Division 2 Best Exotics in 2026
In The Division 2, Exotic weapons stand out as the pinnacle of unique design, rare drops, and game-changing perks. Whether you’re clearing challenging missions solo or coordinating with a squad for heroic raids, having one of the Division 2 best Exotics in your arsenal can dramatically boost your damage, survivability, and overall fun.
This guide highlights the Division 2 best Exotic weapons to chase in 2026, explains what makes each one special, and offers practical tips to help you decide which Division 2 Exotic fits your playstyle. From high-damage sniper rifles to versatile SMGs and unstoppable shotguns, let’s break down the must-have Exotics worth your time this year.
Division 2 Weapon Components Detailed Guide
In Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, mastering your arsenal means knowing how each gun is built under the hood. Whether you’re tweaking the best Exotic weapons in Division 2 or perfecting your raid loadout, understanding every weapon component is critical for squeezing out maximum performance. Here’s a deep dive into what makes each gun tick in 2026:
Core Stats
Core stats are the backbone of any weapon in Division 2. They include Total Damage, Rate of Fire (RPM), and Magazine Size. What’s interesting is that the same weapon can have slightly different core stats depending on the gear set, build synergies, or talents applied. For example, the iconic St. Elmo’s Engine can output higher or lower RPM depending on mods, and the Kingbreaker can carry an oversized magazine if paired with certain exotic chest pieces. Knowing how to leverage core stats allows you to build around sustained damage or burst fire as your playstyle demands.
Expertise Level
Expertise is a progression system that elevates your endgame weapons beyond their base stats. Once a weapon reaches Proficiency Rank 10, you can start raising its Expertise Rank. Every Expertise level grants +1% bonus damage, stacking up to your account’s max Expertise Cap. For example, with an Expertise level of 25, that’s a massive +25% damage boost on top of all other bonuses – a must-have for any serious build. Remember: this applies to all types of weapons, including your Division 2 best exotics.
Attributes
Each weapon has three Attributes: two Core Attributes and one general Attribute. Core Attributes depend on the weapon type and can’t be changed – for instance, all assault rifles roll with +Assault Rifle Damage and +Health Damage, while SMGs always roll with +SMG Damage and +Critical Hit Chance. The third Attribute is flexible: you can reroll it at the Recalibration Station to better suit your build. For example, adding +Damage to targets out of cover is one of the strongest options in today’s meta. However, on Exotic weapons, the Core Attributes stay locked forever – so plan accordingly.
Weapon Handling
This covers key performance stats like Accuracy, Stability, and Reload Speed. High Accuracy means tighter bullet spread, Stability reduces weapon sway, and a fast Reload Speed can be the difference between victory and a wipe in tough fights. Handling is influenced by mods, talents, and the weapon’s base design – making it one of the most underrated factors for consistent DPS output.
Weapon Talent
Every weapon comes with a unique Talent – a passive perk that defines how it plays. There are three Talent types in Division 2: Regular, Perfect, and Exotic Talents. High-end and named weapons can have their talents rerolled or changed, but Exotic Talents are fixed and irreplaceable. Top-tier Talents for high-end guns include Optimist, Measured, Fast Hands, Determined, Killer, In Sync, and Flatline. Understanding which Talent works best with your build can drastically improve your uptime and survivability.
Weapon Mods
Mods provide the final layer of customization to tailor your gun’s feel and performance. Division 2 currently offers over 70 mods across four categories:
- Optics Mods: Improve Accuracy, Critical Hit Chance, Headshot Damage, and Stability.
- Magazine Mods: Affect Stability, Reload Speed, Extra Rounds, and sometimes Critical Hit Chance. Popular picks include the Sturdy Extended 5.56 Mag or 7.62 Mag for extra bullets in each mag.
- Underbarrel Mods: Boost Stability, Critical Hit Chance, Accuracy, and sometimes Headshot Damage.
- Muzzle Mods: Tweak Stability, Critical Hit Damage, Headshot Damage, and Optimal Range.
In summary, mastering these weapon components is key to unlocking the true potential of the Division 2 best Exotic weapons. Whether you’re chasing flawless raid clears or melting rogue agents in Conflict, dial in your weapon stats, push your Expertise levels, and mod wisely – your firepower will thank you.
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Division 2 Weapons Crafting
Crafting is one of the most flexible ways to expand your arsenal in Division 2. Whether you're chasing the best exotic weapons in Division 2 or simply need a backup rifle for a specific build, the Crafting Station can help you fill gaps in your inventory – but only if you know how to use it effectively.
Can you craft weapons
Yes – every agent has access to the Crafting Station in the Base of Operations. Here, you can craft a wide range of weapons, from standard sidearms to high-end assault rifles and even some exotic gear. However, to craft a weapon, you must first unlock its blueprint. Without the blueprint, crafting is impossible, no matter how many crafting materials you have.
How to unlock weapon blueprints
Unlocking blueprints requires active gameplay and a bit of luck. Here are the main ways to get them:
- ✅ Completing daily and weekly projects
- ✅ Finishing main story and side missions
- ✅ Clearing exotic quests tied to specific exotic weapons (a must for those hunting Division 2 best exotics)
- ✅ Progressing through season tracks – some seasons grant unique weapon blueprints as rewards
- ✅ Opening special reconstructed caches hidden around the map
Tips for crafting weapons in Division 2
Once you have the blueprint, head to your Crafting Station and ensure you have enough materials. Higher rarity weapons will cost more resources and often require specialized parts, like Exotic Components or Field Recon Data. Always keep an eye on your material cap so you don’t waste loot you could break down for parts.
Crafting is an excellent way to keep your builds up to date, especially if RNG isn’t on your side with drops. For players focused on maxing out the Division 2 best exotics, crafting isn’t always possible for true exotics – but for named and high-end weapons, it’s a lifesaver.
In summary, learn to farm blueprints, stockpile materials, and revisit the Crafting Station regularly. It’s a simple habit that ensures you’ll never be under-geared, even in the toughest missions and raids.
Division 2 Weapon Types
Wondering how many guns you can choose from in Division 2 today? As of 2026, the game boasts a whopping 246 weapons across various categories, ensuring every agent finds the perfect fit for their playstyle.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s available:
- 🔫 30 Rifles
- 🔫 51 Assault Rifles
- 🎯 30 Marksman Rifles
- 💥 28 Shotguns
- ⚡ 38 SMGs
- 💣 33 LMGs
- 🔫 28 Pistols
- ⭐ 6 Signature Weapons (special, faction-specific guns)
Apart from Signature weapons, all others come in different rarity tiers: High-End, Named, and Exotic Weapons. The rarer the weapon, the more unique stats and talents it has – and that’s where hunting for the Division 2 best exotics becomes so rewarding.
Understanding Division 2 Weapons Tier List
Here’s a clear breakdown to help you understand how each exotic or named weapon fits into the current Division 2 meta. This list comes from extensive testing and reflects real endgame usage – so you know exactly what’s worth keeping and upgrading.
- S - Tier: The absolute best exotics and meta weapons, dominating raids, legendary missions, and PvP. If you want maximum DPS and reliability, use these – they’re your top priority to farm and optimize.
- A - Tier: Excellent guns that are highly effective in most builds. While not quite as dominant as S-Tier picks, they still pack great stats, synergy, and consistency – perfect fallback options or flexible secondaries.
- B - Tier: Decent weapons for niche setups, early progression, or backup roles. They’re usable but usually replaced once you unlock higher-tier gear. Good for experimentation or off-meta fun.
- C - Tier: Mediocre picks that lack impact in endgame builds. Not recommended unless you just enjoy using them for variety – otherwise, skip and invest in better exotics.
Best Exotic Weapons in Division 2
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The best exotic weapons in Division 2 are categorized below to help you pick the strongest loadouts for any mission, raid, or PvP fight:
Best Exotics for PvE in Division 2
Whether you're farming missions or clearing challenging endgame content, these PvE Exotics stand out for their damage output, versatility, and synergy with popular PvE builds. Here's what you should equip for maximum efficiency.
Best Exotics for PvP in Division 2
In Division 2 PvP, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to the weapon you trust in tight fights. Here’s a detailed PvP tier list showing which guns will help you outgun other agents and maintain control in conflict zones and the Dark Zone.
Mastering The Division 2 Exotic Weapons is essential if you want to dominate high-level missions and challenging PvP encounters.
Best Weapons for Legendary DPS in Division 2
When tackling Legendary difficulty in Division 2, you need the absolute peak DPS weapons that shred elites and named enemies quickly. Below is the up-to-date Legendary DPS tier list to help you choose the best guns for high-risk endgame encounters.
Tips for Using the Best Exotic Weapons in Division 2
- Focus on synergy: Always pair your exotic weapon with a build that complements its unique talent. For example, Regulus shines in headshot builds, while Scorpio excels in close-range status effect setups.
- Master recoil and handling: Many top-tier exotics have higher recoil or slower reload speeds. Practice in shooting ranges to get comfortable with their behavior before jumping into Legendary missions.
- Use mods wisely: Optimize your exotic by adding the right scope, magazine, or muzzle mod – even a slight boost in stability or critical hit chance can make a big difference.
- Upgrade expertise level: Don’t forget to raise your exotic’s Expertise Rank. Each level adds extra weapon damage, pushing your DPS even higher in endgame fights.
- Switch situationally: Some exotics perform better against mobs, others against bosses. Carry two complementary weapons and swap when needed to handle any encounter efficiently.
- Experiment with roles: Try different exotics for PvE, PvP, or Legendary speedruns. A meta pick for raids may not always work best in a solo Heroic mission – adapt your loadout accordingly.
Conclusion
Picking the best exotic weapons in Division 2 in 2026 is all about understanding how each gun fits into your playstyle and build. Whether you prefer headshot-focused marksman rifles, aggressive close-quarters shotguns, or hybrid ARs that melt through enemies, there’s an exotic for every scenario. Keep your gear synergy tight, level up your Expertise, and learn when to swap weapons mid-fight to maximize your damage output and survivability.
Stay flexible and experiment with new setups as updates roll out. The Division 2 meta always shifts slightly with each season and patch, so mastering multiple exotics ensures you’re ready for any mission – be it solo, PvP, or tough Legendary content. Good luck, Agent!
FAQ
In the current 2026 meta, the top exotic weapons for Solo PvE are St. Elmo's Engine, Capacitor, Ouroboros, and Scorpio. These weapons provide the perfect balance of crowd control, high burst damage, and skill synergy required for soloing heroic and legendary content.
For PvP, Coyote's Mask, Catharsis, and the new Overdogs gloves are Tier S essentials. Additionally, the NinjaBike Messenger Backpack remains a top choice for creating versatile hybrid builds that dominate in the Dark Zone and Conflict.
Yes, the Capacitor remains an S-Tier exotic for skill-based builds. Its unique talent that grants weapon damage based on skill tiers and skill damage based on hits makes it irreplaceable for Drone and Turret solo setups.
The Eagle Bearer is prized for its Tenacity buff, which provides unmatched survivability, while Lady Death dominates due to its incredible mobility and massive burst damage when closing the gap on opponents.
No, specific exotics like Regulus, The Ravenous, and Ouroboros are locked behind Raid or Incursion completions. However, others like Eagle Bearer have a very low chance to drop in the Dark Zone.
Change Log
- 30.06.2025 - Division 2 Best Exotics in 2025 published.
- 30.01.2026 - Division 2 Best Exotics in 2026 updated.