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Destiny 2 Champions: How to defeat them [Mods & Exotics]

by | Jan 8, 2023

As your Power grows and you move onto greater challenges, you’ll come across content and quest steps that set you against Champions. Champions are tough, but we’re going to make sure you’re tougher.

In the guide, we’ll cover what Champions are, how to beat them, and where to farm them. Let’s set you up for success, Guardian.

Checkmark icon V3 Updated as of Season of the Seraph (S19).

What are Champions in Destiny 2

Champions are mini-bosses that can only be defeated using specific weapons and mods. Each Champion type has its own special mechanics and mods you will need to follow to successfully stun them, then take them down. They come in 3 flavors: Barrier, Overload, and Unstoppable.

Overload Champions Destiny 2 featured

A Fallen Overload Champion

Champions are mostly present in endgame PvE content, including raids, Legend/Master Lost Sectors, dungeons, and Nightfalls. Each type has its own special mechanics and mods you will need to follow to successfully stun them, then take them down.

How to fight champions in Destiny 2

For all three Champion types, you will need to stun them by using the right weapon/mod combination for each Season. Once stunned, the Champions will pause, drop their guards, and become more vulnerable to attacks.

The ability to stop these mini-bosses in their tracks and make them vulnerable to your attacks can take some of the most troublesome enemy types in the game and make them almost trivial. Trust us, though, when facing Champions in endgame content, you’ll want every advantage you can get.

Some Exotic weapons can intrinsically deal with Champions without the need for a specific mod:

NameWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmoElementRequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier rankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerksBest of?
ThunderlordDestiny 2 Thunderlord art
Thunderlord
Machine GunExoticHeavyArcForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic EngramCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Exotic Engram
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."

► One of the all-time Destiny greats, Thunderlord is the cream of the crop when it comes to Machine Guns. With a good archetype, an excellent exotic perk, and a brilliant catalyst, Thunderlord easily lands in the S tier. It excels everywhere: Ad clear, DPS, and even PvP!
Season 4
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."
Top-tier
Wish-EnderDestiny 2 Wish Ender art
Wish-Ender
Combat BowExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully-drawn bow, enemies behind walls are highlighted. Piercing arrowheads damage the target on entry and exit. One-shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."

► Wish-Ender has never been this strong, nor popular. With the newfound intrinsic ability to deal with Anti Barrier Champions with ease, even in Master and Grandmaster levels, and the fact that it effectively hits 3 times per arrow due to its piercing perk, Wish-Ender is currently a monster in PvE.
Season 4
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully-drawn bow, enemies behind walls are highlighted. Piercing arrowheads damage the target on entry and exit. One-shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."
Top-tier
ArbalestDestiny 2 Arbalest art
Arbalest
Linear Fusion RifleExoticSpecialKineticLightfallYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Lightfall Preorder icon
Lightfall
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires slugs that cause massive damage to enemy shields. Strong against Shield Piercing rounds Barrier Champions. Breaking an enemy's shield with this weapon makes them more vulnerable to Kinetic damage."

► Arbalest continues to dominate in every area of the game, even through nerfs to both its damage and aim assist. With the ability to bypass Barrier Champion and elemental shields in 1-2 shots (even on Grandmaster difficulty), Arbalest will remain an unstoppable force.
Season 6
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires slugs that cause massive damage to enemy shields. Strong against Shield Piercing rounds Barrier Champions. Breaking an enemy's shield with this weapon makes them more vulnerable to Kinetic damage."
Top-tier
DivinityDestiny 2 Divinity art
Divinity
Trace RifleExoticSpecialArcShadowkeepYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and Overload rounds disrupts them."

► Divinity has been a great choice since it was released back in Shadowkeep. Even though a recent nerf reduced its debuff potential to 15%, this trace rifle still proves its worth through the ability to make crits way easier to hit. Plus, it's still considered the best Overload weapon in the game.
Season 8
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and Overload rounds disrupts them."
Top-tier
The LamentThe Lament Destiny 2
The Lament
SwordExoticHeavySolarBeyond LightYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Beyond Light Destiny 2 icon
Beyond Light
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds Shield Piercing rounds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."

► Despite some of its targeting issues, the Lament remains one of the best swords in the game. Its Lifesteal perk is a powerful tool, and its ability to shred through high-health targets or Barrier Champions makes it a fun and powerful weapon.
Season 12
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds Shield Piercing rounds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."
Top-tier
Le MonarqueDestiny 2 Le Monarque art
Le Monarque
Combat BowExoticPrimaryVoidForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvP
Exotic Kiosk
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."

► Le Monarque is a ridiculously oppressive pick in PvP as it can be combined with a Hand Cannon to deliver blindingly fast combo kills with relative ease. It also comes with intrinsic Overload Arrows, which, combined with its poison effect, are highly effective against Overload Champions. This makes Le Monarque an incredible pick for PvE too.
Season 5
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."
Top-tier
Leviathan's BreathDestiny 2 Leviathan's Breath art
Leviathan's Breath
Combat BowExoticHeavyVoidShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a massive heavy bolt that Unstoppable rounds staggers unshielded combatants. When fully drawn, the bolt knocks combatants back."

► Leviathan's Breath is an interesting option these days. In certain scenarios, such as the Insight Terminus Nightfall, it can actually be a solid pick, especially with its catalyst.
Season 8
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a massive heavy bolt that Unstoppable rounds staggers unshielded combatants. When fully drawn, the bolt knocks combatants back."
Top-tier
BastionDestiny 2 Bastion
Bastion
Fusion RifleExoticSpecialKineticShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Charge to fire 3 spreads of Kinetic slugs. This weapon fires Unstoppable rounds staggering projectiles. Strong against Unstoppable Champions."

►While not the PvP menace it used to be, recent changes have made Bastion a powerhouse in end-game PvE. As a Kinetic fusion, it can also take advantage of the 10% extra damage to Kinetic weapons. Still outclassed by other exotics, these changes make it more justifiable than before.
Season 9
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Charge to fire 3 spreads of Kinetic slugs. This weapon fires Unstoppable rounds staggering projectiles. Strong against Unstoppable Champions."
Top-tier
Devil's RuinDestiny 2 Devil's Ruin art
Devil's Ruin
SidearmExoticPrimarySolarShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, Unstoppable rounds staggering laser."

► Able to deal with Unstoppable Champions, this is a fun weapon that does decent damage and melts shotgun apes in PVP when in laser mode. You will rarely see it in the wild, but this weapon deserves more attention, especially now that primary ammo is unlimited.
Season 9
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, Unstoppable rounds staggering laser."
Top-tier
Eriana's VowDestiny 2 Eriana's Vow art
Eriana's Vow
Hand CannonExoticSpecialSolarShadowkeepYesB › AverageExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Average

B



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires special Shield Piercing rounds shield-piercing ammunition. Bonus damage when aiming down sights on the opening shot of an attack."

► Previously a no-brainer in activities with Barrier Champions, Eriana's Vow now sits in the shadow of its main competitor: Arbalest. While still an extremely fun and unique gun that's worth using once in a while, this weapon just hasn't been able to keep up with the meta.
Season 8
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires special Shield Piercing rounds shield-piercing ammunition. Bonus damage when aiming down sights on the opening shot of an attack."
MalfeasanceDestiny 2 Malfeasance art
Malfeasance
Hand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Average

B



Exotic Quest
Free to Play Destiny 2 icon
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."

► One of the more interesting Hand Cannons on this list, Malfeasance still really hasn't found a solid place in the game. While it does excel at killing Taken and invaders in Gambit, that's an incredibly small niche. Plus, it's a part of the most lacking archetype, making it a poor choice everywhere else.
Season 4
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."

However, Seasonal Mods, earned by leveling up your seasonal artifact, are what will allow you to defeat these champions for the most part. These mods will change each season as well. For Season 19, the mods for each champion type are the following:

ArtMod NameSlotCostRequirementsEffectsType
Anti Barrier Pulse Rifle Mod Destiny 2 artAnti-Barrier Pulse RifleArms1NonePulse Rifles you are wielding fire shield-piercing rounds and stun Barrier Champions (also deal bonus damage to Barrier Champions).Champions
Overload Auto rifle and SMG mod Destiny 2 artOverload Auto/SMGArms1NoneUninterrupted fire from Auto Rifles and Submachine Guns grants bullets that stun combatants, delaying ability energy regeneration and lowering combatant damage output. Strong against Overload Champions.Champions
 width=Piercing SidearmsArms1NoneSidearms gain shield-piercing rounds, which bypass combatant defenses.
Strong against Barrier Champions.
Champions
Unstoppable Scout Rifle Mod Destiny 2 artUnstoppable Scout RifleArms1NoneAiming down sights for a short time causes Scout Rifles you wield to fire a powerful explosive payload that stuns unshielded combatants. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.Champions
Overload Bow ModOverload BowArms1NoneDamage by fully drawn arrows disrupts combatants, stunning them, delaying ability energy regeneration and lowering combatant damage output. Strong against Overload Champions.Champions

 

Barrier Champions Destiny 2 image

Destiny 2 Anti-Barrier Champions

For Barrier Champions, after they receive about a third to half of their health in damage they will pop a barrier and begin to heal. To stun them, break their barrier with your anti-barrier weapon. If successful, they will stop healing and become stunned/more vulnerable to damage.

It’s worth noting that Anti-Barrier mods work against non-champion barriers as well. So you could use a weapon empowered on one of these mods to shoot through a Hive Knight Shield, for example.

Anti-Barrier Mods:

ArtMod NameSlotCostRequirementsEffectsType
Anti Barrier Pulse Rifle Mod Destiny 2 artAnti-Barrier Pulse RifleArms1NonePulse Rifles you are wielding fire shield-piercing rounds and stun Barrier Champions (also deal bonus damage to Barrier Champions).Champions
 width=Piercing SidearmsArms1NoneSidearms gain shield-piercing rounds, which bypass combatant defenses.
Strong against Barrier Champions.
Champions

Anti-Barrier weapons:

NameWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmoElementRequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier rankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerksBest of?
Wish-EnderDestiny 2 Wish Ender art
Wish-Ender
Combat BowExoticPrimaryKineticForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully-drawn bow, enemies behind walls are highlighted. Piercing arrowheads damage the target on entry and exit. One-shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."

► Wish-Ender has never been this strong, nor popular. With the newfound intrinsic ability to deal with Anti Barrier Champions with ease, even in Master and Grandmaster levels, and the fact that it effectively hits 3 times per arrow due to its piercing perk, Wish-Ender is currently a monster in PvE.
Season 4
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "While aiming down sights with a fully-drawn bow, enemies behind walls are highlighted. Piercing arrowheads damage the target on entry and exit. One-shot can over-penetrate multiple targets."
Top-tier
ArbalestDestiny 2 Arbalest art
Arbalest
Linear Fusion RifleExoticSpecialKineticLightfallYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Lightfall Preorder icon
Lightfall
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires slugs that cause massive damage to enemy shields. Strong against Shield Piercing rounds Barrier Champions. Breaking an enemy's shield with this weapon makes them more vulnerable to Kinetic damage."

► Arbalest continues to dominate in every area of the game, even through nerfs to both its damage and aim assist. With the ability to bypass Barrier Champion and elemental shields in 1-2 shots (even on Grandmaster difficulty), Arbalest will remain an unstoppable force.
Season 6
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires slugs that cause massive damage to enemy shields. Strong against Shield Piercing rounds Barrier Champions. Breaking an enemy's shield with this weapon makes them more vulnerable to Kinetic damage."
Top-tier
The LamentThe Lament Destiny 2
The Lament
SwordExoticHeavySolarBeyond LightYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Beyond Light Destiny 2 icon
Beyond Light
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds Shield Piercing rounds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."

► Despite some of its targeting issues, the Lament remains one of the best swords in the game. Its Lifesteal perk is a powerful tool, and its ability to shred through high-health targets or Barrier Champions makes it a fun and powerful weapon.
Season 12
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Revving the blade increases damage, shield bypass, and adds Shield Piercing rounds shield piercing to all attacks. You also gain stacks when dealing damage with revved attacks. Additional stacks increase the damage and damage resistance of heavy attacks."
Top-tier
Eriana's VowDestiny 2 Eriana's Vow art
Eriana's Vow
Hand CannonExoticSpecialSolarShadowkeepYesB › AverageExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Average

B



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires special Shield Piercing rounds shield-piercing ammunition. Bonus damage when aiming down sights on the opening shot of an attack."

► Previously a no-brainer in activities with Barrier Champions, Eriana's Vow now sits in the shadow of its main competitor: Arbalest. While still an extremely fun and unique gun that's worth using once in a while, this weapon just hasn't been able to keep up with the meta.
Season 8
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires special Shield Piercing rounds shield-piercing ammunition. Bonus damage when aiming down sights on the opening shot of an attack."

Overload Champions Destiny 2 image

Destiny 2 Overload Champions

For Overload Champions, uninterrupted fire from either your SMG or Auto Rifle will eventually stun these Champions. Laying a steady stream of rapid-fire on your target with the empowered weapon will accomplish this fairly easily. Once stunned, they too will become more vulnerable to your attacks.

Overload Mods:

ArtMod NameSlotCostRequirementsEffectsType
Overload Auto rifle and SMG mod Destiny 2 artOverload Auto/SMGArms1NoneUninterrupted fire from Auto Rifles and Submachine Guns grants bullets that stun combatants, delaying ability energy regeneration and lowering combatant damage output. Strong against Overload Champions.Champions
Overload Bow ModOverload BowArms1NoneDamage by fully drawn arrows disrupts combatants, stunning them, delaying ability energy regeneration and lowering combatant damage output. Strong against Overload Champions.Champions

Overload weapons:

NameWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmoElementRequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier rankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerksBest of?
ThunderlordDestiny 2 Thunderlord art
Thunderlord
Machine GunExoticHeavyArcForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic EngramCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE + PvP
Exotic Engram
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."

► One of the all-time Destiny greats, Thunderlord is the cream of the crop when it comes to Machine Guns. With a good archetype, an excellent exotic perk, and a brilliant catalyst, Thunderlord easily lands in the S tier. It excels everywhere: Ad clear, DPS, and even PvP!
Season 4
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Kills with this weapon generate lightning strikes from above and increase reload speed for a short time."
Top-tier
DivinityDestiny 2 Divinity art
Divinity
Trace RifleExoticSpecialArcShadowkeepYesS › BestExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Quest
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and Overload rounds disrupts them."

► Divinity has been a great choice since it was released back in Shadowkeep. Even though a recent nerf reduced its debuff potential to 15%, this trace rifle still proves its worth through the ability to make crits way easier to hit. Plus, it's still considered the best Overload weapon in the game.
Season 8
Slot: Arc Arc | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Sustained damage with this weapon envelops the target in a field that weakens and Overload rounds disrupts them."
Top-tier
Le MonarqueDestiny 2 Le Monarque art
Le Monarque
Combat BowExoticPrimaryVoidForsaken PackYesS › BestExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Best

S



Excels in:
PvP
Exotic Kiosk
Forsaken Destiny 2 icon
Forsaken Pack
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."

► Le Monarque is a ridiculously oppressive pick in PvP as it can be combined with a Hand Cannon to deliver blindingly fast combo kills with relative ease. It also comes with intrinsic Overload Arrows, which, combined with its poison effect, are highly effective against Overload Champions. This makes Le Monarque an incredible pick for PvE too.
Season 5
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Arrows fired quickly after a full draw become poison arrows. Precision hits with poison arrows spread poison to nearby enemies."
Top-tier

 

Unstoppable Champions Destiny 2 image

Destiny 2 Unstoppable Champions

For Unstoppable Champions, Guardians will need to aim down sights their Unstoppable modded weapons for a few moments to trigger the effects of the mod, shown as giving the weapon a glowing red barrel. Once active, shoot the Unstoppable Champion using that weapon to stun them.

Unstoppable Mods:

ArtMod NameSlotCostRequirementsEffectsType
Unstoppable Scout Rifle Mod Destiny 2 artUnstoppable Scout RifleArms1NoneAiming down sights for a short time causes Scout Rifles you wield to fire a powerful explosive payload that stuns unshielded combatants. Strong against Unstoppable Champions.Champions

Unstoppable weapons:

NameWeaponsTypeArchetypeAmmoElementRequirementsIn loot pool?RankSourceAvailable?Tier rankSource ❘ DLCFinal VerdictReleasedPerksBest of?
Leviathan's BreathDestiny 2 Leviathan's Breath art
Leviathan's Breath
Combat BowExoticHeavyVoidShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a massive heavy bolt that Unstoppable rounds staggers unshielded combatants. When fully drawn, the bolt knocks combatants back."

► Leviathan's Breath is an interesting option these days. In certain scenarios, such as the Insight Terminus Nightfall, it can actually be a solid pick, especially with its catalyst.
Season 8
Slot: Void Void | Ammo: Heavy ammo Destiny 2 Heavy | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Fires a massive heavy bolt that Unstoppable rounds staggers unshielded combatants. When fully drawn, the bolt knocks combatants back."
Top-tier
BastionDestiny 2 Bastion
Bastion
Fusion RifleExoticSpecialKineticShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Excels in:
PvE
Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Charge to fire 3 spreads of Kinetic slugs. This weapon fires Unstoppable rounds staggering projectiles. Strong against Unstoppable Champions."

►While not the PvP menace it used to be, recent changes have made Bastion a powerhouse in end-game PvE. As a Kinetic fusion, it can also take advantage of the 10% extra damage to Kinetic weapons. Still outclassed by other exotics, these changes make it more justifiable than before.
Season 9
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Special ammo Destiny 2 Special | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Charge to fire 3 spreads of Kinetic slugs. This weapon fires Unstoppable rounds staggering projectiles. Strong against Unstoppable Champions."
Top-tier
Devil's RuinDestiny 2 Devil's Ruin art
Devil's Ruin
SidearmExoticPrimarySolarShadowkeepYesA › StrongExotic KioskCheckmark icon V3
Strong

A



Exotic Kiosk
Shadowkeep Destiny 2 icon
Shadowkeep
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, Unstoppable rounds staggering laser."

► Able to deal with Unstoppable Champions, this is a fun weapon that does decent damage and melts shotgun apes in PVP when in laser mode. You will rarely see it in the wild, but this weapon deserves more attention, especially now that primary ammo is unlimited.
Season 9
Slot: Solar Solar | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Variable trigger. Press and release to fire individual shots. Hold to charge up a high-powered, Unstoppable rounds staggering laser."
Top-tier
MalfeasanceDestiny 2 Malfeasance art
Malfeasance
Hand CannonExoticPrimaryKineticFree-to-PlayYesB › AverageExotic QuestCheckmark icon V3
Average

B



Exotic Quest
Free to Play Destiny 2 icon
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."

► One of the more interesting Hand Cannons on this list, Malfeasance still really hasn't found a solid place in the game. While it does excel at killing Taken and invaders in Gambit, that's an incredibly small niche. Plus, it's a part of the most lacking archetype, making it a poor choice everywhere else.
Season 4
Slot: Kinetic symbol Destiny 2 Kinetic | Ammo: Primary ammo Destiny 2 Primary | Archetype: Exotic

Exotic Perk: "Shoot tainted slugs that burrow into the enemy. Stacking enough slugs causes them all to explode. Bonus damage against Taken enemies and Gambit invaders."

Where to farm Champions

Champions can be farmed in a few ways. Often, you might find yourself with a quest or challenge that involves stunning or landing final blows against Champions. This can be challenging in regular content matchmaking when you can’t necessarily communicate with your fellow blueberries easily. That is where farming comes in handy. Activities each Season will have opportunities to farm Champions to varying degrees of success. However, some methods are evergreen.

One popular way to farm Champions is to solo Legend Lost Sectors. These Lost Sectors rotate daily, so be sure to check your Director and planetary maps to see where they are each day.

Another tried, and true method is to load up a Nightfall at ranks Hero, Legend, or Master solo or on a fireteam. Each ascending rank will spawn more Champions per run. Champions also appear in Grandmaster Nightfalls at the highest density, but for farming purposes, it would be faster to make multiple runs at a lower difficulty.

Your turn

Since Season of the Undying (S8), Champions have continued to find their way into more and more PvE content in Destiny 2. Now that you know what you’re up against, you can apply these skills to all levels of content as you grow.

See what you’re up against, equip your build, and get ready to become Legend.

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