For most of my time playing Destiny PvP, I haven't quite had my secondary weapon figured out. I am a pretty aggressive PvPer, but I also know how to bait when I am losing and turn engagements around (thanks tripmines - also, Halo).

None of the secondaries really worked well for me. Sniping doesn't fit my up close and personal style, and at times I have really liked fusions, but they feel very inconsistent to me. That left me to run Shotties all the time. Shotguns are OK, but in most matches 1-2 people on the other team are running spec'd to dominate the shotgun game (blink/quickdraw, Juggernaut/Invective, etc) or they have a better roll than me. Sometimes I'd dominate and sometimes I'd get dominated, it seemed that shotgunning was a 1.0 k/d endeavor that was also very frustrating at times.

When Sidearms showed up with HoW - or rather, when Vestian Dynasty showed up. I gave it a shot. It was a blast for about 10 minutes in PvE, and when I tried it in PvP, it felt like it never hit! I gave it 3-4 good runs and just never liked the feel, then I gave it up and considered it a waste - back to the shotgun game.

Very recently (about 2 weeks ago) I read someone's post on reddit about how great Sidearms are and how no one uses them. I thought, maybe I should give them a try again. I am pretty sure I dismantled a Havok Pigeon in week 1 or 2 (whoops!) and every blue sidearm also got dismantled. I eventually rolled a blue sidearm and took it to PvP. From HoW to TTK, I had switched from The Last Word to Pulse/Scout, my engagements had stretched out. I went in with a Pulse or Scout/Sidearm/HMG load out.

Immediately the Sidearm felt WAY better from HoW. It was quick, pretty hard hitting, and effective at short-mid range. I thought... This might just be what I have been looking for. After that game - I never looked back. I kept running that rare Sidearm, eventually picking up the Ironwreath-D and now, 2 weeks later I found the perfect secondary weapon for me.

These things are incredible - I only lose to shotguns when I deserve it (or I back into a wall), but I very commonly get kills I would have never gotten before. I run a Gunslinger with Ahamkara's Spine, and either rush in and have a favorable match, or have time to back out, bait, Tripmine and/or Sidearm them. Also, Throwing Knife plus Sidearm is wicked. There have been a good dozen or so times where I have no shield and kill an opponent who has full shields with my sidearm. I think people don't know what is happening and they panic as their health is getting shredded. I had one time on Momento on the B control point where I got something like 13 kills in one match with Ironwreath - the small room, tripmines and hallway from C set me up really well.

The point - If you are tired of shotguns, can't snipe and feel like fusions are unreliable. Try out Sidearms again. I almost don't want to post this because I like that I am usually the only one in a match with a Sidearm, I feel like the Master of Sidearms in the Crucible! Haha... I have never felt so well rounded. Mid/long range with my Primary, short/mid with my Sidearm - It's perfect! Also, my Ironwreath has quickdraw (most do). I have lived so many times (and gotten the kill) in situations I used to lose in.

I think The Last Word overshadowed them in the last meta because it fills the exact same roll (quick damage up close and mid range - except in the last meta it covered EVERY range). In the new meta - Sidearms have a very distinct role and they complement pulses and scouts great.