During the reset this week, Bungie has brought back the Winter Holiday event known as The Dawning. Players will once again be baking countless treats using ingredients acquired through bounties as well as using specific abilities or defeating various enemies. On top of that, the Eververse store has been stocked with new holiday items and snowballs can be thrown at enemies in most of the playlist activities.
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As expected, the weekend merchant Xur is back again in Destiny 2 for a limited time. 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 December 16, 2022.
Where is Xur?
This weekend, players can find Xur in 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
Verity’s Brow - Warlock helmet
Verity’s Brow is an exotic helm which was originally given to all players who finished the Warmind DLC campaign, which is now inside the Destiny Content Vault. Its exotic perk is called The Fourth Magic, which causes energy weapon kills to boost grenade energy for the player and any nearby enemies. This effect can stack up to three times.
The item itself is definitely useful, especially when paired with strong energy weapons like Riskrunner. However, it’s not a top tier item and the 63 stat roll is just okay.
Arc Enhanced. Stat Values:
Mobility +2 Resilience +12 Recovery +18 Discipline +9 Intellect +9 Strength +13
Khepri’s Sting - Hunter gauntlets
The Egyptian scarab styled gauntlets known as Khepri’s Sting are available for Hunters this weekend. Touch of Venom is the exotic perk, and it’s entirely for Nightstalker players as it makes smoke bombs detonate instantly and not only improves the damage but grants the player Truesight as well.
While not exactly a top tier item for Hunters, these gauntlets likely won’t replace the other exotics players have come to rely on in recent seasons. The stat roll is 63 this week, but the exotic isn’t a required purchase by any stretch.
Arc Enhanced. Stat Values:
Mobility +20 Resilience +3 Recovery +9 Discipline +8 Intellect +6 Strength +17
Armamentarium - Titan chest armor
The Armamentarium, for better or worse, is back in stock at Xur for Titan players. Its exotic perk And Another Thing gives players one additional grenade charge. Unlike other exotics, this armor is easy to pair with any subclass, though it does shine brighter with specific ones.
A popular tactic with this item is to run suppressor grenades which will grant players double the power to take supers away from their enemies. It may not be exciting or flashy compared to some other exotics in the game, but it remains easy to recommend considering how valuable two grenades can be in most situations. The roll is the lowest of the three this week at 62, but the stat distribution isn’t the best for Titans.
Arc Enhanced. Stat Values:
Mobility +12 Resilience +8 Recovery +11 Discipline +20 Intellect +9 Strength +2
Exotic Weapon
This week, the pulse rifle known as Graviton Lance is in stock. Black Hole is its exotic perk which gives the second shot of a burst high damage and recoil with no falloff. It synergizes with the Cosmology perk as any kills made with the gun cause enemies to detonate and spawn Void projectiles that track other targets.
After all this time, pulse rifles remain a very strong weapon class in Destiny 2, so this is already a solid weapon. While effective in PvP, this gun really shines when up against multiple enemies for its ability to cause AoE damage.
Additional perks:
Hammer Forged Rifling Accurized Rounds Fitted 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:
Smallbore Alloy Magazine Surplus Textured Grip
Dead Man’s Tale
Smallbore Armor-Piercing Rounds Subsistence Fitted Stock
Here’s the complete rundown of Xur’s exotic stock in Destiny 2 for December 16, 2022:
Verity’s Brow (Warlock helmet) – 23 Legendary Shards Khepri’s Sting (Hunter gauntlets) – 23 Legendary Shards Armamentarium (Titan chest armor) – 23 Legendary Shards Graviton Lance (Pulse 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
Xur’s Set of Legendary Armor and Weapons. All gear costs 50 Legendary Shards and 1000 Glimmer.
Suvivor’s Epitaph (Kinetic Hand Cannon) Whispering Slab (Kinetic Combat Bow) False Promises (Kinetic Auto Rifle) Iota Draconis (Energy Fusion Rifle) Seventh Seraph CQC-12 (Energy Shotgun) The Keening (Energy Sidearm) Tarantula (Heavy Linear Fusion Rifle) Lost Pacific Armor Sets
Destiny 2 is now available PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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