Hand Cannons in Destiny 2 The Final Shape are essential for all types of game content due to their versatility, power, and range: they’ve always been a PvP meta (and nothing’s changed since Destiny 1), and some buffs made them a decent choice in PvE too.
In PvP, Hand Cannons are a staple because of their consistent time-to-kill (TTK) and the ability to eliminate opponents with a few well-placed shots. Their high-impact shots make them effective in mid-range fights.
In PvE, Hand Cannons excel at dealing with both minor enemies and tougher targets, thanks to their high DPS and precision (much depends on the weapon you’re using, but this guide will help you pick the best options). They often come with perks that enhance their damage output, reload speed, and accuracy, making them reliable for sustained engagements and critical boss fights.
Compared to other weapon types, Hand Cannons offer a balanced combination of stability, range, and stopping power. Their TTK is competitive, often requiring just three critical shots to secure a kill, which is faster than many other primary weapons when used skillfully. Hand Cannons also benefit from high aim-assist values, making them more forgiving in high-pressure situations. Despite some recent changes to the meta, Hand Cannons remain a top choice due to their ability to deliver consistent and reliable damage in both PvE and PvP settings.
In this guide, we will explain the best PvE and PvP Hand Cannons available in Destiny 2 (Exotics and Legendaries), highlighting their optimal perks, and God rolls, and tell how to get them.
Best PvE Hand Cannons in D2 TFS
A good Hand Cannon for PvE should have high damage and perks that enhance its effectiveness against groups of enemies. Perks like Rampage or Explosive Payload boost damage and allow for efficient ad-clearing. Reload speed and ammo management perks like Outlaw or Subsistence help maintain continuous fire during extended engagements. A reliable Hand Cannon in PvE can handle a variety of combat scenarios, from clearing ads to dealing with tougher enemies.
Sunshot: The Best PvE Hand Cannon
| Weapon Name: | Sunshot |
| Weapon Type: |  Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: |  S (PvE),  A (PvP) |
| Slot: |  Energy |
| Ammo: |  Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Sunshot is a powerful exotic hand cannon that packs a significant punch with explosions left and right, thanks to its Explosive Rounds perk. It highlights targets that take damage from Sunshot and causes targets killed with Sunshot to explode in Solar energy, triggering even more explosions and scorching any enemy that doesn’t die initially. Its perks make it a mainstay in PvE and PvP. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained as a random drop from Exotic Engrams, Activity Completions, or Xur’s Fated Engram. It may take months to get it from Xur, but buying the weapon or class-specific armor piece that Xur is selling will improve your odds. |
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Zaouli’s Bane
| Weapon Name: | Zaouli’s Bane |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S (PvE), A (PvP) |
| Slot: | Energy |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Zaouli’s Bane is particularly noteworthy due to recent buffs to Hand Cannons and the Season of the Wish’s Artifact Perks, which have elevated its status in the PvE meta. The weapon can proc Flint Striker and Rays of Precision, making it a powerful choice for Solar builds
In PvE, Zaouli’s Bane has an S-tier rating due to its ability to synergize well with Solar 3.0 and its potential for high damage output. In PvP, the weapon is rated at B-tier, as it doesn’t have any outstanding stats and isn’t as popular as other Hand Cannons like Igneous Hammer or The Palindrome. This roll aims to improve the weapon’s range and handling, making it more competitive in PvP encounters. |
| How to Get it? | It drops from the King’s Fall raid, specifically from the last three encounters: Golgoroth, Deathsingers, and Oryx. |
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Warden’s Law
| Weapon Name: | Warden’s Law |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S (PvE,PvP) |
| Slot: |  Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Heavy Burst |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Warden’s Law is a hand cannon that fires a unique two-round burst, making it stand out from other hand cannons. It uses primary ammo and is of the Heavy Burst archetype.
Its two-round burst makes it a formidable weapon in PvP, especially when utilizing the Kill Clip perk, which allows it to two-tap any Guardian under Tier 10 Resilience. However, in PvE, its lack of an elemental damage type puts it at a disadvantage compared to other options. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained from Nightfall: The Ordeals. It is one of six Nightfall weapons available each season, with only one being available weekly. After obtaining a copy, it can be purchased from Zavala for a Vanguard Engram, 25 Legendary Shards, and 20,000 Glimmer. |
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Malfeasance
| Weapon Name: | Malfeasance |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S (PvE), A (PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Malfeasance is a meta weapon due to its powerful Exotic Perks, Explosive Shadow, and Taken Predator. Explosive Shadow allows the gun to shoot tainted slugs that burrow into combatants, causing them to explode and stun surviving combatants when enough slugs are stacked. Taken Predator provides bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders. |
| How to Get it? | To get Malfeasance, you need to complete the Darkness in the Light Exotic quest, also known as the Malfeasance Exotic Quest. This quest starts after winning a Gambit match, and there are 7 steps for you to complete. |
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Midnight Coup
| Weapon Name: | Midnight Coup |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S-tier for PvE,  B-tier for PvP |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Midnight Coup is a highly regarded weapon due to its impressive performance and unique perk combinations. In PvE, the Firefly and One For All roll is particularly praised, as it significantly enhances damage output and combat efficiency. Players revel in the power of this insane perk combo, amplifying their damage output and efficiency in combat. While some prefer other perks like Explosive Payload, the sheer effectiveness of Firefly and One For All cannot be denied. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained from the Onslaught Activity in the Into the Light expansion. Players can earn ‘Hype’ reputation during Into the Light activities and use it to open reward chests in the Hall of Champions, which may drop Midnight Coup and other BRAVE arsenal weapons. |
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Fatebringer
| Weapon Name: | Fatebringer |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S (PvE,PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Adaptive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Fatebringer is a classic hand cannon in Destiny 2, released in Season 14 and obtainable through the Vault of Glass Raid. Its adaptive archetype and solid perks make it a reliable choice for both PvE and PvP activities. It faces competition from other hand cannons like Midnight Coup and Sunshot, which have similar perk pools and additional benefits, such as Origin Traits
In PvE, Fatebringer shines with its “Explosive Payload” perk, which increases damage by 10% on precision hits and 15% on body shots. For PvP, the recommended roll includes “Explosive Payload,” “Eye of the Storm,” or “Opening Shot” to enhance range and stability, making it competitive with other popular hand cannons like Rose or Exotic Hand Cannons. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained by completing the Vault of Glass Raid, specifically from the Templar and Gatekeeper encounters. Alternatively, players can interact with the Raid cache after defeating Atheon and spend Spoils of Conquest for a random chance at a Fatebringer god roll. |
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Best PvP Hand Cannons in D2 TFS
A good Hand Cannon for PvP should have high impact and accuracy to ensure quick kills with precision shots. Perks like Kill Clip or Rampage can increase damage output, making it easier to secure eliminations. High stability and handling are crucial for consistent performance in fast-paced encounters. Effective range is also important, however, in this case, much depends on your play style.
Lumina: Best Exotic Hand Cannon for PvP
| Weapon Name: | Lumina |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | A (PvE,PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Lumina is a unique exotic hand cannon that has the ability to leave behind Remnants after kills, which can be absorbed to convert the next hip-fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round and partially refill the magazine. It also heals the ally and grants a weapon damage bonus for a short duration when a Noble Round is used on them. |
| How to Get it? | Lumina can be obtained from the Exotic Archive at the Tower. |
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Rose: Meta for Crucible
| Weapon Name: | Rose |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | A-tier (PvP),  C-tier (PvE) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Lightweight |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Rose has a Lightweight archetype, which means it has a higher handling stat than other 140 RPM hand cannons, but lower range and stability. This makes it a good option for players who prioritize mobility and quick repositioning in PvP encounters.
Rose has a solid roll for PvP, with perks such as Perpetual Motion, Moving Target, Explosive Payload, and Eye of the Storm. These perks can improve the weapon’s stability, range, and damage output, making it a formidable option in the Crucible. In PvE, Rose falls short compared to other hand cannons due to its lack of a solid reload + damage perk combo. |
| How to Get it? | It can be obtained through Lord Shaxx in the Competitive Ranks system and Engram focusing. To get it, you need to place in one of the seven Competitive Divisions in the Crucible Playlist. The higher you place, the more focuses you get, up to a maximum of seven each week. Each focus costs three engrams and 25,000 Glimmer. |
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Ace of Spades
| Weapon Name: | Ace Of Spades |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | A (PvE), S (PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Ace of Spades is a powerful Exotic hand cannon. It is considered one of the best Exotic Primary weapons in the game, especially for PvP. Ace of Spades has excellent base stats and some of the best perks, such as Momento Mori, which is like Kill Clip on steroids and the ability to see your radar while zoomed in. |
| How to Get it? | To obtain the Ace of Spades, you need to acquire the Exotic Quest “The Last Word” from Banshee-44 in the Tower. After completing the questline, you will be rewarded with the Ace of Spades. |
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Hawkmoon
| Weapon Name: | Hawkmoon |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | A (PvE), S (PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Hawkmoon is a powerful exotic hand cannon in Destiny 2, known for its lethal exotic perk and impressive stats. It is only consistent in the hands of skilled players, making it a top choice for those who can consistently land precision hits. It stands out due to its unique mechanism: the last shot deals extra damage based on the number of precision hits landed throughout the magazine. This makes it a top-tier weapon in PvP. |
| How to Get it? | It can be acquired from Xûr, a vendor that appears weekly in the game. |
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Thorn
| Weapon Name: | Thorn |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | A (PvE), S (PvP) |
| Slot: | Kinetic |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Rarity: | Exotic |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | The Thorn is a highly sought-after exotic hand cannon in Destiny 2 due to its consistent power and versatility. Its poison debuff on hit, which prevents opponents from regenerating health, makes it particularly effective in the Crucible.
With Season 23, Thorn received additional buffs and a catalyst, further enhancing its performance. The catalyst increases the weapon’s range, stability, and airborne effectiveness, and grants additional benefits when absorbing a Remnant. |
| How to Get it? | To get the Thorn, you need to purchase it from the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower. It requires ownership of the Forsaken Pack and will cost you: 1 Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 1 Ascendant Shards. |
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Igneous Hammer
| Weapon Name: | Igneous Hammer |
| Weapon Type: | Hand Cannon |
| Tier Rank: | S Tier (PvP), A Tier (PvE) |
| Slot: | Solar |
| Ammo: | Primary |
| Archetype: | Aggressive |
| Rarity: | Legendary |
| What Makes it a Meta Weapon? | Igneous Hammer is a highly regarded Hand Cannon, particularly in PvP. It is an Aggressive Framed Hand Cannon with high base stats, making it a popular choice among players. The weapon was first introduced in Season of the Chosen and quickly became a fan-favorite due to its power and effectiveness.
The weapon’s perks contribute to its popularity, with options like Rapid Hit, Quickdraw, and Rampage providing significant advantages in battle. Its high damage output, combined with these perks, allows for optimal TTK, especially against overshielded Guardians. Igneous Hammer’s range and aim assist also make it a headshot magnet, further enhancing its effectiveness. |
| How to Get it? | Igneous Hammer is a Trials of Osiris exclusive weapon. The Adept version is only available through completing a flawless card and reaching the Lighthouse. Once either version is acquired, you can focus more drops at Saint-14, but keep in mind that you can only focus the Adept version the weekend it is available. |
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