Destiny 2 Exotic weapons guide: 18 beautiful, deadly boomsticks you’ll want to get your hands on

Destiny 2 brings back Exotics – rare and powerful boomsticks. Let’s take a look at the collection and daydream about putting them to use.

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

Many of Destiny 2’s Exotic weapons have leaked before release, and we have all the details below. We don’t believe this is every Exotic in Destiny 2, and are looking forward to discovering more in times quests or via community discoveries in the weeks and months to come.

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: Arrowhead Break
  Lightly vented barrel. Greatly controls recoil. (HND++)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Superconductor
  When Arc Conductor is active, shots fired have the chance to become chain lightning and return ammo.
• Stock: Short-action Stock
  This weapon is especially easy to grip. (HND+++)

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: Chambered Compensator
  Stable barrel attachment. Improves recoil and direction. (STB++, HND-)
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds
  This weapon can fire longer distances. (RNG++)
• Trait: Sun Blast
  Targets killed with Sunshot explode in Solar energy.
• Grip: Textured Grip
  Friction on this weapon’s grip is particularly strong. (HND+++, STB-)

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: Polygonal Rifling
  Barrel optimized for recoil reduction. (STB++)
• Magazine: High-Calibre Rounds
  Shots from this weapon knock enemies back. (RNG+)
• 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: Composite Stock
  This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. (STB+, HND+)

Coldheart (Arc 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. A leak gives us the following details:

• Intrinsic Perk: Cold Fusion
  This weapon shoots a steady cold fusion-powered laser.
• Barrel: Extended Barrel
  Weighty barrel Extension. (RNG++, HND–)
• Battery: Enhance Battery
  Strong battery life. (MAG++)
• Trait: Longest Winter
  Coldheart’s laser does exponentially more damage the longer it is held on a target.
• Stock: Hand-Laid Stock
  This weapon is optimised for recoil control. (STB++)

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+)

MIDA Multi-tool (Kinectic scout rifle)

Yet another leak confirms the return of an old favourite: the ultra-snappy scout rifle, MIDA Multi-tool. With bonuses to range and stability, active radar and increased movement speed, it looks like a tidy bit of kit – but interestingly, it also gains a bonus when you equip the Legendary submachine gun MIDA Mini-tool as your energy weapon.

• Intrinsic Perk: MIDA Multi-tool
  This weapon boosts move speed.
• Barrel: Corkscrew Rifling
  Balanced barrel. (RNG+, STB+, HND+)
• Magazine: High-Calibre Rounds
  Shots from this weapon knock enemies back. (RNG+)
• Trait: MIDA radar
  Radar stays active while aiming down sights.
• Stock: Hand-Laid Stock
  This weapon is optimised for recoil control. (STB++)

Sturm (Kinetic hand cannon)

Leaked alongside MIDA above, Sturm gains a bonus when you equip the Legendary sidearm Drang as your energy weapon, which is very cute (Sturm und Drang is German for “storm and stress”, and is a term for a literary movement in which the hero is driven to violence, usually by greed, while real and especially negative human emotions and experiences are foregrounded). Kills with Sturm reload Drang from your reserves, and kills with Drang increase Sturm’s critical damage output. Dang!

• Intrinsic Perk: Accomplice
  Kills with this weapon fill the magazine of the equipped Energy weapon from reserves.
• Barrel: Extended Barrel
  Weighty barrel. (RNG++, HND–)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Storm and Stress
  Kills with Drang grant bonus precision damage until the next reload.
• Stock: Combat Grip
  This weapon causes much less vertical recoil.

Rat King (Kinetic hand cannon)

Another one of the lovely carved weapons, Rat King was, once again, spotted in early gameplay footage and leaked with the Coldheart details. Excellent stability combined with good range and decent handling, reload and magazine size make Rat King a nice enough gun even without Exotic bonuses, but it can also turn you invisible and gets stronger if all your pals have it. A Rat King, by the way, is a probably apocryphal natural entanglement of rats tied together by their tails.

• Intrinsic Perk: Rat Pack
  This weapon becomes stronger when nearby fireteam members also have it equipped. Stacks up to six times.
• Barrel: Smallbore
  Dual strength barrel. (RNG++, STB++)
• Magazine: Tactical Mag
  This weapon has multiple tactical improvements. (STB+, RLD+, MAG+)
• Trait: Vermin
  Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility.
• Grip: Smooth Grip
  This weapon is slightly easier to hold and aim. (STB+, HND+)

Fighting Lion (Void grenade launcher)

The Fighting Lion is a gorgeous grenade launcher with some fantastic bonuses. Exceptionally stable, its fast-travelling projectiles have a smaller blast radius but make up for it with some neat perks, including a controlled explosion and extra damage to shielded enemies. Best of all, if you kill a bunch of enemies who’ve taken damage from grenades, the magazine reloads itself. The description does not say “from reserves”, so we may be talking free Power ammo here, people.

• Intrinsic Perk: Delayed Gratification
  Grenade projectiles will bounce off surfaces. Hold [Fire] to fire, and release to detonate.
• Launcher Barrel: Countermass
  This weapon is weighted for vertical recoil. Greatly controls recoil. (STB++, HND++)
• Magazine: Implosion Rounds
  Grenades travel fast and have a controlled explosion. Decreases blast radius. (PRJ++, STB+++)
• Trait: Thin the Herd
  Direct hits with this weapon do more damage to shielded opponents. Rapid kills against grenade damaged enemies will refill the magazine.
• Stock: Short-action Stock
  This weapon is especially easy to grip. (HND+++)

D.A.R.C.I. (Arc sniper rifle)

Spotted very early on in snippets of Destiny 2 gameplay and confirmed by the leak above, the D.A.R.C.I. is a sharpshooter for those who need a little help with their distance shooting. Use the scope to check out an enemy’s vitals, and then enjoy increased aim insist and a boost to Precision damage. Ban it from the Crucible immediately, in my opinion.

• Intrinsic Perk: Personal Assistant
  Aim at an enemy to view its health and other critical information.
• Barrel: Extended Barrel
  Weighty barrel Extension. (RNG++, HND–)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Target Acquired
  When Personal Assistant is active, this weapon has better target acquisition and deals more Precision damage.
• Stock: Short-action Stock
  This weapon is especially easy to grip. (HND+++)

Merciless (Solar fusion rifle)

A gorgeous-looking beast shown in early footage and leaked as above, Merciless sets up a nice gameplay loop. Shoot an enemy without killing it, and its rate of fire increases until you get a kill. After a kill, reload immediately and enjoy increased damage output. Ohm the possibilities; in skilled hands, this will be a beast – especially as it’s pretty stable.

• Intrinsic Perk: Conserve Momentum
  Non-lethal hits with projectiles make this weapon charge faster until its wielder gets a kill.
• Barrel: Chambered Compensator
  Stable barrel attachment. Improves recoil direction (STB++, RLD-)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Impetus
  Reloading immediately after a kill increases weapon damage for a short time.
• Stock: Fitted Stock
  This stock makes the weapon stable but heavy. Improves recoil direction. (STB++, HND-)

Graviton Lance (Void pulse rifle)

Here’s one we didn’t know about until the leak mentioned above, but it’s already one of our favourites. Okay, so that trait’s not much to write home about – plenty of guns make their kills explode. But how many rip a hole through spacetime on their way? This is just a fancy way of saying this pulse rifle has really, really tremendous range on the third shot of a burst, to go with its already impressive range bonuses. Nasty recoil, but control your bursts and you’re in for a good time.

• Intrinsic Perk: Black Hole
  Third shot of a burst rips a hole through spacetime, doing high damage and recoil with no fall off.
• Barrel: Hammer-forged rifling
  Durable ranged barrel. (RNG++)
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds
  This weapon can fire longer distances. (RNG++)
• Trait: Cosmology
  Kills with this weapon cause enemy targets to detonate.
• Stock: Fitted Stock
  This stock makes the weapon stable but heavy. Improves recoil direction. (STB++, HND-)

Skyburner’s Oath (Solar scout rifle)

Since you shouldn’t really be hip-firing with a scout rifle this weapon’s trait is a bit silly – but the fact that it’s a full auto weapon with, presumably, much better range than an actual auto rifle is very interesting. That bonus to Cabal, and ability to shoot through Phalanx shields, is pretty tasty, too.

• Intrinsic Perk: Slug Rifle
  This weapon fires Solar slugs that get stronger when aiming down sights.
• Barrel: Extended Barrel
  Weighty barrel. (RNG++, HND–)
• Magazine: Extended Mag
  (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: For The Empire
  This Weapon is full auto, does extra damage to Cabal, and penetrates Phalanx shields.
• Stock: Short-action Stock
  This weapon is especially easy to grip. (HND+++)

Legend of Acrius (Arc shotgun)

Another Exotic spotted in early footage and detailed in the same old leak, Legend of Acrius has a strange pairing of trait and perk. The perk is basically “does a ton of damage, including to the guy behind the guy you’re shooting”. The trait extends your radar range. Uh. Okay? Sure. Well, Bungie couldn’t make it too OP, I guess – especially given its various bonuses to range. Should be trouble in PvP.

• Intrinsic Perk: Shock Blast
  This weapon fires blasts of high-damage Arc energy that over-penetrate targets.
• Barrel: Full Bore
  Barrel optimized for distance. (RNG+++, STB–, HND-)
• Magazine: Accurized Rounds
  This weapon can fire longer distances. (RNG++)
• Trait: Long March
  Detect enemies on your radar from further away.
• Stock: Fitted Stock
  This stock makes the weapon stable but heavy. Improves recoil direction. (STB++, HND-)

The Prospector (Arc grenade launcher)

Another one seen in early footage and handily leaked, the beautiful, almost old timey Prospector allows players to scatter grenades around in full auto, then detonate them all at once. Sounds like a good time! The reload is slow, so make your payload count.

• Intrinsic Perk: Excavation
  Hold [Fire] to fire grenades. Release to detonate all live grenades simultaneously.
• Launcher Barrel: Volatile Launch
  This weapon is optimized for an especially explosive payload. (HND-, PRJ-)
• Magazine: Augmented Drum
  Heavy, high capacity drum. (MAG+++, RLD—)
• Trait: Full Auto Trigger System
  Holding down the trigger will fire this weapon in full auto mode.
• Stock: Hand-Laid Stock
  This weapon is optimised for recoil control. (STB++)

Borealis (Multi-element sniper rifle, PS4 exclusive)

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.

Arekkz spotted almost every single one of these Exotic boomsticks months ago, which means you can see them in action, briefly, in the video below. Only the Borealis is missing; clearly, Bungie kept the exclusives out of its general footage releases.

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 of Spades, a hand cannon; and Razelighter, a sword.

Destiny 2 releases this 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 Exotic weapons guide: 18 beautiful, deadly boomsticks you’ll want to get your hands on posted first on http://ift.tt/2k0LiGW