In the ever-evolving universe of Destiny 2, mastering both PvP and PvE modes is crucial for those seeking to make their mark as Guardians. A key element to success in it is the arsenal at a player’s disposal. With each season bringing new updates and weapons, the game’s meta is in a constant state of flux.
This guide dives into the latest and most effective weapons for PvP and PvE, offering insights into the armaments that will elevate your gameplay.
What is PvP in Destiny 2
PvP in Destiny 2 stands for Player versus Player, a mode where players compete against each other rather than against the game’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) or environment. This is a significant part of Destiny 2’s gameplay and offers a different experience from PvE (Player versus Environment), where players face AI-controlled enemies. Here’s an overview of what PvP entails in Destiny 2:
- Crucible: The primary PvP mode in Destiny 2 is the Crucible. It’s a competitive multiplayer arena where Guardians (players) battle against each other in various match types. These matches range from traditional deathmatch-style games to objective-based modes.
- Game Modes: There are several game modes within the Crucible, each with its own set of rules and objectives. Common modes include Control, where teams capture and hold zones; Clash, a straightforward team deathmatch; and Survival, a limited-life team-based mode.
- Competitive Play: For players seeking a more competitive experience, there are ranked matches and the Trials of Osiris. The Trials are a weekend-only event where teams of three try to win multiple matches in a row for exclusive rewards.
- Gear and Builds: PvP in Destiny 2 emphasizes player skill, gear, and build optimization. Players choose from a variety of weapons and abilities to create effective combat strategies. The balance and meta of PvP can shift with game updates, making adaptability crucial.
- Rewards and Progression: Participating in PvP rewards players with unique gear, experience points, and other resources. Performance in PvP can also contribute to the progression of certain quests and challenges.
- Maps and Environments: The Crucible features a variety of maps, each with different layouts and tactical considerations. Map knowledge is an important aspect of PvP gameplay.
- Community and Esports: PvP has a vibrant community in Destiny 2, with many players sharing strategies and competing in informal or organized esports events.
PvP in Destiny 2 is an integral part of the game’s appeal, offering a dynamic and competitive experience distinct from its PvE content. It’s a test of player skill, strategy, and adaptability, with a focus on player interaction and competition.
Best PvP Weapons
Cloudstrike (Exotic Sniper Rifle)
- Usage: Despite a nerf, it’s still effective due to excellent handling and potential for multi-kills.
- Special Perk: Area of effect lightning, although not as lethal as before, still makes it a formidable choice.
- God Roll: Curated Roll.
Cataphract GL3 (Heavy Grenade Launcher)
- Usage: Best in class for both PvP and PvE.
- Special Perks: Impulse Amplifier for increased projectile velocity and Chain Reaction for explosive cascades.
- God Roll: Volatile Launch + Proximity Grenades + Impulse Amplifier + Chain Reaction.
Ace of Spades (Exotic Hand Cannon)
- Usage: Known for its reliability in the Crucible.
- Special Perks: Memento Mori for powerful rounds and Firefly for AOE Solar damage.
- God Roll: Curated Roll.
Unending Tempest (Stasis Submachine Gun)
- Usage: Excellent for PvP engagements.
- Special Perks: Dynamic Sway Reduction and Target Lock.
- God Roll: Corkscrew Rifling + Accurized Rounds + Dynamic Sway Reduction + Target Lock.
Ammit AR2 (Solar Precision Frame Auto Rifle)
- Usage: Popular due to its ease of crafting and effectiveness in combat.
- Special Perks: Dynamic Sway Reduction and Tap the Trigger for stability and accuracy.
- God Roll: Arrowhead Brake + Ricochet Rounds + Dynamic Sway Reduction + Tap the Trigger.
Matador 64 (Legendary Shotgun)
- Usage: Known for its close-range effectiveness.
- Special Perks: Threat Detector and Opening Shot for increased range and accuracy.
- God Roll: Corkscrew Rifling + Accurized Rounds + Threat Detector/Perpetual Motion + Opening Shot.
Igneous Hammer (Adept Hand Cannon)
- Usage: Favored in competitive settings for its performance.
- Special Features: Adept version of the Igneous Hammer brings additional stat bonuses.
What is PvE in Destiny 2
PvE in Destiny 2 stands for Player versus Environment, a mode where players engage with the game’s content, such as missions, quests, and activities, against AI-controlled enemies. This contrasts with PvP (Player versus Player), where players compete against each other. PvE is a core component of Destiny 2 and offers various experiences. Here are some key aspects of PvE in Destiny 2:
- Story Missions and Campaigns: These are narrative-driven quests that often introduce players to the game’s lore, characters, and world. Completing these missions progresses the overarching story of “Destiny 2.”
- Strikes and Nightfalls: Strikes are cooperative missions where a team of three players tackles challenging objectives and bosses. Nightfalls are harder versions of strikes with more rewards.
- Raids: Raids are complex, end-game activities designed for six players. They require teamwork, communication, and strategic play, offering some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in the game.
- Dungeons: Similar to raids but designed for smaller teams (typically three players), dungeons offer unique challenges and puzzles.
- Patrols and World Activities: These are smaller, open-world activities in “Destiny 2’s” various locations. They include public events, lost sectors, and roaming bosses.
- Quests and Bounties: Players can undertake various quests and bounties for rewards. These often involve completing specific tasks or defeating a certain number of enemies.
- Seasonal Events and Activities: “Destiny 2” frequently introduces temporary events and activities that align with in-game seasons, offering unique challenges and rewards.
- Loot and Progression: PvE is critical for obtaining gear, weapons, and resources necessary for character progression and power level increases.
PvE content in Destiny 2 caters to a wide range of play styles and preferences, from solo experiences to cooperative play. It allows players to immerse themselves in the game’s universe, tackle various challenges, and progress their characters while enjoying rich storytelling and diverse gameplay experiences.
Best PvE Weapons
Wish-Ender (Exotic Bow)
- Usage: Ideal for tactical combat, allowing players to engage enemies from a distance with precision.
- Special Perk: “Queen’s Wrath” – Grants the ability to see through walls when aiming down sights, offering a significant tactical advantage.
- Catalyst Availability: Defeat 500 targets to upgrade this weapon to a Masterwork to increase stats and additional perks.
- Combat Style: Best suited for strategic players who prioritize tracking and taking out enemies discreetly and from a safe distance.
Cataclysmic (Exotic Linear Fusion Rifle)
- Usage: Effective for high burst damage.
- Craftable: Yes, adding to its accessibility for players.
- Type: Craftable exotic, giving players the ability to fine-tune its perks.
Palindrome (Hand Cannon)
- Special Perks: Outlaw and Rampage, enhancing reload speed and damage after kills.
- Usage: Effective for precision damage and quick target elimination.
Gjallarhorn (Rocket Launcher)
- Special Perk: Wolfpack Rounds, where missiles split into tracking cluster bombs on detonation.
- Usage: Ideal for high burst damage against groups or tough enemies.
Izanagi’s Burden (Exotic Sniper Rifle)
- Special Perk: Honed Edge, combining the next four rounds into one super-powered shot.
- Usage: Extremely effective for taking down high-value targets with precision.
Fatebringer
- Type and Ammo: Fatebringer is a kinetic weapon using primary ammo.
- Archetype: It falls under the Adaptive Frame archetype, which means it has a well-rounded grip, is reliable, and sturdy.
- Popular Perks: One of the most popular perk combinations for PvE is Explosive Payload and Firefly. Other notable perk combinations include Explosive Payload with Frenzy or Kill Clip, and Rewind Rounds with Firefly.
- Performance Stats: The Fatebringer has an impact of 84, a range of 46, stability of 57, handling of 55, and a reload speed of 46. It offers an aim assistance of 84 and a magazine size of 10.
- Acquisition: This hand cannon can be obtained from the “Vault of Glass” raid.
Heritage (Shotgun)
- Special Perks: Reconstruction and Recombination, for auto-reloading and elemental damage boost.
- Usage: Great for encounters requiring high damage output at close range.
Quicksilver Storm
- Type and Ammo: It’s a kinetic auto rifle that uses primary ammo.
- Intrinsic Perk – Rocket Tracers: Landing multiple hits with this weapon turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket.
- Secondary Function – Grenade Launcher: After landing multiple rockets, a grenade is loaded, which can be used by switching to Grenade Launcher mode. This feature is particularly effective in PvE, offering good damage as part of a primary weapon.
- Catalyst – Nano-Entanglement: The Quicksilver Storm’s exotic catalyst, obtainable from the “Any Data Port in a Storm” quest, transforms its damage type to Strand. Kills with the grenade launcher spawn a Tangle, enhancing its synergy with Strand subclasses.
- Stats: The weapon boasts an impressive stability of 85, a range of 40, and a magazine size of 51. Its rate of fire is 720 RPM, and it has good aim assistance of 83.
Dragon’s Breath
- Damage Type and Ammo: It deals Solar damage and uses heavy ammo.
- Exotic Perks: The main exotic perk, Composite Propellant, allows rockets to embed themselves in targets and periodically eject incendiary fuel that inflicts Scorch. Additionally, the longer the weapon goes without firing, the more fuel the next rocket contains.
- Additional Perks: The Dragon’s Breath comes with perks like Volatile Launch for increased blast radius, Black Powder for more effective explosives, and High Octane for igniting nearby targets and refilling fuel from reserves.
- Catalyst: The catalyst for Dragon’s Breath, obtained from a quest from Banshee-44, enhances the weapon by replenishing its fuel faster and causing defeated targets to drop Firesprites.
- Stats: It has a blast radius of 90, velocity of 72, and a magazine size of 1. The handling is quite high at 82, but the reload speed is on the lower side at 37.
Divinity (Trace Rifle)
- Special Perk: Judgment, creating a field that weakens and stuns enemies.
- Usage: Ideal for team play, as it increases damage taken by enemies within the field.
Fastest Way to Level Up Your Character in Destiny 2
Leveling up your character in Destiny 2 efficiently involves a combination of strategies that target different aspects of the game.
Reaching Power Level Caps
Your first goal should be to reach the Soft Cap, which, as of the latest updates, is set at 1750 Power Level. You can achieve this by engaging in various activities that drop gear, such as campaign missions, Crucible games, Strikes, public events, and patrols. Beating the Lightfall Campaign on Legendary difficulty can give you a significant boost by rewarding you with 1770 Power Level gear. Once you hit the Soft Cap, focus on activities that grant Powerful Gear to reach the Power Cap of 1800. For the final push to the Pinnacle Cap of 1810, you’ll need to complete end-game activities like Raids, Nightfalls, and Dungeons.
Completing Bounties and Challenges
Regularly completing bounties from different vendors is a consistent way to gain experience. These bounties refresh daily and are a primary source of experience for progressing through the seasonal pass. Additionally, completing seasonal challenges, which refresh every season, can also offer significant XP rewards.
Participating in Endgame Activities
Engaging in dungeons and raids, such as the Root of Nightmares raid and the Spire of Watcher dungeon, provides substantial XP. These activities require a coordinated team but are very rewarding in terms of experience points.
Seasonal Pass XP Bonuses and Well-Rested Buff
Keep an eye on the passive experience bonuses provided by the seasonal pass. Additionally, the Well-Rested buff, which occurs weekly, boosts your XP gains by 100% for the first five character levels of the week.
Farming Ritual Activities
Regularly participating in Strikes, Gambit, and The Crucible, especially during double reputation weeks, can yield both reputation and XP.
Master/Legend Lost Sectors
These are mini-dungeons that rotate daily, offering exotic armor and a decent amount of XP upon completion.
Clan Bounties
Though often overlooked, participating in clan activities and completing clan bounties can provide additional XP.
Taking Professional Assistance
Utilizing the assistance of boosting service is one of the fastest ways to level up a character in Destiny 2. The Destiny 2 boosting service removes time limits for you by providing you with quick and excellent guidance. These services typically involve experienced players helping less experienced players to progress through the game more quickly. Pro gamers have a high level of expertise and are familiar with the most efficient leveling strategies. They know the best activities to complete and the quickest methods to earn XP and loot. For players with limited time, these services can be a way to experience high-level content without spending the hours necessary to level up a character. Playing with or observing pro gamers can be a learning experience, offering insights into advanced playstyles and strategies.
Verdict
As we conclude our exploration of the best weapons in Destiny 2 for both PvP and PvE, it’s evident that the right arsenal is pivotal for achieving excellence in the game’s diverse challenges. Whether it’s the strategic precision needed in PvP combat or the relentless firepower required in PvE encounters, understanding and utilizing the strengths of each weapon is key to a Guardian’s success. Guardians should stay informed and adaptable, ready to evolve their strategies and loadouts to maintain their edge in the ever-changing battlegrounds of Destiny 2. Remember, victory in the Crucible and triumphs against the darkness are not just about firepower, but how you wield it.
