Sidearms are widely regarded every bit one of the best Master weapon archetypes for PvE in Destiny 2. Forgiving recoil patterns, loftier damage output, and a solid selection of perks make this weapon classic a fantastic selection for nearly Guardians.

Similar virtually weapon archetypes, there are a few that rise above the rest. Whether it's for their unique perk combinations or incredible harm output, these Sidearms have carved a niche for themselves in Destiny 2'south complicated sandbox. Their harm output and ease of utilise are hard to match. From mutual Legendaries to more than unique Exotics, here are the ten best Sidearms in Destiny ii.

Updated March 20th, 2022, past Charles Burgar: Sidearms became much easier to use once the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack officially made them hitscan for next-gen platforms and PC. The Witch Queen expansion didn't do much for Sidearms likewise giving us a few new options, i of which is craftable. We've updated this listing with more accurate ratings, added Empirical Evidence to the list, and we've made some small tweaks to a few entries.

10 Empirical Evidence

Destiny 2 Empirical Evidence

How to obtain: Found at Savathun's Throne Earth or crafted at The Enclave.

Empirical Evidence is a ii-round burst Sidearm that has a rather impressive stat package. 57 range, 86 aim assist, and 41 treatment are all quite solid for this archetype. But does it live up to the likes of Breachlight or Brass Attacks? No, non really.

And that's fine. Empirical Evidence is still a nifty weapon that manages to fulfill the role of a Sidearm quite nicely. Pulse Monitor and Harmony is a surprisingly stiff combination for blinting or quick-swapping. Alternatively, you can craft a whorl with Perpetual Motion and Swashbuckler for a solid workhorse weapon. Contumely Attacks is arguably meliorate if you own one, merely if you didn't play last year, Empirical Evidence is a solid substitute that isn't tied to RNG. Just brand i with whatever perks you lot want.

Recommended Traits:

  • Cavalcade One: Perpetual Motion, Pulse Monitor (PvP)
  • Column Two: Harmony, Swashbuckler

nine Loftier Albedo

Destiny 2 High Albedo Sidearm

How to obtain: Variks weapon bounties on Europa.

Beyond Light's roster of weapons comprise some interesting perks, focusing more on utility perks than impairment boons. High Albedo is a bang-up example of this, having no damage perks in its perk pool.

Fortunately, Loftier Albedo tin can pack a serious punch if you land your shots. Players can focus on obtaining a scroll with utility perks along the lines of Demolitionist or Wellspring. Full Auto Trigger System can as well whorl on this weapon, making it a breeze to use. It'southward a fantastic PvE weapon for Guardians that prefer using their abilities over their guns. Crucible players will want a different Sidearm, as its base stats aren't as skilful as the likes of Drang or Peacebond.

Recommended Traits:

  • Cavalcade I: Full Auto Trigger System, Killing Wind
  • Column Ii: Demolitionist, Wellspring

eight Devil'due south Ruin

Destiny 2 Devil's Ruin Sidearm

How to obtain: Purchased from the Exotic Kiosk in the Belfry. It costs ane Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Dusklight Shards, and 1 Ascendant Shard.

Devil'due south Ruin is a strange hybrid between a Sidearm and Trace Rifle. Its main fire behaves as you'd expect from a Sidearm, firing at 300 rounds per minute. When you concord the burn down button down, information technology releases a high-damage axle that disintegrates annihilation in its path. Thanks to the infinite ammo change in Flavour fifteen, Devil's Ruin is a fantastic weapon for PvE and particularly powerful in PvP.

With nigh no recoil, Devil's Ruin destroys whatever weaker enemy in one or ii shots. For waves of enemies or tougher foes, the charged beam can make those encounters trivial. You can also use Devil's Ruin as a pocket Heavy weapon in PvP since it has space ammo. Accuse the weapon before starting an engagement, then picket your enemy disintegrate in half a second. It's fantastic for PvE, PvP, and practically becomes a Special weapon if you lot pair this gun with the Surprise Attack Combat Style mod.

7 Rat King

Destiny 2 Rat King

How to obtain: Purchased from the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower. Information technology costs 1 Exotic Nada, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Helium Filaments, and 1 Ascendant Shard.

As one of three Exotic Sidearms in Destiny 2, Rat King has massive shoes to fill to exist worth using. Thankfully, this is one of Destiny 2's hidden gems.

No other Sidearm in the game can grant invisibility and health after a kill, allow alone so consistently. The constant invisibility this gun grants can trivialize solo flawless dungeons, Master content, and even PvP. Hunters will become fifty-fifty more utilise out of this gun, equally the invisibility this weapon grants does benefit from various Nightstalker subclass passives. Pair this weapon with Omnioculus for a peachy time.

Rat King truly excels equally a close-range Primary in PvP. The TTK on Rat Male monarch is surprisingly brusque, it's fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to employ, and the invisibility on kill manipulates the enemy'south radar—assuasive you to go the jump on your side by side target. Rat King is an underused Exotic for Destiny'due south Crucible that can finally polish with Season of the Splicer's nerf to Shotguns.

half dozen Brass Attacks

Destiny 2 Brass Attacks Sidearm

How to obtain: No longer obtainable.

Fans of Season of Dawn'south Breachlight Sidearm need to become their hands on Brass Attacks. Office of the aforementioned Ambitious Burst classic, Brass Attacks packs a serious punch without any damage buffs agile.

This weapon's default damage output makes it fantastic for PvE, but its perk pool takes Brass Attacks to a whole other level. Feeding Frenzy and Rampage makes it acquit simply as Breachlight did, although players tackling tiptop content might prefer Rapid Striking and One for All. Crucible players can likewise obtain some neat rolls, Killing Air current and Rampage pairing together nicely in PvP gunfights. This weapon can even roll with Frenzy. Brass Attacks is certainly one of Flavour of the Chosen's all-time offerings. Keep an middle out for this weapon'south return.

Recommended Traits:

  • Cavalcade One: Feeding Frenzy, Rapid Hit
  • Cavalcade Two: Ane for All (PvE), Rampage

5 Punching Out

Destiny 2 Punching Out

How to obtain: Vanguard Strikes and Engrams.

Rapid-Fire Sidearms are surprisingly powerful in Destiny 2 with the right perks. Punching Out is arguably the best Rapid-Fire Frame in the game, mainly due to its excellent perks. Since information technology's a playlist weapon, you volition accept to fight against a massive perk pool to go the ringlet y'all want. Merely when that perfect whorl finally drops, yous won't want to utilize anything else.

Overflow, Subsistence, Feeding Frenzy, and Season 15'south Encore perk are smashing options on this gun for PvE. It tin can also ringlet with quite a few damage perks, Kill Clip being the virtually notable. Punching Out tin can chew through Guardians just every bit well every bit PvE combatants. Encore and Impale Clip is a dream to use, giving this weapon an immense heave to its stability, accuracy, and damage when yous need it most. All Sidearm fans need to give Punching Out a try, provided you lot get one to driblet.

Recommended Traits:

  • Column One: Encore (PvP), Rangefinder (PvP), Subsistence, Overflow
  • Column Two: Impale Clip, Frenzy, Elemental Capacitor (PvP)

4 Drang

Destiny 2 Drang

How to obtain: Purchased from Banshee-44 in the Tower. It costs one,000 Glimmer, 25 Legendary Shards, and 35 Gunsmith materials.

Even after three major expansions and multiple seasons, no Legendary Sidearm in Destiny ii has been able to top Drang'due south lethality in PvP. As the companion weapon of Sturm, Drang is an Adaptive Sidearm that feels fantastic to use. And thanks to it originating from Year one, it e'er comes with the same roll.

An aim assist stat of 70, above-boilerplate zoom of 14, and a proficient range stat make Drang a dream to use. Landing consecutive headshots with this weapon is an absolute breeze. If that wasn't plenty, this weapon also comes with Moving Target and Rampage. If y'all demand to land Sidearm kills in PvP or love the archetype, you'll be hard-pressed to find a Sidearm better than Drang.

iii Forerunner

Destiny 2 Halo CE Magnum

How to obtain: Magnum Opus quest.

This really shouldn't be considered a Sidearm. The Precursor is a 200 RPM Sidearm that uses Special ammo, retaining the iconic design, scope, and overall lethality that made the Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum it'due south based on so special.

In PvE, this weapon is a menace. Precursor deals extra damage on precision hits to unshielded targets, which is most of the enemy types you'll be facing. Information technology one-taps all ruby confined, destroys majors, and can even accept downwardly stunned Champions without much hassle. Apply this weapon with the Surprise Attack modern and a Disruption Break Energy weapon to plow Forerunner into a Heavy weapon.

For PvP, Precursor is likewise a powerhouse. Information technology can three-tap Guardians to the head at incredible distances, mimicking the power of Luna'southward How and Non Forgotten during the Forsaken expansion. Information technology also recovers quite a bit of ammo from Special bricks, allowing you to use this every bit a Primary weapon after a few kills. Information technology isn't a game-breaking Sidearm like some Crucible players accept suggested, just it's hard to deny that Forerunner is one of the all-time Sidearms in Destiny two. It certainly lives up to the Halo Magnum it's based on.

two Peacebond

Destiny 2 Peacebond

How to obtain: Iron Banner matches and Engrams.

Destiny 2'due south first Legendary Stasis Sidearm, Peacebond is nothing short of a powerhouse. This iii-round burst Sidearm is unique in that information technology tin can coil with Rangefinder and a Stasis-related perk: Headstone. This perk will spawn a Stasis crystal at a victim's corpse afterward you lot land a precision kill. You tin then shatter the crystal to bargain massive AoE damage, or preserve it to benefit from Whisper of Chains. This perk'south versatility is simply unmatched.

If you don't like using Stasis, you tin replace Headstone with Swashbuckler, Harmony, or Snapshot Sights if you lot play PvP. Information technology has great range, feels amazing to apply, and can provide some incredible utility when built around. Go along your optics out for this Sidearm whenever Iron Banner rolls effectually.

Recommended Traits:

  • Cavalcade 1: Rangefinder, Subsistence
  • Column Ii: Headstone, Swashbuckler, Snapshot Sights (PvP)

ane Traveler'southward Chosen

Destiny 2 Traveler's Chosen Trailer

How to obtain: Purchased from the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower. It costs 1 Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Dusklight Shards, and 1 Ascendant Shard.

Like to the Khvostov in the original Destiny, Traveler'south Chosen has been brought dorsum as an Exotic. Unlike Khvostov, this weapon is much easier to build around.

Every impale with Traveler'due south Chosen volition grant a stack of Gathering Light which increases to three stacks per impale if information technology'south against a Guardian. Aim aid, handling, and reload speed are all increased with each stack. Three stacks are enough to make this weapon peak-tier, but going by it makes this weapon a strong contender with the Last Word. Information technology even fires in total-auto and gains Osmosis with its Catalyst, allowing for some absurd PvE build potential.

What makes this weapon truly cracking is how these Gathering Light stacks can be exchanged at whatever time for ability regeneration. Consuming stacks by holding the reload push button will grant grenade, melee, and class ability free energy per stack. For PvP, this is i of the best Sidearms yous tin can use. For PvE, this is a build-enabling weapon, specially with the Catalyst. Having a pistol that can fully recharge your abilities and bandy elements is cipher short of South-tier.

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