The Best Hand Cannons In Destiny 2

As a seasoned Guardian with countless hours spent battling through the cosmos, I can confidently say that each of these Hand Cannons has its own unique charm and utility.

Hand Cannons are highly favored weapons within the game Destiny 2, preferred by those who enjoy being right in the thick of things. Each pull of the trigger delivers significant damage at close quarters, leaving only a handful of alternatives for players to take a step back and snipe enemies from afar. To be honest, only a select group of hand cannons can measure up against the extensive arsenal of weapons in Destiny 2. Given that there are over 60 options to choose from, it might take some time for players to sift through and find the optimal picks.

The popularity of the Hand Cannon ebbs and flows with the changing stats and mechanics in the game. Those that are truly dedicated will ignore the constant flip-flopping of effective weapons and hone their skills on the battlefield instead of the stat board. To save players time, here’s a look at the best hand cannons Destiny 2 offers.

10 Igneous Hammer

One of the Few 120 RPM’s Still Kicking

The Best Hand Cannons In Destiny 2

How to Acquire: Trials of Osiris
Element: Solar
Frame: Aggressive Frame, 120 RPM

As a dedicated gamer, I can attest that wielding the Legendary Energy Hand Cannon, the Igneous Hammer, feels nothing short of epic. Its Aggressive Frame lends it a high recoil and immense damage output, making it an indispensable ally in long-range battles. If you’re serious about PvP, this weapon is undoubtedly one of the top Hand Cannons to have. For those seeking the perfect Energy Hand Cannon, look no further than the mighty Igneous Hammer.

One advantage of this legendary weapon stands out: It packs quite the punch for its size, granting players access to the game’s strongest Special weapons such as Conditional Finality and The Chaperone.

9 Fatebringer

Kinetic Hand Cannon That Bends The Rules

How to Acquire: Vault of Glass Raid
Element: Kinetic
Frame: Adaptive Frame, 140 RPM

Fatebringer, an extraordinary Legendary Kinetic Handgun, is renowned for exceptional handling within its class. Its Adaptive Frame offers a stable grip and facilitates effortless movement. The most attractive feature of this weapon lies in its ability to effectively emulate the benefits of three perks when equipped with the right combination. This advantage arises because it features Firefly in its second column, which essentially blends the effects of Outlaw and Dragonfly, without even considering its first column.

In addition, Fatebringer has the ability to roll Rewind Rounds and Explosive Payload. The former refunds approximately 60% of fired shots when the magazine is empty, while the latter increases weapon damage by about 15% in PvE, with half of the damage dealt being completely unaffected by distance. This combination effectively increases Fatebringer’s range and boosts its overall damage output. Essentially, these two perks make Fatebringer a weapon that many others can only envy for its unique advantages.

8 Midnight Coup

Strong Companion To Fatebringer

How to Acquire: Onslaught (Focusable at Zavala)
Element: Kinetic
Frame: Adaptive, 140 RPM

Midnight Coup is a solid contender for the Kinetic position, and it’s remarkably simple to accumulate. This weapon deserves its spot due to the design of its perks; it can acquire Firefly in the first tier and additional damage bonuses in the second tier.

With Midnight Coup, you can simultaneously benefit from the reload and clear bonus in a single column, followed by additional damage in the next. Desperate Measures amplifies the weapon’s damage by 30% upon achieving three ability kills, whereas Kinetic Tremors unleashes Area of Effect damage after multiple headshots.

7 Warden’s Law

Rapid Fire And Reliable Sidekick

How to Acquire: Nightfall Strikes (On Rotation)
Element: Kinetic
Frame: Heavy Burst, 257 RPM

The original form of the Heavy Burst Hand Cannon class, known as Warden’s Law, is exceptionally effective in PvE gameplay. This weapon type, characterized by the Heavy Burst archetype, excels particularly well at close to mid-range combat. It handles much like a Precision Frame Submachine Gun, but with a singular focus on dealing damage to individual targets. Consequently, it is highly effective against smaller targets, performing similarly to a Submachine gun even in challenging circumstances where traditional Submachine guns may falter.

Good perks for this weapon include Enlightened Action, Frenzy, Perpetual Motion, and even Vorpal Weapon. Hunters, in particular, can use the exotic Lucky Pants with Vorpal Weapon to boost weapon damage so high that the gun can destroy Champions in one cylinder. This weapon is definitely a must-have for Hand Cannon lovers, and it even comes in Adept versions for those able to complete Grandmaster Nightfalls.

6 Maahes HC4

First Energy Heavy Burst Hand Cannon

How to Acquire: World Drop
Element: Void
Frame: Heavy Burst, 257 RPM

Maahes HC4 stands out among the top Legendary Hand Cannons in the elemental category due to its exceptional Heavy Burst archetype. What makes it even better is a variety of excellent perk combinations it boasts. Notably, it offers four distinct reload perks across both columns, complemented by Destabilizing Rounds and Repulsor Brace for robust Void setups. To top it off, this weapon is easily obtainable.

Among the reload benefits such as Enlightened Action, Perpetual Motion, Rapid Hit, and Frenzy, each one makes this weapon highly effective in terms of maintaining damage output, bringing it closer to the Submachine gun category. When combined with Destabilizing rounds, the performance of this weapon is more akin to a Submachine gun, particularly compared to Warden’s Law. This weapon excels when paired with Void-related abilities or for those seeking a fresh Void weapon; they should aim for a good roll.

5 Zaouli’s Bane

Great Alternative To Sunshot

How to Acquire: King’s Fall Raid
Element: Solar
Frame: Adaptive Frame, 140 RPM

As a gamer, I’d say Zaouli’s Bane reminds me of Sunshot’s younger sibling in terms of functionality. In PvE, it performs the crucial role of clearing adds and it’s equipped with some handy perks for that job. Similar to Fatebringer, it can be rolled with both Explosive Payload and Firefly, offering a combination of add-clear and reload benefits. But unlike many others, it also has the option to run with Incandescent, trading off the reload advantage for increased add-clear by spreading stacks of Scorch.

This weapon aligns perfectly with Solar-themed character setups, as it can be enhanced based on that central concept. Additionally, its craftability allows players to customize their preferred role, provided they put in sufficient effort to obtain the weapon.

4 Thorn

Deals Damage Over Time

How to Acquire: Monument to Lost Lights for One Exotic Cipher, 125k Glimmer, and One Ascendant Shard
Element: Kinetic
RPM: 140

As a gamer, I’d say Thorn is an exceptional weapon in PvP for its ability to dish out persistent damage. This feature lets me keep damaging my foe even after I’ve targeted them, maintaining the upper hand due to the constant pressure. Plus, it provides valuable intel since I can see the damage numbers through walls, revealing my opponent’s whereabouts.

Using this weapon results in residual effects (Remnants) that are gathered when picked up. This incrementally boosts the venomous harm Thorn inflicts and restores ammo, enabling players to maintain their offensive pace as they eliminate more enemies. In PvE scenarios, Thorn exhibits a unique synergy with Warlock’s “Necrotic Grip” ability, spreading its poison damage to neighboring targets, making it viable for PvE combat without needing the Osteo Striga add-on.

3 Malfeasance

Best Single Target Damage In Its Weapon Type

How to Acquire: Defeat Taken Servitor in Gambit, complete “Darkness in the Light” Quest
Element: Kinetic
RPM: 180

In the game, the Hand Cannon known as Malfeasance stands out as the top choice for dealing focused damage to a single target. Its special feature, Explosive Shadow, works much like the Needler from Halo, causing targets to detonate when they’ve been hit with an adequate number of bullets. This makes it incredibly effective in challenging modes where high-impact single-target damage is crucial for dealing with both standard enemies and Champions; against whom Malfeasance truly excels.

The outcome isn’t solely due to the Unstoppable Rounds, but also because of the substantial damage this weapon inflicts when it triggers Explosive Shadow – a state that can be easily activated on Champions during stun, rendering them immobile.

2 Ace Of Spades

Heavily Kitted For PvP

How to Acquire: Monument to Lost Lights for One Exotic Cipher, 125k Glimmer, and One Ascendant Shard
Element: Kinetic
RPM: 140

The Ace of Spades is a go-to Hand Cannon in PvP primarily due to its key feature, Momento Mori, which enables visualizing the radar while aiming and increases damage as long as players reload swiftly after making a kill. This weapon reliably delivers three headshots within its optimal range, and the continuous radar visibility offers valuable insights into enemy locations at all times.

In team battles (PvP), Firefly isn’t incredibly useful due to its limited applications, but it can effectively penalize players who cluster together excessively. Essentially, it serves as an appealing extra feature on a weapon that combines two desirable traits in a single package.

1 Sunshot

The Best Solar Add-Clear Weapon

How to Acquire: Exotic Engrams
Element: Solar
RPM: 150

As a dedicated Destiny player, I can confidently say that there’s no Hand Cannon quite like Sunshot in PvE. Standing tall among the 150 RPM class, this weapon boasts an exceptional ability to manage crowds, setting it apart in the game. This is largely due to its unique trait, Sunburn, which inflicts area-of-effect damage with each bullet fired, and its remarkable perk, Sun Blast, which triggers enemies slain by the weapon to detonate, scorching nearby foes. Enemies heavily affected by Scorch also have a tendency to explode, further spreading the Scorch effect among them.

Following is a destructive weapon that primarily causes widespread explosion damage among the enemies it hits, often leading to a series of subsequent explosions. This feature significantly cuts down on the time players need to eliminate large groups of enemies, as Sun Blast typically eliminates the remainder after just one or two kills. The advantage lies in its simplicity – there’s no need to remember a damage sequence, or switch to different firing modes; simply shoot and watch the explosions.

2024-09-09 11:54