In the meantime, Bungie has slowly been pulling the curtain back on the upcoming season and what fans can expect. While the story remains under wraps, this week’s blog post detailed plenty of Destiny 2 sandbox changes including updates to weapon types and exotics. In fact, many exotic weapons have been given anti-champion intrinsic traits to help diversify the options players have when tackling tougher missions. Le Monarque, Thunderlord, Malfeasance, and more will be newly available options when facing off against champion enemies.

RELATED: Destiny 2 Fans Are Really Happy About Le Monarque Change

Until then, the weekend merchant Xur has again returned to Destiny 2. Follow this guide for his most current weekend location, news on his exotic cipher quest, as well as a review of all the exotic and legendary gear he’s brought for the weekend of August 12, 2022.

Where is Xur?

This weekend, Destiny 2 players can find Xur back inside the Tower hangar.

From the default landing zone, immediately head to the left and following the path down into the Hangar. After entering the hangar, head left again past Arach Jalaal and his Dead Orbit crew and up a metal staircase. Xur is standing on a metal platform at the back of this room overlooking the mountain ranges below.

Class Armor and Exotic Cipher

Xur’s role continues to offer the usual weekly quests, exotics, and legendary gear. Not only are these quests required to purchase a second fated engram, but they’re necessary to acquire legacy exotic gear from the Tower kiosk. Players can earn a new cipher by completing strikes and winning crucible or gambit matches. Gain bonus points for playing with clan mates or finishing more challenging activities.

Xur continues to sell even more gear outside his usual content. In addition to his normal exotic gear, Xur now has Legendary Weapons and Armor for sale in exchange for Legendary Shards and Glimmer.

Exotic Armor

Phoenix Protocol - Warlock chest armor

Considering the focus on Solar subclasses this season, it’s a good time for Phoenix Protocol to return to Xur. Battle-Hearth gives Dawnblade Warlocks a return on super energy for any kills or assists they make while standing inside the Well of Radiance.

While the best roll of the three this week, the stat distribution isn’t the greatest for a Warlock. Resilience, Recovery, and to a lesser extent, Discipline are extremely low. While Resilience and Recovery are desirable in the current meta, players will have to really utilize mods in order to make up for the deficit. Ultimately, it may be better to simply wait and skip this week.

Solar Enhanced. Stat Values:

Mobility +24 Resilience +2 Recovery +3 Discipline +2 Intellect +16 Strength +16

Mechaneer’s Tricksleeves - Hunter gauntlets

Mechaneer’s Tricksleeves are back in stock for Hunters. They’re geared specifically for sidearm users, of which there are plenty of viable options like Trespasser, Cryosthesia, Devil’s Ruin, Forerunner, and more. Its exotic perk is called Spring-Loaded Mounting which boosts Sidearms efficiency especially when the user is wounded.

Ultimately, it’s hard to call this exotic a must-have considering that Sidearms are still not really at the top of the meta and there are much better Hunter exotics out there. Not only that, the bonus from this item only activates when the player is in the danger red portion of their health and disables when it recharges back into the white. Unfortunately, the stat roll this week is also under 60 and with some low values like Resilience, players may want to pass on this one this week.

Solar Enhanced. Stat Values:

Mobility +18 Resilience +2 Recovery +9 Discipline +12 Intellect +16 Strength +2

Antaeus Wards - Titan leg armor

The Antaeus Wards are all about mobility that pairs with an interesting, albeit somewhat tricky mechanic. The intrinsic perk Reflective Vents improves the player’s slide while also reflects incoming projectiles during the slide, though it was nerfed last year to remove the super energy gain on reflection.

The ability may require a slight adjustment period to get the timing down, but once the mechanic is figured out, these boots become extremely valuable. Not only can players reflect bullets, but they are also capable of reflecting supers like Blade Barrage and Nova Bomb. Once again this week, the Titan exotic roll is very low, coming in well under 60. As such, this is a safe exotic to skip out on due largely to the poor roll.

Void Enhanced. Stat Values:

Mobility +13 Resilience +2 Recovery +13 Discipline +18 Intellect +9 Strength +2

Exotic Weapon

The underrated Monte Carlo auto rifle is back in stock with Xur once more. The Monte Carlo Method is its intrinsic perk which reduces the player’s melee cooldown when dealing damage with the gun. In addition, it gives a chance to fully charge the player’s melee ability following each kill. Markov Chain pairs with this ability which gives the gun increased damage following melee kills and kills with the weapon. Melee kills also generate weapon ammo.

Even if they’re not as strong as pulse rifles, auto rifles continue to be a solid choice in Destiny 2. Monte Carlo is more than a viable option for many players especially if they like to use their melee abilities often. For those who don’t yet have this weapon, it’s worth picking up this week.

Additional perks:

Fluted Barrel High Calibur Rounds Composite Stock

Hawkmoon and Dead Man’s Tale Rolls

Since Season 16 removed the Presage and Harbinger exotic missions, Xur is also selling both Hawkmoon and Dead Man’s Tale with randomized rolls. Players should visit him each weekend as he’ll be carrying different rolls.

Hawkmoon Rolls:

Fluted Barrel Alloy Magazine Snapshot Sights Textured Grip

Dead Man’s Tale

Full Bore Flared Magwell Fourth Time’s The Charm Short-Action Stock

Here’s the complete rundown of Xur’s exotic stock in Destiny 2 for August 12, 2022:

Phoenix Protocol (Warlock chest armor) – 23 Legendary Shards Mechaneer’s Tricksleeves (Hunter gauntlets) – 23 Legendary Shards Antaeus Wards (Titan leg armor) – 23 Legendary Shards Monte Carlo (Auto Rifle) - 29 Legendary Shards Hawkmoon (Hand Cannon) - 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Legendary Shards, 1 Exotic Cipher, 1 Ascendant Shard Dead Man’s Tale (Scout Rifle) - 125,000 Glimmer, 200 Legendary Shards, 1 Exotic Cipher, 1 Ascendant Shard Exotic Engram - 97 Legendary Shards/1 Exotic Cipher A Question - Exotic Cipher Quest

Legendary Gear

As previously mentioned, Xur now sells Legendary Armor and Weapons. All gear costs 50 Legendary Shards and 1000 Glimmer.

Toil and Trouble (Kinetic Shotgun) Lonesome (Kinetic Sidearm) Seventh Seraph Carbine (Kinetic Auto Rifle) Gridskipper (Energy Pulse Rifle) Stars in Shadow (Energy Pulse Rifle) Truthteller (Energy Grenade Launcher) Interference VI (Heavy Grenade Launcher) Lost Pacific Armor Set

Destiny 2 is now available PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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