Sidearms in Destiny 2 The Final Shape are valuable for all types of PvP and PvE content due to their rapid-fire rate, high stability, and flexibility in close-range combat.
In PvE, sidearms shine by providing consistent and reliable damage output, especially when dealing with swarms of smaller enemies or when mobility is crucial. Their quick handling allows for swift target acquisition and rapid firing. Sidearms often come with perks that increase their reload speed or provide damage boosts after a kill. It makes them effective in clearing ads and defeating the shielded enemies.
In PvP, sidearms excel due to their high time-to-kill (TTK) potential at close range. The stability and accuracy of such weapons mean that landing critical hits is more manageable. While they lack the range of hand cannons or scout rifles, their high TTK makes them formidable in the right hands, especially on smaller maps.
Compared to other weapon types, sidearms offer a balance of speed and power, allowing for quick kills and the highest DPS in the game, compared to other weapons.
In the following text, we’ll dive explore the best PvP and PvE sidearms currently available in Destiny 2 The Final Shape (exotic and legendary), check their perks and their God rolls, and briefly explain how to get them.
Best PvE Sidearms in Destiny 2 TFS
In PvE, a top-performing D2 TFS sidearm should have a large magazine size and high DPS to handle multiple enemies. Perks like Feeding Frenzy or Subsistence help maintain ammo by speeding up reloads or refilling the magazine on kills. Damage-boosting perks like Rampage or Multikill Clip are ideal for quickly eliminating waves of enemies. Additionally, sidearms with crowd control perks like Demolitionist can enhance your overall effectiveness.
Forerunner: Meta Sidearm for PvE and PvP
Weapon Name: | Forerunner |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | S-Tier for PvE and PvP |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Rarity: | Exotic |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Forerunner is a high damage Kinetic sidearm that uses Special ammo, making it unique. It is capable of dealing over 10,000 damage per precision hit in PvE, and its range is superior to that of other sidearms. Its perks include Pace Yourself, which improves accuracy when tapping the trigger, and Smooth Grip, which makes the weapon easier to hold and aim. Forerunner is best paired with a weapon that uses primary ammo, and it is particularly effective in Gambit mode due to its high damage and decent ammo. |
How to Get it? | To obtain the Forerunner, players need to complete the Magnum Opus quest. The first step is to speak to Xur in Eternity and collect seven Strange Coins. After that, players must complete three Starhorse bounties and buy the Forerunner from Xur. |
Perks: |
|
Drang (Baroque): The Best Solar Sidearm
Weapon Name: | Drang (Baroque) |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | S-Tier for PvE and PvP |
Slot: | Energy |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Together Forever |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Drang (Baroque) is a highly effective sidearm in Destiny 2, particularly for Solar 3.0 builds. Its terrific perk pool and solid stats make it a great choice for players looking to take down enemies in PVE content. The gun’s ability to spread the Scorch status effect to multiple targets, thanks to the Incandescent perk, makes it a valuable asset in endgame PVE content. |
How to Get it? | To obtain Drang, players can either purchase it from the Collections after initially obtaining it, or craft it by completing 5 Deepsight Resonance extractions for this weapon. This process unlocks the pattern for crafting Drang. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
Brigand’s Law: Top-tier Arc Sidearm
Weapon Name: | Brigand’s Law |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | S-Tier for PvE and PvP |
Slot: | Energy |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Rapid-Fire |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Brigand’s Law is a good sidearm in Destiny 2 due to its high damage output, rapid-fire capability, and moderate stability. Its ability to deal Arc damage makes it effective against certain enemies, and its high rounds per minute (450) allows for quick and sustained fire. Additionally, its moderate recoil and decent handling make it manageable for players of various skill levels. |
How to Get it? |
|
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
The Call: Amazing Strand Sidearm
Weapon Name: | The Call |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | S-tier for PvE, C-tier for PvP |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Rocket-Assisted |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Call is a highly sought-after sidearm in Destiny 2, particularly in PvE activities. Its unique Strand element and well-rounded perk pool make it an excellent choice for players. In PvE, The Call is considered S-Tier, offering outstanding performance and versatility. Its rocket-assisted archetype and ability to roll with various perks make it a staple in many builds. |
How to Get it? | It is a destination weapon available from The Pale Heart of the Traveler. Completing anything in this area, especially Overthrow, should grant a chance for this weapon to drop. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
Buried Bloodline: Meta for Non-Void Subclasses
Weapon Name: | Buried Bloodline |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A-tier in PvE, C-tier in PvP |
Slot: | Energy |
Ammo: | Primary |
Rarity: | Exotic |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Buried Bloodline is a unique and fun exotic sidearm in Destiny 2. Its exotic traits, Hungering Quarrel and Violent Reanimation, allow it to fire tracking bolts that leech health from the target and grant Devour to the wielder on rapid final blows. This makes it an excellent choice for PvE activities, particularly for builds that focus on spamming Grenades. Its ability to grant Devour to non-void subclasses also makes it a valuable asset in combat. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained by completing the Warlord’s Ruin dungeon and defeating the final boss, Hefnd’s Vengeance, Blighted Chimera. To increase the chances of getting the exotic, players can complete specific triumphs. |
Perks: |
|
Best PvP Sidearms in Destiny 2 TFS
A good sidearm for PvP excels in close-range combat with a high rate of fire and quick handling. Perks like Quickdraw and Rangefinder improve its performance by increasing speed and effective range. High stability and accuracy are crucial to consistently hitting targets. Fast reload perks like Outlaw can keep you in the fight longer.
Rat King
Weapon Name: | Rat King |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A (PvE), S (PvP) |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Rarity: | Exotic |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Rat King is an exotic kinetic sidearm in Destiny 2 that is good due to its main perk, Rat Pack, which causes the gun’s power to increase when more players with Rat King are nearby. The Rat King has a larger magazine capacity and range compared to similar weapons, and it provides temporary immunity during reloading when you have previously killed an opponent. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained from the Exotic Archive at the Tower. |
Perks: |
|
Liminal Vigil
Weapon Name: | Liminal Vigil |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A (PvE,PvP) |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Heavy Burst |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Liminal Vigil is a good weapon due to its unique perks and abilities. It is a two-round burst sidearm that fires hard-hitting shots, slightly reducing flinching from incoming fire while aiming. This makes it suitable for medium-range to close-range fights in PvP, where players need to commit fully against other Guardians. Its stability and handling stats are relatively high, making it a reliable choice for players. The Liminal Vigil’s combination of powerful shots, reduced flinching, and high stability make it a valuable addition to any Guardian’s arsenal. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained through the Spire of the Watcher dungeon, from the final boss encounter with Persys. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
Peacebond
Weapon Name: | Peacebond |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A-Tier (PvE and PvP) |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Adaptive Burst |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Peacebond has a unique archetype, the Adaptive Burst, which allows it to fire in a 3-round burst, making it a hybrid between a traditional sidearm and a pulse rifle. This archetype, combined with its high range and stability, makes it a popular choice for both PvE and PvP activities. The Peacebond has access to several desirable perks such as Rangefinder, Swashbuckler, and Headstone, which can further improve its effectiveness. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained by completing Iron Banner matches and earning rank-up packages from Lord Saladin. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
Boudica-C
Weapon Name: | Boudica-C |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A-Tier (PvE and PvP) |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Precision |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Boudica-C is a Legendary Sidearm in Destiny 2 that is highly regarded for its performance. It is a Kinetic weapon with a Precision Frame, meaning it has a high base stability and recoil that is nearly perfectly vertical. The Hakke Breach Armaments origin perk increases damage to different objects, making it effective in various situations. The Boudica-C has high aim assistance and base range, making it a popular choice among players. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained by opening Legendary engrams or by earning faction rank-up packages. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|
Senuna SI6
Weapon Name: | Senuna Si6 |
Weapon Type: | Sidearm |
Tier Rank: | A-Tier (PvE and PvP) |
Slot: | Kinetic |
Ammo: | Primary |
Archetype: | Adaptive Burst |
Rarity: | Legendary |
Stats and Appearance: | |
What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Senuna SI6 is a Sidearm in Destiny 2 that is well-regarded for its high rate of fire and magazine size, making it effective in close-range engagements. The weapon has various possible rolls, with popular choices including Headseeker, Grave Robber, and Killing Wind. It is also compatible with the Omolon Fluid Dynamics (OFD) perk, which increases stability and accuracy as the magazine empties. The Senuna SI6 can be used effectively in both PvE and PvP activities, and is considered a solid option for a stasis build that focuses on slow stacks and stasis crystals. The Senuna SI6 is a reliable and versatile weapon that can be customized to fit a variety of playstyles. |
How to Get it? | It can be obtained via Legendary Engrams, world drops, or as a rank-up reward from vendors such as Banshee-44. |
PvE God Roll: |
|
PvP God Roll: |
|