Destiny 2: Top 10 Rocket Launchers, Ranked (2024)

One of Destiny's most iconic weapon types is Rocket Launchers. Ever since Gjallarhorn was introduced in the first game, fans have wanted a similar powerhouse Rocket Launcher in the sequel.

With the various buffs they've received throughout Year 4, Rocket Launchers are finally in a good spot. These weapons can pull their weight in damaging hordes of minions and bosses alike. With the right perks and supporting mods, Rocket Launchers are too good to pass up. From Rocket Launchers with permanent damage boosts to those with absurd tracking, here are the ten best Rocket Launchers you can use in Destiny 2.

Updated July 29, 2024, by Charles Burgar: Plenty of new Rocket Launchers have graced the D2 sandbox since we last updated this list, some of which can compete with meta options. We've updated this list to include some of the strongest new Rocket Launchers in the game, including the reprised Crowning Duologue and new Faith-Keeper Rocket Launcher.

10 Blowout

How to obtain: Crucible matches and Engrams.

If you never got your hands on a good Hothead, the Blowout is a fantastic alternative. Available from Crucible Engrams, the Blowout can roll with strong perks like Field Prep and Explosive Light for high burst DPS. Grenade builds can also run Demolitionist in the first column, perfect for Warlocks using Song of Flame. It's not the highest DPS Rocket Launcher in the game, but if you need a decent Rocket Launcher, Blowout won't let you down.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Demolitionist, Field Prep
• Column Two: Explosive Light, Frenzy

9 Faith-Keeper

How to obtain: Echoes activities and Engrams.

Precision Frames get a bad wrap for boss DPS, but they're still great Heavy weapons. Faith-Keeper has innate tracking and a larger reserve than usual, making it a fantastic pick for Grandmaster Nightfalls and mobile bosses like Rhulk.

For perks, it's business as usual here. Auto-Loading Holster with Frenzy is good at just about everything. Clown Cartridge with Explosive Light or Frenzy can also deal some excellent damage if you dislike weapon hotswapping. For a seasonal weapons, Faith-Keeper is a solid pick.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Auto-Loading Holster, Clown Cartridge
• Column Two: Frenzy, Explosive Light, Lasting Impression

8 Crux Termination IV

How to obtain: World drop.

Crux Termination is the only Rocket Launcher that can roll with Slideshot, which will automatically reload a rocket when you slide. There's no cooldown on this, allowing you to bypass reloading entirely if you can keep sliding. It's an incredibly dangerous way to use a Rocket Launcher, but if you want high burst DPS, few perks can top this.

You can pair Slideshot with Surrounded for tons of bonus damage, or you can run Explosive Light or Bipod for more consistent DPS. And if you don't like Slideshot, the first column can also roll with Reconstruction and Clown Cartridge. Keep your eyes peeled for a good roll of this weapon.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Slideshot, Reconstruction, Clown Cartridge
• Column Two: Surrounded, Explosive Light, Bipod

7 BrayTech Osprey

How to obtain: Vanguard Engram Focusing.

BrayTech Osprey is a High-Impact Rocket Launcher that deals Void damage, a fairly rare combination in today's sandbox. It has some solid perk combination that make it well suited for slaying Champions in GM content, and it's not a bad boss DPS weapon.

Auto-Loading Holster paired with Lasting Impression or Bipod. Fire a rocket (or two), swap weapons, and repeat as needed. It's a good option for hotswap DPS loadouts, although it doesn't beat Bait and Switch options like Apex Predator. For clearing Nightfalls, you can use Envious Assassin with Bipod for some serious burst DPS.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Auto-Loading Holster, Envious Assassin
• Column Two: Bipod, Lasting Impression, Frenzy

6 The Hothead

How to obtain: Vanguard Engram Focusing.

Hothead is now obtainable through Vanguard Engram Focusing, and it's easily one of Destiny 2's strongest Rocket Launchers. This weapon has a fantastic perk pool that few Rocket Launchers can match, and it's fairly easy to obtain.

Arguably the most impressive roll for Hothead is Demolitionist and Clown Cartridge. Fire a rocket, throw a grenade, shoot another rocket, reload to fire two rockets, and repeat. It's one of the highest DPS weapons in the entire game. If you don't like Demolitionist, you can also farm for Field Prep instead. You can even obtain an Adept version of this weapon if you want to use Adept mods.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Demolitionist, Field Prep
• Column Two: Clown Cartridge, Explosive Light

5 Eyes Of Tomorrow

How to obtain: Deep Stone Crypt raid.

When most people think of Rocket Launchers, they think of powerful Heavy weapons built to slay majors and bosses. Eyes of Tomorrow is a little different. The Deep Stone Crypt's Exotic Rocket Launcher is tuned for add clear more than boss DPS, but this weapon can still pack a serious punch when it needs to.

Eyes of Tomorrow locks onto targets before releasing six micro missiles, aggressively tracking anything it marked beforehand. Each individual missile doesn't do much damage, but they deal more than enough damage to kill fodder units. And if that swarm kills four targets, you'll get your rocket refunded and a noticeable damage buff on your next shot.

This makes Eyes of Tomorrow a powerful add-clearing alternative to Machine Guns for loadouts that still need burst DPS. It's great for killing tankier adds, majors, Champions, and Guardians alike. Take this weapon into Onslaught and watch the carnage unfold.

4 Cold Comfort

How to obtain: Ghosts of the Deep dungeon.

Cold Comfort is an Aggressive Frame Rocket Launcher that deals Stasis damage, filling the same niche as Bump in the Night and Palmyra-B. Unlike those two weapons, Cold Comfort features some amazing damage perks and arguably the best origin trait any Rocket Launcher has seen. Restoration Ritual comes with every roll and gives you an instant reload after performing a finisher. This lets you fire two back-to-back rockets at the start of a DPS phase.

You can take this further by using Envious Assassin in the third column to load three rockets in the magazine. Each rocket can then be buffed with Bait and Switch for a massive 35% damage buff. Combine all of these elements together, and Cold Comfort has the highest burst DPS out of any Rocket Launcher in Destiny 2, capable of firing four rockets without reloading at the start of any damage phase. You can take this even further if you use Bipod, although this is generally a worse option for boss DPS.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Envious Assassin
• Column Two: Bait and Switch, Bipod

3 Crowning Duologue

How to obtain: Solstice Event

Crowning Duologue received a massive overhaul in 2024. This Strand Rocket Launcher was an absolute joke in 2023, but thanks to a new set of perks, this weapon can pump some serious DPS with the right build. Right out the gate, this weapon can get Reconstruction with Bait and Switch, the same combination as Apex Predator. Crowning Duologue has worse DPS due to its archetype, but it isn't far behind.

You can rock some more unique combinations on this weapon like Air Trigger and Deconstruct. Simply jumping will max this gun's reload speed, and Deconstruct can auto-load rockets into the magazine if it damages enough targets. If you want to spam rockets, you can even run Reconstruction with Envious Assassin to turn this thing into a supersized Grenade Launcher. Don't skip this weapon when Solstice comes around.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Reconstruction, Demolitionist, Air Assault
• Column Two: Bait and Switch, Deconstruct, Envious Assassin

2 Gjallarhorn

How to obtain: And Out Fly The Wolves quest.

Does this need an explanation? It's Gjallarhorn, the most infamous Exotic in Destiny history. It single-handedly created a meta during the first year of the original Destiny, destroying every boss with a flurry of rockets and cluster bomblets. This iconic weapon has returned with the Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack with some changes.

Gjallarhorn is nothing short of incredible. It isn't as overpowered as its original variant, but it's still a powerhouse. Each rocket releases a swarm of tracking cluster bombs called Wolfpack Rounds, dealing additional damage to tougher foes or clearing out fodder enemies. Slain enemies from Gjallarhorn spawn additional Wolfpack Rounds, making it excellent for add-clear.

For bossing, its two-round magazine and ability to buff friendly Legendary Rocket Launchers by giving them Wolfpack Rounds make this weapon incredibly strong for boss DPS. You'll only need one Gjallarhorn for your whole fireteam to reap the benefits of it. Overall, Gjallarhorn manages to annihilate PvE enemies with ease and dominates the Crucible Heavy meta.

1 Apex Predator

How to obtain: Last Wish raid; craftable at the Enclave.

Apex Predator used to be the worst Rocket Launcher in Destiny 2, arguably the worst raid weapon in the game. With the Lash Wish perk refresh in Season of the Deep, that's flipped on its head. Apex Predator is not only a great Rocket Launcher now, it's arguably the best Legendary Rocket Launcher in Destiny 2.

That's mostly due to its ability to get Bait and Switch, the first Rocket Launcher to roll with this perk. Damage a target with your other weapons, then swap to Apex Predator and land a rocket. You'll gain a massive 35% damage buff for the next ten seconds, giving you more than enough time to empty your reserves. Reconstruction gives you a powerful auto-loading effect that can overflow your magazine. There's no question that for single-target DPS, Apex Predator is king.

But this weapon's strengths don't end there. Since this weapon is craftable, there's justification to experiment with rolls. If you want to slay an entire army of adds with a well-placed rocket, Incandescent and Explosive Light is a great combination. And for players that are using a grenade build, Demolitionist pairs exceptionally well with this weapon's Explosive Pact origin trait. It cannot be understated just how powerful Apex Predator is now.

Recommended Traits

• Column One: Reconstruction, Demolitionist, Incandescent
• Column Two: Bait and Switch, Explosive Light