How to Get Exotic Gear in The Division 2: A Comprehensive Guide
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Getting your hands on powerful Exotic gear is a cornerstone of the endgame in The Division 2. These unique items, boasting powerful talents and game-changing effects, are highly sought after by all Agents. But with so many different Exotics and ways to acquire them, navigating the acquisition process can be daunting. This guide will break down all the ways you can add these coveted items to your arsenal.
The core method of obtaining Exotic gear in The Division 2 is through a combination of specific activities, targeted loot farming, and sheer luck. Here’s a breakdown:
- Targeted Loot: Each area of the game map and each mission will have a “targeted loot” type that changes daily. If you’re hunting a specific Exotic, make sure the targeted loot aligns with that Exotic’s gear type. For instance, if you’re looking for the Memento Backpack, target Backpack areas and missions. If you want Lady Death, hunt in areas with targeted SMG loot, especially in New York.
- World Bosses in New York: Some Exotics, like Lady Death, have a chance to drop from World Bosses in New York City.
- Global Events: During Global Events, you can earn Exotic Caches through progressing the event milestones. These caches often contain a guaranteed Exotic item.
- Countdown Mode: Countdown is a fantastic way to farm Exotic gear. You earn Countdown Currency, which can be used to purchase Exotic Caches from the Countdown Vendor.
- Weekly Projects: Completing certain Weekly Projects, like donating materials or completing 30 Summit floors, will reward you with Exotic Caches.
- Raids: Certain Exotic weapons, such as the Eagle Bearer and The Regulus, are raid-exclusive, meaning they can only drop from raid bosses.
- Exotic Crafting: You can craft some Exotic weapons, like the Kendra’s Liberty and Chatterbox, with specific blueprints and components. However, crafting often requires specific parts or a rare pre-existing High-End item, such as a D50. Exotic components can be obtained by deconstructing other Exotics. This is a valuable method to obtain upgrade materials or convert unwanted items into something useful.
It’s important to note that the majority of Exotic gear follows a rule – you can only equip one Exotic weapon and one Exotic armor piece at a time. So, optimizing your gear is critical.
Understanding the Types of Exotic Gear
The Division 2 offers a wide array of Exotic gear across both weapons and armor, each with unique properties and uses:
Exotic Weapons
These weapons have game-changing talents, like increased damage based on consecutive hits, buffs upon enemy kills, or unique effects like the Nemesis’s charge shot. Some notable examples include:
- Eagle Bearer: A powerful assault rifle obtainable from the Operation Dark Hours raid.
- Lady Death: An SMG that grants movement speed and damage buffs.
- Nemesis: A slow-firing, high-damage sniper rifle with a unique charged shot mechanic.
- Chatterbox: A close-quarters SMG with a magazine size and rate of fire buff upon killing an enemy.
- Kendra’s Liberty: A powerful pistol which is usually the first exotic most agents obtain.
- Pestilence: A long-range LMG which applies a debuff on the enemy.
Exotic Armor
These pieces provide unique and powerful effects, influencing gameplay styles significantly. Examples include:
- Memento Backpack: Increases your armor, weapon damage, and skill efficiency on kills, but decreases by one buff type upon kill.
- Coyote’s Mask: Provides various buffs to your critical hit chance and damage, based on distance to the enemy.
Optimizing Your Exotic Farm
While luck plays a role, there are several things you can do to improve your odds:
- Maximize Your Targeted Loot: Focus your efforts on activities that have the targeted loot matching the gear type you need.
- Play on Challenging Difficulties: While the drop rate may not be significantly higher, Challenging and Heroic difficulties provide more loot and potentially more opportunities for Exotics.
- Farm Countdown: It’s a great way to get Exotic Caches from Countdown Vendor.
- Complete Weekly Projects: Always aim to complete your weekly Exotic project which nets an easy cache.
- Join a Clan: Playing with a coordinated team can make raids and other challenging activities much easier.
- Be Patient: Obtaining all the Exotics will take time. Keep grinding and eventually, they will drop!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the easiest Exotic weapon to get in The Division 2?
The Kendra’s Liberty is generally considered the easiest to obtain, especially if you have a High-End D50 already. While this pistol may not be the best, it can easily be obtained through crafting.
2. What is the best Exotic weapon in The Division 2?
This is subjective and depends on your build and playstyle. However, many consider the Eagle Bearer as one of the top choices due to its overall performance and high damage output.
3. Is Exotic gear always better than Legendary gear?
Not always. Exotic gear is designed to be specialized, often providing powerful bonuses to specific builds. Legendary gear, on the other hand, is more versatile and general. The best choice depends on your build and preference.
4. How many Exotics can I equip at once in The Division 2?
You can equip a maximum of one Exotic weapon and one Exotic armor piece at a time. This is a core rule in both The Division 1 and The Division 2.
5. Can I craft all Exotic gear?
No, you can only craft a limited number of Exotic weapons, like Kendra’s Liberty and Chatterbox. Most Exotic gear drops from specific activities or through the targeted loot system.
6. How do I get the Lady Death in The Division 2?
Lady Death can be obtained by defeating World Bosses in New York City (with a 3% drop chance) or by farming targeted loot areas focused on SMGs, especially in New York.
7. What is the best Exotic sniper in The Division 2?
The Nemesis is widely considered the best Exotic sniper due to its long-zoom scope and powerful charged shot.
8. What is the best way to farm Exotic gear?
The best way to farm Exotics is through targeted loot farming, focusing on activities that have the gear type you’re looking for. Make sure to complete weekly projects and explore opportunities in Countdown.
9. Can I get duplicate Exotics?
Yes, you can get duplicate Exotics. However, you can deconstruct them to obtain Exotic components for crafting or upgrading other items.
10. How do Exotic components work?
Exotic components are used for crafting and upgrading Exotic gear. You get two Exotic components when you deconstruct an Exotic item.
11. Where can I find blueprints for crafting Exotics?
Blueprints for Exotics are usually found in specific locations or given as rewards for quests. Consult specific guides for the blueprints you are trying to find.
12. Do Exotic drops vary based on difficulty?
While the exact drop rate isn’t always clear, playing on Challenging and Heroic difficulties provides more opportunities for high-quality loot, which increases your chances of seeing an Exotic drop.
13. Do certain Global Events offer increased Exotic drop rates?
Yes, during some Global Events, some players have seen increased Exotic drop rates, in addition to the guaranteed Exotic Caches earned through the event progress.
14. How many Exotic weapons and armor pieces are there in The Division 2?
As of Title Update 16, there are 39 Exotics in The Division 2: 14 Armor and 25 Weapons.
15. Are Raid Exotics the strongest in the game?
Raid Exotics, like the Eagle Bearer and The Regulus, are generally considered among the most powerful in the game. However, whether they are “the strongest” is subjective and depends on the build and playstyle. These exotics are designed to be rewarding for the difficulty of the raids.
By understanding the various methods and focusing your efforts, you’ll be well on your way to completing your Exotic collection and optimizing your build in The Division 2. Happy hunting, Agent!