All returning weapons in Destiny 2 Into The Light

A comprehensive guide to every classic weapon returning in Destiny 2’s Into The Light update, including strategic acquisition tips and loadout recommendations

Introduction to Into The Light’s Weapon Revival

Destiny 2’s Into The Light update represents a strategic bridge between current seasonal content and the approaching The Final Shape expansion, bringing back numerous classic weapons that have been absent from the game for extended periods. This comprehensive guide details every confirmed reissued weapon, providing Guardians with essential preparation knowledge.

Into The Light effectively bridges the gameplay gap between Season of the Wish and The Final Shape, introducing a curated selection of both new arsenal additions and returning legacy weapons. This guide provides exhaustive details on all reissued weapons confirmed for the April update, including acquisition strategies and combat applications.

Scheduled for April release, the Into The Light update serves as Lightfall expansion’s final significant content drop before The Final Shape launches, making these weapon reissues particularly valuable for endgame preparation.

Bungie has utilized developer live streams and unintentional Eververse bundle leaks to reveal returning legacy weapons, giving players unprecedented advance knowledge about which classic firearms will receive modernized perk pools and updated statistics.

The following sections provide complete details on every weapon confirmed for return, organized by weapon type and accompanied by strategic insights for optimal utilization.

Complete Reissued Weapon Roster

The confirmed weapon roster includes 11 distinct firearms returning from various Destiny 2 seasons and even one from Destiny 1, representing a deliberate curation of community favorites and meta-relevant options.

Primary Weapons

  • Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
  • Weapon Frame: Aggressive
  • Last Appearance: Season 5
  • Strategic Note: Aggressive frame pulse rifles excel in medium-range engagements with their high burst damage, making this returning weapon particularly valuable for PvP and challenging PvE content where precision matters.
  • Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
  • Weapon Frame: High-Impact Frame
  • Last Appearance: Destiny 1 (The Stranger’s Rifle)
  • Strategic Note: High-impact frames deliver exceptional damage per bullet but require careful recoil management; this weapon’s return from Destiny 1 represents a significant nostalgia moment for veteran players.
  • Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
  • Weapon Frame: Precision
  • Last Appearance: Season 20
  • Strategic Note: Precision frame scout rifles offer excellent long-range capability with enhanced accuracy; this recently sunset weapon returns with updated perk possibilities.
  • Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
  • Weapon Frame: Precision
  • Last Appearance: Season 4
  • Strategic Note: Precision frame hand cannons provide exceptional accuracy for paced shots but suffer in rapid-fire situations; ideal for players with deliberate aiming styles.
  • Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
  • Weapon Frame: Precision
  • Last Appearance: Season 1
  • Strategic Note: As one of Destiny 2’s original weapons, this hand cannon’s return holds historical significance, though its precision frame may require adaptation from modern adaptive frame users.
  • Weapon Type: Submachine Gun
  • Weapon Frame: Rapid-Fire
  • Last Appearance: Season 6
  • Strategic Note: Rapid-fire SMGs dominate close quarters with exceptional time-to-kill but demand careful ammo management due to high consumption rates.
  • Special Weapons

  • Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
  • Weapon Frame: Wave Frame
  • Last Appearance: Season 16
  • Strategic Note: Wave frame grenade launchers create damaging energy waves along the ground, perfect for add-clearing but requiring terrain awareness for optimal effectiveness.
  • Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
  • Weapon Frame: Lightweight Frame
  • Last Appearance: Season 5
  • Strategic Note: Lightweight frames provide mobility benefits and faster handling, making them excellent for aggressive playstyles that value positioning over raw damage.
  • Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
  • Weapon Frame: Aggressive Frame
  • Last Appearance: Season 12
  • Strategic Note: Aggressive frame snipers deliver the highest precision damage but suffer from slow handling and reload speeds, requiring strategic positioning.
  • Heavy Weapons

  • Weapon Type: Heavy Grenade Launcher
  • Weapon Frame: Adaptive
  • Last Appearance: Season 4
  • Strategic Note: Adaptive frame heavy grenade launchers offer balanced performance across all metrics, serving as reliable damage options without specialization extremes.
  • Weapon Type: Machine Gun
  • Weapon Frame: Adaptive
  • Last Appearance: Season 5
  • Strategic Note: Adaptive machine guns provide sustained fire with manageable recoil, excellent for extended add-clearing phases and champion stunning in endgame content.
  • Weapon Analysis Grid

    Weapon Category PvE Tier PvP Tier Acquisition Priority Key Perk Watch
    Aggressive Pulse Rifles A S High Damage perks + reload combos
    Precision Hand Cannons B A Medium Accuracy and range enhancers
    Wave Frame GLs S C High Chain reaction and ammo economy
    Adaptive Machine Guns A B High Damage buffs and target acquisition
    Aggressive Snipers B A Medium Handling and aim assist perks

    Strategic Acquisition and Farming Guide

    Successfully obtaining these reissued weapons requires understanding Bungie’s distribution methodology and avoiding common farming pitfalls that waste valuable playtime.

    Efficient Farming Methods

    Based on historical reissue patterns, weapons will likely distribute through specific activity pools rather than world drops. Focus your efforts on:

    • Targeted Playlist Activities: Crucible, Gambit, and Strike playlists often receive exclusive weapon drops during seasonal updates
    • New Activity Modes: Into The Light will introduce new gameplay modes that typically feature higher drop rates for new and returning weapons
    • Focusing Systems: Utilize the seasonal focusing system at the HELM once weapons enter the loot pool, though this may require waiting several weeks post-launch
    • Rotating Daily Missions: Some weapons may tie to specific daily or weekly rotating missions with increased drop chances

    Common Acquisition Mistakes

    Avoid these frequent errors when pursuing reissued weapons:

    • Ignoring Weapon Framing: Don’t chase every weapon equally—prioritize based on your playstyle and content needs
    • Overlooking Perk Synergy: A weapon with perfect perks outperforms multiple mediocre rolls; quality over quantity
    • Burnout Farming: Set reasonable daily farming limits to maintain enjoyment and prevent frustration
    • Missing Double Reward Weeks: Schedule intensive farming during announced double reward weeks for maximum efficiency

    Priority Targeting Strategy

    Based on current meta analysis and historical performance:

    1. First Priority: Aggressive Frame Pulse Rifle (PvP dominance) and Wave Frame Grenade Launcher (PvE add-clear)
    2. Second Priority: Adaptive Machine Gun (versatile heavy) and Precision Scout Rifle (long-range option)
    3. Third Priority: Remaining weapons based on personal loadout gaps and collection completion

    Remember that weapon reissues typically feature updated perk pools, so historical knowledge provides guidance but not certainty about new optimal rolls.

    Loadout Optimization and Meta Impact

    These returning weapons will significantly impact both PvE and PvP meta landscapes, offering new possibilities for loadout construction and combat strategy.

    PvE Recommendations

    For endgame PvE content including raids, dungeons, and Grandmaster Nightfalls:

    • Champion Coverage: Several returning weapons naturally align with champion mod requirements—precision frames for Barrier, rapid-fire for Overload
    • Elemental Synergy: Consider how weapon elements interact with seasonal artifact mods and subclass verbs
    • Boss Damage Combinations: Pair aggressive snipers with sustained damage heavies for optimal boss phase performance
    • Add-Clear Efficiency: Wave frame grenade launchers with chain reaction fundamentally alter add-clearing approaches

    PvP Considerations

    In Crucible and Trials of Osiris environments:

    • Range Band Optimization: Aggressive pulse rifles dominate medium ranges but require pairing with close-quarters options
    • TTK Analysis: Calculate time-to-kill differences between returning weapons and current meta options
    • Flinch Behavior: Test how different weapon frames handle flinch during duels
    • Map-Specific Loadouts: Certain weapons excel on specific map types—create presets accordingly

    Stat Optimization Tips

    When evaluating rolls, prioritize these stat combinations:

    • Hand Cannons: Range and stability for consistency
    • Pulse Rifles: Stability and handling for burst control
    • Machine Guns: Reload speed and magazine size for sustained fire
    • Sniper Rifles: Handling and aim assist for quick scoping

    Remember that reissued weapons often receive stat adjustments, so test thoroughly before committing enhancement materials.

    This comprehensive guide covers all confirmed returning weapons for Into The Light. Additional reissued weapons may be revealed post-launch, requiring strategy adjustments and continued farming optimization.

    No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » All returning weapons in Destiny 2 Into The Light A comprehensive guide to every classic weapon returning in Destiny 2's Into The Light update, including strategic acquisition tips and loadout recommendations