10 Best Rocket Launchers in Destiny 2

Human Made

Kody is our expert Destiny 2 and shooter genre writer. He lives in Oregon.

Rocket launchers were once the go-to power weapon in Destiny 2. Nothing could match the massive AOE, high velocity, unique shell types, and overall accuracy of these explosive weapons. At least, not until 2020 — last year, they were nerfed to the nth degree and left to be just as useful as a Nerf Mega Missile.

Thankfully, Season of the Chosen has brought a much-needed buff. It’s elevated some fan favorites out of your Vault and added a handful of excellent new rocket launchers to the mix.

Let’s try our best to avoid hitting our Fireteam point-blank and find out which rocket launchers are best in Destiny 2.

12 Best Destiny 2 Rocket Launchers

There are still much better power weapons out there for the Crucible, and it’s likely going to take a few more tweaks to make them truly useful. Thanks to the Beyond Light Expansion and Season of the Chosen, a handful of new and returning options are still worth slotting. Here are the twelve best rocket launchers in Destiny 2.

October 2021 Update: The recent updates in Season of the Lost have shifted the meta in favor of Fusion Rifle varieties including Linear Fusion Rifles and Trace Rifles. However, Rocket Launchers are just as useful as ever. This list has been updated to feature some excellent new options that have only been introduced within the last few months.

1. Code Duello

The Destiny 2 best rocket launcher overall

Why is it one of the best? With a High Impact Frame, this rocket launcher is slow-moving with high damage output. The blast radius is absolutely massive and only amplified by either rolling Cluster Bomb or Chain Reaction in your 4th perk slot. Try to get Amplifier in your third slot, and this rocket launcher will quickly and efficiently clear out minor and powerful enemies in a single blast.

Code Duello is our pick for the best rocket launcher in Destiny 2 because it plays like a classic rocket launcher and backs it up with a massive amount of power. Rolling this a handful of times this season truly signaled that rocket launchers are back.

What’s it good for? PvE and Gambit, due to the incredible AOE perks.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop from playing Battlegrounds or by decoding Umbral Engrams.

2. Hezen Vengeance

The Destiny 2 best multi-use rocket launcher

Why is it one of the best? The refreshed Vault of Glass Raid has brought about plenty of excellent weapon options. Some, like the Vex Mythoclast, took a buff to become useful, but the Hezen Vengeance has been useful from the start. That’s mainly due to how its curated Perks are designed to amplify explosions from launch until it collides and produces a massively escalating explosion.

It also features the Overflow Perk which can increase your ammo capacity, as well as several spectacular Perk roll options. Tracking Module, Impulse Amplifier, Vorpal Weapon, and Cluster Bombs are some of the top choices worth pursuing. This makes it worth attempting to roll multiple variants with different Perk selections that benefit PvE and PvP specifically.

What’s it good for? PvE and PvP with the right Perk options.

How do I get it? Complete Gatekeeper and Atheon encounters in the Vault of Glass Raid.

3. The Hothead

The Destiny 2 best DPS rocket launcher

Why is it one of the best? Rocket Launchers are often the go-to choice for high-level damage against boss-type enemies. Which makes sense why one of the best options for just this task is a reward locked behind Nightfall encounters. The Hothead is built around high-velocity fire and rapid shots meaning that you won’t have to depend on just one shot to lay out massive damage.

Additionally, like other top-tier choices, this Rocket Launcher has a large pool of useful Perks. The best options you can go for are combinations between Vorpal Weapon and anything that boosts your ability regeneration. You can also try to obtain an Adept version of this weapon to go for a slightly higher tier option with even more specific Perks.

What’s it good for? A great option for PvE and taking out bosses.
How do I get it? Random Nightfall drop.

4. Eyes of Tomorrow

The Destiny 2 best Exotic rocket launcher

Why is it one of the best? It seems like a miracle when Bungie introduces a rocket launcher that allows you to shoot more than one rocket. Eyes of Tomorrow does that and more. This Exotic weapon also includes Eyes on All and Adaptive Ordinance perks, meaning that you can target and track multiple enemies, potentially stacking damage on your next volley by killing four or more.

This rocket launcher is built to clear out enemies and make sizable dents in bosses. It isn’t easy to get, but more than worth it once you do.

What’s it good for? PvE, Gambit, and Crucible thanks to the unique enemy tracking perk.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop in the Taniks, the Abomination encounter in the Deep Stone Crypt Raid.

5. Two-Tailed Fox

The Destiny 2 best rocket launcher for PvE

Why is it one of the best? Two-Tailed Fox features one of the most unique and useful perks of any weapon in Destiny 2. You fire two rockets simultaneously — one is a Void shell, the other Solar, and they both lock onto the same target.

Void suppresses and Solar causes damage over time, making this an excellent option against bosses and other Guardians. It’s a high-damage dealing and well-rounded option that has remained consistently useful for the last few years.

What’s it good for? PvE, Gambit, and Crucible thanks to the unique elemental damage buffs.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Exotic Engram drop or by purchasing from Xur when available.

6. Bad Omens

The Destiny 2 best Legendary rocket launcher

Why is it one of the best? Bad Omens is a high-velocity weapon with an Aggressive Frame to boot. It’s another option that feels like a classic rocket launcher and rolls with some excellent perks. Shoot to get Impact Casing, Tracking Module, and Cluster Bombs to extend this weapon’s AOE and accuracy. You’ll eviscerate your enemies and have another rocket in the chamber to do it again in the blink of an eye.

What’s it good for? PvE, Gambit, and Crucible with the perk roll mentioned above.

How do I get it? Complete Gambit matches or turn in rank-up material to the Drifter.

7. Ascendancy

The Destiny 2 best seasonal Rocket Launcher

Why is it one of the best? Seasonal weapons have gone through a variety of changes over the last few seasons with the latest requiring you to simply upgrade your Vendor reputations. It’s a powerful Rocket Launcher that comes fully Masterworked and features some stellar base stats. It also features some very valuable Perks, including Explosive Light which increases damage when picking up Orbs of Light. This can be stacked with other Masterworked weapons, and Charged With Light Mods to amplify how much of an increase you see.

The only real drawback with this weapon is that you’re very limited in how it can be acquired. Once you’ve claimed all three, there’s no real way to recollect it and go for other Perk roll options. However, any option you land will be a consistently useful weapon that’s only augmented further by its spectacular tracking ability.

What’s it good for? A great option for PvE and PvP if you want to leverage tracking and accuracy over general blast power.
How do I get it? Rank up your Vanguard, Crucible, and/or Gambit reputation.

8. Sleepless

The Destiny 2 best Legendary rocket launcher for PvE

Why is it one of the best? Season of the Chosen has brought Sleepless back with a tantalizing assortment of new perks. On its own, it’s an accurate, powerful, and wide-reaching rocket launcher. Throw in the option to roll for Unrelenting, Chain Reaction, Demolitionist, Wellspring, or Vorpal Weapon, and suddenly this can be whatever you need it to be. High damage and personalized to you, what more could you want?

What’s it good for? PvE, Gambit, and Crucible depending on your perk roll.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop by completing events in the Dreaming City.

9. Tomorrow’s Answer

The Destiny 2 best rocket launcher for PvP

Why is it one of the best? It only makes sense that a Trials rocket launcher would be the best PvP option. Like many others on this list, Cluster Bombs is a useful perk here, but the option to roll Lasting Impression with Tracking Module or Autoloading Holster sets it over the edge for PvP.

It’s one of the rare options that embrace speed and accuracy over anything else, and it pays out in spades in any competitive mode. You just have to continuously bang your head against the wall in Trials to have the chance at getting one.

What’s it good for? PvP and Gambit due to the accuracy benefits.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop by participating in Trials of Osiris.

10. Subzero Salvo

The Destiny 2 best rocket launcher to reroll

Why is it one of the best? Sometimes the best weapon is one that you can easily keep acquiring to get precisely what you want. Subzero Salvo is one of those times and features an accurate frame with decent stats and a robust perk pool to work from. Luckily, it serves as one of the few times where you can easily farm a weapon to get what you want. Shoot for Ambitious Assassin and Chain reaction to start and fine-tune from there.

What’s it good for? PvE and Gambit for crowd control.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop on Europa or by completing weapon bounties for Variks.

11. The Wardcliff Coil

The Destiny 2 best Exotic rocket launcher for PvP

Why is it one of the best? Wardcliff Coil is like the distant cousin of the Colony grenade launcher. It circumvents tradition by firing a swarm of smaller projectiles at your targets. Masterwork the weapon, and you’ll have no problem tracking enemies down. And if you’re lucky enough to run over some heavy ammo, you can automatically reload and keep on firing.

What’s it good for? PvP and PvE once Masterworked.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random Exotic Engram drop or by purchasing from Xur when available.

12. Heretic

The Destiny 2 best rocket launcher for DPS

Why is it one of the best? Heretic is all about hitting fast and hard. Roll Impulse Amplifier with Demolitionist, and you’ll be able to keep on hitting fast between your rocket launcher and grenade ability. This is crucial when taking on massive amounts of minor enemies or when working on a boss. Just know that the right perk combos are what makes this weapon great.

What’s it good for? PvE with the right perks.

How do I get it? Acquire it as a random drop by completing Altar of Sorrows activities on the Moon.

Best Mods for Rocket Launchers in Destiny 2

When it comes to rocket launchers, your mod choice will often depend on the perks you roll. Generally, you want to elevate the amount or area of damage your dealing. It’s that simple. Here are the mods you should look out for:

Dragonfly Spec: Dragonfly damage and radius increased.
Rampage Spec: Increase time allotted for Rampage.
Major Spec: Increased damage against powerful enemies.
Boss Spec: Increased damage against bosses and vehicles.

Wherefore Art Thou, Gjallarhorn?

The latest update to Destiny 2 still hasn’t brought us back to the good ol’ days of wrecking shop with the Gjallarhorn, but it’s a step in the right direction.

So if you want to let your Fireteam know that rocket launchers might be useful again, be sure to share this on your favorite social platforms. And to stay on top of the latest updates on Destiny 2, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Update Log

9/2021 Updates

Hezen Vengeance and The Hothead added to the #2 and #3 spots.
Ascendancy added to the #7 spot.
Shining Sphere removed

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10 Best Rocket Launchers in Destiny 2