Best Destiny 2 Exotic Weapons for New Players

New players see a wall of Exotic weapons and pick the flashiest, then barely use it. The smart first pickup is quiet and constant: Witherhoard, the grenade launcher you can grab from the Exotic Kiosk.

The best first exotic weapon

Witherhoard fires a projectile that leaves a persistent Taken blight pool. Enemies standing in it take damage over time, so you add free damage just by tagging a lane. It is the most accessible early upgrade in the game.

How to unlock Witherhoard

You get it from the Exotic Kiosk in the Tower. No raid, no luck, no grind beyond unlocking the kiosk, which New Light guides you toward. That makes it the safest first real upgrade.

Why it matters early: most new players struggle with damage output. Witherhoard’s pool works in PvE while you reload, reposition, or handle adds. It rewards smart placement over raw skill.

Quests, Xur, and engrams

Exotics also come from quests, Xur, and engrams. Quests hand you iconic guns with a story attached. Xur sells one each weekend.

Engrams drop from hard content. Our how to get exotics guide maps every path.

Do not sleep on a well-perked Legendary either. A careful roll can out-class a careless Exotic. Our best legendary weapons guide covers what to keep.

Saving materials for the right exotic

Save your Exotic cipher and materials for pieces you will use. Witherhoard earns its slot in almost any early loadout.

Pair it with an Exotic armor piece, since you can run one of each. Our Exotic armor guide helps you choose.

Use Witherhoard to learn lane control, not just to pad damage. Drop the pool where enemies cluster and watch the fight slow in your favor. As you grow, other exotics will join it, but none will be as easy to earn. Start here and build outward.

Grab Witherhoard from the Exotic Kiosk first, then let quests and Xur fill the rest of your arsenal.