Destiny 2: 10 Best Trace Rifles, Ranked

Trace rifles can serve well in both PvP and PvE content. Here are the best options you should try to become a legendary Guardian in Destiny 2.

Trace Rifles in Destiny 2 have been getting popular among Guardians recently, as they figure out how these weapons can be powerful with proper rolls and mods. Although they have been viewed as a secondary weapon for a while, that opinion has seen a broad shift, as Trace Rifles rose in the meta thanks to a few updates that made them more effective both in PvP and PvE content.

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After the release of the Lightfall expansion, Trace Rifles have become even more popular with the difficulty changes. Players may have trouble finding a viable option for their arsenal despite the small number of Trace Rifles they can utilize in the game. Here are the best exotic and legendary Trace Rifles you should give a shot to kill waves of enemies.

This is a legendary Trace Rifle dealing with Void damage. Hollow Denial can give you an upper hand during combat thanks to its well-rounded perks like Adaptive Frame, Rangefinder, Wellspring, and Extrovert.

Rangefinder increases the weapon's effective range and zoom magnification, while Wellspring generates ability energy divided between your uncharged abilities. Extrovert, on the other hand, restores a certain amount of health if you take kills within 15 meters of 3 enemies.

Ruinous Effigy has better stability than Hollow Denial, offering a nice handling and combat experience in short range. This exotic weapon's Transmutation perk collapses targets into spheres of Void energy. In addition, you and your allies can collect and wield these spheres as weapons thanks to the Evolution perk. Though it has a lower impact, range, and aim assistance than other Trace Rifles, Ruinous Effigy is a great first exotic Trace Rifle to keep your hands warm.

With its extremely high stability and aim assistance, Wavesplitter can give you an edge during combat. It also has a better range than the previous two Trace Rifles, meaning you can give this a try if you like mixing it up at a medium range from enemies. Wavesplitter uses the 'Supercharged Battery' perk that grants a period of maximum power starting with an automatic reload — if you collect an Orb of Power.

This is one of the most stylish weapons that dishes out sustained Solar damage. Though it has lower handling and stability than Wavesplitter, Prometheus Lens gets a leg up over Wavesplitter by giving you the ability to fight at a longer range. Its Prismatic Inferno perk fires a beam that generates a heat field, while the Flame Refraction refunds an amount of ammo used if you kill with this weapon. Great for minion and add clear.

First introduced way back in Season 1 of Destiny 2, Coldheart has become quite popular for regular PvE content and PvP matches. It deals Arc damage, using special ammo to slay your adversaries from mid-long range. Coldheart utilizes two active perks, with Cold Fusion shooting a cold fusion-powered laser, and Longest Winter generating Ionic Traces while in the weapon's high-damage state.

Path of Least Resistance is a legendary Trace Rifles dealing Arc damage. It utilizes a total of four active perks that each have their own merits and drawbacks. Ambush, probably the strongest perk, improves range, handling, and damage against combatants during the opening moments of an engagement.

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One For All, on the other hand, increases the damage for a short period if you hit three separate targets — quite an easy feat when sweeping the Trace Rifle's beam across a crowd of enemies.

For those who seek inevitability, this stylish exotic Trace Rifle can get you far with its excellent stability. Divinity was first introduced as part of a gear set in Destiny 2's 8th season, and since then, it has become one of the most potent weapons in the game. With a copper hook in its core, Divinity envelops the enemies in a field that stuns them — shortly before it removes them from existence.

Ager's Scepter can be purchased from the Monument to Lost Lights — the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower. Ager's Scepter is an exotic Trace Rifle dealing Stasis damage to adversaries from the Kinetic weapon slot. It utilizes two active perks: Ager's Call and Rega's Refrain. The first Stasis Trace Rifle can be used for add-clearing, however; Ager's Scepter has a weak point in that it always requires a kill or Super Energy to unleash its full potential.

First introduced in Season 15, Retraced Path is far better than most weapons on the list, using special ammo and dealing sustained Solar damage. In the current meta, Retraced Patch can serve well both in PvP and PvE content.

Its Frenzy perk increases damage, handling, and reload in long-running fights, while Subsistence reloads the magazine from reserves if you kill enemies with this weapon — both extremely valuable perks for PVE content.

This legendary Trace Rifle deals energy damage and has the best trait combos that give you the upper hand during combat. Reconstruction is the most popular one to combine with others like Vorpal Weapon, Target Lock, Incandescent, and Paracasual Affinity. Acasia's Dejection can be purchased from the Root of Nightmares raid available with the Lightfall DLC.

It deals serious damage to both minor enemies and bosses alike, which makes the weapon a solid option for PvE content. Also, Acasia's Dejection has a better ammo economy than most Trace Rifles.

NEXT: Destiny 2: Best Fusion Rifles, Ranked

You can find him reading Berserk, One-Punch Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen when not writing about blockbuster video games.