Best PvP Weapons in Destiny 2

In Destiny 2 PvP arenas, certain PvP weapons have risen to prominence, defining the meta and dictating the flow of combat. Here’s an in-depth look at the top weapons for PvP and strategies to enhance their effectiveness.

Ace of Spades

  • Best Perks: The Ace of Spades is distinguished by its Memento Mori perk, which enhances bullets with extra damage after a kill. Another significant perk is Firefly, which causes enemies to explode and deal damage to nearby foes with precision kills. These perks make Ace of Spades highly effective in chaining kills.
  • Best Situation for Use: This hand cannon excels in medium to long-range encounters where players can leverage its damage-enhancing perks to control the battlefield. It’s particularly useful in scenarios where maintaining situational awareness with radar while aiming down sights gives a tactical edge.
  • How to Get It: Ace of Spades can be acquired from the Exotic Archive at the Tower. It requires an Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Etheric Spirals, and an Ascendant Shard to purchase​​.

Rose

  • Best Perks: Rose benefits from Smallbore and Accurized Rounds, which extend its effective range, making it ideal for medium-range confrontations. Slideshot, which reloads part of the magazine and increases range on sliding, and Explosive Payload, which adds area damage on impact, are also crucial for PvP engagements.
  • Best Situation for Use: Rose is perfect for aggressive playstyles that require mobility and precision. Its perks support quick re-engagements and maintaining pressure on opponents, making it effective in dynamic combat situations.
  • How to Get It: This weapon is available through Lord Shaxx in the Crucible, where players can focus engrams to specifically acquire it.

Heliocentric QSC

  • Best Perks: Ideal perks for this sidearm include Corkscrew Rifling and Tactical Mag for better overall performance and ammo management. The combination of Heal Clip, which restores health on kills, and Kill Clip, which increases damage after a reload, makes it a powerhouse in sustained firefights.
  • Best Situation for Use: Heliocentric QSC is best used in close-quarters combat where quick movements and frequent engagements occur. It’s designed to excel in fast-paced skirmishes where healing and damage bonuses can turn the tide of battle.
  • How to Get It: It can be found through regular gameplay loot drops or from vendor rotations, which include rewards from strikes and other PvE content.

The Jade Rabbit

  • Best Perks: This scout rifle is optimized with High-Caliber Rounds for increased flinch to enemies, making it harder for them to return fire accurately. The intrinsic perk, Fate of All Fools, allows body shots to stack damage on your next precision shot, rewarding deliberate aim and pacing.
  • Best Situation for Use: The Jade Rabbit is a top choice for long-range engagements. Its high impact and precision rewards make it ideal for large maps where maintaining distance from opponents is possible.
  • How to Get It: The Jade Rabbit is occasionally available from Xur’s inventory or can be a reward from high-level activities, making it a valuable but rare addition to any player’s arsenal.

Matador 64

  • Best Perks: Matador 64 features perks like Threat Detector for enhanced handling and reload speed when enemies are close, and Opening Shot, which ensures increased accuracy and range on the initial shot of an engagement.
  • Best Situation for Use: This shotgun is extremely effective in close-range scenarios, such as during ambushes or defensive stands in smaller, confined spaces of PvP maps.
  • How to Get It: Acquire Matador 64 by exploring the Grasp of Avarice dungeon, a location known for its challenging encounters and rewarding loot for successful teams.

Cloudstrike

  • Best Perks: Cloudstrike’s main feature is its exotic perk, “Mortal Polarity,” which causes precision kills to trigger lightning bolts that strike the location of the kill, dealing area effect damage. This is complemented by the “Stormbringer” trait, which increases the rate of fire and reload speed temporarily after precision kills.
  • Best Situation for Use: This sniper rifle is ideal for long-range engagements in open maps where Guardians can take advantage of its area effect damage to control enemy movements or defend key positions. It’s particularly effective in team scenarios where clustered enemies can be punished with the lightning strike.
  • How to Get It: Cloudstrike is obtained through completing Empire Hunts on Europa, with the weapon drop being a random reward at the end of the activity. The higher the difficulty of the hunt, the better the chance of obtaining this exotic sniper rifle.

Centrifuse

  • Best Perks: Centrifuse is a Linear Fusion Rifle that benefits from perks like “Accelerated Coils” for faster charge time, making it more viable in fast-paced combat scenarios. Another key perk is “Auto-Loading Holster,” which automatically reloads the weapon after a short period of non-use.
  • Best Situation for Use: Ideal for mid to long-range combat where its precision damage can be maximized without the constant need to manually reload. Its auto-reloading capability makes it excellent for engaging multiple targets successively, keeping the user ready for continuous action.
  • How to Get It: Centrifuse typically drops from activities that reward powerful gear, such as Nightfall strikes or Iron Banner matches. It can also be found in the loot pool for various seasonal activities, depending on the current season’s loot table.

Prosecutor

  • Best Perks: This Auto Rifle shines with perks such as “Tap the Trigger,” which grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on the initial trigger pull, and “Kill Clip,” where reloading after a kill grants a temporary damage boost.
  • Best Situation for Use: Prosecutor is well-suited for mid-range skirmishes where its stability and accuracy can help maintain consistent damage output. It’s especially potent in team fights where quick kills can frequently activate Kill Clip, significantly boosting its lethality.
  • How to Get It: Prosecutor is a reward in the Trials of Osiris. Performing well in this highly competitive PvP mode can reward players with this weapon, among other Trials-specific gear.

These weapons are just a few examples of the powerful arsenal available for Guardians in Destiny 2’s PvP. Mastering their perks and understanding the optimal situations for their use can significantly enhance your effectiveness in the Crucible, helping you to dominate the opposition and achieve victory. If you’re looking to expand your collection or hone your skills further, consider focusing on acquiring and mastering these standout weapons.

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