As a dedicated Guardian, I've spent countless hours testing and refining my arsenal, and I can confidently say that Fusion Rifles remain a uniquely powerful and versatile tool in Destiny 2's ever-evolving sandbox. In 2025, with the landscape shaped by The Final Shape and subsequent Episodes, Special weapons play a crucial role in tackling endgame Champions and bosses. Fusion Rifles, with their distinct charge-up mechanic and explosive energy bursts, offer a playstyle that no Shotgun or Sniper can replicate. While they demand a bit more finesse than other Specials, mastering a good Fusion Rifle can make you a devastating force in both PvE and PvP. This guide will break down the absolute best Fusion Rifles you should have in your vault right now, from timeless Exotics to newly reissued legends.
Let's start with a classic that defies categorization: the Vex Mythoclast. Obtained from the legendary Vault of Glass raid, this weapon is technically a Fusion Rifle but behaves more like a potent Auto Rifle in its primary mode. Its true power, however, is unleashed when you secure final blows. These kills charge the weapon, transforming it into a devastating Linear Fusion Rifle mode that deals a massive 200% bonus damage to Champions. This incredible versatility makes it a top-tier Primary weapon that synergizes beautifully with various armor mods and Exotic builds. If you're hunting for a weapon that dominates at all ranges and adapts to any situation, the Vex Mythoclast is a prize worth the raid grind.
For Guardians who need a dedicated boss-melter, look no further than the Solar Exotic, Merciless. This High-Impact Frame Fusion Rifle has a unique perk: landing bolts progressively reduces its charge time. After landing 15 bolts, it charges faster than almost any other Fusion in the game. It also packs a supercharged version of Kill Clip, allowing you to obliterate Champions and mini-bosses. The catch? Its ammo economy is notoriously hungry. To wield Merciless effectively, I always pair it with ammo finder mods or the Special Finisher mod to keep the destruction flowing.
No list of Fusion Rifles is complete without mentioning the legendary—and occasionally game-breaking—Telesto. Affectionately dubbed "the besto" by its fans, this Exotic Void Fusion Rifle fires projectiles that stick to any surface, granting it effectively infinite range. Its real magic shines in add-clear scenarios: scoring a double kill automatically reloads the weapon from reserves. When combined with Volatile Rounds from a Void subclass, Telesto turns every engagement into a chain reaction of Void explosions. Its potential for mayhem is, quite literally, explosive and endlessly entertaining.
Moving to craftable Legendary options, the Solar Royal Executioner from Season of Defiance is a stellar choice. An Adaptive Frame Fusion Rifle, its god roll for PvE is Envious Assassin and Reservoir Burst. Kills with your other weapons overflow Royal Executioner's magazine when you swap to it, allowing you to store up to 18 rounds, most of which will trigger the powerful Reservoir Burst explosion on the first shot. This makes it an add-clearing powerhouse and a solid backup damage option.
| Weapon | Slot | Element | God Roll Perks (PvE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Executioner | Energy | Solar | Envious Assassin + Reservoir Burst |
| Deliverance | Kinetic | Stasis | Demolitionist + Chill Clip |
| The Eremite | Energy | Solar | Envious Assassin + Controlled Burst |
| Scatter Signal | Kinetic | Strand | Overflow + Controlled Burst |
| Riptide | Kinetic | Stasis | Auto-Loading Holster + Chill Clip |
The first Legendary Kinetic-slot Fusion Rifle, Deliverance from the Vow of the Disciple raid, is a build-crafter's dream. Its standout perk is Chill Clip, which makes the top half of the magazine release slowing area-of-effect bursts. This not only provides excellent crowd control but also synergizes perfectly with Stasis subclasses. Pair it with Demolitionist for a potent loop of freezing enemies and rapidly recharging your grenade. For a more aggressive style, Successful Warm-Up and Cornered can turn it into a pseudo Rapid-Fire Frame. Being craftable means you can tailor it exactly to your playstyle.
From Season of the Witch, The Eremite emerged as a hidden gem. This High-Impact Solar Fusion Rifle can roll with the phenomenal combo of Envious Assassin and Controlled Burst. Controlled Burst grants a 20% damage increase and faster charge time when all bolts hit, making each shot from an overflowed magazine hit like a truck. It rivals the damage of fan-favorite Rapid-Fire Frames but with more impact per shot. For pure add-clear, you can opt for Reservoir Burst instead.
The Plug One.1 Fusion Rifle received a welcome reissue in Episode: Revenant, bringing it back into the spotlight. For endgame PvE, the roll to chase pairs Reconstruction—which automatically loads the magazine over time, up to double capacity—with either Controlled Burst for superior single-target damage or Reservoir Burst for explosive add clear. It's a reliable, no-fuss workhorse available as a potential Nightfall reward.
For raiders, Techeun Force from the Last Wish raid is arguably one of the strongest Legendary Fusion Rifles available. Its refreshed perk pool includes the top-tier combination of Reconstruction and Controlled Burst. This allows you to pre-load a massive magazine of high-damage, fast-charging bursts, perfect for devastating Champions or contributing to boss damage phases. An alternative, more active roll is Rewind Rounds with Golden Tricorn for those who like to stay in the thick of the fight.
The current king of craftable Fusion Rifles is Scatter Signal, introduced in Season of the Wish. This Rapid-Fire Frame deals Strand damage from the Kinetic slot. Its best-in-class roll is Overflow and Controlled Burst. Overflow can massively overfill the magazine from ammo pickups, letting you unleash a long volley of Controlled Burst-enhanced fire. This makes Scatter Signal an exceptional tool for backup boss DPS and major elimination.
Finally, we have the undisputed champion for utility and accessibility: Riptide. This Rapid-Fire Stasis Fusion Rifle is earned from Crucible matches, making it relatively easy to farm. Its claim to fame is the Auto-Loading Holster and Chill Clip roll. This combination makes Riptide an unparalleled utility weapon:
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🧊 Chill Clip slows and eventually freezes targets, providing crowd control.
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⚡ It can stun Overload Champions (via slow) and Unstoppable Champions (via freeze).
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🛡️ When you are Radiant, its shots can pierce Barrier Champion shields.
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🔄 Auto-Loading Holster means it's always ready when you switch to it.
For pure damage, rolls with Lead From Gold and Vorpal Weapon are also excellent. Riptide's unique ability to handle all three Champion types in a pinch, combined with strong damage output, secures its place as an S-tier Special weapon that belongs in every Guardian's inventory.
In summary, the Fusion Rifle meta in 2025 is diverse and powerful. Whether you need Champion utility (Riptide), unparalleled boss DPS (Techeun Force, Scatter Signal), explosive add clear (Royal Executioner, Telesto), or versatile exotic power (Vex Mythoclast), there's a Fusion Rifle perfectly suited for the task. As the game continues to evolve with new Episodes, these weapons have proven their worth and remain essential tools for conquering Destiny 2's greatest challenges.