Exotics in Destiny are considered the best items in the game. Now that we’ve reviewed nearly every Exotic weapon, this article will rate the best of the best.
With all of the buffs/nerfs recently, and those that are coming, this was a hard list to make. Do you agree with this placement? Let us know your thoughts!
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5. Gjallarhorn
Gjallarhorn is one of two Exotic Rocket Launcher’s currently in the game, which can be acquired as a random reward from the Crucible/PvE content, or from Xûr for 17 Strange Coins.
It’s named after the mythic trumpet from Norse mythology that brings about the onset of the destruction and renewal of the universe. One of the most powerful weapons in the game, it certainly lives up to its majestic name. The launcher shoots out rockets, while secondary sentries deploy at the site of impact to devastate foes that pass nearby; major destruction!
Statistically, Gjallarhorn is well above average across the board, and excels at medium-long range firefights. The area of effect damage from the Wolfpack Rounds are devastating and can make quick work of Atheon.
4. The Last Word
The Last Word is one of three Exotic Hand Cannon’s currently in the game, which can be acquired as a random reward from the Crucible/PvE content, or from Xûr for 23 Strange Coins.
It’s is not only fun to use, but arguably the best hand cannon. The recoil is manageable, and you easily get the feel for its range. Later on, once you access the stability upgrade and the Last Word upgrade, the weapon will truly shine.
The recoil is low on this weapon once it is upgraded, and because it’s got the passive Fan Fire perk, you’ll take down your enemies before they have a chance to react! The Last Word upgrade will also increase the precision damage done on targets when firing from the hip. The 8 round magazine is generous. Add in some reload speed gauntlets and it’ll never seem like you actually have to stop shooting.
While The Last Word is still great for PvE, this weapon completely dominates in PvP if used properly. It’s got a distinct sound, unique spin after melee, and the Impact and rate of fire are unmatched!
3. Vex Mythoclast
The Vex Mythoclast, pre-nerf, would have easily taken the #1 spot. It’s going to get a PvE buff, and it’s hard to recommend it until it does. It’s the only Exotic weapon that’s exclusively obtained in the Vault of Glass (hard mode) raid. We will review this weapon as soon as it gets it PvE buff!
This unique weapon will deal out massive damage to whatever unlucky enemy you set your sights on.
It being a solar full auto primary fusion rifle (makes some bounties very easy), it has a lot going for it. Once you unlock the stability upgrades it makes recoil compensation a breeze. You also have the option between two different magazine sizes. The “Enhanced Battery” upgrade takes your original 21 shot magazine and almost triples it to 56, if you don’t mind losing a bit of range for the extra shots.
This rifle truly showcases the power that the Exotic line of weapons has to offer, even after its damage reduction. The Vex Mythoclast is really in a class of its own, and once fully upgraded, it’s really a blast to use!
2. SUROS Regime
SUROS Regime is one of three (4 with Necrochasm) Exotic Auto Rifles, which can be acquired as a random reward from the Crucible/PvE content, or from Xûr for 23 Strange Coins.
This weapon’s stats are so well balanced. It’s rate of fire is great for firing from the hip, and when aiming down sights it slows down just enough so that you can easily land your shots on the head. The high impact means it only takes about 5 headshots to take down enemies in the Crucible, and you’ll probably reduce your foes to 20% health before they even know what hit them!
On top of the very high accuracy and range, the second perk (“Suros Regime“) will cause the bottom half of your magazine to do increased damage. This quickly adds up in the last 5 shots to do massive damage. If that wasn’t enough, the weapon will also heal you every time it deals damage.
It is one of the easiest to control auto rifles in the game, and even with the recent AR nerf, it still preforms well in basically any situation.
1. Ice Breaker
Ice Breaker is one of two Exotic Sniper Rifles, which can be acquired as a random reward from the Crucible/PvE content, or from Xûr for (only!) 17 Strange Coins.
This weapon deserves the #1 spot for a multitude of reasons, but mainly because of its ability to regenerate ammo. Regenerating ammo is useful in every situation, and is invaluable in situations where you need to be in one place for awhile such as in the Atheon encounter or in a Nightfall.
Unlike the Invective, the ammo just regenerates right into the magazine, at a very consistent rate. This sniper rifle also hits like it has the Traveler’s weight behind it! It has very high Impact & range, so precision shots will be rewarded. It packs quite a punch in PvP too, even if you just land a body shot. The Mulligan perk is also nice since missing a shot with this stings a little more than usual, though the chances of it happening are slim.
Ice Breaker will also replenish some of your other special weapon ammo! If you are out of special ammo, switch to this gun and wait for a few seconds, and then switch back to your special weapon of choice. This is great if your ammo synth’s are on cooldown, and provides unlimited ammo.
Patience and Time is the other Exotic Sniper, which some prefer in PvP for its stability, recoil and rate of fire. Ice Breaker‘s major fault is its high recoil, but for PvE it’s basically a non-issue.
This is the #1 choice because it’s the most versatile weapon in the game.