Anyone who has lived and breathed the Destiny franchise over the years knows just how amazing and game-changing exotic weapons can be. For the longest time, players were subjugated to farming endlessly in the hopes that en exotic engram would drop and finally give them the weapon they were longing for. It was a time-consuming process and some dedicated players would go eons without getting their hands on a particular exotic.
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Destiny 2 has remedied this issue by offering up some exotics via special weapon quests. Unfortunately, not all of these quests are created equal. Some are fun and engaging while others make us want to rip our hair out. With Shadowkeep recently releasing, here's a look back at some of the best (and absolute worst) weapon quests so far!
10 Best: Ace Of Spades
Sure, there are some people out there that will argue that getting the Ace of Spades is downright terrible. Yes, the quest itself can be time-consuming and there are a lot of steps involved. We suppose it also doesn't help if you aren't proficient in hand cannons or care much about the weapon type. That said, the Ace of Spades is no ordinary hand cannon and it's a gun you'll at least want to try.
What makes this quest one of the best, though, is the story lore behind it. Spending your "last moments" with Cayde-6 tugs at the heartstrings and learning so much about the smart-mouthed hunter's past will make you want him back even more.
9 Worst: Sleeper Simulant
Thankfully, this quest is a lot easier nowadays thanks to the massive difference in light level but when it was first introduced in the Warmind expansion it was downright frustrating. There were quite a few steps that needed to be taken and collecting resonate stems from public events and lost sectors was a pain in the neck. It was easily the most time-consuming part of the quest and it felt like you were trapped in an endless cycle of farming for hours upon end.
Yet, even after that was finished, the quest dragged on with one final gasp, a harder version of the last mission of Warmind. The Sleeper Simulant is a fun weapon and definitely worth it but we're thankful it's much easier to obtain nowadays (resonate stem grinding aside).
8 Best: Whisper Of The Worm
As time went on, Bungie started to get a bit more creative with their exotic weapons and quests. The Warmind expansion saw the release of the Whisper of the Worm, a heavy sniper rifle with an incredibly useful perk and the capability to down bosses very quickly. It was a coveted weapon (and still is) but obtaining it would prove to be one of the most difficult things in Destiny 2 so far. The exotic quest would lead to a special mission that must be completed in a certain amount of time. The mission was almost like a mini-raid complete with jumping puzzles, mob-filled rooms, and difficult bosses. It was a slough for sure but a breath of fresh air for players.
7 Worst: Outbreak Perfected
Wanting to capitalize on the success of the Whisper of the Worm exotic quest, Bungie doubled down during the Season of the Drifter. Outbreak Perfected came packed with its own exotic quest mission step called Zero Hour, and boy was this one a doozy. It's likely a lot easier now thanks to the power scaling but pre-Shadow Keep it was a certified nightmare. The jumping puzzle parts were harder, the maze was longer, and the "final boss" was much more difficult than the Whisper of the Worm trio. To make matters even worst, those seeking the Catalyst (which is fantastic) would have to complete a heroic version that is even more punishing.
6 Best: Wish Ender
This one might be a bit controversial between fans because we're sure there are many out there that absolutely despise the Shattered Throne. Like Whisper of the Worm, the questline for Wish Ender brought a unique spin to the Destiny 2 universe and Bungie once again tried to do something different to keep things fresh. The end result has players traveling to a special mission that is only available on a three-week rotation. The mission itself isn't too bad if you have a competent group and collecting the necessary coins for Wish Ender is actually pretty entertaining when you know what you're doing.
5 Worst: Malfeasance
Malfeasance is a lot of pain for little reward (unless you adore hand cannons and are a huge Gambit fan). The exotic itself looks amazing and has a "fun perk" but getting it is a chore. The first step relies heavily on an RNG-based boss spawning during a Gambit match so it's a bit up in the air as to how long the initial step will take.
Once that's done you'll have to down powerful Taken, go through a horrible version of The Corrupted strike (it was exceptionally difficult in the past) and bank a bunch of motes (you lose progress is you drop them). The final step has you killing invaders and wiping an enemy team in Gambit.
4 Best: The Last Word
Setting up The Last Word can be annoying but the end mission is a real treat. Once you've knocked all the "traditional kill this and that from all corners of the galaxy" requirements that seem to follow every exotic quest, you'll need to hunt down a specific Hive. After making your way through a mission, you'll come face-to-face with Enkaar and engage in a Wild West-style six-shooter duel. With a shiny new Last Word in hand, the key is to draw your weapon quickly and shoot a hand cannon out of Enkaar's hand. It's all very movie-esque and a lot of fun.
3 Worst: Izanagi's Burden
They weren't kidding with that name, getting this weapon is an absolute burden. Don't get us wrong, it's definitely worth it, especially with all the recent changes in Shadowkeep, but it can be a downright nightmare if things don't "swing your way." You'll spend a majority of your time hunting for hidden keys (which isn't difficult and simply requires the completion of some forges under specific requirements). The real issue stems from an RNG bounty that is awarded for doing normal bounties. Since you could only get a certain amount of these a day, finding the "rare bounty" to complete this step could be a headache.
2 Best: Truth
In a world where exotics were getting more complicated to obtain by the second, Truth shines out as a beacon of relief. Compared to a lot of the other exotics on this list (and released recently)m Truth is actually that difficult to obtain. It can be a bit time consuming but some of the requirements are fun and you'll have a blast (literally) farming stuff with rocket launchers. The coolest part of this mission is where the launcher is actually located, giving us a series of platforms that can only be seen while ascendant, hidden "in plain sight" in a strike that many of us adore.
1 Worst: Bad Juju
Bad Juju is just downright annoying to get. It's expensive, time-consuming, and grows more frustrating with each tribute you unlock. Getting to 18 and completing the mission to get your hands on the weapon can be taxing enough but the real struggle and pain stem from the very desirable catalyst. You'll have to complete every single unlock and triumph in the Tribute Hall to gain access to it, a task much easier said than done.