One of the most consistently popular and powerful weapons in the Destiny franchise, there’s never been a point in which Thorn hasn’t been in the meta. And with Season 23, this outstanding hand cannon just received major buffs and a catalyst, making it even more enticing to run.
 Name: Thorn | Type: Hand CannonArchetype: Exotic | Ammo:  PrimaryElement:  Kinetic | Craftable:  NoReleased: Season 6 | Source: Exotic KioskRequires: Forsaken Pack |
How to get the Thorn Catalyst
The Thorn catalyst can drop at the end of any core activity, such as Crucible, Gambit, or Vanguard Ops. And as of Destiny 2’s Patch 7.3.5, Comp matches have an increased Exotic Catalyst drop rate:
Competitive matches will also have an increased chance to drop Exotic weapon catalysts on victories.
Thorn + Catalyst, Destiny 2
The catalyst adds the following effects and Exotic Perks (as of Hotfix 7.3.0.5):
- +15 range, +5 stability and +5 Airborn Effectiveness
- Refined Soul: Dealing a final blow or absorbing a Remnant grants additional increased weapon range, as well as increased mobility and handling for a short time.
Once you have obtained the catalyst, you’ll need 500 weapon kills to unlock it. Using typical farming methods such as the Shuro Chi Wish or the opening section of Grasp of Avarice will speed things along.
How to get Thorn
Because its original quest was removed from the game some time ago due to the DCV, Thorn is now available through the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower. This kiosk, which holds a variety of legacy weapons, lets you obtain some of the most popular pieces of gear in the game without needing to grind for them directly. Thorn requires ownership of the Forsaken Pack and will cost you:
- 1 Exotic Cipher
- 125,000 Glimmer
- 1 Ascendant Shards
Alternatively, you can purchase Thorn with one of the Forsaken Ciphers you get when purchasing the Forsaken Pack.
How to get Thorn, Destiny 2
How good is Thorn?
Thorn has always been a top-tier pick for nearly all areas of the game, but it typically excels even further in The Crucible. The main reason for this is its poison debuff on any hit, which removes your opponent’s ability to regenerate health.
- Mark of the Devourer: Rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants.
- Soul Devourer: Absorbing a Remnant strengthens Mark of the Devourer and partially refills the magazine.
With Season 23, Thorn received changes that make it more fun to use (and lethal) in PvE:
- Picking up a Remnant can overflow the magazine, up to 40 rounds max.
Beyond this, Thorn also received a catalyst that significantly increased a wide variety of the weapon’s stats. This makes the hand cannon, which was already a stat monster in the first place, even more potent in The Crucible.
Best Thorn Build: Poison is king
Thorn has something extra in store for Warlocks: perfect synergy with Necrotic Grip. With these gloves, Thorn’s poison effect spreads just like a melee from Necrotic Grip would. Through this synergy, a wide variety of builds can be made, like our very own Mindspun Suspender. We cover this, and more top-tier Warlock builds here.
Thorn and Necrotic Grip, Destiny 2
Before you go…
Are you looking for other top-tier Exotics worth chasing? We cover How to get the Cloudstrike & Catalyst here.
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