Destiny 2 Exotics guide: 8 weapons confirmed by leaks and promos, and 7 we suspect exist

Destiny 2 brings back Exotics – rare and powerful boomsticks. Let’s take a look at the Wardcliff Coil, the Vigilance Wing, Hard Light and more.

Destiny 2 has a stronger focus on story but Bungie hasn’t abandoned the aspect most of us ended up obsessing over: Exotic weapons.

Less than a week from release, Bungie has managed to keep a fairly tight lid on Destiny 2, and so we still don’t know how many Exotic weapons there are, or all the details. As ever, though, we’re chasing every little sniff of Destiny 2 we can.

Below you’ll find a list of every Exotic we know or think we know will be found in Destiny 2, and for the more tenuous one, the video below has details of why we believe they’ll be included. Once we have hard facts, we’ll be updating to let you know exactly where and how to track down these bad boys, girls and weapons of more nuanced gender preference.

Where we do have solid info, we’ll use the following key to describe weapon attributes:

• HND: handling speed
• MAG: magazine size
• PRJ: projectile speed
• RLD: reload speed
• RNG: range
• STB: stability
• +: slightly increases
• ++: increases
• +++: greatly increases
• -: slightly decreases
• –: decreases
• —: greatly decreases

Wardcliff Coil (Arc rocket launcher)

Previously known by the community as Dubious Volley or “Microphone rocket launcher”, the Wardcliff Coil was spotted in early Destiny 2 gameplay footage. Its nickname derives from an unreleased weapon of very similar – possibly identical – appearance discovered in the D1 database. However, the new, official name has since been confirmed by Destiny 2 creative director Luke Smith.

A recent guide leak gives us the following information, the executive summary of which is: if Xur is selling this during week two, holy hell, buy it.

• Intrinsic Perk: Mad Scientist
  This weapon fires a volley of rockets.
• Launcher Barrel: Volatile Launch
  This weapon is optimized for an especially explosive payload. (HND-, PRJ-)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Mechanized Autoloader
  This weapon automatically reloads on ammo pickup.
• Stock: Composite Stock
  This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. (STB+, HND+)

Riskrunner (Arc submachine gun)

In the form we originally saw it in the Destiny 2 console beta, the Riskrunner was thoroughly broken, synergising with the Warlock class ability to provide eternal ammo. Bungie soon sorted that out, and now using it really does mean running a risk – but if something zaps you with Arc energy, of, wow – can you give it back.

• Intrinsic Perk: Arc Conductor
  Taking Arc damage increases weapon power.
• Barrel: ??
• Magazine: ??
• Trait: Superconductor
  When Arc Conductor is active, shots fired have the chance to become chain lightning and return ammo.
• Stock: ??

Sunshot (Solar hand cannon)

The Sunshot is a strange blend of the precise, sharpshooting action Hunters love to much, and the ability to spread the fun around with splash damage. Enemies you ping with the Sunshot will be highlighted, which is pretty neat for keeping track of the action, and they’ll also explode. What a good time!

• Intrinsic Perk: Sunburn
  This weapon fires explosive rounds and highlights targets that take damage from Sunshot.
• Barrel: ??
• Magazine: ??
• Trait: Sun Blast
  Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy.
• Stock: ??

Sweet Business (Kinetic auto rifle)

The ultimate pray and spray weapon for all you frontline hipfire fans, Sweet Business kicks up into overdrive as you hold the fire button down – and will automatically reload itself as you walk over ammo pick ups. It’s sort of like a minigun, with an opportunity to never break off firing. Ideal. Leave the ironsights to the Hunters and wade into the action.

• Intrinsic Perk: Payday
  Large mag. Increased Hip Fire Accuracy
• Barrel: ??
• Magazine: ??
• Trait: Business Time
  Holding down the trigger boosts this weapon’s range and rate of fire, and automatically loads ammo pickups into the magazine.
• Stock: ??

Coldheart (??? trace rifle)

The Coldheart is a trace rifle – a new weapons category, of which it is the only example at present. It looks a lot like it fires a laser beam. You get this from a quest if you pre-order Destiny 2 (among other things, potentially) but we expect it will eventually be available to everyone, somehow.

We don’t know if the Coldheart fires an elemental energy or is classified as a kinetic weapon, though we suspect it goes in the Power category. More details as we have them.

Vigilance Wing (kinetic pulse rifle)

Outed by the same leak that gave us the Wardcliff Coil stats above, Vigilance Wing sounds like a great weapon for those who enjoy playing in groups. Both its intrinsic perk and trait are about making the most of clutch when your allies are down, while its other capabilities mean it should make a very solid all-purpose kinetic. If you prefer to stick to small arms fire, this is gonna be one to watch.

• Intrinsic Perk: Harsh Truths
  This weapon fires a five round burst. When a nearby ally is killed, gain health regeneration and increased movement speed.
• Barrel: Corkscrew Rifling
  Balanced barrel. (RNG+, STB+, HND+)
• Magazine: Alloy Magazine
  Faster reloads when the magazine is empty.
• Trait: Last Stand
  Improved weapon performance when its wielder is the last living member of a fireteam.
• Stock: Composite Stock
  This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. (STB+, HND+)

Hard Light (Arc/Solar/Void auto rifle)

This one also leaked from a guide ahead of release, but that’s okay – it’s no surprise to learn D1 favourite Hard Light is back in the game. In Destiny 2, Hard Light can be switched between three elemental energy affiliations, which is sweet, but it also brings back its old tricks. You will be headshot from across the map (thank goodness it’s not a kinetic weapon, with bonus critical damage). You will be shot in the back by someone in front of you, who seems to have missed. You will be shot when you’re standing behind the target. You will want one for yourself.

• Intrinsic Perk: Volatile Light
  Rounds fired from this weapon have no damage falloff, over-penetrate targets, and ricochet off hard surfaces.
• Barrel: Polygonal Rifling
  Barrel optimized for recoil reduction. (STB++)
• Magazine: Alloy Magazine
  Faster reloads when the magazine is empty.
• Trait: Arc Core/Solar Core/Void Core
  (Variable) Modifies this weapon’s damage type to Arc/Solar/Void.
• Stock: Composite Stock
  This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. (STB+, HND+)

Borealis (Multi-element sniper rifle)

The Borealis is a PlayStation exclusive Exotic sniper rifle, which we know nothing else about. Well, if you look at the footage through that link, you’ll see it can be purple, blue or orange, which suggests it can fire all three elemental energy types.

In Destiny 2 you can’t change the elemental affinity of Exotic weapons with mods like you can for normal energy weapons, so it’s likely this is related to its intrinsic perk or trait, or that you can choose which of the three versions you want, something like the sword quests in D1.

The weapons below are the nebulous ones, but Arekkz explains where they come from in the video above.

[Unknown] (Arc shotgun)

The potential new Destiny 2 exotic spotted in gameplay footage is an arc shotgun. We don’t have any details on it, but it has a unique visual feature where after firing the sides change shape and you can see arc energy playing across the body of the gun. Something so unique looking is almost certainly an Exotic, since Bungie would be avoiding showing raid weapons.

[Unknown] (?? sniper rifle)

Similarly, the next one is a sniper rifle with some weird blueish wires or coils on it which seems to have some sort of special ability which highlights enemies. We only see this really briefly in Destiny 2 footage, so there’s little else to say here.

[Unknown] (?? hand cannon)

More certainly, there’s new Exotic hand cannon which was shown on screen during the Destiny 2 gameplay reveal – during the discussion of new Exotics. It was also in display in a props case at the event, and like – just look at it, with its charging rats engraving. The prop version had an enormous magazine and it seems to fire quickly, so this may be an automatic hand cannon.

[Unknown] (?? grenade launcher)

An ornately carved example of this new Destiny 2 weapons category, this grenade launcher looks like it delivers a powerful single shot with a slow reload.

[Unknown] (?? fusion rifle)

In another shot we can see a fusion rifle with a really interesting design. It’s shown alongside the Wardcliff Coil, and as the video below notes, Bungie usually shows Exotics in groups in trailers; there’s no reason to think Destiny 2 will break this habit.

[Unknown] (?? grenade launcher)

There’s another weird one in another snippet of Destiny 2 footage, which we’re guessing is another kind of Exotic grenade launcher. It has a really unusual design and reload animation, and may even have some sort of void wind blast effect.

[Unknown] (?? ??)

What in the hell? There was a real mystery weapon displayed in the props cabinet at the Destiny 2 reveal event. What is it? Is it even an Exotic? Who knows.

Exotics seen in cinematics

We’ve seen some other Exotics which we can clearly recognise from D1 – but only in the hands of NPCs, so we don’t know whwther they’ll be available in-game, or whwther they’re just there as a nod to continuity since our arsenals were blown up. The weapons in this category are No Land Beyond, a sniper rifle; Ace od Spades, a hand cannon; and Razelighter, a sword.

Destiny 2 releases next week on PS4 and Xbox One, with a PC version due at the end of October Check out our Destiny 2 intel hub for more information.

What Exotics are you looking forward to in Destiny 2?

Destiny 2 Exotics guide: 8 weapons confirmed by leaks and promos, and 7 we suspect exist posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW