Unlocking Exotics: Can You Get an Exotic Engram from Xur on Each Character in Destiny 2?

Yes, absolutely! You can purchase an Exotic Engram from Xur on each of your characters every week in Destiny 2. This is a fantastic way to improve your chances of acquiring that elusive piece of Exotic armor or weaponry that you’ve been hunting for. Each character’s purchase is independent, allowing you to maximize your Exotic acquisition opportunities each week.

Understanding Xur’s Exotic Engram Offerings

Xur, the mysterious Agent of the Nine, appears every weekend (typically from Friday’s daily reset until the weekly reset on Tuesday) in a random location across the solar system. He brings with him a selection of wares, including an Exotic Engram that players can purchase.

How to Purchase Exotic Engrams from Xur

• Currency: You need two different currencies to buy Exotic Engrams from Xur. The first engram requires an Exotic Cipher, and the second requires 97 Legendary Shards.

• Exotic Cipher Quest: The primary way to obtain an Exotic Cipher is by completing Xur’s weekly quest, “Xenology.” This quest typically involves completing a number of ritual activities like Strikes, Crucible matches, or Gambit matches.

• Purchase Limit: You can buy up to two Exotic Engrams each week on each character.

Why Buy Exotic Engrams on Multiple Characters?

The primary benefit of purchasing Exotic Engrams on multiple characters is to increase your chances of getting Exotics you don’t already own. Destiny 2 has a system in place that prioritizes giving you Exotics you haven’t yet acquired, until you have all possible random drop Exotics for your class. Thus, purchasing on multiple characters is an effective way to fill out your collection faster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Xur’s Exotic Engrams

1. What Determines the Exotic I Get from Xur’s Engram?

The Exotic Engram’s contents are weighted towards items you don’t currently have in your collection. Once you’ve acquired all random-drop Exotic weapons and armor pieces for your class, the engram will then randomly award you with armor. This is a “bad luck” protection system designed to help players complete their collections.

2. Can I Get Duplicate Exotics from Xur’s Engram?

Yes, it is possible to get duplicates, especially after you’ve acquired most of the available Exotics for your class. The “bad luck” protection only guarantees a new Exotic until you’ve exhausted the pool of new items. After that, it’s random.

3. Does Xur’s Engram Give Exotics for Other Classes?

No. Xur’s fated engram only provides Exotics that are usable by the class of the character you are playing when you open the engram. For example, if you are a Hunter, you will only get Hunter Exotics from the engram you purchase while playing as a Hunter.

4. What Happens If I Have All the Exotics for My Class?

If you own all available Exotics for your current class, the Exotic Engram will randomly award you with a piece of Exotic armor. This means you might get a duplicate with different stat rolls, which can be beneficial for optimizing your builds.

5. Is the Exotic Engram’s Content Predetermined?

No, the content of the Exotic Engram is not predetermined at the moment of purchase. The engram’s contents are determined when you open it, taking into account the “bad luck” protection system.

6. How Often Does Xur Appear, and Where Can I Find Him?

Xur appears every weekend, starting from the daily reset on Friday and staying until the weekly reset on Tuesday. He can be found in one of three locations:

• The Tower Hangar: In the hangar area, on a platform overlooking the open space.
• The Tower Wards: In the back of the Wards area.
• Nessus, Watcher’s Grave: In a tree in the Watcher’s Grave area.

Check online resources or community forums each weekend to find his exact location.

7. What is an Exotic Cipher, and How Do I Get One?

An Exotic Cipher is a currency used to purchase certain Exotic items, including one of Xur’s Exotic Engrams. You can earn one Exotic Cipher per week by completing Xur’s “Xenology” quest, which requires participating in ritual activities (Strikes, Crucible, Gambit). You can also sometimes acquire them through the Season Pass.

8. What Should I Spend My Exotic Cipher On?

Besides the Exotic Engram, you can use your Exotic Cipher to purchase Exotic weapons from the Monument to Lost Lights in the Tower. Some popular choices include Anarchy, Witherhoard, and Eriana’s Vow, but the best choice depends on your playstyle and the current meta.

9. Can I Farm Exotic Engrams From Lost Sectors?

Yes, you can farm Exotic Engrams from Legendary and Master Lost Sectors. These activities have a chance to drop Exotic armor pieces, and if you’re missing any, the game will prioritize giving you the ones you haven’t earned yet.

10. Are Nightfalls a Good Way to Farm Exotics?

Nightfall: The Ordeal strikes are a good way for all players to farm Exotics, especially armor. Higher difficulty Nightfalls offer a better chance of Exotic drops. Note that some Nightfalls may require specific DLC ownership to access.

11. Can I Farm a Raid for the Raid Exotic?

If it’s the featured weekly raid, then yes, you can farm it for the exotic. However, be aware that there’s no bad luck protection on these farms, so you’re farming at the default drop rates.

12. What Happens If I Dismantle an Exotic?

When you dismantle an Exotic, you receive Legendary Shards and some Glimmer. Consider comparing the stats of a new Exotic drop with your current one before dismantling, as the stat rolls can vary and affect your build.

13. Can I Hold Multiple Exotic Ciphers?

You can only hold one Exotic Cipher in your inventory at a time. If you have one, Xur won’t offer the “Xenology” quest to you.

14. Where Else Can I Acquire Exotic Ciphers?

Aside from Xur’s weekly quest, you can sometimes find Exotic Ciphers as rewards in the Season Pass. Certain DLC purchases might also grant them.

15. How Does the Bad Luck Protection System Work?

Destiny 2’s “bad luck” protection ensures that Exotic Engrams will prioritize dropping Exotics that you haven’t acquired yet for the class that opens the engram. This system continues until you have all available random-drop Exotics for that class. After that, Exotic Engrams will drop random Exotic armor with varying stat rolls. To further understand game mechanics and the science behind learning through games, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

By taking advantage of Xur’s Exotic Engram offerings on each of your characters, you significantly increase your chances of completing your Exotic collection and optimizing your Guardian’s power. Happy hunting, Guardians!