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Unlock Xenophage, The Journey quest - Destiny 2

Unlock Xenophage in Destiny 2 by completing The Journey quest on the Moon for Eris Morn.

Bill Lavoy and Sam Chandler

October 29, 2019 3:00 PM

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Xenophage is one of Destiny 2’s most powerful Exotic Machine Guns. What it lacks in ammo capacity and speed it makes up for in raw, overwhelming power. To unlock Xenophage, players will need to complete a quest called The Journey for Eris Morn, which starts on the Moon.

Xenophage, Exotic Machine Gun

The Xenophage Exotic Machine Gun is a Solar Power weapon that uses Heavy ammo – which surprises no one. The gun was originally introduced during Season 8, Shadowkeep and Season of the Undying, and has seen continual use since then.

Players that unlock Xenophage will be treated to one of the slowest firing Machine Guns in Destiny 2, featuring a 120 PRM. But, more on its perks and stats below.

The Journey Exotic quest

Unlocking Xenophage will require a bit of footwork, some puzzle solving, and venturing into the Pit of Heresy dungeon. Here are the steps to unlock Xenophage:

1. Go to the Enduring Abyss below the Moon
2. Use a ball of light in the Anchor of Light to light up six locations
3. Solve puzzles in the Moon Lost Sectors
4. Enter the Pit of Heresy and find the hidden item after the first encounter
5. Collect a charge during the Pariah Ogre section and use it to light two brazier to open a door
6. Slay Volmar, the Tempted

Step 1: Go to the Enduring Abyss

To get The Journey quest for Xenophage, you will need to reach the Enduring Abyss area beneath the Moon. Begin by loading in at the Sanctuary fast-travel point on the Moon. Head through the portal near Eris (if it's there) and follow to the point where you can see the pyramid. If the portal is not there, you'll have to take the long way. Use the embedded video below to help you find the Enduring Abyss location.

When you reach Enduring Abyss you'll find four statues, two on either side from where you look out towards the pyramid. Do not touch any statues until you're ready to begin. They should not be lit at all.

You will need to light them in the correct order. To do this, approach the statues in a clockwise direction and press the interact button when the message “Emerge from the Dark” appears. When all four are lit, a chest will spawn which contains The Journey, the Exotic quest for the Xenophage Exotic Machine Gun in Destiny 2.

Step 2: Emergence

The actual first step of The Journey will take Guardians to the Anchor of Light region on the Moon. Once there, an orb (ball of light, if you will) can be picked up. This light can then be taken to six nearby locations. At each one, Guardians will have to hold the interact button to Light Your Path. The six locations must be hit in the correct order, which is why we have a video of this step embedded below.

Step 3: Pathfinder - Lost Sector puzzles

The Pathfinder section of The Journey tasks players with solving puzzles in Lost Sectors. These are flip puzzles, where shooting a symbol flips all the symbols on its cardinal plane to the next icon. The puzzles are all found at the very end of the Lost Sector, after defeating the boss and going through a locked door.

You will need to complete all four puzzles in each of the Moon’s Lost Sectors to find the path fragments. Credit to the Raid Secrets community for the solution to some of these puzzles.

K1 Revelation

1. Left middle
2. Middle
3. Middle
4. Left middle
5. Top middle
6. Bottom middle
7. Middle
8. Right middle

K1 Logisitcs

1. Top left
2. Bottom left
3. Middle
4. Right middle

K1 Communion

1. Left bottom
2. Right bottom
3. Middle top
4. Middle top

K1 Crew Quarters

1. Right top
2. Left middle
3. Middle
4. Middle bottom
5. Right bottom
6. Right bottom
7. Middle bottom
8. Middle bottom

Step 4: Descent

The next step to unlock Xenophage is to dive into the Pit of Heresy dungeon. Depending on your experience level, you can either do this solo or as a fireteam of three.

Clear the first encounter, collect your reward from the chest, and then press onwards. When you reach the wall covered in doors, look up to the left to spot one without a chain hanging over it. Use the wall to climb up to this door. Inside you will find a stone you can interact with that reads "Reveal Path's End". Interact with the stone and move on to the next step.

Step 5: Discovery

The next step also takes place in the Pit of Heresy dungeon, in the second encounter with the invincible Pariah Ogres. Along the left-hand side of the area is an abyss, but there's a ledge just over the edge. Drop down to it and stand on the plate while holding the appropriate button to "reveal a path". Jump across the floating platforms and collect the charge.

Take it back the way you came, sticking to the right-hand wall. You will need to use the charge to light two plates near a small door. This causes the door to open, granting you access to a hidden boss and the last step. This whole step is best attempted when the ogres disappear after clearing the encounter.

Step 6: Slay Volmar, the Tempted

The final step in unlocking Xenophage is to defeat a hidden boss in the Pit of Heresy dungeon, Volmar, the Tempted. This boss fight requires you to use specific elemental damage against Volmar.

When you enter the first room, look at the bottom left of your screen to see what elemental charge you have. Find this element type in the corners of the first room. You will need to memorize the symbol as you must now find that symbol in the boss room. Go into the boss room and search for the symbol. When you find it, activate it. This will give you a short timer allowing you to deal damage of that specific element type. When the time is up, you will need to repeat the process of finding the matching symbol. 

Repeat this until Volmar, the Tempted dies. At this point, you can return to Eris Morn to unlock the Xenophage Exotic Machine Gun.

Xenophage perks

The majority of Xenophage’s perks are rather average and even unassuming. However, they work together to make this thing hit like a truck.

• Full Bore – Barrel optimized for distance. Greatly increases range, decreases stability, and slightly decreases handling speed.
• High-Caliber Rounds – Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther. Slightly increases range.
• Rangefinder – Aiming this weapon increases its effective range and zoom magnification. Increased projectile velocity while aiming Rocket Launchers and Grenade Launchers.
• Composite Stock – This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock. Slightly increases stability and handling speed.

Xenophage’s Exotic perk is Pyrotoxin Rounds. This is what makes it so powerful.

• Pyrotoxin Rounds – Fires high-powered explosive ammunition.

This unassuming perk ensures that Xenophage deals ludicrous damage. In fact, if you’re not using Anarchy, you’re likely going to want to use Xenophage as your boss damage tool. It’s even great at knocking down Champions and Wyverns.

Xenophage lore

This might sting a little.

There was only darkness… until there was Light. Again. A third time.

I knew it. Knew I'd be back one day—only this time, I was something else. Something… not Human. Not by choice, of course. Those damn Hive. They weren't just tryin' to kill me. They were using me to get to my Light. To drain it from my soul. For their sick experiments.

But the idiots screwed up. They didn't just drain my Light. They took the whole lot. The entire thing. Soul and all. I'm still me. I'm just not the me I knew. The one with two arms and two legs. I'm something smaller now.

But honestly, it's no bother. The fire inside me… it came too. And it rages now more than ever before. The fools have no clue what they've done. No idea the price they'll pay.

I'll have my vengeance. In this life, not the next.

—Omar Agah

Unlocking Xenophage in Destiny 2 is a lengthy process that requires fighting through the Pit of Heresy dungeon as part of the quest, The Journey. As with all dungeon runs, it's best to take a fireteam with you. Check out our Shacknews Destiny 2 complete strategy guide for more Exotic weapon walkthroughs.

Bill Lavoy and Sam Chandler

The Destiny 2 Guys

Bill and Sam are the two Shacknews writers who handle the bulk of the Destiny 2 content. As a Hunter and Warlock main respectively, they can cover a great deal of ground with whatever is happening in Destiny 2 today. What they don't know they can find out thanks to their all-star lineup of Destiny 2 friends.