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, taking an Exotic to an entirely new level.
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 the Wish (S23).
What is an Exotic Catalyst
Catalysts are Exotic items that can “upgrade” certain Exotic weapons by granting them either more stat points, a new perk, or both. But you first need to find and upgrade them. Note that not every Exotic weapon has a catalyst.
Destiny 2 Exotic Catalyst list
These are all 86 Exotic Catalysts currently available in Destiny 2 as of Season of the Wish (Season 23):
| Name | Type | Slot | Catalyst Source | Available? | Requirements | Catalyst | Source ❘ Requirements | Released | How to unlock | Catalyst effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wish-Keeper | Combat Bow | Kinetic | Constellation: Wish quest | Yes | Season 23 |  Wish-Keeper | Combat Bow | Constellation: Wish quest Requires: Season 23 | Season 23 | ► 400 kills | ► Choose one of the following Catalysts: - Enduring Snare Refit: Snareweaver traps last longer. - Multi-Threaded Snare Refit: Snareweaver traps can suspend more targets. - Vorpal Weapon Refit - Hatchling Refit |
| Dragon's Breath | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | An Old Flame quest | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Dragon's Breath | Rocket Launcher | An Old Flame quest Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 23 | ► 150 kills ► 200 Calibration Data | ► Adds Pyromancer perk: This weapon replenishes its fuel faster. Defeating targets with this weapon causes them to periodically drop Firesprites. |
| Buried Bloodline | Sidearm | Kinetic | In the Shadows of the Mountain quest | Yes | Deluxe Edition |  Buried Bloodline | Sidearm | In the Shadows of the Mountain quest Requires: Deluxe Edition | Season 23 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Splitvein Lineage perk: While Devour is active, this weapon weakens on hit. |
| Necrochasm | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | Bottomless Pit quest | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Necrochasm | Auto Rifle | Bottomless Pit quest Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 22 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Outlaw perk |
| Ex Diris | Grenade Launcher | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Season 22 |  Ex Diris | Grenade Launcher | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Season 22 | Season 22 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Berserk Rush perk: Weapon enrages faster while amplified. Final blows with this weapon make you amplified. |
| Monte Carlo | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Monte Carlo | Auto Rifle | Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 22 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Stochastic Vengeance perk: At 5 stacks of Markov Chain, switch between your melee attack and Monte Carlo's bayonet. Landing a bayonet melee hit grants melee energy. |
| Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Malfeasance | Hand Cannon | Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 21 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Vorpal Weapon perk ► Increases range by +20. |
| The Navigator | Trace Rifle | Kinetic | Ghost of the Deep Dungeon | Yes | Deluxe Edition |  The Navigator | Trace Rifle | Ghost of the Deep Dungeon Requires: Deluxe Edition | Season 21 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Gordian Knot perk: Special reload and then fire to create a Grapple Tangle at the targeted point. |
| Centrifuse | Auto Rifle | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Centrifuse | Auto Rifle | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 21 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Static Buildup perk: While amplified, this weapon gradually gains overcharge. |
| Quicksilver Storm | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | Any Data Point in the Storm quest | Yes | Lightfall |  Quicksilver Storm | Auto Rifle | Any Data Point in the Storm quest Requires: Lightfall | Season 20 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Nano-entanglement perk: This weapon's damage type becomes Strand. Final blows with grenades from this weapon create Tangles. |
| Verglas Curve | Combat Bow | Kinetic | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Season 20 |  Verglas Curve | Combat Bow | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Season 20 | Season 20 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Shiver Quiver perk: Freezing a target grants this weapon faster draw speed for a short period of time. |
| Cloudstrike | Sniper Rifle | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Beyond Light |  Cloudstrike | Sniper Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Beyond Light | Season 19 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Triple Tap perk ► Increases Handling by +25. |
| Revision Zero | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic | Operation: Seraph's Shield (Legendary difficulty) | No | The Witch Queen |  Revision Zero | Pulse Rifle | Operation: Seraph's Shield (Legendary difficulty) Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 19 | ► Mini quests | ►Choose one of the following Catalysts: - Frenzy Refit (Feeding Frenzy) - Pressurized Refit (Under Pressure) - Outlaw Refit (Outlaw) - 4-Timer Refit (Fourth Time's the Charm) |
| The Manticore | Submachine Gun | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | The Witch Queen |  The Manticore | Submachine Gun | Banshee-44's quest Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 19 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Flying Monster: Final blows with this weapon while airborne grant damage resistance. |
| Hierarchy of Needs | Combat Bow | Energy | Spire of the Watcher Master completion | Yes | Deluxe Edition |  Hierarchy of Needs | Combat Bow | Spire of the Watcher Master completion Requires: Deluxe Edition | Season 19 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Emergency Scramble perk: Deploying a Guidance Ring or striking a target with a seeking projectile improves draw time and reload speed for a moderate duration. |
| Thunderlord | Machine Gun | Heavy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Thunderlord | Machine Gun | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 18 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Return Stroke: Causing a lightning strike with this weapon partially reloads the magazine from reserves. |
| Delicate Tomb | Fusion Rifle | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | The Witch Queen |  Delicate Tomb | Fusion Rifle | Banshee-44's quest Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 18 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Ionic Interment perk: Collecting an Ionic Trace partially reloads the magazine from reserves. |
| Touch of Malice | Scout Rifle | Kinetic | King's Fall Raid | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Touch of Malice | Scout Rifle | King's Fall Raid Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 18 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Rapid Hit perk |
| Jötunn | Fusion Rifle | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Jötunn | Fusion Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 17 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Cornered & Incandescent perks |
| Heartshadow | Sword | Heavy | Duality Dungeon (x3 banners) | Yes | Deluxe Edition |  Heartshadow | Sword | Duality Dungeon (x3 banners) Requires: Deluxe Edition | Season 17 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Wraithwalk perk: Faster movement while invisible. ► Increases Ammo Capacity by +50. |
| Trespasser | Sidearm | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | The Witch Queen |  Trespasser | Sidearm | Banshee-44's quest Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 17 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Tunnel Vision perk |
| The Fourth Horseman | Shotgun | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Shadowkeep |  The Fourth Horseman | Shotgun | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 16 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds And its name was Death perk: Adds an additional round to the magazine and increases reload speed by +40. |
| Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Beyond Light |  Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Beyond Light | Season 16 | ► 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. |
| Outbreak Perfected | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Outbreak Perfected | Pulse Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 16 | ► 500 precision kills | ► Adds Disease Vector perk: Increases nanite damage. Enemies that die with nanites attached to them generate additional nanites. |
| Le Monarque | Combat Bow | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Le Monarque | Combat Bow | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 16 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Unrelenting perk |
| Whisper of the Worm | Sniper Rifle | Heavy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Whisper of the Worm | Sniper Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 16 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Whispered Breathing perk: Aiming down the scope for 3 seconds increases range and precision damage while the weapon scope remains zoomed. |
| Dead Messenger | Grenade Launcher | Energy | Vox Obscura Quest on Legendary | Yes | The Witch Queen |  Dead Messenger | Grenade Launcher | Vox Obscura Quest on Legendary Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 16 | ► 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. |
| Osteo Striga | Submachine Gun | Kinetic | Crafting Relic | Yes | The Witch Queen |  Osteo Striga | Submachine Gun | Crafting Relic Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 16 | ► Reach Level 10 to purchase at Crafting Relic | ► Poison final blows return ammo to the magazine. |
| Grand Overture | Machine Gun | Heavy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | The Witch Queen |  Grand Overture | Machine Gun | Banshee-44's quest Requires: The Witch Queen | Season 16 | ► 400 kills | ► Missile explosions will blind combatants. Those defeated by missile impacts then explode. |
| Arbalest | Linear Fusion Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Lightfall |  Arbalest | Linear Fusion Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Lightfall | 30th Anniversary | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Genesis perk |
| Gjallarhorn | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (x3 chests) | Yes | 30th Anniversary |  Gjallarhorn | Rocket Launcher | Grasp of Avarice Dungeon (x3 chests) Requires: 30th Anniversary | 30th Anniversary | ► 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. |
| Forerunner | Sidearm | Kinetic | Reach Rank 16 with Xur | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Forerunner | Sidearm | Reach Rank 16 with Xur Requires: Free-to-Play | 30th Anniversary | ► 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. |
| Ager's Scepter | Trace Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Beyond Light |  Ager's Scepter | Trace Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Beyond Light | Season 15 | ► 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. |
| Lorentz Driver | Linear Fusion Rifle | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Beyond Light |  Lorentz Driver | Linear Fusion Rifle | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Beyond Light | Season 15 | ► 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. |
| The Huckleberry | Submachine Gun | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  The Huckleberry | Submachine Gun | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Bull Rider perk: Kills with this weapon now reload the entire magazine. |
| Izanagi's Burden | Sniper Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Izanagi's Burden | Sniper Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 14 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Peerless Edge perk: Increases the damage bonus of Honed Edge when all 4 bullets are consumed. |
| Legend of Acrius | Shotgun | Heavy | Nightfall Ordeals completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Legend of Acrius | Shotgun | Nightfall Ordeals completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +2 and expands the ammo reserves. ► Increases reload speed by +36. |
| Bad Juju | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Bad Juju | Pulse Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 14 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Unending Curse perk: Extends the duration of the perk String of Curses. |
| Sleeper Simulant | Linear Fusion Rifle | Heavy | Nightfall Ordeals completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Sleeper Simulant | Linear Fusion Rifle | Nightfall Ordeals completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 300 kills | ► Lowers the weapon charge rate stat by -250 and expands the ammo reserves. |
| Cryosthesia 77K | Sidearm | Kinetic | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Beyond Light |  Cryosthesia 77K | Sidearm | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Beyond Light | Season 14 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Cold Efficiency perk: Shattering a frozen target refills this weapon's magazine from reserves. |
| Deathbringer | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Deathbringer | Rocket Launcher | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 14 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Dead Weight perk: Increases how quickly Dark Descent reaches its full potential. |
| Polaris Lance | Scout Rifle | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Polaris Lance | Scout Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 500 Kills ► 50 Perfect Fifth kills | ► Adds Dragonfly perk |
| Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle | Energy | Vault of Glass Raid | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle | Vault of Glass Raid Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 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. |
| Skyburner's Oath | Scout Rifle | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Skyburner's Oath | Scout Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 1000 Cabal kills | ► Increases range by +27. |
| Telesto | Fusion Rifle | Energy | Legend/Master Lost Sectors completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Telesto | Fusion Rifle | Legend/Master Lost Sectors completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 300 kills | ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves. |
| Worldline Zero | Sword | Heavy | PVE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Worldline Zero | Sword | PVE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 14 | ► 300 kills | ► Adds Another Dimension perk: Reduces the activation time for the perk Tesseract. |
| Ticuu's Divination | Combat Bow | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Beyond Light |  Ticuu's Divination | Combat Bow | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Beyond Light | Season 13 | ► 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. |
| Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle | Kinetic | Presage Quest on Legendary | Yes | Beyond Light |  Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle | Presage Quest on Legendary Requires: Beyond Light | Season 12 | ► 800 kills | ► Adds Dark-Forged Trigger perk: Removes hipfire accuracy penalties and increases rate of fire from hip. Stacks of Cranial Spike increase hip rate of fire further. |
| Duality | Shotgun | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Beyond Light |  Duality | Shotgun | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Beyond Light | Season 12 | ► 400 kills | ► Increases weapon range by +20 and expands magazine size by +2. |
| No Time to Explain | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic | Exo Stranger quest | Yes | Beyond Light |  No Time To Explain | Pulse Rifle | Exo Stranger quest Requires: Beyond Light | Season 12 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Blast from the Side perk: Projectiles from the time portal shoots more frequently. |
| Leviathan's Breath | Combat Bow | Heavy | PVE Kills | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Leviathan's Breath | Combat Bow | PVE Kills Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 12 | ► 1500 kills | ► Adds Colossal Quiver perk: Expands the ammo reserves by +5. |
| Witherhoard | Grenade Launcher | Kinetic | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Witherhoard | Grenade Launcher | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 11 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Silent Alarm perk: Maximizes handling, holstering this weapon automatically reloads it after a short period of time. |
| Ruinous Effigy | Trace Rifle | Energy | PVE Kills | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Ruinous Effigy | Exotic Trace Rifle | PVE Kills Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 11 | ► Destroy all Savathun's Eyes; or ► 5000 kills | ► Adds Deconstruction perk: Deals increased damage against targets damaged by Transmutation spheres. |
| Traveler's Chosen | Sidearm | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Shadowkeep | Traveler's Chosen | Sidearm | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 11 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Osmosisand Full Auto Trigger System perks |
| Heir Apparent | Machine Gun | Heavy | Guardian Games event | No | Free-to-Play |  Heir Apparent | Heir Apparent | Guardian Games event Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 10 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Legion's Bullwark perk: Increases the Arc Shield's durability and partially reloads the magazine if it is destroyed. |
| Tommy's Matchbook | Auto Rifle | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Tommy's Matchbook | Auto Rifle | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 10 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Heat of the Moment perk: While Ignition Trigger is active, your health recovers much faster. |
| Symmetry | Scout Rifle | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Symmetry | Scout Rifle | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 9 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds Electric Styx perk: Increases the max stack size of Dynamic Charge from x15 to x20. |
| Eriana's Vow | Hand Cannon | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Shadowkeep |  Eriana's Vow | Hand Cannon | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Shadowkeep | Season 8 | ► 700 kills | ► Adds More to Give perk: Increases magazine size by +3 and the Auto-Loading Holster perk. |
| Lumina | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | Any activity | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Lumina | Hand Cannon | Any activity Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 7 | ► 250 Noble Round heals | ► Adds Resonant Vitrue perk: Gain two Remnants per final blow instead of one. |
| Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Forsaken Pack | Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Funeral Pyre perk: Firefly does more damage while Memento Mori is active. |
| Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Forsaken Pack |  Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Forsaken Pack | Season 4 | ► 400 kills | ► Adds Forked Lightning perk: Reduces draw time by -108 and Lightning Rod now triggers from any arc damage final blow. |
| Black Talon | Sword | Heavy | PVE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Black Talon | Sword | PVE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 4 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Reversal perk: Shots blocked immediately after guarding increase the damage of Crow’s Wings for a very short duration. |
| Cerberus+1 | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | PVE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Cerberus+1 | Auto Rifle | PVE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 4 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Focused Fire perk: Hold reload to swap to a tighter, close-ranged spread. |
| Lord of Wolves | Shotgun | Energy | Any activity | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Lord of Wolves | Shotgun | Any activity Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 4 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Fang and Claw perk: Increases reload speed while Release the Wolves is active and increases stability when it's not. |
| SUROS Regime | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | Kills or wins in the Crucible | Yes | Free-to-Play |  SUROS Regime | Auto Rifle | Kills or wins in the Crucible Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 3 | ► 300 PVP kills | ► Adds SUROS Ascendance perk: Improves recoil direction and increases the chance to activate "SUROS Legacy". |
| Crimson | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | PVE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Crimson | Hand Cannon | PVE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 2 | ► 500 kills | ► Increases range by +18. |
| The Jade Rabbit | Scout Rifle | Kinetic | Kills or wins in the Crucible | Yes | Free-to-Play |  The Jade Rabbit | Scout Rifle | Kills or wins in the Crucible Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 2 | ► 250 PVP kills | ► Increases stability by +27. |
| Prometheus Lens | Trace Rifle | Energy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Prometheus Lens | Trace Rifle | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 2 | ► 500 kills | ► Increases stability by +18 and handling by +18. |
| The Colony | Grenade Launcher | Heavy | Kills or wins in the Crucible | Yes | Free-to-Play |  The Colony | Grenade Launcher | Kills or wins in the Crucible Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 2 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves. |
| Riskrunner | Submachine Gun | Energy | Banshee-44's quest | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Riskrunner | Submachine Gun | Banshee-44's quest Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills ► 50 Arc Conductor kills | ► Increases range by +27. |
| Rat King | Sidearm | Kinetic | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Rat King | Sidearm | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 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. |
| The Wardcliff Coil | Rocket Launcher | Heavy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  The Wardcliff Coil | Rocket Launcher | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Pinpoint Guidance Module perk: Tightens rockets spread. |
| MIDA Multi-Tool | Scout Rifle | Kinetic | Legend Glory rank | Yes | Free-to-Play |  MIDA Multi-Tool | Scout Rifle | Legend Glory rank Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 250 precision kills in PVP | ► Adds No Distractions perk: Aiming this weapon for a short period reduces flinch. |
| The Prospector | Grenade Launcher | Heavy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  The Prospector | Grenade Launcher | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills | ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves. ► Increases blast radius by +20. |
| Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Sunshot | Hand Cannon | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills ► 1000 Sun Blast kills | ► Increases stability by +18 and range by +27. |
| Hard Light | Auto Rifle | Energy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Hard Light | Auto Rifle | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 1000 kills | ► Increases stability by +18. |
| Fighting Lion | Grenade Launcher | Energy | PvE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Fighting Lion | Grenade Launcher | PvE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 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. |
| Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle | Energy | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills ► 1000 Cosmology kills | ► Adds Hidden Hand perk: Increases the aim assist and targeting acquisition stats. ► Increases range by +18. |
| D.A.R.C.I. | Sniper Rifle | Heavy | PvE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  D.A.R.C.I. | Sniper Rifle | PvE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 300 kills | ► Increases stability by +18. |
| Coldheart | Trace Rifle | Energy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Coldheart | Trace Rifle | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 300 kills | ►Increases stability by +18 and reload speed by +18. |
| Merciless | Fusion Rifle | Energy | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Merciless | Fusion Rifle | Kills or completions in Strikes & Nightfalls Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 kills | ► Increases stability by +36 and range by +36. |
| Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle | Kinetic | Kills or wins in the Crucible | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle | Kills or wins in the Crucible Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 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. |
| Tractor Cannon | Shotgun | Heavy | PvE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Tractor Cannon | Shotgun | PvE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 300 kills | ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves. |
| Sturm | Hand Cannon | Kinetic | PvE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Sturm | Hand Cannon | PvE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 500 Sturm kills ► 500 Drang kills | ► Increases handling by +40 and range by +18. |
| Sweet Business | Auto Rifle | Kinetic | Playlist Activity completions | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Sweet Business | Auto Rifle | Playlist Activity completions Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 250 Multikills | ► Adds Serious Business perk: Reduces incoming flinch when firing Sweet Business at full speed. |
| Borealis | Sniper Rifle | Energy | PvE Kills | Yes | Free-to-Play |  Borealis | Sniper Rifle | PvE Kills Requires: Free-to-Play | Season 1 | ► 150 Solar Mode kills, 150 Void Mode kills, 150 Arc Mode kills | ► Increases reload speed by +18. |
How to get Catalysts in Destiny 2
There are several methods to acquire Catalysts in Destiny 2. These are the main methods are:
- Participating in any activity
- Completing a specific quest
- Completing Playlist Activities
- Completing Strikes or Nightfalls
- Completing Nightfall: Ordeals
- Completing Legend or Master Lost Sectors
- Participating in an event
- Completing a Raid or Dungeon
- Complete the Grasp of Avarice Dungeon
Bungie has gradually stepped away from general requirements, such as Completing a Playlist activity, in favor of specific Exotic quests. This is especially true for new Exotics, such as the Wish-Keeper Exotic & Catalyst.
Dragon’s Breath Catalyst Quest, Destiny 2
When adding a new Catalyst to an old Exotic weapon, however, they still use generic requirements, such as Malfeasance’s Catalyst, which involves “Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit” completions.
How to Apply Catalysts in Destiny 2
Once a Catalyst is found and upgraded, it can be “applied” to the weapon. Only then will the catalyst become active.
Catalysts are activated in two steps. First, you need to find it (see section above), and then you need to upgrade it. This second step often involves getting several hundred kills using the Exotic weapon. For example, Sunshot’s catalyst requires 500 weapon kills and 1000 ‘Sun Blast’ kills.
Polaris Lance Catalyst, Destiny 2
Using farming methods such as Shuro Chi or the opening section of Grasp of Avarice will speed things along. However, simply using the weapon in day-to-day content will get the catalyst done in a reasonable timeframe.
Catalysts for older Exotics
Bungie routinely sneaks a catalyst for two for older Exotics. These almost never get the spotlight, but they can transform an average weapon into a monster.
The following catalysts were added with the release of Season of the Witch (S22):
Season of the Deep (S21):
Season of the Seraph (S19):
Season of the Haunted (S17):
- Jötunn’s catalyst
- Heartshadow’s 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 today. 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.
Reintroducing “vaulted” 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), nine more 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 that Bungie found quick methods to re-introduce them, just as they did with Exotic weapons and the Monument to Lost Lights.
Before you go…
Looking to grow your collection of Exotic weapons and Catalysts? We cover all Destiny 2 Exotic Quests here and the Exotic Mission Rotator here.
Why is the Suros Regime marked as not available?
Is it ok to use Destiny 2 boosting services? Like d2-recovery.com? I want to buy catalyst from them, but afraid a bit.
I wouldn’t recommend a service like that. First of all, they break the game’s terms of service and could get your account banned. Second, I find the whole thing shady, with lots of fine print (like that you need to have found the catalyst first and then they just do the kills to unlock it).
I wouldn’t touch that stuff even with a ten-foot pole!
I used to write bots for another popular game and almost all of the seller’s of such services were in the same IRC chat I belonged to— short version it’s that they use a lot of hacks and/or bots to do the hard work. This puts your account at significant risk.
This page was better before, you could know how to get the catalysts and not only what are the requirements to finish them.
I’m surprised. Maybe there’s a formatting issue or something. Are you on mobile or desktop? From here, I can see the following columns:
– Where to find it ❘ Requires
– How to unlock it
– Catalyst effect
Really? I’m on desktop, for me the page definitely changed. I even tried a different browser to see if the problem was on my side but it’s the same on both browsers. I tried even on my phone now and got the same page.
I have two columns, how to unlock the catalysts and what the catalysts do.
Here, a Print as proof. https://prnt.sc/194b2fz
Thanks for the follow up and the print screen. Just solved a huge catching issue that was plaguing that page (and maybe many more) and completely ruining the content!
It should be finally solved now… Hopefully it did for you too. In any case, THANKS A LOT for the alert.
I’m glad I was able to help. This page has been on my favorites since I started playing d2 last year and I always check here to get information. I’m really glad you were able to fix the problem, grats!
why is monte carlo not on the list?
Monte Carlo doesn’t have a catalyst yet
Hi. It says Riskrunner is in the Free to Play column, but requires a quest only available after Shadowkeep, which is not available to me as a free to play player currently. Is there something I’m missing? I understand Shadowkeep is a DLC.
i was also free to play but is still got it
isnt the riskrunner catalyst like 500 pve kills or something
got the masterwork as a f2p
You only need to finish the initial mission, which is available for all players
Sleeper catalyst should be A tier tho.
At the least.
I miss how to get Jötunn catalyst? How can I get it? Please explain.
FYI – Le Monarque has a catalyst now…
The Dead Messenger and Grand Overture catalyst effects are out of order.
You’re right! I just thought the Grand Overture’s info was wrong but it actually swapped info with Dead Messanger. They really gotta fix that
Was going to point this out myself. Surprised it’s still not been fixed.
Outbreak Perfected’s catalyst has an important second effect to it’s catalyst not mentioned here: Nanites spawn when an enemy infected with nanites dies, letting it spread to other enemies. Not sure if that changes anything, Tier-wise, but it’s important to keep information accurate.
I just got a Catalyst for Two-Tailed Fox (ugh, another Rocket launcher that needs “many” kills. Purple ammo hard to get!) I think I got it either during normal PVE wandering or completing a Vanguard Ops playlist.