Pulse Rifles will appeal to a very specific type of player in Destiny 2. They can kill quickly, from a decent range, but will lack the hard-hitting one-shot potential of something like a Sniper Rifle, or the close-quarters reliability of Shotgun. They can be highly rewarding for players with strong recoil control, as landing all rounds in a burst can do impressive damage.
To really shine with Pulse Rifles you need to be very aware of where your enemies are on the map, then surprise them by closing the distances when you can no longer hold on to your range advantage. If enemies learn that your game falls apart if they rush you, then you are going to have a hard time.
Below, we will run through some of the best Pulse Rifles in Destiny 2.
Bygones
Bygones has been a top tier, highly relevant Pulse Rifle across multiple seasons. You can get it by completing a quest for the Drifter, and it will prove to be highly rewarding in PvP. Kill Clip, Rampage, High-Caliber Rounds and a range Masterwork make up a great roll for taking out your fellow Guardians. Based on how well the weapon has performed across multiple seasons, the time spent getting it is a worthwhile investment.
Stats
Redrix Broadsword
This Crucible weapon is an absolute monster, and more than likely always will be. It takes some work to get it but is absolutely worth it. This weapon shines in PvP, and if you can get the Desperado perk to activate, you will be able to out damage just about any enemy in the game.
Vigilance Wing
Not for the faint-hearted, Vigilance Wing is an Exotic Pulse Rifle that will feel extremely rewarding for people who can regularly land all five rounds that it fires in one burst. It can take some getting used to, but when you tame this monster there is no other Pulse Rifle that can put down enemies as fast, or as efficiently, as this can. It takes some getting used to, but it’s a monster when you figure it out.
Outlast
You can get the Outlast from Gambit Prime or Reckoning, and it can roll with Extended Barrel, Acurized Rounds, Outlaw/Feeding Frenzy, and Kill Clip/Rampage. Fast fire rate, potentially lightning-fast reload, and a very short time-to-kill, just about everything you want from a Pulse Rifle.
Sacred Provenance
This Pulse Rifle will only drop from the Garden of Salvation Raid but is worth the effort to try and get. It’s a four-round burst and can drop with Rapid Hit, so the perk plays beautifully on this weapon.
Bad Juju
The Bad Juju makes the list solely for its ability to turn you into a barely contained super machine in PvE. Kills with this weapon refill your magazine, increase your damage, and give you Super energy. It does suffer somewhat at longer ranges, but when you get it spooled up it’s a beast in most of the game activities.
