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Destiny 2’smeta is always changing. Each season, Bungie shakes up the weapons sandbox with sweeping balance changes, Exotic reworks, new Artifact perks, and weapons that outclass previous DPS giants. Needless to say, staying on top of what’s good in Destiny 2 can be challenging for even dedicated players.
This guide aims to help lapsed players get back into endgame PvE content by giving a general overview of what’s popular in the current meta. We’ll discuss notable DPS strategies, cover some popular basic DPS builds, and recommend ideal DPS weapons in most endgame PvE content.
This guide focuses on usability and realistic damage scenarios over theoretical numbers. If you’re interested in what’s numerically the strongest gear in the game, consultAegis' DPS spreadsheet.
Popular DPS Strategies
Meta Weapons
As of Episode: Heresy, the current DPS meta in most PvE content involvesLinear Fusion Rifles with theParticle Reconstruction artifact mod.Particle Reconstruction inflicts up to a 29% weaken debuff on the target and grants a partial magazine refill whenever you empty your magazine, greatly increasing your sustained DPS. Paired with the recently reworkedThe Queenbreakerin its three-round burst form, it’s unquestionably the easiest DPS strategy in the game that performs well in most content. Simply aim and fire.
Another popular weapon this season isLord of Wolves. This special shotgun outputs more damage than some heavy weapons.Get close to the target and hipfire them; donotADS. The hipfire DPS of this weapon is absurd and inflicts constant Scorch on the target, resulting in frequent Ignitions for even more damage. Pair this with a Storm’s Keep Barricade for frequent Bolt Charge detonations.
Hezen Vengeance from Vault of Glasshas also taken the DPS meta by storm this season. Its reprised variant comes with the Timelost Magazine origin trait, whichdoublesthe weapon’s base magazine for 20 seconds upon using your Super. This more or less gives you Clown Cartridge for free. Most players runEnvious Arsenal with Bait and Switch (or Elemental Honing)to melt bosses. Fire two rockets, swap, repeat. It’s the highest rocket DPS in the game—no other rocket launcher comes remotely close.
Hezen Vengeance pairs nicely with therecently-reprised WilderflightandWitherhoardfor rapid hotswap DPS.
Meta DPS Builds
Strictly focusing on boss DPS, the current meta is to bring aStriker Titan with the Storm’s Keep Aspect.This buffs your Rally Barricades to generate stacks of Bolt Charge to allies behind it. Guns can also proc Bolt Charge detonations while standing in the barricade’s vicinity, which effectively turns all of your fireteam’s weapons intoThunderlord. You can runCuirass of the Falling StarwithThundercrashfor a strong burst DPS Super.
Be sure to grab the Flashover artifact mod to increase your Bolt Charge damage by 150%.
Hunters are still best off usingCelestial Nighthawkon Prismatic to ramp up theirGolden Gun - Marksmandamage. You can also runGathering StormwithStar-Eater Scalesif your team doesn’t have Jolt covered by another source. For raw weapon DPS, you can run Silence and Squall with Whisper of Hedrons or Facet of Command for free weapon reloads during DPS.
At least one Warlock on your team will need to runWell of Radianceto buff your team’s damage. That Warlock can runSpeaker’s Sightfor healing while Well is down,Sanguine Alchemyfor a free surge buff, orRain of Firefor absurd burst DPS if you runIcarus Dash. Those who refuse to use Well of Radiance can dish out some great burst DPS withNova Bomb: Cataclysmon Prismatic usingSpirit Of The Star-EateronSolipsism.
Best Heavy Weapons
The major standout for Heavy DPS this season is Hezen Vengeance, a rocket launcher that can double its magazine through its origin trait. Once your Super ends, the weapon will store two rockets in the cartridge for the next 20 seconds. If you run this with Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch, you’ll outdamage most heavy weapons without much issue.
If the boss fight allows for precision damage,The Queenbreakerwith Particle Reconstruction is advised this season. The artifact mod gives you a strong weaken effect just by firing your LFR, and The Queenbreaker’s fast fire rate makes it outdamage most long-range DPS weapons.
Vault of Glass raid
Envious Arsenal + Bait and Switch (or Elemental Honing)
Highest rocket DPS in the game. Origin trait doubles its magazine size.
Vesper’s Host dungeon
Envious Arsenal + Bait and Switch
Highest DPS for a grenade launcher. High burst damage, but low total damage.
Grand Overture
Exotic Kiosk
Shots charge a rocket barrage. Hold reload to fire the barrage.
Absurd burst DPS with its rocket barrage; good sustained damage otherwise
Nightfall reward
Rewind Rounds + Bait and Switch
Great alternative to Queenbreaker that doesn’t take up your Exotic slot.
Grants nearby rocket launchers Wolfpack Rounds, greatly increasing DPS
Strider quest
Melee attacks deal increased damage and inflict Slow.
Great alternative to swords for certain melee DPS scenarios, notably Ecthar inGhosts of the Deep.
Best Special Weapons
Special weapon DPS is surprisingly competitive in today’s sandbox.Lord of Wolvesis the notable standout here, featuring similar sustained DPS to rocket launcherandfar more total damage. If the weapon is masterworked, it will trigger Ignitions as well throughout the damage phase, further increasing your total damage.
Some other good options include Cloudstrike as a backup DPS option, Praedyth’s Revenge for sustained DPS, and Unvoiced if you need a strong close-range DPS option.
Lord of Wolves
Exotic Engrams
Deals increased damage in hipfire, inflicting Scorch if you have the catalyst.
Telesto and Polaris Lance’s traits are great for DPS.
Edge of Fate preorder bonus
Scales damage based on precision hits landed. Lasts until death.
DPS is in line with most specials, but it has fantastic total damage, rivaling most machine guns.
Envious ArsenalorFourth Time’s the Charm + Bait and SwitchorElemental Honing
Best DPS for a Legendary sniper. Origin trait doubles its base magazine.
Sundered Doctrine dungeon
Redirection + Bait and Switch
Highest DPS from a Legendary shotgun if you can ramp Redirection first.
Still Hunt
Wild Card quest
Precision hits build energy. Once charged, hold reload to load Golden Gun rounds.
Strong option for Hunters usingCelestial Nighthawk.
Best Primary Weapons
Primary weapons generally aren’t used for boss DPS, but there are a few situations where using one as a backup DPS option isn’t a bad idea.Lucky Pantsallow Hunters to use 180 and 260 RPM hand cannons as a replacement heavy weapon. Excluding Exotic armor, the main standouts here areOutbreak Perfectedwhen used in a team setting and Barrow-Dyad with its Taken Ambition perk.Final Warningis also a good pick if you don’t mind its strange charge-up mechanic.
Zero Hour Exotic mission
Shots spawn nanites on the target, increasing Outbreak’s damage.
Solid DPS if multiple members of your fireteam are using this weapon.
Malfeasance
Gambit quest
Shots embed into a target. Five slugs will trigger an explosion.
