Hello, Guardians. Are you looking for the best hand cannons in Destiny 2? Look no further; We are going to highlight some of the best hand cannons in the current meta and how to collect them.
Bungie adds new weapons to the game with each new update and expansion pack, and they’ve just added 30+ new weapons in the season of the haunted update, some of which are quite unique. However, as there are so many viable options in the current arsenal, it can be difficult for players to determine which weapon best suits their playstyle.
Due to the massive volume of weapons in this MMO’s current arsenal, players might get confused regarding which one they should go for based on their playstyle. Keep in mind that not all weapons are made equal, as some weapons are superior to others, and any mediocre weapon can still be helpful in certain situations with the correct build.
10. The Steady Hand

The Steady Hand is a Hand Cannon with high base stats and excellent handling. It first appeared back in Season 12 and is a non-craftable weapon that deals kinetic damage. This Hand Cannon has a well-finished minimalistic look, and the sound of this weapon is also quite satisfying. In short, it is an aggressive frame-hand cannon that uses primary ammo.
How To Get:
This weapon is only obtainable by completing Iron Banner Activity.
9. Malfeasance

Malfeasance is an Exotic Hand Cannon that deals Kinetic damage and uses primary ammo. It has a pretty elegant look due to its heavy reliance on dark and gold color combination paired with subtle green highlights. The overall design feels very organic. Unfortunately, players can’t craft this weapon as it is only available as a quest reward from The Drifter. Malfeasance first appeared back in Season 4, and it has a high base stat.
How To Get:
Players can get this weapon from The Drifter by completing the City of Secrets Quest.
8. Sturm

Sturm is a fan-favorite Exotic Hand Cannon in the Destiny 2 universe. Sturm first appeared back in Season 1. It has quite a unique look; at a glance, it looks like a pistol from a ’90s movie. Looks aside, if built correctly, this Hand Cannon does have the potential to be a beast. Although it is not a craftable weapon, players can only obtain it by completing a very long quest. This weapon is recommended if you are looking for a Hand Cannon with ok base stats that can pack a punch with correct builds.
How To Get:
Complete the Relics of the Golden Age quest to get the Sturm in Destiny 2.
7. The Last Word

The Last Word is an Exotic Hand Cannon in Destiny 2 that has strong impact damage with moderate base stats. This weapon has a golden hue in its barrel which makes it really appealing to the eyes. It made its debut back in Season 5 without any set and as an instance item. As such, it is one of the oldest Hand Cannons in the game, and it is still relative to the current meta. Since The Last Word uses primary ammo and deals kinetic damage, it can be really great in certain scenarios. Unfortunately, it’s not a craftable weapon.
How To Get:
Players can craft this weapon from Banshee-44 for 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Etheric Spiral, and 1x Ascendant Shard.
6. Thorn

Thorn is an Exotic Hand Cannon that was first introduced back in season 6. Since then, it has been great for PvE as well as some of the PvP content in the game. This weapon looks really great with the diming green highlights and sharp edges. It is a kinetic slot weapon that uses primary ammo and deals kinetic damage to the enemy.
How To Get:
You can get this weapon from The Monument to Lost Lights in exchange for 1x Exotic Cipher, 1x Ascendant Shard, 125,000 Glimmer, and 200 Dusklight Shard.
5. Hawkmoon

Hawkmoon is an Exotic Hand Cannon that first appeared in season 12 without any set, and it is a powerful weapon that utilizes primary ammo. This weapon has a black and greyish revolver look with a feather curved in its barrel. As it is a non-craftable Hand Cannon with balanced stats, it has become a must-pick if you prefer something with high-impact damage and low recoil.
How To Get:
Players can get this weapon by completing As the Crow Flies Quest.
4. Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades is an Exotic Hand Cannon that was first introduced in season 4 without any set. It features a sleek ace logo printed on it that looks pretty cool. Also, it is a kinetic slot weapon that uses primary ammo and deals kinetic damage to the opponents. In Destiny 2’s current meta., Ace of Spades is a strong pick for both PvP and PvE content.
How To Get:
Players can buy this weapon from the exotic kiosk in the tower for 1 x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 x Glimmer, 200 x Etheric Spiral, and 1 Ascendant Shard.
3. Eyasluna

Eyasluna is an adaptive frame legendary Hand Cannon that was first introduced in season 15 as an instance item. This hand cannon looks pretty sleek with the red accent color on its barrel. It is a Kinetic slot weapon that uses primary ammo and deals stasis damage to the opponents. Eyasluna is a strong pick for both PvP and PvE content in Destiny 2’s current meta.
How To Get:
Players can get this weapon by completing the Grasp of Avarice dungeon that was introduced with Bungie’s 30th Anniversary.
2. Fatebringer

Fatebringer is a kinetic hand cannon, and it made its first appearance back in Season 14 as a part of the Vault of Glass Raid Gear Set. This is the best-looking hand cannon currently available in the game. It is one of the most effective hand cannons in the game because it has the highest impact for a legendary hand cannon and has a great range. With this weapon, you can easily clear out any Destiny 2 content.
How To Get:
Players can only obtain the Fatebringer in the Vault of Glass raid.
1. Sunshot

Sunshot is a solar damage-dealing Hand Cannon, widely regarded as one of the best Exotic Hand Cannon in the game. It was first introduced back in season 1 and has become one of Destiny 2’s S-Tier Hand Cannons. It has one of the best features called Shield Piercing, and Weapons with Shield Piercing are strong against Barrier Champions. Additionally, this weapon has a unique look with black, white, and some red shades. With the highest impact damage and the longest range of any Hand Cannon, the Destiny 2 community has embraced this weapon throughout the years.
How To Get:
Players can get Exotic engrams, and it is an extremely rare world drop.
Read More: Destiny 2: How to Earn Ascendant Shards
These are the top 10 Hand Cannons in Destiny 2. And as with any list, this one is highly subjective and will change with future updates. Since many of these Hand Cannons can be fantastic if used correctly with proper load-outs, it all comes down to your playstyle. We sincerely hope you found this guide helpful and learned something new. Best of luck out there, Guardian.