Beyond raids and dungeons, exotic missions are some of the best PvE content Destiny 2 has to offer. However, even these great experiences aren’t safe from the clutches of the Destiny Content Vault, and their disappearance throughout the years has saddened many.
Luckily, Season 22 had an excellent solution: the Exotic Mission Rotator. This Playlist brings back beloved missions from the past while sprucing them up with some enticing loot.
Exotic Mission Rotation: April 22
This week’s Exotic mission, Operation: Seraph’s Shield, drops the Revision Zero (Pulse Rifle). We cover the most sought-after Revision Zero God Rolls here.
Art | Activity | Location | Power Level | Rewards | Requires | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
Exotic Rotator Rewards this Week
While these Exotic quests can be fun and challenging, most Guardians are running them for a chance to earn exclusive weapons and armor.
These are the weapons and armor sets available this week:
![]() | Revision Zero | Pulse Rifle | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | |
![]() | IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.3 | Submachine Gun | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Voltshot |
![]() | Disparity | Pulse Rifle | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | |
![]() | Fire and Forget | Linear Fusion Rifle | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | |
![]() | IKELOS_HC_v1.0.3 | Hand Cannon | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Repulsor Brace |
![]() | IKELOS_SG_v1.0.3 | Shotgun | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Incandescent |
![]() | IKELOS_SR_v1.0.3 | Sniper Rifle | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Incandescent |
![]() | Judgment of Kelgorath | Glaive | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Incandescent |
![]() | Path of Least Resistance | Trace Rifle | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Voltshot |
![]() | Retrofit Escapade | Machine Gun | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | |
![]() | Tripwire Canary | Combat Bow | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield |
Armor Set | Released | Titan Preview | Hunter Preview | Warlock Preview | Source | Obtainable? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warmind's Avatar Operation: Seraph's Shield | Season 19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Yes |
🛑 These rewards require ownership of The Witch Queen or Season of the Seraph.
Weekly rotation
This is the Episode: Heresy calendar covering the entire Exotic missions rotation until June 3, 2025:
📅 Exotic Mission Rotator: Heresy (Ep3)
Week | Exotic Mission | Exotic | Week # |
---|---|---|---|
4 February 2025 | Vox Obscura | Revision Zero | Week 1 |
11 February 2025 | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Dead Man's Tale | Week 2 |
18 February 2025 | Avalon | Dead Messenger | Week 3 |
25 February 2025 | Starcrossed | Revision Zero | Week 4 |
4 March 2025 | Presage | Dead Man's Tale | Week 5 |
11 March 2025 | Vox Obscura | Dead Messenger | Week 6 |
18 March 2025 | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Revision Zero | Week 7 |
25 March 2025 | Avalon | Dead Man's Tale | Week 8 |
1 April 2025 | Starcrossed | Dead Messenger | Week 9 |
8 April 2025 | Presage | Revision Zero | Week 10 |
15 April 2025 | Vox Obscura | Dead Man's Tale | Week 11 |
22 April 2025 | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Dead Messenger | Week 12 |
29 April 2025 | Avalon | Revision Zero | Week 13 |
6 May 2025 | Starcrossed | Dead Man's Tale | Week 14 |
13 May 2025 | Presage | Dead Messenger | Week 15 |
20 May 2025 | Vox Obscura | Revision Zero | Week 16 |
27 May 2025 | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Dead Man's Tale | Week 17 |
3 June 2025 | Avalon | Dead Messenger | Week 18 |
What is the Exotic Mission Rotator?
Over the years, Bungie has added missions that carry specific exotic weapon rewards to Destiny 2. These typically are kept a secret until they’re discovered by the community in-game, making for a day almost as exciting as the release of a new raid.
The exotic mission rotator takes some of these missions from past years and puts them into a playlist. This playlist features one mission per week, granting unique rewards that reset every Tuesday.
Currently, three missions are available via this rotator: Presage, Vox Obscura, and Operation: Seraph’s Shield. Bungie has confirmed that more Exotic Missions will be added in 2024.
Exotic Mission Rotator Rewards
Each Exotic Mission offers several rewards, including a specific craftable Exotic weapon, several Legendary weapons, and one armor set.
Art | Name | Type | Archetype | Rarity | Ammo? | Element? | Requirements | In loot pool? | Ammo | Element | Tier | Excels | Source | Craftable? | Requires | Released | Slot | Can be Crafted? | Best of? | Top Perk? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Dead Man's Tale | Scout Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | Beyond Light Pack | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | S › Best | PvP | Presage | ![]() | ![]() Beyond Light Pack | Season 13 | Kinetic | Craftable | Top-tier | |
![]() | Dead Messenger | Grenade Launcher | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Void | The Witch Queen | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | B › Average | - | Vox Obscura | ![]() | ![]() Witch Queen | Season 16 | Energy | Craftable | ||
![]() | Revision Zero | Pulse Rifle | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Kinetic | The Witch Queen | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | A › Strong | PvE | Operation: Seraph's Shield | ![]() | ![]() Witch Queen | Season 19 | Kinetic | Craftable | Top-tier | |
![]() | Vexcalibur | Glaive | Exotic | Exotic | Special | Void | Lightfall | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | A › Strong | PvE + PvP | Avalon | ![]() | ![]() Lightfall | Season 20 | Energy | No | Top-tier | |
![]() | Wish-Keeper | Combat Bow | Exotic | Exotic | Primary | Strand | Lightfall | Yes | ![]() | ![]() | B › Average | PvE + PvP | Starcrossed | ![]() | ![]() Lightfall | Season 23 | Kinetic | Craftable |
It is worth noting that the exotic rewards are craftable. As explained by Bungie:
- First completion of the mission on Normal or Legendary difficulty will award the Exotic Deepsight weapon associated with the mission.
- Each completion of the Normal or Legendary version of the Exotic mission will award an intrinsic upgrade that can be used when crafting the Exotic weapon.
- Each completion of the Legendary version of the Exotic mission will award a Catalyst upgrade for the crafted Exotic weapon.

Exotic Mission Rotator rewards, Destiny 2
Regarding the Legendary Armor and weapon rewards:
- Weekly mission rewards: One guaranteed Deepsight weapon that has not had its pattern unlocked and one armor piece that has not already been obtained.
- On every completion, you will receive an additional weapon from the mission’s weapon pool.
Note that Exotic Missions feature two difficulties, Normal and Legendary, and each will have separate weekly reward lockouts.
Exotic Rotator Missions
As of Episode 3: Heresy, this rotator features five missions from past years. Let’s take a quick look at all three and what they offer.
Art | Activity | Location | Power Level | Rewards | Requires | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Presage | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
![]() | Vox Obscura | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
![]() | Operation: Seraph's Shield | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
![]() | Starcrossed | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Lightfall | Exotic Mission |
![]() | Avalon | Legends | 1955 | Loot Table | ![]() Lightfall | Exotic Mission |
![]() | The Whisper | Legends | 1960 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
![]() | Zero Hour | Legends | 1960 | Loot Table | ![]() Free-to-Play | Exotic Mission |
OG Exotic Missions
Presage
Released with Season of the Chosen back in early 2021, Presage is the closest thing to a horror experience you’ll get in Destiny 2. Here, you’ll explore a seemingly abandoned Cabal ship filled to the brim with Scorn forces.
The normal difficulty variant of this mission isn’t timed, so explore to your heart’s content! It’s one of the most immersive spaces the Destiny franchise has to offer. Presage is the source of Dead Man’s Tale, a unique exotic scout rifle that now has the option to be crafted. Presage also rewards top-tier weapons from Season 17.
Vox Obscura
Vox Obscura came with Season of the Risen and has you and your fireteam storming a Cabal bunker on Mars. While this mission is timed, it has noticeably fewer mechanics than the other two featured in this playlist.
Completing Vox Obscura rewards Dead Messenger. This exotic wave frame grenade launcher can utilize all three Light elements, making for a great counter to missions with high elemental shield density.
Operation: Seraph’s Shield
Basically a small-scale version of the Deep Stone Crypt raid, Operation: Seraph’s Shield was released with Season of the Seraph. This mission has Guardians venturing into a Braytech orbital platform above the Last City to rid it of Fallen forces.
This one is relatively mechanically complex but doesn’t have a timer, making it an enjoyable experience if you take your time.
Revision Zero is the unique exotic you’ll get for completing Operation: Seraph’s Shield. Able to fire a two-round burst, four-round burst, or powerful sniper-like shots, this pulse rifle is truly a jack of all trades. It’s also craftable, allowing you to customize it to your liking.
Exotic Rotator Challenges
Last but not least, these Missions also feature specific challenges. These challenges are meant to test you and reward those who succeed with even more loot. This is how challenges work:
- The challenge rewards will be output at pinnacle power and will prioritize the rewards in the following order:
- One guaranteed Deepsight weapon that has not had its pattern unlocked.
- If weapon patterns have all been unlocked, the challenge will award one armor piece that has not been obtained.
- If all weapon patterns and armor have been obtained for the in-rotation mission, the challenge will output a random weapon or armor.

Exotic Mission Rotator Difficulties, Destiny 2
What about the cult classics?
It’s great to see all these missions back in the game, especially with enticing loot. But it has left many players with one question: What about the rest of the exotic missions we’ve lost to the DCV?
Luckily, Bungie has stated that they’re also looking into bringing older fan favorites, like Harbinger, back through this system. While a timeline hasn’t been set, it’s clear that Bungie has early plans to make this rotator even more robust in the future.
Hey there, just wanted to point out a possible typo or wrong data grab from the API. On the exotic mission rotator page for this week (12/19/23) it shows the following as the title:
Destiny 2 Exotic Mission this week
This week’s Exotic mission is Vox Obscura and rewards the Dead Messenger Exotic.
But it’s actually Operation: Seraph’s Shield. The page shows the correct information otherwise. Just wanted to bring this up in case.
Absolutely a typo on my end… Thank you for the heads up. Corrected!
Great breakdown of this week’s Exotic Mission Rotator! I’m really looking forward to trying out the new missions and seeing what gear drops. Any tips for maximizing my chances of getting the new exotics?
In at least, Exotic Mission Rotator: Heresy (Ep3) list, the mission is not properly lining up with the correct weapon.
Hey, I’m double checking the page but I don’t see what you mean? What section are you referring to?