Every Way to Get Exotic Ciphers

Exotic Ciphers are one of the most important items in the game for newer or returning Guardians that have missed a few seasons of Destiny 2. Exotic weapons are an integral part of what makes Destiny 2 such a phenomenal game.

If you weren’t playing when certain exotics were released, there was no way of earning them. Bungie introduced Exotic Ciphers to the game during Season of Arrivals to fix this so Guardians could acquire these older exotic weapons. And not only that, you can unlock specific weapons using this currency so you don’t have to rely on RNG to get them.

We’re going to cover the different ways you can earn exotic ciphers and what you can buy with them.

How to Get an Exotic Cipher

There are only two ways for Guardians to earn exotic ciphers right now during Beyond Light. You can earn them from the free track on the Season Pass or by completing a weekly exotic quest. One key thing to remember is that you can only hold one cipher at a time. So, when you get an exotic cipher, you need to spend it ASAP so your inventory is free the next time you earn one.

Leveling up your Season Pass

Don’t get freaked out by this cipher being in the season pass. This isn’t a pay to win situation. The cipher is on the free to play track of the pass and everyone can earn this exotic cipher as long as they reach rank 55 before the season is over.

If you’re a casual player, this might be a tall order since all of the XP boosters are in the paid track of the battle pass. However, you can still level up fairly quickly as long as you do your daily bounties, weekly challenges, and the occasional repeatable bounties you can snag from the core playlist vendors.

Also, if you already have a cipher in your inventory, do not claim this until you’ve used it. It will not go to the postmaster as an overflow inventory item. It will simply disappear.

Xenology Quest from Xur

Each week that Xur visits the tower, he’ll bring the usual batch of random exotics, but he’ll also have an exotic quest that Guardians can pick up. This quest is called Xenology and it tasks players with completing core gameplay activities, specifically Strikes & Gambit. Each activity will give you a certain number of points that varies on the difficulty of the activity.

Grouping up in a fireteam and playing more difficult activities like Nightfalls instead of regular strikes will give you more points than playing the base activities solo.

Once you’ve collected at least 21 points, you can turn this quest back in to Xur and he’ll give you an Exotic Cipher. Two quick points. First, you won’t be able to pick up this quest if you already have a Cipher in your inventory. Secondly, do not complete this quest if you have another one in your inventory already. Just like the season pass, the cipher will be lost in the ether and you won’t be able to claim it at the postmaster.

What can you use Exotic Ciphers for?

Bungie has released a ton of exotics over the lifetime of Destiny 2. Many of these pieces of gear could only be acquired during specific seasons or by completing exotic quests that are no longer in the game. This left players with no way to get their hands on dozens of fantastic exotics. Exotic Ciphers are Bungie answer to that problem.

There are two places that you can use your Cipher:

• Xur: Can exchange your cipher for a second Fated engram.
• Exotic kiosk: Can pick up exotics from the first 3 years of Destiny that can’t be earned through gameplay.

Exotic Engrams

Exotics are some of the most highly sought after pieces of gear in the entirety of Destiny 2. Whether you need to pick up Eriana’s Vow for GM Nightfalls or you want to snag Graviton Lance to shoot black holes, getting an exotic to drop in the wild is an incredibly rare occurrence. This is why most Guardians pick up their exotics by visiting Xur each week.

If Xur doesn’t have what you’re looking for, you can roll the dice on the Fated Engram. And if you still don’t get the right exotic, you can have one more shot at it by using your Exotic Cipher on the exotic engram.

• The Fated Engram costs 97 legendary shards & will give you an exotic you don’t have, excluding the latest season’s exotics. If you have every exotic, you’ll be given a random exotic.
• The exotic engram costs 1x Exotic Cipher and gives you a random exotic.

If you have a cipher in your inventory when Xur comes to town, use it. You can only hold one Exotic Cipher at a time and you need to pick up the Xenology quest to earn another Cipher for the following week.

Don’t forget, you can only pick up the Xenology quest once per week.

Legacy Exotics & Legendary Pinnacle Weapons

There are 3 years’ worth of exotics just waiting for you to farm them. All of these items can be found in the Monument to Lost Lights exotic archive vendor which is situated directly between the vault terminals in the Tower.

If you’re looking for a targeted list of weapons to chase after, look no further:

• Witherhoard: Grenade launcher that shoots darkness and blights the ground causing AoE damage to enemies that walk through it. Great for add control and DPS on less mobile enemies.
• Anarchy: One of if not the highest DPS weapon in the game. This heavy GL is still going to be in the running even after its upcoming nerf.
• Eriana’s Vow: Exotic hand cannon that works like a sniper rifle and has innate anti-barrier rounds so you don’t need to use the armor mod. An absolute must have in GM Nightfalls.
• Izanagi’s Burden: Exotic sniper rifle that lets you stack 4x rounds into a single shot. Can delete most majors & ultras and do great boss DPS if you’re a deft hand with sniper rifles.
• Devil’s Ruin: Sidearm that can fire a powerful charged laser and has innate anti-unstoppable rounds. The infinite primary ammo change that’s coming in Season of the Lost gives Devil’s Ruin the real possibility of becoming part of many Guardian’s arsenal.
• Bastion: It’s the only kinetic fusion rifle in the game. It fires 3 bursts of pellets and will have anti-unstoppable rounds in Season 15. Using Bastion lets Guardians shake up their loadout and use their favorite energy primary.

The full list of available exotics are below.

Red War Exotics

The exotics below were released during Year 1 of Destiny 2 which includes the base game, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind. These weapons are not sunset. All exotic weapons and armor do not have a light cap and can be infused indefinitely.

• Sturm: Kinetic exotic hand cannon (120 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Storm and Stress – Kills with Drang reload this weapon and overflow a bonus damage round into the magazine.
  • Exotic Perk: Accomplice – Kills with this weapon fill the magazine of the equipped Energy weapon from reserves.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Microphasic Datalattice, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Sleeper Simulant: Solar exotic linear fusion rifle (744ms charge time)
  • Exotic Perk: Dornröschen – The weapon’s laser overpenetrates enemies and refracts off hard surfaces.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Baryon Bough, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Outbreak Perfected: Kinetic exotic pulse rifle (450 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: The Corruption Spreads – This weapon creates SIVA nanite swarms on rapid hits and precision kills.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 250 Dusklight Shard, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Polaris Lance: Solar exotic scout rifle (150 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: The Perfect Fifth – Precision hits return ammo to the mag. Landing 4 precision hits loads a delayed Solar explosive round for your next shot.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Spinmetal Leaves, 1x Ascendant Shard
• MIDA Multi-tool: Kinetic exotic scout rifle (200 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: MIDA Multi-Tool – This weapon boosts move speed.
  • Exotic Perk: MIDA Radar – Radar stays active while aiming down sights.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Dusklight Shard, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Legend of Acrius: Arc exotic heavy shogun (55 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Shock Blast – This weapon fires blasts of high-damage Arc energy that overpenetrates enemies.
  • Exotic Perk: Detect enemies on your radar from farther away.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 240 Spoils of Conquest, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Rat King: Kinetic exotic sidearm (300 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Rat Pack – This fully automatic weapon becomes stronger when nearby allies also have it equipped. Stacks up to 6 times.
  • Exotic Perk: Vermin – Reloading immediately after a kill grants a brief period of invisibility.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Helium Filaments, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Whisper of the Worm: Solar exotic heavy sniper rifle (72 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: White Nail – Higher base precision damage. Rapidly landing three precision hits will refill the magazine (from reserves).
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 250 Baryon Bough, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Worldline Zero: Arc exotic sword (46 swing speed)
  • Exotic Perk: Tesseract – Using the heavy attack while sprinting with full energy will launch a heavy blink attack.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Glacial Stalwort, 1x Ascendant Shard

There are some fantastic exotics that were released during the first year of Destiny, but there are also some duds. We had a different weapon system back then and a completely different sandbox. However, you won’t regret it if you pick up Outbreak Perfected, Whisper of the Worm, and Sleeper Simulant.

Polaris Lance is one to keep on your radar. It’s, quite literally, the only good Scout Rifle in the game, but it still isn’t worth using when you have exotic heavies like Xenophage, Eyes of Tomorrow, The Lament, Deathbringer, and so on. If Scout Rifles get buffed, Polaris Lance might be worth picking up.

Beyond Light Exotics

The exotics below were released in the Beyond Light expansion of Destiny 2 and were part of their respect season’s Battle Pass.

• Ticuu’s Divination: Solar exotic bow (612 draw time)
  • Exotic Perk: Sacred Flame – Hipfired shots track targets.
  • Exotic Perk: Causality Arrows – Arrows fired while ADS cause Sacred Flames to instantly detonate. Precision hits with perfectly drawn arrows increase the power of this detonation.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Microphasic Datalattice, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Duality: Solar exotic shotgun (65 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Compression Chamber – Hipfire pellets, aim to fire slugs.
  • Exotic Perk: On Black Wings – Pellet final blows grant a stacking precision damage and reload speed buff. Precision hits with slugs extend the duration.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Glacial Stalwort, 1x Ascendant Shard

Forsaken Exotics

The exotics below were released in Year 2 and were primarily rewards during The Black Armory & Season of Opulence. If you happened to miss that season, you can pick up the weapons you missed by farming their respective materials and 1x Exotic Cipher per exotic weapon.

• Le Monarque: Void exotic combat bow (684ms draw time)
  • Exotic Perk: Poison Arrows – Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Dusklight Shard, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Jotunn: Solar exotic fusion rifle (860ms charge time)
  • Exotic Perk: Charge Shot – Hold down the trigger to charge up a tracking shot that explodes and burns on impact.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Microphasic Datalattice, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Anarchy: Arc exotic heavy grenade launcher (150 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Arc Traps – Grenades stick to surfaces and chain Arc bolts to other mines.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 240 Spoils of Conquest, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Lumina: Kinetic exotic hand cannon (140 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Nobles Rounds – Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants. Absorbing a Remnant converts your next hipfired shot into an ally-seeking Noble Round and partially refills the magazine.
  • Exotic Perk: Blessing of the Sky – Using a Noble Round on an ally heals them and grants both you and them a weapon bonus for a short duration.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Baryon Bough, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Thorn: Kinetic exotic hand cannon (140 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Mark of the Devourer – Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants.
  • Exotic Perk: Soul Devourer – Absorbing a Remnant strengthens Mark of the Devourer and partially refills the magazine.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Dusklight Shard, 1x Ascendant Shard
• The Last Word: Kinetic exotic hand cannon (225 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Fan Fire – This weapon fires full-auto. Hipfire shots deal bonus precision damage while increasing reload speed and accuracy.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Etheric Spiral, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Ace of Spades: Kinetic exotic hand cannon (140 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Memento Mori – Reloading after a kill loads the magazine with a few extra-damage bullets. Grants radar while ADS.
  • Exotic Perk: Firefly – Precision kills with this weapon increase reload speed and cause the target to explode, dealing Solar damage to nearby enemies.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Etheric Spiral, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Bad Juju: Kinetic exotic pulse rifle (450 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: String of Curses – Kills refill the magazine, increase damage for a short duration, and grant Super energy based on the strength of String of Curses. Fires full-auto.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Microphasic Datalattice, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Truth: Void exotic rocket launcher (15 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Prototype Trueseeker – This weapon’s rockets have tracking. Lock onto targets when ADS.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Baryon Bough, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Izanagi’s Burden: Exotic sniper rifle (90 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Honed Edge – Hold reload to consume the magazine and load a round with additional range and damage.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 250 Spinmetal Leaves, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Terrabah: Solar exotic submachine gun (750 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Ravenous Beast – This weapon stores power when dealing or receiving damage. Unleashes the beast when full.
  • Exotic Perk: Bottomless Appetite – Dealing continuous damage extends the duration of Ravenous Beast.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 240 Spoils of Conquest, 2x Ascendant Shard
• Always on Time: Exotic Sparrow
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 150,000 Glimmer, 240 Spoils of Conquest, 2x Ascendant Shard

There honestly isn’t a bad exotic in this batch. Every single exotic released during Forsaken is still incredibly relevant in most, if not all, activities. The only exception could be Lumina, but that’s only if you aren’t a fan of playing a support build.

Shadow Keep Exotics

• Tommy’s Matchbook: Solar exotic auto rifle (720 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Ignition Trigger – Sustained fire with this weapon overheats it, increasing damage but burning the user.
  • Exotic Perk: Heat Sink – Overheat damage is reduced while not ADS.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Spinmetal Leaves, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Leviathan’s Breath: Void exotic combat bow (1328ms draw time)
  • Exotic Perk: Big-Game Hunter – Fires a massive heavy bolt that stuns unshielded combatants. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.
  • Exotic Perk: Leviathans’ Sigh – When fully drawn, the bolt creates a large concussive blast that knocks combatants back.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Microphasic Datalattice, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Bastion: Kinetic exotic fusion rifle (780ms charge time)
  • Exotic Perk: Saint’s Pass – Charge to fire 3 spreads of Kinetic slugs.
  • Exotic Perk: Breakthrough – This weapon fires staggering projectiles. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Etheric Spiral, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Witherhoard: Kinetic exotic grenade launcher (90 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Primeval’s Torment – Projectiles fired by this weapon blight the target or nearby area on impact.
  • Exotic Perk: Break the Bank – Blighted targets take damage over time and blight the nearby area on death.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Glacial Starwort, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Eriana’s Vow: Solar exotic hand cannon (90 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Looks Can Kill – This weapon fires special shield-piercing ammunition. It comes with a scope. Strong against Barrier Champions.
  • Exotic Perk: Death by First Glance – Bonus damage when ADS on the opening shot of an attack. This bonus is preserved if the shot deals precision damage or strikes an elemental shield.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Helium Filaments, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Symmetry: Arc exotic scout rifle (260 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Revolution – This weapon fires full auto. Holding reload switches to Arc Seeker mode. Arc Seekers track towards combatants you target.
  • Exotic Perk: Dynamic Charge – Precision hits build up Dynamic Charge. Swapping to Arc Seeker mode increases damage and partially reloads the magazine based on the number of charges.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Baryon Bough, 1x Ascendant Shard
• The Fourth Horseman: Arc exotic shotgun (360 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Thunderer – This weapon’s rate of fire is increased significantly, and fires full auto.
  • Exotic Perk: Broadside – Each successive shot has more damage and more spread.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Dusklight Shards, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Devil’s Ruin: Solar exotic sidearm (300 RPM / 1,000ms charge time)
  • Exotic Perk: Closed the Gap – Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, stunning laser. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.
  • Exotic Perk: Pyrogenesis – Fully charging the laser refills the magazine from reserves.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 100,000 Glimmer, 150 Spinmetal Leaves, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Traveler’s Chosen: Kinetic exotic sidearm (300 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Gathering Light – Final blows with this weapon grant stacks of Gathering Light. Holding refresh consumes the stacks granting melee, grenade, and class ability energy based on the number of stacks.
  • Exotic Perk: Gift of the Traveler – Each stack of Gathering Light improves this weapon’s reload, handling, and target acquisition.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Spinmetal Leaves, 1x Ascendant Shard
• Ruinous Effigy: Void exotic trace rifle (1000 RPM)
  • Exotic Perk: Transmutation – Final blows with this weapon collapse victims into Void Transmutation spheres.
  • Exotic Perk: Evolution – Transmutation spheres you create can be picked up and wielded as weapons by you or your allies.
  • Costs: 1x Exotic Cipher, 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Helium Filaments, 1x Ascendant Shard

Legacy Gear

While these weapons don’t require an Exotic Cipher to purchase, they’re worth mentioning as they’re some of the most unique weapons in the game. These weapons were the Pinnacle weapons that Bungie made each season for each core activity in the game. Though these weapons are sunset, they can still shred in core activities like the Strike and Crucible playlists.

In some cases, these weapons are better than 99% of weapons you could be using at the power cap.

Crucible Weapons

• Felwinter’s Lie: Solar aggressive frame shotgun (55 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Shot package – Modified to have a more uniform pellet spread
    • Slideshot / Surplus
    • Opening Shot / Vorpal Weapon
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Point of the Stag: Arc precision frame bow (612ms draw time)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in the Crucible.
    • No Distractions / Archer’s Tempo
    • Vorpal Weapon / Eye of the Storm
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• The Mountaintop: Kinetic lightweight frame grenade launcher (90 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Micro Missile – Weapon fires in a straight line and has a massively increased projectile speed.
  • Costs: 150,000 glimmer, 250 Legendary Shards, 7 Enhancement Prisms, & 2 Ascendant Shard.
• Luna’s Howl: Solar precision frame hand cannon (140 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Magnificent Howl – Rapidly landing two precision shots increases the next shot’s damage and range for a short duration.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Not Forgotten: Solar precision frame hand cannon (140 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Magnificent Howl – Rapidly landing two precision shots increases the next shot’s damage and range for a short duration.
  • Costs: 150,000 glimmer, 250 Legendary Shards, 7 Enhancement Prisms, & 2 Ascendant Shard.
• Redrix’s Broadsword: Kinetic high-impact pulse rifle (340 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Desperado – Reloading after a precision final blow increases your rate of fire.
  • Costs: 150,000 glimmer, 250 Legendary Shards, 7 Enhancement Prisms, & 2 Ascendant Shard.
• Komodo-4FR: Solar precision frame linear fusion rifle (466ms charge time)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in the Crucible.
    • No Distractions / Moving Target
    • Eye of the Storm / Box Breathing
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Randy’s Throwing Knife: Kinetic rapid-fire frame scout rifle (260 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in the Crucible.
    • Rapid Hit / Snapshot
    • Zen Moment / Kill Clip
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Revoker: Kinetic aggressive frame sniper rifle (72 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Reversal of Fortune – Missing a shot returns the bullet to the magazine after a short duration.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• The Recluse: Void lightweight frame submachine gun (900 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Master of Arms – Kills with any weapon improve this weapon’s damage for a short time.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.

Felwinter’s Lie, The Mountaintop, Not Forgotten, Redrix’s Broadsword, Revoker, and/or The Recluse are worth the time to farm the materials. They’re also great substitutes if you haven’t been able to get a good roll on a non-sunset counterpart, i.e. Not Forgotten & Palindrome, Redrix’s Broadsword & The Messenger, etc. Just remember, these are sunset weapons so they can’t be infused beyond 1100 power.

Gambit Weapons

• Breakneck: Kinetic precision frame auto rifle (450 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Onslaught – This weapon’s rate of fire increases as you stack Rampage.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Hush: Solar precision frame combat bow (684ms draw time)
  • Unique perk(s): Archer’s Gambit – Hipfire precision hits grant a massive draw-speed bonus for a short duration.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• 21% Delirium: Arc rapid fire frame machine gun (900 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Killing Tally – Kills increase this weapon’s damage until it is stowed or reloaded.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Python: Void aggressive frame shotgun (55 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in PvE.
    • Overflow / Feeding Frenzy
    • Shield Disorient / One-Two Punch
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Exit Strategy: Kinetic adaptive frame submachine gun (900 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in PvE.
    • Underdog / Threat Detector
    • Swashbuckler / Surrounded
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.

The only weapon here that isn’t worth the effort is Exit Strategy. There are plenty of other legendary submachine guns that can roll with better perk combinations than what it brings to the table. If you’re a fan of SMGs, chances are good that you already have a better one in your inventory.

Vanguard Weapons

• Loaded Question: Arc high impact frame fusion rifle (860ms charge time)
  • Unique perk(s): Reservoir Burst – When the battery is full, your next burst deals additional damage and causes enemies to explode on death.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Wendigo GL3: Arc adaptive frame heavy grenade launcher (120 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Explosive Light – Picking up an Orb of Power increases the next grenade’s blast radius and damage.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Edgewise: Solar rapid fire frame machine gun (900 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in PvE.
    • Feeding Frenzy / Field Prep
    • Rampage / Demolitionist
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Nightshade: Kinetic lightweight frame pulse rifle (450 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just a static roll.
    • Moving Target
    • Rampage
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Oxygen SR3: Solar precision frame scout rifle (180 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): Meganeura – Dragonfly deals more damage based on the number of precision hits dealt beforehand.
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.
• Buzzard: Kinetic adaptive frame sidearm (300 RPM)
  • Unique perk(s): None, just curated perks that excel in PvE.
    • Outlaw / Fourth Time’s the Charm
    • Osmosis / Swashbuckler
  • Costs: 75,000 glimmer, 100 Legendary Shards, 2 Enhancement Prisms, & 1 Ascendant Shard.

The Vanguard pinnacle weapons have always been a bit lackluster. However, if you’re looking to grind for them, Loaded Question and Wendigo GL3 are solid workhorse weapons. Wendigo is (still) one of the only good heavy GL’s for PvE and Loaded Question is (still) one of the best special weapons for add clearing. It’s on par with Salvager’s Salvo which was the pursuit weapon from Season of the Chosen.

Bungie released a spiritual successor to Loaded Question during Season of the Splicer in the form of Null Composure and you can check out our guide on how to get it.