Destiny Rising Weapons Tier List

Welcome to our complete Destiny Rising best weapons tier list, Lightbearers. This new mobile entry in Bungie’s universe changes how you think about guns. Unlike the main Destiny games, where any Guardian can pick up almost any weapon, Destiny Rising locks your loadout to the hero you choose. That means your weapon access is shaped from the start, and picking the right gun for your Lightbearer is as important as picking the right character.

With 96 weapons spread across Rares, Legendaries, Mythics, and Exotics, Rising has a deeper arsenal than most gacha titles. But not all weapons are equal. Some dominate in PvE thanks to Shinka-breaking damage types, while others are tuned for lightning-fast PvP with dual-wield potential. Our tier list breaks down which weapons stand out right now and which are better left on the bench, so you’ll know exactly what to chase as you build your ultimate loadout.

By the way, after choosing the strongest weapons for your loadout, the next step is powering up your team. SkyCoach offers a Destiny Rising Team Leveling Boost that helps you raise your Lightbearers fast and efficiently with the support of professional gamers. This service makes progression much smoother, so you can focus on farming weapons and clearing endgame activities—check out the full details by following the link.

Check out other Destiny Rising articles:

• Lightbearers Tier List
• How to Play on PC
• Leveling Guide
• Gauntlet: Onslaught Raid Guide
• Beginner's Guide
• Gacha System Guide

 

 

Destiny Rising Weapons Tier List Explained

Destiny Rising launches with a total of 96 weapons to collect. These are split into four rarities: 16 Rare, 31 Legendary, 30 Mythic, and 19 Exotic. Just like in Destiny 2, only one Exotic weapon can be equipped per character, but the brand-new Mythic rarity has no such restriction. Rare weapons mostly act as leveling gear, while serious loadouts will almost always revolve around Legendary, Mythic, and Exotic picks.

To build this Destiny Rising gun tier list, every weapon was evaluated across both PvE encounters and PvP combat, using its raw stats, perks, and synergy with hero kits. The ranking process combined numerical performance with practical gameplay value. Here’s exactly what we looked at when ranking the best guns in Destiny Rising:

1. Damage Profile – Includes DPS, per-shot Damage, and Precision Bonus. Burst potential and sustained output were both considered.
2. Rate of Fire & Reload Speed – Determines a weapon’s flow. Fast cycling and reload chains rank higher for consistency.
3. Ammo Economy – Magazine size and Max Ammo reserves shape effectiveness in longer fights. High-capacity weapons are generally favored in PvE.
4. Range & Stability – Stability and recoil control matter more in PvP, while Range and Velocity define performance in PvE against Shinkas and shielded targets.
5. Blast Radius / AoE Impact – For heavy weapons like Rocket Launchers, Grenade Launchers, and Fusions, area damage and crowd control push them up the tiers.
6. Handling & Mobility – Weapons with faster equip, swap, and aim speeds feel more forgiving, especially in PvP duels.
7. Intrinsic Traits & Catalysts – Exotic perks, Foundry Origin Traits, and Catalysts can completely redefine a weapon’s role and were weighted heavily.
8. Weapon Archetype – Impact, Piercing, Rapid-Fire, Spread. Some archetypes excel at breaking Shinka shields or fit specific PvP niches.
9. Rarity & Rating – Exotic weapons bring unique effects, Mythics unlock powerful perk pools, and higher Rating (power scaling) can push even standard Legendaries into higher viability.
10. Hero Synergy – Because Lightbearers are locked to weapon classes, a gun’s practical strength depends on which characters can actually use it.

Obviously, there are a lot of stats, and new players might be confused about which ones actually matter. Well, don’t worry, because with our Destiny Rising weapon tier list, you don’t have to worry about learning different stats and their meaning. Here’s what our tiers mean:

• S Tier – Meta-Defining
  Weapons with best-in-class DPS, utility, or perks. These are the guns entire loadouts are built around, and they dominate both PvE clears and PvP duels.
• A Tier – Strong Picks
  Reliable, versatile weapons with consistently strong stats. They might not warp the meta, but they remain top choices in most loadouts.
• B Tier – Niche but Viable
  Balanced but situational. These weapons can shine when paired with the right hero or activity, but are generally outperformed by higher tiers.
• C Tier – Weak Options
  Underwhelming stats or poor perk synergy keep these weapons from competing at higher levels. Usable while leveling or filling gaps, but rarely optimal.
• D Tier – Bottom of the Barrel
  Low-performing weapons, usually Rares with poor stat spreads. They’re mostly for collection value, memes, or early-game filler.

With the pool of 96 weapons spread across rarities and classes, the goal of this tier list is to help you focus on the Destiny Rising meta weapons or the ones worth farming and upgrading, while avoiding those that will hold you back. But we won’t be ranking all of the weapons because, sadly, we couldn’t get the information on all of them. BLOG20

Destiny Rising Weapons Tier List

Your choice of weapon is tied directly to the Lightbearer you summon. Heroes are restricted to specific weapon classes, so picking the right gun isn’t just about stats — it’s about synergy. So, our guide has all Destiny Rising weapons ranked so you can quickly spot the strongest Exotics, Mythics, and Legendaries for PvE and PvP.

Here’s our complete Destiny Rising weapons tier list:

Destiny Rising’s meta is already taking shape: Exotic pulse rifles and hand cannons dominate S-Tier thanks to high DPS and unique catalysts, while heavy-hitting exotics like Lord of Wolves and Jötunn shred in PvP. A-Tier is loaded with Mythics and strong Legendaries, especially those with Foundry traits that enhance stability or range. B and C-Tiers cover the situational picks — solid, but outperformed unless you build around them. Finally, D-Tier is where Rares fall, with limited stats and perk pools that make them quickly outclassed once you move into endgame.

But remember, it all depends on the kind of content you’re doing and what enemies you’re up against. Next up, we’ll take a closer look at the best weapons in Destiny Rising to give you some idea about what is considered meta in this game.

Best Weapons in Destiny Rising

These are the best guns to use in Destiny Rising. They will dominate both PvE and PvP due to their high DPS, excellent perk synergies, and synergy with specific Lightbearers. Many of them are exotic weapons carried over from Destiny 2, retaining their unique traits while benefiting from Rising’s new rarity and catalyst systems.

Graviton Lance

• Who Can Use: Kabr (Pulse Rifle + Machine Gun), Estella (Pulse Rifle + Machine Gun)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Pulse Rifle (Rapid-Fire)
• Element: Void
• Stats: DPS 199 | Precision Bonus 1.6 | Magazine 34 | Damage 42 | Stability 50 | Range 55 | Reload Speed 71 | Handling 64 | RoF 300

Graviton Lance is a Void exotic pulse that excels in both add clear and boss damage. Its Cosmology perk makes kills detonate enemies, spawning tracking Void projectiles. The Catalyst adds +45% damage versus bosses, vehicles, and Lightbearers in Super, making it a powerhouse in both endgame PvE and Crucible-style modes.

Bad Juju

• Who Can Use: Kabr (Pulse Rifle + Machine Gun), Estella (Pulse Rifle + Machine Gun)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Pulse Rifle (Rapid-Fire)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 211 | Precision Bonus 1.6 | Magazine 27 | Damage 40 | Stability 94 | Range 36 | Reload Speed 52 | Handling 90 | RoF 450

Bad Juju retains its identity as the strongest gun in Destiny Rising with that snowball effect. Each kill refills the magazine and spawns explosive Void projectiles thanks to Cosmology, letting you chain kills endlessly. With some of the highest stability of any pulse rifle and reliable handling, it’s one of the safest and most consistent primaries in the game.

Polaris Lance

• Who Can Use: Tan-2 (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle), Umeko (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Scout Rifle (Piercing)
• Element: Solar
• Stats: DPS 200 | Precision Bonus 2.0 | Magazine 16 | Damage 102 | Stability 70 | Range 80 | Reload Speed 43 | Handling 24 | RoF 150

Polaris Lance is perfect for Lightbearers focused on precision damage. The Perfect Fifth loads explosive rounds after precision hits, letting you chain crits into massive Solar bursts. With high stability and long-range potential, it’s among the best picks for breaking Shinka shields and mowing down bosses at a distance.

Jade Rabbit

• Who Can Use: Tan-2 (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle), Umeko (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Scout Rifle (Piercing)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 210 | Precision Bonus 2.4 | Magazine 15 | Damage 102 | Stability 77 | Range 90 | Reload Speed 69 | Handling 21 | RoF 150

The Jade Rabbit dominates long-range fights. Its exotic perk stacks precision damage bonuses as you chain body shots into headshots. With the highest precision bonus in the game (2.4×), it punishes anyone who peeks into its scope. Deadly for PvP lanes and a strong Shinka counter in PvE.

 

Crimson

• Who Can Use: Attal (Hand Cannon + Linear Fusion Rifle)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Hand Cannon (Piercing)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 344 | Precision Bonus 1.5 | Magazine 24 | Damage 82 | Stability 100 | Range 60 | Reload Speed 80 | Handling 32 | RoF 415

Crimson might as well be the best weapon in Destiny Rising. It’s a unique burst-fire hand cannon that acts almost like a pulse rifle. Its exotic perk grants healing on precision kills, making it one of the best sustain weapons in PvP. With maxed stability and excellent TTK, Crimson is unmatched for aggressive duels.

The Old Prefect

• Who Can Use: Attal (Hand Cannon + Linear Fusion Rifle), Finnala (Auto Rifle + Sword)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Hand Cannon (Piercing)
• Element: Solar
• Stats: DPS 353 | Precision Bonus 1.2 | Magazine 8 | Damage 225 | Stability 68 | Range 24 | Reload Speed 80 | Handling 35 | RoF 150

The Old Prefect is a brand-new exotic hand cannon that scatters rounds and scorches enemies. With the Dragon’s Breath trait, hits apply scorch stacks that build into Ignition explosions via its Catalyst. It’s deadly in close-range PvP and PvE crowd clear, rewarding aggression with Solar detonations.

Riskrunner

• Who Can Use: Ning Fei (SMG + Crossbow), Jolder (SMG + Sword)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Submachine Gun (Rapid-Fire)
• Element: Arc
• Stats: DPS 211 | Precision Bonus 1.4 | Magazine 39 | Damage 22 | Stability 57 | Range 90 | Reload Speed 42 | Handling 85 | RoF 900

Riskrunner shines against Arc-heavy enemies. Its exotic perk reduces incoming Arc damage while chaining lightning to nearby targets, letting it mow through hordes with ease. High RoF and top-end range make it deadly in both PvE encounters and PvP close-range fights.

The Huckleberry

• Who Can Use: Ning Fei (SMG + Crossbow), Jolder (SMG + Sword)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Submachine Gun (Rapid-Fire)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 231 | Precision Bonus 1.4 | Magazine 37 | Damage 29 | Stability 71 | Range 48 | Reload Speed 10 | Handling 100 | RoF 750

The Huckleberry is a rampage machine. Its exotic perk reloads the magazine on kills, letting you chain engagements endlessly. With perfect handling and lightning-fast TTK, it’s one of the best PvP SMGs in the game.

Partridge Sky

• Who Can Use: Finnala (Auto Rifle + Sword), Jolder (SMG + Sword)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Sword (Impact)
• Element: Solar
• Stats: DPS 749 | Damage 377 | Swing Speed 45 | Charge Rate 40 | Guard Resistance 40 | Guard Endurance 0 | Max Ammo 62

Partridge Sky brings combo-heavy melee combat into the spotlight. Its Catalyst boosts charged heavy attack damage and duration, turning it into a DPS monster against bosses. Paired with Solar heroes like Final, it cuts through enemies while bypassing shields with fire-infused strikes.

Octant Riot Disperser

• Who Can Use: Xuan Wei (Fusion Rifle + Shotgun), Gwynn (Sidearm + Shotgun)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Shotgun (Impact)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 569 | Precision Bonus 1.1 | Magazine 8 | Damage 577 | Stability 72 | Range 32 | Reload Speed 62 | Handling 73 | RoF 140 | Max Ammo 30

This exotic shotgun is unlike any other. Holding reload lets you unleash Salvo of Artillery, firing every shell at once. Its Catalyst stuns enemies hit by the volley, turning it into both a DPS tool and crowd control option.

Lord of Wolves

• Who Can Use: Xuan Wei (Fusion Rifle + Shotgun), Gwynn (Sidearm + Shotgun)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Shotgun (Impact)
• Element: Solar BLOG20
• Stats: DPS 1131 | Precision Bonus 1.4 | Magazine 30 | Damage 154 | Stability 67 | Range 66 | Reload Speed 97 | Handling 51 | RoF 640 | Max Ammo 120

Lord of Wolves is the king of burst damage. Its semi-auto burst mode unleashes a wall of Solar damage that can delete even tanky enemies in seconds. High reserves make it sustainable, and its PvP potential is terrifying.

The Chaperone

• Who Can Use: Xuan Wei (Fusion Rifle + Shotgun), Gwynn (Sidearm + Shotgun)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Shotgun (Impact)
• Element: Kinetic
• Stats: DPS 591 | Precision Bonus 1.8 | Magazine 6 | Damage 893 | Stability 43 | Range 100 | Reload Speed 47 | Handling 97 | RoF 65 | Max Ammo 24

The Chaperone returns as a precision dueling shotgun. With perfect accuracy and the longest range of any shotgun, it rewards headshot skill with devastating damage. PvP players will find it unmatched for one-shot potential.

Jötunn

• Who Can Use: Xuan Wei (Fusion Rifle + Shotgun), Attal (Hand Cannon + Linear Fusion Rifle)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Fusion Rifle (Impact)
• Element: Solar
• Stats: DPS 1137 | Charge Time 750 | Magazine 6 | Damage 2023 | Stability 41 | Range 52 | Reload Speed 31 | Handling 37 | Max Ammo 26

Jötunn is infamous in PvP. Its tracking solar blasts delete enemies with massive splash damage, making it oppressive in duels. In PvE, it’s an easy mode add-clear tool. Its raw damage and explosive radius keep it firmly in S-Tier.

Merciless

• Who Can Use: Xuan Wei (Fusion Rifle + Shotgun), Attal (Hand Cannon + Linear Fusion Rifle)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Fusion Rifle (Impact)
• Element: Solar
• Stats: DPS 698 | Charge Time 1000 | Magazine 8 | Damage 1178 | Stability 97 | Range 79 | Reload Speed 41 | Handling 36 | Max Ammo 34

Merciless thrives in boss DPS phases. Each non-lethal shot reduces charge time, ramping its fire rate to incredible levels. In PvE, it’s one of the best sustained DPS exotics. Its stability also makes it easy to control.

Borealis

• Who Can Use: Tan-2 (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle), Umeko (Scout Rifle + Sniper Rifle)
  Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Rarity: Exotic (Yellow)
• Type: Sniper Rifle (Piercing)
• Element: Void
• Stats: DPS 383 | Precision Bonus 3.1 | Magazine 5 | Damage 470 | Stability 58 | Range 64 | Reload Speed 76 | Handling 78 | RoF 72 | Max Ammo 28

Borealis is the most versatile sniper in the game. It swaps elements between Arc, Solar, and Void, letting you adapt to any Shinka shield. Its high damage and precision bonus make it a staple for long-range Lightbearers.

With these Destiny Rising best weapons ranked, you can now make a more informed decision about which characters to use. You’ll more than likely end up having multiple characters with different weapons for different types of activities.

Conclusion

This wraps up our complete Destiny Rising weapons tier list. With so many weapons spread across Rare, Legendary, Mythic, and Exotic rarities, the launch pool is already massive and diverse. From the raw DPS of Jötunn and Octant Riot Disperser to the precision dominance of Jade Rabbit and Crimson, this list highlights the firearms that will define the early meta. Legendary and Mythic weapons bring flexible builds, while Exotics stand out for their unique perks and catalysts. With this breakdown, you now know which weapons are worth farming and upgrading, and which ones to leave behind. Choose wisely, sync them with the right Lightbearer, and you’ll be ready to tackle both PvE and PvP challenges from day one.

F.A.Q.