Top 5 Best Destiny 2 Kinetic Hand Cannons 2019 (And How To Get Them)

Updated:

15 Jul 2019

Among all of the weapons made available to you Destiny 2’s universe, the Hand Cannon is by far the most iconic of them all.

This weapon type was pioneered by Bungie in Destiny back in 2014 and has since made Hand Cannons the face of the Destiny Franchise.

This list will help narrow down the top 5 Kinetic Hand Cannons currently available in game with the release of the Season of Opulence and how to get them.

5. The Duke M.44

The Duke M.44 is the premiere aggressive frame Hand Cannon to drop during the Forsaken DLC. Having the highest Impact, Range, and Stability stats of any aggressive frame Hand Cannon, this weapon fires slow and hard, with a devastating effect on whatever it’s pointed at.

Weapon Stats:

Rounds per Minute: 110
Impact: 92
Range: 67
Stability: 36
Handling: 37
Reload Speed: 37
Aim Assistance: 64
Recoil Direction: 90
Zoom: 14
Magazine: 9

What makes this one of the best Kintec Hand Cannons?

Potential Perks, Utility abound. This weapon can roll some of the best perks in the game such as Opening Shot, Outlaw, Rapid Hit, Rangefinder, Kill Clip, and Rampage. The Perks available for this gun give it the potential to provide utility in any given number of scenarios while dealing large amounts of base damage regardless.
Everyone gets one eventually. With this weapon being listed world loot pool, you can acquire it from doing just about anything. This helps increase the chance of getting a God Roll whilst also letting you potentially grind for more specific activity-based loot simultaneously.

How to get The Duke M.44:

4. The Last Word

Born from the need for justice and to punish those who strayed from the Light, The Last Word was forged by Jaren Ward, the quickest Gunslinger to ever live. This is well reflected in-game by The Last Words ability to deliver damage quickly and concisely to anyone who dares get to close.

Weapon Stats:

Rounds Per Minute: 225
Impact: 78
Range: 28
Stability: 46
Handling: 28
Reload Speed: 82
Aim Assistance: 40
Recoil Direction: 100
Zoom: 11
Magazine: 8

What makes this one of the best Kinetic Hand Cannons?

Exotic Perk, Fan the Fire: This weapon can be fired quickly and continuously. Faster reload and increased accuracy on successive hip-fire damage.
The Last Word excels in close-range combat. With its RPM of 225 and ability to stack damage upon successive hip fire shots this weapon is the best choice for dealing with any PvP threat at close range.

How to get The Last Word:

3. Thorn

What price would you pay for power? This Hand Cannon was wrought into being with Hive Magics and Guardian weaponry. Forged in the Dark, this Hand Cannon excels at eliminating your foes in whatever capacity it’s wielder may require, whether they are of the Light or the Dark is irrelevant.

Weapon Stats

Rounds Per Minute: 150
Impact: 79
Range: 40
Stability: 59
Handling: 68
Reload Speed: 46
Aim Assistance: 85
Recoil Direction: 100
Zoom: 14
Magazine: 11

What makes this one of the best Kinetic Hand Cannons?

Exotic Perk, Mark of the Devourer: Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants. This damage has the ability to stack upon each successful shot on target.
Synergizing Perk, Soul Devourer: Absorbing a Remnant strengthens Mark of the Devourer and partially refills the magazine.
The synergy between these weapons exotic perks lets you continuously deal damage over time without the need to reload and increases damage over time for Mark of the Devourer. This allows for both PvP fight fluidity and Long Term DPS in PvE situations.

How to get Thorn:

2. Austringer

The Season of Opulence saw one of the most rewarding loot mechanics and activities ever brought to Destiny 2, the Menagerie. The Austringer is the Hand Cannon one can obtain through the Menagerie after applying the correct Rune Recipe to the activity. This easily farmable Hand Cannon has been lauded by the community and now everyone is racing to get their preferred roll.

Weapon Stats:

Rounds Per Minute: 140
Impact: 84
Range: 51
Stability: 63
Handling: 52
Reload Speed: 51
Aim Assistance: 75
Recoil Direction: 95
Zoom: 14
Magazine: 11

What makes this one of the best Kinetic Hand Cannons?

Stats, a Packed Punch. The Austringer matches exotic tier damage with an Impact of 84. This stat coupled with perks such as Rangefinder and Outlaw makes a deadly ranged Hand Cannon in PvP whereas changing out Rangefinder for Rampage allows this gun to shine in any PvE endgame scenario.
Availability. Many weapons on this list have a chance to drop given in certain situations, where this weapon has a guaranteed drop upon completion of a run of the Season of Opulence activity, the Menagerie, after equipping the correct set of runes, making this gun the most farmable random rolled Hand Cannon to date, easily allowing for higher chances of different God Rolls to suit any situation.

How to get the Austringer:

1. Ace of Spades

Upon the death of Cayde-6, beloved Hunter Vanguard, the Ace of Spades was willed to his killer, Uldren Sov. This situation was quickly remedied when recovered by us upon completing our quest for revenge, eliminating Uldren, and his Barons. Since then, every Guardian has had the capacity to wield what is inarguably the best Hand Cannon in-game.

Weapon Stats:

Rounds Per Minute: 140
Impact: 84
Range: 77
Stability: 46
Handling: 46
Reload Speed: 47
Aim Assistance: 70
Recoil Direction: 100
Zoom: 14
Magazine: 13

What makes this thee top Hand Cannon?

Exotic Perk Memento Mori: Reloading after a kill loads magazine with a few extra-damage bullets. Grants radar while aiming down sights.
Synergizing Perk, Firefly: Precision kills with this weapon increase reload speed and cause the target to explode, dealing Solar damage to nearby enemies.
The utility of Memento Mori alone allows for consistent high impact, long-range damage, perfect for any close to mid-range PvP situation. The fact that this weapon also creates an AOE explosion while decreasing reload time upon precision kills makes this weapon the ultimate PvP Hand Cannon along with more than top tier mob clearing capabilities in PvE.