There’s one major downside when it comes to live service games like Fortnite and Overwatch. Although they have a lifetime that spans a number of years with new content being added regularly, there’s often no way to purchase content that was part of a past update or season.
Well, that isn’t the case with Destiny 2, as there’s a way for players to purchase Exotics from past seasons, even if they are no longer sold at any of the shops, and to do so you just need a little thing called an Exotic Cipher.
We’ll be going through what Exotic Ciphers are as well as the three ways for you to get your hands on one.
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What Are Exotic Ciphers in Destiny 2?

Exotic Ciphers are a rare currency type that was introduced back in Seasons of Arrival. What makes them so sought after is the fact that they can be used to acquire Exotics from previous years in Destiny 2, and sometimes the first Destiny’s lifespan.

As soon as a player gets their hands on an Exotic Cipher, they can head over to the Monument to Lost Lights that’s located next to the vault in the tower. Here, they can turn in their Exotic Cipher (along with some other mandatory material) in exchange for a piece of Exotic gear.
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How to get Exotic Ciphers in Destiny 2
Now, there used to be a number of ways for players to get their hands on Exotic Cyphers. However, since the Beyond Light expansion, the other two methods are no longer viable. For those that are curious, the two methods that have been rendered moot are reaching level 55 in the Season of Arrival’s season pass and purchasing the Forsaken Pack DLC.
Luckily, there still is a way to consistently get some exotic ciphers, and it includes completing weekly quests from a specific vendor.
Xûr’s Weekly Quests

Xûr is a special vendor in Destiny 2 that only appears between Fridays and Tuesdays. Come Friday, you’ll find Xûr in one of three locations.
- Nessus
- The EDZ
- The Tower
After you track him down and speak with him, you’ll be able to go to the second page of his inventory to pick up a quest called Xenology. This quest will always have you complete 21 playlist activities of one of three ritual activities. Vanguard Ops, Crucible, and Gambit. After completing the required number of activities, players can return to Xûr to complete the quest and be rewarded with an Exotic Cipher.
One thing you should keep in mind, however, is that you can only complete this quest once a week. So, for example, if you complete the quest on a Saturday, you’ll have to wait until Friday before you can track Xûr down again and accept the quest for another Exotic Cipher, as that’s when the vendor resets.