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Top 10 Best Auto Rifles in Destiny 2

We all know that every gamer these days either plays some Destiny 2, or at least knows someone who does. Destiny 2 has become one of the most popular games these past few years. Picking up where the original left off, Destiny 2 has you facing graver threats, propelling you across different worlds. Of course, taking on such enemies requires some serious fire-power.

Auto Rifles are excellent for this, providing a great deal of reliable and damage out-put.

Auto Rifles certainly hold a special place in some players arsenals, even mine because lets face it; who doesn’t like to spray a lot of bullets into some bad guys? Whether it’s in PvE or PvP, it’s always fun. Not to mention with so many different shaders you can make your guns have any color you like.

Choosing the right one can be tedious, to say the least. Fortunately for you, I’ve put together the 10 best auto rifles in Destiny 2, as well as how to obtain them!


10. Misfit

Misfit, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

The first one up on the list isn’t an Exotic, but a Legendary Auto Rifle; and we’re starting with the Misfit simply because even though it’s still a popular gun, it just doesn’t offer as much as the others on the list. Even so you can still do very well if you managed to roll the right perks like Dusk DOT D1 (or King Sight K1) for the sight perk giving increased range, Flared Magwell for the magazine perk giving you greatly increased reload speed and increased stability.

Zen Moment in the Tier 1 perk giving you more stability upon dealing damage to enemies and finally the Tier 2 perk; Rampage for increased damage on kills that stacks up to three times. Making this a good gun to run with in PvP or PvE, so go on and get it from Gambit or the Gunsmith at The Tower.


9. Origin Story

Origin Story, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

We’ll be bringing up yet another Legendary Auto Rifle, Origin story. Players apparently flock to this gun in Crucible, making it highly popular in PvP to date.  Though it doesn’t have a default perk that stands out much and the Sight/Barrel perks are generally good though I suggest using the Red DOT 2 MOA aka Snapshot sight.

The perks you really want are the Flared Magwell and Rampage perks to give you that better stability and greater reload speed as well as temporarily increased damage with kills, but only lets it stack up three times max.

If you’re looking for where this gun is going to drop for you then you’ll have to do some Vanguard Strikes to rank up your Vanguard Rank to get those Vanguard Tactician Strike engrams (FYI I hated typing Vanguard so many times guys! LOL) also be sure to infuse other guns into it as well to increase its stats.


8. Ghost Primus

Ghost Primus, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

8th on our list is going to be Ghost Primus, another Legendary Auto Rifle that’s quite popular these days as well. Given that you get the right setup to drop with it, from the RNG drops. The best setup are the Arrowhead Brake and the Armor-Piercing Rounds perks, the first perk giving you increased handling speed and greatly increased recoil control and the second perk allows extra damage to enemy combatants shield with more penetration.

Although these are also accompanied by the default perks Adaptive Frame which says that it makes it “more reliable and sturdy” and Under Pressure that increases stability and accuracy the lower your magazine gets. With all of these perks together, it makes the Ghost Primus a pretty great gun for PvE and even for the Leviathan Raid aka Calus Raid (if you don’t have the guns that are best for the raid); which coincidentally is where this gun is able to randomly drop or from the Leviathan Raid Engrams. Better be prepared to deal with lots of mobs if you really want the Ghost Primus!


7. Valakadyn

Valakadyn, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

Here coming in at number seven on our list is one of the Legendary Energy Auto Rifles that I think everyone can appreciate and it is the Valakadyn!

This Rapid-Fire Framed weapon is definitely a fun gun to run around with and use by taking down shields and burning through mob groups; especially if you’ve mastered the recoil on it, but better yet if you get the perks that compliment each other greatly.

You should use the Corkscrew Rifling perk for a balanced feel with increased range, handling speed and stability , Flared Magwell for increased reload speed and stability; partnered with the default perk Under Pressure for even more stability and increased accuracy the lower your magazine is.

This should encourage more people to really empty their magazines into their enemies, making this gun perfectly good for both PvE and PvP since it’s excellent at breaking shields with that rapid firing!

This bad boy can be found by going to Io, the Gunsmith at The Tower or Faction and Legendary Engram drops.


6. Tigerspite

Tigerspite, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

Our next Legendary comes in at sixth, bringing us over the hump and that much closer to the top of the list; so let me introduce you to the Tigerspite!

A very popular one from what I gather especially if the RNG Gods smile upon you and you happen to roll some decent perks such as Intrinsic, Arrowhead Brake, Ricochet Rounds (or Armor-Piercing Rounds), High-Impact Reserves (either Outlaw or Tap the Trigger too) and Kill Clip. Those, in my opinion, are probably one of the best perk combinations you can get.

Arrowhead Brakes gives you greatly increased recoil control and increased handling speed. Ricochet Rounds bounces off hard surfaces and lets you have increased stability and slightly increased range. If you get Armor-Piercing Rounds, you deal extra damage to enemy shields with higher penetration and range. High-Impact Reserves deals extra damage with the final few rounds in the clip. Or if you get Outlaw, precision kills greatly decreases your reload. Tap the Trigger gives you a short burst of increased stability and accuracy when first pulling the trigger and lastly, Kill Clip  gives you increased damage when you reload after a kill.

There you have it people, if you are looking to get your hands on a good Tigerspite the head to the Dreaming City and start doing everything you can to make it drop!


5. Age-Old Bond

Age old Bond, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

Having saved the best Legendary for PvP for 5th and our last Legendary as well, is the Age-Old Bond!

Now this gun can most definitely cause some carnage in the Crucible; granted you’re rolling the best perks for it. Which I’ve found out to be Fluted Barrel for the greater increased handling speed and slightly more stability. Or just Polygonal Rifling for even more stability alone. Ricochet Rounds give increased stability again with some slightly increased range. Zen Moment for yet again more stability by dealing damage and High Impact Reserve for more damage with the last rounds in the magazine. All of these together efficiently make this one bad ass gun to take with you into PvP!

You’ll definitely want to get this gun, but to do so you’ll have to complete any major encounter in the Last Wish Raid unfortunately.


4. Cerberus +1

Cerberus +1, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

For our fourth spot on our list is our first Exotic Auto Rifle called Cerberus +1, and judging from what I’ve read and seen about this gun is that if used properly it can cause some carnage, whether it’s in PvE or PvP. The aesthetics of Cerberus +1 isn’t very glamorous since it has four barrels strapped together, but it’s not always about the looks!

The main barrel is the basic Auto Rifle type, but the other three each have different perks.  The first is the Rifled Barrel that increases range, significantly decreases the handling speed. Though luckily the second, the Fluted Barrel, fixes it by greatly increasing the handling speed and slightly increases the stability. The third is the Full Bore and greatly increases the range to give even better distance, but it does take away a little of both the handling speed and stability. The Exotic Perk it’s rocking is the Spread Shot Package that reduces the spread of projectiles when aiming.

Overall this gun offers a lot in the gaming by letting you cut through groups of trash mobs or taking down other players in Crucible, though the key to that is getting in close proximity. So even if one shot lands a crit hit, the rest of the spread will give some additional damage to help take out your opponents. If you want to acquire get this gun, which I suggest doing so, you better start doing your weekly Gambit Bounties to try to get the RNG to drop the Exotic Engram or from packages.


3. Hard Light

Hard Light, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

Starting the top three is Hard Light, which was brought over from the first Destiny and has good sized fan base still in Destiny once it was redone!

In the previous Destiny, Hard Light wasn’t too great performance wise, but it was certainly a very flashy gun. Upon its return in Destiny 2, it definitely stepped up its game in performance. It still uses the Volatile Light perk that causes its round to penetrate targets even further and ricochet off of hard surfaces.

It also uses the Polygonal Rifling perk that increases the weapons stability, the Composite Stock that slightly increases stability even more as well as increases handling speed. The last of the perks to use is Alloy Magazine, that gives you faster reloading upon emptying the magazine, that combined with everything else is what allowed the Hard Light an even better return!

Especially since it allows you to use three different elemental cores, Void, Arc and Solar!

Xur can give you the chance to get it whenever he appears and random Exotic Engram drop.


2. Sweet Business

Sweet Business, one of the best auto rifles in Destiny 2

A fan favorite to most gamers, is the Exotic Auto Rifle Sweet Business. This gun is rocking the minigun look with it’s rotating barrels, spitting out 360 rounds per minute!

Now at first it was as popular as it is now, but over time it gradually rose up in the ranks and I’d certainly use this gun with the best perks for it. It starts off with its exotic perk, Pay Day, giving the gun the ability to shoot from the hip with increased accuracy and a bigger magazine. Next up is Polygonal Rifling to increase the stability, High-Caliber Rounds giving your shots extra kick to knock enemies further away and increased range.

Then there’s Business Time Boost, increasing the rate of fire and range the longer you hold the trigger as well as automatically loads ammo into the magazine; and finally Composite Stock to slightly increase stability again and handling speed. Bringing the Sweet Business where it needs to be and absolutely perfect for PvE, mowing down big groups of mobs or a bullet sponge boss that needs a lot of lead!

You’re able to acquire this baby through Exotic Engrams, but it has a low drop rate so your best bet is to try getting it from Xur on his weekly visit.


1. Suros Regime

SUROS Regime, the best auto rifle in Destiny 2

Topping the list is the Suros Regime, an Exotic Auto Rifle that’s easily the top Auto Rifle in Destiny 2. Being brought over from the first Destiny and reintroduced in the Warmind Expansion DLC . Destiny 2 gave it the opportunity to get even better, since it was only adequate in Destiny but now it has a huge fan base in Destiny 2, just like Sweet Business and Hard Light.

Also just like Sweet Business; Suros Regime has a huge fire rate of 600 rounds per minutes, spraying bullets down range to great effect.

Such a great perk setup is what makes this gun what it is; starting with the exotic perk. Suros Legacy making the bottom half of each magazine deal extra damage with the chance to restore some health from any kills. The other perks are Hammer-Forged Rifling that increases the range, Tactical Mag slightly increases stability, reload speed and slightly increases the magazine size.

Spinning up is the perk that gives the good fire the longer the trigger is held; Dual Speed Receiver and it slows the rate of fire but increases damage when ADS (Aiming Down the Sights) and the final perk is Hand-Laid Stock and it increases stability.

To be honest, its exotic perk is probably the best perk on it, and combined with all of those other perks gives you one of the best PvP guns in Destiny 2.  This gun is retrievable from multiple ways, either from random drops, Xur’s Fated Engram or by Xur selling it himself so if I were you I’d do my best to get it!

J.C.

Wednesday 29th of April 2020

No mention of Breakneck? Especially if you add on the Rampage mod to extend the duration of Rampage? This is my "go to" Legendary AR. Monte Carlo gets a nod also, high stability and handling, plus toss in that weapon damage reduced melee cooldown with a chance to fully recharge your melee...awesome perk for Guardian Games and collecting laurels.

Patrick

Monday 27th of April 2020

I’ll take an ether doctor over half of the guns on this list.

Cem Memis

Tuesday 1st of October 2019

Where is Breakneck and Gnawing Hunger?

John

Thursday 8th of August 2019

Cerberus in pvp should be equal to or better than suros on this list. It destroys supers and anything it cones close to. Making it better than hardlight and sweetbusiness by a mile. Suros isn't bad but for an exotic it's not too special.