Few things are as fun as watching a cascade of explosions from the Sunshot inDestiny 2. ThisHand Cannon is greatfor clearing swarms of adds and does surprisingly well in the Crucible. It isn’t the easiest weapon to aim with, but for those who can get past the difficulty, it’s a fun and effective Hand Cannon for all sorts of content.
TheSunshot Catalystalso goes a long way to making theSunshotmore deadly and easier to wield. For players considering using this weapon, it’s highly recommended to get the Sunshot Catalyst.
Updated July 11, 2025, by Marc Santos:Sunshot has remained a powerful tool in the hands of any Guardian over the course of the years, and it’s reached a point where every player should have this weapon in their Collections for whenever they feel the need to make a new Solar build. This guide has been updated to include ways on how to obtain Sunshot as of Season of the Wish.
How to Get Sunshot
Like the majority of Year One Exotics, Sunshot can only be obtained randomly by opening up Exotic engrams from any source, whether it be random drops from enemies, rewards from quests and activities, or theweekly engram sold by Xur. Previously, players were given the chance to get Sunshot as a guaranteed reward in the Sacrilege mission of the Red War campaign. Sadly, the campaign itself is no longer playable.
Players can run Nightfalls for a chance at getting a random Exotic gear piece to drop. The higher the difficulty, the better the odds. Also, completing weekly ritual playlist challenges (Strikes, Crucible, and Gambit) after reaching the Pinnacle cap will reward players with Exotic engrams as well.
What the Sunshot Catalyst Does
The Sunshot Catalyst provides two important benefits for the energy-based Hand Cannon.
That added range is phenomenal on the Sunshot. Part of the weapon’s appeal is that it can do well at longer than usual ranges. Adding an extra 27 to range is just absurd and by itself makes getting the Sunshot Catalyst worth it. That added stability is a cherry on top that makes the weapon a bit easier to use.
Weapon Stats With the Sunshot Catalyst
How to Find the Sunshot Catalyst
The Sunshot Catalyst is obtained by completing either Strikes or Crucible matches. Neither has a better chance of dropping the Catalyst so it is the player’s choice on which path to pursue. Completing the match is how to obtain the Catalyst, so it is ideal to pursue whatever has the fastest clear time.
It’s also important to remember that the player can complete either Strikes or Crucibles with any weapon. So players can go for an optimal farming loadout to get the Sunshot Catalyst to drop sooner. This isn’t ideal for upgrading purposes, but it is viable.
Upgrading the Sunshot Catalyst
To upgrade the Sunshot Catalyst, the player needs to do two things
The first requirement is relatively straightforward. The final blow must be dealt using the Sunshot’s primary damage method and it’ll count. The second is a little trickier as the enemies must be killed via the Sun Blast explosion that occurs from killing an enemy with the Sunshot. Wounding a group of enemies before killing one is highly recommended to get these kills.
Tips to Get the Sunshot Catalyst
Sunshot is ideally suited for clearing weaker groups of enemies and for severely damaging grouped-up Guardians. This makes it a viable option for both Strikes and Crucible matches. This is huge, as the player can rack up kills to count retroactively for the Sunshot Catalyst.
From both a Catalyst farming and upgrading perspective, the best thing the player can do is grind PVE content that supports lots of kills and decent clear time. Shattered Throne is best for getting 1,000 Sun Blast explosion kills. It’s also handy for grinding for other Catalysts like theBorealis Catalystthat drops from non-Guardian kills.
Advice For Using the Sunshot Catalyst
The Sunshot seems built for PVE content thanks to its chain explosion abilities. Clever players can use this to clear an entire mob of ads with a few well-placed shots. This can also be used to severely weaken stronger enemies by exploding their weaker allies, who can then be mopped up with other weapons.
While there is some potential in PVP, it requires waiting for the right opportunity to strike because it’s most effective against groups of enemies clustered together. Smart teams avoid this, which limits the Sunshot’s usefulness even with theSunshot Catalyst. As a result, players are better suited to using the Sunshot in PVE and using something else in PVP.
