Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (2023)

Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2 are unique and powerful tools that Guardians can use in their fight against the Darkness. However, there are a few Exotic Weapons that stand out as the most powerful, and these are the ones every Guardian should have on standby. Here are the Best Exotic WEapons in Destiny 2 and how you can get them.

The Best Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2

Trinity Ghoul

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (1)

What is it?

Trinity Ghoul is an Arc Energy Combat Bow added with the Forsaken Expansion. Its Intrinsic perk is known as Split Electron, which causes the bow to fire an arrow that splits when released. It also causes the spread to decrease when aiming down sights or fully drawing the bow. The weapon's Exotic perk is known as Lighting Rod and causes precision kills to grant the next shot chain-lightning capabilities.

How do you obtain it?

The only way currently to get Trinity Ghoul in Destiny 2 is with Exotic Engrams. The Fated Exotic Engram from Xur as well as the random World Drop Exotic Engrams have a chance to hold this weapon. There is also a chance Xur will have it in his weekend inventory.

Sunshot

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (2)

What is it?

Sunshot is a Solar Energy Hand Cannon introduced with the Red War in Destiny 2's first year. Its Intrinsic perk is called Sunburn. This causes the weapon to fire explosive rounds and highlight targets that take damage from it. Sunshot's other perk is called Sun Blast, which causes targets killed with it to explode with Solar Energy that can damage nearby enemies.

How do you obtain it?

The only way currently to get Sunshot in Destiny 2 is withExotic Engrams. The Fated Exotic Engram from Xur and the random World Drop Exotic Engrams have a chance to hold this weapon. There is also a chance Xur will have it in his weekend inventory.

Related: Worst Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2

Osteo Striga

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (3)

What is it?

Osteo Striga is a Kinetic Submachine Gun introduced with The Witch Queen Expansion. Its Intrinsic perk is called Screaming Swarm, which fires a stream of sentient, toxic projectiles that track the targeted enemy. It has a perk known as Toxic Overload that causes a final blow or multiple Precision hits to trigger a burst that poisons nearby targets.

How do you obtain it?

This weapon is currently only obtainable to those who purchased the Deluxe edition of The Witch Queen expansion. However, we suspect that it will become available to all players in the future. Those who are able to obtain this weapon can do so by crafting it at The Enclave on Mars after completing The Witch Queen campaign.

Dead Man's Tale

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (4)

What is it?

Dead Man's Tale is a Kinetic Scout Rifle introduced with Season of the Chosen. Chaining precision hits grants bonus damage and quickens reload speed for this weapon due to its Intrinsic perk, Cranial Spike. This weapon has the ability to have random rolls and to get the most out of it, you will want to make sure you have a strong perk set.

How do you obtain it?

Currently, the only way to obtain Dead Man's Tale is by purchasing it from Xur on the weekend. He will carry random rolls for this weapon each weekend, so be sure to check out our guide on Xur's Weekend Inventory to see which roll he has on any given weekend.

Ace of Spades

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (5)

What is it?

Ace of Spades is aKinetic Hand Cannonintroduced in the Forsaken Expansion. Its Intrinsic perk is known asMemento Mori, which grants radar while aiming down sights, as well as loads the magazine with a few extra-damage bullets when reloading after a kill. Another perk on Ace of Spades is calledFirefly. This causes precision kills to increase reload speed and cause the target to explode, dealing Solar damage to nearby enemies.

How do you obtain it?

The only way to obtain Ace of Spades currently is by purchasing it from the Monument of Lost Lights under the Forsaken Exotics Tab. It costs an Exotic Cipher, 125K Glimmer, 200 Microphasic Datalatice, and an Ascendant Shard or one singular Forsaken Cipher.

Gjallarhorn

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (6)

What is it?

The Gjallarhorn is a Solar Power Rocket Launcher introduced into Destiny 2 as part of the Bungie 30th Anniversary event. It comes equipped with the Intrinsic perk, Wolfpack Rounds. This causes rounds that are fired to split into tracking cluster missiles upon detonation. It also sports the Pack Hunter perk, which gives increased handling and reload speed when standing near allies as well as granting Wolfpack Rounds to nearby allies wielding non-Exotic Rocket Launchers.

How do you obtain it?

This weapon is currently only obtainable to those who purchased the 30th Anniversary Pack in Destiny 2. For players who did purchase the pack, in order to unlock the weapon, you must complete the Grasp of Avarice Dungeon, as well as the And Out Fly the Wolves questline.

Arbalest

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (7)

What is it?

The Arbalest is a Kinetic Linear Fusion Rifle. It has an Intrinsic perk known as Compounding Force. This perk enables the weapon to fire slugs that cause massive damage to combatant shields and are strong against Barrier Champions. Its other perk is known as Disruption Break, which causes an enemy to be more vulnerable to Kinetic damage after their shield is broken with Arbalest. The Catalyst for this weapon is what really makes it stand out, so you will want to be on the hunt for it.

How do you obtain it?

Arbalest is currently only found as a random reward within Exotic engrams . It is also sometimes offered by Xur during his weekend black market sales.

Related: How to get Sweet Business in Destiny 2 – Queen Beckons Exotic Quest

Izanagi's Burden

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (8)

What is it?

Izanagi's Burden is a Kinetic Sniper Rifle introduced in Destiny 2's Season of the Forge. THis weapon is capable of consuming its entire magazine and loading a single round with additional range and damage due to its Intrinsic perk, Honed Edge. It also receives reduced flinch when aiming the weapon for short periods because of its No Distractions perk.

How do you obtain it?

The only place players can find Izanagi's Burden in Destiny 2 today is at the Monument of Lost Lights under the Forsaken Exotics Tab. It is purchasable for an Exotic Cipher, 125K Glimmer, 250 Spinmetal Leaves, and two Ascendant Shards or one singular Forsaken Cipher.

Witherhoard

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (9)

What is it?

Witherhoard is a Kinetic Grenade Launcher that was introduced with Season of Arrivals. Its Intrinsic perk known as Primeval's Torment causes the weapon's projectiles to blight the target or nearby area on impact. It also has a perk called Break the Bank, which causes blighted targets to take damage over time and also blight the nearby area on death.

How do you obtain it?

The only way to obtain Witherhoard now is by purchasing it from the Monument of Lost Lights under the Shadowkeep Exotics Tab. It costs an Exotic Cipher, 100K Glimmer, 150 Glacial Starwort, and an Ascendant Shard.

The Huckleberry

Destiny 2: Best Exotic Weapons & How to Get Them (10)

What is it?

The Huckleberry is a Kinetic Submachine Gun that was introduced into the game alongside the Warmind Expansion. This weapon stands out because of its Intrinsic perk, Ride the Bull. This gives the weapon an increased rate of fire and recoil while you're holding down the trigger, as well as reloading a portion of the magazine with every kill. This is paired with the Rampage perk that temporarily grants increased damage with each kill.

How do you obtain it?

This weapon is currently only earnable as a random reward from Exotic engrams. However, Xur has a small chance to sell this weapon as part of his rotating weekend inventory.

So there you have it, those are the best Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2. With more and more new and old Exotic Weapons coming to the game each season, there are plenty of opportunities for new weapons to dethrone these and take the top spots.

For more on Destiny 2, check out Who is Eva Levante in Destiny 2? (Lore) right here on Pro Game Guides.

FAQs

How do you get the best Exotic weapons in Destiny 2? ›

These exotic weapons can be collected through questlines, by purchasing them from Xur, completing certain missions, or even just from random drops.
...
Best use: PvE
  1. 1 Exotic Cipher.
  2. 100,000 Glimmer.
  3. 200 Legendary Shards.
  4. 1 Ascendant Shard.
Apr 10, 2023

How do you get all the Exotic weapons in Destiny 2? ›

Exotics can be sourced in a number of ways, including:
  1. Decrypting Exotic Engrams.
  2. Random rewards from Public Events, chests, Crucible matches and other activities.
  3. Special vendors, such as Xur.
  4. Completing specific quests and missions.
  5. Season pass-exclusive Exotic unlocks.
  6. Rare drops from solo Lost Sectors.
Dec 14, 2022

What Exotic weapons should I get Destiny 2? ›

Coming in at number one is Witherhoard! This kinetic, special ammo, Grenade Launcher is an absolute unit in all modes and is useful in any encounter, and works with whatever build your character is using. Its exotic perk, Primeval's Torment, makes its fired projectiles blight enemies or the nearby area on impact.

What is the easiest way to farm exotics in Destiny 2? ›

Currently, the best way to farm Exotics in Destiny 2 is to just do the Nightfall: The Ordeal. Every difficulty level can award an Exotic, but the higher the difficulty, the higher your odds are.

What is the rarest exotic in Destiny 2? ›

Whistler's Whim (12.81%) — Rarest Destiny 2 Weapons

The current rarest weapon in Destiny 2 is Whistler's Whim, a Trials bow added in Season of Plunder.

Where is the best place to farm exotics in Destiny 2? ›

Nightfalls are also a fantastic way to farm Exotic armor and Masterwork materials, especially if there is a double loot week active. If you do not own the Beyond Light expansion, this will be your best means of farming Exotic gear. The higher the Nightfall difficulty, the more likely an Exotic will drop.

Does Xur sell all exotics? ›

Yes, he does! His arsenal now includes Exotic and Legendary armor and weapons with random rolls. The main currencies you need to buy from Xur are Legendary Shards and Glimmer, but some of his exotic wares require spending Ascendant Shards and Exotic Cyphers as well.

Which Witch Queen exotic is best? ›

Destiny 2: All Witch Queen Exotic Items, Ranked
  1. 1 The Edge Exotic Glaives.
  2. 2 The Dead Messenger. ...
  3. 3 Trespasser. ...
  4. 4 Renewal Grasps (Hunter Armor) ...
  5. 5 The Osteo Striga. ...
  6. 6 Osmiomancy Gauntlets (Warlock Gloves) ...
  7. 7 Secant Filaments (Warlock Armor) ...
  8. 8 The Blight Ranger (Hunter Armor) ...
Dec 9, 2022

Is Xenophage worth it? ›

It has a comparatively low rate of fire, but its explosive rounds are highly damaging. Xenophage may not be DPS meta anymore, but it's still useful in a wide range of situations. And if you're a Titan with an Actium War Rig, well, it's just a ton of fun.

What is the strongest exotic in Destiny? ›

Arbalest. The Kinetic Linear Fusion Rifle remains one of the most powerful and popular weapons in the game due to its insane capability of easily handling Barrier Champions and shields. Its catalyst is also incredibly useful since it automatically reloads whenever you break an enemy shield.

How do you farm high stat exotics in Destiny 2? ›

Fortunately, there is a way to obtain high-stat Exotic armor: Master Lost Sectors. Nightfalls are an option too, but this method allows you to better target farm the Exotics you need. Simply put, you'll want to farm whichever Lost Sector currently has difficulty variants.

What is the rarest title in Destiny 2? ›

Kingslayer narrowly beats out Disciple-Slayer as the rarest Raid-related title in Destiny 2. It's also, unless you count the exceptions we mentioned at the top of this piece, the rarest available title in the game.

What exotic was disabled Destiny 2? ›

Bungie has since disabled the exotic for use as they work on a fix. Announcing via Twitter that it has been disabled for all raids, dungeons, and Gambit where the weapon is affected.

What is the best gunslinger exotic Destiny 2? ›

Caliban's Hand is the best Exotic for Gunslingers.

Throwing a knife and a grenade will cause any target to Ignite, dealing massive damage over a wide area.

What is the fastest weapon farm Destiny 2? ›

For most players, the fastest weapon XP farm is the Shuro Chi encounter in the Last Wish raid. Despite being tied to a raid, solo players can access this encounter through the raid's "wishing wall" room. Enter the encounter, place a Rally Flag if you're leveling a Special or Heavy, and farm as many kills as possible.

What exotics can Lost Sectors drop? ›

Destiny 2 Lost Sectors Exotic: Armor rewards
ArmorClassSource
Cuirass of the Falling StarTitanLost Sectors
OmnioculusHunterLost Sectors
Mantle of Battle HarmonyWarlockLost Sectors
Precious ScarsTitanLost Sectors
29 more rows
Mar 11, 2023

Can you farm dungeon exotics? ›

No you can't farm the exotic, only 1 chance per character per week.

Does Xur have any god rolls? ›

To snag Xur's god roll, visit him in The Tower (see the image above for his location) and purchase the Hawkmoon with 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Legendary Shards, an Ascendant Shard, and an Exotic Cipher (you can these by completing Xur's easy "Xenology" weekly quest).

What is hawkmoon god roll? ›

Hawkmoon PvP god roll

Barrel: Hammer-Forged Rifling, Polygonal Rifling, or Smallbore: These will help with Range and/or Stability. Mag: Alloy Mag: This is the only choice available for this weapon. Trait: Rangefinder, Opening Shot, or Eye of the Storm: Rangefinder is an excellent perk for hand cannons all-around.

What happens if you dismantle an exotic? ›

The first time you dismantle an Exotic is a little heartbreaking, but they become a victim of the constant loot-chase that is Destiny 2 just like everything else. But every Exotic you pick up and decrypt can be reacquired at any time for a pretty cheap price.

Is Sunshot good in Lightfall? ›

Sunshot — Best Destiny 2 Solar Weapons

It's one of the oldest Exotics in Destiny 2, having shipped with the base game, but it's been updated to work with Solar 3.0 in Lightfall. It makes all of your enemies explode, it feels fantastic to shoot, and it even has a nice range of ornaments.

What is the best free sword in Destiny 2? ›

Doom of Chelchis — Destiny 2 Best Free Weapons

It has numerous quality perks available to it, a fantastic Origin Trait, and can be farmed through the King's Fall Raid, which all players have access to. Definitely pick this one up if you have a Raid group or are willing to brave LFG.

Should I beat Witch Queen on legendary? ›

Without question, I highly recommend that you attempt to take on the legendary difficulty of Destiny 2's Witch Queen campaign, something Bungie crafted specifically for this expansion to combat the idea that you can normally steamroll through all the game's story missions.

What is the fastest power level Witch Queen? ›

By playing the Legendary campaign, you can skip the soft cap grind entirely and cut 20 levels into the powerful grind. This by far is the most efficient way to level in The Witch Queen.

Is Gjallarhorn worth it Destiny 2? ›

When compared to other Catalysts in the game, this one is perhaps the most unique. Such a significant DPS boost along with great AoE potential makes Gjallarhorn a really great choice for almost any PVE encounter in the game. So, getting the Gjallarhorn Catalyst is well worth the effort.

Should I save my exotic Cypher? ›

Season Pass. Reaching rank 55 in the free track of the Season Pass will grant one Exotic Cipher. Players do not need to purchase the current season to obtain this Exotic Cipher; reaching level 55 is the only requirement. Since this is the only Exotic Cipher in the Season Pass, it is best to save this until you need it.

Who is inside Xenophage? ›

When Xenophage is being reloaded, the player can see a bright yellowish-orange crystal holding the Hive bug that contains Omar Agah's soul.

Is Witherhoard worth it? ›

Witherhoard is S-tier in every activity, every build, and every playstyle imaginable. This Kinetic Grenade Launcher fires low-velocity globs of Taken energy at your foes, expanding into a Taken Blight on impact. Direct impacts will stick the blight onto the target and deal constant damage over time.

What is the most overpowered Destiny class? ›

1. Warlock Dawnblade (Solar 3.0) A subclass primarily used for support, Dawnblade fills its lack of ad clear and boss damage with some of the most powerful buffs in the game. Radiant provides a whopping 25% increase to damage, and Restoration provides continuous health regeneration even through damage.

Who is the strongest god in Destiny 2? ›

Xivu Arath is the youngest of the three siblings, but in terms of sheer physical strength, she is the strongest.

What is the most fun weapon in Destiny 2? ›

The Best (And Most Ridiculously Fun) Destiny 2 Exotics
  • Jotunn. ...
  • Tractor Cannon. ...
  • One Thousand Voices. ...
  • Deathbringer. ...
  • Prometheus Lens. ...
  • Dunemarchers. ...
  • Gjallarhorn. ...
  • Liar's Handshake. Hunters don't generally get the opportunity to punch their way through enemies the way Titans and even Warlocks do, but Liar's Handshake changes that.
Jul 21, 2022

What is the most superior weapon? ›

Of course, nuclear weapons surpass all other weapons made to date, because they have enormous destructive power and can cut down an entire city and a large part of the population, and radiation after a nuclear attack would be present for decades.

Do hunters drop exotics? ›

Although they have no armor, their health pool is extremely high. On death, these Legendary Hunters are guaranteed to drop one Exotic item. They can spawn on the following missions on Legendary Difficulty: Amherst's Apartment.

Do exotics get vaulted? ›

You'll be able to get vaulted Legendary and Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 by heading to the Monument to Lost Lights at the Tower. This structure can be found situated at the wall on the right side of the landing area sitting between two Vault Terminals.

Can I infuse exotics? ›

If this item is a Legendary or Exotic, you can infuse other items of better quality into it to increase it's attack/defense - as well as boost your light level.

How do you farm exotic Glaive? ›

Destiny 2 - How to get The Edge exotic glaive? To get the The Edge exotic glaive, you'll need to complete the exotic quest Report: Reverse Lure. This quest will be locked away until you've completed all the evidence board reports you can find in The Enclave.

How do you unlock lightfall exotics? ›

The Destiny 2 Lightfall Standard Edition only includes the base expansion and some additional cosmetic items, and as such, the new Exotic weapon can be obtained exclusively by purchasing the Lightfall + Annual Pass edition or the Collector's Edition.

How do you get the best exotic weapons in Destiny 2? ›

These exotic weapons can be collected through questlines, by purchasing them from Xur, completing certain missions, or even just from random drops.
...
Best use: PvE
  1. 1 Exotic Cipher.
  2. 100,000 Glimmer.
  3. 200 Legendary Shards.
  4. 1 Ascendant Shard.
Apr 10, 2023

What is the best way to get exotic weapons in Destiny 2? ›

The easiest way to get Exotics in Destiny 2 that doesn't require any grinding is to keep visiting Xur once his stock refreshes each week. However, if you don't mind running through the same Nightfall Strike or Lost Sector multiple times, then these options will always be available.

Where is the best place to get weapons in Destiny 2? ›

Raids & Dungeons

Home to some of the most sought-after weapons in the game, raids and dungeons are some of the most straightforward methods to acquire top-tier weapons in Destiny 2. Each encounter of each dungeon and raid has a chance to drop specific loot.

Who sells Exotic weapons in Destiny 2? ›

Xur is Destiny 2's Exotic gear merchant, and he appears every weekend to sell coveted items in exchange for Legendary shards. But, if you're a casual player with limited shards to spend, it can be hard to know which items you should purchase from his inventory.

What exotic weapons can you get without DLC in Destiny 2? ›

For those players, it's good to know which exotic weapons are both obtainable and worthwhile in the free-to-play portions of Destiny 2.
  • 5 Tractor Cannon.
  • 6 The Huckleberry. ...
  • 7 Arbalest. ...
  • 8 Riskrunner. ...
  • 9 Monte Carlo. ...
  • 10 Hard Light. ...
  • 11 Sturm. ...
  • 12 Legend Of Acrius. ...
Oct 28, 2021

How do you farm good weapons in Destiny 2? ›

For most players, the fastest weapon XP farm is the Shuro Chi encounter in the Last Wish raid. Despite being tied to a raid, solo players can access this encounter through the raid's "wishing wall" room. Enter the encounter, place a Rally Flag if you're leveling a Special or Heavy, and farm as many kills as possible.

What is the strongest gun in Destiny 2? ›

Osteo Striga – Exotic submachine gun

Simply put, Osteo Striga is perhaps the best weapon in Destiny 2 overall and has been a fan favourite since its release in The Witch Queen. This is mainly thanks to its incredible AoE add-clearing potential through its poison effect.

How do you get old Exotic weapons? ›

The Monument to Lost Lights is a Terminal found in the Tower in the Vault access area. Interacting with it brings up a screen that presents players with a list of older Destiny 2 expansions. Selecting one of these will display a list of old Exotic weapons (and Pinnacle weapons) associated with that expansion.

How much does Xur cost? ›

Each item (whether armor or weapon) costs only 1,000 Glimmer and 50 Legendary Shards.

Who is the secret exotic vendor in Destiny 2? ›

Destiny 2 Yuna: Who Is She? First and foremost, Yuna is a vendor that operates out of the Tower. She sells exotic items, and her inventory rotates through a variety of weapons and armour. She has a stall in the Bazaar section of the Tower, located between Ikora and Hawthorne.

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