Destiny 2: The Best and Worst Hunter Exotics - Armor Tier List 2021

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Published 2021-04-20
Hunters, Hunters, Hunters. If you think Warlocks and Titans didn't shift, wait until you watch this video. I'm pretty sure could've just been a re-upload of last year's video and no one would've noticed.

Jez's Mask of Bakris video:    • My TOXIC stasis addiction..  

Datto and Jez 1v1:    • DATTO VERSUS JEZ.. (we 1v1'd)  

As you can probably imagine, the exotic landscape hasn't shifted dramatically over the past year and if you've been playing for the past year, you probably know that already. Thus, I do not anticipate this list or video really teaching players who have kept up with Destiny over the past year. too much. This video is more for returning or new players looking to get some insight and for archival purposes to look back on the history of exotics in Destiny 2.

My ratings can be found below and as usual, most ratings have a bit of wiggle room, usually a half point in either direction. However, there are not many things that I think deserve a considerable move, over 1.5 points, in either direction. While the list is always up for personal interpretation, this is just MY personal list. Keep in mind that the list is based on many factors, but it generally directed at the average player. While certain builds and loadouts may be effective, they need to be effective to a wide range of people, in a wide range of activities or overwhelmingly dominant. For the most part, exotics are judged on their perk and not many other factors, if any.

PvE (weighted towards Legend/Master/GM content):

5 - Raiden Flux, Opheus Rig, Celestial Nighthawk
4.5 - Sixth Coyote (assuming invis build), Omnioculus (probably my pick for GMs atm)
3.5 - Shards of Galanor, Liar's Handshake, Mask of Bakris
3 - Ophidia Spathe
2.75 - Gwisin Vest, Lucky Raspberry, Dragon's Shadow
2.5 - Fr0st-EE5, Gemini Jester, Wormhusk Crown
2.25 - Graviton Forfeit, Shinobu's Vow, Athrys's Embrace, Assassin's Cowl (lower if not GM)
2 - Sealed Ahamkara Grasps, Khepri's Sting, Foetracer, Raiju's Harness
1.75 - Mechaneer's Tricksleeves (more if sidearms are good or seasonal I guess), Young Ahamkara's Spine, Lucky Pants
1.5 - The Bombardiers
1.25 - Knucklehead Radar, Oathkeeper
No Rating - St0mp-EE5, Aeon Swift

PvP:

5 - St0mp-EE5 (also, no rating)
Also 5 - The Dragon's Shadow, Mask of Bakris
4.25 - Wormhusk Crown
3 - Graviton Forfeit, Shinobu's Vow, Raiju's Harness (swap) Gwisin Vest (swap), Orpheus Rig (swap), Gemini Jester, Fr0st-EE5, Shards of Galanor (5/5 if in Mayhem)
2.75 - Liar's Handshake, Raiden Flux (swap), Foetracer
2.5 - Assassin's Cowl, Ophidia Spathe, The Sixth Coyote, Lucky Pants, Athrys's Embrace*
2.25 - Young Ahamkara's Spine, Mechaneer's Tricksleeves, Khepri's Sting, Knucklehead Radar, Lucky Raspberry, Oathkeeper, Omnioculus
2 - The Bombardiers
1.5 - Sealed Ahamkara Grasps
1.25 - Celestial Nighthawk
No Rating - Aeon Swift

I'm not actually sure if this was nerfed or not, I played quite a few games and it didn't feel as insane as I was led to believe, but it could still be insane and I'm just bad. But, my reasoning from the video is still accurate imo.

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All Comments (21)
  • @Th3Jez
    thanks for the shoutout dad, i've finally made it big time
  • @MuuToo
    So called “free thinkers” when they see orbs of power generated by tether
  • @zucczucczucc
    Wasn’t expecting anything less than a jez clip for mask of bakris
  • @who_be_dis8356
    "Hunters are the kings of movement" watches titan slide and fly across the map in 2 seconds
  • @skerei6369
    As a hunter from day one of Destiny 1, I can honestly say our exotics are either god tier or absolute trash. We have 3 or 4 exotics to choose from, that’s it. We can barely have any build variety unless we do some weird combinations that sort of work together. And since they keep nerfing us, I just use stompees for everything.
  • You can tell datto doesn't main hunter cause he thinks you won't dodge often enough in pvp to merit sixth coyote lmao - great vid as always
  • @guy4652
    Omnioculus + Khepris trials team = one guy with wallhacks and damage resistance
  • @SakunyaWicked
    As someone who has been entranced by Middle Tree Arcstrider with Raiju's Harness, I can tell you that be able to not only have a longer super but also cancel it can make a huge difference in PvP. I don't have the exact math calculations, but the cancellation effect returns on use work as well with Middle Tree in tandem with Whirlwind Guard to make it one of the, if not the strongest shutdown supers for PvP when utilized correctly. Also, something not many people take advantage of is that when casting Middle Tree Arcstrider the animation has a deflection effect that can be timed to deflect other supers before the super has even begun draining. Meaning that you can effectively use the super as a burst defense against other projectiles or supers more frequently or in the case of many roaming supers, if you have too much distance between addition targets and not even energy to close the gap, you can instead return a good portion instead of wasting it. Yeah it's not as effective as Goemag's, but Chaos Reach in general is designed to be used in quick burst and Rajiu's being the only Roaming Super early-end exotic with returns is something that shouldn't be turned a blind eye on, at least in PvP.
  • @whitezombie7
    I don’t use it much myself, but it looks like Datto glossed over the reworked effect of Assassin’s Cowl, which allows light class melees to make you invisible and regen your health (in addition to finishers). Works well with top-tree Arc and middle-tree Solar as a decent neutral exotic.
  • @chloec4009
    Oathkeeper with any bow: 😴 Oathkeeper with Wish Ender: 👀
  • @idkbluwu
    I just finished watching your other vid, a treat for myself
  • @Hamuelin
    Sat waiting for GGs to drop. Tactical upload time Datto. You know Hunters are only turning up today.
  • @kingkadster2426
    Unmentioned thing about the Athrys’s embrace: after getting a few headshots, all the little armor plates raise up into spikes and it totally changes the aesthetic of the arms. Unironically makes them cooler to me, love exotics that have stuff like that
  • @KyzaelEomei
    Athrys's Embrace is pretty much my favorite exotic. The giant buff to knife + Unstoppable is amazing. And adding a "One-Two Punch" shotgun with it to make it absolute nuke.
  • @Despair32
    been playing warlock since d1 and never made any other characters so this list does help me decide what i need for the hunter. Thanks :)