Best Machine Guns in Destiny 2 for PvE & PvP

Machine Guns play a vital role in Destiny 2, serving as the meta add-clear weapons in all activities, and these are the best options to use in the current meta.

The PvE meta is defined by Machine Guns, which are by far the best weapons for dealing with waves of enemies as fast as possible. It’s a similar story in the PvP meta, where their fast time to kill makes them a scary option to go up against in The Crucible and Gambit.

However, not all of them are built equally, and while some heavy hitters dominate in their role, others aren’t even worth considering. To help you figure out which is which, we’ve put together this tier list of the best Machine Guns for both PvE and PvP.

Machine Gun tier list

Our tiers explained

• S: The best Machine Guns in the game
• A: Very good Machine Guns that can hold their own in high-end content
• B: There are situations where these Machine Guns can perform well, but they aren’t meta
• C: It’s best to avoid using these Machine Guns

Meta Analysis

Machine Guns are the premier option for add-clear in Destiny 2, both in high-end content and easier, more accessible activities. While other weapons can fill the role reasonably well, nothing compares to the best machine guns when it comes down to wiping out a lot of enemies quickly.

For that, you’ll want to get your hands on the likes of Commemoration, Hammerhead, and Song of Ir Yut, which are the three best legendary Machine Guns in the game right now. All three of them offer unparalled consistency and damage, giving them a clear edge over the competition.

If you don’t mind using up your Exotic slot, Thunderlord is another great option that is just as effective as an add-clear weapon as it is for killing Champions. Also, it is a decent option for boss DPS, but for that role, we recommend using a Rocket Launcher or Heavy Grenade Launcher instead to avoid holding your fireteam back.

We’ll update this list when Bungie adds more Machine Guns or reprises the existing options, so expect to see plenty of changes following future updates. Until then, you can read on to see our full breakdown of every Machine Gun.

S-Tier

Commemoration

Dexerto

• Element: Void
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: Deep Stone Crypt
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

Ever since it was released in Season 12, Commemoration has been the best machine gun in Destiny 2. This dominant weapon is the looter shooter’s strongest option for add-clear, which is exactly why it has become such a staple in high-end content. Whenever you tune into a Contest Mode raid or dungeon, you will see at least one player using this.

The natural synergy between Reconstruction and Killing Tally is just too good to beat, with the latter boosting damage and the former keeping that boost active at all times. In practice, Commemoration has a near constant 30% damage buff without you having to do anything special, which lets it slice through waves of adds with ease.

Hammerhead

Dexerto

• Element: Void
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: Onslaught
• Best Use: PvE

Commemoration dominated the Machine Gun meta for 10 whole seasons, but Hammerhead’s return in Into The Light finally ended its run. This reprised classic made a big return, immediately becoming a contender for the best Machine Gun in the game. There’s barely anything between this and Commemoration, with both serving similar roles and being similarly effective.

Just like how Reconstruction and Killing Tally maintain Commemoration’s damage boost, Rewind Rounds does the same for Hammerhead. It’s also shares the exact same element and archetype, so there’s very little between the two guns. The one big advantage Hammerhead has is that it is earned through Onslaught rather than raids, which makes it much more accessible to the average player.

Thunderlord

Dexerto

• Element: Arc
• Source: Exotic Engrams
• Best Use: PvE

Most Exotic Machine Guns are surprisingly lame and outclassed by their legendary counterparts, but Thunderlord is an exception to that rule. This monster wreaks havoc by slamming lightning down on enemies, dealing a ton of damage, and providing add-clear. It can even stun Overload Champions, giving it some valuable utility.

Thunderlord also avoids the trap of not having some way of loading ammo from its reserves, as is the case with most other Exotic Machine Guns. Its catalyst does just that, and it even has Feeding Frenzy as a backup for situations where you need to manually reload. This is a fantastic all around option that has very few weaknesses and is viable in the majority of content.

Song of Ir Yut

Dexerto

• Element: Arc
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: Crota’s End
• Best Use: PvE

Crota’s End is one of the hardest raids to get a team together for, and that’s a shame because it’s the only way to get this incredible weapon. Song of Ir Yut is easily the best Arc Machine Gun in Destiny 2, especially if you don’t want to use an Exotic like Thunderlord. That’s useful because Power Exotics tend to be less impactful than their Kinetic and Energy counterparts.

The combination of Reconstruction and Sword Logic allows this gun to fill a similar role to Commemoration and Hammerhead. Technically, it hits even harder than those two, as Sword Logic can provide an unrivalled 50% damage boost. There’s no doubt that this is a meta Machine Gun and the fact that it’s craftable only makes it even better.

Pro Memoria

Dexerto

• Element: Strand
• Archetype: Aggressive
• Source: The Pale Heart
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

Pro Memoria is the king of accessibility, with it being the only S-Tier Machine Gun that anyone can obtain. You don’t need to do high-level activities, raids, or dungeons to get this gun. Instead, it is a craftable drop from The Pale Heart, a low-level area released in The Final Shape that even New Lights can farm.

Given how easy it is to get, you wouldn’t expect Pro Memoria to compete with the other S-Tier options, but that’s simply not the case. Just like those meta Machine Guns, it gets Reconstruction in column three, and Dragonfly is a great alternative to Killing Tally, trading raw damage for additional add-clear. Even if you are an end-game player, this is still the best Strand Machine Gun, so it has a place in everyone’s vault.

Corrective Measure

Dexerto

• Element: Void
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: Vault of Glass
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

While it’s hard to justify using Corrective Measure over Commemoration and Hammerhead, this Void Machine Gun is still a fine alternative that can hold its own with the very best. It sacrifices damage output since it can’t get Killing Tally, but makes up for that with superior add-clear courtesy of Firefly, with this being the only Void weapon in Destiny 2 that can roll that perk.

This particular Machine Gun also stands out as the best in PvP, with the combination of Dynamic Sway Reduction and Tap The Trigger turning it into an absolute laser. Even at extreme ranges, which are common in modes like Gambit, Corrective Measure is easy to use, and you should barely ever be missing shots.

A-Tier

21% Delirium

Dexerto

• Element: Arc
• Archetype: Rapid-Fire
• Source: Exotic Archive
• Best Use: PvE

21% Delirium is the oldest entry on this list, having made its debut way back in Season 6. It was later Sunset and became unusable, but Bungie reverted that decision in The Final Shape, bringing this classic back into the limelight.

Despite being over five years old, 21% Delirium is somehow still an excellent weapon and one of the best Arc Machine Guns in the game. It can load an unholy amount of rounds with Overflow and receives the same 30% damage boost from Killing Tally as many other meta Machine Guns. As a result, it is an excellent weapon for clearing adds and not even a bad DPS option to support your teammates.

Fixed Odds

Dexerto

• Element: Solar
• Archetype: High-Impact
• Source: Duality
• Best Use: PvE

Your options for Solar Machine Guns are limited, but Fixed Odds stands out as the best option, at least for PvE content. Its low fire rate makes it incredibly ammo efficient, and Incandescent is the ultimate perk for add-clear, which is realistically the only reason you would choose this weapon anyway. If you want a Solar weapon for bossing, just use Apex Predator instead.

It falls behind the S-Tier weapons largely due to Feeding Frenzy being inferior to Reconstruction and Rewind Rounds, but that alone doesn’t ruin Fixed Odds. Sure, you will have to reload more often, but that’s hardly the end of the world. If your build needs Solar synergy or a Solar Surge is active, this is a great option that will serve you well.

Unwavering Duty

Dexerto

• Element: Solar
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: Trials of Osiris
• Best Use: PvP

While Unwavering Duty is a competent PvE weapon, it’s in PvP where this Machine Gun excels. Not only is it an Adaptive frame, which is the strongest archetype in PvP, but it also gets access to both Dynamic Sway Reduction and Tap The Trigger, making it incredibly accurate.

A PvP-focused machine gun may seem strange, but this is a reward from Trials of Osiris, so it’s only fitting. Besides, Unwavering Duty is still a solid option in PvE, with Subsistence keeping the magazine filled and Incandescent providing obvious add-clear potential. We probably wouldn’t recommend using it over Fixed Odds in PvE, but if you happen to own one of these, there’s no harm in giving it a go.

Qullim’s Terminus

Dexerto

• Element: Stasis
• Archetype: High-Impact
• Source: King’s Fall
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

If Solar builds felt they were lacking top-tier options, Stasis mains are in an even tougher position. Qullim’s Terminus is one of just two competitive Machine Guns they can use, but it is at least a very good one, especially in PvP, where it is one of the most accurate Heavy weapons in Destiny 2.

Even in PvE, it stands out for getting access to Unrelenting in the third column. If you pair this perk with Killing Tally, this weapon provides a freakish amount of healing, keeping you alive while you gun down legions of enemies. As such, this is a great choice in content where you are forced to take damage due to a lack of cover or because there’s just so many combatants.

Speleologist

Dexerto

• Element: Solar
• Archetype: Rapid-Fire
• Source: Episode: Echoes seasonal activities
• Best Use: PvE

Speleologist got somewhat of a bad reception when it was first added in Episode: Echoes, but this Machine Gun is way better than most players give it credit. It might not be S-Tier, but this Solar weapon has a fairly strong perk pool and an Origin Trait that causes targets to explode, improving its ability to deal with enemies quickly.

Admittedly, Rapid-Fire Frames aren’t exactly meta right now, but you can do a whole lot worse than using this gun. This is especially true if you are a newer player who doesn’t have access to the S-Tier options yet or just someone who desperately needs a Solar Machine Gun. You’ll want to upgrade eventually, but this is a perfectly viable seasonal weapon that fills a useful niche.

Avalanche

Dexerto

• Element: Solar
• Archetype: Adaptive
• Source: The Dawning
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

Much like Speleologist, Avalanche was not well received initially, but that was mostly due to the timing of its reprisal. A lot of players had moved on to other games when Dawning 2023 was live, but that doesn’t mean isn’t a good gun. After all, it gets Rewind Rounds and Incandescent, which are S-Tier worthy perks, and it’s even an Adaptive Frame, the best all-around option.

So, why is it near the bottom end of A-Tier? Unfortunately, Avalanche has a bizarre issue where its ammo reserves are tiny compared to other Machine Guns. This makes it painfully inefficient from an ammo perspective, which is far from ideal on a gun you want to be using as often as possible. However, if Bungie ever fixes this, Avalanche will be one of the best Machine Guns in Destiny 2.

Archon’s Thunder

Dexerto

• Element: Stasis
• Archetype: High-Impact
• Source: Iron Banner
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

This legacy weapon was reprised in Episode: Revenant, and it’s gotten a nice set of new perks that make it a very viable option, especially since Stasis Machine Guns are few and far between. Not to mention, this season is very much Stasis-focused, so you’ll want to pick this up for its synergy with the Revenant artifact, which most other Machine Guns won’t be able to utilize at all.

It isn’t anything too special, but Killing Tally is always a top option that provides a 30% damage boost and is easy to activate. Likewise, Envious Assassin doubles the weapon’s magazine size, minimizing how often you’ll need to reload. Archon’s Thunder is a competitive option in PvP too, although Adaptive Frames are typically preferred to High-Impact Frames.

Heir Apparent

Dexerto

• Element: Solar
• Source: Guardian Games
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

Heir Apparent is perhaps the most unique Machine Gun in Destiny 2, acting as a minigun of sorts that is fired from the hip. However, that’s not what makes it useful, but rather that it can create an Arc shield that protects you from incoming projectiles. This effect is greatly enhanced by its catalyst too, so you’ll want to get that when the chance arises.

Its mobile shield means Heir Apparent is one of the very few weapons that enables a Tank-like playstyle, letting you pull aggro while your teammates deal damage safely. That doesn’t just apply in PvE either, as this gun is unironically strong in PvP, as the shield can be used to control areas and capture objectives with ease.

B-Tier

WEAPON	ARCHETYPE	PVE GOD ROLL	PVP GOD ROLL
Xenophage	Solar(Exotic)	Curated Roll	Curated Roll
Recurrent Impact	Stasis (Rapid Fire)	SubsistenceFrenzy	Perpetual MotionTap The Trigger
Circular Logic	Strand(Adaptive)	Feeding FrenzyHatchling	Keep AwayEye of the Storm
The SWARM	Arc(High-Impact)	Feeding FrenzyDragonfly	Dynamic Sway ReductionTarget Lock
Deterministic Chaos	Void(Exotic)	Curated Roll	Curated Roll
Retrofit Escapade	Void(Rapid-Fire)	Fourth Time’s the CharmTarget Lock	Zen MomentTap The Trigger
Qua Xaphan V	Void(High-Impact)	Triple TapDestabilizing Rounds	Dynamic Sway ReductionElemental Capacitor
Terminus Horizon	Arc(High-Impact)	Triple TapTarget Lock	Triple TapTarget Lock
A Fine Memorial	Arc(Adaptive)	SubsistenceFrenzy	QuickdrawSnapshot Sights
Marcato-45	Strand(Adaptive)	Triple TapOnslaught	Threat DetectorUnder-Over
Shattered Cipher	Void(Rapid-Fire)	Auto-Loading HolsterRampage	SlidewaysSnapshot Sights
Temporal Clause	Void(Rapid-Fire)	Auto-Loading HolsterRampage	QuickdrawEye of the Storm
Thermal Erosion	Solar(Rapid-Fire)	Field PrepDragonfly	Zen MomentSnapshot Sights

C-Tier

WEAPON	ARCHETYPE	PVE GOD ROLL	PVP GOD ROLL
Edgewise	Solar(Rapid-Fire)	Feeding FrenzyRampage	Field PrepRampage
Chain of Command	Stasis(Adaptive)	OsmosisDemolitionist	Adrenaline JunkieDemolitionist
Grand Overture	Arc(Exotic)	Curated Roll	Curated Roll
Planck’s Stride	Arc(Rapid-Fire)	Grave RobberSwashbuckler	Perpetual MotionTap The Trigger
Bane of Sorrow	Void(High-Impact)	Feeding FrenzyRampage	Snapshot SightsHigh-Impact Reserves
Eleatic Principle	Arc(Rapid-Fire)	Eddy CurrentTarget Lock	Zen MomentRangefinder
Seventh Seraph SAW	Arc(High-Impact)	Auto-Loading HolsterFiring Line	Zen MomentElemental Capacitor
Exitus Mk1	Void(Adaptive)	Killing Wind	Killing Wind

For more ideas on what to use on your next Destiny 2 loadout, check out our recommendations for the best Hand Cannons, Auto Rifles, Submachine Guns, and Rocket Launchers, as well as all the new weapons added in Episode Revenant.