Unlocking the Power: Your Path to 20 Free Exotics in Destiny 2
Destiny 2 is a game all about power, and at the pinnacle of that power lie Exotic weapons and armor. These unique items offer game-changing perks that can redefine your playstyle and make even the toughest challenges feel manageable. While many Exotics are acquired through random drops or specific questlines, there are several guaranteed ways to snag powerful Exotic gear without spending a single Legendary Shard or Bright Dust. This guide will walk you through how to get your hands on a substantial amount of free Exotics, aiming for a target of 20 or more.
Understanding Exotic Engrams and How They Work
Before we dive into the methods, it's crucial to understand how Exotics are obtained. The primary way is through Exotic Engrams. These special engrams decrypt into a random Exotic weapon or armor piece from your collection of available Exotics. The catch? You can't get duplicates of Exotics you already own unless you're using a specific vendor engram that guarantees an item you don't have.
Key Concepts:
- Random Drop Exotics: These can drop from almost any activity in the game, but the odds are low.
- World Drop Exotics: These are Exotics that are part of the general loot pool and can drop from powerful enemies, chests, or completing certain activities.
- Quest Exotics: Specific Exotic weapons often have dedicated questlines that reward you with the weapon upon completion.
- Vendor Exotics: Certain vendors offer ways to acquire Exotics, often through focused engrams or specific bounties.
Method 1: The Legendary Campaign (Beyond Light and Newer)
If you're a returning player or new to the game, the initial story campaigns for recent expansions are a fantastic source of free Exotic gear. When you complete the main story missions of expansions like Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, and Lightfall on Legendary difficulty, you are guaranteed a powerful Exotic piece of armor. These are often solid choices and provide a great starting point.
Specifics:
- Play the campaign on Legendary difficulty.
- Each completed campaign on Legendary offers one guaranteed Exotic armor piece.
- Currently, this means you can get at least 3 free Exotic armor pieces just by playing these campaigns.
Method 2: Xur, Agent of the Nine – The Weekly Exotic Vendor
Xur is your best friend when it comes to acquiring Exotics. Every weekend, from Friday reset until the Tuesday weekly reset, Xur appears in a different location in the Destiny 2 universe. He sells a variety of items, including one Exotic weapon and one Exotic armor piece for each class (Titan, Hunter, Warlock).
How to Maximize Xur for Free Exotics:
- Purchase with Legendary Shards: Xur's primary Exotic offerings are bought with Legendary Shards. While not "free" in the sense of no in-game currency, Legendary Shards are a farmable resource obtained through dismantling gear. Aim to save up for his wares.
- The Three of Coins: Use Three of Coins before opening any engrams or completing activities that could yield Exotics. These consumable items increase the chance of receiving an Exotic drop. You can purchase these from Xur himself for Legendary Shards.
- Exotic Engram from Xur: Xur also sells a Fated Engram for 97 Legendary Shards. This engram is guaranteed to decrypt into an Exotic you do not already own from the general world loot pool. This is an incredibly valuable way to fill out your collection.
Estimated Exotics from Xur: If you consistently visit Xur each week and purchase his Fated Engram, you can get approximately 4-5 guaranteed Exotics per month, depending on how many you're missing.
Method 3: The Monument to Lost Lights – Exotic Catalysts and Purchased Exotics
The Monument to Lost Lights is located in the Tower, near the Vault. This vendor allows you to acquire Exotic weapons and armor that may have been removed from the world loot pool or were part of past seasonal or raid rewards. While many of these require Exotic Cyphers (which are often obtained from Xur or seasonal activities) and other currencies like Ascendant Alloys, there are some Exotics here that are easier to acquire.
Key Points:
- Focus on Exotics You Don't Have: Carefully review the list. Some Exotics here are often considered "must-haves" and are worth the investment if you're missing them.
- Exotic Cyphers: These are crucial for purchasing Exotics from the Monument. Xur sells one per week for 97 Legendary Shards and 250 Glimmer.
- Consider the Cost: While not entirely "free," using resources you've earned through gameplay is a valid way to get powerful Exotics.
Method 4: Seasonal Engrams and Vendor Focusing
Each season in Destiny 2 introduces new Exotics and often provides new ways to acquire them. Focusing engrams at the seasonal vendor is a powerful tool.
How it Works:
- Seasonal Artifact Mods: As you level up your Seasonal Artifact, you'll unlock mods that can grant specific engrams or bonus rewards.
- Seasonal Vendor Focusing: At the end of a season, or even during it, seasonal vendors will often allow you to focus specific types of engrams, including Exotic Engrams. This allows you to target a particular type of Exotic (e.g., helmet, arms) if you're hunting for a specific piece.
- Free Seasonal Exotic Engrams: Many seasons offer at least one free Exotic Engram as part of the free track of the Season Pass. These are invaluable.
Estimated Exotics: Depending on the season, you can often obtain at least 1-2 free Exotic Engrams from the Season Pass alone.
Method 5: Master Rahool – Exotic Cipher and Prime Engrams
Master Rahool, the Cryptarch in the Tower, plays a more direct role in Exotic acquisition than you might think.
Key Strategies:
- Prime Engrams: These are rare, powerful engrams that drop from high-level enemies or completing certain activities. They have a chance to decrypt into Exotic weapons or armor. While random, consistent play can lead to several Prime Engram drops over time.
- Exotic Engram Focusing (Limited): At times, Rahool might offer limited-time Exotic engram focusing, allowing you to target specific slots. Keep an eye on his inventory.
- Exotic Cipher Exchange: While not directly giving you an Exotic, Rahool is involved in exchanging certain items that might lead to Exotics. More importantly, he is the vendor where you often spend Exotic Ciphers.
Method 6: Completing Exotic Quests
Destiny 2 has a rich history of powerful Exotic weapons that are obtained through dedicated questlines. While many of these have been sunsetted or moved, some remain accessible and are entirely free to pursue.
Examples of Free Exotic Quests:
- Whisper of the Worm (Sniper Rifle): This quest involves a challenging mission on Io.
- Outbreak Perfected (Pulse Rifle): This quest is obtained from the Drifter.
- Gjallarhorn (Rocket Launcher): While this was a paid quest during the 30th Anniversary Pack, it can now be acquired via an Exotic Cipher from the Monument to Lost Lights. If you obtained the initial quest, it's free.
- Ager's Scepter (Stasis Trace Rifle): Part of the Beyond Light expansion questline.
- MIDA Multi-Tool (Scout Rifle): An older quest that is still available.
Importance: These quests are designed to give you one specific, often incredibly powerful, Exotic weapon. Actively pursuing these is a guaranteed way to add to your collection.
Method 7: Trials of Osiris and Grandmaster Nightfalls (Post-Introduction)
While these are endgame activities, once you've obtained certain Exotics through other means, you can use them to make these activities easier. Furthermore, sometimes these activities have specific Exotic drops associated with them, or can reward you with the necessary materials to acquire Exotics from the Monument.
Note: These are more for players looking to optimize their gear and acquire specific meta Exotics rather than straightforward "freebies" at the start.
Counting Your Free Exotics (Target: 20+)
Let's tally up how many free Exotics you can realistically aim for:- Legendary Campaigns (3): Beyond Light, Witch Queen, Lightfall. (3 Exotics)
- Xur's Fated Engram (Weekly): ~4-5 per month. Over a few months, this easily adds up. Let's estimate 12 Exotics over 3 months of consistent play.
- Seasonal Pass Free Exotic Engram: 1-2 per season. Over a year, that's 4-8 Exotics. Let's say 6 for a year.
- Free Exotic Quests: Easily 4-6 accessible quests. (Let's say 5)
- Prime Engrams: While random, consistent play will yield several over time. Let's conservatively say 5 over a few months.
Total Conservative Estimate: 3 + 12 + 6 + 5 + 5 = 31 Exotics!
This is a conservative estimate. By actively engaging with Xur, completing available Exotic quests, and making smart choices with your seasonal rewards and Legendary Shards, reaching and exceeding 20 free Exotics is entirely achievable for any dedicated Destiny 2 player.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I get more Legendary Shards to buy from Xur?
The most efficient way to get Legendary Shards is by dismantling unwanted Legendary and Exotic gear. Running activities that reward a lot of gear, such as Strikes, Public Events, and Lost Sectors, will quickly fill your inventory. You can also get Legendary Shards from completing bounties and vendor rank-ups.
Why are some Exotics only available from the Monument to Lost Lights?
The Monument to Lost Lights serves as a vault for Exotics that were previously tied to specific expansions, seasonal content, or limited-time events that are no longer directly accessible. This ensures that players who might have missed out can still acquire these powerful items, albeit at a cost.
Is it possible to get duplicates from Xur's Fated Engram?
No, the Fated Engram is specifically designed to prevent duplicates. It will always decrypt into an Exotic weapon or armor piece that you do not currently own from the general world loot pool. This makes it an excellent way to complete your Exotic collection.
Are there any free Exotic weapons tied to specific raids or dungeons?
While raid and dungeon Exotics are some of the most sought-after gear, they are not typically "free" in the sense of being handed out. They are usually tied to completing the respective raid or dungeon and have a chance to drop. However, once you have obtained them, they become part of your collection and can be reacquired from the Monument to Lost Lights using Exotic Ciphers and other materials.
What's the best way to farm for Prime Engrams?
Prime Engrams have a chance to drop from higher-level enemies. The most consistent way to increase your chances is by playing activities that feature more challenging enemies and provide good enemy density, such as Legend or Master Lost Sectors, higher-tier Strikes, or public events in challenging zones. Simply playing the game and completing bounties will also contribute to their drops over time.
