A Guide to the BRAVE Arsenal: Ranking Destiny 2's Legendary Comebacks in 2026
Explore the definitive 2026 ranking of the iconic BRAVE Arsenal weapons from Destiny 2's celebrated *Into the Light* expansion, unlocking nostalgic power. This essential guide reveals the top legendary weapons and their best perk combinations for dominating the current PVE meta.
As the gaming community in 2026 still fondly remembers the anticipation for The Final Shape, Bungie's Into the Light expansion remains a celebrated chapter. This free content drop introduced the Onslaught activity, a thrilling PVE mode that served as the gateway to Lord Shaxx's clandestine armory—the BRAVE Arsenal. This collection featured iconic, once-'banned' weapons, resurrected with refreshed perk pools and a new Origin Trait. For many veteran Guardians, it was a nostalgic reunion with old favorites, now retooled for the modern battlefield of the Light and Darkness saga. Acquiring these armaments required dedication; players completed attunement quests to focus their farming efforts, significantly boosting their chances of securing these powerful tools from Onslaught's reward chests. The arsenal was released in waves, building excitement throughout its season.
To navigate this bounty of firepower, here is a ranking and guide to the legendary weapons of the BRAVE Arsenal, based on their enduring performance and utility in the current meta of 2026.
10. Blast Furnace (Aggressive Frame Pulse Rifle)
Starting at the foundation of our list is Blast Furnace. The aggressive frame pulse rifle archetype has historically struggled, particularly in the kinetic slot, which places this returning favorite in a challenging position. Despite its archetype's limitations, it possesses a commendable and classic perk selection. Kinetic Tremors provides a welcome splash of area-of-effect damage to a weapon type known for precision, single-target engagements. Pairing it with Firefly creates a quintessential and satisfying PVE roll, offering both add-clear potential and visceral feedback. While not a meta-defining weapon, it holds a special place for collectors and those who appreciate its robust feel.
9. Elsie's Rifle (High-Impact Frame Pulse Rifle)
This Void-energy pulse rifle shares a similar fate with Blast Furnace, constrained by its less popular high-impact frame. However, for devotees of Void builds, it offers several intriguing synergies. The perk pool, while decent, truly shines with specific combinations. Repulsor Brace paired with Adrenaline Junkie is a particularly promising setup, granting both survivability through Void overshields and increased grenade-focused damage. For those less inclined towards grenade play, Desperate Measures serves as a solid alternative, rewarding weapon kills with a handling and damage boost.
8. Hung Jury SR4 (Precision Frame Scout Rifle)
A perennial favorite, Hung Jury has been a Nightfall staple for years. Many Guardians in 2026 likely have multiple versions sitting in their vault. The strategy for this archetype remains consistent: augment its precise shooting with area damage. Kinetic Tremors is an excellent choice, combinable with either Firefly or Explosive Payload—two perks that are nearly interchangeable for causing explosive havoc. It's a reliable, hard-to-mess-up weapon that every Guardian should possess for those long-range engagements where a trusty scout rifle is indispensable.
7. Midnight Coup (Adaptive Frame Hand Cannon)
Hand cannons have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, and Midnight Coup's return was warmly welcomed. For PVP enthusiasts, the classic pairing of Outlaw and Opening Shot provides a lethal dueling package. PVE players aren't left out, with options like Firefly or Explosive Payload for add clear, or Desperate Measures and Frenzy for sustained damage output. While it faces stiff competition from powerful Exotic hand cannons in PVE, Midnight Coup remains a stylish and effective legendary choice.
6. Luna's Howl (Precision Frame Hand Cannon)
The second hand cannon in the arsenal, Luna's Howl, arrived with a bittersweet note. Its iconic Magnificent Howl perk was significantly altered from its original, dominant state. While it can still be potent in the hands of a precise player, a safer and more consistent option for PVP is the duo of Eye of the Storm and Opening Shot. For PVE, the standout perk is undoubtedly Incandescent, allowing the weapon to synergize beautifully with Solar subclasses and Scorch effects, making it a key piece for build-crafting.
5. Succession (Aggressive Frame Sniper Rifle)
Originally a prized drop from the Deep Stone Crypt raid, Succession became accessible to all through Onslaught. It is a premier choice for boss DPS in PVE, especially when integrated into specialized damage combination builds. Securing a god-roll is highly recommended. Reconstruction is the automatic choice for the first column, passively overloading the magazine over time. For the second perk, the decision is activity-dependent: Firing Line for coordinated team damage on bosses, or Vorpal Weapon for reliable increased damage against champions and powerful enemies.
4. Falling Guillotine (Vortex Frame Sword)
With the permanent return of classic threats like Crota, swords have firmly reclaimed their place in the meta. For Guardians without The Lament or those who simply enjoy the whirlwind playstyle, Falling Guillotine is a quintessential and must-have PVE weapon. Its vortex frame archetype is exceptional for both damaging bulky targets and clearing groups of enemies. The perk combination remains timeless and unbeaten: Relentless Strikes for ammo efficiency and Whirlwind Blade for stacking damage increase with each consecutive hit.
3. Edge Transit (Adaptive Frame Heavy Grenade Launcher)
Bungie's long-term tease of powerful heavy grenade launchers finally showed promise with the reborn Edge Transit. It boasts a stellar perk pool that can challenge the rocket launcher meta. A roll with Cascade Point and Bait and Switch offers incredible burst damage potential. Even more coveted is the extremely rare possibility of getting Cascade Point and Envious Assassin in the same column, creating a monster of sustained damage. While rocket launchers often dominate the heavy slot for burst DPS, Edge Transit stands as a top-tier alternative and a fan-favorite for its versatility.
2. Hammerhead (High-Impact Frame Machine Gun)
The legendary machine gun Hammerhead stormed back to give the renowned Commemoration some serious competition. Machine guns excel at add-clearing and sustained heavy weapon use, and Hammerhead is a pinnacle example. Rewind Rounds is the perfect perk to minimize downtime, refilling the magazine based on hits landed. Pair it with the classic Killing Tally, which ramps up damage with every kill, and you have the ultimate tool for mowing down waves of enemies. It's a straightforward, powerful, and deeply satisfying weapon to wield.
1. The Mountaintop (Micro-Missile Grenade Launcher)
Topping our list is the legendary kinetic grenade launcher, The Mountaintop. Its return was met with both excitement and scrutiny, but its perk pool is undeniably magnificent. Almost every combination is viable for PVE, making it one of the most flexible and powerful weapons in the arsenal. The recommended god-roll is Ambitious Assassin paired with One For All. Ambitious Assassin loads two shots into the magazine after a single kill, offering fantastic ammo economy. One For All provides a substantial 35% damage buff after hitting three separate targets, a trivial task for a grenade launcher, making it an incredibly strong and consistent damage perk. For those who prefer utility, Auto-Loading Holster is a great alternative in the first column, and Recombination also offers potent single-shot damage. The Mountaintop's versatility, power, and iconic status firmly cement it as the crown jewel of the BRAVE Arsenal in 2026.
| Weapon Name | Weapon Type | Top Recommended Perks (PVE) |
|---|---|---|
| Blast Furnace | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic Tremors, Firefly |
| Elsie's Rifle | Pulse Rifle | Repulsor Brace, Adrenaline Junkie |
| Hung Jury | Scout Rifle | Kinetic Tremors, Explosive Payload |
| Midnight Coup | Hand Cannon | Firefly, Frenzy |
| Luna's Howl | Hand Cannon | Incandescent, (Any) |
| Succession | Sniper Rifle | Reconstruction, Firing Line |
| Falling Guillotine | Sword | Relentless Strikes, Whirlwind Blade |
| Edge Transit | Grenade Launcher | Cascade Point, Bait and Switch |
| Hammerhead | Machine Gun | Rewind Rounds, Killing Tally |
| The Mountaintop | Grenade Launcher | Ambitious Assassin, One For All |
The BRAVE Arsenal was more than just a set of weapons; it was a love letter to Destiny 2's history, allowing a new generation of Guardians to experience legends and giving veterans a chance to reunite with old friends, finely tuned for the battles of today. :rocket: :crossed_swords: :sniper_rifle: