What do the tiers (dots) on a Destiny 2 weapon mean?

Every weapon now drops at a Tier from 1 to 5, shown as pips on the item. Higher tiers come with more pre-enhanced perks and extra benefits. Tier 1 is a baseline Legendary. Tier 2 drops with two pre-enhanced perks. Tier 3 has at least two enhanced perks per column. Tier 4 unlocks enhanced and seasonal mods plus enhanced barrels and magazines. Natural Tier 5 drops can have enhanced Origin traits, three perks per column, and a unique holofoil-style cosmetic with a kill effect. Upgraded lower-tier weapons can gain tier benefits but do not gain extra perk-column choices.

Why are Tier 5 weapons so good?

Natural Tier 5 weapons can roll three perks in each perk column instead of two, improving the odds of getting a desired perk combination in a single drop. Tier 5 weapons also carry an enhanced Origin trait and a unique cosmetic.

Can you upgrade a weapon's tier in Destiny 2?

Yes, but tier upgrading and perk-column drops are different things. Monument of Triumph lets lower-tier weapons upgrade into higher-tier benefits through the weapon inspection screen, while crafted weapons and Reshape-capable Raid Adepts use Weapon Level Boost and the crafting table. However, upgrading a random drop does not add extra perk choices to its columns. For three perks per column, you still want a natural Tier 5 drop or a craftable weapon that supports those options.

How do you get Tier 5 weapons?

Run Tier 5 sources or stack a tier boost. Grandmaster and Ultimate Conquests, The Desert Perpetual raid with Feats active, weekly featured dungeons, and the Trials of Osiris Flawless chest can pay Tier 5. The difficulty mapping is a floor: with the Renegades syndicate upgrade from Spider, every drop rises one tier.

Does crafting or enhancing change a weapon's tier?

Since the Monument of Triumph update, yes. Crafted weapons and Reshape-capable Raid Adepts can be raised to Gear Tier 5 via Weapon Level Boost in the inspection screen, then upgraded at the crafting table with enhanced components. Random drops can gain tier benefits through upgrading too, but their perk-column choices remain the same as the original drop.

New Light Field Manual Weapon Tiers 1–5 Current as of Monument of Triumph · Update 9.7.0

Weapons and 5-Dot Tiers, Decoded

Current weapon tier rules after Monument of Triumph.

Weapons use Tier 1-5. Higher tiers add perk benefits, mod access, cosmetics, and natural drop perk-column options. Tier upgrading does not add missing perk rows. For stats, archetypes and armor tiers, switch to the Gear & Armor tab.

The dots

Tier 1-5. Higher tiers add perk and mod benefits.

Natural 5-dots

Natural Tier 5 drops can have three perks per column.

The rule

Tier upgrading does not add missing perk rows.

How to farm

Grandmaster and Ultimate guarantee Tier 5. Boosts can raise lower difficulties.

Step 1 · The Weapon Tier Ladder (1–5)

Tier benefits by level.

Weapons drop at Tier 1-5. Higher tiers add enhanced perks, mod access, cosmetics, and perk-column options on natural drops.

ITier 1

Baselinestandard Legendary

Normal perks.

IITier 2

Pre-enhanced2 enhanced perks

Two pre-enhanced perks.

IIITier 3

Solid2+ enhanced per column

At least two enhanced perks per column.

IVTier 4

High tierenhanced mods unlocked

Enhanced and seasonal mods, plus enhanced barrels and magazines.

VTier 5

5-dot3 perks per column

Natural drops can roll three perks per column. Tier 5 also adds an enhanced Origin trait and cosmetic effects.

Step 2 · Tier 5 Benefits

Natural Tier 5 drops carry more perk choices.

Natural Tier 5 drops can roll three perks in each perk column. Upgraded lower-tier drops keep their original perk rows.

Three perks per column

Natural Tier 5 drops can carry more perk choices.

Enhanced Origin trait

Tier 5 unlocks enhanced Origin traits.

Pre-enhanced perks

Higher tiers include enhanced perk benefits.

Cosmetics

Tier 5 adds a holofoil-style ornament and kill effect.

Step 3 · Tier Upgrading

Tier benefits can be upgraded. Perk rows are still set by the original drop.

Dropped weapons: perk rows are locked

Perk-column options are fixed on drop.
Upgrading does not add missing perk choices.
Three perks per column require a natural Tier 5 drop or supported crafted weapon.

Tier upgrading: what it adds (Monument update)

Lower-tier weapons can unlock higher-tier benefits.
Crafted weapons and Reshape-capable Raid Adepts use Weapon Level Boost.
Crafted weapons reach Tier 5 at Weapon Level 30.

Rule: upgrade random drops for benefits; farm natural Tier 5 drops for extra perk rows.

Step 4 · Where 5-Dot Weapons Drop

Primary Tier 5 weapon sources.

Primary Tier 5 sources:

Lawless Frontier (Renegades)

Syndicate boost = +1 tier

Spider's Rank 5 upgrade raises drops one tier.

The Desert Perpetual (raid)

Feats guarantee T5

Five Raid Feats guarantee Tier 5.

Featured Dungeons

T5 weapons & armor

Farmable Tier 5 weapons and armor.

Grandmaster Conquests

GM = Tier 5

GM pays Tier 5. Master pays Tier 4.

Trials of Osiris

Flawless chest

Flawless chest drops top-tier PvP weapons.

Step 5 · Director Difficulty: Dial Up Your Drop Tier

Default tier mapping by difficulty.

Difficulty sets the default reward grade and guaranteed gear tier. Power does not scale activity score.

Difficulty → Grade → Tier

Normal → Grade C → Tier 1
Advanced → B → Tier 2
Expert → A → Tier 3
Master → A+ → Tier 4
Grandmaster → S → Tier 5
Ultimate → S+ → Tier 5

Pick the difficulty for the tier you want

Grandmaster and Ultimate guarantee Tier 5. Master reaches Tier 5 with a +1 tier boost.

Use Customize to push higher

Optional modifiers can raise reward grade and item count.

New-player move

Run the highest difficulty you can reliably complete.

Quickfire FAQ

Short answers.

Are the dots the same thing as the old Adept weapons?

Similar role, different system. Tier 5 improves roll variety and tier benefits rather than adding a flat damage bump.

Do I need Tier 5 weapons to clear content?

No. Tier 3 and Tier 4 rolls clear most content. Tier 5 is not an entry requirement.

Can I craft a Tier 5 weapon?

Yes. Crafted weapons reach Tier 5 at Weapon Level 30. Reshape-capable Raid Adepts can also reach Tier 5.

I got a Tier 2 of my favourite gun. Can I bump it to Tier 5?

You can upgrade tier benefits. Perk rows stay fixed. For three perks per column, farm a natural Tier 5 or use a supported crafted weapon.

What's the fastest way to start seeing higher tiers?

Use the Director difficulty selector. Master guarantees Tier 4. Grandmaster and Ultimate guarantee Tier 5.

Where's the armor side of all this?

Use the Gear & Armor tab for armor tiers, stats, archetypes, Aspect combinations, Power caps and focusing.

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