Unlock the legendary power of Destiny’s past: Ice Breaker, the iconic sniper rifle, is back in Destiny 2-but only the boldest Guardians will claim it from the depths of Vesper’s Host dungeon.
Below is how to get Ice Breaker in Destiny 2, increase your odds of Ice Breaker dropping, and how the weapon has changed since it’s original debut.
How to get Ice Breaker in Destiny 2
To obtain Ice Breaker in Destiny 2, you must complete the final encounter of the Vesper’s Host dungeon, where the weapon has a chance to drop as a random reward from the last boss, the Corrupted Puppeteer. The dungeon requires ownership of The Final Shape Dungeon Key, and while the drop is not guaranteed, you can increase your chances by running the dungeon on multiple characters each week. Unlike some other exotics, there are no quests or puzzles required to earn Ice Breaker-just persistence and a bit of luck.
The only way to get an Ice Breaker in Destiny 2 is to complete the Vesper’s Host dungeon, where it will then have a chance of dropping upon completing the final encounter, The Corrupted Puppeteer.
Much like other raids and dungeons with exclusive exotics, the only way to get Ice Breaker is through the luck of the draw. It isn’t guaranteed to drop when you beat the boss, so you might need to complete the dungeon a number of times before it’s yours – but know since the weapon can only drop once per character, per week, it’s something you cannot farm.
If you can’t wait until the following weekly reset, you can run the dungeon three times a week, once with each character, to maximise your chances.
How to increase Ice Breaker drop rate
To increase your chances of obtaining Ice Breaker in Destiny 2, run the Vesper’s Host dungeon each week-preferably with all three characters for more opportunities-since the drop is once per character per week. Each completion without receiving Ice Breaker slightly boosts your future drop odds, creating a “pity” system that eventually guarantees the weapon with persistence. Additionally, completing specific triumphs-such as finishing all encounters solo (Alone in the Dark), clearing the dungeon on Master difficulty (Stationmaster), and finding all hidden collectibles (Buried Secrets)-will further improve your drop rate. These triumphs are challenging but offer the best way to maximize your chances of securing this coveted exotic sniper rifle.
Thankfully, there are some things you can do to increase your odds of Ice Breaker dropping.
First of all, every time you beat Vesper’s Host and don’t get Ice Breaker, your chances of getting the weapon increase. Essentially, so long as you keep trying, you are almost guaranteed to get it eventually.
Further, you can complete Triumphs in the Vesper’s Host seal to improve your drop rate. These include:
- Alone in the Dark: Complete all encounters in Vesper’s Host solo without leaving the activity
- Stationmaster: Complete Vesper’s Host on Master difficulty
- Buried Secrets: Find all collectibles in Vesper’s Host
Even with the above in place, it will likely take you a couple of completed runs through the dungeon to get the weapon, so grab your fireteam and get grinding.
What does the new Ice Breaker do?
The new Ice Breaker in Destiny 2 is an exotic Solar sniper rifle that stands out for its unique ammo regeneration mechanics. Its signature perk, “No Backpack,” allows the weapon to generate its own ammo over time, eliminating the need to pick up Special ammo bricks-though in Destiny 2, ammo is also created by getting kills or assists with other weapons, and defeating powerful enemies provides multiple rounds at once. Additionally, Ice Breaker causes enemies defeated by the weapon to explode, with precision kills or shattering frozen targets triggering a Solar Ignition that spreads Scorch to nearby enemies, making it highly effective for both boss damage and crowd control. Its exotic catalyst further enhances ammo regeneration when hitting slowed or frozen enemies, making it a top-tier choice for Solar, Stasis, and Prismatic builds.
Ice Breaker has changed quite a bit in the jump to Destiny 2. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t the simple infinite ammo sniper rifle it once was, but not far off it.
The new intrinsic trait, No Backpack, states that “’final blows or assists with any other weapon or ability have a chance to create ammo for Ice Breaker. Defeating powerful combatants will create multiple rounds.”
This means you can still create ammo out of thin air for Ice Breaker, but now you have to work for it. Between this perk and picking up special ammo as normal, you should find your Ice Breaker regularly with a full clip of 10 shots. If that wasn’t enough, it has another unique perk.
The eponymous Ice Breaker perk causes enemies defeated with the weapon to explode. What’s more, should you hit a precision final blow or shatter a frozen enemy, it will trigger an ignition and scorch nearby enemies.
All in all, this new version of Ice Breaker reinvents the classic in a way that makes sense for the modern game. It is definitely powerful, and a lot of fun to use. If you have the time and the ability, be sure to jump into Vesper’s Host and grab this gun if you can.
What are the secret tricks to increase my chances of getting Ice Breaker in Destiny 2
To maximize your chances of obtaining Ice Breaker in Destiny 2, employ these strategies and “secret tricks”:
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Run the Dungeon on All Three Characters: You can attempt the Vesper’s Host dungeon once per week per character, giving you up to three chances per week to get Ice Breaker.
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Pity System: Each time you complete the dungeon without Ice Breaker dropping, your chances for it to drop on future runs increase. This means persistence pays off, and you are nearly guaranteed to get it eventually.
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Complete Key Triumphs: Finishing specific Triumphs boosts your drop rate:
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Alone in the Dark: Complete all Vesper’s Host encounters solo without leaving the activity.
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Stationmaster: Complete the dungeon on Master difficulty.
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Buried Secrets: Find all hidden collectibles in the dungeon.
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Contest Mode Guarantee: If you complete the dungeon during Contest Mode (typically available at launch or during special events), Ice Breaker is guaranteed to drop.
These methods are the most effective ways to increase your odds of getting this coveted exotic sniper rifle.
What specific Triumphs should I focus on to boost Ice Breaker drop chances
To boost your chances of getting Ice Breaker in Destiny 2, focus on completing these specific Triumphs associated with the Vesper’s Host dungeon:
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Alone in the Dark: Complete all encounters in Vesper’s Host solo without leaving the activity.
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Stationmaster: Complete Vesper’s Host on Master difficulty.
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Buried Secrets: Find all hidden collectibles in Vesper’s Host.
Each of these Triumphs increases your drop rate for Ice Breaker, making them highly recommended for Guardians aiming to maximize their chances.
