In Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, the legendary Khvostov rifle makes its triumphant return-but unlocking its coveted Exotic form is no simple feat. Guardians must embark on a sprawling scavenger hunt across the Pale Heart, tracking down every elusive Lost Encryption Bit hidden in chests and Cyst missions. Ready to relive Destiny’s origins and claim one of the game’s most iconic weapons? Here’s how to find every Lost Encryption location and unlock the Exotic Khvostov for yourself.
The process for unlocking the Legendary variant of Khvostov and its Exotic counterpart can be a little confusing, so we’ll break it down below, including where to find all of the region chests and Lost Encryption Bits for the new Pale Heart of the Traveler location.
How to get the Legendary and Exotic Khvostov in Destiny 2
To obtain both the Legendary and Exotic versions of the Khvostov in Destiny 2, you’ll need to embark on a multi-step collectible hunt across the Pale Heart destination introduced in The Final Shape expansion. First, collect 15 Lost Encryption Bits-nine from region chests in The Landing, The Blooming, and The Impasse, and six from Cyst missions unlocked via Micah-10’s “Alone in the Dark” quest. Once you have all 15, use the resulting Lost Encryption Code to open a chest in The Divide, granting you the Legendary Khvostov.
To upgrade to the Exotic Khvostov, gather eight Visions of the Traveler, each granting a Mote of Light, and defeat nine unique Overthrow bosses for additional Motes. Place all Visions in the Old Tower, then use the combined Motes to unlock a golden chest containing the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X, which features powerful ricocheting bullets and unique perks. This process is time-consuming but rewards you with both versions of this iconic weapon.
The steps to get the Khvostov in Destiny 2 are as follows:
- Retrieve the Lost Encryption Bits from the nine region chests on the Pale Heart of the Traveler.
- Retrieve the Lost Encryption Bits from the six Cysts Missions.
- With all 15 Lost Encryption Bits, take the Code to the chest where you first received Khvostov all the way back in Destiny 1.
- Collect the Mote of Primordial Light
- Return all eight Visions of the Traveler to the Speaker’s Chamber
Here is every quest step in further detail:
How to get all Lost Encryption Bits from region chests
To get all Lost Encryption Bits from region chests in Destiny 2, you need to search the Pale Heart for nine specific chests-three each in The Landing, The Blooming, and The Impasse. Each region chest contains one Lost Encryption Bit. In The Landing, look for chests south of the transmat location, near the right side of the zone, and hidden behind a waterfall below a large bridge. In The Blooming, chests are found behind the transmat zone, inside a large tree on the north side, and just west of the second chest. For The Impasse, check the large schism on the north side, on top of a white structure to the east, and inside a small cave near the lost sector. These chests are often tucked away in hard-to-reach or concealed spots, so explore thoroughly and refer to your map for marked locations. Collecting all nine region chest bits is essential for assembling the full set needed to unlock the Legendary Khvostov.
You start the Khvostov quest by collecting the Lost Encryption Bits from the Region Chests and scans from the Cyst missions – making 15 in total.
Nine golden region chests are scattered throughout three of the Pale Heart of the Travelers load zones. The Landing, the Blooming, and The Impasse each hold three chests. We’ll go over each location below.
The Landing region chest location 1
The first region chest is found just south of The Landing Transmat location. Travel to The Landing and head down to the building embedded in the rock wall.
Use the rocks to jump into the room, as shown in the image above. The chest is located at the back of that room.
The Landing region chest location 2
The second region chest is located in the tunnels near the right side of The Landing zone. Travel to the location highlighted on the map.
Enter the tunnels and jump down the large hole in the center. Land on the platform shown above, where you’ll find the chest.
The Landing region chest location 3
The third and final region chest for The Landing area is in the waterfall below one of the large bridges. Travel to the location highlighted on the map above.
Jump down behind the waterfall to find the chest.
The Blooming region chest location 1
The first Blooming region chest is directly behind the Transmat zone for the area. To reach it, travel to the area on the map and use the tunnel in the nearby rock wall.
Walk to the back of the area. The chest is up on the ledge shown in the above image.
The Blooming region chest location 2
The second Blooming region chest is in the large tree on the north side of the load zone.
Climb to the top to claim the chest.
The Blooming region chest location 3
The third and final Blooming region chest is just to the west of the second chest.
Look to the west from the tree, and you will see the chest along the cliff edge.
The Impasse region chest location 1
The first region chest in The Impasse region is in the large schism on the north side of the area.
Head to the location shown on the map and jump down to claim the chest.
The Impasse region chest location 2
The second chest is on top of the large white structure on the east side of the map.
Climb up to claim the chest.
The Impasse region chest location 3
The third and final region chest is in a small cave near the lost sector. Head to the location on the map and find the cave shown above.
Right inside, you’ll find the last region chest.
How to get the Lost Encryption Bits from Cyst Missions
To get the Lost Encryption Bits from Cyst Missions in Destiny 2, you must first unlock access to the Cyst activities by progressing through the “Alone in the Dark” questline, which is given by Micah-10 in The Lost City. Each time you complete a step of this quest, a new Cyst mission becomes available in the Pale Heart. There are six Cyst missions in total, and each one contains a single Lost Encryption Bit hidden within its secret areas. You need to complete each Cyst mission at least once to collect all six bits-replaying the same Cyst will not yield additional bits, as each is unique to its respective mission. Once inside a Cyst, look for piles of machinery or hidden corners where the Lost Encryption Bit can be interacted with and collected. After gathering all six from the Cysts (alongside the nine from Region Chests), your collection of 15 Lost Encryption Bits will automatically combine into a Lost Encryption Code, which is then used to unlock the Legendary Khvostov.
There are six Cyst Missions spread throughout the Pale Heart of the Traveler. You first unlock these by completing the “Alone in the Dark” mission for Micah-10. You can collect the Lost Encryption Bits from these first versions of the missions, but if you miss them, you can see them on the map and complete them again. You’ll be looking for a pile of random technology that allows you to interact with it.
Aerial Ace Lost Encryption Bit location
After you complete the mission, go over the lava as you normally would to exit.
Once you get off of the lava, look to your right. There is a small cubby tucked away where you’ll find the pile of technology.
Smothering Darkness Lost Encryption Bit location
Once you complete the mission, go through the mouth-like cave shown above. You’ll find the pile of tech inside to the right.
Moth-Infested Cavern
Once you enter the mission, go forward until you reach the room with the large Orge. (It’s one of the first rooms.) Kill the Orge and jump down as far as you can. The pile of tech is found in one of the small rooms on the right.
Searing Light Lost Encryption Bit location
Once you complete the mission, look for the room with the purple glow. Enter it and go to the left. You’ll find the pile of technology behind the rock.
Slayer Lost Encryption Bit location
Once you complete the mission, look for the room above, framed by tree roots. Walk into the room to find the pile of technology.
Sword Dance Lost Encryption Bit location
Go through the mission until you reach the above room. You’ll know you’re in the right place because there will be a large Ogre you must kill. Jump down to the area highlighted above, use the sword relic to destroy the debris blocking the way, and scan the pile.
Retrieving the Legendary Khvostov-7G Lost Encryption Bit location
Once you collect all 15 Lost Encryption Bits, you’ll be granted the Lost Encryption Code. Travel to the Impasse. Make your way West until you reach the old Cosmodrome-looking area. Enter through the door and make your way to the location above.
Use your Lost Encryption Code to open the chest and obtain the Legendary Khvostov-7G.
How to upgrade your Khvostov to the Exotic version
To upgrade your Khvostov to the Exotic version in Destiny 2, you must first secure the Legendary Khvostov by collecting 15 Lost Encryption Bits-nine from region chests and six from Cyst missions across the Pale Heart. Once you have the Legendary variant, the next step is to gather 17 Motes of Light. Eight of these are obtained by finding all Visions of the Traveler collectibles hidden throughout the Pale Heart, while the remaining nine come from defeating unique bosses in the Overthrow activity-three in each zone-with a bit of luck required as the Motes are not guaranteed drops. After collecting all 17 Motes of Light, use them to unlock the golden chest in the Old Tower, which will reward you with the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X, featuring its signature ricocheting bullet perk.
To upgrade the Legendary Khvostov into an Exotic, you first need to collect all eight Visions of the Traveler, which are scattered around The Pale Heart. You can find hints for all of them in the Speaker’s Chambers in The Lost City, or follow our guide on where to find all Visions of the Traveler for exact locations.
You’ll also need to get all 17 Motes of Light. Eight Motes of Light come from Visions of the Traveler, while nine more come from killing bosses in Overthrow. Our guide on how to get Motes of Light can help you track them down. Once you have all 17 Motes of Light, they’ll transform into the Mote of Primordial Light.
Take the Mote of Primordial Light and your eight Visions of the Traveler to the Speaker’s Chamber. Place the Visions on their pedestals to spawn a chest in the water. Use your Mote of Primordial Light to open the chest and claim the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X for yourself.
What secret steps lead to unlocking the Khvostov Exotic in Destiny 2
Unlocking the Khvostov Exotic in Destiny 2 is a multi-step secret quest that requires dedication and exploration across the Pale Heart. Here’s how to achieve it:
1. Complete The Final Shape Campaign
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Finish all main story missions in The Final Shape expansion to unlock access to the necessary quests and activities.
2. Obtain the Legendary Khvostov
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Collect 15 Lost Encryption Bits: 9 from region chests in The Landing, The Blooming, and The Impasse, and 6 from Cyst missions unlocked via the Alone in the Dark quest from Micah-10 in the Old Tower.
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Use these bits to open the chest in the Impasse, where you first received the Khvostov in Destiny 1, to claim the Legendary Khvostov.
3. Collect Motes of Light
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For the Exotic version, you must gather 19 Motes of Light. The first 8 are hidden around the Pale Heart, while the remaining are obtained by defeating Overthrow bosses and completing specific activities.
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Some bosses, like the Blooming Taken Servitor, may require multiple attempts as the Mote of Light drop is not guaranteed.
4. Place Visions of the Traveler
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Once you have the required Motes, place the Visions of the Traveler on the designated pillars in the Old Tower. This will spawn a chest.
5. Open the Exotic Chest
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With all Visions placed and Motes collected, you can finally open the golden chest in the Old Tower to receive the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X, complete with its unique ricocheting bullet perk.
This quest is one of Destiny 2’s most intricate weapon hunts, blending nostalgia with a challenging scavenger hunt across the new expansion’s landscape.
What are the specific in-game actions needed to unlock the Exotic Khvostov
To unlock the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X in Destiny 2, you must complete a series of specific in-game actions that involve exploration, collection, and boss battles across the Pale Heart. Here are the detailed steps:
1. Complete The Final Shape Campaign
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Finish The Final Shape campaign to unlock the Pale Heart patrol zone and related activities.
2. Collect 15 Lost Encryption Bits
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Find 9 Lost Encryption Bits by opening region chests in three Pale Heart zones: The Landing, The Blooming, and The Impasse.
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Obtain the remaining 6 Lost Encryption Bits from Cyst missions, which are unlocked by progressing Micah-10’s questline (specifically, the “Alone in the Dark” quest).
3. Unlock the Legendary Khvostov
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Use the 15 Lost Encryption Bits to open a special chest in the Impasse, granting you the Legendary Khvostov.
4. Collect 17 Motes of Light
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Gather 8 Motes of Light by finding Visions of the Traveler hidden throughout the Pale Heart.
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Defeat all 9 Overthrow Level 4 bosses in the Pale Heart; each boss drops a Mote of Light. Be sure to pick up the physical loot drop from the boss itself, as it can be missed. Some bosses, like the Blooming Taken Servitor, may require multiple kills due to inconsistent drops.
5. Combine Motes of Light
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Once you have all 17 Motes of Light, they will automatically combine into a Mote of Primordial Light.
6. Place Visions and Open the Exotic Chest
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Place the Visions of the Traveler on designated pedestals in the Old Tower.
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Use the Mote of Primordial Light to open the golden chest in the Speaker’s room of the Old Tower, awarding you the Exotic Khvostov 7G-0X.
These steps require thorough exploration, completion of challenging activities, and careful collection of key items throughout the Pale Heart. Missing any collectible or failing to pick up a Mote of Light from a boss can delay progress, so attention to detail is crucial.
