gun has only grown more valuable over time. Thanks to several patches since its appearance in Season of the Unworthy, its high impact frame is now useful. When equipped with the Vorpal Weapon perk, you can quickly shred super-powered Guardians in an instant. The best thing you can do is find a spot, aim down sites, and shoot at anything that moves.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Legendary or Pinnacle Engram drop.
2. The Colony
The best Exotic grenade launcher for PvP in Destiny 2
The best kind of weapon is one that doesn’t require any accuracy.
Why is it one of the best? One of my personal favorites, The Colony, is possibly the most unique grenade launcher out there. Rather than shooting standard rounds, you shoot small spider bots that land and zero in on your target. In PvP, this ability to shoot near opponents makes it a surprisingly effective weapon when on the run.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Exotic Engram drop.
3. Temptation’s Hook
The best sword for PvP in Destiny 2
It can be difficult to survive long enough to get close, but it can be a swift death for your enemies if you do.
Why is it one of the best? This weapon is all about the damage and ammo perks. If you can get a roll with Tempered Forge, Heavy Guard, Tireless Blade, and En Garde, you can easily surprise an opponent with a single slash that leaves you with plenty of ammo left to take on the next Guardian. Just know this weapon has many perk options and can take a while to find the right roll.
How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Umbral Engram drop.
Waiting for Updates
Crucible may still be stagnant, but with the Destiny 2 best PvP weapon, you can easily dominate and turn it into a great way to grind for gear. For more Destiny 2 guides like this one, be sure to subscribe to our email list, and don’t forget to share this with your fireteam.
Happy gaming!
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