Destiny 2 Cloudstrike + Catalyst: How to get them

Cloudstrike is an Arc Exotic sniper rifle that can create devastating lighting explosions. Unlike most Exotics, which excel at either PvE or PvP (or neither), Cloudstrike is a top-tier weapon that can dominate anywhere you take it.

Today, we discuss how powerful this Exotic is and tell you exactly how to obtain both the weapon and its catalyst.

Name: Cloudstrike

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Arc

Craftable: No Released: Season 12

Source: Exotic Quest Requires: Beyond Light Pack

How to get the Cloudstrike catalyst

The Cloudstrike catalyst can drop at the end of any core activity, such as Crucible, Gambit, or Vanguard Ops. And as of Destiny 2’s Update 7.3.5, Comp matches have an increased Exotic Catalyst drop rate:

Competitive matches will also have an increased chance to drop Exotic weapon catalysts on victories.

Cloudstrike + Catalyst, Destiny 2

The catalyst adds the Triple Tap Perk and +25 Handling.

Once you have obtained the catalyst, you’ll need 400 weapon kills to unlock it. Using typical farming methods such as the Shuro Chi Wish or the opening section of Grasp of Avarice will speed things along.

Catalyst: Cloudstrike

Ammo: Special Element: Arc

Source: Playlist Activity completions Requires: Beyond Light Pack

How to Unlock: ► 400 kills Released: Season 19

How to get Cloudstrike

To get the Cloudstrike, you’ll need to own the Beyond Light DLC and follow these steps:

1. Complete the Beyond Light campaign
2.  Complete all of Variks’ Sabotage challenges
3. Complete the “A Hard Rain Falls” quest from the Exo Stranger
4. Farm Empire Hunt mission (the higher the difficulty, the better the odds)

How to get Cloudstrike, Destiny 2

How good is Cloudstrike

Cloudstrike features the following Exotic perks:

• Mortal Polarity: Precision final blows generate a lightning bolt at the target’s location.
• Stormbringer: Rapid precision hits create a lightning storm at the point of impact.

While Sniper rifles are currently not part of the meta, Cloudstrike remains an extremely lethal and fun weapon to use. Once you get those lightning strikes going, it can deliver true “holy sh$t moments” with ease. On PvE, it’s hands down one of the strongest DPS snipers against bosses, something no one could have anticipated.

Adding Triple Tap, thanks to its catalyst, only makes Cloudstrike stronger. If you don’t have it yet, this is the right time to get your own Cloudstrike.

All in all, we consider Cloudstrike S-tier for PvE and A-tier for PvP.

Before you go…

Are you looking for other top-tier Exotics worth chasing? We cover How to get Malfeasance + Catalyst here.