In the realm of Destiny 2, nothing brings as much hype as Exotic gear does. These unique and powerful items change the game for the better since Guardians can now much more precisely customize their builds with new abilities, traits, and perks. Out of all the collectibles present in the game, Exotic class armor pieces, marks, cloaks, and bonds are highly stylish and effective, acting as class boosters for your Guardian. Unfortunately, acquiring them is far more difficult than simply picking up a piece of gear.
Whether you play alone, with a fireteam, or just browse through the various PvE and PvP activities, this guide will unlock Exotic class armor for you in Destiny 2. Some players even look for additional help, such as Destiny 2 boosting services, to hire a professional player to unlock exotic items. This guide is designed for players who prefer to earn every achievement without outside help.
What Are Exotic Class Items?
Let’s discuss how to unlock them later on. First, let’s understand precisely what Exotic class items are. Destiny 2, like every other game, has devoted a slice of armor for class-specific items for every Guardian class – Titan, Hunter, and Warlock:
- Titan – Marks
- Hunter – Cloaks
- Warlock – Bonds
Generally, these items are purely cosmetic, but Exotic class items do not follow this trend. They offer valuable benefits that can significantly impact gameplay, making them crucial for endgame builds.
Exotic armor pieces used to be limited to the helm, gauntlets, chest, and leg armor. With the release of The Final Shape expansion and seasonal updates, Bungie has added new class types that offer Exotics to subclasses, improve grenade recharge rate, and even grant multiple subclass abilities.
Requirements Before You Begin
Unlocking Exotic class items isn’t as simple as opening an engram. There are a few prerequisites that must be completed before you even get a chance at obtaining these coveted items:
- Own the Required Expansion: Exotic class items are tied to The Final Shape expansion and its associated seasonal content.
- Reach Soft Cap: While you can begin the quest earlier, hitting the soft power cap (usually around 1750+) increases your chances of survival in the activities required.
- Complete the Campaign: The base campaign for The Final Shape must be completed to unlock the endgame areas and systems where Exotic class items are obtainable.
Where to Start – The Pathfinder System
Once you’ve completed the Final Shape campaign, you will gain access to a new progression mechanic called the Pathfinder System. This is a branching set of objectives located in the Pale Heart destination, allowing players to earn rewards through targeted gameplay.
To start working toward your Exotic class item:
- Open the Director
- Navigate to Pale Heart
- Select the Pathfinder activity
- Follow the objective tree until you reach Exotic-tier rewards
Completing the Pathfinder objective lines can lead to Overthrow activities, which are essential for obtaining Exotic class items.
Unlocking Exotic Class Items
Now, let’s break down the exact steps to follow for acquiring your Exotic class item.
1: Complete the Overthrow Activity
The Overthrow event is a large-scale public activity located in The Pale Heart. This event plays similarly to the Court of Oryx or Altars of Sorrow, where Guardians complete objectives and defeat powerful bosses in increasingly difficult phases.
- You will need to complete Tier 3 Overthrow events.
- These events rotate through different zones within Pale Heart: The Blooming, The Seclusion, and The Landing.
- After completing Tier 3, a special enemy boss will spawn.
Upon defeating this boss, there’s a chance it will drop an Exotic class item, or the item may fall from the Overthrow chest at the end.
2: Engage in Pathfinder Rewards
While Overthrow gives you a shot at Exotic class items, the Pathfinder reward path can also offer guaranteed exotic drops after completing multiple nodes.
- Track your progression on the Pathfinder board
- Choose objectives that align with your playstyle (PvE, PvP, Gambit)
- Earn Coffers that include powerful gear, with chances to contain Exotic class items
This system is ideal for players who prefer a more structured and progressive method compared to the chaotic nature of Overthrow.
3: Farm Exotic Engrams and Focus Them
Once you’ve unlocked the ability to obtain Exotic class items, you can also begin to focus on Exotic Engrams with vendors like Rahool in the Tower.
- Each focused engram has a specific cost, usually including Glimmer, Ascendant Shards, and Enhancement Cores
- Focusing an Exotic engram on class items increases your chances of rolling one
You can farm Exotic Engrams through:
- Legendary Lost Sectors (Solo)
- Nightfall Strikes (Master difficulty)
- Trials of Osiris (Flawless chest)
- Raid completions
While this method doesn’t guarantee class item drops, it gives players control over what slots they want gear for.
Important Considerations
Unlocking and using Exotic class items is exciting, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. You Can Only Equip One Exotic Armor Item at a Time
Just like all Exotics, class items fall under the “one Exotic at a time” rule. Equipping an Exotic class item will prevent you from using an Exotic helmet, chest piece, etc. Plan your builds accordingly.
2. Perk Rolls Vary
Some Exotic class items offer randomized perks tied to your subclass. For example, a Titan Mark might boost Solar grenade cooldowns or Arc ability regen. You may need to farm multiple copies to find the ideal roll for your build.
3. Post-Campaign Content Is Required
If you’re the kind of player who skips campaign stories to dive into PvP or raids, you will still need to complete at least the main arc of The Final Shape to unlock the right zones and systems.
Best Exotic Class Items So Far
Here’s a quick look at some standout Exotic class items across the three Guardian types:
Titan – Mark of the Resolute Flame
- Increases Solar grenade damage
- Grants Cure x2 on grenade kill
- Synergizes with Burning Maul and Sunspots
Hunter – Cloak of the Silent Path
- Boosts invisibility duration
- Enemies defeated while invisible grant Devour
- Perfect for Void-based Nightstalker builds
Warlock – Bond of Infinite Echoes
- Void kills extend the Rift duration
- Rift heals allies and suppresses enemies
- Best used in support-focused or high-end PvE encounters
These Exotics can completely change how you play, so getting your hands on the right one is a major milestone in your Destiny 2 journey.
Final Thoughts
Unlocking Exotic class items in Destiny 2 is one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences in the game’s ever-evolving ecosystem. These items not only boost your performance but also help define your identity as a Guardian. Whether you’re a PvE grinder, a Crucible king, or a weekend raider, these pieces have a place in your endgame builds.