Highest DPS Weapons in Destiny 2 – DPS Chart

Do you think this is a shooter? It's a numbers game!

DPS is a crucial stat when choosing a weapon in Destiny 2. It's short for Damage Per Second, and this statistic considers the weapon's rate of fire and reload speed and the damage it does per bullet. We must consider all of these when calculating the amount of damage a gun can dish out to your opponents.

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What weapons have the best DPS in Destiny 2?

We have assembled the three main weapon charts organized by the best DPS in Destiny 2. They are separated into the following primary categories:

  • Primary Weapons
  •  Special Weapons
  •  Heavy Weapons

There are no Damage perks included in any stats on the charts. This only leaves the base DPS values for weapons. We have also included the best weapons per class in the last column. Keep in mind that weapon statistics change during the game seasons. We will keep an eye out for any changes and update these lists as soon as the new season comes out with new weapons and stats.

Related: How to get the Assassin’s Creed Armor in Destiny 2

Primary weapons

Weapon typeArchetypeAverage DPSBurst DPSTotal DamageSpecsThe best weapon in Class
SMGExotic12,25015,615468,450With "Ravenous Beast"Tarrabah
SidearmExotic9,90212,863216,095With "Rat Pack x5"Rat King
Hand CannonExotic8,97910,980564,704Landing all critsHawkmoon
Hand CannonExotic7,7669,230323,033Vs. TakenMalfeasance
Auto RifleExotic7,0978,481744,915With "perfect" RNGCerberus+1
Pulse RifleExotic6,1457,340422,810With averaged 'nanites"Outbreak Perfected
SMGExotic6,1148,450331,240-Osteo Striga
Auto RifleExotic6,0867,144507,738-Vex Mythoclast
Auto RifleExotic5,4306,280413,550At Max rate of fireSweet Business
SidearmAggressive Burst5,3316,193320,151High aim assist, low stability & handlingBrass Attacks
SidearmLightweight5,2846,645149,510High handling, very low rangeRedback-5si
Grenade LauncherExotic5,2569,713161,883With CatalystFighting Lion
SidearmAdaptive5,1376,431192,937High aim assist, decent elsewhereHigh Albedo
SidearmAdaptive (3-burst)5,3486,673366,925High aim assist, decent elsewhereDrang
SidearmOmolon Adaptive5,0206,355356,452High stability, decent elsewhereThe Vision
SidearmSUROS Rapid-Fire4,8816,380140,353Good recoil, very low range & aim assistPunching Out
SMGExotic4,8138,198245,925With "Ride the Bull x2"The Huckleberry
SidearmPrecision4,7426,193205,794Excellent aim assist, low stability & handlingA Swift Verdict
SidearmExotic4,6836,125202,125-Devil's Ruin
SMGLightweight4,6636,833180,378High-aim assist and handling, low rangeFunnelweb
SMGAggressive4,5916,558206,031High range, low aim assistUnforgiven
Scout RifleExotic4,4765,866568,588With CatalystDead Man's Tale
Auto RifleExotic4,3915,513259,200At Max rate of fireSUROS Regime
SMGAdaptive4,3006,075187,110High stability & range, poor recoilThe Hero's Burden
Hand CannonExotic4,0875,347268,106-Thorn
Hand CannonExotic3,9655,438162,400With Fan Fire x4The Last Word
Auto RifleRapid-Fire3,9064,542280,847High-aim assist, low rangeChroma Rush
SMGPrecision3,8755,645220,155Excellent range & aim assist, low handlingShayura's Wrath
Scout RifleExotic3,7854,470353,984With "Perfect Fifth"Polaris Lance
Pulse RifleExotic3,6874,381371,126With CatalystNo Time to Explain
Pulse RifleExotic3,6024,222215,100-Vigilance Wing
Auto RifleAdaptive3,5554,300295,840High handlingGnawing Hunger
Auto RiflePrecision3,3694,073225,888High range, low aim assistShadow Price
Auto RifleHigh-Impact3,3613,993298,144Excellent range, low stabilityAge-Old Bond
Scout RifleRapid-Fire3,3524,104170,460High stability, very low rangeAisha's Embrace
Scout RifleLightweight3,3183,807219,264Excellent aim assist & handling, low rangeNight Watch
Hand CannonExotic3,2504,398358,800-Crimson
Scout RifleExotic3,2063,598259,020When aiming down sightsSkyburner's Oath
Scout RifleHigh-Impact3,3473,931374,255Excellent range, low aim assistThe Scholar
Scout RiflePrecision3,3593,888228,096High stability, decent elsewhereVision of Confluence
Hand CannonAggressive2,9653,843224,816High range, low stability, and handlingIgneous Hammer
Hand CannonPrecision3,0253,842138,294High stability, poor handlingPosterity
Pulse RifleAdaptive2,8253,246194,778High handling, decent rangeThe Third Axiom
Pulse RifleRapid-Fire2,7713,285137,970High-aim assist, low rangePiece of Mind
Pulse RifleAggressive Burst2,7443,232241,312Excellent range, low aim assistInsidious
Hand CannonAdaptive2,7243,464163,295Good stability, decent rangeEyasluna
Pulse RifleHigh-Impact2,7203,281250,128High range & recoil, low aim assistThe Messenger
Pulse RifleExotic2,7072,984271,733-Graviton Lance
Pulse RifleLightweight2,5733,046160,805Excellent handling, low rangeOgma PR6
Combat BowLightweight-->3,265229,704640 ms Draw timeArsenic Bite-4b
Combat BowPrecision-->3,215252,221680 ms Draw timeUnder Your Skin
Combat BowExotic-->3,969357,225-Le Monarque
Combat BowExotic-->4,137391,952vs. non-TakenWish-Ender

Special Weapons

Weapon typeArchetypeAverage DPSBurst DPSTotal DamageSpecsThe best weapon in Class
Fusion RifleExotic14,69916,216206,880-Merciless
Fusion RifleExotic12,17113,918255,528-Bastion
Fusion RifleRapid-Fire11,22412,355161,406-Cartesian Coordinate
Fusion RifleExotic9,77111,033225,075-Jötunn
Fusion RifleAggressive9,67710,774250,236-Coriolis Force
Fusion RifleExotic9,67510,532312,963With CatalystTelesto
Fusion RifleAdaptive9,1099,881153,552-Trinary System
Fusion RiflePrecision8,1129,148188,685-Deliverance
Fusion RifleHigh-Impact8,9179,917233,025-Glacioclasm
Grenade LauncherLightweight6,77915,617197,809With Spike GrenadesIgnition Code
Grenade LauncherLightweight6,24114,376182,096-Ignition Code
Grenade LauncherWave6,24114,376182,096-Forbearance
Grenade LauncherExotic3,601-740,985-Witherhoard
Hand CannonExotic11,60312,456224,208With "First Glance"Eriana's Vow
Linear Fusion RifleExotic11,32513,412287,500-Arbalest
Linear Fusion RifleExotic11,32513,412287,500-Lorentz Driver
ShotgunExotic30,46983,704209,261With CatalystThe Fourth Horseman
ShotgunExotic22,38229,320175,920With "Roadborne" activeThe Chaperone
ShotgunExotic17,80523,200231,360With "Release the Wolves"Lord of Wolves
ShotgunExotic15,95515,025249,642When aiming down sightsDuality
ShotgunPrecision Slug11,89412,983143,808-Heritage
ShotgunLightweight13,16815,158136,418-Wastelander M5
ShotgunRapid-Fire12,28218,104162,938-Dead Weight
ShotgunAggressive11,52712,651207,011-Found Verdict
ShotgunPrecision10,89112,826213,101-Matador 64
SidearmExotic10,41612,890278,424-Forerunner
Sniper RifleExotic15,92619,784178,059-Cloudstrike
Sniper RifleExotic15,056-181,880With CatalystIzanagi's Burden
Sniper RifleRapid-Fire10,04013,44586,430-IKELOS_SR_v1.0.2
Sniper RifleAdaptive8,72511,398121,576-Uzume RR4
Sniper RifleAggressive8,61111,191139,883-Succession
Trace RifleExotic19,55120,295524,964With Catalyst Proc'dAger's Scepter
Trace RifleExotic11,39412,795430,765At Max chargeColdheart
Trace RifleExotic10,75512,000320,000With Orb pick upWavesplitter
Trace RifleExotic8,6128,940231,248With debuffDivinity
Trace RifleExotic7,5818,565342,600-Prometheus Lens

Related: How to get Adept Weapons in Destiny 2

Heavy Weapons

Weapon typeArchetypeAverage DPSBurst DPSTotal DamageSpecsThe best weapon in Class
Combat BowExotic-->18,152466,763With CatalystLeviathan's Breath
Fusion RifleExotic16,55617,991273,456-One Thousand Voices
Grenade LauncherExotic-->6,418385,080-Anarchy
Grenade LauncherExotic15,59318,965113,792-The Colony
Grenade LauncherRapid-Fire16,87624,570147,420With Spike GrenadesBerenger's Memory
Grenade LauncherPrecision17,07521,043227,268With Spike Grenades
Grenade LauncherAdaptive20,19124,078144,468With Spike GrenadesMemory Interdict
Grenade LauncherExotic22,720-293,776At x20 AveragedParasite
Grenade LauncherExotic23,33329,059169,072-The Prospector
Linear Fusion RiflePrecision14,97917,844356,880-Reed's Regret
Linear Fusion RifleExotic15,18217,844389,320With Marksman SightsThe Queenbreaker
Linear Fusion RifleAggressive15,55917,367381,218-Stormchaser
Linear Fusion RifleExotic21,79925,351396,792With CatalystSleeper Simulant
Machine GunExotic11,16315,379290,904-Thunderlord
Machine GunExotic14,60216,485439,600-Heir Apparent
Machine GunExotic17,61521,100274,300-Xenophage
Machine GunHigh-Impact7,1259,522380,880-THE SWARM
Machine GunAdaptive7,75910,313319,000-Commemoration
Machine GunRapid-Fire8,81811,820241,128-Recurrent Impact
Machine GunExotic9,57510,997395,880-Grand Overture
Rocket LauncherPrecision13,091-180,656-Royal Entry
Rocket LauncherHigh-Impact14,368-198,282-Code Duello
Rocket LauncherExotic14,440-226,704-The Wardcliff Coil
Rocket LauncherExotic15,401-340,368-Eyes of Tomorrow
Rocket LauncherAdaptive15,805-218,113-The Hothead
Rocket LauncherAggressive15,981-220,535With Impact CasingHezen Vengeance
Rocket LauncherExotic16,500-306,072-Two-Tailed Fox
Rocket LauncherExotic17,322-132,222-Truth
Rocket LauncherExotic23,312-200,484With CatalystGjallarhorn
Rocket LauncherExotic31,129-429,583-Deathbringer
ShotgunExotic15,86216,451172,732After debuffTractor Cannon
ShotgunExotic25,23225,232247,730-Legend of Acrius
Sniper RifleExotic18,38322,836205,527With "Personal Assistant"D.A.R.C.I.
Sniper RifleExotic19,89219,892397,848With CatalystWhisper of the Worm
SwordCaster15,078-298,546With Jagged EdgeSola's Scar
SwordLightweight17,466-435,241With Jagged EdgeQuickfang
SwordAdaptive17,532-319,822With Jagged EdgeHalf-Truths
SwordVortex18,094-279,650With Jagged EdgeFalling Guillotine
SwordExotic19,071-587,097-The Lament
SwordExotic19,968-312,599-Black Talon
SwordAggressive20,429-413,487With Jagged EdgeCrown-Splitter

Looking for some more Destiny 2 guides? You're in the right place, check out How to get The Manticore Exotic SMG in Destiny 2 and How to get Seraph Key Codes in Destiny 2 here on Pro Game Guides!

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Avatar photo Luka Rakocevic works as a full-time staff writer at Pro Game Guides and is a new-generation gamer. Backed with old-school gaming knowledge, his oldest gaming memories are on SNES, trying to beat Super Mario. Games are his big inspiration, and he frequently draws from that well to create new art. He prefers narrative-driven games like God of War, Killzone, Half-life, Uncharted and similar. Luka mainly writes science fiction in his free time. When he's not home banging away at his computer keyboard, you will most likely find him at a local pub or a metal concert in the middle of a mosh pit.
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Highest DPS Weapons in Destiny 2 – DPS Chart

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