Best Swords in Destiny 2: Tier List for PvP & PvE (2024)

While not suited for all situations, swords can deal unparalleled damage as long as you can get close enough. And that is the entire deal with swords. They can be extremely lethal, provided you take risks and get up close and personal. Still, the right sword with the right perks can be considered a top-tier option, no matter the situation.

This guide covers every Sword in Destiny 2, including both Exotics and Legendaries, as well as the best rolls for PvE and PvP.

Updated as of Season of the Wish (S23). See Updates.

Destiny 2 Best Swords: Top-tier Options

This Tier list features the best Exotic and Legendary Swords right now:

Item	Weapons	Type	Archetype	Ammo?	Element?	Requirements	In loot pool?	Rank	Source	Available?	Tier rank	Source ❘ DLC	Final Verdict	Released	Perks	Best of?
Ergo Sum	Ergo Sum Sword	Sword	Exotic	Heavy	Kinetic	The Final Shape	Yes	S+ > Meta	The Pale Heart		Meta ❘ S+ Excels in: PvE	The Pale Heart The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon collects less ammo. Deals increased damage while Transcendent; defeating targets lengthens Transcendence." Has access to an additional random rolled Exotic Perk. ► Ergo Sum is nothing short of spectacular. This sword massively boosts the viability of Swords as a DPS option in the current meta and is also the highest-damage sword in the entire game with the right roll. Ergo Sum can play both rolls: a damage-dealing beast or a highly effective support tool.	The Final Shape	Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "This weapon collects less ammo. Deals increased damage while Transcendent; defeating targets lengthens Transcendence." Has access to an additional random rolled Exotic Perk.	Top-tier
Bequest	Bequest Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	S › Best	Deep Stone Crypt Raid		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded ► Bequest is THE DPS sword if you want to be optimal. Surrounded is incredible for damage, and with its Adaptive Frame, its ability to be crafted, and its higher base impact of 70, Bequest is easily one of the best swords in the game right now.	Season 12	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded	Top-tier
Crown-Splitter	Crown-Splitter Sword	Sword	Aggressive	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	World loot pool		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► Crown-Splitter features the Relentless Strikes and Surrounded combo and also deals incredible base damage thanks to its archetype. While this weapon is class-specific, any Titan player can enjoy the ability to slam down on a target to deal a big burst of damage.	Season 14	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Aggressive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Vorpal Weapon)	Top-tier
The Other Half	The Other Half Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	S › Best	Dares of Eternity		Best ❘ S Excels in: PvE	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Frenzy) ► The Other Half is Half-Truth's stronger sibling. With more perk flexibility while also coming with Eager Edge, it is one of the best swords in the game for general play, and every player should look to have The Other Half in their arsenal.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Frenzy)	Top-tier
Half-Truths	Half-Truths Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Dares of Eternity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Eager Edge (also good: Tireless Blade) ► Half-Truths is one of two swords that can roll with the perk Eager Edge. This perk alone sets it above the rest as it is incredibly fun and allows you to travel at outrageous speeds with specific abilities, such as Icarus Dash.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Eager Edge (also good: Tireless Blade)	Top-tier
Negative Space	Negative Space Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	World loot pool		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	World loot pool Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade) ► Similar to the Caretaker, Negative Space comes with Relentless Strikes and Surrounded, with the Whirlwind Blade alternative meaning that it is one of the better options in terms of perks. It is also Solar, and a part of the Adaptive Archetype, making it a solid option for many players.	Season 11	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade)	Top-tier
The Lament	The Lament Sword	Sword	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	A › Strong	Exotic Quest		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Exotic Quest Beyond Light Pack	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks." ► Since the nerfs it received and the introduction of Ergo Sum, the Lament has fallen in terms of strength. While it's still a solid pick for those who don't have a good Ergo Sum god roll, there are better options at your disposal.	Season 12	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Exotic Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."	Top-tier
Zephyr	Zephyr Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Event: Dawning		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Event: Dawning Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Cold Steel ► Adaptive Frame Swords are excellent, and Zephyr is no exception. Coming with Relentless Strikes and Cold Steel, Zephyr is an excellent option for damage.	30th Anniversary event	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Cold Steel	Top-tier
Caretaker	Caretaker Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Seasonal activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Seasonal activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Valiant Charge) ► Caretaker is Bequest's slightly weaker counterpart. It comes with the same god roll of Relentless Strikes and Surrounded, but it only has 60 Impact instead of 70, meaning it will always be the weaker pick. That said, Caretaker is still great and remains a powerful option for non-raiders.	Season 20	Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Rolls: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Valiant Charge)	Top-tier
Nasreddin	Nasreddin Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Lost Sector		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Lost Sector Free-to-Play	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade) ► Nasreddin is a decent option. Relentless Strikes and Surrounded is the preferred combo on DPS Swords. However, it is completely outclassed by Bequest as it is the same element, archetype, and god roll combination, except Bequest has 10 more Impact, making Nasreddin weaker.	Season 20	Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade)	Top-tier
Double-Edged Answer	Double-Edged Answer Sword	Sword	Adaptive	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Playlist: Vanguard		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Playlist: Vanguard Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade) ► Double-Edged Answer is the Void counterpart to Caretaker. Rolling with Relentless Strikes and Surrounded and being a part of the Adaptive archetype means that it does output some solid damage. However, it still has 10 less Impact than Bequest, making it slightly weaker.	Season 23	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive PvE God Roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded (also good: Whirlwind Blade)	Top-tier
The Slammer	The Slammer Sword	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Nightfall: The Ordeals		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals Free-to-Play	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel ► While Vortex Frames are typically weak, The Slammer is an exception thanks to its ability to roll Eager Edge and Cold Steel. It does also come with Bait and Switch, however, Vortex Frames will need to receive a number of buffs for this perk to be used on this weapon.	Season 23	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel	Top-tier
Falling Guillotine	Falling Guillotine Sword	Sword	Vortex	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	A › Strong	Onslaught Activity		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvE	Onslaught Activity Free-to-Play	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Frenzy or Relentless Strikes + Surrounded or Whirlwind Blade ► Vortex Frame Swords are weak right now, as Adaptive Frame swords like the Bequest massively outclass it for damage. However, Falling Guillotine is one of the few weapons in the game with the ability to roll with double damage perks, instantly making it a contender.	Into the Light	Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Vortex PvE God Roll: Frenzy or Relentless Strikes + Surrounded or Whirlwind Blade	Top-tier
Ill Omen	Ill Omen Sword	Sword	Caster	Heavy	Stasis	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	A › Strong	Echoes Activities		Strong ❘ A Excels in: PvP	Echoes Activities Episode 1: Echoes	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Caster PvP God Roll:Valiant Charge + Cold Steel (also good: Vorpal Weapon) ► While caster swords don’t appeal to most, Ill Omen’s potent perks and Stasis element carry it above a fair chunk of its competition. Plus, Caster frame swords can do quite well in The Crucible because of their longer range and ease of use.	The Final Shape	Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Caster PvP God Roll:Valiant Charge + Cold Steel (also good: Vorpal Weapon)	Top-tier

Destiny 2 Swords: The Complete List

This database includes every viable Sword in the game:

Art	Name	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?
	Black Talon	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	Exotic Engram	No	Free-to-Play	Season 4	Heavy	No
	Ergo Sum	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Special	Kinetic	The Final Shape	Yes	Special	Kinetic	S+ > Meta	PvE	The Pale Heart	No	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Energy	No	Top-tier
	Heartshadow	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Void	The Witch Queen Dungeon Key	Yes	Heavy	Void	B › Average	PvE	Duality Dungeon	No	The Witch Queen Dungeon Key	Season 17	Heavy	No
	The Lament	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Heavy	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Exotic Quest	No	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Worldline Zero	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	-	Exotic Kiosk	No	Free-to-Play	Season 3	Heavy	No
	Abide the Return	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	PvE	Shattered Throne Dungeon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No		Incandescent
	Bequest	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Heavy	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Caretaker	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Seasonal activity	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier	Incandescent
	Chivalric Fire	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	Ongoing...	-	Playlist: Pursuit	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Heavy	No
	Crown-Splitter	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	S › Best	PvE	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Death's Razor	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	B › Average	PvE	Engram Focusing	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable		Destabilizing Rounds
	Double-Edged Answer	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Playlist: Vanguard	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Dragoncult Sickle	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Strand	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Yes	Heavy	Strand	D › Worst	-	Warlord's Ruin Dungeon	No	Lightfall Dungeon Key	Season 23	Heavy	No
	Eternity's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Falling Guillotine	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Onslaught Activity	No	Free-to-Play	Into the Light	Heavy	No	Top-tier	Bait and Switch
	False Idols	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	The Final Shape	Yes	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	PvE	The Pale Heart	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Heavy	Craftable		Incandescent,Bait and Switch
	Geodetic HSm	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	B › Average	-	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 22	Heavy	No
	Goldtusk	Sword	Lightweight	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	C › Weak	-	Engram Focusing	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable
	Half-Truths	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	A › Strong	PvE + PvP	Dares of Eternity	Yes	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Hero of Ages	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	30th Anniversary	Yes	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	PvE	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon	No	30th Anniversary	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	No
	Honor's Edge	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	B › Average	-	Xûr	No	Free-to-Play	Season 10	Heavy	No
	Ill Omen	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Stasis	Episode 1: Echoes	Yes	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvP	Echoes Activities	Yes	Episode 1: Echoes	The Final Shape	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier
	Just in Case	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	C › Weak	-	Fishing	No	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Heavy	No		Incandescent
	Nasreddin	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	A › Strong	PvE	Lost Sector	No	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Negative Space	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No	Top-tier
	Night Terror	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	B › Average	-	Moon	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Quickfang	Sword	Lightweight	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 14	Heavy	No
	Razor's Edge	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	C › Weak	-	Iron Banner	No	Free-to-Play	Season 16	Heavy	No
	Sola's Scar	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	The Final Shape	No	Heavy	Solar	D › Worst	-	Trials of Osiris	No	The Final Shape	Season 13	Heavy	No
	Steel Sybil Z-14	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	C › Weak	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No
	Summun Bonun	Sword	Wave	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	The Final Shape	Yes	Heavy	Arc	B › Average	-	Salvation's Edge Raid	Yes	The Final Shape	The Final Shape	Heavy	Craftable		Chaos Reshaped,Bait and Switch
	Temptation's Hook	Sword	Caster	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Arc	D › Worst	-	World loot pool	No	Free-to-Play	Season 11	Heavy	No
	The Other Half	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	S › Best	PvE	Dares of Eternity	Yes	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier	Repulsor Brace
	The Slammer	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Heavy	No	Top-tier	Bait and Switch
	Thin Precipice	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Strand	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Strand	D › Worst	-	Seasonal activity	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 21	Heavy	Craftable
	Throne-Cleaver	Sword	Aggressive	Legendary	Heavy	Solar	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Solar	B › Average	-	Engram Focusing	Yes	Free-to-Play	Season 20	Heavy	Craftable		Incandescent
	Zephyr	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Event: Dawning	No	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	No	Top-tier

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 Swords in 2024

Ready to dig deeper into the absolute best Swords in Destiny 2 right now? These are the cream of the crop, our favorites (for PvE and PvP):

5. The Slammer

Excels in PvE

The Slammer is the first sword to come with the perk combination of Eager Edge and Cold Steel, two brilliant perks for Swords. While it is a Vortex Frame, these two utility perks make it an excellent alternative to The Other Half.

In addition, should Vortex Frame Swords ever see a buff, Relentless Strikes and Bait and Switch will be a potent combination for damage. However, Vortex Frames are not too strong right now, meaning players should opt for Eager Edge and Cold Steel rather than trying to build The Slammer for damage. These are the top The Slammer God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Eager Edge + Cold Steel

How to get it: The Slammer can be acquired by completing Nightfall: The Ordeals (the highest difficulties have increased drop rates).

Art	Name	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?
	The Slammer	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Stasis	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Stasis	A › Strong	PvE	Nightfall: The Ordeals	No	Free-to-Play	Season 23	Heavy	No	Top-tier	Bait and Switch

4. Falling Guillotine

Excels in PvE

Falling Guillotine doesn’t seem to be changing, coming back as a Void Vortex Frame sword. Unfortunately, the Vortex Frame archetype is weak right now, as Adaptive Frame swords like the Bequest massively outclass it for damage. However, Falling Guillotine is one of the few weapons in the game with the ability to roll with double damage perks, potentially making it a contender. However, we’ll have to wait and see and test the damage numbers against the competition.

The perks in question are Frenzy and Vorpal Weapon in the first column and Bait and Switch and Surrounded in the second column. These perks all facilitate Falling Guillotine’s use in a swap rotation for DPS as they do not require stacking like Whirlwind Blade does. This damage bonus total comes out to 45-50%, which is 10-15% more than just Surrounded on Swords, giving some weight to speculation that Falling Guillotine could be a sleeper pick. These are the top Edge Transit God Rolls:

• • • PvE God roll: Frenzy or Relentless Strikes + Eager Edge

How to get it: Falling Guillotine is a Brave weapon from the Onslaught activity.

Art	Name	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?
	Falling Guillotine	Sword	Vortex	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	A › Strong	PvE	Onslaught Activity	No	Free-to-Play	Into the Light	Heavy	No	Top-tier	Bait and Switch

3. The Lament

Excels in PvE

The Lament is the easy-to-get option for Sword users. While it may be slightly outclassed in damage by Bequest, Lament also has the bonus of providing a self-heal on damage, giving it some versatility.

The Lament also doesn’t require a specific roll or a Raid; simply completing the exotic quest will get you the Lament. It is definitely worth it, and it will carry you through any Sword-dependent damage phase.

Exotic Perk: “Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks.”

How to get it: The Lament can be acquired by completing an Exotic quest.

Art	Name	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?
	The Lament	Sword	Exotic	Exotic	Heavy	Solar	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Heavy	Solar	A › Strong	PvE	Exotic Quest	No	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Heavy	No	Top-tier

2. The Other Half

Excels in PvE and PvP

The Other Half is the most popular Sword among players thanks to the ‘Eager Edge’ perk. This perk is enjoyable to use and provides versatility through incredible movement, allowing players to use it in situations where damage isn’t necessary, but movement is.

The Other Half also comes with some solid damage perks like Whirlwind Blade, Vorpal Weapon, and Frenzy, making it even better. It can take down beefy enemies much easier while also having the movement capabilities of Eager Edge. Simply put, The Other Half is brilliant, and it is definitely recommended.

• PvE God roll: Eager Edge + Whirlwind Blade (also good: Frenzy)

How to get it: The Other Half can be acquired by completing Dares of Eternity runs or turning in Treasure keys at Xûr’s in Eternity.

Art	Name	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?
	The Other Half	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Void	Free-to-Play	Yes	Heavy	Void	S › Best	PvE	Dares of Eternity	Yes	Free-to-Play	30th Anniversary event	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier	Repulsor Brace

1. Bequest

Excels in PvE

The Deep Stone Crypt Sword, Bequest, has been the top dog since Vortex Frames saw a decline in power. With its 70 base Impact, it already does more damage than any other sword in the game, and combined with brilliant perks like Relentless Strikes and Surrounded, it’s easy to see why Bequest is the best.

Bequest isn’t too hard to get as players can simply farm one of the encounters Bequest can drop from. Deep Stone Crypt is also one of the less challenging Raids in the game, meaning anyone can step into the Raid and attempt to get it. These are the top Bequest God Rolls:

• PvE God roll: Relentless Strikes + Surrounded

How to get it: Bequest can be acquired from the Deep Stone Crypt raid.

Art	Name	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?
	Bequest	Sword	Adaptive	Legendary	Heavy	Arc	Beyond Light Pack	Yes	Heavy	Arc	S › Best	PvE	Deep Stone Crypt Raid	Yes	Beyond Light Pack	Season 12	Heavy	Craftable	Top-tier

Swordsand the PvP Meta: TTK

We covered which Swords are considered top-tier (and should be farmed) and which ones can be safely ignored. But how do they compare to other Heavy weapons in PvP?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Rocket Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Rocket Launchers remain a staple in many players' loadouts. They can provide high-range one-shot kills, and can also do AoE damage which can potentially allow you to clear teams if they are close enough together. ► Best Archetype: Precision (15 RPM) - Example: Gjallarhorn	PVP Heavies
Grenade Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S	-	► Heavy Grenade Launchers are an incredible option for those who are confident in landing their direct hits. They can functionally serve as a Rocket Launcher, but instead of coming with only a single shot, Grenade Launchers can bring 3, which, of course, means more potential kills. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Example: Memory Interdict	PVP Heavies
Machine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A	-	► Machine Guns are still an incredible option for Control as they can provide many kills. However, they do require multiple shots to kill which can lead to you potentially being Sniped or peak-shot by a Primary Weapon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (450 RPM) - Example: Corrective Measure	PVP Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	B › Average	Average ❘ B		► Linear fusion rifles are in the middle of an identity crisis. They are stronger than sniper rifles and have more aim assistance, but they still require Heavy ammo and a headshot to one-shot an enemy. On top of that, they also have a charge time to take into account. Compared to a sniper rifle that fires immediately and only uses Special ammo, Linear Fusion rifles make little sense for the Crucible.	PVP Heavies
Swords	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Swords are perhaps the most fun option (especially with Eager Edge); however, they are too inconsistent to warrant any competitive use. Furthermore, benefitting from third-person view is no longer possible without Heavy ammo, making the only niche usage swords had redundant. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive/Lightweight- Examples: Half-Truths/Quickfang	PVP Heavies

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.

Having said that, TTK figures rarely apply to Heavy weapons. When choosing a Heavy weapon for PVP, you want something reliable and able to deliver one-hit-kills consistently. Swords can certainly do that but require you to get up close and personal. This carries a lot of risks, which is why you’ll rarely see a Sword user in endgame PvP content.

You can still choose one and have fun with it in 6v6 matches, but you’ll be better off with other weapon types.

Swords and the PvE Meta: DPS

How do Swords compare to other primary weapons in PvE?

Weapon Type	Rank	Tier	Trend	Role ❘ Current State	Category
Rocket Launchers	S › Best	Best ❘ S		► Main role: Burst Damage (Secondary role: Add Clear) ► If an S+ category existed, Rocket Launchers would be there. They absolutely dominate the DPS meta for any boss that isn't Crota and easily outclass other options thanks to their flexibility in damage rotations and their ability to be spammed at bosses. Rockets are incredibly strong right now, and it wouldn't be surprising if they received some tuning soon. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (20 RPM) - Example: The Hothead	PVE Heavies
Machine Guns	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main role: Add Clear ► With the nerf to double-special loadouts, players can't mindlessly spam Machine Guns at enemies anymore and be rewarded for it. However, Machine guns are still excellent at ad clear and remain decent for DPS. That said, for DPS, they are massively outclassed by Rocket Launchers. ► Best Archetype: Rapid-Fire (900 RPM) - Example: Retrofit Escapade	PVE Heavies
Swords	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main roles: Add Clear & Single Target damage (i.e. Boss damage). ► Swords are in a good spot right now. In fact, they are the go-to option for Crota in Crota's End. However, this is only because of a modifier that increases Sword damage against Crota. Outside of this specific boss, Swords are a decent option that doesn't excel simply because they are out-damaged by other heavy weapons. ► Best Archetype: Whirlwind - Example: Falling Guillotine	PVE Heavies
Linear Fusion Rifles	A › Strong	Strong ❘ A		► Main role: Single Target damage (Secondary role: Burst Damage) ► Linear Fusion Rifles might not be the top dogs anymore, but they are still serious contenders when it comes to total damage. Options like Cataclysmic and Briar's Contempt can still see some use in today's meta. However, despite their strengths, most situations do not require the amount of total damage that Linear Fusions offer, and if they do, options like Leviathan's Breath can fill that void very easily. ► Best Archetype: Precision (533 RPM) - Example: Reed's Regret	PVE Heavies
Grenade Launchers	B › Average	Average ❘ B	-	► Main role: Add Clear (Secondary role: Single Target Damage). ► Grenade Launchers are on the rise, and with a couple of changes, we could see them soar to the top of the pile. For now, though, they remain a mediocre option with a couple of outliers, such as the Cataphract GL3, which is mainly good because it has Bait and Switch, not because it's a Grenade Launcher. ► Best Archetype: Adaptive (120 RPM) - Cataphract GL3	PVE Heavies
Exotic Sniper Rifles	C › Weak	Weak ❘ C	-	► Main role: Single Target damage ► Exotic Snipers still require more help. D.A.R.C.I remains a complete joke, and Whisper of the Worm isn't strong enough to bring the ranking up. While Whisper is a surprisingly decent option, it requires a teammate using Divinity in most situations, unless you are very consistent with your shots. And even then, Rocket Launchers are still superior DPS options. ► Best Archetype: Aggressive (72 RPM) - Example: Whisper of the Worm	PVE Heavies

According to Bungie, these are the different roles for Heavy weapons:

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, Swords are top-tier:

Before you go…

Are you looking for a top-tier Primary and Special weapon to round out your loadout? We cover the Best Destiny 2 Scout Riflesand Best Destiny 2 Fusion Rifles, too.

You now know everything there is to know about machine guns in Destiny 2, whether that is for PvP or PvE content.