Destiny 2 Ice Breaker + Catalyst: How to get them

Recently, Bungie has been on a roll with bringing back fan-favorite items from past eras. From Khvostov’s exotic variant to Red Death Reformed to the legendary armor from the 10th Anniversary celebration, players are loving these nods to past releases. Luckily, Bungie is showing no signs of stopping.

After multiple subtle hints, the fabled Ice Breaker sniper rifle is back, now as a part of the brand-new Vesper’s Host dungeon. Let’s take a look at all it has to offer.

Name: Ice Breaker

Type: Sniper Rifle Archetype: Exotic

Ammo: Special Element: Solar

Craftable: No Released: Episode 2

Source: Vesper's Host Dungeon Requires: The Final Shape Dungeon Key

How to get the Ice Breaker Catalyst

Before starting the steps in this guide, you’ll need to have completed both the Rogue Network quest and a few steps following it (unlocking a third “digit slot” in the secret loot room, allowing you to enter armor codes). If you don’t remember using an Operator buff to shoot two numbers that multiply to a three-digit value, you haven’t progressed far enough.

Once you’ve reviewed our other guides and caught up, head to the secret loot room just before the final boss. Exit the space station toward the final boss, then turn left and hug the outer wall of the ship. You should see a small gap that opens up to a final puzzle room.

Vesper’s Host, Skarrow9

In this room, four columns exist, one in each corner. Based on where you came in, we’ll be referring to them as far left, far right, close left, and close right from now on. When we say “activate,” we mean walk up to that column and interact with it.  Pick up the Operator buff on the right, and complete the following steps:

• Activate Far Right, then shoot “1-0-0-0” on the Far Left.
• Activate Close Right, then shoot “4-1-1-1-4” on the Far Right.
• Activate Close Left, then shoot “0-0-1-1” on the Close Right.
• Activate Far Left, then shoot “1” on the Close Left.
• Activate Close Right, then shoot “0-1-0-0” on the Far Left.
• Activate Close Left, then shoot “0-0-1-0” on the Close Right.
• Activate Close Right, then shoot “3” on the Close Left.
• Activate Far Right, then shoot “3” on the Close Left.
• Activate Far Left, then shoot “1-1-4” on the Far Right
• Activate Far Right, then shoot “0-1-0-1” on the Far Left
• Activate Far Left, then shoot “1-2-1-1-4” on the Far Right.
• Activate Close Left, then shoot “0-0-1-0” on the Far Left.
• Shoot “0-1-1-1” on the Close Right.

This should open the chest in the middle, granting a bit more loot. This unlocks the fourth and final digit slot in the loot room, allowing you to enter codes for legendary weapons and the Ice Breaker catalyst. If you’re looking for the latter, there’s one more step you’ll have to complete.

To complete the final step, boot up the Vesper’s Host dungeon with Ice Breaker equipped. You’ll be on the lookout for four Stasis crystals that will each reveal a randomized number. Combining these four numbers will create a code you can enter in the secret loot room, granting the catalyst.

The first crystal is right after the first encounter. Head through the exit hallway and up the stairs. Once you enter the first small room (directly after said stairs), turn around. The stasis crystal should be on the wall, connecting to a chain that goes through the window on the roof. Shoot the crystal, then take note of the number shown on the panel on the roof. 

Vesper’s Host, Skarrow9

The second crystal is in the nuclear maze before the second encounter. Deposit the third nuclear core, then immediately make a right turn when you enter through the door. Make another right at the next opportunity you get; the crystal should be behind some boxes. The number will be behind some glass on the hallway’s wall.

Vesper’s Host, Skarrow9

Crystal three is after the second encounter, directly after the large drop into the main jumping puzzle. Turn around and look slightly down; the third crystal will be in the distance. 

Vesper’s Host, Skarrow9

The final crystal is in the tripwire room, just outside the secret loot room. If you’re looking at the door to the code room, look at the far wall to the right. That’s where you’ll spot the crystal, revealing the final number of the code.

Input this code in the secret loot room and you’ll finally be rewarded with the Ice Breaker catalyst.

Ice Breaker Catalyst

Once obtained and upgraded, the Ice Breaker catalyst adds the following perk to the weapon:

• Icing-Breaker: Landing a hit on a slowed or frozen target has a chance to return the round to the magazine.

After obtaining the catalyst through the quest below, you’ll need to upgrade it to unlock the above perk. This requires 500 kills with Ice Breaker, which is best farmed at Shuro Chi in the Last Wish raid.

How to get Ice Breaker

Ice Breaker will be the crown jewel of the upcoming Vesper’s Host dungeon loot table. As with most other dungeon exotics, Ice Breaker is a random drop from the final encounter of the activity.

How to get Ice Breaker, Destiny 2

How good is Ice Breaker?

Ice Breaker rolls with the following perks:

• No Backpack: Final blows or assists with any other weapon or ability have a chance to create ammo for Ice Breaker. Defeating powerful combatants will create multiple rounds.
• Ice Breaker: Defeating a target with this weapon causes them to explode. Precision final blows or shattering a frozen target triggers an ignition.

While Ice Breaker had a bit of a storied history in Destiny 1, its updated Destiny 2 counterpart doesn’t seem to be turning many heads.

Never having to worry about ammo is a fantasy every player has thought of, but Ice Breaker fails to offer anything beyond that. Especially because it requires final blows to regenerate ammo, the weapon simply isn’t potent enough to warrant using it over something like Still Hunt.

That’s the case for PvE, at least. In The Crucible, this is a slightly different story. While Ice Breaker is unlikely to become meta-defining, it carries a solid stat package. Plus, its perks are significantly more useful in the PvP sandbox, assuming you can get kills with your other weapons reliably. We expect Ice Breaker to be B-Tier in PvE and A-Tier in PvP.

Before you go…

Are you looking for other top-tier Exotics from Episode: Revenant? We cover How to get the Alethonym here.