Destiny 2 Exotic Tier List: Best Exotics for PvE & PvP (2024)

Polaris Lance
Polaris LanceScout RifleExoticPrimarySolarFree-to-PlayYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Free-to-Play

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits return ammo to the mag. Landing 4 precision hits loads a delayed Solar explosive round for your next shot."

► Despite its reliance on the Seasonal Artifact, there is no denying that Polaris Lance is one of the easiest and most powerful options for content such as Grandmaster Nightfalls this season. Constant ignitions and never having to reload is a powerful combo, and this weapon can clear rooms and champions with ease.

Season 3

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits return ammo to the mag. Landing 4 precision hits loads a delayed Solar explosive round for your next shot."Top-tierLe Monarque
Le MonarqueCombat BowExoticPrimaryVoidForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."

► Le Monarque is a ridiculously oppressive pick in PvP as it can be combined with a Hand Cannon to deliver blindingly fast combo kills with relative ease. It also comes with intrinsic Overload Arrows, which, combined with its poison effect, are highly effective against Overload Champions. This makes Le Monarque an incredible pick for PvE too.

Season 5

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."Top-tierLumina
LuminaHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration."

►Lumina is one of the most unique Exotics in Destiny 2, allowing you to heal allies and spread one of the most potent damage buffs in the game. If you're looking to optimize a DPS phase—or want to play a more significant support role—this is a fantastic pick. This applies to PvP too.

Season 7

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants which convert your next hip fired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round that heals them and grants both of you a weapon damage bonus for a short duration."Top-tierVex Mythoclast
Vex MythoclastFusion RifleExoticPrimarySolarFree-to-PlayYesS › BestVault of Glass Raid

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Vault of Glass Raid

Free-to-Play

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a single bolt with each trigger pull. Defeating targets builds stacks of Overcharge. Swap firing modes when fully Overcharged to charge up and fire more powerful linear fusion shots."

► Vex Mythoclast is now rightfully where it should be: among the best fusions in the game. Buffs against minors, bosses, and Champions have allowed Vex to break into the end game, even if it lacks an intrinsic anti-Champion perk.

Season 14

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a single bolt with each trigger pull. Defeating targets builds stacks of Overcharge. Swap firing modes when fully Overcharged to charge up and fire more powerful linear fusion shots."Top-tierOsteo Striga
Osteo StrigaSubmachine GunExoticPrimaryKineticThe Witch QueenYesS › BestThe Witch Queen Campaign

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

The Witch Queen Campaign

Witch Queen

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a stream of sentient, toxic projectiles that track the targeted enemy. Landing a final blow or multiple precision hits triggers a burst that poisons nearby targets."

► Feeling extremely nice to use, Osteo Striga became an instant favorite for many. Its poison-spreading effect makes it one of the best ad-clear primaries in PVE, and its enemy-tracking bullets make it an easy-to-use option in PVP. Plus, you can craft your own. What's not to love?

Season 16

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a stream of sentient, toxic projectiles that track the targeted enemy. Landing a final blow or multiple precision hits triggers a burst that poisons nearby targets."Top-tierGraviton Lance
Graviton LancePulse RifleExoticPrimaryVoidFree-to-PlayYesS › BestExotic Engram

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Second shot of a burst rips a hole through space-time, doing high damage and recoil with no falloff. Kills with this weapon cause enemies to detonate and spawn tracking Void projectiles."

► Graviton Lance is a beast of a weapon. It clears out entire rooms thanks to its explosive capabilities. It also synergizes well with certain builds, making it an excellent option right now.

Season 1

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Second shot of a burst rips a hole through space-time, doing high damage and recoil with no falloff. Kills with this weapon cause enemies to detonate and spawn tracking Void projectiles."Top-tierSunshot
SunshotHand CannonExoticPrimarySolarFree-to-PlayYesS › BestExotic Engram

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy."

► Sunshot is the cream of the crop this season. It synergizes brilliantly with Solar 3.0, and thanks to the buffs to Hand Cannons, it rips through any non-boss enemy, making it the quintessential Primary weapon for Solar players.

Season 1

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires explosive rounds. Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy."Top-tierTrinity Ghoul
Trinity GhoulCombat BowExoticPrimaryArcForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Engram

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires an arrow that splits when released. Aiming down sights and fully drawing the bow both decrease the spread. Precision kills grant the next shot chain-lightning capabilities."

► Trinity Ghoul has always been brilliant for ad-clear, and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. Despite the more ability-focused meta we have right now, Trinity Ghoul is still a top contender for ad-clear in all PvE content.

Season 4

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires an arrow that splits when released. Aiming down sights and fully drawing the bow both decrease the spread. Precision kills grant the next shot chain-lightning capabilities."Top-tierWish-Ender
Wish-EnderCombat BowExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Quest

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Quest

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully drawn Bow, combatants behind walls are highlighted, and arrows pierce shields. Strong against Barrier Champions. One shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."

► Wish-Ender has never been this strong or popular. With the newfound intrinsic ability to deal with Anti Barrier Champions with ease, even in Master and Grandmaster levels, and the fact that it effectively hits 3 times per arrow due to its piercing perk, Wish-Ender is currently a monster in PvE.

Season 4

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully drawn Bow, combatants behind walls are highlighted, and arrows pierce shields. Strong against Barrier Champions. One shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."Top-tierMalfeasance
MalfeasanceHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesS › BestExotic Quest

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Quest

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."

► Malfeasance has always been a fascinating weapon, and with the buffs to Hand Cannons, it quickly became one of the strongest Kinetic Primaries in the game, especially against Taken enemies. Malfeasance is even stronger when using the Lucky Pants Exotic, allowing for ridiculous damage.

Season 4

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."Top-tierQuicksilver Storm
Quicksilver StormAuto RifleExoticPrimaryStrandLightfallYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Kiosk

Lightfall

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade."

► Quicksilver Storm may be the best Primary weapon in the game. Good base DPS, a burst damage option that is remarkably simple to use, and the ability to create Tangles allowing for Strand build crafting, make this weapon an exceptional pick.

Season 18

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Landing multiple hits turns your next shot into a homing micro-rocket. Landing multiple rockets loads a grenade."Top-tierAce of Spades
Ace of SpadesHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights."

► Arguably the best 140 RPM hand cannon in the game, Ace of Spades has a lot to offer. With excellent base stats and some of the best perks around, namely Momento Mori, which is like Kill Clip on steroids and the ability to see your radar while zoomed in, this weapon has a bit of everything.

Season 4

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision kills increase reload speed and cause the target to explode. Reloading after a kill increases damage. Grants radar while aiming down sights."Top-tierThorn
ThornHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic Kiosk

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage."

► Thorn has rocketed right back into the meta with the release of its Exotic Catalyst. This catalyst provides practically everything: Range, Mobility, Handling, and Stability upon a single kill, or absorbing a remnant. This allows for constant kill-chaining and lets good players take over any lobby.

Season 6

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills leave behind Remnants which, when absorbed, increase damage."Top-tierHawkmoon
HawkmoonHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticBeyond LightYesS › BestXûr

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvP

Xûr

Beyond Light

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus."

► Hawkmoon is one of the strongest Exotic Hand Cannons in PvP. It can consistently 2-tap (and even 1-tap) opposing Guardians, provided you are accurate enough. In the hands of an experienced player, Hawkmoon is definitely something to fear.

Season 12

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows and precision hits with Hawkmoon grant stacks of Paracausal Charge. The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage based on the number of stacks. Stowing Hawkmoon on the final round removes this bonus."Top-tierDead Man's Tale
Dead Man's TaleScout RifleExoticPrimaryKineticBeyond LightYesS › BestPresage

Best

❘ S

Excels in:
PvP

Presage

Beyond Light

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Chaining precision hits grants bonus target acquisition and range" + Killing Wind

PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Vorpal Weapon )

► Dead Man's Tale is incredible in the Crucible right now. Due to the recent patch slowing the game down, players are able to take advantage of Dead Man's Tale's incredible range and hip-fire dueling potential.

Season 13

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Chaining precision hits grants bonus target acquisition and range" + Killing Wind

PvP God Roll: Outlaw (also good: Vorpal Weapon )

Top-tierNo Time to Explain
No Time to ExplainPulse RifleExoticPrimaryKineticBeyond LightYesA › StrongBeyond Light Campaign

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Beyond Light Campaign

Beyond Light

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision shots and shots against combatants affected by Stasis return to the magazine. At 10 stacks, a small portal will open, shooting bullets from an alternate timeline version of this weapon. Precision hits extend the portal's duration."

► An exceptional pick in PVP (and a fun one in PVE), No Time to Explain's ability to provide you with an extra set of bullets continues to be helpful in most areas of the game.

Season 12

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision shots and shots against combatants affected by Stasis return to the magazine. At 10 stacks, a small portal will open, shooting bullets from an alternate timeline version of this weapon. Precision hits extend the portal's duration."Top-tierRiskrunner
RiskrunnerSubmachine GunExoticPrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongExotic Quest

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Quest

Free-to-Play

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "When taking Arc Damage, this weapon becomes more powerful and resists incoming Arc Damage. Shots fired can become chain lightning and return ammo. Kills extend the duration of the effect."

► Riskrunner can make you unstoppable, assuming you're taking arc damage (which includes throwing your arc grenade at your feet!). When its perk activates, you literally become an unkillable god able to lethal deal chain damage with ease.

Season 1

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "When taking Arc Damage, this weapon becomes more powerful and resists incoming Arc Damage. Shots fired can become chain lightning and return ammo. Kills extend the duration of the effect."Top-tierOutbreak Perfected
Outbreak PerfectedPulse RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongZero Hour

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

Zero Hour

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon creates SIVA nanite swarms on rapid hits and precision kills and does more damage to enemies based on the number of SIVA nanites that attach to them."

► Outbreak Perfected's theme and great firing feel alone make it a popular PVE choice. And with buffs to Exotic primary weapon damage, it's now an excellent option for casual PVE content.

Season 6

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon creates SIVA nanite swarms on rapid hits and precision kills and does more damage to enemies based on the number of SIVA nanites that attach to them."Top-tierCryosthesia 77K
Cryosthesia 77KSidearmExoticPrimaryStasisBeyond LightYesA › StrongExotic Kiosk

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Kiosk

Beyond Light

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to fire a Charged Shot when Liquid Cooling is active. Final blows with this weapon enable a Charged Shot for a short duration. Targets hit by this shot are instantly frozen."

► With Stasis being a hard counter to Champions, Cryosthesia is a solid weapon in the right hands. While there is a learning curve of when and where to use the charged shot, it won't take long to master it.

Season 14

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to fire a Charged Shot when Liquid Cooling is active. Final blows with this weapon enable a Charged Shot for a short duration. Targets hit by this shot are instantly frozen."Top-tierCollective Obligation
Collective ObligationPulse RifleExoticPrimaryVoidThe Witch QueenYesA › StrongVow of the Disciple Raid

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

Vow of the Disciple Raid

Witch Queen

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon leeches Void debuffs when damaging targets that are suppressed, weakened, or volatile. Once charged, damage from this weapon applies the same Void debuffs that were leeched. Weapon automatically reloads when you gain Devour, a Void overshield, or become invisible."

► With the ability to debuff everything in sight, Collective Obligation can do things no other weapon can. That being said, you're almost required to create a build with it to make it worth your exotic slot. While this weapon has potential, having to work so hard to make your exotic feel "exotic" isn't great.

Season 16

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon leeches Void debuffs when damaging targets that are suppressed, weakened, or volatile. Once charged, damage from this weapon applies the same Void debuffs that were leeched. Weapon automatically reloads when you gain Devour, a Void overshield, or become invisible."Top-tierTouch of Malice
Touch of MaliceScout RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongKing's Fall Raid

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

King's Fall Raid

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage and then regenerates itself. Rapidly defeating three targets restores health. Precision hits drain combatants' life force and charge up a ball of darkness."

► With the release of Special weapons that fill the backup DPS role excellently, such as the Supremacy, Touch of Malice has fallen down in terms of ranking. It also hogs your exotic slot, which could be better used on another weapon. That being said, it is still a very easy to use and powerful backup DPS option.

Season 18

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "The final round in the magazine deals bonus damage and then regenerates itself. Rapidly defeating three targets restores health. Precision hits drain combatants' life force and charge up a ball of darkness."Top-tierNecrochasm
NecrochasmAuto RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongCrota's End Raid

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvE

Crota's End Raid

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision final blows with this weapon trigger a Cursed Thrall explosion. Final blows with Cursed Thrall explosions refill the magazine."

► Necrochasm is an add-clearing monster that can cause a chain reaction of constant explosions. What holds Necrochasm back, though, is its lack of synergy with any subclass, making it quite hard to use in a build.

Season 22

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision final blows with this weapon trigger a Cursed Thrall explosion. Final blows with Cursed Thrall explosions refill the magazine."Top-tierThe Jade Rabbit
The Jade RabbitScout RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesA › StrongExotic Engram

Strong

❘ A

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot, return ammo to the magazine, and increases its stability."

► Jade Rabbit is a pretty strong option. While it may not be as powerful as it once was, it deals incredible damage and can net a 3-tap in 0.8 seconds, provided you have perfect precision. It's also incredibly easy to use and has excellent range, making it a powerful option in this sandbox.

Season 2

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot, return ammo to the magazine, and increases its stability."Top-tierDevil's Ruin
Devil's RuinSidearmExoticPrimarySolarShadowkeepYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Shadowkeep

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, staggering laser."

► Able to deal with Unstoppable Champions, this is a fun weapon that does decent damage and melts shotgun apes in PVP when in laser mode. You will rarely see it in the wild, but this weapon deserves more attention, especially now that primary ammo is unlimited.

Season 9

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, staggering laser."Traveler's Chosen
Traveler's ChosenSidearmExoticPrimaryKineticShadowkeepYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Shadowkeep

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows grant stacks of Gathering Light. Consuming stacks, grant melee, grenade, and class ability energy based on the number of stacks. Each stack of Gathering Light improves this weapon's reload, handling, and target acquisition."

► Traveler's Chosen isn't anything special, but it is a solid option if you want to use an exotic Sidearm.

Season 11

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows grant stacks of Gathering Light. Consuming stacks, grant melee, grenade, and class ability energy based on the number of stacks. Each stack of Gathering Light improves this weapon's reload, handling, and target acquisition."Trespasser
TrespasserSidearmExoticPrimaryArcThe Witch QueenYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Witch Queen

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Reloading after defeating a target causes the next burst to be a longer, more powerful superburst. Final blows with Unrepentant superbursts automatically reload your weapon and provide an Unrepentant superburst."

► Trespasser is the mid-tier slayer. It destroys anything and everything in low to mid-tier content but will struggle in high-level content. It can also find some success in PvP, but there are more straightforward options you can use.

Season 17

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Reloading after defeating a target causes the next burst to be a longer, more powerful superburst. Final blows with Unrepentant superbursts automatically reload your weapon and provide an Unrepentant superburst."Wish-Keeper
Wish-KeeperCombat BowExoticPrimaryStrandSeason 23YesB › AverageExotic Quest

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE + PvP

Exotic Quest

Season 23

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits and final blows build energy towards a Snareweaver arrow that can be fired from the hip. On impact, Snareweaver arrows create a pattern of traps that suspend nearby targets. This weapon deals bonus damage to suspended targets. Gain faster draw time for a short duration when you suspend or damage a suspended target with this weapon."

► Wish-Keeper is a fun and solid option if you want to lean into Strand and the suspending capabilities of the subclass. It also lets you access Suspend on a non-strand subclass, which can be surprisingly powerful.

Season 23

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits and final blows build energy towards a Snareweaver arrow that can be fired from the hip. On impact, Snareweaver arrows create a pattern of traps that suspend nearby targets. This weapon deals bonus damage to suspended targets. Gain faster draw time for a short duration when you suspend or damage a suspended target with this weapon."Skyburner's Oath
Skyburner's OathScout RifleExoticPrimarySolarFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage
PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Rapid Hit) + Kill Clip

► Skyburner's Oath is still a solid weapon, but some other alternatives, such as Polaris Lance, outperform it, as Polaris can wreak much more havoc without having to only use hip-fire.

Season 1

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Rampage
PvP God Roll: Surplus (also good: Rapid Hit) + Kill ClipRat King
Rat KingSidearmExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Kiosk

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility."

► One of the most unique primary weapons available, Rat King is capable when used by yourself and quite strong when used in a Fireteam with other Rat King users.

Season 1

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility."The Huckleberry
The HuckleberrySubmachine GunExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Increased rate of fire and recoil while you're holding down the trigger. Kills with this weapon temporarily grant increased damage and partially reload the magazine."

► The Huckleberry is a fun and satisfying weapon to use, but if we look at some other options, there are Legendary weapons that can accomplish the same goals without using up your valuable Exotic weapon slot.

Season 3

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Increased rate of fire and recoil while you're holding down the trigger. Kills with this weapon temporarily grant increased damage and partially reload the magazine."Bad Juju
Bad JujuPulse RifleExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills refill the magazine, increase damage for a short duration, and grant Super energy based on the number of kills. Fires full-auto."

► Bad Juju is one of the most underrated weapons in Destiny 2. It can be a menace in PVE and gets even better with the catalyst. Unfortunately, Pulse Rifles aren't in a great place right now... But if they ever receive buffs, expect Bad Juju to rise to the top.

Season 7

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills refill the magazine, increase damage for a short duration, and grant Super energy based on the number of kills. Fires full-auto."Monte Carlo
Monte CarloAuto RifleExoticPrimaryKineticShadowkeepYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Engram

Shadowkeep

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage with this weapon reduces melee cooldown and can fully charge your melee with each kill. Melee kills and kills with this weapon increase damage."

► Monte Carlo is a decent auto rifle with a clean aesthetic and nice stats overall. Its exotic perk grants you melee energy with hits and kills, and on top of that, it also comes with an exotic version of Swashbuckler, which is a nice touch and pairs really well with melee-focused playstyles.

Season 8

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage with this weapon reduces melee cooldown and can fully charge your melee with each kill. Melee kills and kills with this weapon increase damage."Ticuu's Divination
Ticuu's DivinationCombat BowExoticPrimarySolarBeyond LightYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Exotic Kiosk

Beyond Light

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Hipfiring this weapon fires multiple tracking projectiles. Targets marked explode upon death, or when struck again. Arrows fired while aiming down sights cause Sacred Flames to instantly detonate."

► Ticuu's Divination is a powerful option, but it is grossly outclassed by too many weapons. Polaris Lance does more work in high-level content and Trinity Ghoul is way better at ad clear. Ticuu's is decent, but it just can't stand against its rivals.

Season 13

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Hipfiring this weapon fires multiple tracking projectiles. Targets marked explode upon death, or when struck again. Arrows fired while aiming down sights cause Sacred Flames to instantly detonate."Revision Zero
Revision ZeroPulse RifleExoticPrimaryKineticThe Witch QueenYesB › AverageOperation: Seraph's Shield

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Operation: Seraph's Shield

Witch Queen

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits grant targeting data. Swap to the alternate scope, loading high-damage rounds based on the amount of targeting data. Strong against Barrier Champions. Increased movement speed and target acquisition when moving while aiming down sights."

► Revision Zero is THE Anti-Barrier Champion weapon. With increased damage to Champions, intrinsic Anti-Barrier, and a sniper mode that deals chunky damage, this weapon is an all-around solid option.

Season 19

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits grant targeting data. Swap to the alternate scope, loading high-damage rounds based on the amount of targeting data. Strong against Barrier Champions. Increased movement speed and target acquisition when moving while aiming down sights."Hierarchy of Needs
Hierarchy of NeedsCombat BowExoticPrimarySolarDeluxe EditionYesB › AverageSpire of the Watcher Dungeon

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Spire of the Watcher Dungeon

Deluxe Edition

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits and final blows build Guidance Ring energy. Arrows fired through a Guidance Ring release seeking projectiles, which do more damage based on distance traveled."

► While it is incredibly unique and can pump out some respectable damage for a primary weapon, Hierarchy of Needs is simply too clunky and too niche, especially when Touch of Malice can accomplish the same goal and more.

Season 19

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits and final blows build Guidance Ring energy. Arrows fired through a Guidance Ring release seeking projectiles, which do more damage based on distance traveled."Verglas Curve
Verglas CurveCombat BowExoticPrimaryStasisSeason 20YesB › AverageSeason Pass

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Season Pass

Season 20

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon grant Stasis arrows. Your next hip-fire shot will fire all of them in a single volley. Stasis arrows freeze targets on contact and create Stasis crystals when affecting the environment."

► Verglas Curve is a fun and unique option that acts as a Stasis Trinty Ghoul (that requires extra steps). Good add clear, and the ability to generate Stasis Crystals is nothing to scoff at, but overall, it's outclassed by other Exotics.

Season 20

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Final blows with this weapon grant Stasis arrows. Your next hip-fire shot will fire all of them in a single volley. Stasis arrows freeze targets on contact and create Stasis crystals when affecting the environment."Centrifuse
CentrifuseAuto RifleExoticPrimaryArcFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageSeason Pass

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvE

Season Pass

Free-to-Play

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sprinting, sliding, and firing this weapon builds a temporary electrostatic charge, increasing range and reload speed. Final blows with high charge cause explosions, and maximum charge explosions blind targets."

► Sprinting with Centrifuse will charge up its arc damage output. It works like a toned-down take on Zhalo Supercell from Destiny 1. The weapon is solid in PvE as it is great at crowd control when the perk is charged, but otherwise, this is a fairly tame exotic option.

Season 21

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sprinting, sliding, and firing this weapon builds a temporary electrostatic charge, increasing range and reload speed. Final blows with high charge cause explosions, and maximum charge explosions blind targets."Vigilance Wing
Vigilance WingPulse RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 5-round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration, and increased movement speed."

► Vigilance Wing has always been a solid choice for PVP; in recent times, however, it's gotten outclassed. Without a buff soon, Vigilance Wing may drop down into the lower half of pulse rifles.

Season 1

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 5-round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration, and increased movement speed."Fighting Lion
Fighting LionGrenade LauncherExoticPrimaryVoidFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Grenade projectiles will bounce off surfaces. Hold to fire, and release to detonate. Direct hits do more damage to enemy shields. Rapid kills against grenade-damaged enemies refill the magazine."

► The Fighting Lion can be one of the most fun weapons to use but also one of the most annoying weapons to fight against. Mastering the Fighting Lion playstyle in the Crucible can yield excellent results. However, it takes time to master and it requires quite a niche playstyle.

Season 1

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Grenade projectiles will bounce off surfaces. Hold to fire, and release to detonate. Direct hits do more damage to enemy shields. Rapid kills against grenade-damaged enemies refill the magazine."Hard Light
Hard LightAuto RifleExoticPrimaryVoidFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rounds fired from this weapon have reduced damage falloff, over-penetrate targets, and ricochet off hard surfaces dealing extra damage. It can also change its damage type."

► The days of Hard Light's domination over the Crucible are long gone, and these days it sits in the middle of the pack. It does have its niche uses and fun ways to ricochet kill enemies, but many Legendary alternatives surpass it in both PvE and PvP.

Season 1

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rounds fired from this weapon have reduced damage falloff, over-penetrate targets, and ricochet off hard surfaces dealing extra damage. It can also change its damage type."Crimson
CrimsonHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 3-round burst. Kills with this weapon heal the wielder. Precision kills also refill the magazine."

► Effectively a Hand Cannon version of Red Death from Destiny 1, Crimson is often a misunderstood weapon and typically receives mixed reviews. But just like The Last Word, Crimson can be very good for PvP, provided you're using a controller.

Season 2

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires a 3-round burst. Kills with this weapon heal the wielder. Precision kills also refill the magazine."SUROS Regime
SUROS RegimeAuto RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Engram

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "The bottom half of each magazine deals bonus damage and can return health on kill. Holding down the trigger increases rate of fire."

► SUROS Regime's ability to combine a higher damage per bullet and a faster rate of fire can absolutely shred opposing Guardians. This makes SUROS an incredibly oppressive option if used correctly. It has fallen slightly behind, though, especially in this current long-range meta.

Season 3

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "The bottom half of each magazine deals bonus damage and can return health on kill. Holding down the trigger increases rate of fire."Tarrabah
TarrabahSubmachine GunExoticPrimarySolarForsaken PackYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon stores power when dealing or receiving damage. Once full, hold reload to unleash the beast."

► Tarrabah is still pretty strong, but it doesn't see as much usage as it once did. The meta has simply shifted away from it, and towards Legendary SMGs that are just as deadly.

Season 4

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon stores power when dealing or receiving damage. Once full, hold reload to unleash the beast."The Last Word
The Last WordHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Forsaken Pack

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires full auto. Hip-fire shots deal bonus precision damage while increasing reload speed and accuracy."

► The Last Word is notorious for being way better on a controller than on mouse and keyboard. These days, it's much less common in The Crucible; however, it's still an alright pick for controller players who don't have much else to run.

Season 5

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon fires full auto. Hip-fire shots deal bonus precision damage while increasing reload speed and accuracy."Final Warning
Final WarningSidearmExoticPrimaryStrandLightfallYesB › AverageExotic Quest

Average

❘ B

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Quest

Lightfall

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Holding down the trigger marks targets and loads multiple bullets, which fire in a burst with increased stability on trigger release. Hitting a marked target with a fully charged burst will unravel them.
Hipfiring Projectiles will track marked targets and deal increased body shot damage. Aiming Projectiles have greatly increased velocity and deal extra critical hit damage."

► While Final Warning may be a fun option inside of the Crubile, it isn't meta-defining and doesn't change the game too much. There are better options that don't take up your exotic slot.

Season 20

Slot: Strand | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Holding down the trigger marks targets and loads multiple bullets, which fire in a burst with increased stability on trigger release. Hitting a marked target with a fully charged burst will unravel them.
Hipfiring Projectiles will track marked targets and deal increased body shot damage. Aiming Projectiles have greatly increased velocity and deal extra critical hit damage."Sturm
SturmHand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic Kiosk

Average

❘ B

Exotic Kiosk

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills fill the magazine of the equipped Energy weapon from reserves. Kills with Drang reload this weapon and provides bonus damage."

► Sturm is a pretty niche pick. Even if you play into the gameplay loop of using this gun by equipping Drang, it just feels like a lot of work for not too much payoff. While unique and fun at times, Sturm can't be considered a top-tier pick right now.

Season 1

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills fill the magazine of the equipped Energy weapon from reserves. Kills with Drang reload this weapon and provides bonus damage."Symmetry
SymmetryScout RifleExoticPrimaryArcShadowkeepYesC › WeakExotic Kiosk

Weak

❘ C

Excels in:
PvP

Exotic Kiosk

Shadowkeep

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits build up Dynamic Charge. Swapping to Arc Seeker mode increases damage and partially reloads the magazine. Arc Seekers track toward combatants you target."

► Symmetry is an unique weapon that can easily catch opponents off guard. However, its main perk will be less effective against better players, neutering its value in more challenging PvP settings. That said, you can still frag out with it in more casual settings.

Season 9

Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Precision hits build up Dynamic Charge. Swapping to Arc Seeker mode increases damage and partially reloads the magazine. Arc Seekers track toward combatants you target."MIDA Multi-Tool
MIDA Multi-ToolScout RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakExotic Kiosk

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Kiosk

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon boosts move speed. Radar stays active while aiming down sights."

► MIDA Multi-Tool isn't what it used to be in PvP. It gets outclassed by most other weapon types and will struggle to find success in most hands.

Season 1

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "This weapon boosts move speed. Radar stays active while aiming down sights."Sweet Business
Sweet BusinessAuto RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakExotic Quest

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Quest

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Larger magazine. Increased accuracy when firing from the hip. Picking up ammo for this weapon immediately reloads it."

► Sweet Business is fun, but that's about it. It can have an excellent TTK when it's ramped up, but when enemies hear a revved-up Sweet Business, they will simply either take cover or peek shoot. This renders the Sweet Business mostly ineffective.

Season 1

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Larger magazine. Increased accuracy when firing from the hip. Picking up ammo for this weapon immediately reloads it."Cerberus+1
Cerberus+1Auto RifleExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakExotic Engram

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Engram

Free-to-Play

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoots erratic bullets from all gun barrels at the same time. Aiming this weapon reduces the spread of its projectiles."

► To say Cerberus+1 is a niche option is an understatement. Cerberus can be useful at dealing with Titan Barricades, especially Citan's Rampart barricades, but other than that, this is a poor weapon, too erratic to do anything notable with.

Season 4

Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoots erratic bullets from all gun barrels at the same time. Aiming this weapon reduces the spread of its projectiles."Tommy's Matchbook
Tommy's MatchbookAuto RifleExoticPrimarySolarShadowkeepYesC › WeakExotic Kiosk

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Kiosk

Shadowkeep

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained fire with this weapon overheats it, increasing damage but burning the user. Overheat damage is reduced while hip firing."

► Tommy's Matchbook can be deadly in certain scenarios, but realistically speaking, there will always going to be better options at your disposal for both PvE and PvP.

Season 10

Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained fire with this weapon overheats it, increasing damage but burning the user. Overheat damage is reduced while hip firing."The Manticore
The ManticoreSubmachine GunExoticPrimaryVoidThe Witch QueenYesC › WeakExotic Kiosk

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Kiosk

Witch Queen

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage while grounded charges antigrav repulsors. Dealing damage while airborne extends antigrav repulsors. Dealing damage while airborne increases this weapon's damage output."

► The Manticore can completely catch opponents off guard if they refuse to take its airborne damage buff seriously. However, skilled players will quickly adapt and catch on to the Manticore's strategy and use you as a sitting duck when in the air.

Season 19

Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Dealing damage while grounded charges antigrav repulsors. Dealing damage while airborne extends antigrav repulsors. Dealing damage while airborne increases this weapon's damage output."Wicked Implement
Wicked ImplementScout RifleExoticPrimaryStasisFree-to-PlayYesC › WeakExotic Quest

Weak

❘ C

Exotic Quest

Free-to-Play

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rapidly landing precision hits causes targets to become slowed. Precision final blows create a Stasis shard that returns to you. Collecting Stasis shards refills the magazine."

► Wicked Implement is weak. It centers around Stasis, and given that Stasis is pretty weak, it's pretty hard to recommend players to use one of the weakest weapon types for the weakest subclass.

Season 21

Slot: Stasis | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Rapidly landing precision hits causes targets to become slowed. Precision final blows create a Stasis shard that returns to you. Collecting Stasis shards refills the magazine."