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Sidearms have had an up-and-down history throughout Destiny 2. In some Seasons, they’re incredibly potent; in others, they’re barely usable. In Season of Defiance, they sit roughly in the middle, as some of them are very strong right now, while the majority are inefficient. With that in mind, it’s time to discuss the best Sidearms for PvE and PvP in the Season of Defiance of Destiny 2.
Best Sidearms For PvE In Destiny 2 (Season of Defiance)
| Sidearm | How To Obtain | Drop Rate |
| Mykel’s Reverence | Obtained from completing encounters in the Root of Nightmares Raid. | Not Guaranteed |
| Forerunner | Obtained from completing Exotic quest from Xur in the Treasure Hold. | Guaranteed |
| Final Warning | Obtained from collecting all Strand Fragments on Neomuna. | Guaranteed |
| Buzzard | Obtained from completing Nightfalls. | Not Guaranteed |
| Trespasser | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Rat King | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Traveler’s Chosen | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Devil’s Ruin | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Drang | Obtained from decrypting Prime Engrams. | Not Guaranteed |
| Liminal Vigil | Obtained by completing encounters in the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon. | Not Guaranteed |
Sidearms more or less serve the same purpose as Shotguns in the current PvE sandbox. They’re enjoyable to use in activities where the player is either at the recommended Power or the Power level is disabled. However, when the reverse is in effect, they become lackluster and inefficient due to their short-range stat.
Of course, there are exceptions, such as the Forerunner Exotic Sidearm, which can be considered a bonified Scout Rifle with its fantastic range capabilities.
The Final Warning essentially becomes a smart pistol from Titanfall with its Exotic perk. As a Strand weapon, it can gain access to unraveling rounds, making it even more potent.
The Buzzard has returned for the first time since the Season of Dawn and wasted no time climbing the ranks in usage for both PvE and PvP content.
Overall, Sidearms are in an OK spot for PvE, as they’re meant to be more of a fun gun to use rather than a must-run for more challenging content like Nightfalls or Raids.
Best Sidearms For PvE In Destiny 2 (Season of Defiance)
| Sidearm | How To Obtain | Drop Rate |
| Mykel’s Reverence | Obtained from completing encounters in the Root of Nightmares Raid. | Not Guaranteed |
| Forerunner | Obtained from completing Exotic quest from Xur in the Treasure Hold. | Guaranteed |
| Allied Demand | Obtained from completing matches of Iron Banner. | Not Guaranteed |
| Buzzard | Obtained from completing Nightfalls. | Not Guaranteed |
| Trespasser | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Rat King | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Traveler’s Chosen | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Devil’s Ruin | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Drang | Obtained from decrypting Prime Engrams. | Not Guaranteed |
| Liminal Vigil | Obtained by completing encounters in the Spire of the Watcher Dungeon. | Not Guaranteed |
When it comes to PvP, Sidearms are far more potent than in PvE, especially with the recent additions from the Season of Defiance and the Lightfall DLC.
As mentioned before, the Buzzard has quickly become an excellent option for both PvE and PvP activities, though it shines brighter in PvP thanks to its fantastic perk pool. Obtaining one with the Perpetual Motion and Rangefinder perks is a must for PvP players.
Drang has been far and away the best Legendary Sidearm to use in PvP, though the Buzzard may quickly take its throne.
Void Hunters who specialize in becoming invisible are fond of The Rat King Exotic Sidearm, which extends their invisibility every time they get a kill with the gun.
With its incredible range, using Forerunner in the Kinetic slot and then Drang in the Energy slot, running double Sidearms is a viable option for endgame PvP activities such as Trials of Osiris or Iron Banner.
Speaking of Iron Banner, the Allied Demand has returned with a new set of perks, making it a strong option for the Kinetic slot in case a player can’t access Nightfalls.
Overall, Sidearms is in a great spot in the current PvP sandbox, though we definitely could use some more options, as only getting one or two per Season is not enough to change this list dramatically. Hopefully, Season of the Deep will change that next week.
