Best Exotic Weapons in Destiny 2 for PvE and PvP

Choosing the strongest Exotic is the key to conquering the most challenging raids and dungeons. In this tier list, you will learn about the best Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 for PvE and PvP. You have come to the right place, as we are constantly updating this article to keep up with the changing meta. Get ready to dominate any activity you like as we are about to start!

Read our other Destiny 2 guides:

• Dual Destiny Guide
• Salvation's Edge Raid Guide
• Best Class Tier List
• Power Level Guide
• Weekly Raid and Dungeon Rotation

 

 

How Our Exotic Tier List Works

We have split our Destiny 2 Exotic tier list into two separate sections: PvE and PvP. This will help you find the weapon you need for the activity you enjoy more. If you are more into raids and dungeons, the PvE category is for you. Enjoy competing with others in The Crucible? Then, check out our PvP section instead.

Note: You will not find all Exotic weapons Destiny 2 listed within the following pages. There are more than 120 guns to choose from. Only a bunch of them are truly playable, while others belong to either C or D tiers. We have focused on describing only the strongest guns instead.

Destiny 2 Best PvE Exotics

Most players enjoy exploring PvE activities due to their accessibility and ability to advance the storyline. Completing them is also a way of testing your Fireteam and earning unique rewards. Here is a list of Destiny 2 best PvE Exotics to conquer any raid or dungeon:

• Khvostov 7G-0X – Kinetic Auto Rifle
• Choir of One – Energy Auto Rifle
• The Navigator – Strand Trace Rifle
• Malfeasance – Kinetic Hand Cannon
• Wish-Ender – Kinetic Combat Bow

It does not mean it is bad if you do not see your favorite weapon on this list. We have just outlined the strongest alternatives currently available. Choir of One deserves special attention, as this is one of Destiny 2 best Exotic Weapons in 2024. Introduced to the game with the Encore mission release, it has quickly become a leader in today’s gun meta. It is known for overwhelming damage and is great for clearing adds. Its only downside is that it is not intended for PvP fights.

Khvostov 7G-0X

Take a look at the most important details you need to know about Khvostov 7G-0X:

Khvostov 7G-0X comes with a crazy Shoot to Loot trait and is recognized as the strongest gun among all Destiny 2 Exotics ranked. The reason lies in its flexibility since you can use it in both PvE and PvP equally efficiently. It has everything you need from a great add-clearing mechanism to an ability to make unexpected kills with ricocheting bullets.

Get your Khvostov Exotic easily by delegating all the grind to SkyCoach and our PRO players.

Choir of One

Here are the main takeaways about Choir of One:

The next gun we want to cover in our Destiny 2 Exotic weapons tier list is Choir of One, which is a true beast in PvE. It is perfect for clearing minor enemies, which is the key feature you want in both raids and dungeons. You can also select one Catalyst out of three available, making it a more all-purpose option compared to other Exotics.

You can unlock Choir of One in a jiffy if you trust our professionals to do this job.

The Navigator

Check out the basic details about The Navigator:

Unlike the two previous contenders, The Navigator is not only about dealing damage. It also gives you the extra survivability you need when engaging in more challenging content. This is done through damage resistance you can stack with other items, allowing you to live much longer. It is one of those guns from the entire Destiny 2 Exotic list that is only playable with an unlocked Catalyst. Using it without this addition can make it significantly weaker.

We can help you obtain The Navigator with no sweat. The Exotic of your dreams is a few clicks away from you.

Malfeasance

See what Malfeasance is all about with the information in the table:

Malfeasance seemed an underestimated weapon before the buffs to Hand Cannons. Now, it is one of the best DPS guns in our PvE tier list, especially if you are using the Lucky Pants Exotic. Its unique feature lies in the ability to disable Unstoppable Champions by hitting them a few times.

Start playing with Malfeasance now instead of grinding it for days. Get it on SkyCoach now!

Wish-Ender

Here are the basics of Wish-Ender you want to know:

To finish our parade of top Exotic weapons in Destiny 2, let’s look at a time-tested classic – Wish-Ender. This bow is known for its overwhelming solo-target damage since it hits thrice per shot. Using it for PvE exclusively is a wise choice since it might be too slow for PvP activities when players are in constant motion and are hard to catch.

You can check out our separate guide on How to Get Wish-Ender if you are struggling to unlock it. If you wish to skip the grind, SkyCoach is always happy to assist you with unlocking Wish-Ender in a blink of an eye. BLOG20

 

Destiny 2 Best PvP Exotics

Dominating The Crucible is impossible unless you are geared up properly and have a strong weapon to rely on. We have outlined five powerful alternatives to meet the demands of the pickiest PvP enjoyer. Check out a list of Destiny 2 best PvP Exotics:

• Conditional Finality – Stasis Shotgun
• Ace of Spades – Kinetic Hand Cannon
• Gjallarhorn – Solar Rocket Launcher
• The Chaperone – Kinetic Shotgun
• Witherhoard – Kinetic Grenade Launcher

Conditional Finality is undoubtedly the best weapon for PvP in Destiny 2 now. It is just too straightforward and convenient to use. You will often see people running with this gun in The Crucible matches. Try it yourself, and you will see why it is so popular.

You can be surprised to see Gjallarhorn or Witherhoard on this list. It is true that these weapons are also often used to complete the most difficult PvE activities. Consider them an all-purpose pick you can equip for both PvP and PvE whenever you need.

Conditional Finality

Check out a list of details you want to know about Conditional Finality:

Many players beg the developers to fix Conditional Finality. It is now considered the best Exotic weapon for PvP in The Final Shape. This gun is just so powerful that you will see people using it in The Crucible almost all the time. Its only downside is the effective range. Since this is the shotgun we are dealing with here, it is nothing but an expected thing. Despite being released quite a while ago, this weapon still rocks and remains on top of the PvP meta in Destiny 2.

Get Conditional Finality and start dominating PvP right now with SkyCoach.

Ace of Spades

These are the basics you need to know about Ace of Spades:

Ace of Spades has everything a perfect PvP weapon needs, including increased reload speed, enemy target explosion, and staggering Solar damage. All that is yours is if you can consistently score Precision Kills. This is by far the most picked Hand Cannon for dominating The Crucial as long as you are aiming well.

Enjoy playing with Ace of Spades straight away rather than grinding for it for days.

Gjallarhorn

Check out the main facts about Gjallarhorn:

Many Guardians appreciate Gjallarhorn only when it comes to raids and dungeons. This weapon is truly great for add clearing yet it shines in PvP as well. You can easily score multiple kills thanks to Wolfpack Rounds and buff your allies with the exotic perk. Using this gun near your allies is a must-have because of the Handling and Reload Speed bonuses you get.

Obtain Gjallarhorn on your account and play with it now.

The Chaperone

Here is what you want to know about The Chaperone before getting it:

The Chaperone takes place among must have Exotics in Destiny 2 if you are a shotgun fan. While it struggles with the range similarly to Conditional Finality, it has The Roadborn perk to level this downside. It is activated by scoring Precision Kills, allowing you to deal even higher DPS after the effect is on.

Witherhoard

Look at the basic facts about Witherhoard:

You cannot find a better weapon to deal with multiple low-HP enemies than Witherhoard. It also dominates PvP encounters due to its ability to annihilate a solo target. Experienced players often use it to control chokepoints or area denial. This is by far the most multi-purpose Exotic we have covered in our Destiny 2 weapon tier list.

SkyCoach is ready to help you unlock Witherhoard and save your time.

Top Exotic Weapons for Clearing Adds

Clearing adds when running raids or dungeons can make a key difference in terms of completion speed. Gathering the strongest Fireteam does not guarantee you a successful speed run. Check out the TOP 3 Exotic weapons for clearing adds fast in Destiny 2 PvE activities:

1. Sunshot – Energy Hand Cannon
2. Graviton Lance – Energy Pulse Rifle
3. Trinity Ghoul – Energy Combat Bow

These three Exotics have one common feature – they are true beasts when it comes to dealing AoE damage. This is possible thanks to their unique perks. All of them also have Catalysts to further increase their potential and overall DPS. BLOG20

Sunshot

Here is what you need to know about Sunshot:

Sunshot is often picked due to its ability to detonate chaining explosions. This is exactly what you are looking for when trying to clear trash enemies fast. With its Sunburn perk, you will always easily spot the hit target you want to finish off first to detonate an explosion. Just like all other weapons we have outlined for clearing adds, Sunshot deals 40% more damage to minor enemies by default.

Graviton Lance

We have listed the basic facts about Graviton Lance:

Graviton Lance works in a similar way to Sunshot yet uses a different Energy type. After you take down a target, a Void projectile will spawn and detonate, dealing damage to surrounding enemies. You can also enjoy a 40% damage bonus against minor enemies by using this weapon.

Trinity Ghoul

Learn the basics of Trinity Ghoul:

Trinity Ghoul is the final contender for the title of the best add-clearing Exotic in D2. It uses Arc damage type instead and works similarly to the two previous guns we have described. You land a Precision Kill, and it starts dealing damage to all other enemies in a chain-lightning manner.

Must Have Exotics to Use in Salvation’s Edge Raid

Now, let’s explore the TOP 3 must have Exotics to conquer Salvation’s Edge, the latest addition to the Destiny 2 raid collection. We have outlined the three weapons that can help you melt down bosses like no other gun in the game:

1. Still Hunt – Energy Sniper Rifle
2. Euphony – Kinetic Linear Fusion Rifle
3. Izanagi's Burden – Kinetic Sniper Rifle

Similarly to other best Exotics described in our tier list, you can learn all the basic information about each gun, including how to get it and more.

Still Hunt

Here is what you want to know about Still Hunt before getting it:

Still Hunt was released recently yet has become quite a widespread choice for completing Salvation’s Edge quickly. The reason for this is its ability to shoot Golden Gun shots, dealing overwhelming DPS. Its Sharpshooter perk grants increased ADS speed and flinch resistance and makes target acquisition easier.

You can learn How to Get Still Hunt in more detail by reading our separate guide on this topic.

Euphony

Check out the basic details about Euphony:

We could not leave Euphony unmentioned since this is the main reward you get for completing Salvation’s Edge. This Exotic allows you to rerun the raid at a much higher speed thanks to its Unwound perk. You can easily deal a ton of damage and spawn Threadlings to deal extra DPS to the boss to melt it down in a jiffy. Apart from being great for this raid in particular, Euphony is arguably the best Exotic to use in your Strand build.

Learn How to Get Euphony with our separate guide.

Izanagi's Burden

Here are all the details you need to know about Izanagi's Burden:

Izanagi's Burden can one-shot Major or Champions thanks to its Honed Edge perk. This is what makes this sniper rifle a true beast in the right hands. In raids like Salvation’s Edge, you often have a short time window to deal with an enemy. This is exactly where this Exotic comes in handy. When running this raid, make sure you have at least one Izanagi's Burden for your Fireteam.

How Many Exotic Weapons Are in Destiny 2?

You have more than 120 Exotic weapons available in Destiny as of The Final Shape DLC. The most popular of them include Khvostov 7G-0X, being the king of the meta. Euphony, which drops from Salvation’s Edge, is also popular yet lags behind Khovstov due to a lack of flexibility and a variety of builds it can be used in.

Conclusion

This brings us to the end of our Destiny 2 Exotic weapons tier list for PvE and PvP. We have outlined the strongest guns to dominate in both raids and dungeons, as well as The Crucible. Some of the Exotics mentioned are easier to get, while others will test your patience before you can finally claim them. As the meta changes, we will update this article accordingly. This is it for now, Guardians, and we will see you in the game!

F.A.Q.