Finding a destiny 2 exotic tier list that doesn’t just repeat the same three-year-old advice is getting harder. Bungie keeps tweaking things. One week your favorite hand cannon is a god-slayer, and the next, it’s basically a paperweight. With the Edge of Fate expansion and the Renegades updates fully settled into the meta, the hierarchy has shifted.
We aren't just looking at raw damage numbers here. Effectiveness in Grandmaster Nightfalls, the current state of Trials of Osiris, and how these items play with the Prismatic subclass—that's what matters. Honestly, some of the "classic" S-Tier picks have started to show their age.
The Heavy Hitters: Exotic Weapons That Define the Current Meta
If you aren't running Conditional Finality in your kinetic slot for high-end PvE, you're making life harder for yourself. It’s been out for a while, sure, but the utility of having an instant Freeze and Ignite in a single shotgun remains unmatched. It’s the ultimate "get out of jail free" card when a Barrier Champion or a stray Tormentor gets too close.
Choir of One has also cemented itself as a must-have. Since the recent ammo economy buffs, this Void-heavy weapon is essentially a "do-everything" gun. It clears rooms, it melts Elites, and the ammo sustain—especially when you pair it with the new ammo generation mods—is just silly.
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But we have to talk about the newcomer: Graviton Spike. This Arc hand cannon from the Edge of Fate questline is currently terrorizing the Crucible. It has this weird, dual-firing mode that rewards precision but also punishes groups with massive chain lightning. If you see one in Trials, just stay away from your teammates. Seriously.
S-Tier: The Non-Negotiables
- Gjallarhorn: Still the king. If your team is running rockets for boss DPS, someone has to wear the "G-Horn" cape to provide Wolfpack Rounds. It’s a support weapon masquerading as a nuke.
- Witherhoard: The blight pools are still the most consistent passive damage in the game. It’s boring, maybe, but it works.
- Still Hunt: Specifically on Hunters. Pairing this with Celestial Nighthawk turns you into a walking orbital strike. It’s arguably the highest burst damage potential for a special weapon right now.
- Khvostov 7G-0X: The ricocheting bullets make add-clear a joke. It’s the best "workhorse" primary for general play.
A-Tier: Strong, But Situational
- Outbreak Perfected: Incredible for GMs where you need to save heavy ammo. The SIVA nanites eventually ramp up to deal respectable boss damage.
- Dragon's Breath: A Solar build's best friend. It’s fantastic for area denial, though it can be a bit finicky if the boss moves out of the fire pools.
- Sunshot: Still the gold standard for explosions, but Khvostov is starting to eat its lunch in terms of ease of use.
Armor That Actually Changes How You Play
Your destiny 2 exotic tier list isn't complete without the armor that enables these weapon loops. The introduction of Exotic Class Items (Relativism, Stoicism, Solipsism) changed everything. Why wear one exotic when you can have the "Spirit" of two?
For Hunters, Relativism with a roll of Spirit of Caliban and Spirit of Liar is the current peak of the "punching" meta. You dodge, you punch, everything explodes, and you heal. It’s a very simple loop that makes most legendary content feel like a patrol mission. On the other hand, if you're a Warlock, Solipsism with Spirit of Inmost Light and Spirit of Osmiomancy lets you spam abilities so fast your keyboard might melt.
The Best Exotic Armor by Class (Early 2026)
Hunter:
Celestial Nighthawk remains the DPS king. It’s simple: one shot, massive damage. However, Lucky Pants is making a massive comeback because of the Agape hand cannon. If you time the "Illegally Modified Holster" buff correctly, you can out-damage most heavy weapons using just a primary.
Warlock:
Mataiodoxia is the new favorite for Strand fans. It turns your arcane needles into high-powered suspension bolts. If you aren't into that, Getaway Artist on Prismatic is still the "low-effort, high-reward" choice. Your turrets do the work while you focus on not falling off the map.
Titan:
Titans have had it rough lately, but Hazard Battledress is a game-changer. It significantly buffs the damage of your Arc weapons (hello, Graviton Spike) and provides a massive resistance boost while you're amplified. It’s the aggressive, "in-your-face" playstyle Titans have been begging for. Also, Pyrogale Gauntlets are still the go-to for turning your Burning Maul into a single-slam delete button.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Tier List
A lot of players think "S-Tier" means "use this for everything." That’s a trap.
Take Divinity. It’s S-Tier for a raid team because it creates a giant crit spot. But if you're playing solo? It’s a D-Tier weapon. You’re sacrificing all your damage for a debuff that nobody is there to take advantage of. Similarly, Ace of Spades is a god in PvP, but in a Grandmaster Nightfall, you’ll struggle to keep Memento Mori active without getting picked off.
Nuance is everything. The current 2026 meta isn't about find the "best" gun; it's about finding the synergy.
Actionable Steps for Your Loadout
To stay ahead of the curve, you should prioritize these three things right now:
- Farm the Exotic Class Items: If you haven't run the Dual Destiny mission yet, do it. The combinations available on these class items outperform 90% of the standalone exotic armor pieces in the game.
- Get the Still Hunt Catalyst: If you're a Hunter main, this isn't optional. The extra stability and the orbs of power generation on precision hits make the Nighthawk loop much more consistent.
- Watch the "Edge of Fate" Questline: Graviton Spike is currently the most dominant weapon in the 3v3 PvP sandbox. Getting it early will save you a lot of frustration in the Crucible.
Keep an eye on the weekly patch notes. Bungie has been aggressive with mid-season balance passes lately, and a single "bug fix" can drop a weapon from S-Tier to the bottom of your vault in an afternoon.