Published , by Sam Chandler
Published , by Sam Chandler
Pinnacle weapons, as the name suggests, are the ultimate endgame weapons in Destiny 2. These weapons are the cream of the crop, offering some of the best perks in the game. But unlocking Pinnacle weapons isn’t easy, as they require a lot of time, a lot of kills, and sometimes a lot of skill.
Last updated on July 16, 2020 at 8:14 p.m. PT.
For those players that want everything Destiny 2 has to offer, unlocking all the Pinnacle weapons (or just those that suit your style) is going to be an important goal. Below are all the Pinnacle weapons currently available in Destiny 2, a brief overview of how to get them and a description of what makes them so good.
As of the release of Shadowkeep, Bungie is no longer adding new Pinnacle weapons to the game. Instead, Ritual weapons are the new must-have weapons. Check out our guide on all Ritual weapons in Destiny 2 so you can stay competitive!
There are more than a dozen Pinnacle weapons in Destiny 2, and the list is continually growing. Unlocking these is going to take a lot of effort and time. Use the links below to jump to the Pinnacle weapon you wish to get in Destiny 2 and to learn about its perks:
A lot of the Crucible weapons require you to earn Glory Ranks, so familiarize yourself with the point system and leveling before you embark.
Warmind was the first time players were introduced to the idea of a Pinnacle weapon, and it was only available through Competitive Crucible.
The first of the Pinnacle weapons was Redrix’s Claymore, a powerful Pulse Rifle which very few players ever managed to unlock. This now unavailable weapon was a reward for reaching the Fabled rank in Competitive Crucible which at the time was extremely difficult thanks to loss streaks.
Redix’s Claymore perks:
Destiny 2: Forsaken upped the ante in both story and in terms of Pinnacle weapons. Players could now earn Redrix’s Broadsword as well as Luna’s Howl and Not Forgotten, twin Hand Cannons with different stats.
Redrix’s Broadsword, much like its predecessor Redrix’s Claymore, is a Pulse Rifle that is unlocked by completing the quest “Orientation” for Lord Shaxx:
Redrix’s Broadsword perks:
Luna’s Howl is a Hand Cannon that hits like a truck thanks to some incredible stats and powerful perks. To start the quest, visit Lord Shaxx and collect the pursuit, Remembrance:
Luna’s Howl perks:
Not Forgotten is the other side of the Luna’s Howl coin. This weapon has the same perks, but slightly different stats. This Hand Cannon can only be unlocked after acquiring Luna’s Howl.
Not Forgotten perks:
The Black Armory DLC was the first piece of content in Destiny 2 to add a Pinnacle weapon for each of the three main activities: Vanguard Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit. All three of these weapons are definitely worth unlocking.
Loaded Question is a Fusion Rifle and one that excels at clearing large groups of enemies quickly. Unlocking Loaded Question is going to take a bit of grinding, but nothing too demanding. Visit Zavala to pick up Countdown to Zero, which requires doing the following in Strikes or Nightfalls:
Loaded Question perks:
Breakneck is a top-tier Auto Rifle that is unlocked via a Gambit pursuit. This weapon, much like the previous one, is great at add-clear. Visit the Drifter and pick up Before the Storm, which requires completing the following in Gambit:
Breakneck perks:
The Mountaintop is the Competitive Crucible Pinnacle weapon and a rather unique Grenade Launcher. It’s the final Pinnacle weapon from Season 5, but one that performs well in both PVE and PVP. Visit Lord Shaxx and collect the pursuit, The Ascent:
The Mountaintop perks:
The Joker’s Wild added three more Pinnacle weapons to the mix with two standouts and one under-performing weapon.
You’d be forgiven if you didn’t even realize this was a Pinnacle weapon. Oxygen SR3 is a Vanguard Scout Rifle that currently drags behind all other Pinnacle weapons as well as most weapons in general. Hopefully it sees a buff in the future to bring it in-line with the other weapons on this list. Visit Zavala and complete the pursuit, Redeployment, by doing the following in Strikes:
Oxygen SR3 perks:
21% Delirium is a Machine Gun and is the Gambit Pinnacle weapon. Visit Drifter and start the Pursuit, By Your Bootstraps. This quest has you completing the Triumph, Notorious Hustle, which requires the following be completed in Gambit:
21% Delirium perks:
The Recluse is currently a top-tier weapon in both PVE and PVP, despite being the Competitive Crucible Pinnacle weapon. The quest for unlocking The Recluse begins by visiting Lord Shaxx and collecting the pursuit, From the Mouths of Babes. This pursuit requires you to complete the Triumph, The Stuff of Myth:
The Recluse perks:
Penumbra added three more Pinnacle weapons into the mix and this time it’s the Gambit and Crucible weapons that lag behind in usefulness. However, even an average Pinnacle weapon is still better than a lot of other options.
The Wendigo-GL3 is a Grenade Launcher rewarded by Zavala for completing A Gift for the Worthy. This is an extremely long quest, but there is a way to cheese Wendigo-GL3.
Wendigo-GL3 perks:
The Pinnacle weapon for Gambit is Hush, a Combat Bow. Unlocking this bow requires a lot of bow kills in Gambit, which could be a bit of a struggle. It’s worth trying to get Le Monarque, as this will greatly improve your ability to get kills. To start this quest, visit Drifter and collect the pursuit, Hush, Little Baby:
Hush perks:
The last Pinnacle weapon added in Season of Opulence is Revoker, a Crucible sniper rifle. To unlock Revoker, visit Lord Shaxx and collect the pursuit, In Your Sights:
Revoker perks:
The Pinnacle weapons are Destiny 2’s greatest guns, outside of Exotics, specific Legendary guns, and odd or quirky outliers. If you want to improve your killing potential, it is definitely worth trying to unlock as many of these Pinnacle weapons as possible. For more weapon collections and explanations, head over to the Shacknews Destiny 2 complete strategy guide where you can find many more breakdowns.