If you’ve been playing Destiny 2 and heard about Microcosm – the new Exotic heavy trace rifle – you might be wondering exactly where to get Microcosm and what steps you need to take. Microcosm isn’t dropped randomly obtaining it requires finishing certain content, starting a special quest chain, and completing cooperative missions. This topic explains where to get Microcosm in Destiny 2, the requirements, the quest steps, and some tips to help you secure the weapon efficiently in your playthrough.
What is Microcosm
Microcosm is a heavyslot exotic trace rifle added with the The Final Shape expansion. Its standout intrinsic perk is Paracausal Beam, which fires a beam of kinetic light that deals significant bonus damage to shields. A second perk, Paracausal Imbuement, causes final blows with the weapon to generate Super energy and boosts the weapon’s damage once your Super ends.
Because of these perks, Microcosm is particularly appealing for PvE content where you face shielded enemies – for example in Nightfalls, Raids, or any activity with heavily shielded opponents.
Prerequisites What You Need Before You Can Get Microcosm
You cannot simply find Microcosm lying around – there are specific prerequisites before the quest becomes available. Before you can begin the path to get Microcosm, you must
- Own and install the Final Shape expansion.
- Complete the Final Shape campaign. This unlocks the ability to start the exotic quest related to Microcosm.
Once those are done, you can proceed to the next steps required to actually receive the weapon.
The Microcosm Quest Line How to Start and What You Must Do
The path to obtaining Microcosm goes through a multistep exotic quest line. Here is how to trigger it and what to expect
Starting the Quest
After finishing the Final Shape campaign, head to the Tower and talk to your Ghost (or follow the ingame prompts) to accept the exotic quest. The quest is often referred to as Destined Heroes (or similar name depending on updates).
Early in the quest you might be directed to complete a submission called Queens, Part 1, which leads you toward the next major quest step involving the faction or vendor Micah10 in the area called The Pale Heart (the expansion’s destination hub).
Completing the Convalescence Quest Chain
Once you visit Micah10, you’ll receive a new quest chain often titled something like Convalescence, which consists of several parts. Key stages include
- Rootbound
- Underbrush
- Greenery
- Budding (the final quest in the chain)
After finishing the Budding portion, the game will unlock a set of Cooperative Focus missions you must complete. These missions are not meant to be solo – they require a fireteam to cooperate in order to succeed.
Coop Missions Ascent, Dissent, Iconoclasm – What You Need to Do
These three missions – typically referred to as Ascent, Dissent, and Iconoclasm – form the final hurdle before claiming Microcosm. Because they are focusedcooperative missions with added difficulty and mechanics, you’ll need teammates.
Once all three are completed successfully, return to Micah10 in The Pale Heart. At that point, Microcosm becomes available to claim as your exotic heavy trace rifle reward.
Summary StepbyStep to Obtain Microcosm
- Ensure you own The Final Shape expansion and have completed its campaign.
- Go to the Tower, accept the exotic quest (Destined Heroes or equivalent).
- Complete early subquests (like Queens, Part 1) as directed.
- Go to Micah10 in The Pale Heart to begin the Convalescence quest chain.
- Complete the Convalescence quests Rootbound â Underbrush â Greenery â Budding.
- Join a fireteam and complete the three Cooperative Focus missions Ascent, Dissent, Iconoclasm.
- Return to Micah10 and claim Microcosm as your exotic heavy trace rifle.
Tips & Notes for Players Seeking Microcosm
Getting Microcosm can be timeconsuming, especially because of the coop missions. Here are a few helpful tips to make the process easier
- Coordinate with friends or clan members early – you’ll need a fireteam for the coop missions. Trying solo most likely won’t work.
- Ensure your power level (light level) is sufficient – high-level missions tend to scale difficulty. Most guides recommend being at relevant light/power level before entering the coop missions.
- Focus on shielded enemies when using Microcosm – its perks make it especially effective against shields.
- Be patient – because of the required steps, the acquisition can take several hours, especially if you are coordinating with multiple players.
Why Microcosm Is Valuable
Microcosm holds value for several reasons. Its kinetic heavyslot trace rifle design makes it unique among exotic weapons. With Paracausal Beam, it deals bonus damage to shields, which is very helpful in PvE content with shielded enemies – for instance in higherdifficulty Nightfalls or raid encounters.
Moreover, its second perk, Paracausal Imbuement, regenerates Super energy on final blows and increases damage after the Super ends. This makes it a good match for Guardian builds that rely on frequent Supers or that aim to clear large groups of enemies efficiently.
Common Misconceptions and What to Avoid
Because Microcosm is new and the quest path is somewhat lengthy, there are a few misconceptions that players sometimes encounter or spread. Here are some clarifications
- Microcosm isn’t a random drop it doesn’t come from vaults, random exotic engrams, or loot drops. It is obtained via a fixed exotic quest chain.
- You cannot get Microcosm by playing alone – the coop missions are mandatory for the final step. Solo attempts generally fail.
- Completing the Final Shape campaign alone isn’t enough – you must follow the full quest chain including Convalescence and coop missions.
What if You Miss Coop Chances?
If you don’t have a fireteam available, consider joining your clan, looking for active players in LFG (Looking for Group) channels, or forming a small group with friends – many players are looking for help to complete the requirements for Microcosm. Because the coop missions can be challenging and require coordination, it’s best done with experienced players or friends.
Getting Microcosm in Destiny 2 requires several steps, but understanding where to start – and how to navigate the quest line – makes the journey much clearer. First, ensure you own The Final Shape expansion and have completed its campaign. Then accept the exotic quest, complete the Convalescence chain through Micah10, and finish the required cooperative missions. Once those tasks are done, you can return and claim Microcosm, the first heavy kinetic trace rifle in the game, powerful especially against shielded enemies. For players committed to PvE content, shield melting, and Supersbased builds, Microcosm can be a valuable weapon to harvest. Planning ahead, teaming up with a fireteam, and following the quest steps methodically will bring you this formidable exotic weapon for your Guardian arsenal.