Destiny 2: The Five Best Auto Rifles in the Game

We’re done complaining about the MIDA Multi-Tool. Crucible Guardians who want to be part of the cool crowd will continue to use it nonstop, and that’s fine. We’re done with being a part of the cool crowd. We’re the Guardian hipsters looking for the weapons that no one is talking about, and today, we’re all about auto-rifles.

In this list we’re breaking down the five deadliest Auto Rifles in Destiny 2. Our list is based off of TTK (time to kill) data which has been compiled in this spreadsheet and this chart. TTK is calculated using averages, of course, so your mileage may vary. The damage output here is assuming an optimal distance from your opponent, and optimal aim (the best combination of headshots and body shots). These will be rifles with high rates of fire, and so these are all weapons that will be much more effective at medium to close range.

Basically, if you’re looking to be the best, and the deadliest, these are the five auto-rifles that you need to look out for, hold on to, and keep around in your inventory for as long as possible. Let’s get started!

Sweet Business

Sweet Business is obviously all about speed. If you can blast an opponent from up close, you’re golden.

Optimal TTK: 0.93 (12-crit, 3 body shots)

Body-Shot TTK: 1.07 (17 body shots)

Weapon Perks:

Payday

• Larger magazine.
• Increased accuracy when firing from the hip.

Polygonal Rifling

• Barrel optimized for recoil reduction.
• Increases stability

High-Caliber

• Rounds Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther.
• Slightly increases range

Business Time

• Holding down the trigger boosts this weapon’s range and rate of fire, and automatically loads ammo pickups into the magazine.

Composite Stock

• This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. Slightly increases stability Slightly increases handling speed

Jiangshi AR4

This is another weapon that is all about fire-rate. When you get the drop on an enemy before they see you, and you’re in medium range or closer, the Jiangshi AR4 is a formidable. 

Optimal TTK: 1.07 (8 crit, 1 body shot)

Body-Shot TTK: 1.60 (13 body shots)

Weapon Perks

Precision Frame

• This weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.

Spark PS

• Omolon post sight.
• Short zoom.
• Slightly increases range Increases handling speed

Transmission MS7

• Omolon ocular technology.
• Long zoom.
• Increases range
• Slightly decreases handling speed

Alloy Magazine

• Faster reloads when the magazine is empty.

Steady Rounds

• This magazine is optimized for recoil control.
• Greatly increases stability Slightly decreases range

Hip-Fire Grip

• Ergonomic grips that increase accuracy and stability when firing from the hip.

Origin Story

Origin Story is one of the sturdiest precision-style auto-rifles around. It has a high rate of fire, generous aim assist, and really steady recoil direction. It also boasts impressive range given its rate of fire. The rampage perk makes this weapon deadlier with each kill, stacking up to three times.

Optimal TTK: 1.07 (8 critical, 1 body-shot)

Body-Shot TTK: 1.60 (13 body-shots)

Weapon Perks:

Precision Frame

This weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.

Hitmark IS

• Agile sight. Short zoom.
• Greatly increases handling speed
• Slightly increases range

Red Dot 2 MOA

• Snapshot sight. Short zoom.
• Slightly increases range
• Increases handling speed

Red Dot Micro

• Agile sight. Short zoom.
• Increases range
• Increases handling speed

Appended Mag

• This weapon’s magazine is built for higher capacity.
• Increases magazine size

Flared Magwell

• Optimized for fast reloading.
• Slightly increases stability
• Greatly increases reload speed

Rampage

• Kills with this weapon temporarily grant increased damage. Stacks 3x.

Prosecutor

Prosecutor is an overlooked auto-rifle. It’s currently ranked number 11 on the Destiny Tracker, but this one rifle you never want to dismantle. It has an insane fire rate for how accurate and stable it is, and its accuracy is further enhanced thanks to the “Tap the Trigger” perk. This, along with the hip-fire bonus makes it incredibly deadly at close-to-mid range.

Optimal TTK: 1.07 (8 critical, 1 boy-shot)

Body-Shot TTK: 1.60 (13 body shots)

Weapon Perks:

Precision Frame

• This weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.

Chambered Compensator

• Stable barrel attachment.
• Increases stability
• Moderately controls recoil
• Slightly decreases handling speed

Corkscrew Rifling

• Balanced barrel.
• Slightly increases range and stability
• Slightly increases handling speed

Polygonal Rifling

• Barrel optimized for recoil reduction.
• Increases stability

Slideways

• Sliding partially reloads this weapon’s magazine and temporarily boosts handling and stability.

Tap the Trigger

• Grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on initial trigger pull.

Hip-Fire Grip

• Ergonomic grips that increase accuracy and stability when firing from the hip.

Uriel’s Gift

This cat’s been out of the bag for a while, and many of you have been using (and swearing by) Uriel’s Gift for a long time now. There’s no mystery here. Uriel’s Gift is a Guardian favorite due to its obscene combination of high accuracy and dazzling fire-rate. A few of this weapon’s perks make it even more accurate in a firefight, to the chagrin of every person on the receiving end of its barrel.

Optimal TTK: 1.07 (8 critical, 1 body-shot)

Body-Shot TTK: 1.6 (13 body-shots)

Weapon Perks:

Precision Frame

• This weapon’s recoil pattern is more predictably vertical.

Spark PS

• Omolon post sight. Short zoom.
• Slightly increases range
• Increases handling speed

Flash HS5

• Omolon red-dot. Medium zoom. Highlights enemy targets.
• Increases range
• Slightly increases handling speed

High-Caliber Rounds

• Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther.
• Slightly increases range

Steady Rounds

• This magazine is optimized for recoil control.
• Greatly increases stability
• Slightly decreases range

Tap the Trigger

• Grants a short period of increased stability and accuracy on initial trigger pull.