Destiny 2 Exotic Weapons tier list: Best Exotics for PvE & PvP

Exotic Weapons are Destiny 2’s most iconic guns, 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 complete 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 Exotic perks, great DPS combinations, or even game-breaking exploits.

What makes a meta Exotic varies in every season, but you can be certain that the high tier weapons on this list will make your life easier, especially if you want to overcome the end-game content.

Destiny 2 Exotic weapons tier list

TIER	WEAPON
S	Ace of Spades, Choir of One, Conditional Finality, Dragon’s Breath, Graviton Lance, Khvostov 7G-0X, Necrochasm, Outbreak Perfected, Still Hunt, Sunshot
A	Ager’s Scepter, Bad Juju, Cloudstrike, Dead Man’s Tale, Divinity, Euphony, Fighting Lion, Final Warning, Forerunner, Gjallarhorn, Izanagi’s Burden, Le Monarque, Legend of Acrius, Leviathan’s Breath, Malfeasance, Monte Carlo, No Time To Explain, Polaris Lance, Quicksilver Storm, Red Death Reformed, The Huckleberry, The Navigator, Thorn, Thunderlord, Tractor Cannon, Whisper of the Worm, Wicked Implement, Wish-Ender, Witherhoard
B	Alethonym, Anarchy, Arbalest, Bastion, Cerberus+1, Crimson, Dead Messenger, Edge of Concurrence, Ergo Sum, Grand Overture, Hawkmoon Heir Apparent, Hierachy of Needs, Ice Breaker, Jotunn, Lumina, Merciless, Microcosm, MIDA Multi-Tool, Osteo Striga, Parasite, Prometheus Lens, Rat King, Revision Zero, Riskrunner, Salvation’s Grip, Sleeper Simulant, Tarrabah, Telesto, The Chaperone, The Fourth Horseman, The Jade Rabbit, The Lament, The Last Word, The Prospector, The Wardcliff Coil, Ticuu’s Divination, Tommy’s Matchbook, Verglas Curve, Vex Mythoclast, Wish-Keeper, Worldline Zero
C	Black 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, Ex Diris, 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 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 the PvE and PvP metas
• A-Tier: Strong Exotics that perform well and serve as powerful options
• B-Tier: Niche or more situational Exotics that can still be very 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

• Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

Choir of One

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
• Element: Void
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Element: Stasis
• 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

• Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
• Element: Solar
• 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

• Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
• Element: Void
• 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.

Khvostov 7G-0X

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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

• Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

Still Hunt

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
• Element: Solar
• 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 well over one million damage in just a few seconds.

Sunshot

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
• Element: Solar
• 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.

A-Tier

Ager’s Scepter

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Trace Rifle
• Element: Stasis
• 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.

Bad Juju

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
• Element: Arc
• 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.

Dead Man’s Tale

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• Exotic Perks: Cranial Spike
• Catalyst: Dark-Forged Trigger
• Debut Season: Season 13
• Best Use: PvE & PvP

While DMT has been a good option in PvP for years now, its buffs in Season 24 have turned it into a great PvE weapon too. It now melts through adds with ease, dealing over 20,000 damage per shot in dungeon-level content. If you fancy yourself a marksman who enjoys using precision weapons, the buffed version of Dead Man’s Tale is one of the best right now.

Divinity

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Trace Rifle
• Element: Arc
• 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.

Euphony

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Linear Fusion Rifle
• Element: Strand
• Exotic Perks: Unwound, Spindle
• Catalyst: N/A
• Debut Season: Season 24
• Best Use: PvE

Raid Exotics are typically either extremely good or useless. Thankfully, Euphony is the former, giving Guardians plenty of reasons to farm Salvation’s Edge. This Strand Exotic deals incredible single-target DPS, with each shot producing additional Threadlings, and those Threadlings enhancing the weapon itself. It’s a simple gameplay loop that outputs a lot of damage. All you have to do is hit your shots.

Fighting Lion

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
• Element: Void
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sidearm
• Element: Strand
• 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.

Forerunner

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sidearm
• Element: Kinetic
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Rocket Launcher
• Element: Solar
• 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%.

Izanagi’s Burden

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

Le Monarque

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Bow
• Element: Void
• 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

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Element: Arc
• 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.

Leviathan’s Breath

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Bow
• Element: Void
• 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.

Malfeasance

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
• Element: KInetic
• Exotic Perks: Explosive Shadow, Taken Predatory
• Catalyst: Vorpal Weapon
• Debut Season: Season 4
• Best Use: PvE

While Lucky Pants users don’t have much use for Malfeasance these days, that doesn’t mean the Exotic’s time is up. It still serves as a fantastic counter to both Taken combatants and Unstoppable Champions, with the Hand Cannon being more than capable of slaying them with ease. Equally, 180 RPM Hand Cannons are performing very well in PvE these days, so it’s a very solid option that feels impactful.

Monte Carlo

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
• Element: KInetic
• Exotic Perks: Monte Carlo Method, Markov Chain
• Catalyst: Stochastic Vengeance
• Debut Season: Season 8
• Best Use: PvE

Monte Carlo is a top tier option for anyone who enjoys using melee builds. Charge up Stochastic Vengeance to activate its bayonet, which can be used alongside Exotics like Synthoceps to deal well over 100,000 damage in a single stab. This even rips champions apart and constantly replenishes melee energy, so the fun never stops. We recommend using this with Strand Titan for the best results.

No Time To Explain

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
• Element: KInetic
• Exotic Perks: Rewind Again, Feeding Frenzy
• Catalyst: Blast from the Side
• Debut Season: Season 12
• Best Use: PvP

With freakishly high stats, a competitive TTK, and practically no recoil, it’s not hard to see why so many players love using No Time to Explain. That’s not all either, as this gun is also very forgiving and easy to secure two burst kills with. This consistency makes it a wonderful weapon regardless of whether you are a seasoned veteran or someone trying PvP for the first time.

Polaris Lance

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
• Element: Solar
• 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

• Weapon Type: Auto Rifle
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

Red Death Reformed

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Pulse Rifle
• Element: Solar
• Exotic Perks: Redemption, Inverse Relationship
• Catalyst: Helping Hand
• Debut Season: Season 24
• Best Use: PvP

This Exotic Pulse Rifle is one of the best Pulse Rifles in the sandbox, especially in PvP. Redemption is Heal Clip cranked up to 11, providing the same healing bonuses, but without the need to reload. When you do need to reload though, it also speeds up reload speed and even heals nearby allies. Be sure to unlock its catalyst too, which makes its already impactful healing even stronger.

The Huckleberry

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: SMG
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

The Navigator

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Trace Rifle
• Element: Strand
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Hand Cannon
• Element: Kinetic
• 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.

Thunderlord

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Machine Gun
• Element: Arc
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Shotgun
• Element: Void
• 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.

Trinity Ghoul

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Bow
• Element: Arc
• 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 big time, but if it can do that, there’s simply no better option. For true chaos, consider partnering it with an Arc build and be shocked by its electrifying AOE damage.

Whisper of the Worm

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Sniper Rifle
• Element: Solar
• 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

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Scout Rifle
• Element: Stasis
• 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 yet not very good. However, it’s much easier to acquire these days and several buffs have made it a genuinely strong option. Even better, Revenant’s artifact offers Anti-Barrier Scout Rifle, Wind Chill, and Brain Freeze, all three of which make this rifle deadlier than ever.

Wish-Ender

Dexerto

• Weapon Type: Bow
• Element: Kinetic
• 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

• Weapon Type: Grenade Launcher
• Element: Kinetic
• 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	TYPE	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
Dead Messenger	Void Grenade Launcher	Trinary Vision, The Fundamentals
Edge of Concurrence	Arc Glaive	Edge of Concurrence, Lightning Seeker
Ergo Sum	Kinetic Sword	Varies, Transcendent Duelist
Grand Overture	Arc Machine Gun	Wrath of the Colossus, Omega Strike
Hawkmoon	Kinetic Hand Cannon	Paracausal Shot, Opening Shot
Heir Apparent	Solar Machine Gun	Heavy Slug Thrower, Armor of the Colossus
Hierachy of Needs	Solar Bow	Guidance Ring, Apolionic Tangent
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
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
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
Revision Zero	Kinetic Pulse Rifle	Hunter’s Trace, Moving Target
Riskrunner	Arc SMG	Arc Conductor, Superconductor
Salvation’s Grip	Stasis Heavy GL	Cryocannon, Shatter Shot
Sleeper Simulant	Solar Linear Fusion Rifle	Dornroschen, Moving Target
Tarrabah	Solar SMG	Ravenous Beast, Bottomless Appetite
Telesto	Void Fusion Rifle	Unplanned Reprieve, Harbinger’s Pulse
The Chaperone	Kinetic Shotgun	Precision Slug, The Roadborn
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 Last Word	Kinetic Hand Cannon	Fan Fire, Hip-Fire Grip
The Prospector	Arc Heavy GL	Excavation, Full Auto Trigger System
The Wardcliff Coil	Arc Rocket Launcher	Mad Scientist, Mechanized Autoloader
Ticuu’s Divination	Solar Bow	Sacred Flame, Causality Arrows
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
Wish-Keeper	Strand Bow	Snareweaver, Silkbound Slayer
Worldline Zero	Arc Sword	Tesseract, Tireless Blade

C-Tier

WEAPON	TYPE	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
D.A.R.C.I.	Arc Sniper Rifle	Personal Assistant, Target Acquired
Deathbringer	Void Rocket Launcher	Dark Deliverance, Dark Descent
Delicate Tomb	Arc Fusion Rifle	Traitor’s Vessel, Tempest Cascade
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
Edge of Action	Void Glaive	Edge of Action, Remote Shield
Edge of Intent	Solar Glaive	Edge of Intent, Restorative Turret
Eriana’s Vow	Solar Hand Cannon	Looks Can Kill, Death at First Glance
Ex Diris	Arc Grenade Launcher	Corrupted Nucleosynthesis, Loyal Moths
Eyes of Tomorrow	Solar Rocket Launcher	Eyes on All, Adaptive Ordnance
Hard Light	Void Auto Rifle	Volatile Light, The Fundamentals
Heartshadow	Void Sword	Exhumation, Shot in the Dark
Lord of Wolves	Solar Shotgun	Shrapnel Launcher, Release the Wolves
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 Colony	Void Heavy GL	Insectoid Robot Grenaes, Serve the Colony
The Manticore	Void SMG	Soaring Fang, Swooping Talons
The Queenbreaker	Arc Linear Fusion Rifle	Wire Rifle, Hip-Fire Grip
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
Xenophage	Solar Machine Gun	Pyrotoxin Rounds, Rangefinder

That’s all for our complete Destiny 2 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 build, best Warlock build, and best Titan build to help you dominate everything Bungie’s looter shooter has to offer.