Best Exotic weapons in Destiny 2: Meta guns and tier list

The Microchosm Exotic weapon in Destiny 2.Dexerto

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.

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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

TIERWEAPON
SAce of Spades, Choir of One, Conditional Finality, Dragon’s Breath, Graviton Lance, Khvostov 7G-0X, Necrochasm, Outbreak Perfected, Sunshot, Trinity Ghoul
AAger’s Scepter, Bad Juju, Cloudstrike, Divinity, Ex Diris, Fighting Lion, Final Warning, Forerunner, Gjallarhorn, Hawkmoon, Izanagi’s Burden, Le Monarque, Legend of Acrius, Leviathan’s Breath, Polaris Lance, Quicksilver Storm, Riskrunner, Salvation’s Grip, Slayer’s Fang, Still Hunt, Telesto, The Chaperone, The Huckleberry, The Navigator, Thorn, Thunderlord, Tractor Cannon, Whisper of the Worm, Wicked Implement, Wish-Ender, Witherhoard
BAlethonym, Anarchy, Arbalest, Bastion, Cerberus+1, Crimson, Dead Man’s Tale, Dead Messenger, Edge of Concurrence, Ergo Sum, Euphony, Grand Overture, Heir Apparent, Hierachy of Needs, 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, The Wardcliff Coil, Ticuu’s Divination, Tommy’s Matchbook, Verglas Curve, Vex Mythoclast, Wish-Keeper, Worldline Zero
CBlack Talon, Borealis, Centrifuse, Coldheart, Collective Obligation, Cryosthesia 77K, D.A.R.CI, Deathbringer, Delicate Tomb, Determinisitic Chaos, Devil’s Ruin, Duality, Edge of Action, Edge of Intent, Eriana’s Vow, Eyes of Tomorow, Hard Light, Heartshadow, Lord of Wolves, Lorentz Driver, One Thousand Voices, Ruinous Effigy, Skyburner’s Oath, Sturm, SUROS Regime, Sweet Business, Symmetry, Tessellation, The Colony, The Last Word, The Manticore, The Queenbreaker, Touch of Malice, Traveler’s Chosen, Trespasser, Truth, Two-Tailed Fox, Vexcalibur, Vigilance Wing, Wavesplitter, Winterbite, 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

Ace of Spades Exotic Hand Cannon from Destiny 2.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 very best guns in the Crucible. If you fancy slaying some Guardians, this is the gun for the job.

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Choir of One

Choir of One exotic auto rifle in Destiny 2.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 added in Echoes that tears through adds 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

The Conditional Finality Exotic Shotgun in Destiny 2.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.

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Dragon’s Breath

The Dragon's Breath exotic rocket launcher in Destiny 2.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

The Graviton Lance in Destiny 2.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 even viable in PvE, where it serves as one of the best Void primaries for both general use and add-clear, especially following the Pulse Rifle buffs in The Final Shape.

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Khvostov 7G-0X

Khvostov 7G-0X auto rifle in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Kinetic Auto Rifle
  • Exotic Perks: The Right Choice, Shoot to Loot
  • Catalyst: N/A
  • Debut Season: Season 24
  • Best Use: PvE & PvP

At one point in Act 1, Khvostov 7G-0X became the most dominant PvP weapon since The Craftening. 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 remains top-tier even after all of this time.

Necrochasm

Necrochasm Exotic Auto Rifle in Destiny 2.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.

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Outbreak Perfected

Outbreak Perfected exotic pulse rifle in Destiny 2.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

Sunshot exotic solar hand cannon in destiny 2.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 Revenant, Sunshot remains a great choice when using Solar, though a 10% nerf to its splash damage last season has slightly reduced its effectiveness.

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Trinity Ghoul

Trinity Ghoul Exotic combat bow in Destiny 2.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 partnering it with an Arc build and be shocked by its electrifying AOE damage.

A-Tier

Ager’s Scepter

Screenshot fo the Ager's Scepter exotic Trace Rifle in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Stasis Trace Rifle
  • Exotic Perks: Ager’s Call, Rega’s Refrain
  • Catalyst: Will Given Form
  • Debut Season: Season 15
  • Best Use: PvE

The Stasis focus of Revenant has given some Exotics a chance to shine, and Ager’s Sceptre is certainly no exception. This excellent Trace Rifle has become a crown control machine, capable of freezing hundreds of enemies in a matter of seconds. This gives it spectacular synergy with Stasis builds like Mask of Fealty and Rime-Coat Raiment, both of which are dominating this season.

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Bad Juju

The Bad Juju exotic pulse rifle in Destiny 2.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 in Revenant, this now triggers every three kills, making this an exceptional weapon for add clear, while also retaining its ability to charge your Super faster than just about anything else. It may have been a meme weapon before, but Bad Juju is now a seriously powerful gun that you need to try.

Cloudstrike

The Cloudstrike exotic sniper rifle from Destiny 2.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.

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Divinity

Divinity exotic trace rifle from destiny 2.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 makes it more difficult to upkeep Judgment, but that alone is nowhere near enough to knock it out of the meta.

Ex Diris

Ex Diris Arc Exotic Grenade Launcher in destiny 2Dexerto
  • 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 you can use. The best part is that this season’s artifact allows Ex Diris to weaken enemies, resulting in some absurd DPS for a weapon that uses Special ammo.

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Fighting Lion

Screenshot of the Fighting Lion exotic grenade launcher in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Void Grenade Launcher
  • Exotic Perks: Delayed Gratification, Thin the Herd
  • Catalyst: Chimera
  • Debut Season: Season 1
  • Best Use: PvE & PvP

Fighting Lion’s power in PvP is no secret, with it being one of the scariest guns to go up against when in the hands of a capable player. However, it’s now viable in PvE too, with the buffed grenade launcher spawning volatile bursts on direct hits. With it essentially having an intrinsic version of Destabilizing Rounds, Fighting Lion is now a legitimately great add clear weapon, assuming you hit your shots.

Final Warning

Final Warning Exotic Sidearm in Destiny 2.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 many Special weapons, putting 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.

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Forerunner

Forerunner exotic sidearm in Destiny 2.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.

Gjallarhorn

destiny 2 gjallarhornDexerto
  • Archetype: Solar Rocket Launcher
  • Exotic Perks: Wolfpack Rounds, Pack Hunter
  • Catalyst: More Wolves
  • Debut Season: Season 15
  • Best Use: PvE

Before Dragon’s Breath became a thing, Gjallarhorn was all the rage. Even now, it’s still a great option that justifies using up your lone Exotic slot. While not a good DPS weapon in its own right, Gjallarhorn empowers your teammate’s Rocket Launchers, making them deal much more damage. If coordinated properly, this can increase a Raid team’s damage by over 50%.

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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

Izanagi's Burden exotic sniper rifle in Destiny 2Dexerto
  • 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 fore 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 meta, though nerfs to Reconstruction have made this trickier to execute.

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Le Monarque

Le Monarque Exotic combat bow in Destiny 2.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

Legend of Acrius exotic shotgun from destiny 2.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. Obviously, this is somewhat situational as you need to be up close but when used right, very little can out damage this Exotic.

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Leviathan’s Breath

Leviathan's Breath Exotic combat bow in Destiny 2.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 high-end content, as Archer’s Tempo is essential.

Polaris Lance

The Polaris Lance Exotic Scout Rifle in Destiny 2.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.

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Quicksilver Storm

Quicksilver Storm Exotic Auto Rifle from Destiny 2.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, but it can take a while to charge following the nerfs.

Riskrunner

Riskrunner exotic SMG from Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Arc SMG
  • Exotic Perks: Arc Conductor, Superconductor
  • Catalyst: Rimestealer
  • Debut Season: Season 1
  • Best Use: PvE

Riskrunner is one of the most unique Exotic weapons. Essentially, if you take Arc damage from any source, this gun hits harder and makes you incredibly tanky. Although somewhat niche, this gun is unrivalled in endgame activites where enemies use Arc weapons, such as GMs that feature lots of Fallen like Exodus Crash and Fallen S.A.B.E.R.

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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, new catalyst, and Revenant’s focus on Stasis means 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.

Slayer’s Fang

The Slayer's Fang exotic shotgun in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Void Shotgun
  • Exotic Perks: Nightsworn Sight, Heart Piercer
  • Catalyst: Repulsor Brace, Loose Change, Stats For All, Cascade Point
  • Debut Season: Season 25
  • Best Use: PvE

This unusual, add clear shotgun has turned out to be more of a utility weapon than anything else. It deals great damage, weakens enemies, creates Void Overshields with the Repulsor Brace refit, and can wipe out groups of enemies in just one shot thanks to Heart Piercer. It isn’t meta-defining, but Slayer’s Fang is still an effective Exotic that excels with specific builds like Void Titan.

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Still Hunt

Still Hunt Exotic sniper rifle in Destiny 2.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 one million damage in just a few seconds.

Telesto

The Telesto exotic fusion rifle in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Void Fusion Rifle
  • Exotic Perks: Unplanned Reprieve, Harbinger’s Pulse
  • Catalyst: Deeper Pockets
  • Debut Season: Season 2
  • Best Use: PvE

Telesto has always been a reliable DPS option that work with just about any build. It has only gotten better over time too, with a buff in Revenant Act 2 boosting its explosive damage by 20%. This Fusion Rifle is far from a complicated Exotic, but if you need a weapon that just shoots and deals a lot of damage, then you can’t go wrong with this classic.

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The Chaperone

The Chaperone exotic shotgun in Destiny 2.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

Screenshot of The Huckleberry exotic SMG in Destiny 2.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 in Revenant, with it being given Kinetic Tremors and the ability to reload on final blows. Combined with its unique version of Rampage, which stacks up to 66%, this SMG now melts through anything any 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.

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The Navigator

The Euphony exotic trace rifle in Destiny 2.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.

Thorn

The Thorn Exotic Hand Cannon in Destiny 2.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 in Season 23 took it to another level. It is one of the best Exotics in PvP, offering a highly competitive TTK, and the effective range to outgun just about anything.

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Thunderlord

Thunderlord exotic machine gun from Destiny 2.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.

Tractor Cannon

The Tractor Cannon Exotic Shotgun in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Void Shotgun
  • Exotic Perks: Repulsor Force, The Scientific Method
  • Catalyst: Magazine +3, Inventory Size +50
  • Debut Season: Season 1
  • Best Use: PvE

Tractor Cannon is used for one reason and one reason only, it makes enemies take 30% more damage from all sources. That is the biggest damage debuff currently available from any Destiny 2 weapon, bettering even Divinity. Against any boss with a large health pool, it’s well worth using this to support your teammates.

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Whisper of the Worm

Destiny 2 Whisper of the WormDexerto
  • 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 in Revenant have made this gun more consistent too, allowing it to flourish against a wider range of bosses.

Wicked Implement

The Wicked Implement exotic scout rifle in Destiny 2.Dexerto
  • Archetype: Stasis Scout Rifle
  • Exotic Perks: Creeping Attrition, Tithing Harvest
  • Catalyst: Hadopelagic Tribute, Headstone
  • Debut Season: Season 21
  • Best Use: PvE

It had a rough start to life, as Wicked Implement was initially hard to get but not actually very good. However, it’s much easier to acquire these days, and several buffs have made it a genuinely strong option. With Stasis being such a big focus in Revenant, this is perfect for endgame content where playing safe and picking enemies off from a distance is often necessary.

Wish-Ender

Wish-Ender Exotic combat bow in Destiny 2.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

witherhoard exotic grenade launcher from destiny 2.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

WEAPONTYPEEXOTIC PERKS
Thumbnail image of Alethonym.AlethonymStasis Grenade LauncherHarvester Spike, Vestigial Alchemy
Thumbnail image of Anarchy.AnarchyArc Heavy GLArc Traps, Moving Target
Thumbnail image of Arbalest.ArbalestKinetic Linear Fusion RifleCompounding Force, Disruption Break
Thumbnail image of Bastion.BastionKinetic Fusion RifleSaint’s Fists, Breakthrough
Thumbnail image of Cerberus+1.Cerberus+1Kinetic Auto RifleFour-Headed Dog, Spread Shot Package
Thumbnail image of Crimson.CrimsonKinetic Hand CannonBanned Weapon, Cruel Remedy
A thumbnail image of the Dead Man's Tale exotic scout rifle in Destiny 2.Dead Man’s TaleKinetic Scout RifleCranial Spike, Outlaw
Thumbnail image of Dead Messenger.Dead MessengerVoid Grenade LauncherTrinary Vision, The Fundamentals
Thumbnail image of Edge of Concurrence.Edge of ConcurrenceArc GlaiveEdge of Concurrence, Lightning Seeker
Thumbnail image of Ergo Sum.Ergo SumKinetic SwordVaries, Transcendent Duelist
A thumbnail image of Euphony in Destiny 2.EuphonyStrand Linear Fusion RifleUnwound, Spindle
Thumbnail image of Grand Overture.Grand OvertureArc Machine GunWrath of the Colossus, Omega Strike
Thumbnail image of Heir Apparent.Heir ApparentSolar Machine GunHeavy Slug Thrower, Armor of the Colossus
Thumbnail image of Hierachy of Needs.Hierachy of NeedsSolar BowGuidance Ring, Apolionic Tangent
Thumbnail image of Ice BReaker.Ice BreakerStasis Sniper RifleNo Backpack, Ice Breaker
Thumbnail image of Jotunn.JotunnSolar Fusion RifleCharge Shot, Shield Disorient
Thumbnail image of LuminaLuminaKinetic Hand CannonNoble Rounds, Blessing of the Sky
Thumbnail image of Malfeasance in Destiny 2.MalfeasanceKinetic Hand CannonExplosive Shadow, Taken Predator
Thumbnail image of Merciless.MercilessSolar Fusion RifleConserve Momentum, Impetus
Thumbnail image of Microcosm.MicrocosmKinetic Trace RifleParacausal Beam, Paracausal Imbuement
Thumbnail image of MIDA Multi-Tool.MIDA Multi-ToolKinetic Scout RifleMIDA Multi-Tool, Mid Radar
Monte CarloKinetic Auto RifleMonte Carlo Method, Markov Chain
A thumbnail image of the No Time To Explain exotic pulse rifle in Destiny 2.No Time To ExplainKinetic Pulse RifleRewind Again, Feeding Frenzy
Thumbnail image of Osteo Striga.Osteo StrigaKinetic SMGScreaming Swarm, Toxic Overload
Thumbnail image of Parasite.ParasiteSolar Grenade LauncherWorm’s Hunger, Worm Byproduct
Thumbnail image of Prometheus Lens.Prometheus LensSolar Trace RiflePrismatic Inferno, Flame Refraction
Thumbnail image of Rat King.Rat KingKinetic SidearmRat Pack, Vermin
Thumbnail image of the Red Death Reformed exotic pulse rifle in Destiny 2.Red Death ReformedSolar Pulse RifleRedemption, Inverse Relationship
Thumbnail image of Revision Zero.Revision ZeroKinetic Pulse RifleHunter’s Trace, Moving Target
Thumbnail image of Sleeper Simulant.Sleeper SimulantSolar Linear Fusion RifleDornroschen, Moving Target
Thumbnail image of TarrabahTarrabahSolar SMGRavenous Beast, Bottomless Appetite
Thumbnail image of The Fourth Horseman.The Fourth HorsemanArc ShotgunThunderer, Broadside
Thumbnail image of The Jade Rabbit.The Jade RabbitKinetic Scout RifleThe Fate of All Fools, Zen Moment
Thumbnail image of The Lament.The LamentSolar SwordBanshee’s Wail, Revved Consumption
Thumbnail image of The Prospector.The ProspectorArc Heavy GLExcavation, Full Auto Trigger System
Thumbnail image of The Wardcliff Coil.The Wardcliff CoilArc Rocket LauncherMad Scientist, Mechanized Autoloader
Thumbnail image of Ticuu's Divination.Ticuu’s DivinationSolar BowSacred Flame, Causality Arrows
Thumbnail image of Tommy's Matchbook.Tommy’s MatchbookSolar Auto RifleIgnition Trigger, Heat Sink
Thumbnail image of Verglas Curve.Verglas CurveStasis BowHail Barrage, Hail Storm
Thumbnail image of Vex Mythoclast.Vex MythoclastSolar Fusion RifleTimeless Mythoclast, Temporal Unlimiter
Thumbnail image of Wish-Keeper.Wish-KeeperStrand BowSnareweaver, Silkbound Slayer
Thumbnail image of Worldline Zero.Worldline ZeroArc SwordTesseract, Tireless Blade

C-Tier

WEAPONTYPEEXOTIC PERKS
Thumbnail image of Black Talon.Black TalonVoid SwordCrow’s Wings, Tireless Blade
Thumbnail image of Borealis.BorealisVoid Sniper RifleThe Fundamentals, Ionic Return
Thumbnail image of Centrifuse.CentrifuseArc Auto RifleOvercharge Capacitor, Regenerative Motion
Thumbnail image of Coldheart.ColdheartArc Trace RifleCold Fusion, Longest Winter
Thumbnail image of Collective Obligation.Collective ObligationVoid Pulse RifleVoid Leech, Umbral Sustenance
Thumbnail image of Cryothesia 77K.Cryothesia 77KStasis SidearmLN2 Burst, Liquid Cooling
Thumbnail image of D.A.R.C.I.D.A.R.C.I.Arc Sniper RiflePersonal Assistant, Target Acquired
Thumbnail image of Deathbringer.DeathbringerVoid Rocket LauncherDark Deliverance, Dark Descent
Thumbnail image of Delicate Tomb.Delicate TombArc Fusion RifleTraitor’s Vessel, Tempest Cascade
Thumbnail image of Deterministic Chaos.Deterministic ChaosVoid Machine GunVexadecimal, Heavy Metal
Thumbnail image of Devil's Ruin.Devil’s RuinSolar SidearmClose the Gap, Pyrogenesis
Thumbnail image of Duality.DualitySolar ShotgunCompression Chamber, On Black Wings
Thumbnail image of Edge of Action.Edge of ActionVoid GlaiveEdge of Action, Remote Shield
Thumbnail image of Edge of Intent.Edge of IntentSolar GlaiveEdge of Intent, Restorative Turret
Thumbnail image of Eriana's Vow.Eriana’s VowSolar Hand CannonLooks Can Kill, Death at First Glance
Thumbnail image of Eyes of Tomorrow.Eyes of TomorrowSolar Rocket LauncherEyes on All, Adaptive Ordnance
Thumbnail image of Hard Light.Hard LightVoid Auto RifleVolatile Light, The Fundamentals
Thumbnail image of Heartshadow.HeartshadowVoid SwordExhumation, Shot in the Dark
Thumbnail image of Lord of Wolves.Lord of WolvesSolar ShotgunShrapnel Launcher, Release the Wolves
Thumbnail image of Lorentz Driver.Lorentz DriverVoid Linear Fusion RifleLagrangian Sight, EM Anomaly
Thumbnail image of One Thousand Voices.One Thousand VoicesSolar Fusion RifleAhamkara’s Eye, Unforeseen Repercussions
Thumbnail image of Ruinouse Effigy.Ruinous EffigyVoid Trace RifleTransmutation, Evolution
Thumbnail image of Skyburner's Oath.Skyburner’s OathSolar Scout RifleSlug Rifle, For the Empire
Thumbnail image of Sturm.SturmKinetic Hand CannonAccomplice, Storm and Stress
Thumbnail image of SUROS Regime.SUROS RegimeKinetic Auto RifleSUROS Legecy, Spinning Up
Thumbnail image of Sweet Business.Sweet BusinessKinetic Auto RiflePayday, Business Time
Thumbnail image of SymmetrySymmetryArc Scout RifleRevolution, Dynamic Charge
Thumbnail image of Tesellation.TessellationKinetic Fusion RifleProperty: Undecidable, Property: Irreducible
Thumbnail image of The Colony.The ColonyVoid Heavy GLInsectoid Robot Grenaes, Serve the Colony
Thumbnail image of The Last Word.The Last WordKinetic Hand CannonFan Fire, Hip-Fire Grip
Thumbnail image of The Manticore.The ManticoreVoid SMGSoaring Fang, Swooping Talons
Thumbnail image of The Queenbreaker.The QueenbreakerArc Linear Fusion RifleWire Rifle, Hip-Fire Grip
Thumbnail image of Touch of Malice.Touch of MaliceKinetic Scout RifleTouch of Malice, Charged with Blight
Thumbnail image of Traveler's Chosen.Traveler’s ChosenKinetic SidearmGathering Light, Gift of the Traveler
Thumbnail image of Trespasser.TrespasserArc SidearmUnrepentant, Be the Danger
Thumbnail image of Truth.TruthVoid Rocket LauncherPrototype Trueseeker, Grenades and Horseshoes
Thumbnail image of Two-Tailed Fox.Two-Tailed FoxVoid Rocket LauncherTwintails, Play with Your Prey
Thumbnail image of Vexcalibur.VexcaliburVoid GlaiveM1R Distribution Matrix, Perpetual Loophole
Thumbnail image of Vigilance Wing.Vigilance WingKinetic Pulse RifleHarsh Truths, Last Stand
Thumbnail image of Wavesplitter.WavesplitterVoid Trace RifleHarmonic Laser, Supercharged Battery
Thumbnail image of Winterbite.WinterbiteStasis GlaiveBig Frigid Glaive, Tilting at Windmills
Thumbnail image of Xenophage.XenophageSolar Machine GunPyrotoxin Rounds, Rangefinder

That’s all for our complete 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. We’ve also covered the best Hunter buildbest Warlock build, and best Titan build to help you dominate everything Destiny 2 has to offer.