Shotguns have long proven irreplaceable in Destiny 2. Whether taking on Raids to casual Crucible matches, Our beloved boomsticks can’t be beaten. To keep the shotgun party going we curated a list of shotguns we think are the best, and how you can get them yourself.
How the List Works:
Most of these weapons have either a predetermined (curated) perk roll as a random perk roll. 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 15 Shotguns
- Prophet of Doom
- First In, Last Out
- Felwinter’s Lie
- Perfect Paradox
- The Chaperone
- Python
- Legend of Acrius
- Lord of Wolves
- Astral Horizon (Adept)
- IKELOS_SG
- Seventh Seraph CQC-12
- Duality
- Xenoclast IV
- Heritage
- Bonechiller
1. Prophet of Doom (PvE, Gambit)
"You know how this will end." —Yardarm-4, Titan of the Kentarch 3
No, it does not have anything to do with Dr. Doom; the mortal enemy of the Fantastic Four. Prophet of Doom is a raid shotgun that can perform in both PvE and PvP. It is an all-around very solid shotgun that does what you need it to do.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 70
Range: 75
Stability: 66
Handling: 37
Reload Speed: 52
Rounds/Min: 65
Magazine: 5
Perks:
Rapid-Fire Frame: Fires full auto with deeper ammo reserves. Faster reload when the weapon is empty.
Full Auto Trigger System: Holding down the trigger will fire this weapon at full auto.
One-Two Punch: Hitting an enemy with every pellet in a shot increases melee damage for a short duration.
What makes Prophet of Doom good?:
- Good impact
- Good range
- Good stability
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/4020742303-prophet-of-doom#
How to get Prophet of Doom:
You can acquire this gun as a drop from the Garden of Salvation raid.
Prophet of Doom in Action:
2. First In, Last Out (PvE)
"I don't know how it works. You just keep taking damage and keep firing."
This slug shotgun can handle itself very well in both PvE and PvP. That is if you can aim properly (not me). It punches through powerful enemies with relative ease. In PvP, you should opt for range focused perks to make the most of this gun.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 70
Range: 71
Stability: 60
Handling: 51
Reload Speed: 51
Rounds/Min: 70
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Precision Frame: Fires a single-slug round. This weapon's recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.
Pulse Monitor: Automatically reloads the magazine and improves weapon handling when critically wounded—even when this weapon is stowed.
Vorpal Weapon: Increased damage against bosses, vehicles, and Guardians with their Super active.
What makes First In, Last Out good?:
- Good range
- Decent stability
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3616586446-first-in-last-out#
How to get First In, Last Out:
First In, Last Out in Action:
3. Felwinter’s Lie (PvP)
"I just like the name. Doesn't mean anything." —Lord Felwinter to Lord Timur
No lie, but this shotgun was/is one of the most effective shotguns in PvP. This Iron Banner weapon has a great curated roll that made it famous, or infamous if you were on the wrong end. 10/10 I’m still angry about being destroyed by this gun.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 80
Range: 47
Stability: 27
Handling: 33
Reload Speed: 41
Rounds/Min: 55
Magazine: 4
Perks:
Shot Package: Aggressive frame Shotgun modified to have a more uniform pellet spread.
Slideshot: Sliding partially reloads this weapon's magazine and temporarily boosts range and stability.
Opening Shot: Improved accuracy and range on the opening shot of attack.
What makes Felwinter’s Lie good?:
- Good impact
- Good perk pool
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1179141605-felwinters-lie#
How to get Felwinter’s Lie:
Felwinter’s Lie in Action:
4. Perfect Paradox (PvE, PvP)
A tale that's different from the rest: the thread unfurls against the clocks.
The one the Speaker loved the best must have a perfect paradox.
Perfect Paradox is a powerfully potent piece. This shotgun is a rapid-fire frame that shoots faster and reps a magazine size of 7, which can be increased with mag perks for even more ammo. This is another shotgun that plays well in PvE.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 65
Range: 39
Stability: 47
Handling: 49
Reload Speed: 81
Rounds/Min: 140
Magazine: 7
Perks:
Precision Frame: This weapon's recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.
Field Prep: Increased ammo reserves. Faster reload, stow, and ready when you're crouching.
Rampage: Kills with this weapon temporarily grant increased damage. Stacks 3x.
What makes Perfect Paradox good?:
- Effective for PvE with the right roll
- Good random perk pool
- Decent reload speed
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3393519051-perfect-paradox
How to get Perfect Paradox:
Perfect Paradox in Action:
5. The Chaperone (PvE, PvP)
"My mother had a shotgun we called the Chaperone. Kept us alive out there before we got to the City." —Amanda Holliday
The Chaperone is an exotic slug shotgun with great range, well, actually max range. Yes, that’s right this thing reaches far (for a shotgun) and hits hard. Its exotic perk boosts handling, range, and precision damage when you get a precision kill. In PvP, Once you get over the weapon’s sizable learning curve, you’ll be shootin’ till the cows come home, or whatever southern/wild west/cowboy analogy fits here.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 75
Range: 100
Stability: 37
Handling: 82
Reload Speed: 37
Rounds/Min: 70
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Precision Slug: Fires a single-slug precision round.
Roadborn: Precision kills briefly grant bonus handling, range, and precision damage with this weapon.
What makes The Chaperone good?:
- Maximum shotgun range
- Good handling
- Good for PvP
- Roadborn perk enhances opportunities for precision shots
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3413860062-the-chaperone#
How to get The Chaperone:
The Chaperone in Action:
6. Python (PvE, Gambit)
"If they let you get that close, they deserve it." —The Drifter
This shotgun can take a while to grind for, at some point, you’ll probably wish an actual python would put you out of your misery. Once/if you get it will all that work will pay off. Python is one of the few shotguns that have the option for One-Two Punch as a perk while the overall performance makes it a capable PvE weapon.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 80
Range: 39
Stability: 38
Handling: 34
Reload Speed: 33
Rounds/Min: 55
Magazine: 5
Perks:
Aggressive Frame: Hard-hitting, high recoil. Increases rate of fire after a kill.
Overflow: Picking up Special or Heavy ammo reloads this weapon to beyond normal capacity.
Shield Disorient: Energy matched shield explosion disorients nearby combatants.
What makes Python good?:
- Good for PvE
- Overflow can bump magazine count to 13
- Effective against majors
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/838556752-python#
How to get Python:
Python in Action:
7. Legend of Acrius (PvE and Gambit)
"In the Cabal legend, a hero seeks to possess the sun. He succeeds. Then, he becomes Emperor. The Cabal… are not a subtle people." —Tyra Karn
Here’s a heavy shotgun that doesn’t follow the norm. The Legend of Acrius has a range of 100 and it nails through enemies with ease. It’s certainly mean.
Exotic Weapon Stats:
Impact: 84
Range: 100
Stability: 82
Handling: 15
Reload Speed: 28
Rounds/Min: 55
Magazine: 4
Exotic Perks:
Shock Blast: This weapon fires blasts of high-damage Arc energy that overpenetrates enemies.
What makes Legend of Acrius good?:
- High range
- Good stability
- Good impact
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1744115122-legend-of-acrius#
How to get Legend of Acrius:
Previously, the quest for this weapon required you to complete the Leviathan Raid. Now that it’s been vaulted you can buy it with this method: https://youtu.be/HinJ09rJmXk
Legend of Acrius in Action:
8. Lord of Wolves (PvE)
By this right alone do I rule.
This shotgun was one of the most broken guns in the game a while back. That was until the nerf hammer came swinging down. Though far from its former glory, it can still be a viable weapon, especially with the exotic catalyst. The exotic perk has you hold down the reload button to get a more powerful burst.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 68
Range: 28
Stability: 59
Handling: 46
Reload Speed: 64
Rounds/Min: 640
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Shrapnel Launcher: Fires a powerful short-range burst of Solar damage.
Release the Wolves: [Hold reload]: Swap to a longer, more powerful burst.
What makes Lord of Wolves good?:
- Decent for PvE
- Good for PvP with the right build
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3413860063-lord-of-wolves#
How to get Lord of Wolves:
Lord of Wolves in Action:
9. Astral Horizon (Adept) - (PvP, Trials)
Even the brightest stars eventually set.
This Trials of Osiris shotgun is back and is beefier than its old self. It hits hard and the curated roll is not too shabby. It can be an effective alternative to Felwinter’s Lie.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 80
Range: 38
Stability: 64
Handling: 80
Reload Speed: 94
Rounds/Min: 55
Magazine: 5
Perks:
Aggressive Frame: Hard-hitting, high recoil. Increases rate of fire after a kill.
Threat Detector: Increased reload, stability, and handling when enemies are in close proximity.
Elemental Capacitor: Increased stats based on the currently equipped subclass. • [Solar] increases reload speed • [Arc] increases handling • [Void] increases stability
What makes Astral Horizon good?:
- Good for PvP
- Good Impact
- Decent perk pool
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/532746994-astral-horizon-adept#
How to get Astral Horizon:
Astral Horizon in Action:
10. IKELOS_SG_v1.0.2 (PvE, Gambit)
Subroutine IKELOS: Status=reinitiated. APOTHEOSIS: Status=active…
One of the more popular shotguns in Beyond Light, the Ikelos shotgun is a beast in PvE game modes. This rapid-fire frame gun can roll with some great damage perks and should not be overlooked.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 65
Range: 50
Stability: 43
Handling: 36
Reload Speed: 74
Rounds/Min: 140
Magazine: 8
Perks:
Rapid-Fire Frame: Fires full auto with deeper ammo reserves. Faster reload when weapon is empty.
Threat Detector: Increased reload, stability, and handling when enemies are in close proximity.
Trench Barrel: After a successful melee hit, this weapon gains increased damage, handling, and reload speed for a short duration—or until three shots are fired.
What makes IKELOS_SG_v1.0.2 good?:
- Good for PvE
- Good perk pool
- Good for DPS
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/532746994-astral-horizon-adept#
How to get IKELOS_SG_v1.0.2:
IKELOS_SG_v1.0.2 in Action:
11. Seventh Seraph CQC-12
Word into law, held at gunpoint.
The Seventh Seraph CQC-12 is a pretty versatile shotgun for when you’re going up against players or A.I. enemies. The curated roll is generally well rounded but some of the perk combos you can get blow it out the water. It rocks the Lead from Gold perk, where if you pick up heavy ammo, you will also get ammo for the shotgun. Overall a solid pick.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 65
Range: 53
Stability: 54
Handling: 60
Reload Speed: 64
Rounds/Min: 80
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Lightweight Frame: Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped.
Lead from Gold: Picking up Heavy ammo also grants ammo to this weapon.
Shield Disorient: Energy matched shield explosion disorients nearby combatants.
What makes Seventh Seraph CQC-12 good?:
- Versatile
- Good perk pool
- Decent overall stats
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/1821724780-seventh-seraph-cqc-12#
How to get Seventh Seraph CQC-12:
Seventh Seraph CQC-12 in Action:
12. Duality
"The question becomes whether or not to fire, not where to aim." —Osiris
One of the new exotics introduced in Beyond Light, Duality has the unique ability to fire a wide burst of pellets when shooting from the hip and a single slug shot when aiming down the sights. It also boasts some pretty decent stats, it’s, something special that’s for sure.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 80
Range: 78
Stability: 55
Handling: 82
Reload Speed: 11
Rounds/Min: 65
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Compression Chamber: Fires a pellet spread in hip-fire or a single high-damage slug while aiming.
On Black Wings: Pellet final blows grant a stacking precision damage and reload speed buff. Precision hits with slugs extend the duration.
What makes Duality good?:
- Good range
- Good Impact
- High handling
- Interesting exotic perk
- Good catalyst
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/3460576091-duality#
How to get Duality:
This is currently available to players who own the season pass.
Duality in Action:
13. Xenoclast IV
"Nice chitin. It'd be a shame if someone broke it." —Liu Feng
Here’s yet another Beyond Light shotgun. It sports a lightweight frame and a nice selection of perks. Its strong suit is more catered to PvE but is likely able to handle itself in the Crucible. Xenoclast also can roll the beloved perk clown cartridge, which can overfill the magazine to give you more than six shots.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 65
Range: 52
Stability: 60
Handling: 69
Reload Speed: 59
Rounds/Min: 80
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Lightweight Frame: Superb handling. Move faster with this weapon equipped.
Clown Cartridge: Reloading this weapon randomly overfills it from reserves.
Unrelenting: Rapidly defeating targets triggers health regeneration. Guardians and powerful combatants count as more than one kill.
What makes Xenoclast IV good?:
- Good perk pool
- Decent overall stats
- Fairly versatile in PvE and PvP
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/2891672170-xenoclast-iv#
How to get Xenoclast:
Xenoclast in Action:
14. Bonechiller (PvE)
"It seeps under your skin; settles in your bones. Even outside of its presence, you can feel its chill." —The Exo Stranger
It has a cool name and looks a bit like a super soaker but it’s pretty “chill”. Haha comedy. Jokes aside, it has decent base stats and if you don’t like the roll you have, you can farm for another one pretty easily. Once you get that roll, Bonechiller is consistent and does some work.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 70
Range: 74
Stability: 38
Handling: 38
Reload Speed: 31
Rounds/Min: 65
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Precision Frame: Fires a single-slug round. This weapon's recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.
Surplus: Increases handling, reload speed, and stability for each fully charged ability.
Opening Shot: Improved accuracy and range on the opening shot of attack.
What makes Bonechiller good?:
- Good perk pool
- Easy to farm until you get the perfect roll
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/4037745684-bonechiller#
How to get Bonechiller:
Bonechiller in Action:
15. Heritage
A single word etched inside the barrel: "Wilhelmina-1."
The disputed meta of Beyond Light, Heritage is a kinetic slot slug shotgun that tears through everything in PvE. It does well against bosses as most slug shooters do but the curated roll packs a little more punch, making it a favorite among players as of right now.
Weapon Stats:
Impact: 70
Range: 76
Stability: 67
Handling: 78
Reload Speed: 51
Rounds/Min: 70
Magazine: 6
Perks:
Precision Frame: Fires a single-slug round. This weapon's recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.
Reconstruction: This weapon slowly reloads itself over time, up to double capacity.
Recombination: Elemental final blows increase the damage of this weapon's next shot.
What makes Heritage good?:
- Good range
- Good stability
- High handling
- Great at boss DPS
- Powerful perks
Weapon Details:
https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/db/items/4248569242-heritage
How to get Heritage:
You can get this weapon in the Deep Stone Crypt raid whether as a reward from an encounter or one of the treasure chests.
Heritage in Action:
Liked our list? What weapons are best? Let us know in the comments below!
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