Top Handguns in Remnant 2

In the unforgiving worlds of Remnant 2, handguns serve as vital secondary weapons that can turn the tide in intense close-quarters combat or provide crucial support during boss fights. Unlike long guns, these compact pistols excel in mobility, quick swaps, and specialized mods that synergize with various archetypes like Medic, Challenger, or Engineer. This guide dives deep into the cream of the crop, ranking them based on damage output, utility, acquisition ease, and post-DLC performance from Awakened King and Dark Horizon expansions. Whether you’re rolling through Ward 13 or tackling endgame rifts, equipping the right sidearm boosts your survivability and DPS significantly.

Why Handguns Matter in Your Loadout

Handguns in Remnant 2 aren’t mere backups; they shine in builds emphasizing speed and elemental effects. High fire rate options melt shields, while heavy hitters deliver burst damage to elites. Key factors for top picks include modular traits, relic synergy, and ammo efficiency. For instance, pistols with status mods like corrosion or overload pair perfectly with long guns lacking those effects. Recent DLCs introduced corrupted variants, elevating staples like the Cube Gun to god-tier status.

• Versatility: Swap to handguns for 360-degree coverage without aiming down sights.
• Mod Power: Unique abilities like summoning cubes or rupturing foes add layers to rotations.
• Archetype Fit: Medics love healing-synced shots; Challengers crave raw power.

S-Tier: The Absolute Best Handguns

These pistols dominate tier lists for their unmatched scaling, mods, and endgame viability. They’re worth rerolling worlds or farming crypts to obtain.

Enigma: The Fire Rate King

Crafted from the Fae Impostor quest in Loda’s lair, Enigma redefines handguns with its 1,300 RPM spray. The Nullifier mod deploys a gravity field that sucks in enemies and strips shields, ideal for crowd control in N’Erud or Yaesha. Pair with Handler archetype for pet synergy. Acquisition demands precise quest choices—fail, and reroll your campaign. Stats shine at high levels: 25 base damage per shot scales to 500+ with traits like Transference.

Cube Gun and Its Corrupted Evolution

Grab the Cube Gun via the Labyrinth’s red crystal room. Its mod spawns homing cubes that explode on impact, dealing 300+ AoE damage. The Dark Horizon DLC’s Corrupted version amps this with poison bursts, making it S-tier for Engineer builds. Ammo economy is stellar—regen via kills keeps you firing endlessly. Community favorites for rift clears.

Anguish: Sustain Through Slaughter

From the Blood Moon biome, Anguish’s Soul Link mod brands foes, detonating for bleed and lifesteal. Perfect for solo players, as kills restore 50% health. High handling lets you strafe while unloading. Scales beautifully with Bloody Mind trait.

A-Tier: Reliable Powerhouses

These handguns offer strong performance without ultra-rare crafts, great for mid-game progression.

Rupture Cannon: Explosive Precision

Found in Losomn’s sewers, this cannon fires sticky bombs that rupture for 400 damage. Mod stacks vulnerability debuffs, boosting team DPS by 15%. Low clip size demands trigger discipline, but impact is devastating against armored foes.

Sureshot: Headshot Specialist

A random world drop, Sureshot’s Deadeye mod guarantees crits for 10 seconds. Ideal for Archer builds, popping weak points from 30m. Upgrades via mutators add fire rate.

Bolt Driver: DLC Electricity Beast

Awakened King introduces this shock deluger. Chains lightning between targets, synergizing with conductive traits. Early access in DLC zones makes it a fresh pick.

B-Tier: Solid Early-to-Mid Game Options

Accessible starters that carry you until better gear drops.

• MP60-R: Ward 13 cargo key unlock. Full-auto with hotshot mod for fire ticks. Medic staple.
• Double Barrel: High stagger shotgun-pistol hybrid. Great for knockbacks.
• Silverback Model 500: Challenger default. 100+ damage per slug, heavy recoil rewarded by handling perks.
• Rune Pistol: Nightweaver realm craft. Healing orbs on hit for sustain.

Emerging DLC Contenders from Dark Horizon

The latest expansion shakes up rankings with guns like Star Shot (explosive stars) and Tech 22 (laser precision). Star Shot’s mod rains fire, efficient for ammo-starved runs. Tier lists place them high for hybrid elemental builds.

Handgun Acquisition Strategies

Remnant 2’s procedural worlds mean luck plays a role, but patterns emerge:

1. Campaign Rerolls: Target Losomn for Rupture, N’Erud for Cube.
2. Questlines: Fae Impostor for Enigma requires specific dialogue.
3. DLC Access: Awakened King crypts drop Bolt Driver; Dark Horizon rifts yield corrupted variants.
4. Crafting: Use Decrepit Rune for Rune Pistol at McCabe.
5. Trading: Sell aberrant marks at Wallace for mutators.

Pro Tip: Equip Leto Mark II relic to regen ammo mid-fight.

Optimizing Handguns for Builds

Traits like Ammo Reserves and Handling Mastery are universal boosts. Experiment in the shooting range.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the strongest handgun in Remnant 2?

Enigma edges out due to fire rate and mod utility, but Cube Gun Corrupted rivals it in AoE.

How do I get the Rune Pistol?

Craft with Decrepit Rune from Nightweaver’s Ravenous Medallion path.

Are DLC handguns worth it?

Absolutely—Bolt Driver and Star Shot refresh metas with new elements.

Best handgun for beginners?

MP60-R: Early full-auto access, simple mod.

Can handguns be mutators-upgraded?

Yes, focus on fire rate or elemental damage for synergy.

Conclusion: Arm Yourself for Victory

Mastering Remnant 2 handguns elevates your gameplay from survival to domination. Prioritize S-Tier for endgame, but don’t sleep on B-Tier carries. With rerolls and builds, every pistol has a niche. Stay updated on patches—Gunfire Games tweaks balance often.