Destiny 2: 14 BEST Fusion Weapons With Hands-on Experience

Whether you’re pushing back combatants of the darkness in PVE or battling against Guardians in PVP, the list of the best Destiny 2 Fusion Rifles is something that every player may want to know sooner or later. Fusion rifles are charged energy rifles that mainly take up your secondary slot as special weapons. These weapons are most notable for their viability in close-range situations when used in short and quick bursts on your foes.

Destiny 2 Best Fusion Rifles & Comparison

Here’s a summary of the 14 best Fusion Rifles in Destiny 2:

1. Riptide

The Riptide is a Stasis fusion rifle introduced with Season of the Haunted and can be obtained via the Crucible Loot pool or by decoding Crucible engrams at Lord Shaxx. It is also worth stating that the weapon can also be focus decoded from Shaxx so you can have a better chance at obtaining the God roll, provided your excessive engrams won’t go to waste on other gear.

Furthermore, the Riptide also features an Origin trait called One-Quiet Moment, which grants increased reload speed when out of combat.

Pros

• The perks for the PVE God roll are Chill Clip and Auto-loading Holster, as the former allows you to freeze targets momentarily, and the latter reloads the weapon when stowed away for a brief period.
• What makes the Riptide the Best Destiny 2 Fusion Rifle for PVE and at the top of my list is solely due to Chill Clip which can help freeze Champions and major-type enemies in tough activities such as Grandmaster Nightfalls.
• Accelerated Coils will allow you to shoot the Riptide even faster, making that second burst after the initial one fire off quickly with Chill Clip.
• Lastly, the weapon is highly accessible, as you must complete Crucible Playlist activities to gain XP with Lord Shaxx and receive engrams or gear.

Cons

• Despite being part of the Crucible loot pool, the range is too low for it to compete against most weapons of the Meta in PVP.
• Trying to acquire the God roll can be a hassle, especially if you do not enjoy PVP and would rather grind activities in PVE.

2. Vex Mythoclast

The beloved Exotic weapon, Vex Mythoclast, returns from the original Destiny back on consoles in all its powerful glory, albeit with some fine-tuning so that it doesn’t instantly melt Guardians in PVP. The weapon can only be acquired by completing and defeating Atheon, the final encounter in the Vault of Glass raid. The main exotic perk is called Timeless Mythoclast, which makes the weapon fire full auto when in its default firing mode.

Furthermore, the alternate firing mode called Temporal Unlimiter will Swap firing modes when fully Overcharged, and during this time, holding down the trigger will allow you to charge up and fire more powerful linear fusion shots. Lastly, the Vex Mythoclast Catalyst will provide the weapon with increased damage, accuracy, and stability on kills during the full auto mode.

Pros

• The Vex Mythoclast, much like its days from Destiny 1, shreds almost everything in both PVP and PVE using its strong burst shots while in full auto mode.
• The catalyst significantly boosts its viability, almost making it overpowered in some scenarios for PVP.
• You can farm the final encounter of the raid in order to obtain the weapon just as long as the Vault of Glass is the weekly featured raid in Destiny 2.
• It has fantastic burst fire to damage major-type enemies greatly and, in some instances, champion enemies too.

Cons

• The alt-firing mode of the Vex Mythoclast, where it turns into a Linear Fusion, does not have viable damage in comparison to the other Best Linear Fusion Rifles in Destiny 2.
• Unfortunately, despite being powerful in almost any scenario, the weapon does not support any Champion mods in its exotic intrinsic perk.

3. Loaded Question

The Loaded Question is an Arc fusion rifle introduced back in Season 5 during the Forsaken expansion’s annual pass. Since then, the weapon has been consistently part of the Vanguard loot pool, and if you still don’t have it, you can use Focus Decoding to farm its best perks from Zavala on the Tower. The Loaded Question (along wither Vanguard weapons) has the following two Origin trait perks to choose from:

• Stunning Recovery: Stunning a Champion partially refills your magazine, triggers health regeneration, and improves recovery for a short duration.
• Vanguard’s Vindication: Final blows with this weapon grant a small amount of health.

Pros

• In my opinion, the best perks for the optimal God Roll can vary from Demolitionist or Envious Assassin in the first column to Controlled or Reservoir Burst in the last column.
• The Loaded Question is also a fantastic fusion rifle for PVP with perks such as Accelerated Coils or Under Pressure.
• The High-Impact frame helps it easily mow down the health bar of major enemies in PVE as well as the health bar of Guardians in PVP.

Cons

• Perks such as Frenzy might come off as useless, plus switching to the weapon can be rather slow due to the handling stats.
• Unless you have a range masterwork, there is quite a damage falloff when using the Loaded Question at long-range distances.

4. One Thousand Voices

The One Thousand Voices, similar to the Vex Mythoclast, is another raid exotic fusion rifle that is obtained through the Last Wish raid in the Forsaken DLC. It is quite possibly one of the unique fusion rifles on my list, as the weapon does have any direct damage but instead fires a charged beam that unleashes a trail of explosions on the target after impact. The special exotic perks are the following:

• Ahamkara’s Eye: Charging this weapon unleashes a giant continuous beam of death.
• Unforeseen Repercussions: This weapon’s beam superheats its targets upon impact, causing delayed explosions.

It is worth noting that the Weapon can only have a chance to drop if you open one of the 24 chests after completing the Queenswalk encounter. The key to the chests is obtained by defeating Riven of a Thousand Voices, the final boss of the raid.

Pros

• The weapon can easily take out numerous targets in PVP if you use the trailing beam efficiently on the environment to make it explode on impact.
• The explosion damage is optimal for bosses but, most importantly, can quickly annihilate many crowded trash mobs easily.
• With the new changes in Season 21, you can now increase the drop chances of the One Thousand Voices by completing Raid Triumphs such as Petra’s Run or “The New Meta.”

Cons

• The slow charge time of the weapon can make it tedious to use in PVP, as you likely be an easy target to kill when charging it up.
• The limited ammo reserves can make DPS cycles on bosses severely lackluster compared to the many other Best Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2.
• As of Season 21, there is no exotic catalyst for the weapon to improve its perks or properties.

5. Midha’s Reckoning

The Midha’s Reckoning can be found via the King’s Fall raid loot pool. Most specifically, the weapon has a chance to drop by completing either the Golgoroth boss fight or the final encounter against Oryx, the Taken King. You can also craft the weapon once you successfully acquire five deepsight weapon patterns for it.

You can also obtain the harrowed or “adept” variant of the weapon via the Master Difficulty version of the raid. Midha’s Reckoning. The unique origin trait of King’s Fall weapons, which is also featured on this weapon, is known as the following:

• Runneth Over: Reloading near allies overflows the magazine.

Pros

• The weapon has a good selection of perks, but the best ones for the Godroll can vary between either Field Prep or Backup plan and Reservoir Burst.
• We strongly recommend crafting the weapon and using the Enhanced versions of the godroll perks to make it an efficient fusion rifle for PVP and PVE.
• The Backup Plan perk makes the Midha’s Reckoning the best PVP Destiny 2 Fusion Rifles since it grants you a reduced charge time and handling upon hot-swapping to it.

Cons

• The reload speed is extremely subpar; you won’t feel any noticeable differences even with a reload speed masterwork.
• The Rapid-Fire fusions will always be a popular choice over the High-impact ones like Midha’s Reckoning due to their charge time and handling.

6. Deliverance

The Deliverance is a Stasis element fusion rifle in the primary weapon slot, which is found via the Vow of the Disciple raid in the Witch Queen expansion. I might even consider calling it one of the best kinetic weapons in Destiny 2 due to the fact it is the strongest fusion rifle for PVE due to its stasis element. You can acquire it via the first and third encounters, respectively, plus the Deliverance is also craftable.

Pros

• Chill Clip is the best perk for the fabled godroll as they will allow you to continuously freeze targets such as champions and even bosses.
• You can also opt to craft it and use enhanced demolitions, which is great for Grenade-based builds for all classes, especially if you’re using stasis.
• Overall, the weapon is reliable on all fronts and has adequate stats, which can be boosted via masterworks of your preference.

Cons

• Deliverance, in comparison to other Fusion Rifles, has a perk pool where almost half of them are pretty subpar.
• It is a decent fusion rifle for PVP, but in my personal experience, there are better options than it, such as Midha’s Reckoning.

7. Iterative Loop

The Iterative Loop is a rapid-fire frame fusion rifle that was introduced to players with the Lightfall expansion and can be obtained as a random drop by completing various activities on Neomuna or ranking up with Nimbus. You can also farm it via the Terminal Overload activity via the final chests in the activity. Much like the other Neomuna weapons, it also has a unique origin trait which is known as the following:

• Nanotech Tracer Rockets: Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket.

Pros

• The best perks for the weapon are either under pressure or compulsive reloader and Voltshot.
• Voltshot is an interesting perk that can greatly help with ad clear and make the weapon fun to use, as reloading this weapon after defeating a target overcharges it for a short period of time, allowing you to cause a jolt on its next hit.
• Iterative Loop is great for PVP, as experimenting with perks such as an enhanced elemental capacitor or Kickstart and counterbalance mod can make it viable.

Cons

• Despite being a rapid-fire frame, the Iterative Loop lacks in range.
• You might need to adjust to the playstyle of the weapon in order to successfully kill targets in PVP with a single burst at mid-range scenarios.

8. Zealot’s Reward

The Zealot’s Reward is a void element fusion rifle that can be found in the Garden of Salvation raid’s loot pool, most specifically by completing the first encounter. The weapon has a few notable qualities, with a few unique perks which are otherwise not found on most fusion rifles that exist in the game right now.

Pros

• The Zealot’s Reward has some special perks, such as Rampage and Feeding Frenzy, which are all highly viable against targets in PVE.
• Another great aspect of the weapon is that every gun barrel for it in the first perk column is fantastic for both PVP and PVE activities.
• Perks such as under pressure and High-impact rounds are especially great for PVP on long-range maps since the weapon has a relatively low charge time.

Cons

• Although Feeding Frenzy is a great perk for most Destiny 2 weapons, it is useless on the Zealot’s Reward since it already has a decent reload speed.
• Again, Rapid-Fire frame archetype fusion rifles for PVP can only pertain to specific players and their playstyles, so it may or may not be the best choice of weapons for you.

9. Null Composure

The Null Composure is a seasonal exclusive void fusion rifle that was obtainable during the Season of the Splicer in Destiny 2. During this season, you could tackle a questline called “A Sacred Fusion,” which allowed you to obtain the weapon for free. Thankfully, the weapon is purchasable via the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower from the Legacy Gear Tab.

• However, it will cost you precisely 75,000 Glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement prisms, and 1x Ascendant Shard to acquire it through there.

Pros

• Null Composure comes equipped with the perks such as feeding frenzy and reservoir burst.
• If you are running a void build, especially on a Warlock or Hunter, the weapon may synergize well, but it also comes down to what seasonal artifact mods are available too.
• Due to the past rapid-fire frame fusion rifles receiving a buff, perks such as Reservoir Burst can make trash fodder ad clear an easy job in endgame activities such as the Root of Nightmares raid.

Cons

• The weapon drastically lacks impact damage compared to other similar weapons in its archetype, such as the Loaded Question.
• It is a viable fusion rifle to use on close-range maps of The Crucible in PVP.

10. Merciless

The Merciless is a Solar element exotic fusion rifle that has been in Destiny 2 since its original release. The most notable quality of the weapon that I can remember from the vanilla days is how it used to be a dominant DPS weapon back in the PVE meta since it features the following unique perks:

• Conserve Momentum: Hits with projectiles decrease this weapon’s charge time for a short duration
• Impetus: Reloading immediately after a kill increases weapon damage for a short time.

So essentially, as long as you keep firing the weapon, it will simultaneously reduce the charge time, making it fire off in fast bursts like a laser. You can acquire the Merciless via exotic engrams, purchasing it from Xur’s weekly inventories, or have a chance to obtain it through his exotic engram too. Lastly, the exotic catalyst can also be found as a random drop during Strikes or even Nightfalls.

Pros

• Using the Solar subclass fragments with Radiant, you can indefinitely boost the weapon’s damage enough to make it a capable weapon for a decent burst DPS.
• From most Year 1 exotics, the merciless received the best fine-tuning adjustments and now allows you to maintain the reduced charge time longer, making it much more than a single-target weapon.
• The Exotic catalyst upgrades the Range and Stability by +40, making it an absolute must-have for both PVP and PVE activities.

Cons

• The weapon taking up an exotic slot in your inventory might be a deal-breaker for a few players who just prefer an ordinary yet viable legendary fusion rifle.
• Without the catalyst, the Merciless severely lacks an optimal range.
• Most exotic weapons in the current PVE meta outclass the Merciless in terms of overall DPS output.

11. Jötunn

Ever wanted a weapon that fires a literal canon shot and hits like a truck? That’s the Jotunn. The weapon was first introduced with the launch of the Black Armory during the Forsaken DLC’s annual pass. Following are the unique perks of the Jotunn fusion rifle:

• Charge Shot: Hold down the trigger to charge up a tracking shot that explodes and burns on impact.
• Shield Disorient: Energy-matched shield explosion disorients nearby combatants.

The weapon also has an exotic catalyst, which is obtained through any playlist activity such as strikes, Crucible, and Gambit. The exotic catalyst will grant the Jotunn the following perks to enhance its capability:

• Cornered: Faster charge or draw time when surrounded by combatants.
• Incandescent: Defeating a target spreads scorch to those nearby.

Pros

• Personally, I love the fact that the Jotunn allows me to one-shot the oracles found in the Vault of Glass raid, even on master difficulty.
• With the catalyst, the Jotunn becomes a mini-rocket launcher in PVE, as Incandescent will allow you to destroy groups of ads swiftly.
• The weapon has tracking projectiles, so you can also freely use it while aiming in hip-fire.
• Despite being hated by almost every single player in the community, the Jotunn can one-shot most Guardians in PVP.

Cons

• For challenging activities such as raids or Grandmaster Nightfalls, you may find other weapons to be ideal to help you in most situations.
• The travel speed of the charged projectiles is slow, so you may have to practice with the weapon’s viability.
• The Jotunn has low handling and reload speed.

12. Bastion

The Bastion is another unique fusion rifle in Destiny 2 due to its exotic status and perks, plus the original method that was used to unlock it. The weapon was introduced back in Season of the Dawn as part of a special quest where the community participated in exploring the Corridors of Time mission.

But since then, you can now acquire the weapon via the exotic archive kiosk for 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Legendary Shards, 1x Exotic Cipher, and 1x Ascendant Shard. Following are the unique perks for the Bastion:

• Saint’s Fists: Charge to fire three spreads of kinetic slugs.
• Breakthrough: This weapon fires [Stagger] staggering projectiles, which are strong against Unstoppable Champions.

Pros

• It is currently the only fusion rifle in Destiny 2 that can dish out kinetic damage.
• The weapon offers great utility using its staggering shots, allowing you to stun Unstoppable champions in Nightfalls or other seasonal activities.
• It has an excellent range in both PVP and PVE, as the slug rounds can travel even across an 18m gap between you and your aimed target.
• Each three-burst shot fired from the Bastion can easily help you kill major enemies or mini-bosses with ease.

Cons

• I highly advise you against using the weapon for endgame or pinnacle content since there are better meta weapons that outshine it.
• Outside of PVP, there are still better options as the weapon’s overall DPS may lack compared to most meta-PVE weapons.

13. Delicate Tomb

The Delicate Tomb is yet another exotic fusion rifle with the arc element that was launched with the Season of the Plunder. It is a former seasonal exotic which comes equipped with the following unique perks:

• Traitor’s Vessel: Fires a wide horizontal spread when shot from the hip, and Final blows with this weapon have a chance to generate Ionic Traces. Powerful foes and opposing Guardians always generate Ionic Traces.
• Tempest Cascade: Collecting an Ionic Trace overcharges this weapon’s next shot, jolting targets on hit.
• Furthermore, it also has an exotic catalyst that will grant it a perk called Ionic Internment; collecting an ionic trace partially reloads the magazine from reserves.

The Delicate Tomb can be purchased from the Witch Queen Exotics tab in the Exotic archive kiosk for 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Legendary Shards, 1x Exotic Cipher, and 1x Ascendant Shard.

Pros

• For Arc subclass builds, the Delicate Tomb becomes one of the best PVE weapons in Destiny 2 because its horizontal spread shots can synergize with your arc abilities.
• If you have the catalyst, it will boost its effectiveness even more, as you won’t have to reload too often.
• I personally loved using this weapon during Arc 3.0 buffs, as using pulse grenades or storm grenades made my Titan a wrecking ball in PVE.

Cons

• Regarding PVP prowess, the weapon is just not suitable since you will want to use any other normal fusion rifle to defeat other Guardians easily.
• Aside from using Arc subclass builds or for flexibility in clearing ads, the weapon does not offer adequate damage in endgame content or activities.

14. Telesto

It finally brings us to the last fusion rifle on our, but don’t let the ranking deceive you about my opinion of the weapon, as the Telesto has remained one of the most fun exotics to use in Destiny 2. The Telesto is a returning exotic from Destiny 1; although it had quite a few game-breaking issues over the span of its existence, it is still a great void fusion rifle that has access to the following special perks:

• Unplanned Reprieve: Fusion projectiles attach and detonate with a delayed Void blast.
• Harbinger’s Pulse: Multikills with this weapon immediately reload your equipped Kinetic and Energy weapons from the reserve.
   

The Telesto also has an exotic catalyst which can be found via completions of either Master or Legendary difficulty Lost Sectors. Furthermore, obtaining and completing the catalyst will grant the weapon +40 ammo reserves as well as +3 shots in the magazine.

Pros

• Despite the weapon receiving some comical relief perks during an event, the Telesto’s fusion projectile detonation is great for ad clearing.
• Warlock Void subclass builds can take advantage of the Telesto since its burst damage can help with ability or grenade recharge builds.
• In PVP, you can easily defeat Guardians by using the sticky projectiles on the environment.
• Since Season 18, the Telesto has received a rework that has significantly changed its projectiles which will now help you easily gain kills, especially in PVP.

Cons

• Although it has adequate overall stats, the Telesto lacks long-range distances.
• The 820 charge time can be a downside, especially if you’re not used to that archetype of Fusion Rifles.

Best Fusion Rifle Ranking Criteria

I (Steam Name: LIONT4MER) was chosen to create the following list of the best Fusion Rifles. I have over 2000+ hours of experience across Destiny 1, back on old-gen consoles, and now Destiny 2. Having up-to-date information regarding the current meta, sandbox, and feedback from fellow clan members allowed me to discuss each weapon accordingly and with their best positions in both PVP and PVE.

For now, this wraps up my guide, and if you’re still on the fence about playing or starting this game, then I highly recommend you to check out my Review of Destiny 2, in which I briefly discussed each expansion as well as how the game has shaped since its initial launch back in 2017.

Destiny 2 has remained one of the top dog looter shooters in the industry, and despite its shortcomings, Bungie continues to strive at its utmost to deliver a challenging yet welcoming experience for its player base, both veterans and casuals. If you have any other questions regarding the article, please let me know in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• Destiny 2: How to Get Trinity Ghoul
• Destiny 2 Festival Of The Lost Secret Triumph
• Destiny 2: How To Farm Artifice Armor
• Destiny 2 Unlock Deterministic Chaos