Shotguns have long been a dominant force in Destiny 2 PVP. They’re beautifully simple weapons, requiring you to simply close the distance with your foe and unleash a one-shot kill blast. They’re great choices in PVE, too, especially for taking down tougher foes. We took a look at some of the best shotguns in Destiny 2 — here are our picks.
Mindbender’s Ambition
A Legendary drop from The Hollowed Lair Nightfall, Mindbender’s Ambition can be a pain to get but is well worth the trouble for PVP players. With Full Choke and Accurized Rounds it can surprise opponents from a pretty good distance, and Quickdraw/Slideshot make it deadly quick to use. It’s the most-used Energy weapon in Crucible for a reason.
Great For: PVP
Ok For: Gambit, PVE
Lord of Wolves
The wolves may no longer run rampant in the Crucible, but this Exotic shotgun is still a popular choice. Mastering Lord of Wolves means getting used to its unusual firing pattern and its low ammo reserves, the latter of which can be mitigated with strategic mod choices. If you’re planning on getting really into it, you’ll also want to grab and complete its new catalyst.
Great For: PVP
Dust Rock Blues
If you can’t get a Mindbender, then Dust Rock Blues is probably your next best choice for a Crucible shotgun. It can roll a lot of the same perks, with the notable exception of Quickdraw. The fact that it’s a Kinetic weapon may be a pro or a con depending on your needs, but it does mean that it can be paired with Recluse. For PVE, Rampage and Grave Robber are great perks to aim for.
Great For: PVP
Ok For: Gambit, PVE
Perfect Paradox
Back and better than ever with Season of the Dawn, Perfect Paradox is a rapid-fire shotgun that can roll some amazing perks. Demolitionist paired with Rampage or Swashbucker makes for an extremely powerful PVE weapon. Plus, it’s the easiest shotgun to obtain in the game with One-Two Punch. Not great in the Crucible, since you’ll be outmatched by the likes of the Mindbender, but for cutting down powerful enemies it’s hard to find a better choice. Best of all, you can roll them to your heart’s content until the end of the season, thanks to Timelost Bounties and the Tower Obelisk.
Great For: PVE, Gambit
More Destiny 2:
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- Destiny 2 Empyrean Foundation Guide
Retold Tale
A great all-around Energy shotgun, Retold Tale is a Precision Frame weapon with good impact and range. In PVP, Snapshot Sights and Quickdraw work beautifully together. For PVE, Rampage, Grave Robber, and Threat Detector are all good choices. Finally, Slideshot is a good all-around perk. Probably the closest you’re going to get to an Energy slot Mindbender’s Ambition without actually running Nightfalls.
Great For: PVP
Good For: Gambit, PVE
Python
If you’re looking for a shotgun you don’t have to get a good roll on, look no further than the Python, this season’s Gambit ritual weapon. Unusually for a curated weapon, it offers your choice of great perks: Overflow/Feeding Frenzy and Shield Disorient/One-Two Punch. As an aggressive frame with high impact, so-so range, and a slow rate of fire, it’s best-suited for taking down powerful enemies in PVE — including nailing Void-shielded Envoys in Gambit.
Great For: PVE, Gambit
Those are our choices for the best shotguns in Destiny 2. Did your favorite make the list? If not, tell us about it in the comments. We’ll update this post alongside most major Destiny 2 updates to add and remove any contenders for best available shotguns.
