How to Get Exotics in Destiny 2

Introduction

You, my good reader (well, I hope you're good...) want exotic armor and weapons in Destiny. Why wouldn't you? They are total game changers. Just one problem: they are rare. Legendary weapons drop pretty commonly, but I think I maybe get one Exotic a month as a random drop laying on the ground. And if that was the only way to get them, this would be a very short post. (Spoiler. It's not.)

There are actually several ways to earn this equipment. and I will try to structure this guide in the same order you will have these opportunities if you are just starting out. Which brings me to:

Xur

This creepy guy shows up every Friday at 11:00 AM MST (10:00 AM PST), and leaves every Tuesday at 11:00 AM (10:00 AM PST). And he sells exotics for legendary shards.

As you can see, he sells an exotic engram (purchasable once for 97 shards), an exotic weapon (29 shards) and 3 armor pieces (1 Hunter, 1 Warlock, 1 Titan, 23 shards each). He also offers a quest that will give you an Exotic Cipher. More on the exotic cipher later.

Xur is going to be your best source for early game exotic pieces, but you are limited to what he is offering. Considering how many exotics there are, actually getting a top 10 exotic doesn't happen too often. Still, when you're first starting out I would hang onto enough legendary shards to buy one of everything he offers. And to find out where he is skulking each week, I usually go to whereisxur.com

Note: I have been informed that it's not clear how to get legendary shards for many brand new players. Legendary Shards are gained by dismantling legendary (purple) and exotic (gold) weapons and armor. So, if you need more legendary shards, dismantle the weapons you don't need. Just check that you don't secretly have a s-tier weapon first.

Exotic Quests

Every expansion Bungie usually releases several quests that guarantee exotic weapons. Unfortunately, I looked all the exotic quests currently available, and most of them require one of the expansions. So keep an eye out for the quest "Risk and Reward" as this quest rewards an amazing SMG and is available to everybody.

That's it for the easy stuff. The next methods are all 'End Game' activities, and as such, it might be a little while before they become available to you. (My next post will probably be about how best to raise your light level.)

Raids

Raids are 6 person mechanic heavy activities. They are difficult; very difficult. But they offer amazing legendary weapons, sometimes with perks only available from that raid. Additionally, each raid has it's own Exotic weapon that can be earned from an associated quest, or given as a random drop from the final encounter. If you specifically want  exotics, and nothing else, this isn't the place to go. If you want every exotic in the game, you will have to complete every raid at least once, potentially many times. 

Nightfall Strikes

Every week, one of the strikes is given a difficulty boost. The required light level is raised, modifiers changing game mechanics,and more difficult versions of the enemies called champions are introduced (Champions will also be getting their own post)

 

As shown in the image, these Nightfalls have several different tiers, and as you complete the higher tiered difficulties, the chances of gaining exotic gear increases. With the highest tier offering both exotic gear and Ascendant Shards. (These will also be useful later on.)

 

Legendary and Master Lost Sectors

If you've been playing for a little while, you may have seen these symbols:

These are, on their own, fun little mini bosses lairs. But, like strikes, they also have a challenge mode. Evey day, 2 lost sectors are given Nightfall modifiers (including champions). 

By completing these Legend or Master Lost Sector, you have a good chance to get targeted exotic armor. In the example listed above, this lost sector, if completed solo, can drop exotic arm armor. This is, without a doubt, my favorite way to try to get exotic. Last week I spent 2 days farming for exotic chest pieces on my warlock. In that time, I probably got 30. And, to make matters even better, I found a little trick that makes these even more profitable.

Exotics technically drop as an engram that is instantly decrypted into an item.

Well, if you have a full 10 engrams, any exotics you receive from Lost Sectors will be sent to you post master, and will not be decrypted. Interestingly enough, the item you get seems to be determined when the engram is decrypted, not when you receive it. So, when you collect this exotic engram from the post master, the game will see that it is a lost sector engram, check today's current Master Lost Sector rewards, and give you an exotic based on that reward.

TLDR: if you force Lost Sector engrams into your post master, when you collect them, you will receive whatever the Master Lost Sector is dropping that day. (One warning, make sure you check your post master often, because you will also be receiving a lot of rare and legendary gear in your post master, and if you have more that 21 items you will start loosing the oldest items in said post master) 

If that still didn't make sense, and you really want to know more about it, check out this video:

https://youtu.be/LAuSNQaI0eM?t=358

And now, last but not least, we have this amazing kiosk in the tower:

 

This kiosk is the official vendor for ever exotic that has been tied to a quest or raid no longer available. Remember the Ascendant Shards, and Exotic Cipher's from earlier? If you are just starting this is the BEST place to use those materials.  

As for what you should get first, I personally and absolutely recommend Eriana's Vow. It is the most useful of all of these exotics. Aside from that, Traveler's Chosen is my next favorite.

So, that's about it, at least as far as I can remember. Xur, Master Nightfall Strikes, Lost Sectors, and the Kiosk. I. For my Sherpas out there, if there's anything I forgot let me know and I'll add it in. For my blueberries just getting started, let me know if you have any questions and I'll answer them and get this guide updated!