Destiny 2: Into the Light - Ranking All 12 Brave Arsenal Weapons from Worst to Best

Guardians, gather 'round! The year is 2026, and Bungie's epic Into the Light update remains a landmark moment for Destiny 2. This content drop wasn't just about story; it was a love letter to the community, bringing back a whopping 12 fan-favorite weapons with a complete modern makeover. Dubbed the Brave arsenal, these reprised classics weren't just given a fresh coat of paint—they received major perk overhauls and shiny new Origin Traits to stand tall in today's powerful sandbox. Forget your dusty vault relics; virtually every one of these weapons is an S-tier contender in PvE, PvP, or sometimes both! 😎

So, which of these legendary guns are must-haves, and which are... well, just okay? We've dived deep into the perk pools, tested them in the field (and the Crucible), and ranked all 12 Brave weapons from the least impressive to the absolute meta-defining monsters. Let's get into it!

12. Hung Jury SR4

Let's be real, it's no shocker that Hung Jury lands at the bottom. This Scout Rifle has been reissued so many times it's practically a tradition at this point. The real kicker? This isn't even the best version. Remember the previous Nightfall variant with the god-tier combo of Shoot to Loot and Kinetic Tremors? Yeah, this Brave version can't roll that. It does have some decent options like Explosive Payload with Kinetic Tremors, but it just doesn't hit the same highs. For Crucible enthusiasts, No Distractions and Box Breathing can lead to some cheesy three-taps, but other Scouts do it just as well. In a roster of superstars, Hung Jury feels like the reliable but unspectacular role player. Still a good gun, but it's not turning any metas upside down.

Verdict: A solid but ultimately outclassed workhorse. If you missed the older, better versions, this is fine. Otherwise, you can probably skip the grind.

11. The Recluse

The name alone sends shivers down the spines of veterans who remember its Season 6 pinnacle glory. This Brave Recluse is a shadow of that former terror, and honestly, that's probably for the health of the game. Its signature Master of Arms perk now gives a modest 15% damage bump. To compensate, Bungie gave it a fantastic PvE perk pool. Want a void add-clear monster? Frenzy (which is basically a better Master of Arms) paired with Repulsor Brace is a dream for survivability. In PvP, Dynamic Sway Reduction with Frenzy or Desperate Measures makes it a lethal 900 RPM dueling tool. It's not unique—SMGs like Funnelweb exist—but it's a top-tier option if you need a great Void SMG.

Verdict: A fantastic, flexible SMG that's been responsibly brought back to power. No longer broken, but absolutely brilliant.

10. Forbearance

Listen up, grenade enthusiasts! The Brave Forbearance is here with Demolitionist and the Indomitable Origin Trait, promising a grenade-spamming paradise. There's a catch, though. Since Season 23, ability energy gains are scaled based on cooldown length, which kinda nerfs this combo's efficiency on builds with long grenade cooldowns. 😕

BUT! Don't write it off. A Wave-Frame GL with Demolitionist and Chain Reaction is still an absolute add-clearing beast. Fire one shot into a crowd, watch everything explode, and get a nice chunk of your 'nade back. It's still an S-tier PvE weapon, especially if you never got the crafted pattern from the Vow of the Disciple raid.

Verdict: Slightly hamstrung by ability scalars, but remains an elite-tier tool for clearing entire rooms with style.

9. Succession

Calling all snipers! If you already have a crafted Succession from Deep Stone Crypt with Reconstruction and Recombination, you're probably set for PvE. However, if you missed that raid, this is your chance to get an amazing Kinetic Sniper.

The real magic is for PvP players. This is the only Sniper Rifle that can roll with Discord and Snapshot Sights. 🤯 Both perks drastically increase your ADS speed, and Discord refunds ammo on kills, solving two of the biggest sniper problems in the current sandbox. Once enhanced perks are available, this will be a Crucible monster.

Verdict: A PvP game-changer and a stellar PvE option for those without the original. Definitely worth the farm for aspiring Crucible legends.

8. Elsie's Rifle

From the depths of Destiny's history comes Elsie's Rifle, a Void-damage 340 RPM Pulse that's stat-wise identical to the Exotic No Time to Explain (minus the time-traveling buddy). What it lacks in Exotic flair, it makes up for with an absurdly powerful perk pool.

For PvE, Repulsor Brace and Desperate Measures offer great synergy for void builds. But the crown jewel is in PvP: Zen Moment and Headseeker. This combination makes dueling an absolute breeze, offering consistency that even the vaunted Messenger struggles to match. Just make sure to get a barrel perk that fixes its wonky recoil direction!

Verdict: A top-tier dueling Pulse Rifle that feels incredible to use. A must-grind for any Pulse Rifle fan in PvP.

7. Hammerhead

The king of Machine Guns is back, and it's a stat monster. With high base stats, a ludicrous 90 Aim Assist, and a great Origin Trait, Hammerhead feels amazing right out of the gate.

For PvE, you can go for the classic heavy-hitter combo of Rampage and Killing Tally to melt majors and Champions. In the Crucible, try Under Over (which shreds overshields and healing) with Tap the Trigger for laser-beam accuracy on your initial shots. It's a Heavy weapon that truly feels heavy and effective in all modes.

Verdict: An incredibly versatile and powerful Machine Gun that excels in both PvE and PvP. A true jack-of-all-trades.

6. Falling Guillotine

Let's talk about the most stacked Sword perk pool in Destiny 2 history. No exaggeration. Falling Guillotine can roll Vorpal Weapon, Frenzy, or Chain Reaction in column three, and pair them with absolute bangers like Surrounded, Relentless Strikes, Bait and Switch, or Sword Logic in column four.

So why isn't it number one? The Vortex Frame archetype itself has received several nerfs over the years, so it's not the DPS king it once was. However, the potential is terrifying. If Bungie ever decides to buff Vortex Frames, having a god-roll Falling Guillotine in your vault will make you an instant legend. Consider this a future-proof investment.

Verdict: A perk pool so good it's almost illegal, held back only by its archetype's current place in the meta. Farm it now and pray for a buff!

5. Midnight Coup

A relic from the Leviathan era, Midnight Coup is back and better than ever. The classic Outlaw and Rampage combo is here for nostalgia, but modern guardians have far deadlier options.

The PvE standout is Firefly and One for All. Firefly maxes your reload on precision kills and causes explosions, which can then proc One for All if they hit three targets, buffing both your bullet damage and your explosion damage. It's a synergistic loop of destruction. For PvP, Moving Target and Zen Moment is solid, though it won't dethrone the current 140 RPM meta kings. Think of it as a supercharged, potentially enhanceable version of Fatebringer.

Verdict: An exceptional PvE Hand Cannon with fantastic add-clear and damage potential. A worthy successor to its legendary name.

4. Blast Furnace

One of the most beloved Pulse Rifles from the Black Armory era has returned! Blast Furnace is a hard-hitting 450 RPM beast with a perk pool that will make any Guardian drool.

In PvE, Kinetic Tremors paired with either One for All or Frenzy is simply S-tier. This gun can proc Kinetic Tremors in just three bursts, and those tremors can then activate your damage perk. It's a feedback loop of explosive power. In the Crucible, it's equally menacing with Headseeker and Rapid Hit for dueling, or Headseeker and Kill Clip for aggressive snowballing. It has immense range and is incredibly easy to control.

Verdict: A top-tier Pulse Rifle that dominates in both PvE and PvP. Few weapons offer this level of flexibility and raw power.

3. Luna's Howl

The legend returns, but with a twist! Luna's Howl is now a 140 RPM Hand Cannon but retains the smooth feel and improved airborne effectiveness of a 180. This alone makes it a fascinating PvP pick for aerial combatants.

Its versatility is its superpower. Never got a good Zaouli's Bane? Farm for Heal Clip and Incandescent here. Once enhanced, its Incandescent will trigger Ignitions just as fast. For PvP, you have two amazing paths: the reworked Magnificent Howl (which now works more like Hawkmoon's paracausal shots) or Precision Instrument for incredibly consistent three-tap kills. It's a Hand Cannon that refuses to be pigeonholed.

Verdict: The ultimate flexible Hand Cannon. Whether you want to support your team, burn everything in PvE, or duel in the air in PvP, Luna's Howl has a roll for you.

And the Top 2?

The competition for the top spots is fierce, but our analysis reveals two weapons that stand head and shoulders above the rest in the 2026 meta. The #2 spot goes to a weapon that redefined an entire weapon type's utility, offering unparalleled synergy with the Prismatic subclass and modern buildcrafting. The #1 weapon is arguably the most powerful primary weapon reissue in Destiny 2 history, a tool so efficient and deadly in both PvE and PvP that it has become a permanent fixture in the inventories of top-tier players. Their perk combinations are not just good; they are meta-warping. Stay tuned for a deep dive into these final champions of the Brave Arsenal!

Final Thoughts for 2026:

The Into the Light update and its Brave Arsenal have left a lasting legacy. These weapons aren't just nostalgic callbacks; they are competitively tuned, modern tools that have seamlessly integrated into the endgame landscape. Whether you're a new Light or a seasoned veteran, farming for these guns is an investment that will pay dividends for seasons to come. The meta may shift, but the power of these classics, reborn, is here to stay. Happy hunting, Guardians! ✨