Best Auto Rifles in Destiny 2 (April 2023)
Auto Rifles are in a pretty good place in the sandbox right now, although their about to get a whole lot better with the mid-season 20 patch coming in a few days. Today I want to dive into the best auto rifles in Destiny 2 right now, we’ll look at the stats, the perks, plus the god rolls to pick up, and how to get them so you’re ready for that mid season patch and the rise of auto rifles.
Without further delay, lets get into the list.
Sweet Sorrow
Sweet Sorrow is a Legendary Energy Auto Rifle with a Rapid-Fire Frame meaning it has deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when magazine is empty. Looking at the stats we have Impact 18, Range 31, Stability 59, Handling 48, Reload Speed 52, Rounds Per Minute 720 and Magazine 52.
For PVE Triple Tap and Turnabout would be a decent roll.
Triple Tap – Rapidly landing precision hits will return one round to the magazine.
Turnabout – Using this weapon to break the shield of a combatant or a Guardian using their Super will grant you an overshield.
For PVP Perpetual Motion and Tap the Trigger would be best.
Perpetual Motion – This weapon gains bonus stability, handling, and reload speed while the wielder is in motion.
Tap the Trigger – Grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on initial trigger pull.
You can get this from Banshee-44 and Xur when they sell the weapon.
Chroma Rush
Chroma Rush is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with a Rapid-Fire Frame meaning deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when the magazine is empty.
For PVE Feeding Frenzy and Rampage would be good. Another good one for PVE would be Heating Up and Kill Clip.
For PVP Moving Target and Tap The Trigger would be good, or Dynamic Sway Reduction and Kill Clip.
You can get this from Banshee-44 and Xur when they sell the weapon.
Dark Decider
Dark Decider is a Legendary Energy Auto Rifle with a Rapid-Fire Frame meaning deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when magazine is empty. Looking at the stats we have Impact 18, Range 25, Stability 49, Handling 39, Reload Speed 46, Airborne Effectiveness 10, Rounds Per Minute 720, and Magazine 50.
This has the origin trait Skulking Wolf. While at low health, Guardian final blows with this weapon grant enhanced radar and remove you from opposing radar.
For PVE Subsistence, and Voltshot would be good.
Subsistence – Defeating targets partially reloads the magazine from reserves.
Voltshot – Reloading this weapon after defeating a target overcharges this weapon for a short period of time, causing it to jolt on its next hit.
For PVP Dynamic Sway Reduction and Rangefinder would be good.
Dynamic Sway Reduction – Improves accuracy and stability while continuously holding down the trigger.
Rangefinder – Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification.
To get Dark Decider you’ll want to play Iron Banner in Season of the Seraph. You’ll be able to add this to your loot pool by unlocking it at rank 4 at Lord Saladin, then once you do that you’ll be able to get random drops from Iron Banner matches, plus you can focus Iron Banner engrams at Lord Saladin.
Firefright
Firefright is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with a Precision Frame meaning the weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical. Looking at the stats we have Impact 29, Range 58, Stability 41, Handling 41, Reload Speed 44, Rounds Per Minute 450 and Magazine 34.
For PVE Fourth Time’s The Charm, and Focused Fury would be a good roll.
Fourth Time’s The Charm – Rapidly landing precision hits will return two rounds to the magazine.
Focused Fury – Dealing half of the magazine as precision damage grants this weapon bonus damage. The shot count is reset whenever the weapon is reloaded or stowed.
For PVP Fragile Focus and Elemental Capacitor would be a decent roll.
Fragile Focus – This weapon gains bonus range until the wielder takes damage. The bonus returns when no damage is taken for a short duration.
Elemental Capacitor – Increased stats based on the currently equipped subclass. Solar increases your reload speed, Arc increases handling, Void increases stability, Stasis moderately controls recoil and increases movement speed when aiming down sights.
You can get this from Banshee-44 and Xur when they sell the weapon.
Lodbrok C
Lodbrok-C is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with a High-Impact Frame meaning it’s slow firing and high damage. This weapon is more accurate when stationary, moving slowly, and aiming down sights. Looking at the stats we have Impact 33, Range 78, Stability 35, Handling 36, Reload Speed 31, Airborne Effectiveness 19, Rounds Per Minute 360, and Magazine 31.
For PVE Demolitionist, and Adrenaline Junkie would be good.
Demolitionist – Kills with this weapon generate grenade energy. Activating your grenade ability reloads this weapon from reserves.
Adrenaline Junkie – This weapon gains increased damage and handling from final blows with grenades or this weapon.
For PVP Perpetual Motion, and Kill Clip would be good.
Perpetual Motion – This weapon gains bonus stability, handling, and reload speed while the wielder is in motion.
Kill Clip – Reloading after a kill grants increased damage.
This one comes with the origin trait, Hakke Breach Armaments – This weapon deals increased damage against vehicles, turrets, barricades, and Stasis crystals.
Lodbrok-C is a world drop weapon, so it’s going to be tricky to get if you are looking for a specific farm. World drop weapons can drop from multiple sources; legendary engrams, in loot chests out there in activities like public events, Lost Sectors, and at the end of seasonal activities. Keep an eye on Banshee-44, as he sells world drop weapons, so you will be able to pick up a roll from him at some point, and his inventory resets on Tuesdays at the regular reset time.
Seventh Seraph Carbine
Seventh Seraph Carbine is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with a Precision Frame meaning this weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical. Lookking at the stats we have Impact 29, Range 58, Stability 39, Handling 39, Reload Speed 41, Airborne Effectiveness 10, Rounds Per Minute 450 and Magazine 34.
This also comes with the Origin Trait Rasputin’s Arsenal were breaking a target’s shield partially reloads the weapon’s magazine, which is the same as the Ikelos weapons in Season of the Seraph.
For PVE Reconstruction, and Frenzy would be good.
Reconstruction – This weapon slowly reloads itself over time, up to double capacity.
Frenzy – Being in combat for an extended time increases damage, handling, and reload for this weapon until you are out of combat.
For PVP Dynamic Sway Reduction and Rangefinder would be good.
Dynamic Sway Reduction – Improves accuracy and stability while continuously holding down the trigger.
Rangefinder – Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification.
To get the updated and reissued version of the Seventh Seraph Carbine, you have to take part in the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon, introduced in Season of the Seraph. You have a chance at the Seventh Seraph Carbine dropping for you from the first chest, once you start to ascend the Spire. It’s also a world loot pool weapon, which is much easier to get, plus keep an eye on Banshee-44 and Xur.
Perpetualis
Perpetualis is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with an Adaptive Frame meaning it has a well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy. Looking at the stats we have Impact 21, Range 43, Stability 35, Handling 62, Reload Speed 58, Airborne Effectiveness 19, Rounds Per Minute 600, and Magazine 41.
The origin trait here is Noble Deeds. This weapon gains charges after assisting allies with revives, healing, overshields, or subclass buffs. Defeating targets consumes charges. While charged, this weapon gains bonus handling and reload speed.
For PVE Envious Assassin and Hatchling.
Envious Assassin – Rapidly defeating targets with other weapons before drawing this one transfers ammo to the magazine from reserves. This effect can overflow the magazine based on the number of targets defeated.
Hatchling – Precision final blows or rapidly defeating targets with a non-precision weapon spawns a Threadling at the target’s location.
For PVP Zen Moment and Eye of the Storm
Zen Moment – Causing damage with this weapon reduces recoil and flinch over time.
Eye of the Storm – This weapon becomes more accurate and boosts handling as your health gets lower.
To get Perpetualis you can play the seasonal activity in Season of Defiance, called Defiance Battlegrounds, then use a Defiance Key to open up the chest at the end. These keys drop from many activities in the game, strikes, cruicble, gambit, so you have plenty of options. As well as Defiance Battlegrounds, you can also focus Defiance Engrams at the Wartable in the H.E.L.M. You can unlock various upgrades through the Wartable to improve focusing options meaning you can go after Perpetualis again and again. Finally, if you play the story in the season, you’ll get this weapon as a reward from the end of Week 2.
Ammit AR 2
Ammit-AR2 is a Legendary Energy Auto Rifle with a Precision Frame meaning this weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical. Looking at the stats we have Impact 29, Range 61, Stability 45, Handling 46, Reload Speed 38, Rounds Per Minute 450, and Magazine 32.
For PVE Ambitious Assassin, and Incandescent would be good.
Ambitious Assassin – Overflows the magazine based on the number of rapid kills before reloading
Incandescent – Defeating a target spreads scorch to those nearby. More powerful combatants and opposing Guardians cause scorch in a larger radius
For PVP Dynamic Sway Reduction, Tap The Trigger
Dynamic Sway Reduction – Improves accuracy and stability while continuously holding down the trigger
Tap The Trigger – Grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on initial trigger pull
This is a world drop weapon, so you’ll be able to get this from playlist activities like Vanguard Ops, Crucible and Gambit matches. Plus, Banshee-44 will be selling it sometimes, so it’s worth checking him out in the tower, his inventory refreshes on Tuesdays at reset time.
Rufus’s Fury
Rufus’s Fury is a Legendary Kinetic Auto Rifle with a rapid-Fire Frame meaning deeper ammo reserves, plus it deals Strand damage. Slightly faster reload when magazine is empty. Looking at the stats we have Impact 18, Range 34, Stability 58, Handling 41, Reload Speed 50, Airborne Effectiveness 22, Rounds Per Minute 720, Magazine 55.
This one comes with the Origin Trait Harmonic Resonance. Equipping multiple weapons from this set grants this weapon increased reload speed and handling. It also deals increased damage versus Tormentors, Lucent Hive, and Guardians using their Supers.
For PVE Reconstruction and Target Lock would be decent.
Reconstruction – This weapon slowly reloads itself over time, up to double capacity
Target Lock – Damage increases the longer this weapon remains on a target
For PVP Perpetual Motion and Tap the Trigger would be good.
Perpetual Motion – This weapon gains bonus stability, handling, and reload speed while the wielder is in motion
Tap the Trigger – Grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on initial trigger pull
To get this one you are going to need to go into the Root of Nightmares Raid in Destiny 2 Lightfall. It can drop from the 3rd and final encounter, and once you get hold of it you can get it from the secret chests in the raid too. Collect 5 red border versions of the weapon and you’ll be able to craft it at the Enclave on Savathun’s Throne World.
Let me know in the comments what you think about these auto rifles, and let me know if you think I have missed anything important.