Exotic Ciphers remain one of Destiny 2's most valuable currencies since their introduction in the Season of Arrivals. These rare items allow Guardians to acquire legacy Exotic weapons, purchase additional Fated Engrams from Xûr, and—since The Final Shape expansion—add Artifice sockets to Exotic armor. With a strict inventory cap limiting players to holding just one cipher at a time, efficient acquisition and strategic spending are paramount. Newer players especially rely on them to build their arsenals, while veterans leverage them for endgame optimization. As of January 2025, sources have expanded to include episodic season passes, making understanding these systems more critical than ever.

How to Obtain Exotic Ciphers

Destiny 2 offers three primary methods for earning Exotic Ciphers: seasonal rewards, vendor quests, and DLC bundles. Each avenue requires different commitments, from routine gameplay to financial investment.

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🎯 Seasonal & Episodic Rewards

The Season Pass remains the most accessible source. Completing the current episode’s pass awards three ciphers: one at Rank 60 (free for all players) and two at Ranks 55 and 101 (requiring paid episode ownership). This marks an increase from earlier seasons, reflecting Bungie’s response to player feedback about scarcity. Guardians with unclaimed rewards from past seasons can retrieve them using the "Season Pass Pass" browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. Simply select a previous season on Bungie.net, reload, and collect missed ciphers—ideal for returning players rebuilding their inventories.

👽 Xûr’s Xenology Quest

Available weekly from Xûr, the Xenology quest demands completion of 21 ritual activities (Strikes, Crucible wins, or Gambit wins). Progress accelerates significantly during Exotic missions like The Whisper or Zero Hour, which grant bonus points. Playing with clanmates or tackling Nightfalls and Trials of Osiris also boosts efficiency. Once finished, return to Xûr for your cipher—but ensure your inventory isn’t full, or the reward vanishes!

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💰 DLC-Specific Ciphers

Purchasing the Forsaken Pack instantly grants three Forsaken Ciphers, usable exclusively on Year 2 Exotics like Ace of Spades or Le Monarque. These cannot be spent on non-Forsaken items, though owners of all relevant Exotics can convert them into Ascendant Shards. Similar DLC-bound ciphers may appear with future expansions, offering targeted shortcuts for collectors.

❓ People Also Ask

  • How many Exotic Ciphers can you hold?: Guardians are capped at one cipher in inventory—requiring immediate spending to avoid wasting efforts.

  • What’s the fastest Xenology strategy?: Farm Exotic missions like Presage or Operation: Seraph’s Shield; they offer 5× progress versus standard activities.

Spending Exotic Ciphers Wisely

Given their scarcity, ciphers demand judicious use across three key areas: the Monument to Lost Lights kiosk, Xûr’s inventory, and armor upgrades.

⚔️ Exotic Kiosk Recommendations

The Tower’s Monument to Lost Lights houses dozens of legacy weapons. Priority acquisitions include:

Weapon Role Utility
Leviathan’s Breath 🏹 Heavy Bow Counters Unstoppable Champions; top-tier boss damage
Witherhoard 💣 Grenade Launcher Area denial in PvP; passive DPS in PvE
Ace of Spades 🔫 Hand Cannon Balanced PvE/PvP performance; ideal for newcomers
Arbalest 🛡️ Linear Fusion Rifle Shatters Barrier Champion shields; solo-Lost Sector essential
Quicksilver Storm ⚡ Auto Rifle Adaptable primary for all content

🎲 Fated Engrams & Artifice Sockets

Xûr sells one Fated Engram weekly for Legendary Shards, but a cipher unlocks a second roll, heightening chances for missing Exotic armor. Since The Final Shape, ciphers also add Artifice sockets to Exotic armor, providing extra mod flexibility for build-crafting—a must for endgame activities like raids or Grandmaster Nightfalls.

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❓ People Also Ask

  • Which Exotic should I buy first?: Ace of Spades or Arbalest offer the broadest utility for new Guardians.

  • Can Forsaken Ciphers buy non-Forsaken gear?: No—they’re restricted to Year 2 weapons unless converted to materials.

Optimizing Your Workflow

Guardians should prioritize weekly Xenology runs and seasonal pass completion to maintain a cipher pipeline. Pair this with focused spending: target Exotics that plug gaps in your loadout (e.g., Arbalest for anti-barrier needs) before splurging on niche picks. Remember, Artifice sockets elevate existing armor, making them a high-value late-game investment. With sources now diversified across episodes, quests, and DLCs, Destiny 2’s Exotic economy in 2025 rewards consistency—transforming these elusive ciphers from bottlenecks into gateways for power.