If you want to know how to get Exotics in Destiny 2, you should be ready to face multiple available options. In this guide, we will explain all the ways of getting Destiny 2 Exotics, how hard it generally is to get one, and which specific activities can grant you these most-wanted weapons and armor.
How to Get Exotics in Destiny 2 Key Takeaways:
- Destiny 2 Exotics come from many sources, including quests, world drops, Xur, Rahool, raids, dungeons, Nightfalls, and Lost Sectors.
- Many Exotic missions now sit in Pinnacle Ops, and several weapons from these missions can be crafted after repeated runs.
- Random Exotic Engrams can drop from activities or enemies, making world drops a passive way to fill your collection.
- The old Season Pass system now works as a Rewards Pass, with Exotic rewards like Turncoat, Exotic Engrams, and Exotic Ciphers.
- Vanguard, Crucible, and Gambit rank tracks can reward Exotic Engrams after enough activity grinding and rank resets.
- Raid Exotics usually drop from final bosses, while some weapons require quests or Triumph-based drop rate bonuses.
- Dungeon Exotics work like raid drops, but runs need only three players and often focus on final encounter rewards.
- Older Exotic weapons can be bought from the Monument using Exotic Ciphers, Glimmer, Ascendant Shards, and sometimes Spoils of Conquest.
- Xur now stays in the Tower Bazaar near the Ramen Shop and sells rotating Exotic weapons, armor, catalysts, and other weekly items.
- Expert and Master Lost Sectors are solo-focused farms for Exotic Engrams and extra loot, with Expert being easier for regular grinding.
- High-difficulty Nightfalls are one of the best repeatable Exotic farms because they also reward materials and Nightfall weapons.
- Master Rahool is the main vendor for Exotic armor decoding and focusing, especially when you need a specific armor piece.
- Armor Exotics are best chased through Rahool, Xur, Nightfalls, and Lost Sectors, while Exotic weapons usually come from missions, raids, dungeons, Xur, and Monument to Lost Lights.
4.9What are Exotics in Destiny 2?
Unlike Rare or Legendary, the Destiny 2 Exotic gear has special perks and traits that significantly affect your gameplay and enhance your Guardian’s capabilities in many ways. It makes Exotic the highest rarity type of equipment in Destiny 2. Because of its power, you are only allowed to equip one Exotic weapon and one Exotic piece of armor at a time.
There are many ways to obtain Exotic equipment, ranging from random world drop to specific quests. Also, our trained professionals know how to get these coveted items, say, Praxic Blade Exotic, so this is also a viable option.
Ways to Obtain Exotics in Destiny 2
There are multiple best ways to obtain Exotics in Destiny 2, which include: Exotic Quests, World Drops, Season Pass, Vendors, Monument to Lost Lights, Xur, Legend/Master Lost Sectors, Nightfalls, Raids, and Dungeons. However, the optimal way for you personally still depends on the Exotic that you need and the activities that you prefer.
Exotic Quests
While Destiny 2 continues using the Exotic quest system to obtain the game’s most unique weapons, it has evolved quite a bit. A majority of the old-fashioned Exotic missions have been placed under Pinnacle Ops, with most people referring to them as the Exotic Mission Rotator. It is worth completing the missions since a few of the Exotics available through them can now be crafted.
What makes these missions exciting is that they feel more like small dungeons than ordinary missions. Presage offers a unique space-horror feel, Vox Obscura offers fast-paced Cabal action, and Zero Hour is unforgiving when it comes to movement skills.
| Exotic Mission | Main Exotic Reward | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Presage | Dead Man’s Tale | Craftable Scout Rifle; run the mission for pattern and upgrades |
| Vox Obscura | Dead Messenger | Craftable Grenade Launcher; higher difficulty helps with catalyst progress |
| Operation: Seraph’s Shield | Revision Zero | Craftable Pulse Rifle with intrinsic upgrades |
| //NODE.OVRD.AVALON// | Vexcalibur | Craftable Glaive tied to mission completions and upgrades |
| Starcrossed | Wish-Keeper | Craftable Exotic Bow with extra traits from follow-up runs |
| Encore | Choir of One | Craftable Auto Rifle; run harder versions for extra upgrades |
| Kell’s Fall | Slayer’s Fang | Exotic Shotgun from Episode: Heresy mission content |
| Derealize | Barrow-Dyad | Exotic SMG tied to the Heresy Exotic questline |
| The Whisper | Whisper of the Worm | Exotic Sniper Rifle now awarded through its mission completion |
| Zero Hour | Outbreak Perfected | Exotic Pulse Rifle now awarded through its mission completion |
World Drop
Occasionally, by finishing any activity, you can get a random Destiny 2 Exotic that you do not have in your collection (or a copy of the one you own, if you got them all). Also, any enemy killed can drop a shiny golden Engram, which is called an Exotic Engram that contains a random Exotic inside (the collection availability rule is the same). So, if you’re not hunting Exotics on purpose, it is enough just to play what you enjoy.
Season Pass
The Season Pass in Destiny 2 is now called a Rewards Pass, but it still serves the same basic purpose. This time, the track available is the Triumph Rewards Pass that is linked with Destiny 2 Monument of Triumph. There are no fixed periods, and thus you have all the freedom to take it slow while proceeding on the track.
Consider the Rewards Pass as an Exotic resource that will assist you only when taken casually. By playing the game regularly, you will earn your ranks and claim rewards from the pass page. To speed up acquiring Exotics, use it in conjunction with Xur, Rahool, Nightfalls, raids, dungeons, and exotic missions.
| Source | Requirement | Exotic Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Triumphant Rewards Pass | Rank 1 / Premium Track | Turncoat Exotic Hand Cannon |
| Triumphant Rewards Pass | Rank 90 | Turncoat Exotic Catalyst |
| Triumphant Rewards Pass | Rank 100 | Turncoat Exotic Ornament |
| Monument to Seasons Past Exchange | 300 Chronologs, 1 per week | Exotic Engram |
| Monument to Seasons Past Exchange | 500 Chronologs, 1 per week | Exotic Cipher |
Vendors
Vendor rank rewards are another steady way to get Exotics in Destiny 2. These tracks are tied to Commander Zavala, Lord Shaxx, and the Drifter. When you reset your Destiny 2 rank for the first time, you will unlock another set of rewards for rank progression, and this time, it contains an Exotic Engram.
The sad part is you have to reset your rank once more to get the precious Exotic. To make it easier, we can get you Gambit Points and a rank reset and save you tons of time for other activities.
Raid Exotics
The Destiny 2 Raid Exotics are probably some of the most well-known weapons in the game. The majority of them are bound to the boss encounter, which means you have to clear the raid with six players before you get a drop. You can also find Triumphs on certain raids that boost the Exotic drop rate.
| Raid | Exotic Reward | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Last Wish | One Thousand Voices | Final chest after Riven and Queenswalk |
| Garden of Salvation | Divinity | Exotic quest with raid puzzles |
| Deep Stone Crypt | Eyes of Tomorrow | Final boss drop |
| Vault of Glass | Vex Mythoclast | Atheon final boss drop |
| Vow of the Disciple | Collective Obligation | Rhulk final boss drop |
| King’s Fall | Touch of Malice | Oryx final boss drop |
| Root of Nightmares | Conditional Finality | Nezarec final boss drop |
| Crota’s End | Necrochasm | Raid questline tied to Crota’s End |
| Salvation’s Edge | Euphony | The Witness final boss drop |
| The Desert Perpetual | Whirling Ovation | Koregos final boss drop |
Dungeon Exotics
The Destiny 2 Dungeon Exotics have an almost similar mechanism of acquisition to the raid Exotics. The only difference is that there will be fewer participants in your run. It will just involve three people, and certain old weapons are obtained through quests, which are part of the dungeons. For the newest Exotics found in a dungeon, you should know that they drop during the last encounter.
| Dungeon | Exotic Reward | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Shattered Throne | Wish-Ender | Exotic quest tied to dungeon steps |
| Pit of Heresy | Xenophage | Exotic quest that sends you into the dungeon |
| Grasp of Avarice | Gjallarhorn | “And Out Fly the Wolves” questline |
| Duality | Heartshadow | Final boss drop |
| Spire of the Watcher | Hierarchy of Needs | Final boss drop |
| Ghosts of the Deep | The Navigator | Final boss drop |
| Warlord’s Ruin | Buried Bloodline | Final boss drop |
| Vesper’s Host | Ice Breaker | Final boss drop |
| Sundered Doctrine | Finality’s Auger | Dungeon completion / final encounter drop |
| Equilibrium | Heirloom | Final encounter drop from Dredgen Sere |
Monument to Lost Lights
To obtain old but gold Exotics like Izanagi’s Burden, Whisper of the Worm, or The Anarchy, go to the Monument to Lost Lights archive in the Tower. There, you can buy the required Exitocs for Exotic Cyphers, Ascendant Shards, Glimmer, and occasionally Spoils of Conquest.
✏️ Some of the most valuable Exotic weapons require Spoils of Conquest, which can be earned for completing the raid encounters. Be sure to visit the Monument, you will surely find something interesting.
Xur
You can get some Exotics from Xur in Destiny 2. Finding Xur is very easy now, as he is not shifting among EDZ, Nessus, and the Tower Hangar anymore; instead, he is located within the Tower Bazaar near the Ramen Shop.
Xur shows up from the daily reset of Friday to the weekly reset of Tuesday. Note that his offerings will be renewed each week, and you need to visit him often if you are still in need of some old Exotic items. Strange Coins are what Xur accepts for payment, and these are earned from ritual activities.
| Xur Item Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Exotic Weapon | 23 Strange Coins |
| Hawkmoon Roll | 23 Strange Coins |
| Exotic Armor | 41 Strange Coins |
| Exotic Catalyst | 71 Strange Coins |
| Strange Engram | 7 Strange Coins |
| Legendary Weapon | 17 Strange Coins |
| Special Strange Offer | Up to 97 Strange Coins |
Legend/Master Lost Sectors
The Expert and Master Lost Sectors in Destiny 2 are considered the best sources of farming Exotic Engrams and additional loot. This method is solo-only, since the chances of getting an Exotic when completing it in a group are basically zero. Prepare a set of gear which will allow surviving even the toughest waves in the room.
📌 Master difficulty can be considered if your build is strong enough. Otherwise, go with an Expert version since it is more efficient in terms of grinding.
Nightfalls
The most time-efficient way to get Exotics is farming high-difficulty Destiny 2 Nightfall activities. Besides a chance to get desired golden items, you also have a chance to get useful materials and Nightfall weapons. The rules are simple: the higher the difficulty, the better the reward, and the higher the chance to obtain an Exotic (if you’re lucky, you can even get 2 Exotics per run).
📌 Higher difficulties may be a problem for unprepared Guardians, just like with the Lost Sectors, but for the Nightfalls, at least, you can bring a fireteam and stand against the challenges side by side with friends.
Master Rahool
One of the primary vendors of Exotic armor in Destiny 2 is Master Rahool, located in the Courtyard of the Tower. If you wish to randomly drop armor or focus it, take the Exotic Engrams to him. This will come in handy when you need a particular Exotic armor for your builds.
| Rahool Option | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Exotic Engram Decryption | Turns an Exotic Engram into a random Exotic item. |
| Focused Decoding | Targets a specific unlocked Exotic armor piece. |
| Novel Focusing | Unlocks older expansion Exotic armor with an Exotic Engram and Exotic Cipher. |
| Exotic Armor Management | Helps turn Engrams and Ciphers into build pieces. |
✏️ The reputation track of Rahool no longer exists, so there is no need to reset it.
Destiny 2 Exotics FAQ
Numerous sources for Destiny 2 Exotics vary depending on the particular item type. Weapon items will require more specific sources than pieces of Exotic armor. You should consider this Destiny 2 Exotics FAQ when trying to find your Exotic loot faster.
What Is the Best Way to Get Exotics in Destiny 2?
The best way to get Destiny 2 Exotics varies by the item itself, which means you’ll have to use Master Rahool, Exotic Engrams, Xur, Nightfall strikes, and expert or master lost sectors for armor Exotics, and Exotic missions, raids, dungeons, Monument to Lost Lights, Xur, and Rewards Passes for weapon Exotics.
When looking for random Exotics, you can just farm Nightfalls and redeem pass rewards. However, if you need a specific Exotic, find out where it drops first. The process is a lot less difficult than you might think in Destiny 2.
How to Get Exotic Armor in Destiny 2?
You can acquire exotic armor in Destiny 2 through Exotic Engrams, Exotic focusing by Master Rahool, Xur, Nightfall missions, and individual runs of Expert/Master Lost Sectors. If you are looking for a particular armor item, Master Rahool is your best choice. Xur is a better choice when he offers a great weekly drop, or if you still lack older armors.
Always save Exotic Ciphers if you have a specific armor in mind. Randomized Engrams are fine at the start of the game, but become ineffective as you progress.
How to Get Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2?
There are certain optimized ways to obtain Destiny 2 Exotic weapons. You need to run Exotic missions in case you want to get Exotics, such as Dead Man’s Tale, Dead Messenger, Revision Zero, and Outbreak Perfected. Also, you need to run raids or dungeons to obtain weapons such as Conditional Finality, Euphony, Ice Breaker, or Buried Bloodline.
Older weapons can also be found at the Monument to Lost Lights. There is always an Exotic weapon available from Xur alongside Hawkmoon roll.
4.9Summing up, to get Exotics in Destiny 2, you need to mix a variety of available methods and have some hope for RNG in particular situations. If you want to get Exotic armor, then Exotic Engrams, Exotic focusing by Master Rahool, Xur, Nightfall missions are your go-to options, as well as Expert/Master Lost Sectors. For Exotic weapons, focus on missions, raids, and dungeons.
