Quick Links
Destiny 2’slatest episode, Heresy, has brought dozens of new weapons to the sandbox. Beyond the standard seasonal weapons and endgame reprisals, Bungie has added some extra weapons to ritual content, world loot, and aspirational content like Trials of Osiris and Nightfalls.
There are some absurdly good weapons added to playlist content this season that you won’t want to miss. From Rocket Sidearms with Volatile Rounds to a PvP Pulse Rifle that outperforms most Exotics, this guide will give you an in-depth breakdown of the best rolls you may find on every playlist weapon added in Episode: Heresy of Destiny 2.
Updated Jun 14, 2025, by Charles Burgar:Rite of the Nine added three new weapons to core playlists: Cruel Mercy, The Inquisitor, and Nature Reclaimed. We’ve updated this guide to include this event’s latest weapon additions, covering the best perks you can get on each weapon for both PvE and PvP use.
Admetus-D
High-Impact Scout Rifles are quite powerful if you can get a damage perk on them. Admetus-D certainly fits the bill.Frenzy, Precision Instrument, Elemental Honing, and even Withering Gazeare all obtainable on this weapon.
The damage perk you choose in PvE will mostly boil down to preference. In our view, if you’re using a Void Primary, you’re most likely leaning intoRepulsor Bracefor high Overshield uptime. For that, useDemoralizeor Withering Gaze.
PvP has one clear winner here:Precision Instrument.While it doesn’t do much for the first enemy you kill, if you get into back-to-back gunfights, this gun is capable of achieving a two-hit kill. It’s not exactly practical in 3v3 modes, but for 6v6 objective playlists, it’s not a bad pick. Pair it withLone Wolfto improve the weapon’s sluggish handling.
Range
Backfang
Glaive enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that Backfang is the first Glaive in Destiny 2 to roll withJolting Feedbackin the second trait column, inflicting Jolt on sustained damage. It substantially increases the add clear potential of this weapon, although it never reaches the heights of Chain Reaction on Forthcoming Deviance. But that’s to be expected; this weapon comes from a ritual activity,not a raid.
Crucible players are mostly stuck usingReplenishing AegisandUnstoppable Forcefor some solid neutral game buffs, nothing particularly unique to Backfang. No amount of buildcrafting will let you one-tap Guardians with this weapon, so most damage perks on here are seldom useful in a PvP environment. For PvE, stick with Jolting Feedback.
Shield Duration
Boondoggle Mk. 55
Strange name aside, Boondoggle is thefirst Legendary Tex Mechanica SMG in Destiny 2, clearly inspired byThe Huckleberry. Most of Tex Mechanica’s weapons encourage hipfire usage through their Exotic traits or Legendary origin traits, and Boondoggle is no different. This weapon can get Hip-Fire GripandOffhand Strike for some silly hipfire shenanigans, although that’s hardly useful in current PvE or PvP content.
Boondoggle should be treated as a typical 720 RPM SMG, nothing more. When viewed under that lens, there are some good perk combinations up for grabs here.EncoreandKilling Windlet Boondoggle push out to 24 meters while both are active, an absurd falloff distance for an SMG. PvE players can runSubsistenceandSwashbucklerfor a typical add clear workhorse; just don’t expect this weapon to be remotely as strong as Huckleberry.
Stability
Cruel Mercy
Cruel Mercy is a two-round burst Pulse Rifle that deals Arc damage. Compared to Corrasion, Cruel Mercy features a better stat package across the board, better origin traits, and a slightly better suite of perks. You can’t get Voltshot or Jolting Feedback on Cruel Mercy, but it does have some solid damage perks for PvE.
The main standout here isDemolitionistandFrenzy.So long as you stay in combat, the damage bonus and maxed reload speed should make Cruel Mercy feel significantly easier to use. Demolitionist will then give you free grenade energy on kills.
Crucible players typically use Lightweight Pulse Rifles due to their ease of use, but if you’re looking to shake things up, a two-burst Pulse Rifle can compete if you’re able to trigger a damage perk.Lone WolfandDesperadoare ideal here, reducing the TTK to 0.62s after a precision kill. Lone Wolf’s aim assist bonus should make landing that precision kill slightly easier.
Cruoris FR4
Cruoris is part of the recently-reworked Aggressive Frame archetype, behaving closer to a Shotgun than a proper Fusion Rifle. Each charge releases a horizontal burst of projectiles instead of a vertical spread, sacrificing accuracy for more upfront damage. This doesn’t equate to much in PvP, although you can mitigate the horizontal spread withBarrel Constrictor, a perk that’s normally seen on Shotguns.
Cruoris is one of a select few Fusion Rifles to roll withDiscord, refunding ammo on kill while active. Consider using this alongside on-kill perks like Barrel Constrictor or Successful Warm-Up in PvP.
PvE players are likely to use Fusion Rifles as backup DPS or for major slaying. It’s a subpar choice for the former category, so we recommend leaning intoDiscordto make this an ammo-efficient workhorse in harder content. Get a kill with any other weapon, swap to Cruoris, then mop the floor with any enemies you see over the next seven seconds.
Cynosure
Bungie gave this season’s Rocket Launchers some serious love when it comes to available perks. Cynosure is one of a select few Heavy weapons to roll with the newPrismatic Honingperk, granting you an escalating damage buff based on how many unique elemental damage types you’ve dealt over the last 20 seconds. This stacks up to a whopping 35% damage buff if your build uses five unique damage types.
You only need to inflict four unique damage types for Prismatic Honing to match Bait and Switch.
That’s easier said than done, but multi-element Exoticsand Prismaticmake this feasible for hardcore PvE players. Throw onEnvious Arsenalto bypass reloads, and you have a monstrous PvE DPS weapon for raids and dungeons.
PvP players can run any perks on this weapon and see results.Tracking Modulepaired withQuickdrawis likely your best bet for quickly shutting down a Super or a gaggle of Guardians defending an objective.
Velocity
Exalted Truth
Exalted Truth was already a PvP monster when it was first introduced in Season of the Seraph, but this recent perk refresh takes this weapon to a whole new echelon of elite. Exalted Truth might be the most versatile 140 HC in the game, at least as far as PvP is concerned.
To get PvE out of the way, Exalted Truth is good but not S-tier.Destabilizing Roundsrolls in thefirsttrait column here, giving you room for a damage perk likeOne for All. The Volatile explosion doesn’t tag enemies for One for All from our limited testing, but this is still a great damage perk that’s easy to trigger. You could also runSlideshotwithMagnificent Howlfor a potential infinite damage buff, although it’s somewhat impractical in use.
Most players chasing Exalted Truth are more interested in its PvP performance, and it’s in the Crucible where this gun utterly dominates.Zen MomentandOpening Shotgives you a stronger version of Austringer with fantastic origin traits to boot.Lone WolfandEye of the Stormlet this weapon hit close to 100 aim assistandbenefit from excellent accuracy buffs. Calling this gun stacked would be a serious understatement.
Eye of the Storm
Joxer’s Longsword
Joxer’s Longsword is a two-round burst Pulse Rifle that has a massive perk pool to work with. This archetype benefits from reduced incoming flinch and great base range, although the gun’s slow 0.8s TTK makes it difficult to use in duels without some help from damage buffs or perks.Desperadoworks quite nicely if you can land precision kills, which you can make a little easier throughLone Wolf.
Beyond that, Joxer’s Longsword is a standard Pulse Rifle.Repulsor BraceandDestabilizing Roundswill always serve a useful niche for PvE survivability, but that’s all this weapon has going for it. Once you start pushing higher difficulties, you’ll want to switch to Nullify or a different weapon archetype altogether.
Handling
The Inquisitor
The best Precision Slug Shotgun in Destiny history is back this season with a new set of perks. The Inquisitor has an absurd stat package that nearly has maxed ranged and handling right out of the box. With the right barrel, magazine, and Masterwork effect, you may get 100 range and handling with little issue.
PvE players can getEnvious AssassinandBait and Switchfor a powerful close-range DPS option if you’re out of Heavy ammo. It’s also a strong weapon against Champions if you can proc Bait and Switch beforehand. For PvP, nothing can topLone WolfwithOpening Shot. The aim assist of both perks makes The Inquisitor a headshot magnet if you’re remotely accurate.
Bait and Switch
Keen Thistle
We haven’t received a Sniper Rifle with a perk pool this stacked since Supremacy from Last Wish’s loot reprisal—not including this season’s reissue of Praedyth’s Revenge. While this might be amight be a Trials reward, Keen Thistle’s strongest perk combinations are tailored for PvE players.Envious ArsenalwithBait and Switchis a standout here for skilled PvE players looking to min-max their DPS during raid and boss encounters.
However, that is far from the most interesting roll here.IncandescentandDiscordallows you to use Keen Thistle as a proper add-clear weapon without sacrificing ammo. Get a kill with another weapon, swap to Keen Thistle, and then go on a killing spree for a few seconds. Kills will refund ammo and cause targets to explode with Scorch, eventually triggering an Ignition if you kill enough targets in close proximity.
Crucible players are also eating well.Lone WolfandClosing Timegive this weapon a level of consistency that mimics the classicSnapshot SightsandOpening Shotcombo of old. Keen Thistle can get both roll combinations, so pick your favorite. And if you hate Supers, this is the only Sniper archetype that can one-tap any Super withVorpal Weapon.
DPS:Bait and Switch
Lotus Eater
Lotus Eater is a Rocket Sidearm that deals Void damage, the first of its kind. You can benefit from Volatile Rounds through Exotics and Fragments to dish out some absurd AoE damage. Alternatively, you may opt forRepulsor BraceandDestabilizing Roundsfor constant Volatile explosions and Overshield uptime. You might opt for more damage instead, but that is generally overkill for the vast majority of content.
Do Not Use
Nature Reclaimed
If you’re using a Scout Rifle in PvE, you’re most likely using it as a long-range utility weapon. Nature Reclaimed is a solid choice for that role, featuringShoot to LootandExplosive Payloadfor a decent workhorse and ammo vacuum.
Crucible players who want to use Scout Rifles have better options—260 RPMs with Precision Instrument are incredibly strong right now—but Nature Reclaimed isn’t a bad choice.Box Breathingis ideal for a quick three-tap kill against T8 Resilience Guardians and under. Pair it withHeal Clipfor some Solar synergy orLone Wolffor more consistency.
Heal Clip OR Lone Wolf
The Palindrome
Palindrome has been recategorized to an Arc weapon for this reissue, but it is otherwise identical to its original reissue.Explosive Payloadcan be paired with a damage perk likeDesperate Measuresfor a solid workhorse combination. If you’re looking for a more PvP-tailored weapon, it’s here, albeit not quite as strong as before.
Elemental Capacitorcan be used to fix the gun’s mediocre handling or stability stats, giving you room in the fourth column to grabOpening Shotfor more initial accuracy orSnapshot Sightsto have near-instant ADS speed. Considering Exalted Truth received such a major buff to its perks, it’s a shame that Palindrome didn’t get similar treatment. It’s far from bad, just not meta.
Peacebond
Stasis mains will want to get their hands on a Peacebond whenever Iron Banner is active. You can getHeadstoneandRimestealersimultaneously on this weapon, giving you easy access to Frost Armor on most PvE builds. Precision kills will spawn a Stasis crystal, and shattering that crystal will then grant a stack of Frost Armor. Keep the precision kills going to maximize your DR.
PvP players can runZen Momentto mitigate most incoming flinch andKill Clipto drastically reduce the weapon’s TTK to 0.50s while active. Alternatively, if you prefer to use Sidearms in close-range duels, feel free to useHeadseekerin the second trait column instead.
Kill Clip OR Headseeker
Qua Furor V
Mediocre describes Qua Furor V best. There aren’t any notable perk synergies worth chasing here. If you get one to drop,Recycled EnergywithOne for Allis solid roll for new and returning players who need a decent Machine Gun. But for everyone else who already has a small stockpile of Machine Guns in their Vault, you can steer clear of this one.
Redrix’s Estoc
Redrix’s Estoc is powercreep incarnate, at least as far as PvP is concerned. It takes the amazing BxR Battler from Dares of Eternity and morphs it into a PvP monster that puts Elsie’s Rifle to shame. This weapon has a myriad of benefits that most Pulse Rifles do not:
Looking at the first trait column alone, you can get some S-tier perks likeZen Moment, Lone Wolf, Perpetual Motion, and Offhand Strikeon this weapon to seriously buff its overall effectiveness. You can then pair this withHeadseekerfor trivial headshots orKill Clipfor a fantastic 0.53s TTK after a kill. Unless this archetype gets changed, expect Redrix’s Estoc to dominate the PvP sandbox for the foreseeable future.
Warlord’s Spear
If you enjoy Trace Rifles and want a decent add clear weapon, look no further than Warlord’s Spear. This is the first Trace Rifle to rollJolting Feedbackin the second trait column, debuffing targets with Jolt upon sustained damage. The chain lightning from Jolt will make this a perfect weapon for double Special loadouts and general add clear. Throw onRewind Roundsto minimize your time spent reloading.
