Guardians in Bungie's Destiny 2 rely on Scout Rifles for long-range firefights. Thanks to its ranged statistics, Scout Rifles currently enjoy the top spot for the Primary Weapons with the best range. Additionally, non-snipers can still maximize their ranged output with the Scout Rifle, which can prove useful to Hunters, Warlocks, and even the melee Titan.
Moreover, the Scout Rifle can confidently defend most Guardians across all range types. In fact, in the right hands and with the right mods, Scout Rifles can replace Hand Cannons for short-ranged skirmishes. Additionally, they've got enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with Sniper Rifles, again with the right user. For players interested in trying Scout Rifles for PVE, this guide will elaborate on some of the best and the worst Scout Rifles they can try in Destiny 2.
Updated on 27 July 2022 by Rhenn Taguiam: As Savathun makes her presence known once again throughout the events of Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, it makes sense for players to want to gear up and access the best options available to combat her forces.
However, players who want more specific weapons to prepare their arsenal might look into the ever-reliable Scout Rifles to cover all range options. Thankfully, options such as Tears of Contrition and Trustee make for some of the more reliable Scout Rifles for this Season in particular, due to their resilience in the battlefield.
11 MIDA Multi-Tool
Players who want an all-around Scout Rifle can rely on the MIDA Multi-Tool to make PVE much easier across all builds. Thanks to its huge aim assist, players can score precision shots much easier. While the Multi-Tool isn't as strong as other higher-range and higher-caliber Scout Rifles, it's a stable-enough Scout Rifle if you're not looking into a Scout Rifle-centered build.
Moreover, its always-on radar poses a huge advantage in navigating maps. Players without specific builds can rely on the Multi-Tool for most raids until they get a better Scout Rifle.
10 Symmetry
While Symmetry looks sick with its slender and sleek build, it has decent stats for a Scout Rifle. Thanks to Dynamic Charge, players can increase damage output when switching to Arc Seeker mode. Moreover, charges used in this mode will partially reload Symmetry's magazine.
Despite its low stats, its enemy-tracking seekers can quickly dispatch roaming enemies. Unfortunately, Symmetry doesn't have the stats for main weapon material, as other Scout Rifles outshine Symmetry, especially with mod-enhanced stats. Moreover, Arc Seeker mode might prove distracting in high-intensity encounters, and Guardians might benefit more from AOE-centric abilities.
9 Skyburner's Oath
Skyburner's Oath positions itself as a healthy addition to any Guardian's arsenal with the Slug Rifle perk. Thanks to this perk, players enjoy the added benefit of stronger Solar damage when going ADS. This trait makes it quite a reliable weapon for beginner raids and dungeons.
Despite being a random reward, Skyburner's Oath doesn't make for a worthy collector's item. Unfortunately, it's still much slower in terms of rate of fire and is easily outclassed by other Scout Rifles in terms of statistics and useful perks.
8 Vouchsafe
Guardians who want to zig-zag around the battlefield can rely on Vouchsafe to maximize their damage output. This energy Scout Rifle has Zen Moment, which increases its stability the more damage is inflicted on enemies. As such, this perk greatly benefits players who try to master precision shots.
Moreover, its low recoil and advantages on aim assist and impact can motivate players to maximize their roaming around the map. Aside from being a perfect companion for high-intensity raids, it's a great PVP companion to bypass cornering and quick enemies.
7 Polaris Lance
Yet another sleek and regal-looking weapon, Polaris Lance is already a must-have thanks to its unique look. However, Polaris Lance works wonders when used against mobs and bosses, thanks to its Perfect Fifth perk. With this ability, not only do precision hits return ammo to the Lance, but every fifth shot grants added Solar damage.
As such, players conserving ammo can easily go to ADS to start picking off opponents with precision shots. Meanwhile, boss battles become more dynamic as players can aim precision shots while darting around the battlefield. Thanks to Perfect Fifth, the additional Solar blast damage can take out tough bosses much faster.
6 Night Watch
Players with DPS builds can rely on Night Watch to eliminate mobs faster, clearing the way for the squad across rooms with tight spaces. Guardians with Night Watch can enjoy faster movement thanks to Lightweight Frame, helping Guardians reposition much quickly when in combat. Moreover, Explosive Payload generates AOE explosions that can clear mobs in quick succession.
As such, Night Watch makes for a great weapon for survival-based builds. Hunters and other DPS classes can move much faster to evade attacks but also counter with precision kills.
5 Trustee
Aside from its rather minimalist appearance, Trustee fits its name perfectly well for being one of the most reliable Scout Rifles out there. Boasting incredible aim assistance and paired with decent impact and stability, Trustee is a rather competent Scout Rifle for any situation.
Moreover, Trustee’s performance improves further depending on its combination of Traits. For instance, Reconstruction and its slow reload makes Trustee rather dependable on intense incursions. Moreover, Redirection ensures increased damage against bosses when fighting minions first. Aside from that, Wellspring helps players recharge ability energy across their special skills, allowing players access to their more damaging skills more frequently.
4 Vision Of Confluence
Boasting one of the best RPMs for Scout Rifles in the game, Vision of Confluence flexes bright colors for its rather colorful performance, especially for aggressive Hunter builds. Boasting decent aim assistance, impact, reload speed, and handling, Vision of Confluence is a great Scout Rifle to have across all game modes.
Moreover, Vision of Confluence improves performance further with the right combination of Traits. For instance, scoring multiple hits will help Rewind Rounds refill from reserves, whereas Firefly not only boosts reload speed on precision kills but also cause targets to explode. Meanwhile, Frenzy boosts damage, handling, and reload for players the longer they stay in combat, further incentivizing aggressive play.
3 Contingency Plan
Guardians always need a Plan B whenever they get overwhelmed by foes, and Contingency Plan fits the build as an ever-reliable Scout Rifle that boasts rather balanced stats. Coming with decent aim assistance, stability, and impact, Contingency Plan is a go-getter when it comes to reliable shots.
Not to mention, the right Trait combinations can make Contingency Plan a nightmare to deal with. For instance, Kill Clip grants bonus damage when reloading after kills, while Outlaw decreases reload time during precision kills. Moreover, Firmly Planted gives stat boosts all around while crouched, incentivizing more careful play.
2 Aisha’s Embrace
Players, especially Warlocks, needing that extra punch in their combat against the many threats to Earth would benefit from Aisha’s Embrace. Boasting one of the highest RPMs for a Scout Rifle in the game, Aisha’s Embrace is notable for its rather compelling aim assistance, stability, impact, and reload speed. On top of its Rapid-Fire Frame that lets it go full-auto with more ammo and faster reloads on empty magazines, Aisha’s Embrace literally embraces aggressive combat.
Not only that, but some of its Trait combinations make Aisha’s Embrace quite a formidable weapon. For instance, Triple Tap allows Aisha’s to return bullets to the magazine on quick precision hits, whereas Focused Fury endows the weapon with extra damage when its ammo reserves get halved or lower than that. Other useful Traits include Multikill Clip which grants bonus damage upon reloads based on rapid kills during the prior bullet set, and Tunnel Vision boosts ADS speed and target acquisition speed when reloading after a kill.
1 Tears Of Contrition
Resonating the same gloomy ambiance of Mara Sov of the Awoken, Tears of Contrition boasts quite the stylish allure for a Kinetic Rifle that easily bests most Legendary Scout Rifles in the game. Boasting decent impact and aim assistance, Tears of Contrition also comes with great stability and handling, making it one of the most trusty Scout Rifles to secure those perfect taps.
Players can further boost the efficiency of the Tears of Contrition with the right Trait combinations. For instance, Triple Tap gives back bullets to the magazine after rapid precision hits, while Explosive Payload will add an AOE blast for projectiles upon impact, easily making Tears of Contrition a rather messy weapon to deal with. Not only that, aggressive Guardians can transform grenades and charged melee into attack buffs with Well-Rounded, while Vorpal Weapon boosts this weapon’s efficiency against tougher foes.
Destiny 2 is playable on the PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.