[Top 5] Destiny 2 Best Machine Guns and How To Get Them

Updated:

28 May 2022

There are many different ways you can tear through enemies, but the machine gun is one of the most effective (and fun) ways to make bullet rain. Another perk is the sheer power trip of spraying rounds left and right.

Bring out the big guns boys, today we’re taking a look at the Top 5 best machine guns in Destiny 2 and how to get them.

How the List Works:

Many of these weapons have randomized perks, since naming every possible perk for each weapon would be a pain to read, we’ll list it’s curated traits/perks and its stats when it has the curated roll. Don’t worry though, we’ll provide a link to the full weapon breakdown in the Weapon Details section for each weapon.

Our Top 5

Hammerhead
Thunderlord
21% Delirium
Xenophage
Seventh Seraph SAW

1. Hammerhead

Smash through the veil.

If you’re going to name something after a cool type of shark, you’re setting the bar pretty high. No worries though, Hammerhead reaches that bar easily. Its strengths is in clearing enemies and moving down invading players thanks to a surprisingly decent range and controllable recoil. I think I can say it’s earned the right to be named after an apex predator.

Weapon Stats:

Impact: 41

Range: 78

Stability: 64

Handling: 46

Reload Speed: 64

Rounds/Min: 450

Magazine: 60

Perks:

Adaptive Frame: A well-rounded grip, reliable and sturdy.

Feeding Frenzy: Each rapid kill with this weapon progressively increases reload speed for a short time.

Rampage: Rampage: Kills with this weapon temporarily grant increased damage. Stacks 3x.

What makes Hammerhead good?:

Good range for a machine gun
Manageable recoil
Good versatility

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/603242241-hammerhead#

How to get Hammerhead:

Hammerhead in Action:

2. Thunderlord

They return from fields afar. The eye has passed, the end nears. Do not fade quietly. Let thunder reign again.

Coming back from the first Destiny, Thunderlord makes a return. The gun’s exotic perk generates lightning strikes when you kill an enemy. It’s as if Zeus himself owes you some favors so he joins your game to help. Thanks, Zeus!

Exotic Weapon Stats:

Impact: 41

Range: 69

Stability: 64

Handling: 46

Reload Speed: 69

Rounds/Min: 450

Magazine: 62

Perks:

Reign Havoc: Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above.

Feeding Frenzy: Each rapid kill with this weapon progressively increases reload speed for a short time.

Lightning Rounds: This weapon fires faster and more accurately the longer the trigger is held. Continuous damage generates lightning strikes.

What makes Thunderlord good?:

AOE lightning strikes
Lightning strikes do higher damage which helps conserve ammo
Good at clearing hordes of enemies
Fairly easy to get
Become a lighting wizard

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3325463374-thunderlord#

How to get Thunderlord:

Thunderlord in Action:

3. 21% Delirium

"All right." —A Dark Age drifter

Here’s a machine gun that makes you go through quite a grind to get, it’s worth it. 21% Delirium is a Gambit pinnacle weapon with the perk Killing Tally which increases the gun’s damage every time you get a kill. You heard that right, now you see why people are willing to play so many matches for this weapon.

Weapon Stats:

Impact: 25

Range: 50

Stability: 70

Handling: 39

Reload Speed: 43

Rounds/Min: 900

Magazine: 200

Perks:

Rapid-Fire Frame: Deeper ammo reserves. Slightly faster reload when the magazine is empty.

Overflow: Picking up Special or Heavy ammo reloads this weapon to beyond normal capacity.

Killing Tally: Kills increase this weapon's damage until it is stowed or reloaded.

What makes 21% Delirium good?:

Decent range
Overflow perk gives large ammo capacity
Killing Tally perk useful for PvE gamemodes

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1600633250-21-delirium#

How to get 21% Delirium:

21% Delirium in Action:

4. Xenophage

This might sting a little.

Xenophage is one of the most popular machine guns and for good reason, its got great range, and when combined with a maxed out impact stat this gun can practically “snipe” enemies. This exotic machine gun is in a class all its own.

Weapon Stats:

Impact: 100

Range: 89

Stability: 34

Handling: 37

Reload Speed: 38

Rounds/Min: 120

Magazine: 20

Exotic Perks:

Pyrotoxin Rounds: Fires high-powered explosive ammunition.

Rangefinder: Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification. Increased projectile velocity while aiming Rocket Launchers and Grenade Launchers.

What makes Xenophage good?:

Great range
Max impact stat
Good for different gamemodes

Weapon Details:

https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1395261499-xenophage#

How to get Xenophage:

Xenophage in Action:

5. Seventh Seraph Saw

Chained away long ago; its jaws too eager in times of peace.

Made by Seventh Seraph weapon foundry, this machine gun is an all-around balanced weapon. The power comes from a good perk roll, if you can get something like the Firing Line perk you will find that you can even outperform the previously mentioned Xenophage.

Weapon Stats:

Impact: 70

Range: 70

Stability: 30

Handling: 44

Reload Speed: 38

Rounds/Min: 360

Magazine: 43

Perks:

High Impact Frame: Slow-firing and high-damage. This weapon is more accurate when stationary and aiming down sights.

Grave Robber: Melee kills reload a portion of this weapon's magazine. Grants ammo for Primary ammo weapons; reloads from reserves for Special and Heavy ammo weapons.

Vorpal Weapon: Increased damage against bosses, vehicles, and Guardians with their Super active.