Best Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 Season of the Wish for PvE & PvP

The exotic weapons of Destiny 2 are the cream of the crop, so our list will help you choose the best of the best. Whether you're tackling the new Onslaught mode, delving into raids and dungeons, or looking to dominate in Trials of Osiris, these are the weapons you need.

The Final Shape is just around the corner and Guardians everywhere are gearing up for the massive battle ahead. If you want to be ready, here are the best exotic weapons in the game right now.

Best Exotic kinetic weapons

Usually, the weapon in the Kinetic slot is your workhorse, the weapon you use the most in most situations. This isn't the case for all the weapons on this list, but it is a great description for Exotic weapons like Outbreak Perfected, No Time to Explain and Ace of Spades. These weapons stand on their own two feet as tools of destruction in both PvE and PvP.

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Then you have the weapons with more specific use cases, but few are more influential than Witherhoard or Arbalest. The former is amazing for taking out groups of enemies, whereas the latter is great for big targets with a lot of health, or other Guardians in PvP. You don't get a grenade launcher or a linear fusion rifle in the Kinetic slot outside of these weapons, which is what makes them so special.

Monte Carlo finally has its very own catalyst that drastically improves the weapon's melee potential. Fans who have always wanted to make use of that bayonet have had their wishes come true. You can learn how to get the Monte Carlo catalyst with our handy guide.

With the launch of Season of the Wish, the long-awaited Thorn catalyst was finally added to the game. Said catalyst dramatically improves the weapon, giving it increased range, stability, mobility and the ability to overflow the magazine so much you may never need to reload. Right now, Thorn is one of the most used weapons in The Crucible, and there is a very good reason for that.

Some weapons exist to take your builds from good to great, like the Strand powerhouses Quicksilver Storm and Osteo Striga. However dire the situation is, one of the Exotic Kinetic weapons on our list is bound to get you out of it.

Exotic energy weapon tier list

Energy weapons are where we get to have a little fun and focus on the strengths of our character builds. There are plenty of Exotic Energy weapons in Destiny 2 that flow beautifully with one build or another, and some that are beastly all on their own.

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For example, there isn't a Solar build in the game that can't be made better with Sunshot, especially with the changes and seasonal perks that arrived in Season of the Wish. Likewise for Trinity Ghoul or Riskrunner for Arc builds. If you're working on a Void build, chances are the weapons you need right now are Le Monarque and Graviton Lance.

There are very few weapons in Destiny 2 that you need to own for PvE activities more than Divinity. It isn't as powerful as it once was, but it's still a vital tool for every raid team. Or if you fancy competitive play over cooperative, there are few better methods for making opposing Guardians go away than with a shot from Jotunn directly to the dome.

Few weapons define the term 'Exotic' in Destiny 2 better than the Vex Mythoclast. This weapon has been a legend since the early days of the first game, and has been massively significant in Destiny 2 ever since it arrived alongside the Vault of Glass raid. If there is one weapon you should aspire to own, let it be this one.

Best heavy Exotic weapons

Last but definitely not least, arguably the most, are the Exotic Heavy weapons. It takes a lot to make a Guardian dedicate their one and only Exotic slot to a Heavy weapon, but the ones that make the cut do so in explosive fashion.

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Few weapons fit this bill more than the Gjallarhorn. This weapon has been dominant in PvE since day one of Destiny, so powerful it created serious balance issues back in the day. After some time it made it the jump to Destiny 2, much more balanced but still a monster of a weapon and a necessary addition to every player's arsenal.

Gally wasn't the only one to make the jump to Destiny 2, as we cannot forget about Thunderlord or Sleeper Simulant when talking about beastly legacy weapons. This trifecta of classic weapons will cover the vast majority of your Exotic heavy weapon needs in both PvE and PvP.

Another reprisal is the returning Dragon's Breath, which has had a bit of a glow-up. This new version of the weapon works a bit differently, as now it embeds its rockets in enemies, spraying flames in the surrounding area that scorch nearby enemies. Not only can this be great for clearing areas, but also for tearing bosses apart. Be sure to pick the weapon up from the season pass, it is very much worth it.

Some weapons are particularly amazing in specific situations, such as the Xenophage machine gun that can more accurately be described as a cannon, or The Lament chain sword that deals monstrous amounts of burst damage.

Heavy weapons can be very situational in their use, more so when you are talking about Exotic heavy weapons. Having the weapons above in your pocket will keep you prepared for any situation, no matter how many gods and monsters you need to slay.

Now that you know which Exotics are best to use as of Into the Light, head to our Destiny 2 homepage for guides on how to get the Witcher emblem, as well as rundowns of the weekly reset, Trials of Osiris, and what Xur has in stock each weekend.