Alright, buddy, you want the Still Hunt? The sniper that lets you pop off Golden Gun shots no matter your class? Heck yeah, you do! And guess what? It's not as tough to get as you might think. This beauty isn't just any Exotic; it's the new signature weapon of the one and only Cayde-6, which makes getting it feel even more special, especially with his big return. The ability to unleash those Solar light-infused rounds is the main draw, giving any Guardian a taste of that Hunter super power, and it's a game-changer for dealing some serious damage.
This guide is your straight-shot, no-nonsense path to getting your hands on Still Hunt. We'll walk through everything – the "Wild Card" quest, all its bosses, and even that catalyst. Minimal headaches, maximum Golden Gun fun. The journey itself is quite a ride, deeply woven into Cayde's return and his evolving relationship with Crow, making the weapon a meaningful acquisition beyond just its stats or perks. Let's dive in!
Pre-Flight Checklist
Before we jump into the "Wild Card" quest itself, there are a couple of things you need to have squared away. Think of this as your pre-mission briefing. These steps are essential, as the game sets up the Still Hunt as a reward for those who have delved into the core narrative of The Final Shape and reconnected with Cayde.
Finish The Final Shape Campaign
Yep, you gotta beat the main story of The Final Shape first. No skipping this step, Guardian! This is a hard requirement before any of the subsequent quests for Still Hunt become available. Completing the campaign ensures that the player has experienced the main storyline and the events leading to Cayde-6's return, providing crucial context for the "Wild Card" quest.
Progress the "Destined Heroes" Exotic Quest
After the campaign, you'll automatically get an Exotic quest called "Destined Heroes." You need to follow this questline until you reach Step 4, which specifically involves talking to Cayde-6. Once you hit that point with Cayde, he'll offer you the "Wild Card" quest for Still Hunt. This "Destined Heroes" quest is significant not only because it unlocks "Wild Card," but it also leads to obtaining the Ergo Sum Exotic sword. So, progressing through it offers multiple rewards, which is a nice bonus for an eager Guardian. The structure suggests a deliberate path, guiding players through Cayde's unfolding story before bestowing his iconic weapon.
"Wild Card" – Cayde's Exotic Quest
Alright, campaign done, "Destined Heroes" cued up to Cayde? Perfect! Now for the main event: the "Wild Card" quest. This is where you and Cayde (and Crow!) get into some shenanigans. This multi-part mission is designed more like a mini-adventure, filled with varied encounters and important narrative moments that highlight Cayde's return and his interactions with Crow. It's more than just a means to an end; it's a story in itself.
Kicking Off the Mission
Head to the Old Tower in The Pale Heart. To start the "Wild Card" mission, you'll find a beacon. From the Old Tower's balcony, you literally jump down to it. Don't worry, your Ghost has got you! This unique start sets the tone for a memorable quest.
The Ether Run & Setting Up Shop
The mission kicks off in The Landing. Your first job is to investigate some areas marked on your HUD. You'll be tracking down enemies juiced up on "Tainted Dark Ether" – mostly Fallen and Hive. You'll spot a massive Heavy Shank flying around – you can shoot it, but it won't go down just yet. Remember that big fella for later.
Follow the objective markers, clear out Corrupted Warbeasts and Screebs, and collect the Dark Ether they drop. Crow will eventually suggest setting up camp near a waterfall. The dialogue between Cayde and Crow during these initial phases is a key part of the experience, building their dynamic.
Boss Battle - Devourer of Tainted Light
After setting up camp and a bit of chit-chat, you'll track an energy signature to a cave. Get ready for your first boss: the Devourer of Tainted Light, a super-tanky War Beast.
Mechanics:
This beast is tough and likes to get in your face. As you damage it, it'll become immune and retreat into energy shields or Cabal projection shields. You'll need to follow it into these shielded areas, clear out the Taken and Dread enemies (sometimes Cabal turrets too), and then you can damage the War Beast again. Repeat this cycle of damage, immunity, clearing adds in shields, and more damage until it's down.
Blight Cleansing Duty
After the War Beast, you'll head back to camp and meditate. Surprise! The Taken have ambushed your camp and set up Blights. Your job is to clear out several groups of Taken across The Landing to destroy these Blights. Initially, there will be four.
Once those are down, two more Blights will spawn, this time guarded by tougher "Omen of the Witness" Major enemies. Take them out to destroy the final Blights. The variety of enemies, including Fallen, Hive, Taken, and Dread, keeps the combat engaging throughout these sections.
The Stakeout - Taking Down the Megashank
After another rest at camp, Cayde has a lead on who stole your collected Ether: a "Megashank"! You'll head to a cave overlooking part of The Landing for a stakeout. This particular section almost feels like a subtle tutorial for the sniper rifle you're about to earn, emphasizing long-range precision.
This is the part where you'll want a good long-range weapon. You'll be in a sniper's nest. Your first task is to shoot down the smaller Shanks you see in the distance.
Mechanics:
Taking out enough small Shanks will draw out the Megashank (that big fella from earlier!). Damage the Megashank from afar. It will eventually become immune. When it does, focus on clearing out more of the smaller Shanks. This will remove its shield. Repeat this until you've taken off about two-thirds of its health. Then, the Megashank will fly over to your cave for a close-quarters finish. Take it down!
Final Showdown - Lii'liks, Harvester of the Witness
With the Megashank dealt with, you'll track the stolen Ether to another cave in The Transgression. This is it, the final boss of the "Wild Card" mission: Lii'liks, Harvester of the Witness, a beefy Scorn Abomination.
Mechanics:
The cave is pretty tight and will be swarming with Screebs (the explody ones!). Be careful! Damage Lii'liks. When its health hits certain thresholds (around 66% and 33%), it'll become immune and retreat.
When it retreats, a bunch of Screebs will spawn. Kill these Screebs, and they'll drop motes of Tainted Dark Ether. You need to collect 10 of these motes and deposit them into the canister in the room (the one they stole from you!). Depositing 10 motes will lure Lii'liks back out, vulnerable again. Repeat this process until the Abomination is toast.
Mission Complete
After you defeat Lii'liks, enjoy a cool cutscene with Cayde and Crow. You'll be teleported back to camp. Have a chat with both of them to officially finish this part of the mission. This cutscene is a significant narrative beat, often highlighting Cayde offering Crow the position of Hunter Vanguard, a testament to their journey together through the mission.
The Final Steps
Phew! "Wild Card" mission conquered. You're almost there! These last couple of steps are simple, providing a nice narrative cooldown after the action and leading directly to your shiny new Exotic.
Listen to the Radio Transmission
Head back to the Old Tower in the Pale Heart (your main hub there). You need to find and listen to a radio transmission. Your Ghost will usually point you to it. This transmission features a conversation, often between Ikora and Zavala, discussing important stuff like Crow's potential new gig as Hunter Vanguard and Zavala considering using Stasis. This serves to connect the personal events of the "Wild Card" quest to the larger, ongoing narrative of the Destiny universe, showing that your actions and Cayde's decisions have wider implications.
Talk to Cayde-6
After you've listened to the radio, find Cayde-6 (he's usually near some crates or just hanging out in the Tower area) and have one last chat with him. And that's it! Cayde will hand over the Still Hunt Exotic Sniper Rifle. Congratulations, Guardian! This calm moment of reward feels earned after the preceding adventure.
Understanding Still Hunt's Perks
So, you've got Still Hunt! This Solar sniper is special. Let's quickly look at what makes it tick, especially that awesome Golden Gun ability. The perks work together to create a satisfying gameplay loop: skillful play charges a powerful alternate fire mode, which then buffs the weapon and reloads it, ready for more action.
Core Exotic Perks
- Cayde's Retribution (Intrinsic Perk): This is the magic one! When you pick up Orbs of Power or land precision hits (headshots!), you charge up a special Super bar for Still Hunt. Once it's full, hold your reload button (like you're switching firing modes on other exotics), and BAM! Your next three shots are Golden Gun bullets. These hit HARD. It generally takes about six precision hits or a few Orbs of Power to charge.
- Golden Munitions (Weapon Trait): When you activate those Golden Gun shots, this perk automatically reloads your magazine with bonus ammo. So, you get your powerful shots, and you're ready to keep sniping.
- Sharpshooter (Weapon Trait): This gives you passive bonuses to how well the gun aims (target acquisition), how fast you can aim down sights (ADS speed), and how much you flinch when shot. And these bonuses get even better when your Golden Gun mode is active!
Other Perks (Standard Roll)
It also typically comes with Polygonal Rifling for better stability and Short-Action Stock for faster handling.
| Perk Name | What it Does (in simple terms!) |
|---|---|
| Cayde's Retribution | Land headshots/grab Orbs to shoot 3 powerful Golden Gun bullets! |
| Golden Munitions | Reloads your mag with bonus ammo when you pop your Golden Gun shots. |
| Sharpshooter | Better aiming, faster ADS, less flinch. Even better in Super mode! |
| Polygonal Rifling | Helps control recoil, making it easier to stay on target. |
| Short-Action Stock | Makes the gun feel snappier to aim and ready. |
This weapon is primarily designed for high burst damage, making it excellent for taking down tougher enemies like Majors and Champions, or for contributing significantly during boss damage phases. While all classes can benefit from its Golden Gun shots, Hunters using the Celestial Nighthawk Exotic helmet can find unique synergies to further amplify its power, turning those three shots into one incredibly potent blast.
Making it Shine: The Still Hunt Catalyst
Got Still Hunt? Awesome! Potentially, you can make it even better by unlocking its Catalyst. Think of a catalyst as a Masterwork upgrade for Exotics, enhancing its capabilities.
How to Obtain the Catalyst
Even though the catalyst still doesn't seem to currently be in the game, we know just what exactly it requires thanks to Destiny 2 Databases like Light gg. This one's pretty straightforward: to complete the catalyst once you've obtained it, you'll need to defeat 500 enemies using Still Hunt to fully unlock it. This kill requirement is a standard grind for many Exotic catalysts in Destiny 2, so it shouldn't feel unusually difficult.
What the Catalyst Does
Completing the catalyst upgrades Still Hunt to a Masterwork. This means it will generate Orbs of Power on multikills, which is super handy for you and your fireteam to get your Supers faster. As usual, it should also grant enhanced capabilities, such as increased stats and/or additional perks.
A Quick Note on "Lost Ghosts" & "Secret Bosses"
Okay, so let's clear the common misconceptions tied to the mentions of "lost Ghosts" and the "secret boss." We're talking about Still Hunt specifically, so you're not chasing phantoms unrelated to this particular Exotic.
"Secret Bosses" in Wild Card
The "Wild Card" quest, which you just completed, has its own set of unique bosses: the Devourer of Tainted Light (War Beast), the Megashank, and Lii'liks (Scorn Abomination). These are the "bosses" directly tied to getting Still Hunt. There are no additional hidden bosses within the Wild Card mission itself that you need to find for the gun. The bosses you fought are the ones that matter for this questline.
"Lost Ghosts" in the Pale Heart
You might hear about finding "Lost Ghosts" in the Pale Heart. These are definitely a thing! However, they are primarily tied to a different questline, usually one from Micah-10 called "Alone in the Dark," which rewards other gear and helps with Pathfinder progress. These Lost Ghosts are scattered collectibles across the Pale Heart's zones like the Forgotten Deep and Blooming Deep, but they are not a requirement for obtaining Still Hunt.
So, while exploring the Pale Heart for other activities is awesome, you don't need to hunt down general Lost Ghost collectibles to get your Still Hunt. The "Wild Card" quest is self-contained for this Exotic. This clarification should save you some time and prevent any confusion from the broader terms used in general discussions about new Destiny 2 content.
You Got It, Guardian!
And there you have it! Still Hunt is yours, catalyst progress is underway, and you're ready to start popping those Golden Gun shots like the legend Cayde-6 himself. This sniper is a blast to use, and the journey to get it, with Cayde and Crow, is a pretty cool part of The Final Shape experience. The community has generally received the "Wild Card" quest positively, particularly enjoying the character interactions and the narrative weight it carries.
So get out there, experiment with it, and make some Light-infused holes in the Darkness. Cayde would approve. Have fun, Guardian!
"The lore for Still Hunt actually describes Cayde's first night after being reborn, wrestling with his feelings about Crow, the man who, as Uldren Sov, murdered him. The name 'Still Hunt' itself can be seen as representing his internal, quiet struggle and the suppressed desire for vengeance before he comes to see Crow as a different person. Pretty deep for a boomstick, huh?"