You’re probably here because you saw a Nighthawk Hunter delete a boss’s health bar in three seconds. It's wild. Honestly, how to get Still Hunt in Destiny 2 has become the single most important question for anyone trying to tackle endgame content right now. This isn't just another exotic sniper rifle collecting dust in your vault. It is a literal Golden Gun in your special slot.
If you own The Final Shape, you’re already halfway there. But there's a specific path you have to walk. You can't just stumble into this drop. It’s tied to the post-campaign world of the Pale Heart, and if you haven't finished the main story yet, go do that first. Seriously. Stop reading and go kill the Witness's manifestations. Once the credits roll and you’re standing in the Lost City looking at a map full of icons, that's when the real work begins.
The Wild Hunt for a Golden Gun Sniper
Basically, the quest you’re looking for is called "Wild Card." You won't find it on the quest board immediately after the final mission. Instead, you need to head over to the Lost City landing zone in the Pale Heart and look for Cayde-6 and Crow. They’ve got some unfinished business.
This quest is a bit of a trip down memory lane. It’s heavy on the banter, which is great if you’ve missed the dynamic between our favorite resurrected emo prince and the legendary Hunter Vanguard. You’ll be heading out into the Landing area of the Pale Heart to track down some suspicious activities involving the Scorn and the Taken.
Starting the Quest
First thing's first: talk to Cayde. He’s going to give you the "Wild Card" exotic quest. It’s not a grueling, 50-step marathon like the old Izanagi’s Burden quest used to be. Thank the Traveler for that. Most players can knock this out in about 45 minutes to an hour if they aren't getting distracted by every shiny engram on the ground.
Navigating the Wild Card Mission
The mission itself is pretty straightforward, but it has some mechanical quirks. You’re going to be doing some tracking. Look for the orange holographic markers that Cayde leaves behind. They look like little scouts.
You’ll end up in a series of combat encounters that test your ability to handle groups of enemies. There’s a specific part where you have to set up camp. It’s a rare quiet moment in Destiny 2. You just sit there. Listen to the dialogue. It builds the flavor of what this weapon actually is—a bridge between Cayde’s legacy and your own power.
The Boss Fight
The end of the mission pits you against a couple of chunky bosses. Nothing a seasoned Guardian can’t handle, but don't get cocky. The Scorn can still one-shot you with those crossbows if you’re playing on a higher difficulty or just being reckless. Once the dust settles and you’ve had your final heart-to-heart with the NPCs, you’ll be awarded the Still Hunt exotic sniper rifle.
It drops at your current power level. Don't worry about the roll; it’s a fixed exotic. The magic is in the intrinsic trait.
🔗 Read more: Why New York Lotto Results Pick 3 Pick 4 Still Matter to Local Players
Why Still Hunt is Actually Broken (In a Good Way)
So, you have the gun. Now what? The reason everyone is obsessed with how to get Still Hunt in Destiny 2 is the "Cayde's Retribution" perk.
Basically, as you land precision hits or pick up Orbs of Power, you charge up a meter. When that meter is full, you can "reload" the weapon to swap to a different firing mode. For the next few shots, your sniper rifle literally becomes a Golden Gun. It fires high-damage solar shots that benefit from all the same buffs as the Hunter Super.
- The Hunter Synergy: If you are playing a Hunter and you have Celestial Nighthawk equipped, it changes everything.
- The Math: Usually, Still Hunt fires multiple Golden Gun shots. With Nighthawk, it condenses all that damage into one massive, soul-crushing bullet.
- The Meta: This means Hunters essentially have two Supers. You fire your actual Super, swap to Still Hunt, fire the "mini" Super, and the boss is usually wondering what hit them.
It’s important to realize that while Hunters get the biggest boost, Titans and Warlocks can still use this thing to great effect. It’s a top-tier DPS option regardless of your class. It just happens to be a "Hunter" weapon in spirit.
Don't Forget the Catalyst
Getting the gun is only step one. If you want this thing to really sing, you need the catalyst. You get this by completing the "Enigma Protocol" activity or sometimes it just drops from Pathfinder completions in the Pale Heart.
The catalyst grants the weapon "Enhanced Battery," but more importantly, it gives you a boost to reload speed when you're landing those precision hits. In a boss phase, reload speed is the difference between a one-phase kill and a messy wipe.
Common Mistakes People Make
I’ve seen a lot of players get frustrated because they can’t find the quest. Usually, it’s because they haven't finished the "Destined Heroes" questline or haven't interacted with the radio transmissions in the Lost City. Destiny 2 loves its checklists. If the quest isn't appearing, check your quest log for anything related to Cayde or the Pale Heart.
Also, don't try to farm this on a character that hasn't done the campaign. It’s character-bound in its progression until you unlock it for the first time. Once you have it, you can pull it from your collections for your other characters, obviously.
The Ammo Economy Trap
Still Hunt uses Special Ammo. That’s the green bricks. Because the Golden Gun shots are so powerful, it’s easy to treat it like a Primary weapon. Don't. You’ll run dry right when the boss's shield drops. Use Sniper Rifle Scavenger and Sniper Rifle Finder mods on your armor. It’s mandatory. If you aren't running those, you’re playing at half-strength.
Actionable Steps to Power Up
- Check your Milestone: Ensure "The Final Shape" campaign is 100% complete.
- Visit the Lost City: Talk to Cayde-6 to pick up "Wild Card."
- Clear the Mission: Follow the tracking markers and finish the boss fight in the Landing.
- Equip Nighthawk (If Hunter): This is non-negotiable for maximum damage.
- Farm the Catalyst: Jump into Pale Heart activities until it drops.
- Mod your Armor: Put on Solar Surge and Sniper Scavenger mods immediately.
This gun isn't just a tool; it's a piece of the story. Using it feels like carrying a bit of Cayde's swagger into the toughest fights the game has to offer. Go get it before Bungie decides it's too good and pulls the nerf lever. Even if they do, the mechanics of this weapon are so unique that it'll likely stay in the meta for a long time.
Master the rhythm of the precision hits. Get used to the timing of the transformation. Once you click with the flow of Still Hunt, you’ll find it very hard to go back to any other exotic in that slot. It's just that satisfying.