Destiny 2 Sunshot: Solar Explosion Hand Cannon

Sunshot is an exotic Solar hand cannon with the Sun Blast trait. Every precision kill makes the enemy explode in Solar energy, damaging anything standing nearby. It is one of the easiest exotics to pick up and one of the most satisfying for clearing groups.

How to get Sunshot

Sunshot is a permanent member of Xur’s weekly exotic pool in the energy slot. He sells it on the weekend for Glimmer, Legendary Shards, and an Exotic Cipher. Exotic Engrams can also drop it. There is no quest.

How to play Sunshot

Aim for heads and let the explosions do the crowd control. Sun Blast chains through packed enemies, so a single precision kill can wipe a cluster. The explosions also trigger Solar effects on your subclass, which keeps abilities and Ignitions cycling in Solar builds. The explosions count as Solar final blows, so any Solar-scaling armor keeps working.

The Sunshot catalyst

The Sunshot catalyst comes from strikes and the Crucible. It raises range by 27 and stability by 18, which pushes the weapon into comfortable mid-range duels. The kill requirement is straightforward Sunshot kills. It is one of the easiest catalysts to finish because the kills come naturally while using the weapon.

Sunshot mistakes that never trigger Sun Blast

• Body-shotting and never triggering Sun Blast.
• Using it against spread-out enemies.
• Ignoring Solar subclass synergy.

FAQ

Is Sunshot good in PvP? The explosions finish wounded enemies, but the weapon is a PvE-first pick.

Does it work in any activity? Yes. It shines wherever enemies bunch up.

Is it a good first exotic? Absolutely. Simple, strong, and easy to farm.

Sunshot checklist, Xur to catalyst

• Find Sunshot in Xur’s energy slot.
• Run a Solar subclass.
• Chain precision kills for explosions.
• Farm the catalyst in strikes.

Where Sun Blast stops paying

Boss damage is the honest limit. Sun Blast needs a precision kill, and a raid boss does not die to a hand cannon kill, so the trait contributes nothing during a damage phase — it is a reason not to run Sunshot as your only Solar primary, not a reason to leave it at home. The comparison worth making is with the Solar hand cannons built for duels: Igneous Hammer trades the explosion for reach and a heavier, slower shot, which is why it shows up in the Crucible and Sunshot does not. Anywhere adds arrive in packs — Nightfalls, seasonal arenas, Gambit waves — the kill chain beats raw range. Check the boss DPS meta before committing a heavy slot, and the catalyst guide for what the range bump actually buys.

Related guides

• Xur and exotic ciphers
• Light subclasses
• Exotic weapons overview