Destiny 2 Exotics: Tier List

Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 define the meta across PvE and PvP, offering game-changing perks that outshine standard Legendaries. With over 120 Exotics available, knowing which ones to chase is crucial. This Destiny 2 Exotics Tier List ranks the best Primary, Special, and Heavy Exotic weapons, helping you choose the top-tier options for raids, Nightfalls, Crucible, and Gambit.

What Are Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2?

Exotic weapons are the highest rarity tier of weapons in Destiny 2, known for their unique perks, powerful effects, and distinct designs. These weapons often introduce game-changing mechanics, such as self-healing, AoE explosions, infinite ammo generation, or high burst damage. Unlike Legendary weapons, you can only equip one Exotic weapon at a time, making it essential to choose wisely based on your build and activity.

Understanding the Destiny 2 Exotics Tier List

Not all Destiny 2 Exotics are created equal — some dominate the meta, while others are situational picks. Below is the tier breakdown:

• S Tier (Meta-Defining): The best Exotic weapons that dominate both PvE and PvP. Strong, high-performing Exotics, essential for raids, Nightfalls, and Crucible.
• A Tier (Strong but Not Meta): Excellent weapons that require specific builds to shine.
• B Tier (Situational Picks): Decent choices with niche uses, but generally outclassed.

With balance changes in The Final Shape, certain Exotics have risen in power, making this updated Destiny 2 Exotics Tier List essential for Guardians looking to maximize their loadout. Want to wield the most powerful Exotics without the grind? With Destiny 2 Weapons Boost, you can skip the hassle and unlock top-tier weapons effortlessly.

Destiny 2 Exotics Weapons Tier List (2025 Meta)

Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 represent the highest tier of firepower, featuring unique perks, special effects, and game-changing mechanics that set them apart from Legendary weapons. Due to their immense power, players can only equip one Exotic weapon at a time, making the choice of which Exotic to use critical in both PvE and PvP.

Destiny 2 Exotics Weapons Tier List for PvE

S	Buried Bloodline Choir of One Divinity Dragon’s Breath Gjallarhorn Graviton Lance Izanagi’s Burden Khvostov 7G-0X Lumina Malfeasance Merciless New Land Beyond Osteo Striga Quicksilver Storm Still Hunt Sunshot The Navigator The Queenbreaker Third Iteration Tractor Cannon Trinity Ghoul Wish-Ender Witherhoard
A	Ager’s Scepter Alethonym Anarchy Arbalest Forerunner Conditional Finality Cloudstrike Collective Obligation Eyes of Tomorrow Finality’s Auger Final Warning Divinity Ergo Sum Grand Overture Graviton Spike Hierarchy of Needs Ice Breaker Legend of Acrius Le Monarque Leviathan’s Breath Lodestar Microcosm Monte Carlo Parasite Polaris Lance Riskrunner Slayer’s Fang The Fourth Horseman The Lament Thorn Ticuu’s Divination Touch of Malice Vex Mythoclast Wicked Implement Wish-Keeper Xenophage Wavesplitter Whisper of the Worm Verglas Curve Whirling Ovation
B	Ace of Spades Bad Juju Barrow-Dyad Bastion Centrifuse Coldheart Crimson Cryosthesia 77K Dead Messenger Deathbringer Delicate Tomb Duality Edge of Action Eriana’s Vow Fighting Lion Revision Zero Heartshadow Ruinous Effigy Skyburner’s Oath Sleeper Simulant Tarrabah The Huckleberry The Manticore The Wardcliff Coil Thunderlord Traveler’s Chosen Trespasser Two-Tailed Fox Winterbite

Top Destiny 2 S-Tier Weapons for PVE Explained

These Exotics dominate the Destiny 2 PvE meta thanks to their unmatched power, synergy with subclass builds, and overall reliability across activities from Strikes to Grandmaster Nightfalls:

• Buried Bloodline – A standout sidearm for Void builds. Its lifesteal synergy makes it a perfect survival tool in endgame PvE, sustaining you while dealing consistent precision damage.
• Choir of One – This Solar shotgun delivers devastating burst DPS when paired with Radiant or Scorch effects, ideal for boss phases and clearing tough elites.
• Divinity – A must-have support Exotic. Its precision bubble not only weakens enemies but also creates teamwide synergy with high-damage weapons like Linear Fusions and Snipers.
• Dragon’s Breath – Fire and forget. This rocket launcher blankets the area with Solar damage over time, excelling at add-clear and sustained boss damage in Solar builds.
• Gjallarhorn – The king of rocket launchers. Its Wolfpack Rounds enhance all nearby launchers, making it the best weapon for coordinated fireteams during DPS phases.
• Graviton Lance – Excellent crowd control through Void explosions. It’s reliable in any activity, effortlessly wiping enemy groups with chain detonations.
• Izanagi’s Burden – A precision sniper rifle that compresses four shots into one massive burst. Ideal for raid bosses and high-level boss damage phases.
• Khvostov 7G-0X – A flexible Auto Rifle that shines with its consistent DPS and ease of use. Great for new Light builds or for backup damage in endgame encounters.
• Lumina – The ultimate support hand cannon. Grants healing and damage boosts to allies with its Noble Rounds, making it an S-tier choice for coordinated teams.
• Malfeasance – Specializes in taking down powerful enemies. Its explosive Taken-slaying rounds scale with Gambit and Nightfall encounters.
• Merciless – A rapid-firing fusion rifle that accelerates with every shot. It melts bosses when used continuously, especially with damage buffs.
• New Land Beyond – Precision-focused rifle rewarding accuracy and timing. Excels in long-range PvE content where ammo management and precision matter most.
• Osteo Striga – One of the strongest add-clear primaries. Its poison effect chains between enemies, making it a top weapon for mob control in endgame PvE.
• Quicksilver Storm – An adaptive Auto Rifle that spawns explosive micro-rockets. Extremely consistent and pairs well with Strand subclass builds.
• Still Hunt – A solar sniper that charges a Golden Gun-like shot after kills. Perfect for mini-burst DPS and stylish precision eliminations.
• Sunshot – Classic Solar hand cannon with explosive potential. Great for clearing adds quickly and triggering Solar ignitions in endgame activities.
• The Navigator – A Strand trace rifle that provides both offense and utility. Can tangle enemies and support teammates with unique debuffs.
• The Queenbreaker – A precision linear fusion that blinds enemies on hit, offering excellent control in Nightfalls and endgame missions.
• Third Iteration – A newly tuned exotic with incredible hybrid fire modes. It adapts between burst and precision fire, excelling in every PvE scenario.
• Tractor Cannon – Powerful crowd-control shotgun that suppresses enemies and amplifies incoming damage. A classic pick for team debuff setups.
• Trinity Ghoul – Best Arc add-clear weapon in the game. Its chain-lightning explosions wipe entire waves when paired with Arc subclass synergies.
• Wish-Ender – A kinetic bow offering high damage through walls. Excels in solo or stealth runs, especially in dungeon environments.
• Witherhoard – The top-tier grenade launcher for passive DPS. Creates lasting AoE pools that chip away at bosses while allowing flexibility for other weapon use.

Destiny 2 Exotics Weapons Tier List for PvP

S	Ace of Spades Cloudstrike Duality Forerunner Gjallarhorn Graviton Lance Hawkmoon Le Monarque No Time to Explain The Chaperone The Wardcliff Coil Witherhoard
A	Arbalest Bastion Black Talon Centrifuse Conditional Finality Crimson Dead Man’s Tale Deathbringer Devil’s Ruin Eriana’s Vow Fighting Lion Heir Apparent Jötunn Lorentz Driver Outbreak Perfected Rat King SUROS Regime Tarrabah The Huckleberry The Jade Rabbit The Last Word Thorn Trespasser Truth Two-Tailed Fox Vex Mythoclast Vigilance Wing Thunderlord Traveler’s Chosen Revision Zero
B	Bad Juju Buried Bloodline Coldheart Collective Obligation Cryosthesia 77K Dead Messenger Ex Diris Eyes of Tomorrow Final Warning Grand Overture Hard Light Hierarchy of Needs Leviathan’s Breath Lord of Wolves Lumina Necrochasm MIDA Multi-Tool Monte Carlo One Thousand Voices Polaris Lance Prometheus Lens Quicksilver Storm Riskrunner Sturm Telesto The Colony Ticuu’s Divination The Manticore The Navigator Tommy’s Matchbook Touch of Malice Tractor Cannon Wavesplitter Wicked Implement Wish-Ender Worldline Zero

Top Destiny 2 S-Tier Weapons for PVP Explained

These Exotics currently define the Destiny 2 PvP meta thanks to their unmatched versatility, raw power, and synergy across endgame content, from Nightfalls to Raids:

• Ace of Spades – A hand cannon masterpiece. Its Memento Mori perk grants precision damage boosts after reloads, and with Firefly explosions, it excels at both add clear and precision boss damage.
• Cloudstrike – A precision sniper rifle that creates lightning strikes on grouped enemies. Perfect for high-level PvE content where chain damage and burst DPS can wipe entire enemy waves instantly.
• Duality – A hybrid shotgun that switches between slug precision and pellet spread. With On Black Wings perk active, it delivers incredible sustained DPS during boss phases.
• Forerunner – A sidearm with the soul of a hand cannon. Its Full Stop headshots deal massive precision damage, while grenades recharged from kills make it one of the most consistent PvE options.
• Gjallarhorn – The classic rocket launcher that buffs all others. Its Wolfpack Rounds enhance nearby allies’ rockets, making it indispensable in coordinated DPS phases.
• Graviton Lance – Void pulse rifle famous for chain explosions. Each precision kill triggers an anti-add vortex effect, perfect for crowd control in Nightfalls and dungeon runs.
• Hawkmoon – This hand cannon builds power through Paracausal Charge, rewarding precision aim with massive crit damage. It remains a top pick for consistent, skill-based boss fights.
• Le Monarque – A poison-tipped bow ideal for crowd control and passive DPS. Its perfect draw toxin effect spreads poison over time, shredding champions and adds with ease.
• No Time to Explain – A pulse rifle that creates a temporal portal turret firing alongside you. With excellent range and stability, it dominates both single-target and group encounters.
• The Chaperone – A kinetic slug shotgun that rewards accuracy with precision-chain bonuses. It’s lethal for burst damage, excelling in close-range boss encounters or clutch situations.
• The Wardcliff Coil – A rocket launcher that fires a storm of micro-rockets. Its high burst damage and wide explosion radius make it exceptional for room clearing and miniboss fights.
• Witherhoard – Still the best passive DPS weapon in the game. Its blight pools continuously damage enemies, allowing players to deal bonus damage with heavy weapons simultaneously.

Conclusion

Destiny 2 Exotics weapons define the game’s meta, offering unparalleled perks and unique mechanics that set them apart from Legendaries. With frequent balance updates and new Exotics introduced each season, staying informed on the best weapons in the game is key to maintaining an optimal loadout.

As The Final Shape unfolds and future patches arrive, the meta will continue to shift, so be sure to check back for regular updates on the most effective Exotics.If you’re looking to maximize your Destiny 2 experience, Destiny 2 Boost Services can help you conquer the toughest content without the grind.

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Change Log

• 06.03.2025 - Destiny 2 Exotics: Tier List published.
• 07.10.2025 - Destiny 2 Exotics: Tier List updated.