Best Kinetic Weapons

The End of another major Expansion approaches. Farewell to Beyond Light to usher in Witch Queen. Destiny 2 Released in September 2017, which means this is the end of Year 4 since The Season of the Lost was extended into 2022. Over this time, I have accumulated a myriad of weapons. Little by little, some favorites have emerged (and escaped being Sunset) that I would like to give recognition to.

The first Category is Kinetic Weapons. Of course, these are my personal favorites that are shared between my three Characters. Your Rewards may go to different weapons, but ultimately, that would not be my fault. :)

Shall we start with Auto Rifles? Of course, there are several Auto Rifles to choose from in the game with various Perk combinations. I will simply share what I use in my personal stash.

Auto Rifles are the backbone of any First-Person Shooter. They are the go-to Weapons of practically every new Player along with being a solid option for Veterans. Where would we be without our trusty Auto Rifle? They deserve Recognition. And the Award goes to...

Auto Rifle of the Year.

Precision Frame | Main Perks: Vorpal Weapon, Auto-Loading Holster. Magazine: Armor-Piercing Rounds, High-Caliber Rounds. Barrel: Chambered Compensator, Full Bore. Masterwork: Stability. Weapon Mod: Major Spec. | Shader: Bloodmane.

Combat bows have a unique feel simply because you're bringing them to a gun fight. After several tests with kinetic bows, I continued to come back to the same one when a bow was needed. And the Award goes to...

Combat Bow of the Year.

Lightweight Frame | Main Perks: Vorpal Weapon, Killing Wind. Arrow: Straight Fletching, Helical Fletching. Bowstring: Natural String, Tactile String. Masterwork: Accuracy. Weapon Mod: Major Spec. | Shader: Envious Touch.

I wanted to keep this List for Legendary Weapons since Exotics typically have an advantage over them. However, this next Award goes to the standout of this year's Kinetic Weapon choices. Yes, that means you'll have to put Trinity Ghoul, Jotunn, and other options to the side for your Exotic Energy Weapon. Life is full of tough choices. And the Award goes to...

Sidearm of the Year.

Even without the LN2 Burst that fires a charged shot of Stasis Energy freezing combatants on contact, 77K is simply a great sidearm. After watching Ms5000Watts absolutely decimate the Crucible competition with this weapon, I decided to give it a try. She is right. This weapon is good.

The next Award goes to a weapon that has become the bane of Crucible players everywhere. Yes, another Exotic in the Kinetic slot. Yet, the added Range and Stability of this weapon is probably unmatched. What is more astonishing is that for much of Destiny 2, Scout Rifles have been underwhelming. Then, a couple of new additions showed up. And the Award goes to...

Scout Rifle of the Year.

In order to unlock the second Main Perk, I will have to run the Presage Mission again. Time to recruit another Fireteam. There is one more stand-out for Scout Rifles that was a sight for sore eyes (whatever that means). This Destiny 1 weapon was dragged into Destiny 2 probably because players were complaining about the state of Scout Rifles in D2. Hold on to that nostalgia...

Scout Rifle of the Year, Honorable Mention.

If you are unwilling to part with your Exotic Energy Weapon and need a solid Kinetic Scout Rifle, run the Nightfall, Fallen S.A.B.E.R. You will have a chance to get the Hung Jury SR4. In terms of Stats, Dead Man's Tale (DMT) edges it out in Impact, Range, and Reload Speed with a significant advantage in Handling. SR4 does have a bit more Stability.

However, there is still a noticeable difference in Damage simply because DMT has a Perk called Cranial Spike, which grants bonus Damage on Precision Hits. This Perk is sorely missed when using Hung Jury in PvP.

Pulse Rifles are not exactly in a great place. We are not short on options, yet most of these options are not as effective as I would like. Ultimately, there was not much competition for my next Winner. And the Award goes to...

Pulse Rifle of the Year.

For this High-Impact Frame, it is more accurate when stationary and ADS (aiming down sights). Another option is Legal Action II, a Pulse Rifle by New Monarchy. It is also a High-Impact Frame and still drops in the game although New Monarchy along with the other Factions no longer exists in D2. Another decent option is the Exotic Pulse Rifle Outbreak Perfected. It is hard for me to judge Perfected without having the Catalyst.

While there are other options for the Kinetic slot (i.e. Hand Cannons, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles) I don't use them very much. It is left to you to recognize the other weapon types used most in your arsenal. Actually, this is a really helpful exercise when it comes to managing Vault Space. You have to get rid of something to make room for what you really want to keep. ecj