Dungeons offer some of the most fun and memorable challenges you can tackle with a Fireteam. These activities function like mini raids with unique loot tables, including Exotics. If you’re looking for the best, let me show you all the Destiny 2 Dungeon Exotics weapons ranked.
Related: Is Destiny 2 worth getting into in 2024?
Every Destiny 2 Dungeon Exotic weapon ranked
Dungeon Exotics are always worth adding to your collection, but they aren’t created equally. This list has some clear winners, but remember that the activity often dictates what weapons are best. Here’s how I rate every Dungeon Exotic, from worst to best.
#7 Xenophage
- Dungeon – Pit of Heresy
- How to obtain – Exotic Questline
- Type – Solar Machine Gun
The Xenophage can be earned as part of a multi-section quest on the Moon, which concludes in the Pit of Heresy Dungeon. For your efforts, you’re rewarded with a spicy Machine Gun that fires explosive rounds.
Xenophage has the Pyrotoxin Rounds perk and Rangefinder, which helps the weapon perform at longer ranges. It’s a fun gun, although it feels outdated compared to many newer Exotics. The Pyrotoxin Rounds simply don’t do enough, especially when the Sunshot can blow up entire armies with a couple of shots. If you’re after a decent Machine Gun, you can do worse than the Xenophage, but there are far better options. I’d take the Thunderlord over the Xenophage any day.
#6 Heartshadow
- Dungeon – Duality
- How to obtain – Random drop
- Type – Void Sword
The Heartshadow Exotic Sword certainly looks the part with its intricate detailing. Unfortunately, the perks make the weapon a little too niche compared to many other Exotics in Destiny 2. The Exhumation perk grants invisibility after landing full-power heavy attacks. This perk pairs nicely with the Shot in the Dark trait, which gives bonus damage when you attack while invisible.
It’s a stylish combination, but the only Class that can properly utilize it is the Void Hunter. Besides that fringe case, you can get more value from other Exotics for much less effort. The Heartshadow is a hard sell, hence its placement, but it’s still a fun weapon and is viable in all casual content.
#5 Hierarchy of Needs
- Dungeon – The Spire of the Watcher
- How to obtain – Random drop
- Type – Solar Bow
The Hierarchy of Needs is an Exotic Solar Bow with unique perks. The star of the show is Guidance Ring, which can be unleashed after racking up a few kills. Any arrows fired through the ring activate Apollonic Tangent, which sends out homing projectiles.
This Bow can deal respectable damage, but it does require some setup and, ideally, plenty of space. If you can plink away at your opponents from a distance, you’ll have fun with the Hierarchy of Needs. The downside is you’ll struggle to use the Exotic perks up close. Call me simple (I’m a Titan main, after all), but I prefer to spend my Exotic slot on weapons that provide more overall value, hence the lower rating.
#4 Wish-Ender
- Dungeon – Shattered Throne
- How to obtain – Exotic Quest
- Type – Kinetic Bow
The Wish-Ender may be overshadowed by more technical Bows, like the Wish-Keeper, but it remains one of my favorite Exotics in Destiny 2. This Bow hits like a dump truck and highlights hidden enemies with the Queen’s Wrath perk. The Wish-Ender also “over penetrates,” dealing damage multiple times as the arrow cuts through targets. In the right situation, the projectiles can hit several foes and dish out deceptively high amounts of damage.
While the Broadhead Arrows are fantastic, I like the Wish-Ender because it feels snappy. The draw time is fast, and you can rely on it to deal with multiple foes simultaneously.
#3 Buried Bloodline
- Dungeon – Warlord’s Ruin
- How to obtain – Random drop
- Type – Void Sidearm
The Buried Bloodline certainly wins the title of “most unique” Exotic on this list as it’s a terrifying combination of Sidearm and Grenade Launcher. Like the Navigator, Buried Bloodline has a lousy drop rate and can only be obtained from the Warlord’s Ruin Dungeon. The Sidearm can only be farmed once per character weekly, so take your time with this one.
If you’re lucky enough to own it, the Buried Bloodline is a deadly weapon that fires tracking bolts that leech health from their targets. This weapon can also bestow the Devour buff, which grants shields and health when you kill a target. You also gain a faster grenade recharge rate as a bonus. The leeching projectiles and Devour make the Buried Bloodline viable in endgame content.
At the time of writing, everyone wants a Buried Bloodline, so be sure to show it off in the Tower and make your friends green with envy.
#2 The Navigator
- Dungeon – Ghosts of the Deep
- How to obtain – Random drop
- Type – Strand Trace Rifle
The Navigator is incredibly sought after. It’s the only Strand Trace Rifle in Destiny 2 and only obtainable from the final encounter of the Ghosts of the Deep Dungeon. Even if you clear the Dungeon, you only have a roughly 5% chance of getting one.
The Navigator grants Woven Mail when you shoot your teammates, which is a massive survivability buff. The Weft Cutter perk can Sever targets, which makes them deal less damage. These bonuses may not sound like much, but they shine in high-level content like Grand Master Nightfalls, or anywhere you have a level deficit. The Navigator is a perfect fit for a Strand build. If you’re a Titan player, check out our in-depth Strand build guide that works perfectly with this Exotic Trace Rifle.
#1 Gjallarhorn
- Dungeon – Grasp of Avarice
- How to obtain – Exotic Questline
- Type – Solar Rocket Launcher
The Gjallarhorn is etched in Destiny’s history and was almost mandatory if you wanted to join raids with a random group. Destiny 2’s Gjallarhorn is a shadow of its former self but a monster Rocket Launcher all the same.
I love Rocket Launchers, as they offer incredible damage output in a single shot. The Gjallarhorn hits hard, then hits multiple times afterward with a cluster of homing projectiles with its Wolfpack Rounds perk. This perk makes the Gjallarhorn perfect for damage phases, even if you can’t stand near the target for long. Your nearby teammates can also share the Wolfpack Rounds bonus, provided they are close and using non-exotic Rocket Launchers.
This Exotic is a superb, non-commital damage dealer with a killer team-focused perk and offers a combination worthy of the top stop.
This is how I rate the Dungeon Exotics, but don’t let my opinion dissuade you from using your favorites. If you’re new to Dungeons and don’t know what order to tackle them in, check out our guide that rates them all by difficulty.
