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How to Get Exotics in Destiny 2: The Ultimate Guide for Guardians

Jack

Written by Jack Lin

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How To Get The Exotics In Destiny 2

Exotics in Destiny 2 are the pinnacle of power and rarity, offering unique perks and abilities that can drastically alter your gameplay. Whether you’re a seasoned Guardian or a New Light just starting your journey, acquiring these coveted items is a key part of the Destiny 2 experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to obtain exotics and help you build your collection.

Understanding Exotics in Destiny 2

Exotics come in two main categories: weapons and armor. Each exotic item has unique perks and abilities that set it apart from legendary gear. While incredibly powerful, you can only equip one exotic weapon and one piece of exotic armor at a time, forcing strategic decisions in your loadout.

Why Exotics Matter

  • Unique perks can drastically change your playstyle
  • Often provide a significant power boost in both PvE and PvP
  • Collecting exotics is a major goal for many players
  • Some exotics are tied to specific activities or story moments

For Warlocks, exotic armor pieces can significantly enhance their abilities. Check out our guide on the best Warlock armor in Destiny 2 to optimize your build.

Random Drops and Activity Completions

The most basic way to acquire exotics is through random drops from various activities. While not the most reliable method, it’s important to understand as it underpins many other acquisition strategies.

  • Strike Playlists: Complete strikes for a chance at exotic drops
  • Crucible: PvP matches can reward exotics, especially at higher Glory ranks
  • Gambit: Both regular and Prime versions have a chance to drop exotics
  • Public Events: Heroic public events have a slightly higher chance of exotic drops

Keep in mind that the drop rates for exotics from these activities are quite low, often less than 1%. However, the more you play, the more chances you have to get lucky.

Raids and High-Level Activities

For players looking for a challenge and a higher chance at exotics, endgame activities are the way to go.

Raids

Each raid in Destiny 2 typically has at least one exotic weapon associated with it. These weapons often require completing specific challenges or finding hidden chests within the raid. Some examples include:

  • One Thousand Voices from the Last Wish raid
  • Divinity from the Garden of Salvation raid
  • Eyes of Tomorrow from the Deep Stone Crypt raid

Nightfall Strikes

Nightfall strikes, especially at Master and Grandmaster difficulties, offer significantly higher chances for exotic drops.

  • Master Nightfalls: Challenging but accessible to most endgame players
  • Grandmaster Nightfalls: The highest difficulty, offering the best drop rates

Pro Tip: Look out for weeks with double Nightfall rewards to maximize your exotic farming efficiency.

Lost Sectors and Targeted Farming

Lost Sectors offer a unique way to farm for specific exotic armor pieces. When completed on Legend or Master difficulty, these solo activities have a chance to drop exotic armor for a specific slot (helmet, arms, chest, or legs) that rotates daily.

  • Legend Lost Sectors: Easier but with a lower drop rate (around 25%)
  • Master Lost Sectors: More challenging with a higher drop rate (around 33%)

This method allows you to target farm for specific exotic armor pieces, making it invaluable for completing your collection or obtaining newly released exotics.

Xur and Weekly Vendors

Xur And Weekly Vendors

Xur, the Agent of the Nine, appears every weekend in a random location. He offers:

  • One exotic weapon
  • One piece of exotic armor for each class
  • An exotic engram that guarantees a non-duplicate exotic

To find Xur, check community resources or look for him in the Tower, EDZ, Nessus, or other current destinations.

Other vendors like Zavala (Vanguard) and Shaxx (Crucible) also offer exotic engrams as rank-up rewards, so don’t forget to claim these when available.

Quests and Exotic Missions

Quests And Exotic Missions

Many exotics are tied to specific quests or missions. These can range from multi-step adventures to challenging activities like Exotic Dungeons.

  • Campaign Rewards: Some story campaigns reward exotics upon completion
  • Exotic Weapon Quests: Long-form quests that often tell a story while you work towards the exotic
  • Seasonal Exotic Quests: Each season typically introduces at least one new exotic quest

Examples include the Dead Man’s Tale scout rifle from the Presage mission or the Worldline Zero exotic sword, which requires finding memory fragments on Mars.

Collections and Engrams

Don’t forget to check your Collections tab for exotics you can reacquire. While the stats will be lower than random drops, it’s a great way to fill out your arsenal.

Exotic engrams from the season pass or random drops will always decrypt into an exotic you don’t already own (from the general loot pool) until you’ve collected them all.

DLC and Seasonal Content

Many exotics are tied to specific expansions or seasonal content:

  • Expansion Exotics: Each major DLC introduces new exotics, some of which are only obtainable by owning that content
  • Season Pass Rewards: The paid track of each season pass includes at least one new exotic
  • Special Events: Events like Solstice of Heroes or Festival of the Lost sometimes offer unique exotic items

Tips for Efficient Exotic Farming

To maximize your chances of obtaining exotics:

  1. Focus on high-yield activities like Master/GM Nightfalls and Legend/Master Lost Sectors
  2. Use Fireteam Medallions or Ghost mods that increase your chances of Exotic drops
  3. Complete all weekly challenges and bounties for additional chances at exotic engrams
  4. Don’t forget to visit Xur every weekend
  5. Play with friends to increase your overall efficiency and enjoyment

Speaking of Ghost mods, don’t underestimate the power of Ghost Shells in Destiny 2. They can provide valuable perks that assist in exotic farming.

Best Exotics to Chase

While all exotics have their uses, some stand out as particularly powerful or versatile. Check out our guide on the best exotics in Destiny 2 for a detailed breakdown of top-tier options.

For those who enjoy close-quarters combat, the best sidearms in Destiny 2 can be excellent companions to your exotic loadout.

Legendary Alternatives

While chasing exotics, don’t overlook powerful legendary weapons. The Falling Guillotine sword with a good roll can rival many exotics in terms of DPS.

Conclusion

Acquiring exotics in Destiny 2 is a mix of persistence, strategy, and sometimes a bit of luck. By focusing on high-reward activities, completing quests, and regularly engaging with the game’s various systems, you’ll steadily build your exotic collection. Remember, the journey is part of the fun, so enjoy the process of discovering and mastering these powerful items.

As you progress in your exotic hunt, don’t forget to show off your accomplishments with unique Destiny 2 emblems, which often commemorate difficult achievements or rare exotic acquisitions.

As Destiny 2 continues to evolve, new exotics and acquisition methods may be introduced. Stay tuned to official Bungie announcements and community resources to stay up-to-date on the latest ways to expand your exotic arsenal. Happy hunting, Guardian!

For those looking for games with similar loot-based progression and sci-fi themes, check out our list of games like Destiny to expand your gaming horizons.

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