There are currently 37 pieces of exotic armor available for hunters in Destiny 2. Not all of them can shine, but there are at least ten that you should always have in your arsenal.
Starting in Beyond Light, almost all exotics must be unlocked by completing Solo Lost Sectors on high difficulties. Every day, a different Lost Sector is featured, and you can choose between Legend and Master difficulty (with increased chances of a drop in the latter). The DLC exotics for Shadowkeep and Witch Queen are an exception, as they can be obtained through the respective campaigns.
Once you’ve unlocked each exotic, it’ll be added to the World Loot Pool and you’ll get it as exotic engrams throughout the game, with Grandmaster Nightfalls (especially during Double Reward weeks) and Solo Master Lost Sectors being the best places to farm them. Each season’s Battle Pass will also provide you with some exotic engrams, both in the free and paid track.
Honorable mentions:
Celestial Nighthawk: Improves Golden Gun to fire a single high-damage shot, but it has fallen out of favor since the Golden Gun nerfs.
Orpheus Rig: Gives back energy after using the Super. Not bad, but not as effective as it used to be.
The Bombardiers: Leave a bomb after dodging with different effects depending on your element subclass. While they are fun to use, they are not strong enough to include them on the list.
The Sixth Coyote: This is a good exotic that gives you two dodge charges, but there are other exotics that give you better dodge options.
Omnioculus: This exotic grants you two smoke bombs and improved invisibility, but there are better invisibility options in the current sandbox.
10. Stomp-EE5 (Best for mobility in PVP)
STOMP-EE5 have some great mobility.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind Stomp-EE5: https://youtu.be/2lQ6Ql1BR7c?t=83
The Stomp-EE5 has long been a very strong PVP option due to its increased mobility. In the right hands, this can be lethal in the Crucible because it allows you to close distance quickly and easily disengage from encounters. It also increases your chances of escaping a roaming super from an opponent.
They are at the bottom of the list due to a nerf to aerial accuracy that they received back in season 17. As a result, the exotic became less powerful and lost ground to other exotics. This exotic is best paired with a shotgun because you can be in your opponent’s face very quickly.
Exotic Perk:
Hydraulic Boosters: Increases sprint speed and slide distance. Improves High Jump, Strafe Jump, and Triple Jump. The airborne effectiveness stat of all weapons receives a large penalty.
9. Mask of Bakris (Best for Stasis Builds)
Mask of Bakris gives you a tactical advantage.
Easy lost sector guide to unlock Mask of Bakris: https://youtu.be/uYJDE7ja-Jw?t=22
This exotic changes how the Stasis Dodge works. You will have a longer dodge that also protects you from damage during the ability’s animation. While this is a good exotic, the fact that it can only be used in Stasis limits its effectiveness compared to other entries on the list.
You should use arc weapons with this exotic to benefit from the Light Shift perk after dodging. You also deal extra damage to slowed opponents, so remember to use your grenades and Stasis Shurikens. In terms of Stats, Discipline is your friend because it allows you to get your grenades back faster. You can also have a good PVP build that focuses on slowing enemies down.
Exotic Perk:
Light Shift: Replaces your Stasis subclass dodge ability with a longer range, faster moving shift that partially cloaks you during use. After shifting, your Arc weapons deal increased damage to combatants for a short time, and you deal increased damage to all slowed or frozen combatants.
8. Shards of Galanor (Best for Blade Barrage Super)
Feel the power of Solar 3.0 with this exotic.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind Shards of Galanor: https://youtu.be/tAR-IuX3Ykc?t=36
Shards of Galanor have begun to shine in recent seasons as they work with the now best-in-class Blade Barrage Super. This exotic returns a portion of the Super you use, making it ideal for PVE and high enemy density activities.
For this exotic, we recommend a build that makes use of the new Solar 3.0 tools, such as the new Acrobat’s Dodge, which makes you and nearby allies Radiant. While you are Radiant, your weapons deal more damage. You must also equip the Knock ‘Em Out Solar Aspect, which provides additional projectiles for your Blade Barrage.
Exotic Perk:
Sharp Edges: Hits and kills with Blade Barrage will return Super energy after the Super ends.
7. Aeon Swift (Best for Support in High-end Activities)
Never suffer for a lack of Power Ammo.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind Aeon Swift: https://youtu.be/-tYcT0N1Wfg?t=52
When you are doing high-end activities, one of the worst feelings is not being not having enough Heavy ammo. This exotic solves that problem with one of its perks by providing Heavy ammo to your teammates when you kill a Major enemy with a finisher. You can choose between two other exotic perks, but this one is by far the most useful, especially in Grandmaster Nightfalls.
Overall, this is a very useful exotic and the only one that allows you to choose between different exotic perks. We recommend using the Nightstalker’s Vanishing Step Aspect, which will also make you invisible for better survivability in the high-difficulty content you will most likely be bringing this exotic into.
Exotic Perk:
Sect of Force: When you stun a Champion or defeat a boss/miniboss, your nearby fireteam members gain a burst of grenade and melee energy. Aeon cult allies who do not have the Sect of Force role equipped also gain a burst of Super energy.
Sect of Insight: When you use a finisher on an Elite, you generate Special ammo for your fireteam; when you use a finisher on a boss or mini boss, you generate Heavy ammo for your fireteam. Nearby Aeon cult allies who do not have the Sect of Insight role equipped also gain a bonus to weapon damage for a short time.
Sect of Vigor: When you cast your Super, nearby allies gain an instant burst of healing. Aeon cult allies who do not have the Sect of Vigor role equipped also gain an overshield.
6. The Dragon’s Shadow (Best for PVP)
An exotic that shines on PVP.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind The Dragon’s Shadow: https://youtu.be/yN64i6lMo7U?t=437
The Dragon’s Shadow is a good PVP exotic that reloads all your weapons when you dodge while also temporarily increasing movement and weapon handling speeds. While you can use this exotic for any activity in the game with good results, it really shines in PVP, where the increased handling and mobility give you an advantage over your opponent.
For this exotic, you can use whatever subclass you prefer, but we recommend Arc 3.0 with the Lethal Current Aspect for better melee and a shotgun to be up close and personal. When paired with Combination Blow, you can regain your dodge after a kill, allowing you to use the exotic perk again.
Exotic Perk:
Wraithmetal Mail: Dodging reloads all weapons and increases both movement and weapon handling speeds for a brief time.
5. Assassin’s Cowl (Best for Survivability)
Be one with the dark with this exotic.
How to unlock Assassin’s Cowl: https://youtu.be/NnafHH6bVk4?t=1
I have been using this exotic a lot this season, and I believe it provides a very different hunter gameplay loop. You can regain your dodge after killing enemies with this exotic, and if you have Gambler’s Dodge selected, you can close the loop and become invisible when using it. This allows you to get up close and personal with enemies and constantly go in and out of invisibility.
You can clear out entire rooms with this exotic, even at higher levels of difficulty. The reworked Arc 3.0 shines brightly as you can jolt targets, get amplified, and continue to go invisible. You can be quite safe while surrounded by enemies if you have high mobility and some damage resistance mods.
Exotic Perk:
Vanishing Execution: Powered melee final blows grant invisibility and restore a portion of health and shields. Finishers and final blows against more powerful targets increase the duration of the invisibility and the amount of health and shields restored.
4. Star-Eater Scales (Best for Increasing Super Damage)
Star-Eater Scales makes you the DPS king.
Easy lost sector guide to unlock Star-Eater Scales: https://youtu.be/H6-ZZptFhy8?t=48
Star-Eater Scales is one of the best exotics for high damage DPS in the game. You can pair it with several supers, including the new Hunter super, Gathering Storm. This is high on the list because it not only makes the Super stronger, but it also helps you get your super faster because each orb of light gives you double the energy.
In order to get your Super up faster, we recommend using Arc 3.0 guardian with Gathering Storm, Melee Wellmaker, and Font of Wisdom mods. To deal the most damage, you must overcharge your Super with four orbs. This is easiest to accomplish in group content, where other guardians can assist you in creating orbs.
Exotic Perk:
Feast of Light: You gain additional Super energy from Orbs of Power you pick up. While your Super energy is full, picking up an Orb of Power overcharges your Super, causing you to gain a burst of healing when cast and a bonus to your Super damage. At maximum overcharge, you also gain an overshield.
3. Wormhusk Crown (Best for survivability in PVP)
Survive longer with this exotic armor.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind Wormhusk Crown: https://youtu.be/YMzifS21TZo?t=250
There are several PVP options for hunters, but Wormhusk Crown has long been a fan favorite. After dodging, you regain some health and shield. This results in a very simple exotic that serves multiple functions and increases your chances of survival in the Crucible. This exotic can also be used in PVE, but there are stronger exotics available for PVE survivability.
For this build, we can use the Combination Blow and Gambler's Dodge Arc combo, as well as a shotgun. You will be able to heal after dodging and recharge your melee, allowing you to recover from a 1v1 duel and prepare for your next target. You can also use Nightstalker in conjunction with Vanishing Step to gain invisibility after encounters or when approaching a target while invisible.
Exotic Perk:
Burning Souls: Dodging gives a small health and shield bump.
2. Liar’s Handshake (Best for aggressive playstyle in PVE)
This exotic makes for a very fun loop.
Easy Nightfall guide to grind Liar’s Handshake: https://youtu.be/zATELDUGtqM?t=207
Liar’s Handshake was already strong before Season of the Plunder, but now it has become more popular because it works extremely well with Arc 3.0. Hunters have long been associated with the more risk-averse invisibility style of gameplay, but with these exotics and Arc 3.0, you can have a very strong build that relies on getting up close and personal with your enemies to truly experience what Titan life is all about.
We recommend high resilience, discipline, and intellect for this exotic. With the Gambler's Dodge and Combination Blow combo, you will regain your class ability and melee. Don't forget to use the Lethal Current Aspect for additional dodging utility. To increase its effectiveness, we recommend using close-encounter arc weapons such as shotguns, SMGs, or sidearms.
Exotic Perk:
Cross Counter: Using your Arc melee ability or being hit by a melee attack will allow you to follow up with an extremely powerful melee counterpunch that will heal you.
1. Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk (Best for improving invisibility)
One of the best new exotics in the game.
Easy lost sector guide to unlock Gyrfalcon’s Hauberk: https://youtu.be/fMRpvslUO9Q?t=8
The extremely useful Gyrfalcon's Hauberk, this season's addition to the exotic Hunter's collection, is at the top of the list. However, Bungie ironically had to disable it for a few weeks due to a game-breaking bug.
There are a few Hunter exotics that improve or give bonuses when you become invisible, but you lose invisibility when you attack an enemy, so it is usually used for defensive tactics. This exotic grants you a 35% damage boost when you emerge from invisibility in PVE and a 15% boost in PVP. This would make it a very strong exotic in and of itself, but what sets it apart from the rest is that it also grants you and your nearby allies an overshield when killing an enemy with finishers while invisible.
This exotic can be combined with the Rat King sidearm, which grants invisibility when reloading after a kill, for a lethal invisibility-extra damage combo. This exotic works particularly well with Nightstalker's Vanishing Step and Stylish Executioner Aspects to keep you invisible at all times.
Exotic Perk:
See Me, Feel Me: Your weapons gain a bonus to damage briefly after you emerge from being invisible. When you are using invisible and defeat a combatant using a finisher nearby combatants turn volatile; you and your nearby allies gain a reserve overshield and improved class ability regen. These reserve overshields can be deployed by using a class ability.
The fact that there are so many viable exotic options demonstrates Bungie's skill in designing these pieces of armor. Strand, the new element introduced in the next expansion, will undoubtedly shake things up, but for the time being, you can rest easy with these Exotics in your arsenal.
