Beyond Light 

Destiny 2 – The Best Energy Weapons from DLCs And Free-To-Play

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Today I am going to look at some of the best energy weapons in Destiny 2. First I am going to run down some of my favourites that are locked behind DLCs, then I’ll highlight some of the best that you can get as a free-to-play player.

This is part of the series where I look at the best weapons in each slot. Previously I’ve had a look at some of the best kinetic weapons, and you can check out that guide here on This Week In Video Games. Today I turn my attention to Energy weapons, plus how to get them.

First of all, let’s check out the DLC locked Energy weapons.

DLC Locked Energy Weapons

Cloudstrike (Sniper)

Cloudstrike is an Exotic Energy Sniper Rifle

  • Mortal Polarity – Precision final blows generate a lightning bolt at the target’s location.
  • Stormbringer – Rapid precision hits create a lightning storm at the point of impact.

Cloudstrike is a random drop from the Weekly Empire Hunts activity, it’s a rare drop. You can easily speedrun the Weekly Empire Hunts. Getting a drop of Cloudstrike is a random drop, and to get mine I had to run about 15 Empire Hunts, so do be prepared for a bit of a grind for this one. I don’t know if more difficult activities mean a higher chance of getting it, but it’s worth testing.

Adored (Sniper)

Adored is a Legendary Energy Sniper Rifle which has an Adaptive Frame – A well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy. This one is a fixed roll and it comes full masterworked The perks on the weapon are

  • Hammer Forged Rifling for increased range
  • Accurized Rounds for more range

Then you have some options in the third slot

  • Triple Tap – Rapidly landing precision hits will return one round to the mag
  • Killing Wind – Final blows increase mobility, range and handling for a short duration
    and some options in the fourth slot too
  • Vorpal Weapon – Increased damage against bosses, vehicles and guardians in their super
  • Snapshot Sights – Faster time to aim down sights

There are some nice options for both PVE and PVP here. For example, in PVP snapshot sights is a given and that would go nicely with Killing Wind. In PVE Triple Tap and Vorpal Weapon would be very good, so you can mix and match the perks to find a combo that works for you.

This is the persuit weapon for Season of the Hunt, so pick up the quest from Banshee-44. Bungie recently announced this quest is sticking around next season, so if you haven’t got it then now is a great time to do so.

Eriana’s Vow (Hand Cannon)

Eriana’s Vow Exotic Energy Hand Cannon

  • Looks Can Kill – This weapon fires special [Shield-Piercing] shield-piercing ammunition. It comes with a scope. Strong against Barrier Champions.
  • Death at First Glance – Bonus damage when aiming down sights on the opening shot of an attack. This bonus is preserved if the shot deals precision damage or strikes an elemental shield.

You can pick this one up from the Exotic Kiosk, but I have a feeling it’s locked behind Shadowkeep DLC.

Arctic Haze (Auto Rifle)

Arctic Haze is a Legendary Energy Auto Rifle is a Rapid-Fire Frame that means deeper ammo reserves and it deals Solar damage.

For PVP Killing Wind and Elemental Capacitor would be a good roll and for PVE Outlaw and Vorpal Weapon would be good. This one can also roll with Thresh, and that’s included in the most popular roll out there at the moment as it’s Killing Wind and Thresh. Thresh is great because you get a small amount of super energy on kills.

To get this weapon you can get this from the direct quest you can pick up from Variks’. Have a chat with Variks on Europa and check out page 2. Here you can select a specific mission for Arctic Haze. The objectives for the mission are random, so check out your objectives, complete it and then Arctic Haze will drop for you.

Free-to-play Energy Weapons

Gnawing Hunger (Auto Rifle)

This is an adaptive frame auto rifle that goes in the energy slot, it’s a 600 rounds per minute auto with 43 in the magazine and shoots void damage. For PVE lookout for Rampage, Subsistence and Extended or Appended mag. For PVP Kill clip, Zen Moment and Accurized Rounds.

This one is a random drop from activities, so keep an eye out at the end of strikes, cruicble, gambit and when you rank up at vendors like the Gunsmith in the tower. It’s also a reward from engrams.

Seventh Seraph CQC (Shotgun)

Seventh Seraph CQC is a Legendary Energy Shotgun which is a Lightweight Frame meaning it has Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped. For PVP Quickdraw and Snapshot Sights is a good roll, and PVE Slideshot and Vorpal Weapon would be one to look out for. The most popular roll out there with the community right now is Quickdraw and Snapshot Sights. Seventh Seraph CQC is also up there amongst the most popular weapons for competitive PVP right now sitting at number 4 only below Felwinter’s Lie, The Steady Hand and Adored.

To get this weapon you simply have to run activities like PVP, Strikes, Gambit and Public Events. This is part of the Season 12 loot pool, so it’s a random drop from activities. Unfortunately, this does mean there’s no sure way to get this weapon, you have to pray to the RNG gods and keep your fingers crossed. I’ve seen a somewhere between 3-5 drops in the past few weeks, so it does seem pretty available.

Ikelos SMG

This is a legendary energy submachine gun that deals arc damage. It’s an aggressive frame SMG, which means high damage and high recoil. For PVE I would go for something like Disruption Break and Grave Robber as per the curated roll. Vorpal plus Threat Detector would also be good. For PVP Tap The Trigger and Dynamic Sway Reduction would be good.

This is a great SMG, and it spawns Warmind Cells, so it’s good for builds. This is another random drop from activities, so look out in chests at the end of activities and ranking up at vendors. It can also be a reward from strikes, cruicble, gambit and public events.

The Fool’s Remedy (Sidearm)

The Fool’s Remedy is a legendary solar sidearm that sits in the energy slot. It’s a SUROS Rapid-fire frame sidearm meaning it’s full auto with deeper ammo reserves. It also has slightly faster reload when the magazine is empty.

For PVP something like moving target and eye of the storm would be good. For PVE feeding frenzy and kill clip would be a nice roll.

To get this weapon it’s a drop from Iron Banner. It’s still dropping in Beyond Light, even though it was a reward in Season 11. Gather as many Iron Banner tokens as you can and turn them into Lord Saladin at the Tower when Iron Banner is on.

Risk Runner (SMG)

Risk Runner is good if you’re going to be going up against tanky enemies offering up Arc Damage, as the intrinsic perk on Risk Runner is Arc Conductor. When taking Arc Damage the weapon becomes more powerful and resists incoming Arc Damage. Kills extend the time in this overcharged state. It also has a perk called Super Conductor, when Arc Conductor is active shots fired have the chance the become chain lightning and return ammo.

You can get this weapon from the New Light quest.

Graviton Lance (Pulse Rifle)

This is an Exotic Energy Pulse Rifle. Let’s check out the perks on this one.

  • Black Hole – Second shot of a burst rips a hole through space-time, doing high damage and recoil with no falloff.
  • Cosmology – Kills with this weapon cause enemy targets to detonate and spawn Void projectiles that track targets.

To get this one you can get it from Exotic Engrams, buy it from Xur or there’s a Twitch promotion going on at the moment where you can pick it up for free if you have Twitch prime through Prime Gaming.

Let me know what you think down there in the comments – let me know what energy weapons you like to use, and if you’re free-to-play player.

That’s it for this look at the best energy weapons in Destiny 2.