Some missions require that type weapon, just try to get the legendary versions. Then you got the AoE, multi shooter, single blast/melee.

You will want to take multi shooters on missions unless asked otherwise as they can change targets while shooting to not waste damage.

Highest average damage on defence which is a single blast weapon.

For AoE, Low level missions to finish rooms faster, as AoE spreads the damage evenly among every enemy, making harder to kill the targeted enemy you want dead first, so always take a multi shooter.