My Top 10 SMGs That Rule Destiny 2 in 2026

Let me set the scene. It was Year 2 of Destiny 2, back when I was a fresh-faced Guardian clutching my auto rifle like a security blanket. Then came the great submachine gun renaissance—Bungie dropped that sweet, sweet buff across the whole SMG archetype, and suddenly everyone and their Ghost was rocking a bullet hose. I remember my first foray into the Crucible after the update. I got melted so fast I thought I’d accidentally queued into a Mayhem match. That’s when I knew: I had to up my SMG game. Fast-forward to 2026, and after countless hours grinding, testing, and dying in the most spectacular ways, I’ve nailed down my personal top 10. These aren’t just the best on paper—they’re the ones that saved my bacon when the chips were down.

I’m kicking things off with the IKELOS smg, the king of the Aggressive frame crew. I stumbled onto this beauty during a random world drop while grinding out some tedious patrol bounty. At first, I was like "meh, another Vanguard hand-me-down," but then I peeped those perks. Seraph Rounds? That’s a 10% damage falloff reduction right out of the gate—straight-up clutch when you’re trading shots across a lane. I paired it with some stability mods, and suddenly I was outranging shotgun apes without breaking a sweat. The IKELOS may not be the flashiest, but it’s dependable as a Titan’s fist. Plus, you can snag one without even trying, which is a huge W in my book.

Next up is Hero’s Burden, a weapon that’s seen more versions than Cayde-6 has one-liners. I’ll be real with you: this iteration is no showstopper, but don’t sleep on it. The Iron Reach and Fragile Focus combo is a precision player’s dream. I took it into Iron Banner on a dare from my fireteam, and after a few rounds, the numbers didn’t lie—this thing slaps harder than a Truth rocket to the face. It’s not about bells and whistles; it’s about real-world performance. Sometimes you just need a gun that does its job without the extra razzle-dazzle, and Hero’s Burden is that solid, no-nonsense teammate.

Now, let’s talk about a blast from the past: Extraordinary Rendition. I originally missed out on this one back in Season of the Chosen because I was too busy chasing Saint-14’s perfect-roll Reed’s Regret. But when Xur finally sold it a few years ago, I grabbed it like a hot exo pizza. The base range is solid, but the real magic is Firmly Planted. I can’t count how many times I’ve slid around a corner, locked onto a target, and lasered them down before they knew what hit them. It’s a "point-and-delete" kind of weapon once you get the rhythm. If you see Xur hawking this, do yourself a favor and buy it ASAP.

Then there’s the Multimach CCX, a gun that taught me the hard truth: range is everything. When Bungie trimmed its zoom, I thought it was RIP for this legendary. Boy, was I wrong. With the right perks, you can crank the range stat to silly levels, even if stability takes a hit. I spent a weekend dying over and over while getting used to the kick, and by Monday, I was outgunning pulse rifle users from mid-range. It’s the definition of "high risk, high reward." Once you master the recoil, you’ll feel like the Crucible’s own John Wick.

Ah, The Huckleberry. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First, that wood-and-gold aesthetic is pure class—looks like something my great-grandpa might’ve used in the old wars. But don’t let the pretty face fool you; Ride the Bull perk turns it into a bullet-spewing monster. I’ve cleared entire Lost Sectors without releasing the trigger, laughing like a maniac as the magazine refilled itself on kills. The range buff from the rework pushed it into "exotic that actually earns its slot" territory. Good ol’ Xur has sold it off and on, so keep your Strange Coins handy. It’s worth every glimmer.

Mid-list, I’ve got to shout out Enyo-D. This is the dark horse that won me a flawless Trials card back in ’24, and I haven’t put it down since. Right out of the box, the zoom is chef’s kiss, and the thermo scope highlights targets like a neon sign. I’ve tried both the standard range build and some meme-worthy perk combos that somehow work. There’s something addictive about lighting up enemies and then hosing them down. If you’re not patient enough for a world drop, camp out at Banshee-44 and check his inventory every week—he’s had it for sale more than once.

Borrowed Time is my love-hate relationship incarnate. The perk pool is deeper than the Hellmouth, so getting a god roll is like winning the lottery. But oh, when you do… it becomes the longest-range SMG this side of a railgun. I spent an entire season playing Gambit—yes, Gambit—to farm one. Pro tip: with the engram focusing system we have now, you can skip some of that pain. Once I got one with max range, I was challenging scout rifle users and winning. It’s the ultimate "you think you’re safe?" weapon.

Coming in at number three is Shayura’s Wrath. As an auto rifle main refugee, this was my gateway drug. You can build it to feel exactly like an AR, then gradually tweak it to embrace that SMG rushdown style. The perk pool is bonkers versatile. A while back it caught a nerf, but honestly? It’s still a top-tier pick. I remember clutching a 1v3 in Survival by sliding through a choke point and melting the whole team. It’s the perfect training wheels for anyone scared of the SMG life.

The runner-up spot goes to The Immortal, and let me tell you, this gun lives up to its name. The perk combo of Target Lock, Full Bore, and Rangefinder is straight-up illegal in seven systems. I farmed Trials of Osiris for three weekends straight, fueled by energy drinks and pure spite, until I got my roll. The first match I equipped it, I dropped 40 kills. No cap. The longer you track a target, the more damage it pumps out—it’s like the gun gets angrier the longer the fight lasts. If you want to flex in PvP, this is your holy grail.

And now, the pièce de résistance: Tarrabah. Let’s get one thing straight—exotics aren’t automatically better. A lot of blue-dotting newbies see that yellow background and think they’ve won the game. Then they get rolled by a legendary sidearm and uninstall. But Tarrabah? This thing is the real deal. It stores damage dealt and taken, and when you pop Ravenous Beast, you become a walking apocalypse. I’ve pulled this out in raids during DPS phases (don’t tell my fireteam) and topped the damage charts. The catch: don’t you dare swap weapons, or you’ll lose half your charge. That’s a bitter pill to swallow in a game that loves its hot-swaps. But when you commit, it rewards you with power that makes even raid bosses flinch. It’s my ace in the hole, my ol’ reliable, my "I need this win" button.

So there you have it, Guardians. My top 10 SMGs as of 2026, forged in the crucible of sweat, salt, and the occasional ghost-on-ghost tea-bagging. Whether you’re a new light or a seasoned veteran, give these shooters a whirl. Remember: stats on paper only get you so far. The real test is when you’re the last one standing and all you’ve got is your gun and your grit. Eyes up, and may your mags never run dry.