Once the rulers of both PvP and PvE in Destiny 2, Sniper Rifles took a hit with several nerfs in previous seasons. However, recent adjustments in the Season of the Witch have brought them back into the spotlight, making them more user-friendly in PvP and deadlier in PvE.
In Destiny 2's PvP, where you face off against other players in a skillful Crucible, Sniper Rifles stand out as powerful contenders. With the ability to one-shot opponents, these single-shot, high-damage guns are famous for their long-range effectiveness. In the Season of the Wish, snipers are also buffed for PvE, making them a solid choice for all activities in the game.
What are the best snipers in Destiny 2?
Let's dive right into it! Here's a rundown of the top 10 snipers for different activities and playstyles in Season of the Wish.
10. Thoughtless (Best for PVE)
Thoughtless has something for everyone, making it a versatile weapon. Whether you're into PvP or PvE, this Sniper Rifle caters to all playstyles. With Snapshot Sights and various handling perks for PvP lovers or Overflow/Firing Line for PvE enthusiasts, it's a solid choice for any scenario. However, while it's effective in both areas, some players still prefer specialized snipers for specific activities.
What's cool about Thoughtless is that it's craftable and can roll with Overflow/Firing Line. Beyond its impressive stats, it falls into the Adaptive Frame archetype, making it a reliable and flexible option for Guardians who want versatility in sniper choices.
Thoughtless Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 51
- Stability: 49
- Handling: 45
- Reload Speed: 44
- Reload Time: 3.14 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 67
- Inventory Size: 48
- Zoom: 46
- Airborne Effectiveness: 2
- Recoil: 79
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
PvE God roll:
- Barrel: Arrowhead Brake
- Magazine: Tactical Mag
- Perk 1: Overflow
- Perk 2: Firing Line
How to get Thoughtless
In the Season of the Witch, the only way to get this weapon is from the gunsmith vendor (Banshee-44). Banshee has sold some amazing rolls of this weapon in the past and offers it frequently in its inventory. You need to watch its daily offerings and might be lucky enough to get a god-roll.
9. Succession (Best for PVE)
Even with the general community's skepticism towards 72 RPM snipers, Succession manages to make its way into the inventories of many Guardians. Should 72 RPM snipers see a buff, Succession can become one of the top-tier special weapons in the game.
Reconstruction and Vorpal Weapon make Succession an S-tier PvE sniper, allowing the weapon to achieve a six or eight-round magazine that reloads itself passively. Recombination can also be used instead of Vorpal Weapon for enhanced burst damage, albeit with a trade-off in sustained DPS.
Succession Stats
- Impact: 90
- Range: 76
- Stability: 23
- Handling: 30
- Reload Speed: 35
- Reload Time: 3.32 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 48
- Inventory Size: 50
- Zoom: 50
- Airborne Effectiveness: 4
- Recoil: 80
- Rounds Per Minute: 72
- Magazine: 3
PvE God roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel
- Magazine: Tactical Mag
- Perk 1: Reconstruction
- Perk 2: Vorpal Weapon
How to get Succession
You can get this weapon from the Deep Stone Crypt Raid, specifically the raid's second (Replication) encounter. Once the weapon drops, it can appear in secret chests hidden throughout the activity. You can easily farm the red borders of this weapon once this raid is the featured raid of the week.
8. Praedyth's Revenge (Best for PVE)
Praedyth's Revenge stands out as one of the best PVE snipers in the game. With impressive base stats, it can hold its ground against any other sniper. What makes it even more exceptional are its PVE-oriented perks, setting it apart from the competition.
As the king of Rapid-Fire Sniper Rifles, Praedyth's Revenge is equipped with Rewind Rounds, allowing it to fire more rounds than most other sniper rifles. A bug fix in Season of the Seraph has added another layer to its effectiveness. Rewind Rounds can now trigger on Divinity's critical bubble, making it a solid choice for proper DPS in certain situations.
Praedyth's Revenge Stats
- Impact: 55
- Range: 34
- Stability: 40
- Handling: 70
- Reload Speed: 63
- Reload Time: 2.81seconds
- Aim Assistance: 78
- Inventory Size: 60
- Zoom: 49
- Airborne Effectiveness: 2
- Recoil: 55
- Rounds Per Minute: 140
- Magazine: 5
PvE God roll:
- Barrel: Arrowhead Brake
- Magazine: Tactical Mag
- Perk 1: Rewind Rounds
- Perk 2: High-Impact Reserves
How to get Praedyth's Revenge
You can get this weapon from the Vault of Glass raid, specifically the raid's second (Oracles) and fifth encounter (Atheon). Once the weapon drops, it can appear in secret chests hidden throughout the activity. You can easily farm the red borders of this weapon once this raid is the featured raid of the week.
7. Mercurial Overreach (Best for PVP)
Mercurial Overreach is the spiritual successor to the renowned Revoker, a Pinnacle Sniper Rifle from previous years. This 90 RPM Sniper Rifle deals Arc damage and stands out as a stats powerhouse.
Additionally, the ability to roll stocks in place of an origin trait further enhances its stats, making it the top choice among Adaptive Snipers. In The Crucible, Mercurial Overreach shines as a beast. Its outstanding stats, solid and unique perks, and clean scope contribute to its rising preference among Guardians, surpassing even the popular Beloved.
Mercurial Overreach Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 65
- Stability: 54
- Handling: 52
- Reload Speed: 50
- Reload Time: 3.03 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 63
- Inventory Size: 50
- Zoom: 40
- Airborne Effectiveness: 5
- Recoil: 75
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
PvP God roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel
- Magazine: Ricochet Rounds
- Perk 1: Snapshot Sights
- Perk 2: Opening Shot
How to get Mercurial Overreach
Mercurial Overreach was the reward for the PvP Competitive Playlist in a previous season. Unfortunately, there is no way to obtain this gun in the game right now.
6. Volta Bracket (Best for PVP)
Volta Bracket is another addition introduced with the Lightfall DLC and is obtainable through farming at the new destination, Neumona. This beautifully designed futuristic sniper proves to be highly effective in PvP scenarios, adding another compelling option to Guardian arsenals.
If you can manage without Snapshot Sights, the Volta Bracket is a more robust choice than many other 72RPM snipers. Many Guardians find Mechabre to be more enjoyable to use, but if you're in search of a kinetic-slot option accessible throughout the year, crafting Volta is worth considering.
Volta Bracket Stats
- Impact: 90
- Range: 72
- Stability: 23
- Handling: 24
- Reload Speed: 28
- Reload Time: 3.46 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 43
- Inventory Size: 28
- Zoom: 50
- Airborne Effectiveness: 3
- Recoil: 76
- Rounds Per Minute: 72
- Magazine: 3
PvP God roll:
- Barrel: Arrowhead Brake
- Magazine: Tactical Mag
- Perk 1: Triple Tap
- Perk 2: Firing Line
How to get Volta Bracket
There are multiple ways to farm Volta Bracket in the game. The weapon was released with the lightfall expansion, and the grind was tied to the new destination, Neomuna. You can get it from the Lightfall engrams and the chests of Terminal Overload activity. The fastest and easiest way to farm it is by completing the Heroic Petrols on Neumona.
5. Eye of Sol Adept (Best for PVP)
Eye of Sol is often regarded as the kinetic counterpart to Beloved due to their similar stats and perks. While it may be a bit more challenging to obtain, its low zoom, high aim assist, and top-tier perks in both columns make it well worth the effort.
With the right combination of perks, Eye of Sol has become one of the most lethal weapons for PvP activities. The addition of adept mods has further increased its effectiveness. The adept targeting mode specifically grants this weapon ten additional aim assists, bringing the total to an impressive 78. Combining this with targeting mods can make you feel invincible in PvP.
Eye of Sol Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 50
- Stability: 49
- Handling: 46
- Reload Speed: 40
- Reload Time: 3.22 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 68
- Inventory Size: 45
- Zoom: 45
- Airborne Effectiveness: 5
- Recoil: 72
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
PvP God roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel
- Magazine: Accurized Rounds
- Perk 1: Moving Target
- Perk 2: Snapshot Sights
How to get Eye of Sol Adept
Eye of Sol is one of the difficult weapons to get as it is linked with the Trials of the Osiris activity. You can only obtain it from the lighthouse chest, which you can only unlock by going flawless in trials. Once you open it in your collections, you can buy another one from Saint-14 by sacrificing your card and a few other resources.
4. Izanagi's Burden (Best for PVE)
Izanagi's Burden is a true DPS powerhouse, especially when paired with a Bait and Switch Heavy Weapon. This Exotic Sniper Rifle can collapse its magazine into an overcharged shot, dealing incredible damage. A bullet is often enough to take down Majors or Champions in mid-tier content.
Given the popularity of Bait and Switch, Izanagi's becomes the perfect choice for delivering a significant burst of damage before seamlessly switching to your primary Heavy weapon for maximum damage output.
Izanagi's Burden Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 48
- Stability: 41
- Handling: 47
- Reload Speed: 40
- Reload Time: 3.22 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 62
- Inventory Size: 60
- Zoom: 45
- Airborne Effectiveness: 6
- Recoil: 73
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
Exotic Perk:
"Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage."
How to get Izanagi's Burden
The process of getting the Trespasser is straightforward. You need to farm some resources, and you can buy the weapon from the exotic kiosk at the tower. You will need:
- 1 x Exotic Cipher
- 150,000 x Glimmer
- 2 x Ascendant Shard
3. Beloved (Best for PVP)
Beloved, arguably the community's favorite legendary sniper in the entire franchise, has made a triumphant return and is better than ever. Originally introduced in Season of Opulence, Beloved was regarded as the strongest PvP Sniper Rifle.
Featuring low zoom, high aim assist, the ability to be crafted, and the coveted Snapshot Sights, Beloved remains incredibly popular in PvP. Its impressive combination of attributes and perks makes it a go-to choice for many Guardians in player-versus-player engagements.
Beloved Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 50
- Stability: 46
- Handling: 47
- Reload Speed: 38
- Reload Time: 3.26 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 68
- Inventory Size: 36
- Zoom: 40
- Airborne Effectiveness: 3
- Recoil: 77
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
PvP God roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel
- Magazine: Ricochet Rounds
- Perk 1: Snapshot Sights
- Perk 2: Moving Target
How to get Beloved
In the Season of the Witch, the only way to get this weapon is from the gunsmith vendor (Banshee-44). Banshee has sold some amazing rolls of this weapon in the past and offers it frequently in its inventory. You need to watch its daily offerings and might be lucky enough to get a god-roll.
2. Cloudstrike (Best for PVP)
Cloudstrike stands out as a powerhouse across all aspects of the game. It delivers significant damage in PvE, outshining many other snipers, and is a fantastic weapon in eliminating entire Guardian teams in The Crucible. Beyond its effectiveness, using Cloudstrike is efficient, enjoyable, and satisfying.
The addition of its catalyst takes its PvE effectiveness to another level by introducing the Triple Tap perk to the gun, which returns one round to the magazine on rapidly landing precision hits.
Cloudstrike Stats
- Impact: 55
- Range: 60
- Stability: 49
- Handling: 46
- Reload Speed: 40
- Reload Time: 3.22 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 68
- Inventory Size: 70
- Zoom: 50
- Airborne Effectiveness: 7
- Recoil: 68
- Rounds Per Minute: 140
- Magazine: 7
Exotic Perk:
"Precision final blows generate a lightning bolt at the target's location. Rapid precision hits create a lightning storm at the point of impact."
How to get Cloudstrike
To obtain the Cloudstrike Exotic Sniper in Destiny 2: Beyond Light, complete all the Variks Sabotage challenges until further unlocks are unavailable. Completing the A Hard Rain Falls quest from the Exo Stranger is required to unlock additional challenges. Once you finish these challenges, you will receive the Cloudstrike sniper rifle.
1. Uzume RR4 (Best for PVP)
The Uzume RR4 often goes unnoticed, but it's a hidden gem for both PvE and PvP in Destiny 2. While there are situations where other sniper rifles shine brighter, Uzume's versatility and overall performance make it a reliable choice. If you're looking for a well-rounded option that can handle various scenarios, going for the Uzume RR4 might be your best bet.
During the Season of the Witch, the Uzume RR4 has returned to the nightfall loot pool, offering new perks and the opportunity to acquire an adept version by completing the nightfall on Grandmaster difficulty. This sniper is one of the best in the game right now.
Uzume RR4 Stats
- Impact: 70
- Range: 60
- Stability: 48
- Handling: 46
- Reload Speed: 45
- Reload Time: 3.13 seconds
- Aim Assistance: 67
- Inventory Size: 50
- Zoom: 50
- Airborne Effectiveness: 3
- Recoil: 75
- Rounds Per Minute: 90
- Magazine: 4
PvP God roll:
- Barrel: Fluted Barrel
- Magazine: Tactical Mag
- Perk 1: Snapshot Sights
- Perk 2: Vorpal Weapon
How to get Uzume RR4
You can get Uzume RR4 only if you complete a Nightfall activity, but only if it is the reward for the week. Furthermore, players who beat a GM Nightfall in Destiny 2 can get Wendigo GL3, which allows the weapon to take advantage of Adept weapon mods.
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