D2 quest: Xenophage exotic machine gun

Xenophage exotic machine gun

UPDATED! Many parts of this posting have been updated following a "re-run" of this quest in early March 2021. Contribuors to this post include Austen Goslin of Polygon, Shaun Savage of Pro Game Guides, and gamers Kadar1957 and drumrboy47. 

A secret exotic weapon quest was introduced along with Shadowkeep's Festival of the Lost. However, you will have to venture on a few 'less-than-simple' quest phases to get this exotic heavy.



THE GUN

Statistics courtesy Light.gg

Before we begin the quest run-through, here's a look at this weapon's stats. For me, this weapon rolled with a magazine of 28 rounds. Click an image for a larger view. My favourite way to use this gun is to fire single precision shots!

Statistics courtesy Light.gg

1. PYROTOXIN ROUNDS — Basic Intrinsic: Fires high-powered explosive ammunition.

2. FULL BORE — Legendary Barrel: Barrel optimized for distance.

• Greatly increases range
• Decreases stability
• Slightly decreases handling speed

Range: +15, Stability: -10, handling: -5

3. HIGH-CALIBER ROUNDS — Legendary Magazine: Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther.

• Slightly increases range

Range: +5

4. RANGEFINDER — Legendary Trait: Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification. Increased projectile velocity while aiming Rocket Launchers and Grenade Launchers.

5. COMPOSITE STOCK — Legendary Stock: This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock.

• Slightly increases stability
• Slightly increases handling speed

Stability: +5, Handling: +5

6. EMPTY CATALYST SOCKET — Basic: An exotic catalyst can be inserted into this socket.

7. UNNAMED ITEM #2113691818 — Exotic: Upgrades this weapon to a Masterwork. It will generate Orbs on multi-kills and gain a tracker that displays the number of enemies defeated with it. The Masterworked weapon will also receive additional capabilities. Defeat enemies using this weapon to unlock this upgrade.


THE QUEST

➜  STEP 1 — Sorrow's Harbor

First, find the quest starting point. It's hidden on the Moon, inside Sorrow's Harbor. There are two methods of reaching the quest starting point. The "fast-travel" method involves the use of a Hive portal just to the right of Eris Morn (from your viewpoint at the Sanctuary landing zone). However, if you don't see the portal, then you are forced to "hoof it" via Sparrow. Once you arrive at the 'harbor,' enter the main tower and follow the tunnels. Eventually you will reach a cave with a light in the middle.

Walk past the light to find a hole in the wall at the RIGHT side of the cave. Creepy? Yes! Okay ... now, jump into the small hole. Follow this tunnel until you reach a platform overlooking the pyramid. You will also see a total of four (4) statues; two on each side of the platform. Ikora Rey may also request your attention.

The quest requires that you interact with each of the four statues in a specific order.

The 'code' that worked for this article is to interact with each statue in turn, in a counter-clockwise manner. That is, start with the statue on the RIGHT that is closest to the entrance you just used (and facing the pyramid ship). Next, interact with the second statue on the RIGHT side (closer to the pyramid ship). Thirdly, interact with the statue on the LEFT side that is also closer to the pyramid ship. Lastly, interact with the fourth statue on the LEFT that is closer to the entrance.

NOTE: There are reports on Reddit that a clockwise statue selection also works (i.e. begin interaction with nearest statue on the LEFT side).

In any event, once your interactions are 'approved,' a chest will materialize on the balcony. Opening the chest presents you with a new quest step.

➜  STEP 2 — Anchor of Light

Head over to the Anchor of Light to find a 'ball of light' that you will use to light some lecterns placed around this area. The green arrow on the following map shows where the light ball will spawn for this quest step. It's in a small room behind some machinery.

Find the 'ball of light'

Thankfully the first lectern is right next to where the ball of light spawned. All lecterns resemble rust-red-coloured dinner plates with spikes, sitting on the ground.

Example of a lectern plate

There are six (6) lecterns in total. Yes ... since this is a puzzle quest, the lecterns must be ignited in the correct order. The following map shows a 'working' order.

Ignite lecterns in this order

Move smartly ... there's a time function!

Once you light the first lectern, you will only have 60 seconds to make it to the next lectern and ignite it. This timer resets to 60 seconds every time you 'torch' a lectern. As Hawthorne would say, "No pressure!"

Most of the lecterns are easy to find, but the fourth lectern is a bit tricky. It's up on the third floor of the tower in the Anchor of Light (helpful video).

Following successful ignition of all six lecterns, you will get a message that says, "You are ready to emerge from the dark." Check your compass for a lead indicator to the final location for this quest step. Deposit the light ball where indicated and the next step in 'The Journey' is revealed.

➜  STEP 3 — The Four Fragments

This phase of the exotic weapon quest sends you out to collect fragments from each Lost Sector on the Moon. Yay! To get these fragments, you will need to play through the Lost Sectors just as you would normally. Once you reach the end and dispatch the boss, you will discover a symbol puzzle along the wall, near the exit of each Lost Sector. If needed, please refer to this early Shadowkeep map for the Lost Sector locations (and other stuff).

Early Shadowkeep Map

These puzzles have a variety of symbols (they may look familiar if you have been looting 'puzzle' chests on the Moon). You will need to shoot the symbols in the correct order. The following image shows a puzzle example.

Lost Sector puzzle example

The Lost Sectors can be done in any order. The following descriptors provide working solutions to the Lost Sector symbol puzzles. It's recommended that you don't use an automatic weapon because of the risk of firing more than one round. A hand cannon worked well for me. Watch for the flame effect, and shifting symbol patterns after each shot. Mr. Savage suggests that, if you mess up a single rune, you can shoot the rune four (4) times to reset it back to its default position. It's not clear if that means the whole puzzle gets reset, or just that single rune.

Lost Sector Puzzle Solutions


LOST SECTOR K1 Revelation (Sorrow's Harbor)

1 — RIGHT MIDDLE

2 — LEFT MIDDLE

3 — TRUE MIDDLE

4 — TRUE MIDDLE

5 — LEFT MIDDLE

6 — TOP MIDDLE

7 — BOTTOM MIDDLE

8 — TRUE MIDDLE




LOST SECTOR K1 Logistics (Archer's Line)

1 — TOP LEFT

2 — BOTTOM LEFT

3 — TRUE MIDDLE

4 — RIGHT MIDDLE




LOST SECTOR K1 Communion (Anchor of Light)

1 — BOTTOM LEFT

2 — BOTTOM RIGHT

3 — TOP MIDDLE

4 — TOP MIDDLE




LOST SECTOR K1 Crew Quarters (Hellmouth)

1 — TOP RIGHT

2 — LEFT MIDDLE

3 — TRUE MIDDLE

4 — BOTTOM MIDDLE

5 — BOTTOM RIGHT

6 — BOTTOM RIGHT

7 — BOTTOM MIDDLE

8 — BOTTOM MIDDLE



➜  STEP 4 — Enter the Dungeon

This next phase takes place in the Pit of Heresy dungeon on the Moon. A pre-requisite is to complete Eris Morn's short quest line. Talk to Eris to discover if that has in fact been done. I believe this would only apply to the Team Leader. If the short quest line isn't finished, just go and do it. Back inside the dungeon, you will need to find a hidden door. Any team member can do this step. The door is on a wall with a plethora of doors that have associated symbols. The specific door you're looking for does NOT have symbols (at top-left). Interact with this door to complete this phase of your quest. There's some obvious jumping involved to reach this door. Watch out for other doors, they're sneaky and can suddenly open outwards if you stand directly in front of them. You can easily be pushed off the ledge, with fatal results of course (helpful video).

This is the door you're looking for

➜  STEP 5 — The Pariah

This next step leads you to a room in the dungeon that is near where the Pariah Ogre fight occurs. On the cliffs near the encounter, you will need to drop down to a ledge featuring a small plate. Standing on the plate will spawn three (3) jumping platforms. The platforms won't dematerialize, so there's no hurry.

The third platform holds yet another 'ball of light.' Grab this orb and take it to a door leading to the final boss. For this boss fight, you will be 'assigned' a DREAD. Your dread will correspond to one of four (4) different elements: Arc, Solar, Void and Kinetic (i.e. neutral). Here are the associated Hive symbols:

Arc Dread

Solar Dread

Void Dread

Kinetic Dread

Once you know which dread you have been assigned, you can pick up the ball at the centre of the chamber, and dunk it near the symbol for your assigned dread / element. The symbols are in each of the room's four corners.

After dunking the ball, you will get a 'buff' and be able to damage the boss with an elemental weapon that matches your assigned dread, with neutral being kinetic (helpful video). There is a time limit of about 15-20 seconds when you can do damage on the boss, after which the boss will once again, become immune to damage. Continue dunking elemental balls and getting damage buffs to finish off the boss.

After dispatching the boss, return to Eris Morn and she will present you with a shiny, new Xenophage exotic machine gun.

Congratulations!