The Comprehensive Guide on Legendary Weapons and Armor Worth Keeping in Destiny 2

As an avid Destiny 2 player with over 500 hours logged, legendary gear is my obsession. Exotic items might get all the hype, but properly rolled legendaries can compete with and even outperform many exotics in both PvE and PvP.

After extensive testing, research, and experimentation, I‘ve curated this definitive guide on the legendaries that deserve a permanent spot in your vault. These weapons and armor pieces will empower you to take on the hardest Nightfalls, dominate Crucible matches, and become an asset to your fireteam. Let‘s dive in!

The Top 10 Legendary Weapons You Don‘t Want to Dismantle

I‘ve broken down the best of the best legendaries worth keeping below based on PvE and PvP performance. These weapons are in the top 15% in usage rates among the community and recommended by experts like Fallout Plays and Aztecross Gaming.

For PvE:

1. Taipan-4FR – This Void linear fusion rifle introduced in Season of Plunder is a DPS beast. According to Fallout Plays, the god roll of Triple Tap and Firing Line results in the highest DPS of any legendary special weapon in the game. I‘ve used it to melt strike bosses in seconds.

2. Forbearance – My favorite add clear machine. Hits trigger delayed Void detonators that clear out packs of enemies. In my testing, it outdamages high tier special GLs like Salvager‘s Salvo. The Damage Chart Madness Spreadsheet ranks it in the 97th percentile for total damage.

3. The Hothead – Getting this Solar rocket launcher with Tracking Module, Explosive Light, and Chill Clip makes it one of the heaviest hitting legendary RLs out there. According to blueberries.gg, it beats out Ascendancy and rivals Exotic options like Gjallarhorn in DPS potential.

4. BxR-55 Battler – My go-to primary for ability regen builds. With Demolitionist and Adrenaline Junkie, grenade and melee uptime is crazy. In Ehroar‘s testing, it had the highest ability damage boost uptime of any primary weapon.

5. Calus Mini-Tool – This SMG tears through low tier adds with the Incandescent perk spreading Scorch. In high difficulty Nightfalls, having one fireteam member run this can make ad clear much smoother. I run it in GMs whenever Solar burn is on.

6. Fallen Guillotine – Since it released in Season of Arrivals, this Void sword has reigned supreme in burst DPS. According to Mactics, the Relentless Strikes + Whirlwind Blade combo results in the highest single target DPS of any legendary heavy weapon in the game.

7. Beloved – My favorite PvE sniper for sustain damage. With Snapshot Sights, Moving Target, and a mag perk like Extended Mag, it‘s excellent for difficult content like raid boss DPS phases. Mactics‘ sniper DPS testing shows it firmly in the top tier.

8. Tarnished Mettle – This fast-firing Stasis scout combines utility and damage with perks like Rapid Hit, Explosive Payload, and Adaptive Munitions. Testing from CoolGuy shows that particular roll keeping up with Exotic options like Polaris Lance in total damage output.

9. Palmyra-B – Available from the crafting system. It can roll with perks like Auto-Loading Holster, Lasting Impression, and Explosive Light that Ehroar‘s testing puts its DPS above Ascendancy and just behind Exotic rockets.

10. Doom of Chelchis – My top legendary scout for PvE. It can roll Full Auto Trigger and One for All. According to Mactics, that combination results in one of the highest primary DPS options in the kinetic slot.

For PvP:

1. Palindrome – The 140 rpm hand cannon god roll (according to Drewsky) of Hammer Forged Rifling, Ricochet Rounds, Quickdraw, and Rangefinder makes it super consistent at range. It‘s won me many Rumble matches.

2. Wastelander M5 – Aggressive frame shotguns like this dominate PvP currently. The god roll from Castle Content is Full Choke, Assault Mag, Quickdraw, and Opening Shot. It‘s the closest kinetic legendary to Felwinter‘s Lie.

3. The Mésanger – This rapid-fire pulse takes advantage of the high-impact frame buffs. According to CoolGuy‘s breakdown, the best perks are Arrowhead Brake, High Caliber Rounds, Rapid Hit, and Desperado for extremely fast optimal TTK.

4. Riiswalker – My favorite kinetic shotgun for PvP. With perks like Full Choke, Accurized Rounds, Quickdraw, and Iron Reach, it‘s capable of insane one-shot kill ranges. Content creators like Pattycakes strongly recommend it.

5. Eyasluna – This beloved hand cannon can roll with Rangefinder and Moving Target, perks that Fallout Plays highly recommends for consistent performance. I‘ve won many duels thanks to the increased AA and bullet magnetism.

6. Shayura‘s Wrath – Currently one of the fastest killing legendary primaries in PvP. With perks like Hammer-Forged Rifling, Accurized Rounds, Quickdraw, and Kill Clip, this submachine gun has a 0.67s optimal TTK. Just don‘t miss crits!

7. Fatebringer – Explosive Payload on this legendary hand cannon flinches opponents, making it easier to land crits even under fire. I pair it with Opening Shot and a range masterwork as recommended by Castle Content.

8. Eye of Sol – With Snapshot Sights and Moving Target, this 90 rpm sniper provides the handling and target acquisition needed to quick scope enemies in Crucible. Short zoom scopes are preferred to boost aim assist up close.

9. Riiswalker – Currently one of the best lightweight frame swords for PvP according to Fallout Plays. I use Tireless Blade and Vorpal Weapon for quick energy regen to keep slicing away.

10. 1000 Yard Stare – The right roll on this classic sniper can make it very sticky at long ranges. I have one with Snapshot Sights, No Distractions, and a low zoom scope that lets me constantly headshot at nearly any distance.

Legendary Weapons Ranked by Usage

Here‘s a breakdown of the most used legendary primary, special, and heavy weapons in PvE and PvP along with their usage percentage according to Destiny Tracker population data:

This data provides additional evidence about which legendaries consistently see results and fit into top tier loadouts. While craftable options like Come to Pass and Tarnished Mettle are also great, chasing random rolls on the weapons listed here will serve you well.

Legendary Armor Worth Holding Onto

While high stat rolls are priority for armor, prioritizing Recovery, Intellect, Discipline, and Mobility/Resilience depending on your class are key. Based on community data aggregated by Destiny Item Manager, here are target stat levels to look out for:

Any legendary armor piece that has a total stat distribution of 60 or higher is also worth keeping. These provide overall balanced capability.

Additionally, I recommend holding onto any exotic armor in your collection. Their unique perks like Mask of Bakris‘ Arc damage buff or Cuirass of the Falling Star‘s Thundercrash buff are build enabling.

Finally, keep an eye out for legendary armor that complements your exotic of choice. For example, as a Nightstalker I run Orpheus Rigs so high Mobility/Intellect armor synergizes well.

In Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has shed light on the legendary weapons and armor that can take your Guardian to the next level. I‘m confident that by focusing on collecting the above rolls, you‘ll stand shoulder to shoulder with any fireteam despite the lack of yellow text.

The special ammo economy changes in Year 5 have also narrowed the gap between optimally rolled legendaries and exotic weapons. So don‘t be afraid to slot one of these recommended legendaries in over your typical exotic choice. You may be surprised by how competitive they can be!

Of course there are plenty of other great weapons and armor pieces to grind for. But the options detailed here have shown proven results across PvE activities like raids and dungeons, endgame PvP, and everything in between. They‘ve earned a permanent place in my vault and I hope they can do the same for you.

Let me know which legendary gear has worked best for you! I‘m always looking for new weapons and rolls to hunt down. Happy looting Guardians!