Step into the final chapter of Destiny 2’s Lightfall saga with Season of the Wish, where the hunt for powerful new Exotics intensifies. From the fiery rocket launcher Dragon’s Breath to the cunning Strand bow Wish-Keeper, and the Void sidearm Buried Bloodline, this season delivers a trio of game-changing weapons that redefine combat strategy. Unlock these treasures through daring Exotic missions, challenging dungeons, and seasonal activities that promise to test every Guardian’s skill and resolve.
Note: There are no new Exotic armor items for classes in Season of the Wish, although it’s possible Bungie could add them in down the line in the new Destiny 2: Into the Light update.
Dragon’s Breath, Solar rocket launcher
Dragon’s Breath is a revamped exotic solar rocket launcher introduced in Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish. Unlike typical rocket launchers, its rockets embed in targets and release incendiary fuel that causes ongoing Scorch damage, making it excellent for area denial and sustained damage. The weapon features a unique fuel mechanic where the longer you wait between shots, the more fuel the next rocket carries, increasing its damage potential. Its intrinsic perk, High Octane, refills fuel when nearby targets are ignited, and with the Catalyst equipped, kills spawn Firesprites that boost Solar abilities and accelerate fuel regeneration. Dragon’s Breath excels in boss DPS and crowd control, synergizing well with Solar builds and making it a top-tier choice for endgame content.
Dragon’s Breath is the season pass Exotic for Destiny 2: Season of the Wish, and is a returning Exotic from the original Destiny. However, Dragon’s Breath’s perks barely reflect the weapon it once was.
In Destiny 2, Dragon’s Breath’s Exotic trait is Composite Propellant, which causes rockets to embed themselves in targets and periodically eject incendiary fuel that inflicts Scorch. The longer you go without firing Dragon’s Breath, the more fuel its next rocket will contain. Its Exotic perk is High Octane, which causes you to regain some fuel when igniting a target and causes Dragon’s Breath to reload itself from reserves once it reaches max fuel.
This is an interesting new direction for Dragon’s Breath, as it seems to be good at both killing big bosses and burning up any minions around them.
Wish-Keeper, Strand bow
The Wish-Keeper is a powerful Exotic Strand bow introduced in Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish. It features the unique Snareweaver trait, where precision hits and final blows build energy to fire a special arrow that creates traps on impact, suspending enemies caught within its pattern. This bow excels in crowd control and synergizes well with Strand subclass abilities, making it a top-tier choice for PvE content. To obtain Wish-Keeper, players must complete the Starcrossed Exotic mission, unlocked after finishing key seasonal quests, including the Apophasis mission and speaking with Crow at the HELM. The bow is also craftable, allowing customization through catalysts to enhance its abilities further.
As part of Season of the Wish’s unveiling, Bungie revealed that the season comes with an Exotic quest. The mission is called Starcrossed, and will launch on Dec. 19. The reward is the new Wish-Keeper Strand bow, which can deal damage or “lay traps.”
Based on the trailer for Season of the Wish, it looks like the Wish-Keeper can Suspend targets just like many Strand abilities can.
While Bungie did reveal the bow and show it off, the studio hasn’t announced Wish-Keeper’s perks at the time of this writing.
Dungeon Exotic weapon
The new dungeon Exotic weapon introduced in Destiny 2: Season of the Wish is the Buried Bloodline, a unique Void Sidearm that functions like a handheld crossbow and uses Special ammo. This weapon fires head-seeking projectiles with a distinct 100 rounds per minute damage archetype, setting it apart from other sidearms. Acquiring the Buried Bloodline requires completing the new Warlord’s Ruin dungeon, where it drops as a random reward from the final encounter. Notably, landing multiple kills with this weapon grants the Devour buff, making it particularly effective for solo PvE activities.
The Exotic weapon we know the least about this season is the one that comes from the Warlord’s Ruin dungeon, which launches on Dec. 1.
Bungie is being very secretive about the dungeon and its theme, but an article on the studio’s website gave one additional hint: Rocket-Pistol. This seems like a clear tease at the upcoming Exotic from Warlord’s Ruin and not the new rocket launcher sidearm Legendary archetype we’re getting in The Final Shape.
At the time of this writing – without getting into datamining – it’s unclear what this weapon’s perks are or what it’s called.
Thorn Catalyst
The Thorn Catalyst, introduced in Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish, significantly enhances the iconic Thorn hand cannon, making it a formidable weapon in both PvP and PvE. Players can obtain the catalyst as a random drop from core activities such as Vanguard strikes, Gambit, or Crucible matches. Once acquired, it requires 700 eliminations to unlock its full potential. The catalyst boosts Thorn’s range by +20 and stability by +10, and it grants a unique perk called “Refined Soul,” which increases weapon range, mobility, and handling temporarily after dealing a final blow or absorbing a Remnant. This upgrade revitalizes Thorn’s presence in the meta, especially in Crucible, where its poison damage and new catalyst perks create significant battlefield impact.
Thorn is having a big season. In addition to a new buff that causes to gun to overfill its own magazine when you pick up a Remnant, you can also get a Catalyst for it.
What makes the new Exotics in Season of the Wish stand out
The new Exotics in Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish stand out primarily due to extensive reworks and buffs that make previously underused armor and weapons highly viable, especially in PvE. Bungie has overhauled 20 Exotic armor pieces, enhancing melee-oriented options and introducing new defensive and offensive capabilities, such as the Sect of Force and Sect of Vigor mods that boost weapon damage and damage resistance respectively. This revamp breathes new life into Exotics like Severance Enclosure and Peregrine Greaves for Titans, Ophidia Spathe and Celestial Nighthawk for Hunters, and Apotheosis Veil for Warlocks, each now offering unique and powerful benefits that reshape combat strategies and buildcrafting possibilities. These changes not only improve their effectiveness against powerful enemies and champions but also refresh the meta by encouraging diverse playstyles and tactical depth.
How do the melee-oriented updates enhance exotic armor’s versatility in PvE
The melee-oriented updates in Destiny 2’s Season of the Wish significantly enhance exotic armor’s versatility in PvE by improving survivability, damage output, and ability synergy. Many reworked Exotics now provide instant healing or overshields upon melee kills, such as Karnstein Armlets, which restore health and grant bonus over-health time, making aggressive melee playstyles more sustainable. Others, like Felwinter’s Helm, create powerful area-of-effect debuffs on enemies after powered melee kills, greatly aiding crowd control. Additionally, some armor pieces boost melee range and damage, such as Synthoceps for Titans, which also increase Super damage when surrounded by enemies. These changes allow players to build around melee-focused combat with enhanced durability and offensive potential, making melee a more viable and dynamic option in challenging PvE content.
