Exotic Weapons are among the most iconic guns in Destiny 2, but just because they’re unique doesn’t make them good. Some define the meta, while others are best left in your collection, so we’ve ranked them all in this tier list from best to worst to help you figure out which is which.
Exotic weapons have always stood out as some of the most coveted items in Bungie’s looter shooter. Dating back to the start of the franchise, these unique weapons can be collected by purchasing them from Xur, completing Exotic missions, or even as rare World Drops.
Players can only equip one Exotic at a time, so it’s important to know which are meta. Otherwise, you could be missing out on powerful perks, great DPS combinations, or even game-breaking exploits. What makes an Exotic meta varies, but you can be certain that the high-tier weapons on this list will make your life easier, especially in endgame content.
Destiny 2 Exotic weapon tier list
| TIER | WEAPON |
|---|---|
| S | Ace of Spades, Choir of One, Conditional Finality, Dragon’s Breath, Graviton Lance, Khvostov 7G-0X, Lord of Wolves, Necrochasm, Outbreak Perfected, Sunshot, Third Iteration |
| A | Ager’s Scepter, Bad Juju, Cloudstrike, Delicate Tomb, Divinity, Edge of Action, Ex Diris, Final Warning, Forerunner, Hard Light, Hawkmoon, Izanagi’s Burden, Le Monarque, Legend of Acrius, Leviathan’s Breath, Lodestar, Polaris Lance, Quicksilver Storm, Salvation’s Grip, Still Hunt, Telesto, The Colony, The Chaperone, The Huckleberry, The Navigator, The Wardcliff Coil, Thorn, Thunderlord, Trinity Ghoul, Whisper of the Worm, Wish-Ender, Witherhoard, Graviton Spike, Barrow-Dyad |
| B | Alethonym, Anarchy, Arbalest, Bastion, Cerberus+1, Crimson, D.A.R.C.I, Dead Man’s Tale, Dead Messenger, Edge of Concurrence, Edge of Intent, Ergo Sum, Euphony, Grand Overture, Heir Apparent, Ice Breaker, Jotunn, Lumina, Malfeasance, Merciless, Microcosm, MIDA Multi-Tool, Monte Carlo, No Time To Explain, Osteo Striga, Parasite, Prometheus Lens, Rat King, Red Death Reformed, Revision Zero, Sleeper Simulant, Tarrabah, The Fourth Horseman, The Jade Rabbit, The Lament, The Prospector, Tommy’s Matchbook, Verglas Curve, Vex Mythoclast, Wicked Implement, Wish-Keeper, Slayer’s Fang, New Land Beyond |
| C | Black Talon, Borealis, Centrifuse, Coldheart, Collective Obligation, Cryosthesia 77K, Deathbringer, Determinisitic Chaos, Devil’s Ruin, Duality, Eriana’s Vow, Eyes of Tomorow, Heartshadow, Hierachy of Needs, Lorentz Driver, One Thousand Voices, Ruinous Effigy, Skyburner’s Oath, Sturm, SUROS Regime, Sweet Business, Symmetry, Tessellation, The Last Word, The Manticore, The Queenbreaker, Ticuu’s Divination, Touch of Malice, Traveler’s Chosen, Trespasser, Truth, Two-Tailed Fox, Vexcalibur, Vigilance Wing, Wavesplitter, Winterbite, Worldline Zero, Xenophage |
Our tiers explained
- S-Tier: The best Exotics in the game that define either the PvE and PvP meta
- A-Tier: Strong Exotics that perform well and serve as powerful options
- B-Tier: Niche or more situational Exotics that can still be effective when used right
- C-Tier: Weak Exotics that are outclassed by other options and even some legendary weapons
S-Tier
Ace of Spades
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Hand Cannon
- Exotic Perks: Memento Mori, Firefly
- Catalyst: Funeral Pyre
- Debut Season: Season 4
- Best Use: PvP
Ace of Spades is one of Destiny’s most iconic Exotics, and it’s no surprise given both its legacy as Cayde-6’s trusty Hand Cannon and its dominance in PvP. When using this stylish weapon, you’ll have permanent radar, empowered rounds, fast reloads, and a TTK that can match the best weapons in the Crucible. If you fancy slaying some Guardians, this is the gun for the job.
Third Iteration
- Archetype: Scout Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Tri-Planar Mass Driver, Amalgamation Rounds
- Catalyst: Aberrant Combustion
- Debut Season: 27
- Best use: PvE
Admittedly, much of Third Iteration’s power in The Edge of Fate came from an unintended interaction, but even post-fix, it’s an incredibly potent Exotic. Any weapon that’s adept at clearing rank-and-file enemies as well as spongier opponents will always find a place in the meta, and Third Iteration does exactly that with its two unique fire modes.
Choir of One
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Auto Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Command Frame, Fanatical Lance
- Catalyst: Destabilizing Rounds/Onslaught/Subsistence
- Debut Season: Season 25
- Best Use: PvE
What would happen if Bungie took Cerberus+1, merged it with a Wyvern cannon, and cranked its damage up exponentially? That’s the premise of Choir of One, an Exotic that tears through combatants in Auto Rifle mode, and demolishes Champions and bosses in Shotgun mode. As long as you are wary of its limited ammo capacity, there’s no doubt that this is a meta-defining gun.
Conditional Finality
Dexerto- Archetype: Stasis Shotgun
- Exotic Perks: Split Decision, Paracausal Pellets
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 20
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
Forget One-Two Punch, Conditional Finality lands a one-two blow like no other. One barrel shoots ice and the other shoots fire. In PvE, this makes it a strong utility weapon that can stun Champions and one-shot most combatants. In PvP, Conditional Finality is the best shotgun in the meta, as its unrivaled consistency gives it a clear edge over the competition.
Dragon’s Breath
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Rocket Launcher
- Exotic Perks: Composite Propellant, High Octane
- Catalyst: Pyromancer
- Debut Season: Season 23
- Best Use: PvE
Dragon’s Breath is a true Exotic in every meaning of the word. It’s unique, powerful, and versatile. This Rocket Launcher is both a great add-clear weapon and a strong option for boss DPS. Fire away, switch to another weapon, switch back, and repeat. It’s that easy, yet the overtime damage it produces outclasses almost everything else.
Graviton Lance
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Pulse Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Block Hole, Cosmology
- Catalyst: Vorpal Weapon, Turnabout
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
At one stage, Graviton Lance was the most used gun in PvP. This led to a much-needed nerf, but even after that, it’s still a magnificent weapon. The main reason to use Graviton Lance is that it’s incredibly easy to use and is extremely consistent. It’s great in PvE too, where it serves as one of the best Void primaries for both general use and add-clear, although nerfs in Episode Heresy have weakened it slightly.
Khvostov 7G-0X
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Auto Rifle
- Exotic Perks: The Right Choice, Shoot to Loot
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 24
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
Khvostov 7G-0X used to be the most dominant PvP weapon in the sandbox. Since then, it has been nerfed, but the Exotic AR remains one of the most used weapons in The Crucible. It deals a lot of damage, can damage multiple enemies at once, and has practically zero recoil. This iconic gun may have been Destiny’s first, but it still remains top-tier 11 years on.
Lord of Wolves
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Shotgun
- Exotic Perks: Shrapnel Launcher, Release the Wolves
- Catalyst: Fang and Claw
- Debut Season: Season 4
- Best Use: PvE
In what can only be described as a historic glow-up, Lord of Wolves has gone from the pits of C-tier to one of the best Exotics in the game. A massive rework in Episode Heresy has transformed this Solar Shotgun into an incredible DPS option that even the best raid teams are using to farm loot. Literally just hipfire with the catalyst equipped and watch as everything in front of you ceases to be.
Necrochasm
Dexerto- Kinetic Auto Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Cursebringer, Desperation
- Catalyst: One For Thrall
- Debut Season: Season 22
- Best Use: PvE
When Necrochasm was first released as the Raid Exotic for Crota’s End, it was decent, but nothing too special. However, it has received a massive buff in The Final Shape, getting a new Catalyst, which is a unique spin on One For All that boosts damage by 35%. It’s easy to trigger too, as Desperation’s explosions can activate it, ensuring Necrochasm is now one of the best add clear weapons in the game.
Outbreak Perfected
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Pulse Rifle
- Exotic Perks: The Corruption Spreads, Parasitism
- Catalyst: Rewind Rounds, Headseeker, Rapid Hit, Outlaw
- Debut Season: Season 6
- Best Use: PvE
Pulse Rifles received a massive buff when The Final Shape was released, seeing an effective damage increase of over 35% in PvE. Since Outbreak Perfected was strong beforehand, especially with its craftable variant available from Zero Hour, it’s incredible now. This Primary shreds through both Red Bar and Yellow Bar enemies alike, making it as versatile as it is hard-hitting.
Sunshot
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Hand Cannon
- Exotic Perks: Sunburn, Sun Blast
- Catalyst: +20 Stability, +20 Range
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE
Regardless of what season, act, or episode we’re in, Sunshot is always strong. You can’t go wrong with a Hand Cannon that spreads fire everywhere, especially when all you have to do is get final blows to set enemies ablaze. In Heresy, Sunshot remains a great choice when using Solar, although this particular season isn’t overly Solar friendly with the artifact focusing more on Arc and Void.
A-Tier
Graviton Spike
- Archetype: Hand Cannon
- Exotic Perks: Temporal Manipulation, Temporal Anomaly
- Catalyst: Rapid Hit, Subsistence, Transcendent Zen, Temporal Alignment
- Debut Season: Season 27
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
This powerhouse of an Exotic can switch between Arc and Stasis modes at will, not only synergizing with both subclasses but granting huge buffs to each mode when the other is used in a cute little metagame of back and forth. It’s still a primary weapon, mind, so don’t expect face-melting power, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how potent it can be.
Barrow-Dyad
Dexerto- Archetype: Submachine Gun
- Exotic Perks: Panic response, Taken Divergence
- Catalyst: High-Impact Reserves, Hatchling, One for All, Target Lock
- Debut Season: Season 26
- Best Use: PvE
Introduced in Episode Heresy, Barrow-Dyad quickly rose to the top of the meta due to its incredible DPS and utility for a primary weapon, proving to be particularly potent with Heresy’s artefact. In Edge of Fate, the SMG has lost some of its lustre, no doubt, but it’s still a solid build-around Exotic that you can’t go wrong with.
New Land Beyond
- Archetype: Kinetic Sniper Rifle
- Exotic Perks: The Master, Bullseye Bolster
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 26
- Best Use: PvE
Currently only obtainable by pre-ordering the Collector’s or Ultimate Editions of Destiny 2’s Year of Prophecy DLC, New Land Beyond is a modernized take on the original Destiny’s No Land Beyond.
Retaining the original’s bolt-action fire mode, early testing of this primary slot Kinetic Sniper Rifle has yielded interesting results. Namely, with 20+ stacks of The Master – boosts damage on precision hits – New Land Beyond hits like an absolute truck in PvE. A great option for long-ranged boss damage that doesn’t require heavy ammo.
Ager’s Scepter
Dexerto- Archetype: Stasis Trace Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Ager’s Call, Rega’s Refrain
- Catalyst: Will Given Form
- Debut Season: Season 15
- Best Use: PvE
With Revenant behind us, Ager’s Scepter is no longer as dominate. Even so, it remains an effective add-clear weapon that can freeze several enemies at once. Follow this up with a big shatter and the damage speaks for itself. Admittedly, Lodestar is probably a better option in Heresy, as Arc weapons areheavily favored in this season’s artifact, but this isn’t far behind.
Bad Juju
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Pulse Rifle
- Exotic Perks: String of Curses, Hip-Fire Grip
- Catalyst: Unending Curse
- Debut Season: Season 7
- Best Use: PvE
For years, Bad Juju had a mysterious secondary effect that would cause explosions every 145 kills. After a buff last season, this now triggers every three kills, making this an exceptional add-clear weapon, while also retaining its ability to charge your Super faster than just about anything else. It may have been a meme option before, but Bad Juju is now a seriously powerful gun that you need to try.
Cloudstrike
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Sniper Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Mortal Polarity, Stormbringer
- Catalyst: Triple Tap
- Debut Season: Season 12
- Best Use: PvP
Sniper Rifles don’t see too much use in PvE these days, but they are still dominant in PvP. Cloudstrike is no exception, with this Exotic having the potential to produce some crazy plays. After landing a headshot on an enemy Guardian, a lightning bolt will slam the ground, striking anyone nearby. If multiple players are all standing next to one another, it’s your big chance to make a montage-worthy play.
Delicate Tomb
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Fusion Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Traitor’s Vessel, Tempest Cascade
- Catalyst: Ionic Interment
- Debut Season: Season 18
- Best Use: PvE
If you enjoy playing Arc builds, you’ll want to consider using Delicate Tomb following its buffs in Episode Heresy. Collecting an Ionic Trace now doubles its damage, and this charge can be saved until you are ready, as it’s no longer on a timer. This lets you store a super burst to quickly dispatch of pesky majors and champions in a way that most other Special ammo weapons simply can’t.
Divinity
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Trace Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Judgment, Penance
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 8
- Best Use: PvE
Divinity is not a complicated weapon. You shoot an enemy with it, and then they take 15% more damage from all sources. Additionally, it makes landing precision hits much easier, helping your teammates be more consistent on damage phases. A big nerf in The Final Shape made it more difficult to upkeep Judgment, but the focus on Linear Fusion Rifles in Heresy means it is meta yet again.
Edge of Action
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Glaive
- Exotic Perks: Edge of Action, Remote Shield
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 16
- Best Use: PvE
This Titan Exotic benefitted greatly from the Glaive rework in Episode Heresy, with it now being an incredible utility weapon that can spawn constant Remote Shields that provide Void Overshields whenever you stand in them. Dump these on top of a boss and melee away for practically infinite health and surprisingly solid DPS for a Special ammo weapon.
Ex Diris
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Grenade Launcher
- Exotic Perks: Corrupted Nucleosynthesis, Loyal Moths
- Catalyst: Berserk Rush
- Debut Season: Season 22
- Best Use: PvE
On its arrival, Ex Diris was a clumsy Grenade Launcher that didn’t hit nearly hard enough to justify the headache of using it. Since then, Bungie has introduced a range of buffs that have turned it into one of the best Exotics in the sandbox. The most underrated aspect of this Hive weapon is that it can inflict Blind, which is really useful in endgame activities where survival is often prioritized over raw damage.
Final Warning
Dexerto- Archetype: Strand Sidearm
- Exotic Perks: All at Once, Pick Your Poison
- Catalyst: String Theory
- Debut Season: Season 20
- Best Use: PvE
Final Warning is one of the most powerful primary weapons in Destiny 2. A fully charged burst while aimed in outdamages a lot of the Special weapons in the game, putting even most Fusion Rifles to shame. It requires some getting used to and isn’t an all purpose gun by any means, but when used right, it’s an incredible option that can add a lot to your loadouts.
Forerunner
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Sidearm
- Exotic Perks: Full Stop, Pace Yourself
- Catalyst: The Rock
- Debut Season: Season 15
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
This throwback Exotic serves as a nostalgia hit for Halo players who grew up with the Magnum. Much like its predecessor, Forerunner his super hard if you can deal precision damage, both in PvP and PvE. This makes it a very good option for dealing with Tormentors and mowing down champions without having to waste Heavy ammo.
Hard Light
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Auto Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Volatile Light, The Fundamentals
- Catalyst: +25 Stability
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE
It’s been a long time since Hard Light was meta, but a big glow-up in Episode Heresy means this legacy weapon is relevant once again. More specifically, The Fundamentals was buffed to provide a huge 30% damage boost whenever you apply or receive a buff/debuff related to the selected element. Use this with Solar and Radiant for a 50% damage boost that’s easy to upkeep and makes this gun scarily good.
Hawkmoon
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Hand Cannon
- Exotic Perks: Paracausal Shot, Opening Shot
- Catalyst: Hunter’s Trance
- Debut Season: Season 12
- Best Use: PvP
In many ways, Hawkmoon is the perfect Hand Cannon for PvP. It has great stats, a competitive TTK, rolls multiple meta perks, and has an amazing Exotic Perk. When activated, Paracausal Shot provides stacks of damage and range, allowing this fierce weapon to go head to head with just about anything you’ll encounter in The Crucible. Between this and Ace of Spades, you can’t go wrong with either option.
Izanagi’s Burden
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Sniper Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Honed Edge, No Distractions
- Catalyst: Peerless Edge
- Debut Season: Season 5
- Best Use: PvE
It takes some practice, but Izanagi’s Burden is an elite DPS option when used correctly. By combining the effects of Honed Edge and Peerless Edge, it’s possible to hit shot after shot for over 150,000 damage each. Weave those into either a Rocket Launcher or Grenade Launcher rotation, and you’ll be dealing the best DPS possible in the current sandbox.
Le Monarque
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Bow
- Exotic Perks: Poison Arrows, Snapshot Sights
- Catalyst: Unrelenting
- Debut Season: Season 5
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
You know Le Monarque is strong because Bungie keeps trying to nerf it. Its fast handling and overtime poison damage make it the perfect candidate to pair with a Hand Cannon in PvP. Land a precision shot with Le Monarque, and then quickly switch to a Hand Cannon to finish the job. It’s that simple. As for PvE, it is a strong counter against Overload Champions and has great add-clear which is rare for a Bow.
Legend of Acrius
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Shotgun
- Exotic Perks: Shock Blast, Long March
- Catalyst: Deeper Pockets, Trench Barrel
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE
Big shotgun deals big damage. Get up close, melee to activate Trench Barrel, pull the trigger, and repeat. As Exotics go, they don’t get much simpler than Legend of Acrius, but given the absurd damage it deals, that’s really not a bad thing. Even better, buffs in Episode Heresy mean this beast actually has a bit of range now, so you don’t need to barrel stuff anymore to make the most of it.
Leviathan’s Breath
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Bow
- Exotic Perks: Big-Game Hunter, Leviathan’s Sigh
- Catalyst: Colossal Quiver, Archer’s Tempo
- Debut Season: Season 8
- Best Use: PvE
This heavy-duty Bow deals a lot of damage and can stagger bosses, leaving them effectively stun-locked. Add in its ability to stun Unstoppable Champions plus its incredible ammo economy, and it becomes obvious why so many players love Leviathan’s Breath. Just be sure to get the catalyst before taking it into endgame content, as Archer’s Tempo is essential.
Lodestar
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Trace Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Starlight Beam, Arc Alignment
- Catalyst: Supercharged Matrix
- Debut Season: Season 26
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
A newcomer in Episode Heresy, this is the first primary ammo Trace Rifle ever, and it does not disappoint. Lodestar is a remarkably accurate weapon, which makes it a menace in PvP, where its TTK is very competitive. As for PvE, you can quickly charge up Arc Alignment to Jolt enemies with ease, ensuring that this is one of the best add-clear weapons in the game.
Polaris Lance
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Scout Rifle
- Exotic Perks: The Perfect Fifth, Zen Moment
- Catalyst: Dragonfly
- Debut Season: Season 3
- Best Use: PvE
Polaris Lance is yet another Exotic that has remained meta even after getting nerfed. The main strength of this hard-hitting Scout Rifle is that it is effective at any range and triggers an unholy number of Ignitions. These Ignitions melt even the tankiest of targets, making this one of the few Primary weapons capable of stunning and defeating Champions efficiently.
Quicksilver Storm
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Auto Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Rocket Tracers, Grenade Chaser
- Catalyst: Nano-entanglement
- Debut Season: Season 18
- Best Use: PvE
While Quicksilver Storm is no longer the undisputed GOAT of Strand Weapons, this Auto Rifle remains a good option for those wanting burst damage without having to use Special Ammo. Charge up its underbarrel grenade launcher and fire away. It’s a simple process that is capable of downing tanky enemies and even Champions, and buffs in Heresy mean it’s once again easy enough to do so.
Salvation’s Grip
Dexerto- Archetype: Stasis Heavy GL
- Exotic Perks: Cryocannon, Shatter Shot
- Catalyst: Rimestealer
- Debut Season: Season 12
- Best Use: PvE
I never thought the day would come when Salvation’s Grip made it this high on our Exotic tier list. For the longest time, this was the meme Exotic with no use beyond trolling and platforming. However, a massive rework and a new catalyst mean it is now a great option for add clear. For the best results, use Salvation’s Grip on a Stasis Titan and watch everything fall before you.
Still Hunt
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Sniper Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Cayde’s Retribution
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 24
- Best Use: PvE
Still Hunt is Golden Gun, but a Sniper Rifle. It’s a simple premise that doesn’t need much more of an explanation, and the result is a fantastic gun for DPS rotations. The best part is that it works with Celestial Nighthawk, dealing a big chunk of damage in one quick blow. Follow that up with a regular Golden Gun, and you can deal over one million damage in just a few seconds.
Telesto
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Fusion Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Unplanned Reprieve, Harbinger’s Pulse
- Catalyst: Deeper Pockets, Harbinger Seethe
- Debut Season: Season 2
- Best Use: PvE
Telesto has always been a reliable DPS option that works with just about any build. It has only gotten better over time too, with a buff last season boosting its explosive damage by 20%. This was followed by a rework in Heresy that gave it an amazing new catalyst. When activated, this rains down projectiles that hit seriously hard, giving this already great weapon even more burst damage.
The Colony
Dexerto- Archetype: Void Heavy Grenade Launcher
- Exotic Perks: Insectoid Robot Grenades, Serve the Colony
- Catalyst: Deeper Pockets
- Debut Season: Season 2
- Best Use: PvE
The Colony received a monster buff in Episode Heresy that increased its base DPS to exceed its legendary counterparts. Add on the vast damage dealt by Insectoid Robot Grenades, and you have a legitimately strong option that even works as an add-clear weapon too. Genuinely, give this a go in place of Edge Transit or Acosmic sometime – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Chaperone
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Shotgun
- Exotic Perks: Precision Slug, The Roadborn
- Catalyst: Rimestealer
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE
The Chaperone is a Shotgun for those who are very confident in their abilities. Its Precision Slug perk allows it to outrange every other Shotgun in the game, but you’ll need to land headshots for that to matter. This combined with its Lightweight movement bonus, makes The Chaperone one of the highest skill ceiling weapons in the sandbox, and those who master it are destined to dominate.
The Huckleberry
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic SMG
- Exotic Perks: Ride the Bull, Rampage
- Catalyst: Kinetic Tremors
- Debut Season: Season 3
- Best Use: PvE
The Huckleberry has undergone a true zero to hero story, with it being given Kinetic Tremors and the ability to reload on final blows last season. Combined with its unique version of Rampage, which stacks up to 66%, this SMG now melts through anything and anyone that dares stand in its way. It might not be the flashiest gun, but there’s always a place in the meta for Exotics that deal this much damage.
The Navigator
Dexerto- Archetype: Strand Trace Rifle
- Exotic Perks: Protective Weave, Weft Cutter
- Catalyst: Gordian Knot
- Debut Season: Season 21
- Best Use: PvE
Ghosts of the Deep isn’t a popular Dungeon, but those wanting to use The Navigator will have to farm it. The process of getting this Exotic Trace Rifle may not be fun, but the weapon’s incredible utility makes it all worthwhile. It can produce Woven Mail on demand, sever targets with ease, and create Grapple points, letting Strand Titans wreak havoc with their mighty punches.
The Wardcliff Coil
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Rocket Launcher
- Exotic Perks: Mad Scientist, Mechanized Autoloader
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 1
- Best Use: PvE
While The Wardcliff Coil has always been okay, it has historically been overshadowed by legendary Rocket Launchers that deal more damage. Thankfully, a soft rework in Episode Heresy has made this the best source of Bolt Charge in the entire sandbox, with it producing one charge for every rocket fired. That’s four Bolt Charges for each rocket, allowing you to build up stacks quickly and deal a ton of damage.
Thorn
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Hand Cannon
- Exotic Perks: Mark of the Devourer, Soul Devourer
- Catalyst: Refined Soul
- Debut Season: Season 6
- Best Use: PvP
Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and Thorn being great in PvP. This iconic Destiny 2 Hand Cannon was already strong, but the addition of a catalyst back in Season 23 took it to another level. It is still one of the best Exotics in the Crucible, offering a highly competitive TTK, and the effective range to outgun just about anything.
Thunderlord
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Machine Gun
- Exotic Perks: Reign Havoc, Feeding Frenzy
- Catalyst: Return Stroke
- Debut Season: Season 4
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
Thunderlord is never a bad choice. Although it doesn’t excel at anything, this Arc Machine Gun has decent damage, great add-clear, solid ammo economy, and is stylish as hell. Your teammates probably won’t appreciate you bringing it to DPS in a Raid, but otherwise, you can’t go wrong with this fan-favorite Exotic.
Trinity Ghoul
Dexerto- Archetype: Arc Bow
- Exotic Perks: Split Electron, Lightning Rod
- Catalyst: Forked Lightning
- Debut Season: Season 4
- Best Use: PvE
If you need an add-clear Exotic weapon, you should be using Trinity Ghoul. That is at least if you are playing lower to medium-difficulty content. In high-end content, its inability to consistently kill in one shot hurts Trinity Ghoul, but if it can do that, there’s simply no better option in the game. For true chaos, consider pairing it with an Arc build and be shocked by its electrifying AOE damage.
Whisper of the Worm
Dexerto- Archetype: Solar Sniper Rifle
- Exotic Perks: White Nail, Mulligan
- Catalyst: Whispered Breathing
- Debut Season: Season 3
- Best Use: PvE
It isn’t always the easiest Exotic weapon to use, but in situations where this sniper excels, nothing can beat Whisper of the Worm. If you can land constant precision hits over and over, this is the DPS weapon you should be using. The Sniper Rifle’s buffs that reduced flinch last season have made this gun more consistent too, allowing it to flourish against a wider range of bosses.
Wish-Ender
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Bow
- Exotic Perks: Queen’s Wrath, Broadhead
- Catalyst: N/A
- Debut Season: Season 4
- Best Use: PvE
Wish-Ender is not only the best counter for Barrier Champions, but also one of the hardest-hitting Exotic Primary weapons. Its non-existent damage fall-off, and its ability to hit multiple times with each shot make it truly deadly. The Exotic Bow is especially strong in high-end content, where it’s often better to play slow and pick off enemies from a safe distance than run in like a madman.
Witherhoard
Dexerto- Archetype: Kinetic Grenade Launcher
- Exotic Perks: Primeval’s Torment, Break the Bank
- Catalyst: Silent Alarm
- Debut Season: Season 11
- Best Use: PvE & PvP
Witherhoard’s biggest strength is that it has no real weakness. This Grenade Launcher can be used to deal damage over time, blight enemies, and is even a solid add-clear weapon. The addition of Area Denial Frames like VS Velocity Baton have hurt it slightly, but if you find yourself wondering what top slot Exotic to use, there’s still a good chance Witherhoard is the right choice.
B-Tier
| WEAPON | ARCHETYPE | EXOTIC PERKS |
|---|---|---|
 Alethonym | Stasis Grenade Launcher | Harvester Spike, Vestigial Alchemy |
 Anarchy | Arc Heavy GL | Arc Traps, Moving Target |
 Arbalest | Kinetic Linear Fusion Rifle | Compounding Force, Disruption Break |
 Bastion | Kinetic Fusion Rifle | Saint’s Fists, Breakthrough |
 Cerberus+1 | Kinetic Auto Rifle | Four-Headed Dog, Spread Shot Package |
 Crimson | Kinetic Hand Cannon | Banned Weapon, Cruel Remedy |
 D.A.R.C.I. | Arc Sniper Rifle | Personal Assistant, Target Acquired |
 Dead Man’s Tale | Kinetic Scout Rifle | Cranial Spike, Outlaw |
 Dead Messenger | Void Grenade Launcher | Trinary Vision, The Fundamentals |
 Edge of Concurrence | Arc Glaive | Edge of Concurrence, Lightning Seeker |
 Edge of Intent | Solar Glaive | Edge of Intent, Restorative Turret |
 Ergo Sum | Kinetic Sword | Varies, Transcendent Duelist |
 Euphony | Strand Linear Fusion Rifle | Unwound, Spindle |
 Grand Overture | Arc Machine Gun | Wrath of the Colossus, Omega Strike |
 Heir Apparent | Solar Machine Gun | Heavy Slug Thrower, Armor of the Colossus |
 Ice Breaker | Stasis Sniper Rifle | No Backpack, Ice Breaker |
 Jotunn | Solar Fusion Rifle | Charge Shot, Shield Disorient |
 Lumina | Kinetic Hand Cannon | Noble Rounds, Blessing of the Sky |
 Malfeasance | Kinetic Hand Cannon | Explosive Shadow, Taken Predator |
 Merciless | Solar Fusion Rifle | Conserve Momentum, Impetus |
 Microcosm | Kinetic Trace Rifle | Paracausal Beam, Paracausal Imbuement |
 MIDA Multi-Tool | Kinetic Scout Rifle | MIDA Multi-Tool, Mid Radar |
 Monte Carlo | Kinetic Auto Rifle | Monte Carlo Method, Markov Chain |
 No Time To Explain | Kinetic Pulse Rifle | Rewind Again, Feeding Frenzy |
 Osteo Striga | Kinetic SMG | Screaming Swarm, Toxic Overload |
 Parasite | Solar Grenade Launcher | Worm’s Hunger, Worm Byproduct |
 Prometheus Lens | Solar Trace Rifle | Prismatic Inferno, Flame Refraction |
 Rat King | Kinetic Sidearm | Rat Pack, Vermin |
 Red Death Reformed | Solar Pulse Rifle | Redemption, Inverse Relationship |
 Revision Zero | Kinetic Pulse Rifle | Hunter’s Trace, Moving Target |
 Sleeper Simulant | Solar Linear Fusion Rifle | Dornroschen, Moving Target |
 Tarrabah | Solar SMG | Ravenous Beast, Bottomless Appetite |
 The Fourth Horseman | Arc Shotgun | Thunderer, Broadside |
 The Jade Rabbit | Kinetic Scout Rifle | The Fate of All Fools, Zen Moment |
 The Lament | Solar Sword | Banshee’s Wail, Revved Consumption |
 The Prospector | Arc Heavy GL | Excavation, Full Auto Trigger System |
 Tommy’s Matchbook | Solar Auto Rifle | Ignition Trigger, Heat Sink |
 Verglas Curve | Stasis Bow | Hail Barrage, Hail Storm |
 Vex Mythoclast | Solar Fusion Rifle | Timeless Mythoclast, Temporal Unlimiter |
 Wicked Implement | Stasis Scout Rifle | Creeping Attrition, Tithing Harvest |
 Wish-Keeper | Strand Bow | Snareweaver, Silkbound Slayer |
C-Tier
| WEAPON | ARCHETYPE | EXOTIC PERKS |
|---|---|---|
 Black Talon | Void Sword | Crow’s Wings, Tireless Blade |
 Borealis | Void Sniper Rifle | The Fundamentals, Ionic Return |
 Centrifuse | Arc Auto Rifle | Overcharge Capacitor, Regenerative Motion |
 Coldheart | Arc Trace Rifle | Cold Fusion, Longest Winter |
 Collective Obligation | Void Pulse Rifle | Void Leech, Umbral Sustenance |
 Cryothesia 77K | Stasis Sidearm | LN2 Burst, Liquid Cooling |
 Deathbringer | Void Rocket Launcher | Dark Deliverance, Dark Descent |
 Deterministic Chaos | Void Machine Gun | Vexadecimal, Heavy Metal |
 Devil’s Ruin | Solar Sidearm | Close the Gap, Pyrogenesis |
 Duality | Solar Shotgun | Compression Chamber, On Black Wings |
 Eriana’s Vow | Solar Hand Cannon | Looks Can Kill, Death at First Glance |
 Eyes of Tomorrow | Solar Rocket Launcher | Eyes on All, Adaptive Ordnance |
 Heartshadow | Void Sword | Exhumation, Shot in the Dark |
 Hierachy of Needs | Solar Bow | Guidance Ring, Apollonic Tangent |
 Lorentz Driver | Void Linear Fusion Rifle | Lagrangian Sight, EM Anomaly |
 One Thousand Voices | Solar Fusion Rifle | Ahamkara’s Eye, Unforeseen Repercussions |
 Ruinous Effigy | Void Trace Rifle | Transmutation, Evolution |
 Skyburner’s Oath | Solar Scout Rifle | Slug Rifle, For the Empire |
 Sturm | Kinetic Hand Cannon | Accomplice, Storm and Stress |
 SUROS Regime | Kinetic Auto Rifle | SUROS Legecy, Spinning Up |
 Sweet Business | Kinetic Auto Rifle | Payday, Business Time |
 Symmetry | Arc Scout Rifle | Revolution, Dynamic Charge |
 Tessellation | Kinetic Fusion Rifle | Property: Undecidable, Property: Irreducible |
 The Last Word | Kinetic Hand Cannon | Fan Fire, Hip-Fire Grip |
 The Manticore | Void SMG | Soaring Fang, Swooping Talons |
 The Queenbreaker | Arc Linear Fusion Rifle | Wire Rifle, Hip-Fire Grip |
 Ticuu’s Divination | Solar Bow | Sacred Flame, Causality Arrows |
 Touch of Malice | Kinetic Scout Rifle | Touch of Malice, Charged with Blight |
 Traveler’s Chosen | Kinetic Sidearm | Gathering Light, Gift of the Traveler |
 Trespasser | Arc Sidearm | Unrepentant, Be the Danger |
 Truth | Void Rocket Launcher | Prototype Trueseeker, Grenades and Horseshoes |
 Two-Tailed Fox | Void Rocket Launcher | Twintails, Play with Your Prey |
 Vexcalibur | Void Glaive | M1R Distribution Matrix, Perpetual Loophole |
 Vigilance Wing | Kinetic Pulse Rifle | Harsh Truths, Last Stand |
 Wavesplitter | Void Trace Rifle | Harmonic Laser, Supercharged Battery |
 Winterbite | Stasis Glaive | Big Frigid Glaive, Tilting at Windmills |
 Worldline Zero | Arc Sword | Tesseract, Tireless Blade |
 Xenophage | Solar Machine Gun | Pyrotoxin Rounds, Rangefinder |
That’s all for our Exotic weapons tier list. For more ideas on what you should use on your next loadout, check out the best PvE Weapons and best PvP Weapons. By using these weapons, you are to sure to conquer anything Destiny 2 has to offer.
