Best Destiny 2 PVP weapons: Ranked list & how to get them
Some of the best gear in Destiny 2 can only be obtained through playing Crucible matches. To help these matches end in your favor, here are the best Destiny 2 PVP weapons.
It’s no secret that the bulk of Destiny 2’s content is focused on PVE. Most players spend their time in Destiny 2 teaming up with other guardians and participating in Raids, Strikes, and seasonal activities.
However, there are quite a few players that enjoy asserting their dominance. Destiny 2 offers the Crucible for these players, which allows guardians to fight against one another using their best gear.
While most weapons are viable in Crucible, some are far better than others. If you want to get a competitive advantage over your opponents, you’re going to want to find the best PVP weapons in Destiny 2.
Best Destiny 2 Season of the Lost PVP Exotic Weapons Ranked List & how to get
You can only take one Exotic weapon into the Crucible, so make it count. Here are the top five Exotic weapons for PVP in Destiny 2.
5. The Chaperone Shotgun – Kinetic Slot
Shotguns are the most powerful special weapons for PVP, thanks to their one-shot kill potential. And it’s hard to find a shotgun that’s better than The Chaperone. Many players regard The Chaperone as the best shotgun in Destiny 2.
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The Chaperone is a slug shotgun with the longest one-shot kill distance out of all the shotguns in Destiny 2. However, it’s hard to justify giving up the Kinetic slot for The Chaperone when looking at the rest of this list. But, if you’re a skilled player with great aim, this may be the weapon for you.
How to unlock The Chaperone
To unlock The Chaperone, you have to own Destiny 2: Beyond Light. It is NOT available to F2P players. Afterward, you’ll need to get the “Holliday Family History” quest which drops randomly at the end of Crucible matches.
You can’t do anything to increase the odds of it dropping. You need to continue playing Crucible matches until it drops. Once you have the quest, you’ll need to continue playing Crucible to complete the quest. Here are all of the challenges you’ll need to complete to unlock The Chaperone.
- Final Blows with a Shotgun x 20
- Arc, Void, and Solar damage kills
- 4% per kill
- death sets score back 2%
- Kills in Gambit x 15
- Return to Holliday
4. Heir Apparent Machine Gun – Heavy Slot
The Heir Apparent is a ridiculous weapon that lets players let loose. Since it received a Catalyst, players who use the Heir Apparent are virtually unkillable. And even without the Catalyst, it’s a lot of fun to use.
The machine gun has to spin to start firing, but the Catalyst makes the wait time worth it. If a player has full health, they will also receive an Arc Shield when the weapon is fully wound up. The Heir Apparent turns Guardians into walking tanks.
How to get the Heir Apparent
The excellent news is Heir Apparent is available to everyone, even F2P players. The bad news is that it’s only available during the annual Guardian Games. Here are the steps needed to obtain the Heir Apparent.
- Make sure Guardian Games are running
- Speak with Zavala
- Take Guardian Games class item to Eva Levante
- Start quest The Games Begin
- Earn 100 Laurels
- Return to Levante
- Buy Contender Card
- Start Exotic quest Wreathed in Laurels
Guardians will earn the Heir Apparent once Wreathed in Laurels is completed.
3. Dead Man’s Tale – Kinetic Slot
It’s very rare to see a scout rifle make it onto any Destiny 2 PVP weapon rankings. However, the Dead Man’s Tale is the universal exception to that rule. With the ability to two-shot guardians from long-range, players that like to hang back might want to pick up the Dead Man’s Tale.
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That doesn’t mean this rifle is going to be a game-changer from the start. Players will need to activate its Exotic perk and obtain its Catalyst to make it a true monster. Once that’s done, even hip-firing the Dead Man’s Tale is highly lethal.
How to unlock Dead Man’s Tale
Sadly, the Dead Man’s Tale is only available to those who purchased the Destiny 2 Deluxe Edition. To get the weapon, players will have to complete both a Strike and an Exotic Quest. Here are the steps needed to unlock it.
- Enter The Arms Dealer Strike on EDZ
- Collect the Intercepted Distress Signal item
- Visit Zavala in the Tower
- Complete Presage Exotic Quest on the Tangled Shore
2. Wardcliff Coil Rocket Launcher – Heavy Slot
The Warcliff Coil is the best PVP rocket launcher in Destiny 2. This weapon fires multiple rockets and reloads automatically when ammo is picked up. Not to mention, it has massive potential to wipe entire teams.
There isn’t much that needs to be said about the destructive power of The Wardliff Coil. It’s a machine designed to kill, and it’s good at doing just that.
How to get The Wardcliff Coil
The Wardcliff Coil is another Exotic locked behind a paywall. Players will have to have Destiny 2: Beyond Light to obtain it. Other than that, getting it is pure luck. It drops randomly from Exotic Engrams. Activities have the potential to reward this weapon to players, and sometimes Xur has it for sale.
1. Ace of Spades Hand Cannon – Kinetic Slot
If you watch a lot of Destiny 2 content, you might have seen this one coming. The Ace of Spades has held its spot on the top of Kinetic PVP weapons since its introduction. It has fantastic stats, amazing perks, and an amazing TTK.
If you aren’t rocking the Wardcliff Coil, you need to equip the Ace of Spades. Especially since the recent Destiny 2 buff, which gives players infinite Kinetic ammo. You’ll never have to worry about running out of Hand Cannon ammo. Just make sure you hit your shots.
How to get Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades requires access to the Destiny 2: Forsaken expansion content. Following Cayde’s death, players will have the opportunity to obtain his famed sidearm. Here’s how:
- Complete Forsake Last Call mission
- Speak with Gunsmith in Tower
- Finish Main Story
- Return to the Gunsmith
- Kill enemies or invaders with a Hand Cannon in Gambit
- Kill 250 enemies with a Hand Cannon in Strikes
- Get 25 precision kills with a Hand Cannon in Crucible matches
- Open Cayde’s four caches in the Tangled Shore, EDZ, Io and Nessus
- Complete ‘Ace in the Hole’ mission on Titan
- Receive weapon from Gunsmith
Best Destiny 2 Season of the Lost PVP Legendary Weapons Ranked List & how to get
Since you can only take one Exotic weapon into battle, here are the top five Legendary weapons you’ll need to pad out your arsenal.
5. Multimach CCX SMG – Kinetic Slot
You don’t see a lot of SMGs in top Destiny 2 PVP weapons rankings. Shotguns are more dominant at close range, except for the Multimach CCX. It has an insane TTK and decent range, allowing it to stay viable in the current meta.
How to get Multimach CCX
While it is available to everyone, it’s another weapon that’s locked behind timed events. The Multimach CCX is obtained via the Iron Banner rewards system. That means it takes a lot of luck to get, and even more luck to get a good roll.
4. Commemoration Machine Gun – Heavy Slot
Exotic heavy weapons are often preferred over Legendary heavy weapons because Legendaries just can’t hang. However, the Commemoration machine gun is an exception to that rule.
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The Commemoration has an insane TTK and can get 4 to 5 kills per ammo brick. It’s no Heir Apparent, but it still gets the job done. Yet, you’re better off taking The Wardcliff Coil.
How to get Commemoration
Players can earn Commemoration by completing the Deep Stone Crypt Raid in Destiny 2: Beyond Light. It is dropped by the boss during the final raid encounter.
After the first time through the raid, players can find the Commemoration in the raid’s secret chests. It can also be found in the Raid Chest after beating the final boss again.
3. The Palindrome Hand Cannon – Energy Slot
The Palindrome is the lesser-known cousin to the Ace of Spades. It is still an extremely powerful hand cannon with a low TTK. However, it can compete with other meta hand cannons, and it sits in the Energy slot.
How to get The Palindrome
This hand cannon is locked behind Destiny 2: Shadowkeep’s The Ordeals Nightfall. It drops randomly after the Nightfall is complete, which means it could take multiple completions to obtain.
2. Gridskipper Pulse Rifle – Energy Slot
So you’ve opted for the Ace of Spades or some other Exotic Kinetic weapon, and you need the best Legendary Energy weapon. Pulse Rifles rule the PVP weapons meta in Destiny 2, so the Gridskipper should be your choice of Energy weapon.
It has a decent TTK and dominates mid-range encounters. With the buff to Kinetic weapon ammo, you might not switch to your Energy weapon as often. However, the Gridskipper is a great backup when your Kinetic weapon just isn’t cutting it.
How to get Gridskipper
Short answer: you can’t. The Gridskipper is a seasonal weapon that was only available during Season 14. Since that was last season, you might have this weapon. But if you’re a newer player or skipped out on Season 14, the Gridskipper is long gone.
1. The Messenger Pulse Rifle – Kinetic Slot
The Messenger has earned its spot as the #1 Legendary weapon on this list and is considered one of the best PVP weapons in all of Destiny 2. Pulse Rifles dominate PVP, and The Messenger dominates all other pulse Rifles.
It has one of the fastest TTKs in Destiny 2, and its Desperado perk can shorten it even more. With the best Pulse Rifle base stats and incredible perks, you need to get your hands on The Messenger.
How to get The Messenger
Now that you’re drooling over the dream Pulse Rifle, here’s the bad news: it’s an absolute pain to get. It is one of the four randomized loot pieces in Trials of Osiris. So, if you want to get The Messenger, you’re going to have to sweat to get it.
Players will have to get 3, 5, and 7 wins in Trials of Osiris to earn rewards. And the fourth piece of loot is earned by going flawless in Trials. Earning The Messenger is entirely skill-based, but it’s much easier to get if it ends up in the 3 wins award slot.
These weapons are what most players are currently rocking in Destiny 2 PVP, and they will help you improve your game against other guardians.
For more Destiny, check out our ranking of the best PVE weapons in Destiny 2, and stay tuned for more news and guides.
Image Credits: Bungie