Destiny 2 Catalysts: All 55 Catalysts 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, barely improving a weapon, 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?

What is a Catalyst? Catalysts allow you to “upgrade” Exotic weapons by granting them either more stat points, a new perk, or both.  Note that not every Exotic weapon has a Catalyst and every Catalyst needs to be first found and then unlocked.

Our Exotic Tier list covers all the Exotic weapons. It explains how to get them, what they do, and more. That’s a good place to start. This guide focuses on the Catalysts themselves and tells you how to get them, how to unlock them, and what effect they grant.

In the table below, we cover and rank every Exotic Catalyst in the game.

Destiny 2 Exotic Catalyst list 2021

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

• 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 already great weapons:

Name	Type	Slot	Catalyst Rank	Catalyst Source	Still Available?	Requirements?	Catalyst	Catalyst Tier	Where to find it ❘ Requires	How to unlock it	Catalyst effect
Eriana's Vow	Hand Cannon	Energy	S › Best	Quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Eriana's Vow | Hand Cannon	Best ❘ S	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 700 kills	Eriana's Vow Catalyst: ► Adds More to Give perk: Increases magazine size by +3 and adds the perk Auto-Loading Holster.
Riskrunner	Submachine Gun	Energy	S › Best	Quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Riskrunner | Submachine Gun	Best ❘ S	Complete Pain and Gain quest	► Get 500 kills ► Get 50 Arc Conductor kills	Riskrunner Catalyst: ► Increases range by +27.
Trinity Ghoul	Combat Bow	Energy	S › Best	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Trinity Ghoul | Combat Bow	Best ❘ S	Completions or kills in Gambit, Crucible, Strikes, or Nightfalls	► Get 400 kills	Trinity Ghoul Catalyst: ► Adds Forked Lightning perk: Reduces draw time by -108 and Lightning Rod now triggers from any arc damage final blow.
The Huckleberry	Submachine Gun	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Huckleberry | Submachine Gun	Best ❘ S	Completions of Playlist activities	► Get 500 kills	The Huckleberry Catalyst: ► Adds Bull Rider perk: Kills with this weapon now reload the entire magazine.
Witherhoard	Grenade Launcher	Kinetic	S › Best	Quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Witherhoard | Grenade Launcher	Best ❘ S	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 400 kills	Witherhoard Catalyst: ► Adds Silent Alarm perk: Maximizes handling, holstering this weapon automatically reloads it after a short period of time.
Legend of Acrius	Shotgun	Heavy	S › Best	Nightfall Ordeals completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Legend of Acrius | Shotgun	Best ❘ S	Completions of Nightfall Ordeals	► Get 500 kills	Legend of Acrius Catalyst: ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +2 and expands the ammo reserves. ► Increases reload speed by +36.
Heir Apparent	Machine Gun	Heavy	S › Best	Guardian Games event	No	Free-to-Play	Heir Apparent | Heir Apparent	Best ❘ S	Guardian Games event	► Get 700 kills	Heir Apparent Catalyst: ► Adds Legion's Bullwark perk: Increases the Arc Shield's durability and partially reloads the magazine if it is destroyed.
Ace of Spades	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	S › Best	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Forsaken	Ace of Spades | Hand Cannon	Best ❘ S	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	Ace of Spades Catalyst: ► Adds Funeral Pyre perk: Firefly does more damage while Memento Mori is active.
Izanagi's Burden	Sniper Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Forsaken	Izanagi's Burden | Sniper Rifle	Best ❘ S	Completions of Playlist activities	► Get 500 kills	Izanagi's Burden Catalyst: ► Adds Peerless Edge perk: Increases the damage bonus of Honed Edge when all 4 bullets are consumed.
Sunshot	Hand Cannon	Energy	S › Best	Strikes, Nightfalls or Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sunshot | Hand Cannon	Best ❘ S	Kills, completions or wins on Strikes, Nightfalls or the Crucible	► Get 500 kills ► Get 1000 Sun Blast kills	Sunshot Catalyst: ► Increases stability by +18 and range by +27.
Dead Man's Tale	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	S › Best	Quest	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle	Best ❘ S	Master Presage Quest	► Get 800 kills or 8 secret chests	Dead Man's Tale Catalyst: ► Adds Dark-Forged Trigger perk: Increased hipfire rate of fire and removes hipfire accuracy penalties.
Crimson	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Crimson | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 500 kills	Crimson Catalyst: ► Increases range by +18.
Ruinous Effigy	Trace Rifle	Energy	A › Strong	PVE Kills	Yes	Shadowkeep	Ruinous Effigy | Exotic Trace Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Any PVE kill	► Destroy all Savathun's Eyes or ► Get 5000 kills	Ruinous Effigy Catalyst: ► Adds Deconstruction perk: Deals increased damage against targets damaged by Transmutation spheres.
Hawkmoon	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	Quest	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Hawkmoon | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Complete the Crow's quest	► Get 700 kills	Hawkmoon Catalyst: ► 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	A › Strong	Currently Unavailable	No	Forsaken	Outbreak Perfected | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Currently Unavailable	-	Outbreak Perfected Catalyst: ► Adds Disease Vector perk:Deal additional nanite damage.
No Time to Explain	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Quest	Yes	Deluxe Edition	No Time To Explain | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Complete quest from the Exo Stranger at the end of the Beyond Light campaign	► Get 700 kills	No Time to Explain Catalyst: ► Adds Blast from the Side perk: Projectiles from the time portal shoots more frequently.
Hard Light	Auto Rifle	Energy	A › Strong	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Hard Light | Auto Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 1000 kills	Hard Light Catalyst: ► Increases stability by +18.
Whisper of the Worm	Sniper Rifle	Heavy	A › Strong	Currently Unavailable	No	Free-to-Play	Whisper of the Worm | Sniper Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Currently Unavailable	-	Whisper of the Worm Catalyst: ► Adds Whispered Breathing perk: Aiming down the scope for 3 seconds increases range and precision damage while the weapon scope remains zoomed.
Bad Juju	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Forsaken	Bad Juju | Pulse Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Completions of Playlist activities	► Get 700 kills	Bad Juju Catalyst: ► Adds Unending Curse perk: Extends the duration of the perk String of Curses.
Lumina	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	A › Strong	Any activity	Yes	Forsaken	Lumina | Hand Cannon	Strong ❘ A	Completions or kills in Gambit, Crucible, Strikes, or Nightfalls	► Get 250 Noble Round heals	Lumina Catalyst: ► Adds Resonant Vitrue perk: Gain two Remnants per final blow instead of one.
Rat King	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Quest	Yes	Free-to-Play	Rat King | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 1,000 kills while everyone in your fireteam is also using Rat King	Rat King Catalyst: ► Adds Infestation perk: Increases aim assist and recoil direction. Refreshes health when Vermin activates.
The Wardcliff Coil	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	A › Strong	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Wardcliff Coil | Rocket Launcher	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	The Wardcliff Coil Catalyst: ► Adds Pinpoint Guidance Module perk: Tightens rockets spread.
The Fourth Horseman	Shotgun	Energy	A › Strong	Lost Sectors completions	Yes	Shadowkeep	The Fourth Horseman | Shotgun	Strong ❘ A	Complete Legend or Master Lost Sectors	► Get 400 kills	The Fourth Horseman Catalyst: ► Adds And its name was Death perk: Adds an additional round to the magazine and increases reload speed by +40.
The Jade Rabbit	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Jade Rabbit | Scout Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or wins in the Crucible	► Get 250 PVP kills	The Jade Rabbit Catalyst: ► Increases stability by +27.
The Prospector	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	A › Strong	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Prospector | Grenade Launcher	Strong ❘ A	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	The Prospector Catalyst: ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves. ► Increases blast radius by +20.
SUROS Regime	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	SUROS Regime | Auto Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or wins in the Crucible	► Get 300 PVP kills	SUROS Regime Catalyst: ► Adds SUROS Ascendance perk: Improves recoil direction and increases the chance to activate "SUROS Legacy".
MIDA Multi-Tool	Scout Rifle	Kinetic	A › Strong	Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	MIDA Multi-Tool | Scout Rifle	Strong ❘ A	Kills or wins in Competitive Crucible matches at Legend Glory rank	► Get 250 precision kills in PVP	MIDA Multi-Tool Catalyst: ► Adds No Distractions perk: Aiming this weapon for a short period reduces flinch.
Duality	Shotgun	Energy	A › Strong	Quest	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Duality | Shotgun	Strong ❘ A	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 400 kills	Duality Catalyst: ► Increases weapon range by +20 and expands the magazine size by +2.
Cryosthesia 77K	Sidearm	Kinetic	A › Strong	Quest	Yes	Season 14	Cryosthesia 77K | Sidearm	Strong ❘ A	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 700 kills	Cryosthesia 77K Catalyst: ► Adds Cold Efficiency perk: Shattering a frozen target refills this weapon's magazine from reserves.
Vex Mythoclast	Fusion Rifle	Kinetic	B › Average	Raid	Yes	Free-to-Play	Vex Mythoclast | Fusion Rifle	Average ❘ B	Vault of Glass Puzzle	► Get 700 kills	Vex Mythoclast Catalyst: ► Adds Calculated Balance perk: Higher stacks of Overcharge increase stability.
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	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 300 kills	D.A.R.C.I. Catalyst: ► Increases stability by +18.
Polaris Lance	Scout Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Polaris Lance | Scout Rifle	Average ❘ B	Completions of Playlist activities	► Get 500 Kills ► Get 50 Perfect Fifth kills	Polaris Lance Catalyst: ► Adds Dragonfly perk: Precision kills create an explosion around defeated enemy.
Symmetry	Scout Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Symmetry | Scout Rifle	Average ❘ B	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 700 kills	Symmetry Catalyst: ► Adds Electric Styx perk: Increases the max stack size of Dynamic Charge from x15 to x20.
Leviathan's Breath	Combat Bow	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Shadowkeep	Leviathan's Breath | Combat Bow	Average ❘ B	Defeat Powerful enemies with Leviathan's Breath	► Obtain 1500 points. Kills give 1 point	Leviathan's Breath Catalyst: ► Adds Colossal Quiver perk: Expands the ammo reserves by +5.
Sleeper Simulant	Linear Fusion Rifle	Heavy	B › Average	Nightfall Ordeals completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sleeper Simulant | Linear Fusion Rifle	Average ❘ B	Completions of Nightfall Ordeals	► Get 300 kills	Sleper Simulant Catalyst: ► Lowers the weapon charge rate stat by -250 and expands the ammo reserves.
Tractor Cannon	Shotgun	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Tractor Cannon | Shotgun	Average ❘ B	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 300 kills	Tractor Cannon Catalyst: ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves.
Prometheus Lens	Trace Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Prometheus Lens | Trace Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	Prometheus Lens Catalyst: ► Increases stability by +18 and handling by +18.
Graviton Lance	Pulse Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Strikes, Nightfalls or Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	Graviton Lance | Pulse Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills, completions or wins on Strikes, Nightfalls or the Crucible	► Get 500 kills ► Get 1000 Cosmology kills	Graviton Lance Catalyst: ► Adds Hidden Hand perk: Increases the aim assist and targeting acquisition stats. ► Increases range by +18.
Tommy's Matchbook	Auto Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Quest	Yes	Shadowkeep	Tommy's Matchbook | Auto Rifle	Average ❘ B	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 700 kills	Tommy's Matchbook Catalyst: ► Adds Heat of the Moment perk: While Ignition Trigger is active, your health recovers much faster.
Black Talon	Sword	Heavy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Black Talon | Sword	Average ❘ B	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 500 kills	Black Talon Catalyst: ► Adds Reversal perk: Shots blocked immediately after guarding increase the damage of Crow’s Wings for a very short duration.
Coldheart	Trace Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Coldheart | Trace Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 300 kills	Coldheart Catalyst: ►Increases stability by +18 and reload speed by +18.
Deathbringer	Rocket Launcher	Heavy	B › Average	Strikes, Nightfalls or Crucible	Yes	Shadowkeep	Deathbringer | Rocket Launcher	Average ❘ B	Kills, completions or wins on Strikes, Nightfalls or the Crucible	► Get 400 kills	Deathbringer Catalyst: ► Adds Dead Weight perk: Increases how quickly Dark Descent reaches its full potential.
Merciless	Fusion Rifle	Energy	B › Average	Strikes or Nightfalls	Yes	Free-to-Play	Merciless | Fusion Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or completions in Strikes or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	MercilessCatalyst: ► Increases stability by +36 and range by +36.
Fighting Lion	Grenade Launcher	Energy	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Fighting Lion | Grenade Launcher	Average ❘ B	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 1000 kills ► Complete 167 bounties	Fighting Lion Catalyst: ► 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.
Cerberus+1	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	B › Average	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Cerberus+1 | Auto Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 500 kills	Cerberus+1 Catalyst: ► Adds Focused Fire perk: Hold reload to swap to a tighter, close-ranged spread.
Vigilance Wing	Pulse Rifle	Kinetic	B › Average	Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	Vigilance Wing | Pulse Rifle	Average ❘ B	Kills or wins in the Crucible	► Get 250 PVP kills ► 5 Blood for Blood medals	Vigilance Wing Catalyst: ► Adds Full Auto Trigger System perk: Makes the weapon fire fully automatic when holding down the fire button.
Ticuu's Divination	Combat Bow	Energy	B › Average	Quest	Yes	Deluxe Edition	Ticuu's Divination | Combat Bow	Average ❘ B	Complete Banshee-44's quest	► Get 700 kills	Ticuu's Divination Catalyst: ► Adds Causality Quiver perk: Perfectly drawn arrows that detonate Sacred Flames increase arrow damage. Striking targets unaffected by Sacred Flame refreshes Causality Arrows' duration.
The Colony	Grenade Launcher	Heavy	C › Weak	Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	The Colony | Grenade Launcher	Weak ❘ C	Kills or wins in the Crucible	► Get 500 kills	The Colony Catalyst: ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +1 and expands ammo reserves.
Telesto	Fusion Rifle	Energy	C › Weak	Lost Sectors completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Telesto | Fusion Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Complete Legend or Master Lost Sectors	► Get 300 kills	Telesto Catalyst: ► Adds Deeper Pockets perk: Increases the magazine size by +3 and expands ammo reserves.
Sweet Business	Auto Rifle	Kinetic	C › Weak	Strikes, Nightfalls or Crucible	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sweet Business | Auto Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Kills, completions or wins on Strikes, Nightfalls or the Crucible	► Get 250 Multikills	Sweet Business Catalyst: ► Adds Serious Business perk: Reduces incoming flinch when firing Sweet Business at full speed.
Lord of Wolves	Shotgun	Energy	C › Weak	Any activity	Yes	Free-to-Play	Lord of Wolves | Shotgun	Weak ❘ C	Completions or kills in Gambit, Crucible, Strikes, or Nightfalls	► Get 500 kills	Lord of Wolves Catalyst: ► Adds Fang and Claw perk: Increases reload speed while Release the Wolves is active and increases stability when it's not.
Sturm	Hand Cannon	Kinetic	C › Weak	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Sturm | Hand Cannon	Weak ❘ C	Kill enemies in PVE on Nessus	► Get 500 Sturm kills ► Get 500 Drang kills	Sturm Catalyst: ► Increases handling by +40 and range by +18.
Skyburner's Oath	Scout Rifle	Energy	C › Weak	Playlist Activities completions	Yes	Free-to-Play	Skyburner's Oath | Scout Rifle	Weak ❘ C	Completions of Playlist activities	► Get 1000 Cabal kills	Skyburner's Oath Catalyst: ► Increases range by +27.
Worldline Zero	Sword	Heavy	D › Worst	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Worldline Zero | Sword	Worst ❘ D	Kill enemies in PVE with a sword equipped	► Get 300 kills	Worldline Zero Catalyst: ► Adds Another Dimension perk: Reduces the activation time for the perk Tesseract.
Borealis	Sniper Rifle	Energy	D › Worst	PVE Kills	Yes	Free-to-Play	Borealis | Sniper Rifle	Worst ❘ D	Kill enemies in PVE	► Get 150 Solar Mode kills, 150 Void Mode kills, 150 Arc Mode kills	Borealis Catalyst: ► Increases reload speed by +18.

About the Destiny Content Vault (DCV)

The DCV was a big deal. In Bungie’s words:

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.

Close to 50% of the game was “vaulted” and put into the DCV with the release of Beyond Light on November 10, 2020. This means that roughly half of the locations, activities, and gear were removed from the game and cannot be experienced anymore.

A comprehensive list including everything that went away would be too long to cover here, but when it comes to Exotic quests, and Catalysts, this is everything you need to know:

Exotic catalysts effectively removed from the game

Several Catalysts became unavailable on November 10, 2020, with the launch of the Beyond Light Expansion. Most have returned, except the following 2:

1. Outbreak Perfected
2. Whisper of the Worm

Bungie does clarify the following:

If you have these Catalysts already equipped and their objectives completed, you can continue using them at your leisure.

Now that several Catalysts have returned, these are some I would recommend chasing in case you have very limited playtime:

• Izanagi’s Burden if you’re in need of an excellent PVE weapon
• Dead Man’s Tale if you’re looking for a great PVP option

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, by themselves, Catalysts are not overly complicated, it’s just 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 know what Catalysts you want and how you can go about finding them.

Beyond Light did add a couple of new Catalysts to chase. But in parallel, it removed a lot of them. It’s therefore 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.

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