With Destiny 2’s Forsaken expansion on the horizon, players are clamoring to find out the best weapons to get their hands on before the DLC launches. Whether it’s getting the soon-to-be unobtainable weapons, or just finding the best gear to get an early edge against the Scorn, there are plenty of weapons that players should pick up before Forsaken.

Because Forsaken will be replacing some weapons in Destiny 2 but not all, we chose to highlight 10 weapons that can only be acquired before Forsaken and 10 that will be available after. Here are the top weapons players should try to get before September 4.

2 Weapons Leaving in Forsaken

1. Curtain Call

destiny 2 curtain call rocket launcher vanguard

Curtain Call dominated the raid meta during the first year of Destiny 2, as cluster bomb rockets dealt massive damage to bosses. Year 1 Vanguard weapons will be unobtainable in Year 2, so players should definitely try to snag this powerful rocket launcher before Forsaken launches.

2. Manannan SR4

destiny 2 manannan sr4 scout rifle

The Manannan SR4 energy scout rifle is one of the best energy scout rifles in the game, featuring explosive payload, lightweight frame, and alloy magazine. This scout rifle melts the shields off of any enemy that gets in the way. Unfortunately, the Gunsmith is getting his stock refreshed with Forsaken, so players will no longer be able to get this powerhouse scout rifle in Forsaken.

3. Antiope-D

destiny 2 antiope d submachine gun smg

The Antiope-D kinetic submachine gun also comes from the Gunsmith and so it will disappear next month. Featuring precision frame, kill clip, and tactical mag, this SMG is one of the best kinetic SMGs for both PvE and PvP. With the faster time-to-kill coming ahead of Forsaken, players may want to give this weapon a shot.

4. Redrix’s Claymore

destiny 2 redrix's claymore crucible pulse rifle

One of the most sought-after weapons in Destiny 2 is the infamous Redrix’s Claymore. Players earn this powerful weapon by reaching Fabled rank in competitive Crucible, making it one of the hardest weapons to get. Unfortunately, players are running out of time to get this weapon, as seasonal rewards will be changing when Forsaken launches. The Claymore features a unique perk combination of Outlaw and Desperado, which makes the gun fire faster every time it is reloaded during Outlaw.

5. Uriel’s Gift

destiny 2 uriel's gift auto rifle

This energy auto rifle was an early favorite for many Destiny 2 players after the game launched. Featuring solid stability, Tap the Trigger, and Steady Rounds, this smooth auto rifle is a great pick for an energy weapon. Players may not be able to get this weapon again in Forsaken, as it is also part of the Gunsmith’s loot pool.

6. Positive Outlook

destiny 2 positive outlook curse of osiris auto rifle

First introduced during Curse of Osiris, Positive Outlook is a Vanguard auto rifle, similar to Uriel’s Gift. What sets Positive Outlook apart is the Kill Clip perk, giving bonus damage if the player reloads after a kill. Featuring good stability and Kill Clip, this gun is a must-have for players. While it could be obtained in the Curse of Osiris campaign as a quest reward, it is not currently known if it will remain a reward when Destiny 2’s loot table is updated. Players should pick it up just to be on the safe side.

7. Kibou AR3

destiny 2 kibou ar3 auto rifle

Rounding out the best energy auto rifles is the Kibou AR3. This weapon has Dragonfly and Tactical Magazine or Armor-Piercing Rounds, making it a solid pick for both PvP and PvE. Kibou was introduced during the Warmind DLC as a potential quest reward, or faction reward from Ana Bray. It is currently not known if this weapon will be re-obtainable when the loot pool is updated.

8. Nameless Midnight

destiny 2 nameless midnight scout rifle vanguard

Nameless Midnight is a Vanguard kinetic scout rifle, featuring explosive payload, steady rounds, and a precision frame. This perk set makes it a stand-out from the other kinetic scouts in the game. Much like Positive Outlook, this fan-favorite weapon could be earned through the Destiny 2 campaign, but it is not currently known if it will still be obtainable after Forsaken launches, so it’s better to be safe.

9. Old Fashioned

destiny 2 old fashioned hand cannon

Old Fashioned is perhaps one of the most popular hand cannons in the Crucible at the moment. Featuring Drop Mag and Kill Clip, this weapon can tear through opponents with ease. Currently, the weapon is available as a rare drop through legendary engrams and the Gunsmith, so players should try to snag this weapon before the loot table is updated in Forsaken.

10. Crooked Fang-4SR

destiny 2 crooked fang-4fr linear fusion rifle

Added in Curse of Osiris, the Crooked Fang linear fusion rifle is one of the best linear fusions in the game. The Backup Plan perk makes it charge faster when swapping to the weapon, and Ionized Battery gives it a sizeable magazine increase. This linear fusion rifle is only available through the Gunsmith, so players should make sure it’s in their gear collection before Forsaken launches.

1 The Best Weapons to Start Forsaken

1. Midnight Coup

destiny 2 leviathan raid hand cannon midnight coup

It’s no surprise that Midnight Coup dominates the PvE meta. This hand cannon features Outlaw and Rampage, allowing players to deal a ton of bonus damage to enemies before quickly reloading. While players can still earn raid weapons in Year 2, it is definitely a good weapon to have to start the new campaign with as it will help players quickly dispatch a ton of the Scorn.

 

2. Inaugural Address

destiny 2 inaugural address leviathan raid pulse rifle

While Inaugural Address has one of the most peculiar sound effects, it is one of the best energy pulse rifles in the game. Players will find that the combination of Kill Clip and Outlaw on this pulse rifle will make it a powerhouse in most activities, especially since all strikes will feature modifiers.

3. Tractor Cannon

destiny 2 tractor cannon exotic shotgun

Tractor Cannon is perhaps one of the most-used weapons in PvE thanks to its ability to buff void damage against opponents. Currently, players can stack teams with Tractor Cannon, Ikelos Shotgun, and Ikelos Sniper to absolutely melt boss enemies. However, with the Ikelos Sniper and Shotgun being locked to Solar in Forsaken, players will want to carry other void element weapons if they want to stack up with Tractor Cannon.

4. IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.1

destiny 2 ikelos smg warmind escalation protocol

Unlike its Sniper and Shotgun counterparts, the Ikelos submachine gun is not being limited to solar damage when Forsaken launches, so players can change it to the element they want before it is locked in Forsaken. The Ikelos SMG is a great weapon for both PvE and PvP. For PvP, the gun has a very controllable recoil for a 750 RPM SMG. For PvE, the exclusive perk for the Ikelos SMG makes it so after players break an enemy shield, the enemy takes more damage from kinetic weapons. The gun also features ricochet rounds as well.

5. IKELOS_SG_v1.0.1/Zenith of Your Kind

destiny 2 ikelos shotgun warmind escalation protocol

The infamous Ikelos shotgun is one of the most powerful weapons in Destiny 2 currently. The shotgun’s special perk, Trench Barrel, boosts the gun’s damage following a successful melee hit. This makes the weapon incredibly powerful for burst damage. Players will not be able to change the element of the gun, so if players want to use an automatic shotgun with void element, they should perhaps pick up the raid shotgun Zenith of Your Kind instead. Most other auto shotguns will be moving to the kinetic slot outside of Zenith and Ikelos, so pick wisely.

6. Vigilance Wing

destiny 2 vigilance wing exotic pulse rifle

One of the dominant guns in the PvP meta right now is Vigilance Wing, the exotic kinetic pulse rifle. The gun is unique because it is a four-burst pulse rifle, which can melt opponents if all the shots land. Players that want to run PvP and the new Gambit game mode may want to snag this weapon to have an early edge.

7. Graviton Lance

destiny 2 graviton lance exotic pulse rifle

The other dominant gun in PvP at the moment is Graviton Lance, the exotic energy pulse rifle. This powerful weapon received a buff ahead of Warmind, and currently sits pretty as one of the most used guns in the game, both in PvP and PvE. The Cosmology perk can chain explosions from enemy-to-enemy in PvE for devastating results. In PvP, the two-burst weapon dominates most loadouts, especially with the exotic catalyst. It will be interesting to see how this weapon fares once the global TTK is reduced.

8. Whisper of the Worm

destiny 2 whisper of the worm exotic sniper rifle

The Whisper of the Worm exotic sniper rifle is perhaps the most powerful boss damage weapon in PvE in the right hands. Whisper is a remake of Black Hammer from Destiny, keeping the original White Nail perk that generates ammo for players if they land three consecutive precision hits. Players can get this weapon during the weekend by completing the Whispers mission on Io. The catalyst adds Box Breathing to the weapon, though Box Breathing is getting a nerf in Forsaken.

9. Sins of the Past

destiny 2 sins of the past leviathan raid rocket launcher

Much like the Vanguard’s Curtain Call, Sins of the Past is one of the game’s best rocket launchers. Sins of the Past drops from the Leviathan raid, and features cluster bombs for great add clear and boss damage. Players need to clear the Prestige Leviathan for the Solstice of Heroes armor, so it’s a great time to pick up this powerful rocket launcher.

10. Crimson

destiny 2 crimson exotic hand cannon

Rounding out the list of the best weapons for starting Forsaken is the Crimson exotic hand cannon. Crimson is the hand cannon equivalent of the Red Death from Destiny, giving players health back when killing enemies. This powerful weapon makes surviving difficult encounters much easier, so it may be a good pick for when players venture into the dangerous Dreaming City.

There are plenty of new guns coming in Forsaken, but these classic weapons should be a part of every player’s collection before Forsaken launches. With all the new changes coming in Forsaken, some of these weapons may even be more powerful than what they were in year one, so players should get to grinding to make sure their collection is complete before taking on the Barons in Forsaken.

Destiny 2: Forsaken launches September 4 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.