Hand cannons have been at the top of the PvP Meta since the early days of Destiny 1. 8 years later, they remain at the top for the Crucible. And thanks to a few notable buffs recently released, Hand cannons have become meta for PvE too.
This guide covers every Hand Cannon in Destiny 2, including both Exotic and Legendary hand cannons, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.
Updated as of Season of the Wish (S23). See Updates.
Destiny 2 Best Hand Cannons: Top-tier Options
This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary hand cannons right now, including Sunshot and Zaouli’s Bane:
Item | Weapons | Type | Archetype | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Rank | Source | Available? | Tier rank | Source ❘ DLC | Final Verdict | Released | Perks | Best of? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lumina | Lumina | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | S › Best | Exotic Kiosk | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration." ►Lumina is one of the most unique Exotics in Destiny 2, allowing you to heal allies and spread one of the most potent damage buffs in the game. If you're looking to optimize a DPS phase—or want to play a more significant support role—this is a fantastic pick. This applies to PvP too. | Season 7 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration." | Top-tier | |
Fatebringer | Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | S › Best | Vault of Glass Raid | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Firefly PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload + Eye of the Storm ► One of the most iconic legendary weapons in the game, Fatebringer comes with insane stats and great perks. While it does have some competition, namely Eyasluna, this almost-perfect Hand Cannon holds its ground as an all-time community favorite. | Season 14 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Firefly PvP God Roll: Explosive Payload + Eye of the Storm | Top-tier | |
Eyasluna | Eyasluna | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Stasis | 30th Anniversary | Yes | S › Best | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon 30th Anniversary | Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Headstone PvP God Roll: Rangefinder + Kill Clip ► One of the most beloved weapons from Destiny 1, Eyasluna returned even stronger than ever before. Eyasluna offers god-tier stats and an extremely good perk selection that will help it dominate the Crucible. | 30th Anniversary event | Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Headstone PvP God Roll: Rangefinder + Kill Clip | Top-tier | |
Exalted Truth | Exalted Truth | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Void | Lightfall | Yes | S › Best | Trials of Osiris | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Trials of Osiris Lightfall | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage (also good: Repulsor Brace) PvP God Roll: Rangefinder + Rampage ► Currently one of the best legendary hand cannons available, Exalted Truth's difficult method of obtainability is balanced out by the weapon's pure power. With buildcrafting options for PvE and a plethora of consistency perks for The Crucible, this is a weapon that will be hard to top with future releases. | Season 19 | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage (also good: Repulsor Brace) PvP God Roll: Rangefinder + Rampage | Top-tier | |
Sunshot | Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | S › Best | Exotic Engram | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Exotic Engram Free-to-Play | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy." ► Sunshot is the cream of the crop this season. It synergizes brilliantly with Solar 3.0, and thanks to the buffs to Hand Cannons, it rips through any non-boss enemy, making it the quintessential Primary weapon for Solar players. | Season 1 | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy." | Top-tier | |
Malfeasance | Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | S › Best | Exotic Quest | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Exotic Quest Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders." ► Malfeasance has always been a fascinating weapon, and with the buffs to Hand Cannons, it quickly became one of the strongest Kinetic Primaries in the game, especially against Taken enemies. Malfeasance is even stronger when using the Lucky Pants Exotic, allowing for ridiculous damage. | Season 4 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders." | Top-tier | |
Ace of Spades | Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | S › Best | Exotic Kiosk | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights." ► Arguably the best 140 RPM hand cannon in the game, Ace of Spades has a lot to offer. With excellent base stats and some of the best perks around, namely Momento Mori, which is like Kill Clip on steroids and the ability to see your radar while zoomed in, this weapon has a bit of everything. | Season 4 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights." | Top-tier | |
Thorn | Thorn | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | S › Best | Exotic Kiosk | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Exotic Kiosk Forsaken Pack | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage." ► Thorn has rocketed right back into the meta with the release of its Exotic Catalyst. This catalyst provides practically everything: Range, Mobility, Handling, and Stability upon a single kill, or absorbing a remnant. This allows for constant kill-chaining and lets good players take over any lobby. | Season 6 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage." | Top-tier | |
Hawkmoon | Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Beyond Light | Yes | S › Best | Xûr | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Xûr Beyond Light | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus." ► Hawkmoon is one of the strongest Exotic Hand Cannons in PvP. It can consistently 2-tap (and even 1-tap) opposing Guardians, provided you are accurate enough. In the hands of an experienced player, Hawkmoon is definitely something to fear. | Season 12 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus." | Top-tier | |
Rose | Rose | Hand Cannon | Lightweight | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | S › Best | Playlist: Crucible | Best ❘ S Excels in: | Playlist: Crucible Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Explosive Payload (also good: Eye of the Storm) ► Rose was a reward from competitive PvP, so it makes sense that it's a monster in The Crucible. The weapon has absurd stats and perks that allow it to rocket past its competition. Sure, it's harder to obtain than other options, but this grind is easily worth it if you're an avid Crucible player. | Season 19 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Lightweight PvP God Rolls: Moving Target + Explosive Payload (also good: Eye of the Storm) | Top-tier | |
Austringer | Austringer | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Kinetic | Beyond Light | Yes | A › Strong | Presage | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Presage Beyond Light | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder) ► With a fanbase that rivals that of Spare Rations, nearly everyone was waiting for the day that Austringer came back. That day has come, and Austringer is once again a great pick for anything in the game. With amazing stats, even better perks, and the ability to be crafted, it's hard to not see why people love this weapon. | Season 17 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder) | Top-tier | |
Epochal Integration | Epochal Integration | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Solar | Season 21 | Yes | A › Strong | Seasonal activity | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Seasonal activity Season 21 | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE Fixed Roll: Stats for All + Incandescent PvP Fixed Roll: Keep Away + Eye of the Storm ► Epochal Integration is an easy-to-obtain and powerful Solar hand cannon. Because of how strong Solar is right now, a solid Solar weapon like Epochal Integration can easily excel. It beats out the competition mostly due to its ease of access, but also because Stats for All and Incandescent are excellent perks. | Season 21 | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE Fixed Roll: Stats for All + Incandescent PvP Fixed Roll: Keep Away + Eye of the Storm | Top-tier | |
Warden's Law | Warden's Law | Hand Cannon | Heavy Burst | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | A › Strong | Nightfall: The Ordeals | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy ) PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip ► While Warden's Law is only known for one thing (absurdly high DPS with the Hunter's Lucky Pants), it does exceptionally well at it. Although it definitely isn't a meta pick outside of that one use case, that alone bursts it above most of the pack; plus, it's an extremely fun and unique gun to use regardless! | Season 22 | Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Heavy Burst PvE God Roll: Fourth Time's the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy ) PvP God Roll: Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip | Top-tier | |
Word of Crota | Word of Crota | Hand Cannon | Precision | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | A › Strong | Crota's End Raid | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Crota's End Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Demolitionist) + Sword Logic (also good: Destabilizing Rounds) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Sword Logic ► Word of Crota is in the running for the best 180 RPM hand cannon in the game, competing with other top-tier options such as Posterity. While it continues to be difficult to recommend 180 RPM options over other archetypes, Word of Crota excels in its own field and could become a top option with future sandbox changes. | Season 22 | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision PvE God Roll: Repulsor Brace (also good: Demolitionist) + Sword Logic (also good: Destabilizing Rounds) PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Sword Logic | Top-tier | |
Nation of Beasts | Nation of Beasts | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Arc | Forsaken Pack | Yes | A › Strong | Last Wish Raid | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Last Wish Raid Forsaken Pack | Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Eddy Current) + Voltshot (also good: Collective Action) ► Last Wish weapons just received updated perk pools. Nation of Beasts was treated exceptionally well, gaining some of the best new perks like Voltshot, Collective Action, and Eddy Current. This weapon is the ultimate Hand Cannon for Arc 3.0 synergy, making it an easy A-Tier on this list. | Season 4 | Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Dragonfly (also good: Eddy Current) + Voltshot (also good: Collective Action) | Top-tier | |
Zaouli’s Bane | Zaouli’s Bane | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | A › Strong | King's Fall Raid | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent ► On top of offering excellent base stats (which can only be expected from a raid weapon), the Zaouli's Bane can also roll with an extremely lethal and unique perk combination: Explosive Payload + Incandescent. With a strong Solar 3.0 Build, a Zaouli's Bane with Incandescent can be a monster in mid to high-end PvE content. | Season 18 | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Explosive Payload + Incandescent | Top-tier | |
The Palindrome | The Palindrome | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | No | A › Strong | Nightfall: The Ordeals | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Rangefinder ► Because of a couple of perk nerfs in combination with the release of new and potent hand cannons, The Palindrome has seen a slow decline in popularity. While it still isn't a bad pick for The Crucible, there are better options out there. | Season 13 | Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Rangefinder | Top-tier | |
Igneous Hammer | Igneous Hammer | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Primary | Solar | Lightfall | No | A › Strong | Trials of Osiris | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Trials of Osiris Lightfall | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Rampage ► While not as strong as it was a year or so ago, Igneous Hammer boasts the best stats out of all 120 RPM Hand Cannons and comes with some sweet perks. Even though it isn't currently meta, this weapon can excel in any environment you put it in. | Season 13 | Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Outlaw) + Rampage | Top-tier | |
Cantata-57 | Cantata-57 | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | A › Strong | Gunsmith | Strong ❘ A Excels in: | Gunsmith Free-to-Play | Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder ) ► Cantata-57 has definitely lost popularity since its initial release with The Witch Queen, but that doesn't mean it's not worth using! With a well-rounded balance of great perks and stats, this hand cannon still rivals top picks in The Crucible while being easier to obtain. | Season 16 | Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive PvP God Roll: Eye of the Storm + Opening Shot (also good: Rangefinder ) | Top-tier |
Destiny 2 Hand Cannons: The complete list
This database includes every viable Hand Cannon currently in the game:
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvP | Exotic Kiosk | No | Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
The Last Word | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Exotic Kiosk | No | Forsaken Pack | Season 5 | Kinetic | No | |||
Crimson | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Exotic Engram | No | Free-to-Play | Season 2 | Kinetic | No | |||
Lumina | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Exotic Kiosk | No | Forsaken Pack | Season 7 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Sturm | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | - | Exotic Kiosk | No | Free-to-Play | Season 1 | Kinetic | No | |||
Thorn | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvP | Exotic Kiosk | No | Forsaken Pack | Season 6 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Beyond Light | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvP | Xûr | No | Beyond Light | Season 12 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE | Exotic Quest | No | Free-to-Play | Season 4 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Eriana's Vow | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Solar | Shadowkeep | Yes | Special | Solar | Average ❘ B | PvE | Exotic Kiosk | No | Shadowkeep | Season 8 | Energy | No | |||
Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Best ❘ S | PvE | Exotic Engram | No | Free-to-Play | Season 1 | Energy | No | Top-tier | ||
Seventh Seraph Officer Revolver | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Worst ❘ D | PvE | Xûr | No | Free-to-Play | Season 10 | Kinetic | No | Reconstruction | ||
The Steady Hand | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | No | Primary | Kinetic | Weak ❘ C | - | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | Season 12 | Kinetic | No | |||
True Prophecy | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | World loot pool | No | Free-to-Play | Season 10 | Kinetic | No | |||
Crimil's Dagger | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | No | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | Season 11 | Kinetic | No | |||
Dire Promise | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | World loot pool | No | Free-to-Play | Season 10 | Kinetic | No | |||
Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Vault of Glass Raid | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Survivor's Epitaph | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Playlist: Crucible | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Kinetic | No | |||
Loud Lullaby | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Weak ❘ C | - | Moon | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Kinetic | No | |||
Judgment | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Stasis | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Stasis | Weak ❘ C | - | Prophecy Dungeon | No | Free-to-Play | Season 23 | Kinetic | No | |||
Vulpecula | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Stasis | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Stasis | Weak ❘ C | - | Xûr | No | Free-to-Play | Season 15 | Kinetic | No | |||
Eyasluna | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Stasis | 30th Anniversary | Yes | Primary | Stasis | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon | No | 30th Anniversary | 30th Anniversary event | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | Incandescent | |
Austringer | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Beyond Light | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Strong ❘ A | PvE + PvP | Presage | Yes | Beyond Light | Season 17 | Kinetic | Craftable | Top-tier | ||
D.F.A. | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | - | Nightfall: The Ordeals | No | Free-to-Play | Season 17 | Kinetic | No | |||
Something New | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Stasis | Free-to-Play | Seasonal | Primary | Stasis | Average ❘ B | - | Event: Solstice | No | Free-to-Play | Season 17 | Kinetic | No | |||
Pure Poetry | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Weak ❘ C | - | Vanguard Focusing | No | Free-to-Play | Season 18 | Kinetic | No | |||
Rose | Hand Cannon | Lightweight | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvP | Playlist: Crucible | No | Free-to-Play | Season 19 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Round Robin | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Strand | Lightfall | Yes | Primary | Strand | Average ❘ B | PvP | Neomuna | Yes | Lightfall | Season 20 | Kinetic | Craftable | |||
Spare Rations | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Season 21 | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Fishing | No | Season 21 | Season 21 | Kinetic | No | Kinetic Tremors | ||
Kept Confidence | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Strand | Season 22 | Yes | Primary | Strand | Average ❘ B | PvP | Seasonal activity | Yes | Season 22 | Season 22 | Kinetic | Craftable | |||
Malediction | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Average ❘ B | PvP | Playlist: Pursuit | No | Free-to-Play | Season 22 | Kinetic | No | |||
Warden's Law | Hand Cannon | Heavy Burst | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Strong ❘ A | PvE + PvP | Nightfall: The Ordeals | No | Free-to-Play | Season 22 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier | ||
Luna's Howl | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | No | Primary | Kinetic | Ongoing... | - | Onslaught Activity | No | Into the Light | Kinetic | No | |||||
Midnight Coup | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | No | Primary | Kinetic | Ongoing... | - | Onslaught Activity | No | Into the Light | Kinetic | No | |||||
The Palindrome | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | No | Primary | Void | Strong ❘ A | PvP | Nightfall: The Ordeals | No | Free-to-Play | Season 13 | Energy | No | Top-tier | ||
Posterity | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Beyond Light | Yes | Primary | Arc | Average ❘ B | PvE | Deep Stone Crypt Raid | Yes | Beyond Light | Season 12 | Energy | Craftable | Voltshot,Reconstruction | ||
Waking Vigil | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | Average ❘ B | PvP | Shattered Throne Dungeon | No | Free-to-Play | Season 13 | Energy | No | Voltshot | ||
Nature of the Beast | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | Worst ❘ D | - | World loot pool | No | Free-to-Play | Season 11 | Energy | No | |||
IKELOS_HC_v1.0.3 | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | Weak ❘ C | - | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 19 | Energy | Craftable | Repulsor Brace | ||
Nation of Beasts | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Arc | Strong ❘ A | PvE | Last Wish Raid | Yes | Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Voltshot | |
Igneous Hammer | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Lightfall | No | Primary | Solar | Strong ❘ A | PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | Lightfall | Season 13 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Incandescent | |
Ancient Gospel | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Shadowkeep | Yes | Primary | Solar | Average ❘ B | PvE | Garden of Salvation Raid | No | Shadowkeep | Season 8 | Energy | No | |||
Bottom Dollar | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | Weak ❘ C | PvE + PvP | Playlist: Gambit | No | Free-to-Play | Season 13 | Energy | No | |||
Finite Impactor | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | No | Primary | Arc | Worst ❘ D | - | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Energy | No | |||
Annual Skate | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Weak ❘ C | - | World loot pool | No | Free-to-Play | Season 15 | Energy | No | |||
Crisis Inverted | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | Weak ❘ C | - | Playlist: Crucible | No | Free-to-Play | Season 16 | Energy | No | |||
Cantata-57 | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | Strong ❘ A | PvP | Gunsmith | No | Free-to-Play | Season 16 | Energy | No | Top-tier | ||
Frontier's Cry | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Weak ❘ C | - | Iron Banner | No | Free-to-Play | Season 16 | Energy | No | |||
Zaouli’s Bane | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Strong ❘ A | PvE | King's Fall Raid | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 18 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Incandescent | |
Exalted Truth | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Void | Lightfall | Yes | Primary | Void | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Trials of Osiris | No | Lightfall | Season 19 | Energy | No | Top-tier | Repulsor Brace | |
Trust | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Average ❘ B | PvE + PvP | Playlist: Gambit | No | Free-to-Play | Season 20 | Energy | No | Incandescent | ||
Epochal Integration | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Solar | Season 21 | Yes | Primary | Solar | Strong ❘ A | PvE + PvP | Seasonal activity | No | Season 21 | Season 21 | Energy | No | Top-tier | ||
Targeted Redaction | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Void | Season 21 | Yes | Primary | Void | Average ❘ B | PvE | Seasonal activity | Yes | Season 21 | Season 21 | Energy | Craftable | |||
Combined Action | Hand Cannon | Aggressive | Legendary | Primary | Arc | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Arc | Average ❘ B | PvP | Lost Sector | No | Free-to-Play | Season 21 | Energy | No | Voltshot | ||
Word of Crota | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Void | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Void | Strong ❘ A | PvE + PvP | Crota's End Raid | Yes | Free-to-Play | Season 22 | Energy | Craftable | Top-tier | Sword Logic | |
Optative | Hand Cannon | Precision | Legendary | Primary | Void | Season 23 | Yes | Primary | Void | Average ❘ B | PvE | Undying | Yes | Season 23 | Season 23 | Energy | Craftable |
These are the different Tier levels used for our list:
- S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
- A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
- B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
- C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
- D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.
Best Destiny 2 Hand Cannons in 2024
Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best HCs in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):
5. Warden’s Law
Excels in PvE
Coming in at #5 on our list is currently one of the most unique legendary weapons in the game: Warden’s Law. While Bungie has confirmed that more heavy burst hand cannons are soon to come, Warden’s Law is the only one currently available. While this novelty does boost Warden’s Law up our list considerably, the weapon also has a gimmick that allows it to excel greatly in PvE.
When combined with the Lucky Pants Hunter exotic, Warden’s Law can pump out absurdly high DPS. Many still prefer other options like rocket launchers and fusion rifles, but having a weapon that’s easy to use and never runs out of ammo for DPS is still extremely desirable.
Sure, Warden’s Law may be nothing more than a fun pick for Warlocks and Titans, but its unmatched DPS strength on the Hunter class is enough to boost it above the vast majority of competition. These are the top Warden’s Law God Rolls:
- PvE God roll: Fourth Time’s the Charm (also good: Perpetual Motion) + Vorpal Weapon (also good: Frenzy)
- PvP God roll:Moving Target (also good: Discord) + Kill Clip
How to get it: Warden’s Law can be acquired by completing Nightfall: The Ordeals (the highest difficulties have increased drop rates).
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
4. Malfeasance
Excels in PvE
Originally released as one of the weakest exotics out at the time, Malfeasance now excels in many PvE activities.
The most obvious pairing for Malfeasance is the same as Warden’s Law: Lucky Pants. While only Hunters can take advantage of the synergy, the damage you can put out with this combination of exotics is absurd.
Even so, Malfeasance can hold its ground without Lucky Pants just as well. With high base damage through Explosive Shadow, a boost to damage against Taken enemies with Taken Predator, Vorpal Weapon with its catalyst, and the ability to stun Unstoppable champions, Malfeasance can do just about anything. While deciding to run this over a different exotic is something you’ll rarely see, the intrinsic power of Malfeasance is unparalleled.
Exotic Perk: “Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders.”
How to get it: Malfeasance can be acquired by completing the Darkness in the Light quest.
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE | Exotic Quest | No | Free-to-Play | Season 4 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier |
3. Lumina
Excels in PVE and PVP
Lumina is the premier support Exotic, allowing you to heal and empower allies with ease.
In PvE, Lumina’s 35% damage bonus is one of the highest in the game. Banner Shield is the only one that surpasses it at 40%, but that requires someone to be locked in a Super. This makes Lumina a powerful option in casual and hardcore content alike.
Lumina increases damage by 15% in The Crucible, which is still significant. Its healing abilities are also potent here and can quickly help teammates cheat death. This weapon is the clear choice for Guardians wanting to strengthen their support role in a fireteam. Plus, you’ll reap the rewards in the form of your own damage buff.
Exotic Perk: “Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration.”
How to get it: Lumina can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lumina | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Forsaken Pack | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Exotic Kiosk | No | Forsaken Pack | Season 7 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier |
2. Fatebringer: Best PvP Hand Cannon?
Excels in PVE and PVP
Surpassing all other legendary options is the hand cannon from the free-to-play Vault of Glass raid: Fatebringer.
In PvE, Fatebringer is simple yet potent. While it doesn’t boast any elemental affinity, its strong selection of perks like Explosive Payload, Kill Clip, Adrenaline Junkie, and Frenzy makes for a weapon that can chunk through just about any combatant you put it up against.
With Killing Wind, Explosive Payload, Eye of the Storm, and Opening Shot, Fatebringer holds its ground just as well in The Crucible. Plus, the weapon has top-tier stats and offers an Adept (Timelost) version!
While other options may be better in certain builds or scenarios, Fatebringer is a simplistically powerful weapon that gets the job done nicely.
- PvE God roll: Explosive Payload + Firefly
- PvP God roll: Explosive Payload + Eye of the Storm
How to get it: Fatebringer can be acquired from the Vault of Glass raid.
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fatebringer | Hand Cannon | Adaptive | Legendary | Primary | Kinetic | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Kinetic | Best ❘ S | PvE + PvP | Vault of Glass Raid | No | Free-to-Play | Season 14 | Kinetic | No | Top-tier |
1. Sunshot: Best PvE Hand Cannon
Excels in PvE
Sunshot has consistently been an outstanding weapon throughout Destiny 2’s history but recently has become one of the best PvE weapons in the game.
Even without any synergies, Sunshot is able to dominate most PvE activities. With relatively high damage per shot and explosions that do a fair bit of work as well, Sunshot is perhaps the smoothest-feeling ad clearing hand cannon Destiny 2 has to offer.
Finding synergies within the Solar subclasses, however, is where Sunshot takes off. Both Solar subclasses and Sunshot are absurdly powerful on their own, but utilizing fragments like Ember of Empyrean or seasonal mods like Flint Striker and Rays of Precision pushes their potency to its limit.
While some cases may call for different hand cannons or primary weapons entirely, Sunshot is both fun and strong, making it one of the best weapons currently obtainable in Destiny 2.
Exotic Perk: “This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy.”
How to get it: Sunshot can be acquired via Exotic engrams or Xûr.
Art | Weapon | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Solar | Free-to-Play | Yes | Primary | Solar | Best ❘ S | PvE | Exotic Engram | No | Free-to-Play | Season 1 | Energy | No | Top-tier |
Hand Cannons and the PvP Meta: TTK
We covered which Hand Cannons are considered top-tier (and should be farmed) and which ones can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other primary weapons in PvP?
Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hand Cannons | S › Best | Best ❘ S | ► Hand Cannons feel great right now and can deal with all the other meta options, provided they are in the hands of a skilled player. They are unbelievably forgiving in terms of aim-assist and can compete at solid ranges. Hand Cannons are the jack of all trades, and while they may not dominate up close or far away, they are incredibly scary to face in a mid-range duel. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Igneous Hammer | PVP Primaries | |
Pulse Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► Pulse Rifles have seen a resurgence in the past few seasons, with constant buffs to all types of Pulse Rifles. It is hard not to find success with one due to the high-flinch potential of Rapid-Fire Pulses or the lethal time-to-kill of High-Impact Pulses. ► Best Archetype: High-Impact (340 RPM) - Example: The Messenger | PVP Primaries |
Submachine Guns | S › Best | Best ❘ S | ► SMGs remain a staple of the PvP meta. SMGs absolutely shred enemies at close range and as soon as their top option is nerfed, a new top-tier SMG is introduced to replace it. SMGs have been, and seemingly will remain, meta for a long time to come. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (720 RPM) - Example: The Immortal | PVP Primaries | |
Sidearms | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | - | ► Sidearms have lost their place at the top of the meta, but they remain a solid pick, especially for players using a Controller, as they inherently have manageable stability with a rapid time-to-kill. Honestly, the main reason they've lost their place at the top is due to how powerful SMGs are right now. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (325 RPM) - Example: Forgiveness | PVP Primaries |
Auto Rifles | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | ► After a couple of recent changes and buffs, Auto Rifles are feeling great to use right now, especially in the more casual Crucible playlists. While they may not have the juice to compete with some of the top dogs, they are still a solid pick and can help you frag out with relative ease. ► Best Archetype: Precision (450 RPM) - Example: Ammit AR2 | PVP Primaries | |
Combat Bows | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Bows are incredibly unique. They have a remarkably slow time to kill, however, this isn't where Bows shine. Hotswap builds with bows can be incredibly potent and don't require much learning either. Bows also provide incredible value when teamshooting opponents. Despite this, Bows on their own are quite mediocre and need something behind them to really shine. ► Best Archetype: Precision (Slower Draw Time) - Example: Strident Whistle | PVP Primaries |
Scout Rifles | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | ► Scout Rifles are struggling right now. In most situations, the maps are too small to benefit the long range of a Scout rifle. An Aggressive or High-Impact Pulse Rifle will better serve your needs. Plus, Scout Rifles are abysmal up close. There are one or two outliers that shine but, on the whole, Scout Rifles are in a weak spot. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (260 RPM) - Example: Fang of Ir Yût | PVP Primaries |
Remember that when it comes to PvP, TTK is perhaps the most important factor. As you know, the lower the TTK, the faster you can kill your opponent. This TTK guide includes the TTK figures for every weapon in Destiny 2. When it comes to PvP, top Hand Cannons dominate the Crucible:
- | Weapon Type | Archetype | Optimal TTK | Optimal Kill | Body Shot TTK | Specs | --- | Best in Class |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hand Cannon | Adaptive 140 RPM | 0.87 | 3 crit | 1.73 | Good stability, decent range | Austringer | ||
Hand Cannon | Aggressive 120 RPM | 1.00 | 2 crit 1 body | 1.50 | High range, low stability and handling | Igneous Hammer | ||
Hand Cannon | Precision 180 RPM | 1.00 | 2 crit 2 body | 1.33 | High stability, poor handling | Frontier's Cry | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 1.00 | 3 crit 1 body | 1.33 | - | Malfeasance | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 1.00 | 2 crit 1 body | 1.50 | - | Sturm | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 0.87 | 3 crit | 1.73 | - | Thorn | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 0.80 | 3 crit | 1.60 | - | Sunshot | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 0.53 | 3 crit | 1.33 | - | The Last Word | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 0.87 | 6 crit 1 body | 1.43 | - | Crimson | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 0.67 | 1 crit 1 body | 1.33 | - | Eriana's Vow |
That said, TTK is only half of the picture. With decent range and the ability to peek-shoot (shoot and cover), hand cannons are extremely powerful dueling weapons. There’s a reason the vast majority of elite PvP players main a hand cannon. Hand cannons are not the easiest to master, but they do have a high skill ceiling. Those who know how to master hand cannons will often come on top of most of their duels in The Crucible.
Hand Cannons and the PvE Meta: DPS
How do Hand Cannons compare to other primary weapons in PvE?
Weapon Type | Rank | Tier | Trend | Role ❘ Current State | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Submachine Guns | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► SMGs are doing very well right now. They have good DPS to tear through ads and beefier orange bar enemies, but also come with excellent perks. There are a plethora of good SMGs you can go for right now, like Funnelweb, Unforgiven, Every Waking Moment, or Extraordinary Rendition, the choice is completely yours. They may struggle slightly in super high-end content, but they are still definitely usable. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (750 RPM) - Example: Unforgiven | PVE Primaries |
Pulse Rifles | S › Best | Best ❘ S | - | ► Pulse Rifles are in a great place right now. They offer good range and pretty decent damage, allowing you to take down some beefier targets nicely. There are also some excellent pulses in the game right now, like Insidious, Sacred Provenance, or New Purpose. Unfortunately, High-Impact and Aggressive frames are the only archetypes worth your time, as the others rely on Exotic Perks or god rolls to compete. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (450 RPM) - Example: Insidious | PVE Primaries |
Hand Cannons | S › Best | Best ❘ S | ► Hand Cannons have shot up the rankings thanks to the changes introduced this Season, all the way up to the S tier. They have solid range and can dispatch enemies with complete ease in almost all difficulties. Hand Cannons have truly taken over the spotlight with their most recent buffs, and they shouldn't be leaving it any time soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (140 RPM) - Example: Fatebringer | PVE Primaries | |
Combat Bows | A › Strong | Strong ❘ A | - | ► Bows are a high-damage, high-range option for players who prefer to keep their distance. The main issue with bows is that they are slow at clearing ads (outside of Trinity Ghoul). and when you have to deal with ads up close, bows can massively struggle. However, their solid range and excellent damage make them a strong option. ► Best Archetype: Precision - Example: Under Your Skin | PVE Primaries |
Auto Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | - | ► Auto Rifles currently feel like a worse version of SMGs. They have a bit more range, but outside of the absolute top-shelf content such as Grandmaster Nightfalls, range isn't too much of a factor. And if you are actively tackling difficult content, Auto Rifles aren't exactly the best pick either, making Autos a decent, but outclassed option right now. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (720 RPM)- Example: Quicksilver Storm | PVE Primaries |
Scout Rifles | B › Average | Average ❘ B | ► Scout Rifles are the definition of average right now. They can do the job just fine, you can plink away at enemies from a safe distance in high-level content; however, when it comes down to it, most players will prefer to use a Hand Cannon or SMG as they simply do the same job better and faster. Scouts aren't bad at all, but they certainly aren't a go-to ► Best Archetype: Lightweight (200 RPM) - Example: Tarnished Mettle | PVE Primaries | |
Sidearms | C › Weak | Weak ❘ C | ► Aside from a few select sidearms with certain perks, there really isn't much of a reason to use Sidearms. They have slightly higher damage numbers than SMGs, but typically come with significantly less range. Outside of top-tier weapons like a god-roll Brigand's Law or High Albedo, there is no real reason to run a sidearm. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (491 RPM) - Example: High Albedo | PVE Primaries |
Keep in mind that when it comes to PvE, DPS is one of the most important factors. As you know, the higher the DPS, the more damage you can deal to a Boss or Major. This DPS chart includes the DPS numbers for every weapon in Destiny 2.
When it comes to actual DPS, hand cannons are not in a great place right now:
- | Weapon Type | Archetype | Sustained DPS | Mag DPS | Total Damage | Specs | --- | Best in Class | Change? | Ammo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 15272 | 17801 | 474680 | With "First Glance" | Eriana's Vow | Same | Special | ||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 10943 | 13668 | /w Catalyst | Malfeasance | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 10678 | 15274 | /w Catalyst | Hawkmoon | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 6098 | 7022 | "Soul Devourer" | Thorn | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 5513 | 9803 | - | The Last Word | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 4636 | 6418 | "Momento Mori" | Ace of Spades | Primary | ||||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 4552 | 6730 | - | Crimson | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Precision | 4336 | 5244 | High stability, poor handling | Posterity | Buffed | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Lightweight | 4327 | 5215 | - | Rose | Primary | ||||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 4071 | 5120 | - | Sturm | Primary | ||||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 4018 | 5215 | - | Lumina | Primary | ||||
Hand Cannon | Aggressive | 3992 | 4654 | High range, low stability and handling | Igneous Hammer | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Exotic | 3985 | 5363 | - | Sunshot | Primary | ||||
Hand Cannon | Adaptive | 3934 | 4741 | Good stability, decent range | Eyasluna | Same | Primary | |||
Hand Cannon | Double Fire | 3884 | 4902 | - | Warden's Law | Primary |
Before you go…
Are you looking for a top-tier Special and Heavy weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Trace Riflesand Best Destiny 2 Linear Fusion Rifles, too.
You now know everything there is to know about hand cannons in Destiny 2, whether that is for PvP or PvE content.
See latest Updates
We keep our content up to date! These are the latest changes made to this guide:
- February 28, 2024: General updates and the inclusion of Hand Cannons from Season 23.
- October 25, 2023: Inclusion of Season 22 weapons.
- May 30, 2023: General updates (based on the current sandbox) and the inclusion of Season 18 to 21 hand cannons.
- June 3, 2022: The guide is published for the first time.
Stay tuned, and don’t forget to bookmark this page for next season!