It’s no secret that meta’s change often in Destiny 2, especially when it comes to DPS against bosses. Last Season, Season of the Seraph, Linear Fusion Riffles ruled the game as the best weapon type to use for damage on enemies in Raids and Nightfalls. With the changes made with the arrival of Season of Defiance, Linears were nerfed, and Rocket Launchers stepped in as the new king of DPS. With that in mind, it’s time to discuss the best Rocket Launchers for the Season of Defiance for PvE and PvP activities in Destiny 2.
Best Rocket Launchers for PvE in Destiny 2 (Season of Defiance)
| Rocket Launcher | How to Obtain | Drop Rate |
| The Hothead | Obtained from purchasing from Zavala. | Guaranteed |
| Bump in the Night | Obtained from purchasing from Banshee. | Only When Featured. |
| Eyes of Tomorrow | Obtained from defeating Taniks in the Deep Stone Crypt Raid. | Not Guaranteed |
| Hezen Vengeance | Obtained from completing encounters in the Vault of Glass Raid. | Not Guaranteed |
| Deathbringer | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Gjallarhorn | Obtained by completing Exotic Quest from Xur in Treasure Hoard. | Guaranteed |
| Wardcliff Coil | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Blowout | Obtained from completing PvP activities. | Not Guaranteed |
| Roar of the Bear | Obtained from completing Iron Banner matches. | Not Guaranteed |
| Royal Entry | Obtained from completing Strikes or purchasing from Zavala. | Not Guaranteed |
As mentioned, Rocket Launchers have quickly taken the throne from Linear Fusion Rifles as the best form of DPS against boss enemies. With the recent mod changes and buffs to the archetype, it’s safe to say Rockets will stay on top for the foreseeable future heading into Season of the Deep.
While the adept version currently isn’t available, The Hothead still sits at the top as the best Legendary Rocket Launcher to use against bosses. An Explosive Light and Clown Cartridge roll will be more than enough to melt bosses easily.
It was announced earlier today that the Eyes of Tomorrow is getting a solid buff in PvE, where defeating enemies in a volley will refund one ammo back to the gun. It’s not a massive buff, but it makes a great option when multiple groups of enemies are approaching.
Gjallarhorn still reigns supreme as the best Exotic and overall Rocket Launcher in the game, as the ability to do decent damage and then buff other Legendary Rockets is still extremely powerful.
Re-introduced this Season, Roar of the Bear got an updated perk pool, now acquiring Demolitionist and Cluster Bombs, making it a decent option for Solar Warlock builds.
To the surprise of many, Blowout quickly rose the ranks in usage and popularity as it was used in the loadout by the player who defeated Nezarec, the final boss of the Root of Nightmares Raid, by themself.
Overall, Rocket Launchers in PvE are a staple in many loadouts when it comes to pure boss DPS in Raid or Nightfall activities. Hopefully, Season of the Deep will add new ones to keep the list fresh.
Best Rocket Launchers for PvP in Destiny 2 (Season of Defiance)
| Rocket Launcher | How to Obtain | Drop Rate |
| The Hothead | Obtained from purchasing from Zavala. | Guaranteed |
| Bump in the Night | Obtained from purchasing from Banshee. | Only When Featured. |
| Eyes of Tomorrow | Obtained from defeating Taniks in the Deep Stone Crypt Raid. | Not Guaranteed |
| Truth | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Deathbringer | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Gjallarhorn | Obtained by completing Exotic Quest from Xur in Treasure Hoard. | Guaranteed |
| Wardcliff Coil | Obtained by purchasing from Exotic Kiosk. | Guaranteed |
| Blowout | Obtained from completing PvP activities. | Not Guaranteed |
| Roar of the Bear | Obtained from completing Iron Banner matches. | Not Guaranteed |
| Royal Entry | Obtained from completing Strikes or purchasing from Zavala. | Not Guaranteed |
It’s hard to discuss most heavy weapons in PvP due to being unable to use them, except perhaps once per game if the player collects a heavy ammo pack. That said, most of the Rocket Launchers one would use in PvE are all great options in PvP, as an opposing player will often be defeated when shot at.
Overall, Rocket Launchers in PvP are a solid option, but not great if the player is looking to secure multiple kills consistently with them, in which case an LMG would be a better option.
