Any weapon is viable if you know how to use it properly and it has a roll which complements your play style. I know that’s a cop out answer, but it’s the truth.
That said, here’s my favorites, in the format of Primary/Special/Heavy:
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Pulse/Fusion/Grenade Launcher: Typical build for me is Blast Furnace/Wizened Rebuke/Swarm of the Raven. This is my favorite build in the game for a few reasons. Pulse rifles are very consistent guns in any mode - they do great precision damage, and almost always stagger weak enemies - and the roll I have on my Blast Furnace makes it shred adds. Fusion rifles are beastly PvE weapons, since they overpenetrate, stagger, and deal ludicrous amounts of damage all at once, especially with Major Spec as the mod. And Grenade Launchers with spike grenades deal absurd boss damage. Perks: Rampage on Pulse Rifle, Grenadier or Rampage on Fusion Rifle, Spike Grenades on Grenade Launcher.
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SMG/Sniper/Whatever: Typical build for me is Izanagi’s Burden/The Recluse/Hammerhead. Use sniper for killing majors and long-range adds, SMG for close range, and Hammerhead for general purpose murder. This build tends to reduce your boss DPS unless you have a really good sniper (or multiple really good snipers). Perks: Grave Robber and Rampage/Swashbuckler on SMG, Box Breathing on Sniper.
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Scout Rifle/Shotgun/Rocket Launcher: Typical build for me is Nameless Midnight/Wishbringer/Deathbringer. Use scout for precision kills on adds, shotgun for majors, and rocket launcher for bosses. This build provides consistent boss DPS but lacks good burst damage without a strong rocket launcher. Perks: Rampage on Auto Rifle, Rampage on shotgun, Auto-loading Holster or Cluster Bombs on Rocket Launcher.
And here’s a breakdown of different weapon types.
Primary: Use these weapons for clearing adds, unless there are no more adds to kill.
- Auto Rifle: Consistent at mid-range, good for add clear. Most people don’t use auto rifles at the moment because optimal DPS is harder than other archetypes.
- Pulse Rifle: Consistent at any range. A max range Blast Furnace (Accurized Rounds and Range masterwork will put you at max) is IMO the best weapon in Destiny.
- Scout Rifle: Consistent only if you are hitting precision shots. In kind of a weak spot right now, but really good for playing it safe in difficult content.
- Handcannon: Consistent at mid-close range. Handcannons are Bungie’s fave weapon class and it shows. Almost every handcannon is viable in every mode.
- SMG: Consistent at close range. You absolutely want a damage perk, like Swashbuckler (Bug Out Bag, the Gambit Prime SMG, can roll Grave Robber/Swashbuckler, which reloads and heavily buffs the damage of your weapon on a melee kill) because this class doesn’t do much to anything but minors without a proc.
- Sidearm: Consistent only at very very close range. They hit super hard but have almost no aim assist. I honestly never use this weapon class because the range is just too much for me to get over.
- Bow: Basically a scout rifle you don’t have to reload. I like this class but I don’t use it much. The exotic bows are really, really good.
Special: Use these weapons for clearing majors and damaging bosses, unless you can kill multiple adds at once
- Fusion Rifle: Best PvE special weapon in my opinion. Good diversity of archetypes that let you hit at range, up close, or anywhere in-between. Strong damage, overpenetrates enemies, usually staggers. Only falls off in some boss fights that require long range engagements.
- Sniper Rifle: Great for taking down majors or DPSing a boss. Awful at add clear unless you consistently proc Dragonfly. Izanagi’s Burden, the Black Armory questline exotic sniper, is currently best boss DPS in the game.
- Shotgun: Amazing for close-range majors and add clear, atrocious for everything else. Don’t really recommend for PvE unless you get one with either Swashbuckler or 1-2 Punch for the damage increase.
- Grenade Launcher: Breach-loaded launchers use special ammo, and so they are listed here. Fighting Lion is incredible, maybe the best add-clearing special weapon in the game. Mountaintop is also very good and deals respectable boss DPS. The rest of them are okay. Requires you get used to holding the trigger to remote detonate, otherwise you’re not playing right.
- Trace Rifle: All trace rifles are exotics, all of them are good for different reasons. Up to you if you wanna spend an exotic slot on one.
Heavy: Use these weapons for clearing bosses or large-scale add clear. Try not to spend them on majors unless you’re out of ammo.
- Grenade Launchers: Drum-fed grenade launchers fall in this category. With spike grenades, they have some of the most consistent boss DPS in the game. Always a solid choice.
- Rocket Launchers: Great for burst damage, and Deathbringer is easily top tier boss DPS for sedentary bosses, but kinda weak right now. Better for clearing huge groups of adds and majors.
- Heavy Machine Guns: Amazing for everything that isn’t an end-of-encounter boss, but bad for boss DPS. If you get a Hammerhead with Rampage, though (the curated roll has Feeding Frenzy/Rampage, which is the god roll imo) you can deal respectable boss damage too.
- Linear Fusion Rifles: Don’t. Awful ammo economy that requires you hit every precision shot. Only Sleeper Simulant (absurd damage) and Arbalest (uses special instead of heavy) are worth using.
- Swords: Really great DPS on bosses but ultra dangerous so I tend not to use them. Personal preference.
