TV Ranks Exotic Sidearms BEST to WORST 

Use code VANGUARD20 and get 20% off your order and FREE SHIPPING at Manscaped.com Thanks for watching the video, be sure to comment what your list would look like!

Please consider making a legendary sidearm tier list or just a top 5 or 10. Thanks TV

Sidearms have always appealed to me, even after smgs came to Destiny, and I love that someone as great as TV is known as “the sidearm guy” and continues to preach their usefulness and fun factor. Within my online friend group I’ve slowly become recognized as the guy who uses them. Brings a tear to my eye.

Made it to the end, for me personally, I put Forerunner second before traveler's chosen. I had alot of fun using it with peacekeepers and shayura's wrath in 6s and Trials, heck it got me some flawlesses. I got the catalyst, nice to mess with in 6s, but in trials, I rarely get to use it solely because of ammo. You need to have exactly 6 shots to convert it to a frag grenade, and have it bounce twice before it detonates. It can do 180 damage but only if it is literally between the guardian's legs.

Sound the alarms everybody: TV made a Tier Video. *this is NOT a drill*

One thing cool about the forerunner having that crazy range & precision damage is that you can run double sidearms & utilize all sidearm mods that benefit both your weapons.

My favorite thing about Forerunner is pairing it with an omalon adaptive and using basically every side armor mod (targeting, reload, unflinching, scavs etc.) and trick sleeves. Put a full auto mod on with a tap the trigger last dance, and put on the Forerunner and you are ready for basically ever engagement.

The Forerunner is definitely one of my favorite weapons right now, but I totally agree: it is not a sidearm in the traditional sense. Still love it, though.

Been rocking Rat King for a few seasons now, and it’s honestly so funny how no one expects it to slay. With catalyst giving a heal on the invis, it’s super easy to just chain kills on a team. Went flawless running it a few times too, super fun! I do agree with you that the TTK is a bit inconsistent, but on those times when you hit nothing but headshots on a kill, they drop hilariously fast!

Made it to the end. Not gonna lie, Rat King is easily my favorite. I consistently murk folks with it. Getting a group of Rat Kings together in trials is also a ton of fun. You're right about the crits though. Travelers Chosen is a close second for mev

Made it to the end! Really helped to tell me which sidearms I should pick up from the kiosk first! Thank you so much.

Surprising location for Forerunner - I had hoped you’d come to love it as a counterpart to an energy sidearm. High quality work as always!

Love these videos! You always inspire me to revisit old weapons that have been rotting away in my vault. There’s also a lot to learn from your gun play and tactics!

Made it to the end. Love it! I use Traveler’s Chosen so much with Third Axiom. Anytime I run Trials with my clan mates, I tell them I’m using the “TV Build”. Much love! ❤️

Rat King carried me solo flawless, it’s now my favorite gun in the game.

I put together a loadout inspired by TV. Its a Hailing confusion, surplus wellspring and a quick draw punching out. This is my new favorite quick play loadout! I've been sleeping on the sidearms!

It was fun watching some of your streams while you did the research for this video, was looking forward to it. Nicely done.

One of my current favorite loadouts is using my surplus contingency plan with the traveler chosen, the synergy is insane and using double primaries is really satysfying

Made it to the end my friend loved the video now I have a better understanding on which sidearm to use now so thank you

Great information, would love to see a legendary tier list as well. Keep up the great content

Made it to the end of the video TV. I love how you made a tier list on sidearm considering their build potential too

Made it to the end. Very well thought out and presented video!!

Made it to the end, I always love your insight on weapons and builds. Even if you have a bias towards certain weapons/builds that fit your playstyle, you have tested out just about every build and are able to give a fair and detailed analysis on them

Been running sidearms because of you for literally years. My clan might joke about it but I have no problem shredding with them. Thanks for all the content and gameplay help over the last many years

Made it to the end! Not as much of a challenge as you humbly pose it to be, it's pretty easy and engaging for a sidearm nerd such as myself to cling to your words like dogma lol. My personal favorite sidearm is the keening, can't get enough of it. Anyhow keep up the good work!☺️

Made it to the end, great content as usual man!

I've always had Rat King and Traveler's Chosen tied for overall best Sidearm simply because they both have the same overall function of use without having to lock yourself into an exotic, a specific playstyle, or even a loadout. They both have equal pros and cons that takes time to acclimate to that when you learn to leverage makes them major counters to a lot of playstyles.

Made it to the end! Ur vids are my favorite to play when I’m cleaning

Watched it till the end, thank you for putting this tier list together.

really enjoyed this because you were not just talking about consistency like everyone else does and ranking it with builds too.

Thanks, TV! Glad to finally see the video. Made it to the end. :P I also tend to agree with your rankings! Goodness knows the TC has amazing base stats.

Enjoyed it right to the end!

Made it to the end, TV. Hope to see more vids doing this kind of thing! I’d love to hear your opinion on more things in these more organized vids.

Love your content!!! Always amazing stuff in it, and clean!!!

I made it to the end. You are always here giving us knowledge. It’s really appreciated.

Made it to the end easily. I would definitely be OK with you putting out more long videos like this one.

Made it to the end! I’m not much of a pvp person, but I appreciate the expertise and input.

Been a long time viewer. Thanks for helping me get better at sniping all those years ago with your sniper school vids. Haven't played in a long time, but try to keep up. Great video! Made it through to the end 😁. Be well my friend!!

Made it to the end. I definitely like the breakdown and the reasoning for the ranking. I’ve been watching your channel since D1(Remember Havoc Pigeon?) I have have been thoroughly entertained with your creativity and use of side arms in D2. Keep making great videos man.

Thanks for the well done video worth watching till the end. Would you consider a video on legendary side arms next? Maybe best sunset and/or non sunset legendary’s? Different archetypes with the pros and cons? Or even a side arm tactics and builds video? I can’t wait till the surprise attack mod is sold again 😅

Made it to the end! Love the sidearms!

Great video as always TV, just thought I'd say that even with all the praise you gave the Travelers Chosen, you didn't even point out that it's catalyst makes it even easier to use for people who struggle with the semi-automatic firing modes of a lot of sidearm by giving the gun full-auto which makes it much more fun to use in the process. Been watching you since D1 qnd it's great to see you're still an extremely positive member of the community through thick or thin and for that I'll always watch your content 👍

Made it to the end and I loved this video! I tried some ratking with harmony retraced path on mid tree arc titan for inertia. Give it a try its really fun!

That video was worth the wait! Exotic pulses next??

Made it to the end! I think I agree although I haven't gone around to using the Forerunner yet, waiting until I can start grinding the catalyst. Hoping to see the return of Dreg's Promise one day!

I stayed to the end, Great video!! also im a ratking main :p but you got me wanting to try out Tchosen

Looking clean for the manscaped ad!👍👍 Edit: made it to the end, I'd agree with your tier list. I was so pumped when they added Travelers Chosen to the game. I enjoy running it with Point of the Stag.

Finding your page made me love pvp again. Sidearm usage, third axiom, different build etc. about to hit 40k seasonal kills thanks to you

This was amazing! Hope to see it for legendary side arms or your top 5 or something

I watched til the end, great vid! Traveler's Chosen is going to be my next exotic kiosk purchase. I started this quest but always got sidetracked (no pun intended) by other stuff in the game, it was a lengthy quest. I really dig Forerunner with an smg! Pairing it w/ Shayura's is a blast in 6v6. Not so much in Trials where special ammo doesn't drop as often.

Made it to the end. Great breakdown and tier list. While I've been using sidearms a lot in crucible I'm still trying to find something that works for me. This exotic list will definitely help me moving forward. Thanks again and keep up the great content.

Made it to the end. Absolutely superb video. I usually use Servant Leader and Last Dance. I'm going to try a Traveler's Chosen build because I rely heavily on my melee and nades.

Just got back into D2 after 3 years. Good to see you're still at it! Made it to the end BTW!

Made it to the end, fully enjoyed it

Entertaining and spot on as always TV! Did you see Azetcross just made a video about your trip-mine build?

Made it to the end. Awesome video

Made it to the end, love the list! Agreeing with others here that would also enjoy a legendary sidearm tier list!

Made it to the end, love the ranking vid

Remember when everyone said Forerunner was super OP and needed an immediate nerf on release?

I think my first sidearm I ended up loving was D1's Ironwreath D. It was a beautiful looking gun, sounded great to fire, and it being a Hakke Frame made it really strong (faster bullet velocity when firing). D2 got a similar style gun through Iron Banner called Allied Demand, and while I used that one till it was sunset, it just wasn't the same.

The is a great tier list vid TV. Breaking down destinies sidearms based on their strengths during combat and ranking their overall performance is a great tool for deciding what sidearms to incorporate into builds. I did have some predictions on where you’d rank traveler’s chosen and devils ruin, given your critique of them in past videos and on stream. Anyways keep up the good work and I hope to see a legendary sidearms vid for the future.

Excellent as usual…please legendary sidearm ranking

heyy i made it to the end this was definitely very fare and an amazing list. love the vids keep it up bro❤️

Thanks, lots of great info. I've been looking at sidearms for awhile trying to decide if there is one that was comfortable for me. I’m a big fan of the 900 SMGs for scrambles but I like variety. I know TTK is not the whole story, Hailing Confusion is one of my favorite pulse rifles not because of it’s TTK but because ease of use ensures that I will frequently hit my TTK while other weapons don’t. So, trying sidearms I hesitate between I don’t have the practice, not having a good roll, and picking TTK over ease of use. I’ll try some of these and see how I feel about them.

Made it! Thanks for good thoughtful content.

So glad this was made. Not sure if you have a legendary tier list already but an updated one for current sandbox would be great.

Made it to the end, used this one like a podcast :)

How could I not watch until the end?!?! Love your content TV. I have found having the full auto option on my legendary side arms super helpful. Do you think they should retrofit the exotics with the capability for it?

HIGHLY recommend pairing the forerunner with an energy legendary sidearm you enjoy, loading up on sidearm mods and CWL+Surprise attack, and running blink devour warlock with astrocyte verse. Definitely not a trials dominant build, but an absolutely hilarious and high octane 6s build that really makes you think about movement and positioning!

Great vid TV, it was a good accompanyment to my morning bean water 😁👍🏻

MADE IT TO THE END, I agree with the list honestly but hey you should do a pulse rifle list next ya know.

Awesome video, made it to the end

Made to through and I’m close to getting the resources to buy the travelers chosen. Was debating upgrading a piece of armor but you convinced me

Made it to the end always love your content and especially when it comes to your love of sidearms because I also came to love because of you end wrecking people with it

Love the video! My rat king literally carried me to my first flawless and helped me clutch a couple of 1v3 that, without invisibility AND heal, i would have never been able to win. Still have to really put effort into the traveler's chosen too, i may have misjudged it too quickly simply as a "gun for spamming abilities", which is usually my least favourite part of destiny pvp.

Sheeeeesh TV, looking sharp in that ad segment!

I’ve been a sidearm main since day 1 d1 and they are such a great weapon class. Amazing handling and versatility, range is decent and realistic for what you’re using, and a majority of them just look and feel awesome (I’d straight up pay to get my traveler’s judgement back). The only downside to sidearms, to no fault of their own, is what they compete with, which is shotguns and fusions. Too many times I’ve gotten a shotgun rusher down to barely a sliver of health yet they’ve been able to one shot kill me at a good distance. Hopefully this new season helps these weapon class out a bit, because they truly are amazingly fun to use, and their exotic counterparts are so unique and fun.

😂great vid💪🏾🙌🏾 enjoyed the pros and cons of each weapon was torn between ruin and travelers

Great review of all the exotic sidearms! Now I want to know your opinions of all the legendary sidearms as well

I agree with the list spot on. Travelers chosen is also my favorite gun in destiny. There is something just so satisfying about using it. Works great if you pair it with wolf tone draw that has harmony just love the combo.

Made it to the end, and I would make to the end if you did a similar ranking for legendary sidearms.

I agree especially about the skill ceiling of Devil's Ruin. Not only do you have to time the long charge up time and land most of the beam but then you also have to take the enemy's position into account as well. If there's line of sight blockers you gotta learn to bait them into leaving their cover and push you and then charge up before they manage to slide into you for the shotgun kill. And if you miss you're just dead unless you run a shotgun / out of jail card in your kinetic slot. This makes Devil's Ruin a high risk/high reward type of gun and thus very fun to use. I currently have more than 16 000 kills on Devil's Ruin and still enjoy maining it to this day. Yesterday I came across a shotgun ape who kept getting baited by me so he switched to Devil's Ruin only ro realize that he couldn't even time the charge up time correctly. I kept coming around the corner and he would literally just try to charge it up then. Needless to say I kept burning him and he switched back to the shotgun during that same match. What I just love about Devil's Ruin is basically what could be its slogan: "MAKE IT COUNT"

Made it to the end, I agree with each ranking, rat king was my absolutely favorite until travelers came out, it carries me to my first 5500. Love the video, have a good one man

Made it to the end. I would say I agree with the ranking. I haven’t had a chance to use all of them in PvP yet, but certainly travelers is above and beyond the rest. I’m curious, once Bungie updates how orb gen works, will you go back to using it in the default mode instead of with the catalyst?

Been getting into sidearms recently. Starting to become a big fan

I made it through. I agree that a top legendary sidearm video would be outstanding. It's because of you I've started getting more into sidearms and buildcrafting in general

I don't even play PvP in destiny, I'm just here cause I like the content. It's so nice to hear someone offer actual reasoned and objective critique of weapons that they have clearly used extensively.

Didn’t know I had been waiting for this video until you posted it lol. So thank you and made it to the end of course lol. The exotic sidearms are all excellent imo. The only weapon archetype I can say that about there exotics. Each one functions so uniquely and specifically perfect for its specialty. I want to run Tricksleeves more, but feel it needs at least the same treatment as pulse monitor to be more viable. Otherwise I’d rather use other builds for these babies. Anyway thanks for feeding my love of sidearms 😊

Great vid, thx for being tough but fair on my Cryo, it is much more user friendly after the recent changes to the freeze shot, but that 260 really makes you work for the W in duels. Question tho, do u run the catalyst for Traveler's Chosen you regularly play with? I tried the full auto for a while but it felt like a debuff so I pulled a non-cat from collections to use in the reg

Watched to end, completely agree with all your points. I main sidearms and this is a spot on ranking. I hope we don’t have to wait a long time for the next exotic Sidearm.

Travelers chosen with solar and path of burning steps, is a menace in pve and pvp. I've been a sidearm main since the old days of Vestian Dynasty and 18 Kelvins. Smugglers word was my main baby for sometime till it got sunset. Now I main Brass attacks and Drang. Thanks for the great content!!!

Double sidearm build with forerunner and redback is my favorite build so far. .6 ttk up to 50m, and a close range option in my back pocket. It makes it easier to control the match, as you’re able to put ttk almost everyone at most ranges unless it’s special of course.

TV, good video. Do you have plans on doing a ranking on Pulses? After watching you play with the Hunter-pulse, sidearm and tripmine granade I became a pulse main. I personally would love to see you ranking some of the best Pulses on the game. Keep up the good content.

TV, all your points about Forerunner are valid. However, I’ve been using it this season in my ‘full sidearm’ build, using Surprise Attack plus all sidearm mods (targeting, reloading, scav, etc). The mods are cheap, and it pairs very well with Drang on maps with longer mid ranges, and with a Suros rapid fire on cqc maps. Honestly, it’s the most enjoyable build I’ve used this season. You can use it on Titan with Greaves (variant of the CoolGuy build), on Missile Titan with Inertia buff, on Hunter with Tricksleeves, or on Devourlock. Very very fun.

I made it to the end of the video. Also, I made an El Presidente tonight, in case you were wondering (and I'm sure you were). I don't have a blanc vermouth, so I tried to wing it with a sweet and cutting back a smidge on the curacao. All in all, thoroughly enjoyed both the drink and the video.

I love that there is someone out there who loves sidearms as much as I do. They are the perfect anti shotgun tool for me tbh, especially devils ruin since it basically has a built in fusion rifle, easily my favorite gun in the game

Great list! It makes me want to try to play with sidearms more.

made it to the end, a bit late but here I am. I've being using the kryosthesia with my titan, middle tree hammers and the ashen wake exotic armor. Its nuts against current meta! I love to freeze aping players with their chaperones or fusions and just throwing a grenade or the little hammer and see them shatter! I even give them the "flex" emote lol. I'll be trying the traveler chosen now, maybe pair them with bottom tree void warlock and use the axion grenades, maybe with my last perdition that has outlaw and rampage, putting the Nezarecs sin exotic helmet and boom axions everytime. Thanks for an awesome video again TV. Much love from Mexico!

Made it to the end, of course. Now would you please consider doing a similar video for legendary sidearms?

Haven’t ever really used sidearms, this video has definitely made me rethink that!