Destiny 2: How to Masterwork Weapons in 2023

While Destiny 2 delivers elaborate and powerful narratives through its seasonal and DLC content, at the end of the day, it's more about the gameplay. 
Destiny 2 is a looter-shooter where acquiring better weapons, upgrading those weapons, and since The Witch Queen, shaping those weapons to have the best versions of those ready for any of the end-game activities is the main objective.

The highest-tier weapons in Destiny 2 are masterwork weapons. If you're new to the game, here's our guide that explains how to level up and masterwork weapons in Destiny 2.

Masterwork Weapons in Destiny 2 Explained

Masterwork weapons have a ton of benefits. Before The Witch Queen, masterwork weapons allowed Orb generation. In 2023, leveled-up weapons offer random bonus stats such as increased reload speed or increased handling, track and display the number of enemies defeated. Upon dismantling, they also provide Enhancement Cores and Legendary Shards, both of which are valuable resources.

Thankfully, unlike masterwork armor, it's relatively easier to masterwork weapons in Destiny 2.

How to masterwork legendary weapons in Destiny 2

Below are the resources you will need to masterwork a legendary weapon:

How to masterwork exotic weapons in Destiny 2

Unlike legendary weapons, you don't have to level up your exotics to make them more powerful. Instead, you need a catalyst, which you can get by completing quests and other activities. Different exotic quests offer different ways to acquire their catalyst.

How to masterwork adept weapons in Destiny 2

Adept weapons are more powerful versions of existing weapons that you get through end-game activities like raids and trials.

You can masterwork adept weapons the way you masterwork legendary weapons; however, the former offer different bonus stats when you masterwork an adept weapon, one of its core stats increases by 10 points, whereas other stats increase by 3 points each.

How to masterwork crafted weapons in Destiny 2

The Witch Queen expansion added the option to craft weapons, something that's now a part of the gameplay loop for better or worse.

Now to masterwork crafted weapons, you will first need to level up those weapons and unlock enhanced intrinsic traits. These intrinsics offer masterwork-like stat bonuses.
 Once you have unlocked the desired enhanced intrinsic traits, reshape the weapon you want to masterwork with those perks. These will cost Ascendant Alloy, which you can farm from the Wellspring activity, weekly Witch Queen mission, or purchase from Master Rahool.

That concludes our guide on how to masterwork weapons in Destiny 2.

For more Destiny 2 news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or take a look at some of our Guides & Tutorials just below: