Destiny 2 Catalysts: Ranked and How to Get Them

Exotic catalysts are some of the most sought-after items in Destiny 2. Unlike legendary weapons, some Exotics can be dramatically enhanced by their catalyst. Granted, some catalysts are duds, but others can be game-changing, able to take an Exotic to an entirely new level.

But as with most things in Destiny 2, it’s hard to keep track of all the Exotics and catalysts in the game: Which Exotics have a catalyst? How can you get them? Are they even worth it?

While our Exotic Tier list ranks and covers all the Exotic weapons, this guide focuses on the catalysts themselves and tells you what they do, how to get them, and how to unlock them.

Updated as of Season of Plunder’s release (S18).

Destiny 2 Exotic Catalyst list in 2022

What is a Catalyst? Catalysts allow you to “upgrade” Exotic weapons by granting them either more stat points, a new perk, or both.  But you first need to find and unlock them. Note that not every Exotic weapon has a catalyst.

These are the 70 catalysts currently available in the game as of the release of Season of Plunder (Season 18):

Name	Type	Slot	Catalyst Rank	Catalyst Source	Available?	Requirements	Catalyst	Tier	Source ❘ DLC	How to unlock	Catalyst effect	Released
Delicate Tomb	Fusion Rifle	Energy	Ongoing	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Delicate Tomb | Fusion Rifle	Ongoing...	Banshee-44's quest Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Ionic Interment perk: Collecting an Ionic Trace partially reloads the magazine from reserves.	Season 18
Touch of Malice	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	Ongoing	King's Fall Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Touch of Malice | Scout Rifle	Ongoing...	King's Fall Raid Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Rapid Hit perk: Rapid precision hits temporarily increase stability and reload speed.	Season 18
Thunderlord	Machine Gun	Heavy	Ongoing	Playlist Activity completions		Forsaken Pack	Thunderlord | Machine Gun	Ongoing...	Playlist Activity completions Forsaken Pack	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Return Stroke: Causing a lightning strike with this weapon partially reloads the magazine from reserves.	Season 18
Witherhoard	Grenade Launcher	Kinetic	S › Best	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Witherhoard | Grenade Launcher	Best ❘ S	Banshee-44's quest Free-to-Play	► Get 400 kills	► Adds Silent Alarm perk: Maximizes handling, holstering this weapon automatically reloads it after a short period of time.	Season 11
The Huckleberry	Submachine Gun	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Huckleberry | Submachine Gun	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Bull Rider perk: Kills with this weapon now reload the entire magazine.	Season 14
Eriana's Vow	Hand Cannon	Energy	S › Best	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Eriana's Vow | Hand Cannon	Best ❘ S	Banshee-44's quest Shadowkeep	► Get 700 kills	► Adds More to Give perk: Increases magazine size by +3 and adds the perk Auto-Loading Holster.	Season 8
Arbalest	Linear Fusion Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Arbalest | Linear Fusion Rifle	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Genesis perk: Breaking a combatant's shield with this weapon fills its magazine from reserves. Energy weapons regenerate ammo on hit when matching the damage type to the combatant's shield.	30th Anniversary
Jötunn	Fusion Rifle	Energy	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Jötunn | Fusion Rifle	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Forsaken Pack	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Cornered & Incandescent perks: Faster charge time or draw time when surrounded by combatants. Defeating a target spreads scorch to those nearby. More powerful combatants and opposing Guardians cause scorch in a larger radius.	Season 17
Ace of Spades	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	S › Best	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon	Best ❘ S	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Forsaken Pack	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Funeral Pyre perk: Firefly does more damage while Memento Mori is active.	Season 4
Izanagi's Burden	Sniper Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Izanagi's Burden | Sniper Rifle	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Forsaken Pack	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Peerless Edge perk: Increases the damage bonus of Honed Edge when all 4 bullets are consumed.	Season 14
Riskrunner	Submachine Gun	Energy	S › Best	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Riskrunner | Submachine Gun	Best ❘ S	Banshee-44's quest Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills ► Get 50 Arc Conductor kills	► Increases range by +27.	Season 1
Trinity Ghoul	Combat Bow	Energy	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 400 kills	► Adds Forked Lightning perk: Reduces draw time by -108 and Lightning Rod now triggers from any arc damage final blow.	Season 4
Dead Man's Tale	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Beyond Light	Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Beyond Light	► Get 800 kills or 8 secret chests	► Adds Dark-Forged Trigger perk: Increased hipfire rate of fire and removes hipfire accuracy penalties.	Season 12
Ager's Scepter	Trace Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Beyond Light	Ager's Scepter | Trace Rifle	Best ❘ S	Playlist Activity completions Beyond Light	► Get 1000 kills	► Adds Will Given Form perk: Hold reload to drain Super energy, overflowing and empowering the beam with bonus damage and the ability to slow and freeze targets. Can only be activated when Super energy is full.	Season 15
Gjallarhorn	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	S › Best	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (x3 chests)	Yes	30th Anniversary	Gjallarhorn | Rocket Launcher	Best ❘ S	Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (x3 chests) 30th Anniversary	► Get 400 kills	► Adds More Wolves perk: Increases magazine size. Final blows with Wolfpack Rounds spawn a faster, more powerful missile at the target's location.	30th Anniversary
Lumina	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	Any activity	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Lumina | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Any activity Forsaken Pack	► Get 250 Noble Round heals	► Adds Resonant Vitrue perk: Gain two Remnants per final blow instead of one.	Season 7
Rat King	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Rat King | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 1,000 kills while everyone in your fireteam is also using Rat King	► Adds Infestation perk: Increases aim assist and recoil direction. Refreshes health when Vermin activates.	Season 1
The Wardcliff Coil	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	A › Strong	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Wardcliff Coil | Rocket Launcher	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Pinpoint Guidance Module perk: Tightens rockets spread.	Season 1
The Fourth Horseman	Shotgun	Energy	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Shadowkeep	The Fourth Horseman | Shotgun	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Shadowkeep	► Get 400 kills	► Adds And its name was Death perk: Adds an additional round to the magazine and increases reload speed by +40.	Season 16
Legend of Acrius	Shotgun	Heavy	A › Strong	Nightfall Ordeals completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Legend of Acrius | Shotgun	Strong ❘ A	Nightfall Ordeals completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +2 and expands the ammo reserves. ► Increases reload speed by +36.	Season 14
MIDA Multi-Tool	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Legend Glory rank	Yes	Free-to-Play	MIDA Multi-Tool | Scout Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Legend Glory rank Free-to-Play	► Get 250 precision kills in PVP	► Adds No Distractions perk: Aiming this weapon for a short period reduces flinch.	Season 1
Ruinous Effigy	Trace Rifle	Energy	A › Strong	PVE Kills	Yes	Shadowkeep	Ruinous Effigy | Exotic Trace Rifle	Strong ❘ A	PVE Kills Shadowkeep	► Destroy all Savathun's Eyes or ► Get 5000 kills	► Adds Deconstruction perk: Deals increased damage against targets damaged by Transmutation spheres.	Season 11
Traveler's Chosen	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Shadowkeep	Traveler's Chosen | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Shadowkeep	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Osmosis perk: Using your grenade ability changes this weapon's damage type to match your subclass until you stow it. ► Adds Full Auto Trigger System perk: holding down the trigger will fire this weapon at full auto) perks.	Season 11
Crimson	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Crimson | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Increases range by +18.	Season 2
Bad Juju	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Bad Juju | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Forsaken Pack	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Unending Curse perk: Extends the duration of the perk String of Curses.	Season 14
The Jade Rabbit	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Kills or wins in the Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Jade Rabbit | Scout Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or wins in the Crucible Free-to-Play	► Get 250 PVP kills	► Increases stability by +27.	Season 2
The Prospector	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	A › Strong	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Prospector | Grenade Launcher	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves. ► Increases blast radius by +20.	Season 1
Heir Apparent	Machine Gun	Heavy	A › Strong	Guardian Games event	No	Free-to-Play	Heir Apparent | Heir Apparent	Strong ❘ A	Guardian Games event Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Legion's Bullwark perk: Increases the Arc Shield's durability and partially reloads the magazine if it is destroyed.	Season 10
SUROS Regime	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Kills or wins in the Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	SUROS Regime | Auto Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or wins in the Crucible Free-to-Play	► Get 300 PVP kills	► Adds SUROS Ascendance perk: Improves recoil direction and increases the chance to activate "SUROS Legacy".	Season 3
Sunshot	Hand Cannon	Energy	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sunshot | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills ► Get 1000 Sun Blast kills	► Increases stability by +18 and range by +27.	Season 1
Duality	Shotgun	Energy	A › Strong	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Beyond Light	Duality | Shotgun	Strong ❘ A	Banshee-44's quest Beyond Light	► Get 400 kills	► Increases weapon range by +20 and expands the magazine size by +2.	Season 12
Hawkmoon	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Beyond Light	Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Beyond Light	► Get 700 kills	► Adds the Hunter's Trance perk: Increases magazine size to 9. Also increases handling, reload speed, and range based on the number of Paracausal Charge stacks.	Season 16
Outbreak Perfected	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Outbreak Perfected | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 precision kills	► Adds Disease Vector perk: Increases nanite damage. Enemies that die with nanites attached to them generate additional nanites.	Season 16
No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Exo Stranger quest	Yes	Beyond Light	No Time To Explain | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Exo Stranger quest Beyond Light	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Blast from the Side perk: Projectiles from the time portal shoots more frequently.	Season 12
Hard Light	Auto Rifle	Energy	A › Strong	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Hard Light | Auto Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 1000 kills	► Increases stability by +18.	Season 1
Le Monarque	Combat Bow	Energy	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Forsaken Pack	Le Monarque | Combat Bow	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Forsaken Pack	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Unrelenting perk: Rapidly defeating targets triggers health regeneration. Guardians and powerful combatants count as more than one kill.	Season 16
Sleeper Simulant	Linear Fusion Rifle	Heavy	A › Strong	Nightfall Ordeals completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sleeper Simulant | Linear Fusion Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Nightfall Ordeals completions Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	► Lowers the weapon charge rate stat by -250 and expands the ammo reserves.	Season 14
Whisper of the Worm	Sniper Rifle	Heavy	A › Strong	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Whisper of the Worm | Sniper Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► TBC	► Adds Whispered Breathing perk: Aiming down the scope for 3 seconds increases range and precision damage while the weapon scope remains zoomed.	Season 16
Cryosthesia 77K	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Beyond Light	Cryosthesia 77K | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Banshee-44's quest Beyond Light	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Cold Efficiency perk: Shattering a frozen target refills this weapon's magazine from reserves.	Season 14
Lorentz Driver	Linear Fusion Rifle	Energy	A › Strong	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Beyond Light	Lorentz Driver | Linear Fusion Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Banshee-44's quest Beyond Light	► Get 400 kills	► Adds Jump Driver perk: Lorentz Driver gains an enhanced radar. Additionally, while this weapon has 3 telemetry patterns, EM Anomaly detonations no longer require a precision final blow.	Season 15
Forerunner	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Reach Rank 16 with Xur	Yes	Free-to-Play	Forerunner | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Reach Rank 16 with Xur Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds The Rock perk: For several seconds after a final blow, you can consume part of your ammo reserves, converting your next grenade into a fragmentation grenade.	30th Anniversary
Dead Messenger	Grenade Launcher	Energy	A › Strong	Vox Obscura quest on Hard mode	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Dead Messenger | Grenade Launcher	Strong ❘ A	Vox Obscura quest on Hard mode Deluxe Edition	► Get 200 Solar kills, 200 Void kills, 200 Arc kills	► Adds Turnabout perk: Using this weapon to break the shield of a combatant or a Guardian using their Super will grant you an overshield.	Season 16
Heartshadow	Sword	Heavy	A › Strong	Duality Dungeon (x3 banners)	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Heartshadow | Sword	Strong ❘ A	Duality Dungeon (x3 banners) Deluxe Edition	► Get 400 kills	► Adds Wraithwalk perk: Faster movement while invisible. ► Increases Ammo Capacity by +50.	Season 17
Osteo Striga	Submachine Gun	Kinetic	A › Strong	Crafting Relic	Yes	The Witch Queen	Osteo Striga | Submachine Gun	Strong ❘ A	Crafting Relic The Witch Queen	► Reach Level 10 to purchase at Crafting Relic	► Poison final blows return ammo to the magazine.	Season 16
Fighting Lion	Grenade Launcher	Energy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Fighting Lion | Grenade Launcher	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 1000 kills ► Complete 167 bounties	► Adds Chimera perk: When Fighting Lion is fired, equipped Kinetic and Power weapon gain increased handling and accuracy for a brief period of time. ► Increases reload speed by +27.	Season 1
Prometheus Lens	Trace Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Prometheus Lens | Trace Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Increases stability by +18 and handling by +18.	Season 2
Graviton Lance	Pulse Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle	Average ❘ B	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills ► Get 1000 Cosmology kills	► Adds Hidden Hand perk: Increases the aim assist and targeting acquisition stats. ► Increases range by +18.	Season 1
Tommy's Matchbook	Auto Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Tommy's Matchbook | Auto Rifle	Average ❘ B	Banshee-44's quest Shadowkeep	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Heat of the Moment perk: While Ignition Trigger is active, your health recovers much faster.	Season 10
D.A.R.C.I.	Sniper Rifle	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	D.A.R.C.I. | Sniper Rifle	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	► Increases stability by +18.	Season 1
Black Talon	Sword	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Black Talon | Sword	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Reversal perk: Shots blocked immediately after guarding increase the damage of Crow’s Wings for a very short duration.	Season 4
Coldheart	Trace Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Coldheart | Trace Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	►Increases stability by +18 and reload speed by +18.	Season 1
Deathbringer	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	B › Average	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Shadowkeep	Deathbringer | Rocket Launcher	Average ❘ B	Playlist Activity completions Shadowkeep	► Get 400 kills	► Adds Dead Weight perk: Increases how quickly Dark Descent reaches its full potential.	Season 14
Merciless	Fusion Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Merciless | Fusion Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Increases stability by +36 and range by +36.	Season 1
Cerberus+1	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Cerberus+1 | Auto Rifle	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Focused Fire perk: Hold reload to swap to a tighter, close-ranged spread.	Season 4
Vigilance Wing	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	B › Average	Kills or wins in the Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or wins in the Crucible Free-to-Play	► Get 250 PVP kills ► 5 Blood for Blood medals	► Adds Full Auto Trigger System perk: Makes the weapon fire fully automatic when holding down the fire button.	Season 1
Polaris Lance	Scout Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Polaris Lance | Scout Rifle	Average ❘ B	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 500 Kills ► Get 50 Perfect Fifth kills	► Adds Dragonfly perk: Precision kills create an explosion around defeated enemy.	Season 14
Symmetry	Scout Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Symmetry | Scout Rifle	Average ❘ B	Banshee-44's quest Shadowkeep	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Electric Styx perk: Increases the max stack size of Dynamic Charge from x15 to x20.	Season 9
Leviathan's Breath	Combat Bow	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Shadowkeep	Leviathan's Breath | Combat Bow	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Shadowkeep	► Obtain 1500 points. Kills give 1 point	► Adds Colossal Quiver perk: Expands the ammo reserves by +5.	Season 12
Tractor Cannon	Shotgun	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Tractor Cannon | Shotgun	Average ❘ B	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves.	Season 1
Ticuu's Divination	Combat Bow	Energy	B › Average	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Beyond Light	Ticuu's Divination | Combat Bow	Average ❘ B	Banshee-44's quest Beyond Light	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Causality Quiver perk: Perfectly drawn arrows that detonate Sacred Flames increase arrow damage. Striking targets unaffected by Sacred Flame refreshes Causality Arrows' duration.	Season 13
Vex Mythoclast	Fusion Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Vault of Glass Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle	Average ❘ B	Vault of Glass Raid Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Calculated Balance perk: While in full auto mode, final blows with this weapon grant bonus damage, accuracy, and stability for a short duration.	Season 14
Grand Overture	Machine Gun	Heavy	B › Average	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Grand Overture | Machine Gun	Average ❘ B	Banshee-44's quest Free-to-Play	► Get 400 kills	► Missile explosions will blind combatants. Those defeated by missile impacts then explode.	Season 16
Trespasser	Sidearm	Energy	B › Average	Banshee-44's quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Trespasser | Sidearm	Average ❘ B	Banshee-44's quest Free-to-Play	► Get 700 kills	► Adds Tunnel Vision perk: Reloading after defeating a target greatly increases target acquisition and aim down sight speed for a short duration.	Season 17
Lord of Wolves	Shotgun	Energy	C › Weak	Any activity	Yes	Free-to-Play	Lord of Wolves | Shotgun	Weak ❘ C	Any activity Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Fang and Claw perk: Increases reload speed while Release the Wolves is active and increases stability when it's not.	Season 4
Sturm	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	C › Weak	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sturm | Hand Cannon	Weak ❘ C	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 500 Sturm kills ► Get 500 Drang kills	► Increases handling by +40 and range by +18.	Season 1
Skyburner's Oath	Scout Rifle	Energy	C › Weak	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Skyburner's Oath | Scout Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 1000 Cabal kills	► Increases range by +27.	Season 14
Telesto	Fusion Rifle	Energy	C › Weak	Legend/Master Lost Sectors completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Telesto | Fusion Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Legend/Master Lost Sectors completions Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves.	Season 14
The Colony	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	C › Weak	Kills or wins in the Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Colony | Grenade Launcher	Weak ❘ C	Kills or wins in the Crucible Free-to-Play	► Get 500 kills	► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves.	Season 2
Sweet Business	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	C › Weak	Playlist Activity completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sweet Business | Auto Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Playlist Activity completions Free-to-Play	► Get 250 Multikills	► Adds Serious Business perk: Reduces incoming flinch when firing Sweet Business at full speed.	Season 1
Worldline Zero	Sword	Heavy	D › Worst	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Worldline Zero | Sword	Worst ❘ D	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 300 kills	► Adds Another Dimension perk: Reduces the activation time for the perk Tesseract.	Season 14
Borealis	Sniper Rifle	Energy	D › Worst	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Borealis | Sniper Rifle	Worst ❘ D	PVE Kills Free-to-Play	► Get 150 Solar Mode kills, 150 Void Mode kills, 150 Arc Mode kills	► Increases reload speed by +18.	Season 1

These are the different Tier levels used for the table above:

• S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
• A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
• B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
• C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
• D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.

For the sake of clarity, the ranking below focuses on the benefits of each Catalyst but is also influenced by the weapons themselves. For example, the best Catalysts can be considered S Tier because they bring significant improvements to an already great weapon.

Destiny 2 Catalysts in-depth:

	Heartshadow	Heavy
	Eriana's Vow	Special
	Outbreak Perfected	Primary
	Rat King	Primary
	Sturm	Primary
	Sunshot	Primary
	Sweet Business	Primary
	The Fourth Horseman	Special
	The Wardcliff Coil	Heavy
	Trinity Ghoul	Primary
	Whisper of the Worm	Heavy

How to get Catalysts in Destiny 2

There are 11 different methods to acquire Catalysts in Destiny 2:

1. Participating in any activity
2. Complete a specific quest
3. Complete Playlist Activities
4. Complete Strikes or Nightfalls
5. Complete Nightfall: Ordeals
6. Get PVE Kills
7. Complete Legend or Master Lost Sectors
8. Get Kills and Wins in the Crucible
9. Participate in the Guardian Games event
10. Complete the Vault of Glass Raid
11. Complete the Grasp of Avarice Dungeon

The table above will tell you exactly what is required to get a specific Catalyst.

Catalysts & the DCV

When Bungie introduced the Destiny Content Vault (DCV), close to 50% of the game was “vaulted” and effectively removed from the game. Roughly half of the locations, activities, quests and gear were removed from the game and still cannot be experienced to this day. As explained by Bungie:

Each year, usually at the expansion boundaries, we will cycle some destination and activity content out of the game (and into the DCV) to make room for new experiences.

With the DCV, several Exotic weapons and catalysts were removed too and became unavailable to new players for a long time.

Reintroduced Exotic catalysts

Slowly, Bungie has been reintroducing some of those lost catalysts. With the release of the Witch Queen expansion, the following Catalysts were reintroduced:

• Outbreak Perfected
• Whisper of the Worm
• The Fourth Horseman
• Hawkmoon
• Dead Man’s Tale
• Ager’s Scepter

In Season of the Chosen (S13), 9 catalysts were reintroduced:

• Bad Juju
• Izanagi’s Burden
• Sleeper Simulant
• The Huckleberry
• Worldline Zero
• Polaris Lance
• Telesto
• Legend of Acrius
• Skyburner’s Oath

At this stage, virtually all existing catalysts are available to new players (except Heir Apparent’s, which can only be obtained during the yearly Guardian Games event).

It’s great to see that Bungie found quick methods to re-introduce them, just as they did with Exotic weapons and the Monument to Lost Lights.

Your Turn

When I first got into Destiny 2, Exotic Catalysts were some of the most mysterious items for me. Where do they come from? Do you have to find them and then unlock them? Granted, Catalysts are not overly complicated, but they are part of yet another system that is hardly explained in-game.

With this guide, hopefully, all of your questions have been answered and you should have all the information you need to start chasing and unlocking more catalysts.

Which are your favorite Exotic Catalysts? Let me know in the comments section below!

Latest changes

Things change fast in Destiny 2, especially the Meta. The weapons we call the best one day can completely change the next, and this applies to Exotic Catalysts too. All it takes are a few minor changes on Bungie’s end. For that reason, this ranking will be updated at least once per season.

Changes introduced this season:

The following exotic catalysts were added with the release of Season of the Haunted (S17):

• Jötunn’s catalyst
• Trespasser’s catalyst
• Heartshadow’s catalyst