How to get the Barrow-Dyad Exotic in Destiny 2

The Barrow-Dyad is an Exotic Strand submachine gun from Destiny 2: Heresy, and it comes from an Exotic questline called “The Taken Path,” which culminates in the Exotic mission, “Derealize.” To get to all these quests and missions, however, you’ll need to do a lot of secret hunting around the solar system. In this guide, we’ll explain how to get the Barrow-Dyad Exotic SMG, including how to start the “Taken Path” Exotic quest so you can start your hunt. How to get the Barrow-Dyad Exotic in Destiny 2 [Image: https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Destiny-2-Screenshot-2025.02.11-16.32.45.68.png?quality=90&strip=all] To get the Barrow-Dyad Exotic SMG in Destiny 2, you’ll need to do the following: - Find “The Taken Path” quest inside the Dreadnaught during The Nether (we go into exactly how to do that below). - Complete the lengthy Exotic quest by hunting down secrets around the solar system. - This will eventually unlock the “Derealize” mission, which will net you the Barrow-Dyad Exotic submachine gun just ahead of the final boss. - You’ll then gain access to a quest called “Dyadic Ascension,” which will help you upgrade your Intrinsic perks. Below, we’ll explain how to start the “Taken Path” Exotic quest so you can get on your way for the rest. How to start ‘The Taken Path’ Exotic quest [Image: https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/vlcsnap-2025-02-11-15h55m34s057.png?quality=90&strip=all] Unlike many other modern Exotic missions in Destiny 2, there is absolutely no warning or indication that an Exotic quest is available for you to pick up in-game when you login. Instead, you’ll need to find a secret item in the Dreadnaught during the Nether activity. When you load into the Nether, there seems to be a chance that an unusual Blight will spawn in with you somewhere in your starting area (the game randomly selects one of the Dreadnaught zones to be your starter area). While it appears these Blights can appear in any area, we can only confirm one location: the Hall of Souls. Load into a private version of The Nether over and over again until it serves you up the Court of Oryx area, the Hall of Souls. Inside, head to the middle platform where you normally fight the boss of this area. Run through the hall with the Thrall statues until you’re looking at where you load in for the King’s Fall raid, but don’t cross the bridge. Instead, look up and to your right. If you see a large Blight ball latched onto the strut near the ceiling (like in the image above), you’ve found it. If not, load back in until you find the Hall of Souls and the Blight. [Image: https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/vlcsnap-2025-02-11-15h56m36s811.png?quality=90&strip=all] Clear the enemies out of the area to make it easier to maneuver, walk up to the strut the Blight is attached to, and pull out your Ghost. You’ll see some invisible platforms leading up to the Blight. Climb them and jump into the Blight (or just grapple into it if you have Strand). You’ll now find yourself in the “Blighted Cyst” and will need to complete a small puzzle. How to solve the ‘something whispers’ puzzle [Image: https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/vlcsnap-2025-02-11-15h59m04s449.png?quality=90&strip=all] Inside the Blighted Cyst, you’ll see a green barrier in front of you with a blank rune on it, a directional plate under the rune, and a Taken portal to your left. Avoid the portal and stand on the plate. If you stand on it long enough, the rune will display a symbol and broadcast to your UI “something whispers to the right.” Shoot the rune and walk off the plate to your right as you do it. This will teleport you to the other side of the barrier. If you’re with any friends, make sure they do the same. [Image: https://platform.polygon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/vlcsnap-2025-02-11-16h03m12s284.png?quality=90&strip=all] Once on the other side, go to the elevated table sitting inside the Blighted Cyst and interact with it. You’ll pick up the Taken Osseous Fragment, an Exotic “redeemable” item that has no indication on where you should go next. Open your Director and head to the Shaping Slab in Eris’ apartment. Talk to it and you’ll pick up “The Taken Path,” an Exotic quest that promises to eventually reward you with the bizarre Barrow-Dyad Exotic submachine gun.