Toil and Trouble is a Kinetic Aggressive Frame shotgun that has been a recurring reward from Vanguard Ops and Commander Zavala’s rank-up packages. As a staple of the Vanguard’s arsenal, it is a reliable and consistently available weapon for players seeking a powerful, close-quarters option.
This shotgun is built for decisive, close-range engagements. It excels in PvP for its potential to secure consistent one-hit kills thanks to its high-impact frame. Perk options like Threat Detector and Snapshot Sights make it incredibly responsive for aggressive pushes and defensive plays. In PvE, it serves as a potent “green ammo” boss-melter or major-eliminator with combinations like Slideshot to keep the magazine loaded and damage perks like Vorpal Weapon or Rampage to increase its burst damage output. Its Kinetic slot also means it pairs well with energy primaries for handling enemy shields.
From this guide, you will know:
- How good is the Toil and Trouble
- How to get Toil and Trouble
- Stats and Perks of Toil and Trouble
- Toil and Trouble God Roll
- If Toil and Trouble craftable
If you enjoy a powerful, straightforward shotgun that can dominate in the Crucible or deal significant burst damage in PvE, Toil and Trouble is a worthy addition to your arsenal.
Is Toil and Trouble Good?
Short answer: Solid and reliable. Toil and Trouble is a 
B-tier in PvE and a B-tier in PvP, capable of climbing to 
A-tier with a perfect god roll.
Toil and Trouble Tier list:
- PvE: B-tier. A strong, ammo-efficient choice for a legendary Kinetic shotgun, but outshone by more modern options.
- PvP: B-tier. A consistent dueling shotgun that rewards an aggressive playstyle with the right perks.
Why PvE B-tier: It can roll Slideshot + Vorpal Weapon for strong burst damage against majors and mini-bosses, or Field One/Assault Mag + Rampage for add-clear. However, it lacks the unique utility or best-in-class damage of craftable or raid shotguns, keeping it in the reliable but not top-tier category.
Why PvP B-tier: The Aggressive Frame provides consistent one-hit-kill range. Its strength comes from dueling perks like Threat Detector, which boosts handling and stability when you need it most, and Snapshot Sights for lightning-fast aiming. While it doesn’t have the extreme range or unique traits of the absolute best PvP shotguns, a roll with Threat Detector and Snapshot Sights makes it a very deadly and responsive option.
How to Get Toil and Trouble in Destiny 2
Toil and Trouble is a classic Aggressive Frame shotgun that has been a staple of the Vanguard arsenal for years. Unlike limited-time event weapons, it is part of the core Vanguard playlists and is always available to earn, provided it is in the current loot pool.
Step 1: Play Vanguard Ops Playlist
The primary source for Toil and Trouble is as a random drop upon completing activities in the Vanguard Ops playlist. This includes both the standard strike playlist and any Nightfall strikes.
Step 2: Earn Vanguard Rank
As you complete Vanguard activities, you will earn Vanguard Reputation with Commander Zavala in the Tower. Each time you rank up (from Guardian to Mythic), you will receive a Vanguard Engram, which has a chance to contain the Toil and Trouble shotgun.
Step 3: Focus Engrams at Commander Zavala
The most reliable way to target your farm is by focusing your Vanguard Engrams. Once you have earned the weapon at least once, you can spend Vanguard Engrams and Legendary Shards at Commander Zavala to focus a roll specifically for Toil and Trouble.
Step 4: Keep an Eye on the Nightfall Loot Pool
When a specific Nightfall weapon is not in rotation, the “Vanguard Weapons” focusing option sometimes becomes available, which can also reward Toil and Trouble.
Check Zavala’s inventory each week.
Fastest Way to get Toil and Trouble:
- Grind Vanguard Ops: Consistently run strikes from the playlist.
- Increase Your Reputation Gains: Use a Vanguard Prosperity ghost mod to increase your chance of receiving additional legendary gear at the end of activities.
- Focus Engrams: Once it drops, spend your Vanguard Engrams at Commander Zavala to focus for your desired roll.
Toil and Trouble Farming Tips:
- Run Higher-Tier Nightfalls: While more difficult, Master and Grandmaster Nightfalls offer the most Vanguard Reputation per run, allowing you to rank up faster with Zavala.
- Stack Vanguard Bounties: Complete Zavala’s daily and weekly bounties for a significant boost to reputation gains and bonus XP.
- Farm During Double Rep Weeks: Weeks where Vanguard Ops provide double reputation are the best time to farm for engrams.
- Prioritize Focusing: Random drops are unreliable. The focused decoding at Zavala is your most consistent path to a god roll.
Quick Summary
- Source: Vanguard Ops playlist and Nightfall strikes
- Best Method: Farm Vanguard Reputation to earn engrams, then focus them at Commander Zavala
- Target Perks:
- PvP: Threat Detector + Snapshot Sights
- PvE: Slideshot + Vorpal Weapon / Rampage
Since it’s a core playlist weapon, you can farm for Toil and Trouble at any time, making it a flexible long-term goal for your arsenal.
Perks of Toil and Trouble
Column 3 Perks
- Threat Detector: The top-tier pick for PvP. It significantly boosts handling, stability, and reload speed when enemies are close—exactly the conditions where a shotgun is used. This makes the weapon feel incredibly snappy and responsive in crucial moments.
- Slideshot: An excellent choice for both PvP and PvE. Sliding automatically reloads a portion of the magazine and provides a temporary range and stability boost, perfect for an aggressive push or for maintaining damage without a slow reload.
- Hip-Fire Grip: A solid alternative for players who favor a very aggressive, mobile playstyle. It improves accuracy and target acquisition when firing from the hip, which is common in close-quarters panic situations.
- Pulse Monitor: A situational “get out of jail” perk that automatically reloads a portion of the magazine when your health gets critically low.
Column 4 Perks
- Snapshot Sights (PvP God Roll): The premier PvP pairing with Threat Detector. It drastically speeds up aim-down-sights time, ensuring you are ready to fire accurately the moment an enemy appears. The combination of Threat Detector + Snapshot Sights is the ultimate dueling consistency roll.
- Vorpal Weapon (PvE God Roll): Excellent for a Special weapon in PvE. It provides a flat damage increase against bosses, vehicles, and Guardians in their Super, making it a strong choice for burning down powerful enemies. Pairs well with Slideshot.
- Rampage (PvE Add-Clear): A classic damage perk. After a kill, your damage increases, allowing for easier follow-up kills. This can be effective in 6v6 PvP or general PvE add-clear.
- Trench Barrel: A powerful but niche perk. Meleeing an enemy greatly increases damage and handling for a short time. It’s very strong in PvE but requires a dangerous playstyle to activate.
Origin Traits
- Vanguard’s Vindication: Defeating targets with this weapon has a chance to create a healing orb for you. This is a minor but welcome utility perk that can aid in survivability during sustained combat in both PvE and PvP.
Quick Take
- PvP God Roll:
Look for a Barrel and Magazine that boost Range and Handling (e.g., Smallbore and Accurized Rounds).
The premier perk combination is Threat Detector in Column 3 and Snapshot Sights in Column 4.
This creates the most consistent and responsive dueling shotgun possible. - PvE God Roll:
For maximum burst damage against majors and bosses, seek Slideshot and Vorpal Weapon.
For general use and add-clear, Threat Detector + Rampage is a strong and forgiving combination.
Toil and Trouble God Roll
The Toil and Trouble stands out as a classic Aggressive Frame shotgun that delivers raw, consistent stopping power in both PvE and PvP. Its strength lies in its ability to roll perk combinations that maximize its one-hit-kill potential in the Crucible or its burst damage against powerful enemies in PvE.
Toil and Trouble PvE God Roll
In PvE, your goal with a shotgun is either to clear powerful majors and mini-bosses quickly or to be ammo-efficient against groups of adds. Toil and Trouble has strong, straightforward options for both.
- Slideshot – The top pick for pure damage. Sliding automatically reloads two shells from reserves and grants a temporary range and stability boost. This keeps you in the fight without suffering through a slow reload, perfect for aggressive play.
- Threat Detector – An excellent alternative for consistency. When enemies are nearby—a given for shotgun use—it significantly boosts handling, stability, and reload speed, making the weapon feel much more responsive.
- Vorpal Weapon – The premier damage perk for a Special weapon. It provides a flat 15% damage increase against bosses, vehicles, and Guardians in their Super. This is your go-to for maximizing burst damage against high-priority targets.
- Rampage – A classic add-clear perk. After a kill, your damage increases, making it easier to chain one-shot kills against red-bar enemies.
- Trench Barrel – A powerful but high-risk perk. Meleeing an enemy greatly increases damage and handling for a short time. It’s very strong but requires you to get dangerously close.
The most effective PvE combinations are Slideshot + Vorpal Weapon for boss/major damage, or Threat Detector + Rampage for general add-clear where you can chain kills.
Toil and Trouble PvP God Roll
In the Crucible, consistency is king for an Aggressive Frame shotgun. You want perks that ensure your weapon is ready instantly and can secure a one-hit-kill at the longest possible range.
- Threat Detector – The absolute best-in-slot perk for PvP. In close-quarters encounters where shotguns are used, it provides a massive boost to handling, stability, and reload speed. This makes your shotgun “feel” instant, allowing you to swap, aim, and follow up faster than your opponent.
- Snapshot Sights – The perfect partner for Threat Detector. It drastically speeds up aim-down-sights time, which is crucial for tightening your pellet spread and ensuring a clean kill. The combination of Threat Detector + Snapshot Sights is the ultimate dueling consistency roll.
- Slideshot – A strong alternative in the first column. Sliding reloads your gun and grants a temporary range and stability boost, perfectly complementing an aggressive sliding playstyle.
- Opening Shot – A top-tier alternative to Snapshot. It guarantees maximum range and aim assist on your first shot, which is often the only one that matters.
For barrels and magazines, focus entirely on Range and Handling. Look for Smallbore or Barrel Shroud, Accurized Rounds, and a Range or Handling Masterwork.
This setup, combined with Threat Detector and Snapshot Sights, makes Toil and Trouble a deadly and reliable option in the Crucible.
Can you craft Toil and Trouble?
You cannot craft Toil and Trouble. It does not drop with Deepsight (red borders) and has no pattern to extract, so it cannot be crafted at the Enclave on Mars.
The only way to get this shotgun is as a random drop from Vanguard playlists (Vanguard Ops or Nightfall strikes) or by focusing Vanguard Engrams at Commander Zavala in the Tower.
This means if you want a specific god roll, you will need to farm Vanguard reputation to earn engrams and then spend them to focus individual rolls.
Conclusion
The Toil and Trouble is a classic and consistently powerful Aggressive Frame shotgun that has stood the test of time in Destiny 2. It delivers raw, close-range stopping power with perk combinations that excel in their respective fields.
- In PvP, the deadly consistency of Threat Detector and Snapshot Sights makes it a formidable dueling tool.
- In PvE, combinations like Slideshot and Vorpal Weapon offer strong burst damage against major enemies.
Because it is a core playlist weapon and not craftable, obtaining a perfect god roll requires patience and dedicated farming of Vanguard Engrams.
Players who favor an aggressive, close-quarters playstyle in the Crucible or who want a reliable, high-impact Kinetic shotgun for PvE should absolutely keep an eye out for a good roll.
If you already possess a top-tier Aggressive Frame shotgun like Imperial Decree or A Sudden Death, you may not need it — but for many Guardians, a well-rolled Toil and Trouble remains a worthy and effective addition to the arsenal.
