The Destiny 2 Exotic weapons are some of the coolest, most powerful guns in the game. But did you know you can make them even better? With an Exotic catalyst, an Exotic weapon evolves and improves in various ways. You can find Exotic catalysts in a variety of manners, but some are truly worth the hunt to take your favorite item to the next level.
Not all Exotics have catalysts just yet, so take a look at our list to see what can be yours within a matter of hours — and what isn’t worth hunting yet, simply because it does not exist.
Updated September 2023.
More Destiny 2:
- Destiny 2 Exotic Mission Playlist Guide - Rotation, Loot Pool Rewards
- Destiny 2 Item Database - All Weapons, Perks, and God Rolls
Ace of Spades Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Firefly does more damage while Memento Mori is active.
Ager's Scepter Catalyst
How to Obtain: Season of the Lost.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Drain Super energy to overflow magazine and empower the beam with bonus damage.
Anarchy Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Arbalest Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Pierce through shields.
Bad Juju Catalyst
How to Obtain: Place 45 Tributes in the Tribute Hall.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Extends the duration of String of Curses.
Bastion Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Black Talon Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 350 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases the max number of Dynamic Charge stacks.
Borealis Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 150 Arc mode kills, 150 Solar mode kills, 150 Void mode kills.
Catalyst Perk: +20 reload speed.
Cerberus+1 Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Adds Focused Fire perk. Hold reload to swap to a tighter, close-ranged spread.
Centrifuse Catalyst
How to Obtain: Higher Voltage quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Weapon gains overcharge when amplified.
The Chaperone Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Cloudstrike Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Gives it the Triple Tap perk.
Coldheart Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 300 kills.
Catalyst Perk: +20 stability and +20 reload speed.
The Colony Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and or Crucible wins.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: +10 magazine size, increased ammo reserves.
Crimson Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 500 precision kills.
Catalyst Perk: +20 range.
Cryosthesia 77K Catalyst
How to Obtain: Stasis Trigger quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Magazine refills when shattering a frozen enemy.
DARCI Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 300 precision kills.
Catalyst Perk: +20 stability.
Deathbringer Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: Fill progress bar.
Catalyst Perk: Dark Descent reaches full potential quicker.
Dead Man's Tale Catalyst
How to Obtain: Presage, Exotic Mission Rotator.
How to Unlock: 800 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Boosts hip-fire rate, stacks of Cranial Spike increases rate of hip-fire.
Dead Messenger
How to Obtain: Vox Obscura, Exotic Mission Rotator.
How to Unlock: 200 kills for each Light element.
Catalyst Perk: Get an overshield when you break the shield of a combatant or a Guardian using their Super.
Delicate Tomb Catalyst
How to Obtain: The Form of The Danger quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Ionic Trace reloads part of the magazine.
Deterministic Chaos Catalyst
How to Obtain: ???
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Divinity Catalyst
How to Obtain: ???
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Devil’s Ruin Catalyst
How to Obtain: ???
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Duality Catalyst
How to Obtain: Walk the Line quest.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Masterwork: 50 total magazine, and 20 additional range.
Eriana’s Vow Catalyst
How to Obtain: Complete the quest from Banshee-44. (No longer available)
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases magazine size and adds Auto-Loading Holster.
Ex Diris Catalyst
How to Obtain: Grenade Logic quest.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Final blow amplify, weapon enrages quickly when amplified.
Fighting Lion Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing any PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills, 200 bounties completed.
Catalyst Perk: +30 reload speed. When Fighting Lion is fired, equipped Kinetic and Power weapons gain increase handling and accuracy stats for a brief period of time.
Forerunner Catalyst
How to Obtain: Rank 16 reputation with Xur in Eternity.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Consume ammo to turn grenade into a fragmentation grenade.
Gjallarhorn Catalyst
How to Obtain: Grasp of Avarice dungeon.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Larger magazine size, Wolfpack final blows create powerful missiles at target location.
Grand Overture Catalyst
How to Obtain: Heavy Does it quest.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Missile explosions will blind combatants. Those defeated by missile impacts then explode.
Graviton Lance Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes, Nightfalls, and Crucible matches.
How to Unlock: 500 kills, 1000 Cosmology kills.
Catalyst Perk: +20 range, +15 aim assist, and better target acquisition.
Hawkmoon Catalyst
How to Obtain: Bird of Prey quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases magazine size. Increases handling, reload speed, and weapon range based on the number of stacks of Paracausal Charge.
Hard Light Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability.
Heir Apparent Catalyst
How to Obtain: Guardian Games event.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases the Arc shield's durability and partially reloads the magazine if it is destroyed.
The Huckleberry Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability.
Izanagi’s Burden Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability.
Jade Rabbit Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability.
Jotunn Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 600 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Incandescent and Cornered perks.
The Last Word Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Le Monarque Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Rapidly defeating targets triggers health regeneration. Guardians and powerful combatants count as more than one kill.
Legend of Acrius Catalyst
How to Obtain: Prestige Leviathan.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: +40 reload speed and upgrades the magazine size to six.
Leviathan’s Breath Catalyst
How to Obtain: Killing powerful PVE enemy.
How to Unlock: 1500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Additional 5 reserve ammo.
Lord of Wolves Catalyst
How to Obtain: Completions of Gambit or Crucible matches, Strikes, and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases magazine size to six, increases reload speed, and expands ammo reserves.
Lorentz Driver Catalyst
How to Obtain: Revision 7.2.2. quest.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: While this weapon has 3 telemetry patterns, EM Anomaly detonations no longer require a precision final blow.
Lumina Catalyst Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: Heal allies with Nobel Rounds.
Catalyst Perk: Gain two Remnants for final blows.
Malfeasance Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Gives extra 20 range, and Vorpal.
The Manticore Catalyst
How to Obtain: Volantes Violentiam quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Final blows with this weapon while airborne grant damage resistance.
Merciless Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability and range.
MIDA Multi-Tool Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and wins in Competitive Crucible after reaching the Legend Glory rank.
How to Unlock: 250 PVP precision kills.
Catalyst Perk: Adds Outlaw perk. (Increases weapon reload speed after a precision kill)
Monte Carlo Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Use bayonet melee after 5 stacks of Markov Chain.
The Navigator Catalyst
How to Obtain: Ghosts of the Deep dungeon.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Special reload and then fire to create a Grapple Tangle at the targeted point.
Necrochasm Catalyst
How to Obtain: Crota's End raid Bottomless Pit quest.
How to Unlock: 35 Essence of the Oversoul.
Catalyst Perk: Adds Outlaw perk.
No Time To Explain Catalyst
How to Obtain: Soon quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Projectiles from the time portal shoot more frequently.
One Thousand Voices Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Osteo Striga Catalyst
How to Obtain: Witch Queen campaign.
How to Unlock: Reshape with catalyst.
Catalyst Perk: Poison final blows return ammo to the magazine.
Outbreak Perfected Catalyst
How to Obtain: Complete Zero Hour mission on Heroic.
How to Unlock: 500 precision kills. Collect 500 SIVA Nanites (100 Nanites per week from Heroic Zero Hour)
Catalyst Perk: Deal additional nanite damage. Enemies that die while SIVA’d will spread it to nearby foes.
Parasite Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Polaris Lance Catalyst
How to Obtain: Complete all five steps of the Nascent Dawn quest.
How to Unlock: 500 kills and 50 Perfect Fifth kills.
Catalyst Perk: Adds Dragonfly perk. (Precision kills create an elemental explosion)
Prometheus Lens Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases stability and handling.
The Prospector Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases blast radius and ammo reserves.
The Queenbreaker Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Quicksilver Storm Catalyst
How to Obtain: Data Port in a Storm quest.
How to Unlock: Defeat enemies to fill progress bar, 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Becomes Strand weapon, and weapon grenade final blows create a Tangle.
Rat King Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills while everyone in you fireteam is also using Rat King. (Minimum one other player)
Catalyst Perk: Increases aim assist and recoil direction. Recover health when Vermin activates.
Revision Zero Catalyst
How to Obtain: Operation: Seraph’s Shield in Exotic Mission Rotator.
How to Unlock: Should You Choose to Accept It quest.
Catalyst Perk: Shield-piercing ammunition.
Riskrunner Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or completions of Strikes and Nightfalls or complete Pain and Gain quest.
How to Unlock: 500 kills. 50 Arc Conductor kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases range.
Ruinous Effigy Catalyst
How to Obtain: Season of Arrivals quest.
How to Unlock: Destroy 50 Savathun's Eyes.
Catalyst Perk: Deals increased damage against targets damaged by Transmutation spheres.
Salvation's Grip Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Skyburner’s Oath Catalyst
How to Obtain: Completing Leviathan raid encounters.
How to Unlock: 1000 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases range.
Sleeper Simulant Catalyst
How to Obtain: Completing Prestige Leviathan, Spire of Stars encounters.
How to Unlock: 1000 IKELOS sniper rifle kills, 1000 IKELOS shotgun kills, 2000 IKELOS SMG kills. Loot Oracle Chest in The Whisper (normal or heroic). 500 kills with Sleeper Simulant.
Catalyst Perk: Increases charge rate and ammo reserves.
Sturm Catalyst Catalyst
How to Obtain: PVE enemy kills on Nessus.
How to Unlock: 500 Sturm kills. 500 Drang kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon handling and range.
Sunshot Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or wins in Crucible matches, Strikes, and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills. 1000 Sun Blast kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon stability and range.
SUROS Regime Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or wins in Crucible matches.
How to Unlock: 300 PVP kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases weapon recoil direction, ups chance of SUROS Legacy perk activation.
Sweet Business Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or wins in Crucible, Stikes, or Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 250 multi-kills of four or more.
Catalyst Perk: Reduces incoming flinch when firing Sweet Business at full speed.
Symmetry Catalyst
How to Obtain: Complete the “In the Field” quest from Banshee-44.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increase the max stack size from 15 to 20.
Tarrabah Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Telesto Catalyst
How to Obtain: Completing Prestige Leviathan, Eater of Worlds encounters.
How to Unlock: Complete all Lost Prophecy verses from Brother Vance.
Catalyst Perk: Increases magazine size to seven and expands ammo reserves.
Tesselation Catalyst
How to Obtain: The Final Shape.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Thorn Catalyst
How to Obtain: Season 23.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: Getting final blows or absorbing Remnants increases weapon range, mobility, and handling for a short period of time.
Thunderlord Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Causing a lightning strike with this weapon partially reloads the magazine from reserves.
Ticuu's Divination Catalyst
How to Obtain: Points Piercing Forever quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Striking targets unaffected by Sacred Flame refreshes Causality Arrows' duration. Perfectly drawn arrows that detonate Sacred Flames increase arrow damage
Tommy's Matchbook Catalyst
How to Obtain: A Good Match quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: While Ignition Trigger is active, your health recovers much faster.
Tractor Cannon Catalyst
How to Obtain: PVE enemy kills.
How to Unlock: 300 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases magazine size to seven and expands ammo reserves.
Trespasser Catalyst
How to Obtain: No Trespassing quest.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Reloading after defeating a target greatly increases target acquisition and aim down sight speed for a short duration.
Trinity Ghoul Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Truth Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Two Tailed Fox Catalyst
How to Obtain: Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: 350 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Adds third Arc rocket.
Verglas Curve Catalyst
How to Obtain: Season pass, Playlist activities.
How to Unlock: Rapidly defeat 20 enemies and kill 40 enemies with Stasis final blows.
Catalyst Perk: Shiver Quiver makes it so that freezing a target grants faster draw speed time for a short duration.
Vexcalibur Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Vex Mythoclast Catalyst
How to Obtain: Vault of Glass raid.
How to Unlock: 700 kills.
Catalyst Perk: While in full auto mode, final blows with this weapon grant bonus damage, accuracy, and stability for a short duration.
Vigilance Wing Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in or Crucible match wins.
How to Unlock: 250 PVP kills. 5 Blood for Blood medals.
Catalyst Perk: Adds Full Auto perk.
The Wardcliff Coil Catalyst
How to Obtain: Kills in and completions of Strikes and Nightfalls.
How to Unlock: 500 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Tightens rocket spread.
Wavesplitter Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Whisper of the Worm Catalyst
How to Obtain: Complete The Whisper on Heroic.
How to Unlock: Obtain 100 Blighted Essence. (24 essence per week upon Heroic The Whisper completion. Can gain 12 by opening chests in The Whisper quest)
Catalyst Perk: Increases reload speed. Aiming down the scope for three seconds increases range and precision damage while you remain zoomed.
Wicked Implement Catalyst
How to Obtain: Deep Dives Tier 5 or 7 chest.
How to Unlock: Defeat targets to fill progress bar.
Catalyst Perk: Collect Stasis shards to overflow magazine.
Winterbite Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Wish-Ender Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
Witherhoard Catalyst
How to Obtain: The Bank Job quest.
How to Unlock: 400 kills.
Catalyst Perk: Increases handling. Holstering this weapon automatically reloads it after a short period of time.
Worldline Zero Catalyst
How to Obtain: PVE kills with a sword equipped.
How to Unlock: Hit all five Level 7 Escalation Protocol bosses with Worldline Zero while they’re unshielded. (Takes five weeks)
Catalyst Perk: Reduces activation time for Tesseract perk.
Xenophage Catalyst
How to Obtain: Unobtainable.
How to Unlock: ???
Catalyst Perk: ???
