Destiny 2 offers a myriad of choices when it comes to Auto Rifles, with the classic weapon type being amongst the most reliable in the sandbox.
There’s an unmatched appeal to Auto Rifles, as they are attractively simple while remaining effective. Gone are the days when Auto Rifles were considered average, as in the current meta, they are frequently used in Raids, Dungeons, and even GM Nightfalls.
Auto Rifles are in an excellent spot right now, providing a great balance of damage, ease of use, and consistency. Using either Legendary or Exotic weapons in this weapon class ensures that you have a strong Primary, regardless of the type of content you prefer.
This ranking is solely based on how strong each Auto Rifle is in the current sandbox. Some are tricky to grind and farm, but everything recommended here is worth the trouble. After all, it’s paramount that you use the best weapons possible to avoid letting down your team.
Auto Rifle 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
S-Tier
Khvostov 7G-0X
Khvostov is a brilliant introduction to The Final Shape for PvP players.
- Element: Kinetic
- Source: The Pale Heart Exotic Quest
- Best Use: PvE + PvP
Khvostov 7G-0X is one of the best weapons introduced to Destiny 2 in The Final Shape. This weapon has a special perk where every seventh bullet deals additional damage and ricochets to nearby targets, which is deadly, no matter what part of the sandbox it’s used in. Even after it was nerfed, Khvostov has remained one of the most used weapons in PvP.
Considering it can hold 43 bullets in its magazine, you can easily shred through multiple enemies without having to reload. The catch is that obtaining Khvostov 7G-0X involves a time-consuming Exotic quest, but given its incredible strength, you’ll want to go and do it.
The Summoner
DexertoThe Summoner is one of the best Auto Rifles in Destiny 2 PvP.
- Element: Solar
- Archetype: Adaptive
- Source: Trials of Osiris
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
The Summoner is one of the most iconic Destiny weapons of all time. Its legacy isn’t just for show either, with this being one of the best PvP weapons you can use, with it shredding through enemies in both 6v6 and 3v3.
While the Heal Clip and Kill Clip combo is pretty good, it’s Onslaught that makes this weapon such a scary prospect. The only challenge is that you’ll have to play Trials of Osiris to farm The Summoner, which can be brutal if you aren’t used to high-level PvP.
Ammit AR2
BungieAmmit AR2 is the best medium to long-range Auto rifle, and it’s both craftable and easy to get.
- Element: Solar
- Archetype: Precision
- Source: Gunsmith
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
The Ammit AR2 has a fantastic Origin Trait in Omolon Fluid Dynamics, spectacular range, and access to the unreal combination of Dynamic Sway Reduction and Tap the Trigger. Honestly, this weapon does not have any unique trick to it, but rather it’s just so well-rounded that there’s no reason not to use it.
You can run it with anything you like, and it works. Additionally, the red border for this weapon is extremely easy to get, being received as a reward for completing The Witch Queen campaign. This makes Ammit AR2 by far the most accessible Auto Rifle that dominates the PvP meta.
Rufus’s Fury
BungieRufus’s Fury has established itself as the best Strand Auto Rifle to use in PvE.
- Element: Strand
- Archetype: Rapid Fire
- Source: Root of Nightmares Raid
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
As Legendary Auto Rifles go, it doesn’t get better than Rufus’s Fury. This weapon offers the exact same benefits as Abyss Defiant, except for Strand builds rather than Solar. Rufus’s Fury being Rapid Fire Frame means it works brilliantly against Minors, with this frame performing extremely well in the current sandbox.
Additionally, this gun is a lot more accessible when compared to something like The Summoner since Root of Nightmares is an easy raid, even for new players.
A-Tier
Age Old Bond
BungieAge Old Bond is a powerful Auto Rifle for Void subclasses.
- Element: Void
- Archetype: High Impact
- Source: Last Wish Raid
- Best Use: PvE
This is the best Auto Rifle to use if you are running a Void build, especially on Warlocks. The Repulsor Brace and Destabilizing Round combo let you constantly upkeep a Void Shield and easily proc Volatile Rounds, which are great for add clear.
Additionally, these perks make it possible to keep Devour active for prolonged periods if you keep getting kills, greatly improving sustain. When taking on some of Destiny’s hardest content, sustain becomes more important than raw damage, making Age Old Bond a strong choice for high-power activities.
No Hesitation
BungieNo Hesitation introduces a brand new Auto Rifle archetype, the Support Frame.
- Element: Solar
- Archetype: Support
- Source: The Pale Heart
- Best Use: PvE
No Hesitation was added in The Final Shape. This is a Support Frame weapon where dealing damage builds a restorative charge. You can then hip-fire the weapon to heal your allies. However, don’t fall into the newbie trap of assuming this is just a fun yet niche healing gun.
No Hesitation is at its best when it’s treated like a Solar AR that can also heal, rather than a healing gun that gets Solar perks. Use this weapon just like you would other meta Solar Auto Rifles like Ammit AR2, and it won’t let you down.
Abyss Defiant
BungieAbyss Defiant is one of the best pieces of loot to farm from Crota’s End.
- Element: Solar
- Archetype: High Impact
- Source: Crota’s End Raid
- Best Use: PvE
This is one of the best Auto Rifles you can use in PvE right now. The reason why this weapon is so good is because of its perk combination and accessibility for those who enjoy raiding. The Heal Clip/Kill Clip combination helps with damage and sustainability, while the combination of Reconstruction/Incandescent works well with Solar builds.
The fact you can craft this weapon makes Abyss Defiant even better, as lets you pick whatever Masterwork you want for extra stats. The only downside is that you will need to find a couple of players to run the Crota’s End raid, which can be tricky to do.
Quicksilver Storm
DexertoQuicksilver Storm is everything an Exotic Auto Rifle should be.
- Element: Strand
- Source: Monument to Lost Lights
- Best Use: PvE + PvP
While Rufus’s Fury works best with Warlocks, Quicksilver Storm is the Auto Rifle of choice for Hunter and Titan mains. This weapon hits hard and the Grenades hit even harder. You can deal around 45,000 – 50,000 damage per shot with Grenade Chaser, which makes this one of the very few Primary weapons that can easily dispose of Majors.
Also, this Exotic weapon fires at 720 RPM, which makes it an ideal choice for efficient add clear. All you need to do is not miss your shots as that will make recharging the Grenades a bit difficult, especially following this gun’s hefty nerfs in Season 23
Centrifuse
BungieCentrifuse is a powerful Arc Auto Rifle with a shocking twist.
- Element: Arc
- Source: Monument to Lost Lights
- Best Use: PvE + PvP
Centrifuse is an Exotic gun that was introduced in Season 21. This unique Exotic hardly ever has to be reloaded, as it automatically tops up the magazine as you run around. That, plus its unique trait granting it greatly increased range, makes this AR a superb all-around choice for run and gun playstyles.
Once you use it with an Arc build, you can get a kill, proc the Amplified buff, and zip around the map at breakneck speed. You should consider using this weapon with something like The Stag or any meta Prismatic Exotic.
Looking for a meta Destiny 2 loadout to pair with these Auto Rifles? Check out the best Hunter builds, Titan builds, and Warlock builds to use in The Final Shape. You’ll also want to keep on top of the current Dungeon and Raid rotation to make sure you don’t miss out on Exotics from those encounters.
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