Destiny 2 has no shortage of ways to make things explode, but grenade launchers remain the game's most charmingly unhinged family of weapons. They bounce, stick, wave, propel, and occasionally turn a Guardian into a self-launching missile. In 2026, after multiple episodes, sandbox updates, and enough perk reworks to make a spreadsheet weep, the question is not whether grenade launchers are good. It is which ones deserve a permanent spot in the vault. The answer, as always, depends on whether the player wants to clear a room, melt a boss, or cosplay as artillery.
Why Grenade Launchers Keep Winning
Grenade launchers are not a one-trick pony. Wave frames paint the floor with damage. Area denial frames leave puddles of doom. Heavy grenade launchers turn boss damage phases into math problems. Aerial denial frames offer mobility and zone control. The archetype's flexibility is why it survives every balance pass. Who needs a dozen different weapon types when one tube can do almost everything?
The Final Shape era hit wave frames hard, and Chain Reaction took a haircut. Yet Forbearance did not vanish. It simply put on a slightly less obnoxious hat and kept working. That is the thing about a good boom tube: nerfs sting, but the right perks keep it relevant.
Legendary Workhorses
Forbearance
God roll (Onslaught): Demolitionist & One For All
God roll (Vow of the Disciple): Ambitious Assassin & One For All
Forbearance remains the legendary wave-frame queen. Even after extensive nerfs at The Final Shape launch, it clears ads like a janitor with a grudge. Demolitionist supports grenade builds, while One For All rewards spreading damage across a crowd. If a player has one, they probably have a favorite. If they do not, the Vow of the Disciple raid and Onslaught are waiting.
Wilderflight
Wilderflight came from the Vex-themed Spire of the Watcher dungeon. As a Void grenade launcher with a Double Fire frame, it fires twin shots. Its real job is DPS rotations. Auto-Loading Holster and Vorpal Weapon make it a perfect fill weapon for setups that lean on Envious Assassin or Bait and Switch. It cannot be crafted, so RNG enjoys watching players suffer. Min-maxers farm it anyway.
Koraxis's Distress
Koraxis's Distress is a Root of Nightmares raid drop. The Surrounded perk makes it niche but brutal when enemies are close. It trades versatility for damage potential. Sometimes the best answer to a boss is to stand uncomfortably near it and pray. Not elegant, but effective.
Lost Signal
Episode Echoes introduced Lost Signal, a Stasis Area Denial Frame launcher. It is basically a legendary Witherhoard. It shoots blobs that damage enemies who walk into the puddles. Its origin trait makes rapid kills explode into pools of radiolaria, further damaging nearby foes. It is craftable and easy to acquire from seasonal content. What is not to love?
VS Velocity Baton
VS Velocity Baton is another Aerial Denial frame launcher, and it could be described as the legendary Witherhoard with a Void flavor. It drops from the Vesper's Host dungeon, introduced during Episode Revenant. Bait and Switch slots it into any DPS loadout where players need to deal damage with all three weapons. Pair it with Demolitionist for a quick reload after throwing a grenade. It should not be slept on.
Mountaintop
The Mountaintop is not as oppressive as it once was, but its Onslaught comeback during Into the Light showed its claws. Recombination deals incredible damage, and its Micro-Missile Frame provides mobility by propelling the player upward. Rocket sidearms overshadow it in some seasons, but it remains a great tool. It is not craftable, so a diligent Onslaught grind is required.
Exotic Boom Tubes
Witherhoard
Witherhoard held a top exotic spot for a long time, and in 2026 it is still surprisingly good. Direct hits and area denial hits on the ground are powerful, even after duration nerfs. If there is one exotic choice with the most versatility, Witherhoard is it. Grinding out its catalyst is an absolute must because it adds Auto-Loading Holster.
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Parasite
Parasite is the Witch Queen exotic that lobs high-damage Hive worms. On the surface, it seems gimmicky. In practice, its burst damage is nothing to scoff at. Players score kills to charge Worm's Hunger to 20 stacks, then fire a massive projectile. It remains a go-to strategy for bosses with short damage windows, such as Atraks from Deep Stone Crypt.
Heavy Hitters for Boss Damage
Cataphract GL3
Cataphract GL3 is a Strand heavy from Trials of Osiris. It has slight stat bumps over Edge Transit, which may make it preferred by some players. However, when Void weapons are favored by the artifact, it can lose out. It is also not the easiest weapon to earn for players avoiding PVP. Time will tell if a Strand-friendly season lifts it back up.
Edge Transit
Edge Transit returned to the game not as a meme, but as a hero. It has seen extensive use in DPS rotations since its Into the Light re-release. Its god roll is similar to Cataphract's, but players do not need to hit PVP for a chance to earn it. A long Onslaught grind is required, as Edge Transit is not craftable. When in doubt, just Edge Transit.
Bitter/Sweet
Bitter/Sweet is an Arc heavy grenade launcher from the Revenant Episode. It drops from the new Onslaught activity. Getting the right perks is harder because Revenant weapons cannot be crafted. However, Envious Arsenal paired with Bait and Switch is a match made in heaven. It packs a real damage punch. If Stasis were not so strong in many scenarios, it would likely sit at the top.
VS Chill Inhibitor
VS Chill Inhibitor is the weapon everyone talked about in Episode Revenant, partly because farming it revealed a perk weighting issue deep in the game's code. How good is it really? With Envious Arsenal and Bait and Switch, it is as good as it currently gets. It is easily the DPS king of Revenant and remains a monster in 2026. Players need to head to Vesper's Host dungeon for a chance to earn it.
Quick Reference Table
| Weapon | Type | Source | Superpower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbearance | Wave frame legendary | Vow of the Disciple, Onslaught | Add clear royalty |
| Wilderflight | Double Fire Void | Spire of the Watcher | DPS rotation filler |
| Koraxis's Distress | Heavy legendary | Root of Nightmares | Surrounded burst |
| Lost Signal | Area Denial Stasis | Episode Echoes | Puddle control |
| VS Velocity Baton | Area Denial Void | Vesper's Host | Bait and Switch helper |
| Witherhoard | Exotic kinetic | Exotic archive quest | Versatile blight |
| Parasite | Exotic heavy | Witch Queen quest | Worm nuke |
| Edge Transit | Heavy Void | Onslaught | Reliable boss damage |
| Bitter/Sweet | Heavy Arc | Revenant Onslaught | Envious Arsenal combo |
| VS Chill Inhibitor | Heavy Stasis | Vesper's Host | Revenant DPS king |
The 2026 Verdict
In 2026, the grenade launcher meta is less about one king and more about a royal court. Forbearance handles ads. Lost Signal and VS Velocity Baton control space. Witherhoard offers exotic versatility. Edge Transit, Bitter/Sweet, and VS Chill Inhibitor bring boss damage. The player who masters rotation and perks will out-damage the one who chases flavor-of-the-month. So, what is the real best grenade launcher? The one that is loaded when the damage phase starts. Everything else is just loud, beautiful noise. 💥