Destiny 2 Best Grenade Launchers

As a seasoned Guardian with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the heavy grenade launchers in Destiny 2 are some of the most exciting and effective tools in our arsenal. Having gone through countless battles against hordes of enemies, I’ve had the chance to wield a fair share of these powerful weapons.

As a dedicated gamer in Destiny 2, I can’t deny the allure of grenade launchers. From the once overpowered wave frames that have been toned down, to the heavy grenade launchers that have found their place in endgame boss damage, this weapon archetype is packed with intriguing options for players to explore.

This archetype stands out due to its versatility, offering a wide range of useful functions. For instance, certain grenade launchers excel at controlling space by neutralizing groups of enemies and clearing paths, while others prioritize taking out specific targets or even assisting players with increased mobility through jumps. Considering the updates from Lightfall to The Final Shape, here’s a list of essential grenade launchers in Destiny 2.

9 Koraxis’s Distress

A Powerful DPS Option In Cases Where The Surrounded Perk Works

Destiny 2 Best Grenade Launchers

God Roll: Surrounded & Envious Assassin

Initially released with a plain appearance, Koraxis’s Distress has now found its place in the meta thanks to some adjustments. Its unique selling point lies in the Surrounded perk, allowing players to inflict significant damage on both enemies surrounding the boss. Though it may lack versatility and be more specialized, its impressive damage potential makes up for its limitations.

Koraxis’s Distress can be acquired from the Root of Nightmares raid on Neomuna.

8 Wilderflight

An Excellent Addition To An Optimal DPS Rotation

God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster & Vorpal Weapon

The Vex-themed Spire of the Watcher dungeon introduced a new weapon called Wilderflight, which functions as a dual-shot grenade launcher due to its Double Fire frame as a Void weapon. While it can effectively stand alone, its true value shines during damage-per-second (DPS) sequences.

As a seasoned PVE player with years of experience in optimizing damage output in endgame content, I can’t help but feel a thrill run down my spine whenever I come across a new weapon that synergizes so perfectly with my favorite abilities. With its Auto-Loading and Vorpal Weapon perks, this bad boy slots right in with my go-to DPS rotations, activating Envious Assassin or Bait and Switch for maximum effect.

7 Forbearance

Even After The Nerfs, It Still Demolishes Groups Of Enemies

God Roll (Onslaught): Demolitionist & One For All
God Roll (Vow of the Disciple): Ambitious Assassin & One For All

In the game, Forbearance is a well-known and initially introduced wave frame grenade launcher in Vow of the Disciple. After being significantly weakened following The Final Shape’s release to maintain fairness, it remains a formidable weapon. Even with the Chain Reaction perk having been toned down, if players possess that particular roll, it doesn’t automatically mean disaster.

For individuals seeking a fresh experience with their Forbearance, I’d recommend giving One For All a try. It’s accessible on both game versions. In Onslaught, instead of the conventional Ambitious Assassin perk, Demolitionist is an exciting alternative for those inclined towards rapid-fire grenade builds aimed at obliterating clusters of adversaries swiftly.

6 Witherhoard

The Exotic Powerhouse That Still Works

Can be acquired from the Exotic archive

For a long time, Witherhoard held the title of one of the best Exotics due to its impressive capabilities. However, around the time of Lightfall, this position began to be challenged by Conditional Finality, which excels at dealing massive damage to champions and mini-bosses. Despite this competition, Witherhoard remains surprisingly effective. Its direct hits and area denial impacts on the ground are still potent, even though their duration was significantly reduced a while ago.

As a dedicated gamer, if I had to pick just one Exotic weapon to add to my arsenal with the greatest versatility, I’d go for Witherhoard every time. Obtaining its catalyst is an essential step in this process, as it brings the Auto-Loading Holster perk on board.

5 Parasite

One Of The Best Burst DPS Heavy Weapons

Of Queens and Worms Exotic quest in The Witch Queen expansion

To obtain the Hive worm-themed grenade launcher introduced in The Witch Queen expansion, you’ll need to meet this requirement. At first glance, it may appear as a simple gimmick due to its unique mechanic of releasing destructive Hive worms. However, beneath its intriguing exterior lies an impressive arsenal capable of inflicting significant burst damage. To unleash the full potential of this weapon, players must accumulate 20 stacks of Worm’s Hunger by securing kills. Once achieved, the subsequent projectile discharged will cause massive harm to an enemy.

“Players often employ this strategy when facing bosses like Atraks in Deep Stone Crypt, whose damage windows are brief.”

4 Lost Signal

The Legendary Version Of Witherhoard

God Roll: Auto-Loading & Demolitionist

As a gamer, I was thrilled to dive into the first episode, named “Echoes,” which introduced some truly intriguing and avant-garde weaponry to the game. One such weapon that left me in awe was the Legendary grenade launcher called Lost Signal. This isn’t your average grenade launcher; instead, it fires energy blobs that inflict damage whenever enemies step into the resulting puddles. The damage dealt by Lost Signal is of the Stasis type. It’s quite similar to the Witherhoard in essence, but the Stasis effect adds a whole new layer of strategy and excitement to the gameplay experience.

An excellent aspect of this weapon is its unique feature, the Origin Trait. When players swiftly eliminate foes, they will be blown up into puddles of radiolaria, inflicting additional damage on surrounding enemies. This makes it perfect for eliminating large groups of enemies. What’s more, unlike Witherhoard, this weapon can be crafted and is readily available through participating in seasonal activities.

3 The Mountaintop

Return Of The King—And It Still Works

God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster & Recombination

The Mountaintop no longer feels as intimidating as before in the game, following its resurgence in Onslaught during the Into the Light free update. However, it still demonstrates its power and should not be underestimated. It has become a valuable asset, surpassed only by the excessive strength of rocket sidearms.

As a long-time gamer with hundreds of hours clocked in various shooter games, I can confidently say that this particular weapon is something truly special. It’s not just another run-of-the-mill gun you find lying around in the game. No, sir! This bad boy packs quite a punch when it comes to Recombination, dealing damage that leaves opponents reeling. But wait, there’s more!

2 Cataphract GL3

A Solid Top-Spot Contender For Damage

God Roll: Envious Assassin & Bait And Switch

At the peak of grenade launchers, you’ll find two robust weapon alternatives, perfect for dealing damage per second (DPS). One is Cataphract GL3, a Strand weapon obtained through Trials of Osiris. Although Edge Transit boasts impressive statistics, Cataphract GL3 slightly surpasses it in certain aspects, making it a favored choice for some gamers.

Although Void weapons are currently popular in the game’s artifact scene, Cataphract GL3 may be surpassed by Edge Transit based on the meta of this initial episode. It remains to be seen if a future favoritism towards Strand weapons will allow Cataphract GL3 to outshine its Void rival. For those avoiding Player vs Player (PVP) battles, earning Cataphract GL3 is not an effortless task.

1 Edge Transit

The Best And Most Accessible Heavy Grenade DPS Weapon

God Roll: Envious Assassin & Bait And Switch

Edge Transit made a comeback in the game, proving to be more than just a joke as initially perceived. Since its return in “Into the Light,” this weapon has become a valuable addition to DPS builds and continues to perform well, despite rockets being active. The ideal build for it is similar to that of Cataphract, yet obtaining Edge Transit doesn’t require engaging in Player versus Player (PVP) battles. Instead, players must dedicate time and effort to completing Onslaught missions to earn it, as the weapon cannot be crafted.

As a gamer wielding a Void weapon, I currently bask in the glory of its number-one ranking, boosted by the Expanding Abyss artifact perk. However, this position is not set in stone – as the game’s meta evolves and progresses, it’s only a matter of time before something new takes its place. For now, though, when faced with uncertainty, I can always rely on Edge Transit to get me out of sticky situations.

2024-07-15 15:54