Why Destiny 2’s Thorn Exotic Catalyst Is a Game-Changer
The Thorn has recently become one of the most popular Exotic weapons in Destiny 2 thanks to the new Exotic Catalyst and other recent changes.
Hand cannons are very popular in Destiny 2’s current meta, but one particular hand cannon recently gained a lot of attention, the Thorn. This weapon was already fairly decent compared to other Exotic hand cannons, but the newly added Exotic Catalyst and other changes to this weapon make it one of the best hand cannons in Destiny 2.
The Thorn’s Exotic Catalyst was first introduced in Season of the Witch, alongside a slight rework to one of the weapon’s existing perks. Now that more and more players have gotten their hands on the Exotic Catalyst as of Season of the Wish, this weapon is dominating the PvP scene in Destiny 2, and rightfully so.
How To Get the Thorn’s Exotic Weapon Catalyst In Destiny 2
As for the weapon itself, the Thorn is now part of the general loot pool for players that own the Forsaken Expansion for Destiny 2, so with a little luck it can be obtained from any Exotic Engrams that players find. Otherwise, more reliable ways to collect the Thorn include buying the weapon when it occasionally becomes available from Xur, the Exotic vendor in Destiny 2, or buying the weapon from the Monument to Lost Lights kiosk at the Tower.
The Thorn’s Exotic Catalyst can be earned from completing playlist activities, such as Strikes, Gambit, and Crucible matches. While it’s not a guaranteed reward, the Exotic Catalyst can also be earned from Nightfall Strikes and Iron Banner in Destiny 2, so players who regularly play these game modes should be able to get the Thorn’s Exotic Catalyst without too much grinding.
How the Thorn’s Exotic Catalyst Takes the Weapon To the Next Level
Even without the Exotic Catalyst, the Thorn is still a great Exotic. Not only does the Thorn have unlimited ammo, but it’s also one of the few weapons in Destiny 2 that can inflict damage over time, which are both highly useful features to have in endgame content where enemies have a lot of health or in competitive PvP modes in Destiny 2.
The Thorn’s Exotic Weapon Perks
- Mark of the Devourer: Remnant rounds pierce targets and deal damage over time. Kills with this weapon leave behind Remnants
- Soul Devourer: Absorbing a Remnant strengthens Mark of the Devourer and partially refills the magazine.
While the Thorn was already an above-average 140 rpm hand cannon, the new Exotic Catalyst and the recent change to the Soul Devourer perk that allows it to partially reload the Thorn have made this a much stronger weapon. Consequently, the Thorn has been one of the most popular weapons in Destiny 2’s PvP since these recent changes to the Exotic.
What the Thorn Exotic Catalyst Does
- Grants increased range and stability. Dealing a final blow or absorbing a Remnant grants additional increased weapon range, as well as increased Mobility and handling for a short time.
As a hand cannon, the Thorn naturally suffers from the same shortcomings as the majority of all legendary and Exotic hand cannons in Destiny 2, which is that they usually have a small magazine capacity, a relatively slow reload speed, and a limited range. Surprisingly though, the Thorn’s new Exotic weapon Catalyst in Destiny 2 and other recent changes to the gun address all of these flaws.
While the reload buff from the reworked Soul Devourer perk is generally more helpful in PvE, the increased range that this weapon can achieve with the Exotic Catalyst makes a huge difference in PvP. The Thorn was already a popular choice because of how strong the base weapon was before the recent changes, but according to third-party player metric trackers, the Thorn has now risen to compete with the likes of the infamous Igneus Hammer (Adept) and the Rose god-rolls as the most-used hand cannon in Destiny 2’s PvP game modes.
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