Best PvP Shotguns in Destiny 2

In Destiny 2, where every Guardian strives to be the number one, the art of warfare isn’t just about landing the last blow—it’s about doing so with style and precision. While various weapons fit this criterion, there’s something inherently satisfying about the booming echo of a shotgun, followed by the immediate defeat of your enemies. In the PvP content of Destiny 2, SGs are a predominant choice among Guardians, offering unparalleled close-quarters potency and a high degree of versatility.

When using shotguns in The Crucible’s playlists, Guardians should focus on optimizing their weapon rolls and adapting their playstyles to exploit the inherent strengths of their chosen weapon.

For instance, aggressive players favoring fast-paced gameplay would benefit from shotguns with high handling and mobility, ensuring swift target acquisition and effective evasion.
On the other hand, strategic players focusing on accuracy and damage output should prioritize shotguns with tighter pellet spreads and high-impact frames.

The right combination of perks and mods can significantly elevate a shotgun’s performance in PvP.

• Quickdraw and Snapshot Sights are universally valued for their enhancements to weapon readiness and aim speed, allowing instantaneous reactions.
• Slideshot is another valuable perk, offering improved reloads and range while on the move, catering to aggressive and dynamic playstyles.

Understanding the map layout is crucial for practical shotgun usage. Guardians should leverage the environment, using corners and cover to approach enemies stealthily, avoiding long sightlines where this type of weapons is at a disadvantage. Mastering the art of surprise and maintaining situational awareness is essential for achieving close-quarters dominance.

In The Crucible, the element of surprise is a shotgun user’s greatest ally. Mastering the approach, utilizing vertical space, and avoiding predictability are pivotal. Using unexpected angles and leveraging movement abilities allows Guardians to close distances undetected,

Below are some of the best shotguns in D2 that stand out in the PvP competitive playlists.

Astral Horizon: Top-10

The newly released Destiny 2 Lightfall expansion has brought fresh content, including a plethora of loot, a novel story, exotic items, a Darkness subclass named Strand, and an intricate build crafting system. Among the plethora of perks, one weapon, the Kinetic shotgun Astral Horizon from Trials of Osiris, stands out and can be a valuable addition, especially if Aggressive Frame shotguns receive a buff.

To acquire Astral Horizon, players must partake in Trials of Osiris and achieve various wins to unlock it in the loot pool. Reaching vendor rank 14 allows for claiming a static roll of this meta weapon, enabling its focus via Trials Engrams. Going flawless in Trials of Osiris is necessary for an Adept version, with the specific version rotating weekly.

In PVP, the key is to amplify the weapon’s range with perks like Smoothbore and Accurized Rounds. Slideshot and either Opening Shot or Snapshot Sights are preferable primary perks, focusing on range improvement and swift A.D.S., crucial for competitive modes like Trials of Osiris.

Gunnora’s Axe: Top-9

In Destiny 2 Season of the Seraph, the precision frame Arc shotgun, Gunnora’s Axe, has returned through the Iron Banner activity. Here’s a concise guide on obtaining this distinct weapon and the god rolls that elevate its perks.

To obtain Gunnora’s Axe, participate in the Iron Banner, which becomes available upon reaching rank seven. Subsequently, it can be acquired from Iron Banner engrams or through Focused Decoding at Saladin, costing 100 Legendary Shards and 20,000 Glimmer.

In PVP scenarios, the ideal roll incorporates Hammer-Forged Rifling, Accurized Rounds, Threat Detector, and Snapshot Sights, also focusing on Range Masterwork. The loss of Quickdraw in its rework necessitates the presence of a Threat Detector, granting stability and handling enhancements within proximity to an enemy.

Ragnhild-D: Top-8

The Ragnhild-D, an aggressive frame shotgun introduced in Destiny 2’s Witch Queen expansion, stands out with its eclectic perks, making it a valuable asset in both P.V.E. and PVP.
This shotgun is attainable from Legendary engrams and vendor rank-ups or can be purchased occasionally from Banshee-44. Additionally, it can be crafted upon unlocking its pattern through resonance extraction from Deepsight drops.

Ragnhild-D PvP God Roll:

• Prioritizing range and handling, Full Choke, and Accurized Rounds are pivotal.
• Perpetual Motion amplifies stability, handling, and reload speed, compensating for the lack of impressive PVP perks in the third slot, compared to Auto-Loading Holster.
• Elemental Capacitor is recommended for Arc mains due to its significant handling boost, while Frenzy remains a formidable alternative.

Ragnhild-D emerges as a versatile and craftable shotgun in Destiny 2, renowned for its unique perks in both combat realms, offering players flexibility in optimizing builds for diverse combat scenarios.

Found Verdict: Top-7

In Destiny 2 Season of the Splicer, players discovered new weapons, armor, and the long-awaited armor transmogrification feature. Players aligned with Fallen Captain Mithrax to thwart the Vex and delve into the iconic Vault of Glass raid to acquire unique loot like the Found Verdict shotgun, an aggressive and impactful weapon.

Found Verdict is exclusive to the Vault of Glass raid and can drop from multiple encounters. Once acquired, it might appear in secret chests or be obtained using Spoils of Conquest for a random roll. The consistent raid farming allows players to earn this shotgun reliably.

Found Verdict PvP God Roll:

• The focus is on elevating damage range and accuracy with Smoothbore or Rifled Barrel as the primary perk, considering the trade-off of spread range with Smoothbore.
• Accurized Rounds further augment range, rendering the weapon competitive against slug shotguns.
• Slideshot and Opening Shot maximize PVP effectiveness, benefiting mobile playstyles, notably of Titans or Hunters.

With its distinct perks and formidable presence, Found Verdict is a sought-after shotgun in Destiny 2, enabling players to tailor their approach to encounters and ensuring sustained efficacy in both P.V.E. and PVP scenarios.

Conditional Finality: Top-6

Conditional Finality, a Stasis Exotic shotgun, is renowned for its dual damage capacities—Stasis and Solar, making it a highly coveted weapon, especially in Raids. This distinct shotgun can only be acquired by defeating the final boss of the Root of Nightmares, a task Guardians relentlessly pursue.

This weapon exclusively drops from the final boss in the RoN, a raid noted for its ease and brevity. It boasts an approximate 5% base drop rate, a figure speculated by the community, given Bungie’s silence on official drop rates. The rate can potentially be increased by completing specific triumphs and challenges. However, it is not infinitely farmable, limiting players to one chance per character each week unless it is the featured weekly raid.

Imperial Decree: Top-5

Imperial Decree, reintroduced in Destiny 2’s Season of Defiance, emerges as a superior option due to its enhanced stats and perks, especially in PvP scenarios.

Acquisition:

This item can be obtained by completing Defiant Battlegrounds, focusing Defiant Engrams at the War Table at the H.E.L.M. into “Recovered Leviathan Weapons,” offering a chance to acquire either the Imperial Decree or a class-specific sword. The cost to focus has been notably reduced this season, necessitating a single Defiant Engram and 3,000 Glimmer.

Performance:

While Imperial Decree excels in PvP, its utility in PvE is comparatively limited due to the lack of influential PvE perks. It’s considered S Tier for PvP, with its Aggressive Frame and perk possibilities such as Threat Detector or Slideshot, coupled with Opening Shot, making it a formidable contender for the best kinetic slot shotgun. It pairs well with popular energy primaries like the Ikelos S.M.G. or Exalted Truth.

God Rolls:

For PvP, focusing on Range and Handling is essential, with recommended perks including Barrel Shroud or Corkscrew Rifling, Accurized Rounds, and Opening Shot. A build around Pugilist is advised for PvE, with Corkscrew Rifling, Assault Mag, and Surrounded or Trench Barrel being optimal.

Verdict:

Imperial Decree is highly recommended for PvP enthusiasts due to its craftable Aggressive Frame and potent perks, making it a top contender in its category. Although it may not be the first choice for PvE, its ease of farming and significant impact in PvP make it a worthy addition to any Guardian’s collection.

The Chaperone: Top-4

Destiny 2’s Forsaken expansion brings The Chaperone, a distinct Exotic shotgun that players can secure through a more deliberate process compared to other randomly dropped loot. The journey to acquire The Chaperone begins possibly after completing any Crucible PvP match, where players might receive a quest item, ‘Holliday Family History.’ This leads them to Amanda Holliday in the Tower, initiating a quest involving several Crucible-centered tasks.

To acquire The Chaperone, Guardians must sequentially:

• Achieve 20 shotgun kills in the Crucible.
• Accumulate Arc, Void, and Solar kill in the Crucible, with each elemental type having its progress bar, balanced between earning and losing points through kills and deaths, respectively.
• Secure 15 kills in Gambit, with both invader and invaded kills counting.

The Chaperone has several unique perks that amplify its prowess in battle. Here’s a detailed look at these perks:

Precision Slug: This outstanding perk allows this meta PvP shotgun to discharge a singular, precise slug, improving its accuracy and precision.

The Roadborn: This perk, when activated by precision kills, grants a temporary enhancement to the handling, range, and precision damage of this weapon. This added advantage enables wielders to manage The Chaperone more smoothly, augment its operational distance, and inflict intense precision damage on enemies.

Fractethyst: Top-3

To acquire the Fractethyst in Destiny 2, players can engage in various activities, primarily involving the expenditure of Parallax Trajectory. It can be a reward from seasonal story missions and Astral Alignment activities. However, focusing Umbral Engrams at the H.E.L.M. is recommended for a more focused approach, particularly with Wayfinder’s Concussion in Tier 2, to narrow the loot pool to Fractethyst and Canis Major.

Fractethyst PvP God Rolls:

• Barrel: Full Choke or Smoothbore for range.
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds for enhanced effective shooting distance.
• Primary Perk: Quickdraw for swift weapon drawing.
• Secondary Perk: Opening Shot to ensure accuracy on the initial fire.

For PvP, prioritizing range with appropriate perks can make it a meta weapon in the Crucible. Keep in mind the enhancement of distance and the synergy of perks to make the most out of this meta shotgun.

Duality: Top-2

Duality stands out in Destiny 2 as an Exotic Shotgun, proficient at both close and long ranges, with its enhanced handling allowing for readiness in combat. Initially a reward during the Season of the Hunt, it is now available at the Monument to Lost Lights. It requires an Exotic Cipher, Glimmer, Glacial Starwort, and an Ascendant Shard for purchase.

Duality’s Perks:

• Corkscrew Rifling: Balances the barrel, augmenting range, stability, and handling speed.
• Alloy Magazine: Accelerates reloading when empty.
• On Black Wings: Grants stacking precision damage and reload speed buff with pellet final blows, extended by slug precision hits.
• Short-Action Stock: Boosts handling speed significantly.
• Compression Chamber: Fires a pellet spread from the hip and a single slug when aiming.

Catalyst Upgrade:

Obtained through the ‘Walk the Line’ quest from Banshee-44, the catalyst enhances the shotgun’s range by 20 and adds 2 to the magazine size, optimizing its efficacy at longer ranges and reducing reload frequency.

In conclusion, Duality’s unique perks and versatility in range make it more than a conventional Exotic Shotgun, presenting a multifaceted weapon choice for different combat scenarios.

Matador 64: Top-1

Matador 64 is a significant shotgun in Destiny 2, dominating in Crucible due to its impressive perks and Arc Precision Frame. Available through the Grasp of Avarice dungeon for those who own the 30th Anniversary Pack, it’s incredibly lucrative when the instance is the weekly feature, allowing for multiple drops.

Current Impact:

Post recent updates, Matador 64 has become a Crucible essential. Its Precision Frame firing pellets in guardian-outline shape at proper ranges makes it highly valuable for PvP and a potent choice in PvE, especially with the pellet buffs received a few seasons ago. This shotgun is deemed S Tier for PvP due to its perk selection and stellar stats.

PvP God Roll:

• Barrel: Smoothbore or Smallbore.
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds or Light Mag.
• Perk 1: Perpetual Motion or Threat Detector.
• Perk 2: Opening Shot or Killing Wind.
• Masterwork: Range.

Matador 64 stands out for PvP fans desiring a robust precision frame shotgun and PvE players aiming for robust melee DPS builds. It’s a worthwhile addition due to its substantial base range and dynamic perk set. Securing the right combination might take some waiting and farming, preferably with a good fireteam, in the Grasp of Avarice when it’s the weekly featured dungeon.