Destiny 2 best grenade launcher

Important takeaways

• Grenade Launchers in Destiny 2 offer versatile utility and strong boss damage potential.
• Koraxis' Distress, Wild Flight, and Patience are the best choices for different scenarios.
• Cataphract GL3, Edge Transit and Bitter/Sweet are recommended heavy grenade launchers.

Grenade Launchers are one of the most popular archetypes in Destiny 2. From waveframes that have been recently nerfed to heavy grenade launchers that have finally seen some proper use in the endgame boss damage meta, there really are some excellent weapons for players to discover in this category.

What makes this archetype so great is that it comes with tons of utility. Some grenade launchers are great at denying areas and clearing ads, while others can focus more on single targets or even help propel the player upwards for some extra mobility. With all the changes from Lightfall to The Final Shape in mind, here's what the must-have grenade launchers are in Destiny 2.

Updated on November 19, 2024 by Anastasia Maillot: The great era of grenade launchers in Destiny 2 is far from over. With The Final Shape introducing the Aerial Denial frame and Wave Frames suffering major nerfs, it was time for a shift in the grenade launcher meta – but not away from it. Game-heavy, there are some seriously powerful contenders that have come to challenge Edge Transit's long-standing supremacy since Revenant came out, and they're arguably at the top of the pyramid when it comes to DPS.

12 Coraxis' distress

A powerful DPS option in cases where the surrounded perk works

• Good role: Surrounded & Jealous Assassin

When Koraxis's Distress first came out, there wasn't much to look at. Now that the meta has shifted and changed a bit, it has managed to carve out its own place. Most notably, there's a Surrounded perk on it that makes it an interesting choice, if players can take advantage of nearby enemies while dealing damage to the boss. It may be a little less versatile and more niche as a result, but it makes up for its lack of flexibility with high damage potential.

Koraxis's Distress can be obtained from the Root of Nightmares raid on Neomuna.

11 Wild flight

An excellent addition to an optimal DPS rotation

• Good role: Auto-loading holsters & Vorpal weapons

Wilderflight was introduced with the Vex-themed Spire of the Watcher dungeon. As a Void Grenade Launcher, it fires a double shot thanks to its Double Fire frame. While it can be good on its own, the weapon's main usefulness comes into play during DPS rotations.

Due to its auto-charge combo and Vorpal Weapon perk, it fits in very nicely with DPS rotations that lean towards activating Envious Assassin or Bait and Switch. PVE players who just want to maximize their endgame damage will definitely want to try farming this one from the dungeon. Unfortunately, it cannot be manufactured.

10 Patience

Even after the Nerfs, it still decimates groups of enemies

• Good role (Onslaught): Demolitionist & One For All
• Good role (Vow of the Disciple): Ambitious Assassin & One For All

Forbearance is one of the legendary scale grenade launchers in the game, first introduced in Low of the Disciple. After extensive nerfs at the release of The Final Shape to balance things out, it's still a very powerful weapon. Even with the chain reaction perks down, if players happen to have a roll that includes it, it's not necessarily the end of the world.

However, anyone looking for something new for their Forbearance should try One For All, which is available on both versions. In Onslaught, Demolitionist is a very cool perk to try instead of Ambitious Assassin if players lean more towards a spammy grenade build meant to destroy groups of ads in an instant.

9 Weatherhoard

The exotic powerhouse that still works

• Can be retrieved from the Exotic archive

Witherhoard held a top spot for one of the best exotics in a long time. Around Lightfall, that spot started to be challenged by Conditional Finality, which only offers massive single-target, champion, and mini-boss destruction damage. That said, Witherhoard is still surprisingly good. Both direct hits and area negating hits on the ground are powerful, although the duration was dialed down way back.

If there's an exotic pick to take away here, with the most versatility, Witherhoard is definitely it. Grinding out the catalyst for it is an absolute must, as it adds the Auto-Loading Holster as a perk.

8 Parasite

One of the best burst DPS heavy weapons

The Witch Queen expansion is required to get this worm-themed grenade launcher from Hive that literally releases badly damaged Hive worms. On the surface this may seem tricky, but the sheer amount of burst damage it packs is nothing to scoff at. Players will need to score to charge their Worm's Hunger to 20 stacks. After that, the next projectile fired will deal massive damage to an enemy.

This is still one of the go-to strategies players use with bosses that have short damage windows, like Atraks from Deep Stone Crypt.

7 Lost signal

The legendary version of the Witherhoard

• Good role: Auto-Loading & Demolitionist

The first episode, Echoes, brought some extremely interesting and experimental weapons into the game, including this new Area Denial Frame Legendary grenade launcher Lost Signal. It's basically a Witherhoard, in that it shoots out energy blobs that deal damage when enemies walk into the pools. In this case, Lost Signal deals Stasis damage.

What's even better about this weapon is its origin. When players quickly defeat enemies, they will explode into pools of radiolaria, further damaging nearby enemies. It's great for clearing rooms of enemies. Even better, unlike the Witherhoard, it can be crafted and is easily obtained from playing seasonal content.

6 The mountain top

Return Of The King – And it still works

• Good role: Auto-loading holster & recombination

The Mountaintop might not be as oppressive as it once was in the game, but after making a comeback in Onslaught during the Into the Light free update, it definitely showed its claws. It's more of a good tool to have in the drawer now and is only overshadowed by rockets that are so overpowered.

Not only can it deal incredible damage with recombination, but it also provides extra mobility thanks to its Micro-Missile Frame that allows players to propel themselves upwards. It's not craftable, and with The Final Shape out, players will have to grind Onslaught diligently to get a roll they like.

5 VS Velocity Baton

A contender for wild flight in DPS rotations

• Good role: Demolitionist & Bait and Switch

Another Aerial Denial grenade launcher, the VS Velocity Baton, can best be described as exactly what Lost Signal is – the legendary tier Witherhoard. It is a Void Grenade Launcher that can be earned from the Vesper's Host dungeon, which was introduced during Episode Revenant.

Beneficially, what makes this grenade launcher so good is that it comes with Bait and Switch, which fits well into any DPS loadout where players need damage with all three weapons to proc Bait and Switch on their heavy weapons. Now imagine you also get that damage boost on another weapon – that's why this grenade launcher shouldn't be slept on. Pair it with Demolitionist for a quick reload when you throw a grenade, and it's a solid must.

4 Cataphract GL3

A solid contender for injuries

• Good role: Jealous Assassin & Bait and Switch

On top of grenade launchers are two heavy weapon options that are ideal for DPS. One of them is the Cataphract GL3, a Strand weapon that can be acquired by playing Trials of Osiris. Compared to the Edge Transit, it has slight stat bumps which may make it the preferred weapon for some players.

However, with Void weapons being favored in the artifact right now, Cataphract GL3 may lose to Edge Transit based on this first episode's meta. Time will tell if anything favoring Strand weapons will lift it past its Void competitor. For players who avoid PVP, it's also not the easiest to earn.

3 Edge Transit

The best and most available Heavy Grenade DPS weapon

• Good role: Jealous Assassin & Bait and Switch

Edge Transit returned to the game not as a meme as it first appeared, but as a hero. This weapon has been heavily used in DPS rotations since its re-release in Into the Light, and it's still pretty good, even if rockets remain. Good role for it is the same as for Cataphract, but the difference is that players don't have to beat PVP for a chance to earn it. A long gate in Onslaught is what it takes to get it, as Edge Transit cannot be spawned.

Right now, as a Void weapon, it holds the top spot thanks to the Expanding Abyss artifact benefit, but this will definitely change as the meta shifts and progresses. For now, when in doubt, just Edge Transit.

2 Bitter/Sweet

An Arc Contender To Edge Transit

• Good role: Envious Arsenal & Bait and Switch

After being in the spotlight for so long, the Edge Transit was topped off by a heavy grenade launcher that was introduced in the Revenant episode. Bitter/Sweet is an Arc heavy, which can be acquired by playing the new Onslaught activity that came with Revenant. However, it might be a little harder to get this time around, as players won't be able to craft these new Revenant weapons.

But getting lucky with the right perks is definitely worth it, as it packs some serious damage with Envious Arsenal, paired with Bait and Switch. These two perks are both very similar in how they work as they require players to deal damage with their other weapons, so it's a match made in heaven. Were it not for how powerful Stasis is this season in many scenarios, this would likely sit at the top of the pyramid.

1 VS Chill Inhibitor

The Current Stasis DPS King Of Grenade Launchers

• Good role: Envious Arsenal & Bait and Switch

The VS Chill Inhibitor is the weapon everyone seems to be talking about in Episode Revenant, as farming it revealed an issue deep in the game's code that caused certain perks to be weighed without Bungie's knowledge. So, how good is this weapon really?

With Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch, it's as good as it gets at the moment, easily making it the DPS king of Revenant. Those looking to get their hands on this weapon must head to the Vesper's Host dungeon for a chance to earn it.