Destiny 2 guide: How to get Forerunner Exotic sidearm (the Halo Magnum)

The Forerunner is a new Exotic sidearm in Destiny 2’s Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack, available form the “Magnum Opus” quest. In Polygon’s Destiny 2 Forerunner guide, we’ll teach you how to earn Xur’s Strange Key, where to use it in the Eternity Valley, and how to unlock the Halo Magnum-inspired Exotic sidearm for yourself — how to get Forerunner in Destiny 2, in other words.

Table of contents

Here’s how to get the Forerunner in Destiny 2, one step at a time.

• Step 1: Speak to Xur in Eternity
• Step 2: Collect seven Strange Coins
• Step 3: Complete three Starhorse bounties
• Step 4: Buy the Strange Key from Xur
• Step 5: Use the Strange Key in the Dares of Eternity Valley area and find the weapon
• Step 6: Talk to Banshee-44
• What does the Forerunner do?

Step 1: Speak to Xur in Eternity

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Like Gjallarhorn, this Exotic quest starts with Xur in Eternity. Talk to him in Xur’s Treasure Horde, and use the arrows in his inventory to tab to the second page. Pick up the “Magnum Opus” quest.

Step 2: Collect seven Strange Coins

Xur wants you to collect seven Strange Coins. There are a couple of ways to pick up Strange Coins — like Strikes, bounties, public events, etc. — but you should just run another Dares of Eternity. Keep running Dares (you’ll need Xur reputation later, which you earn from Dares) until you’ve collected seven Strange Coins.

Step 3: Complete three Starhorse bounties

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With your Strange Coins in your pocket, head back to Xur’s Treasure Room. This time you need to talk to Starhorse, the horse ... made of stars, standing over by the treasure. Starhorse has a variety of Dares of Eternity bounties. Use your Strange Coins to buy one of the cheaper ones — the daily ones are much easier to complete without a coordinated fireteam.

These bounties work a bit differently than other bounties. You’ll need to complete the Starhorse bounty in a single Dares of Eternity run or it will reset back to zero. Just focus on whatever the objective is — pulse rifle kills, trace rifle kills, etc. — and you shouldn’t have any trouble. Don’t worry about the point threshold on the bounty either, as it’s very difficult to fail that part of the bounty.

Complete three of these bounties and you can move on to the next step.

Step 4: Buy the Strange Key from Xur

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With Starhorse satisfied, head back to Xur. For this step, you’ll need to grab the Strange Key out of his inventory. You’ll need to be Strange Favor reputation level four to unlock the key (it’s free once you’re the right level). Since you’ve already played a lot of Dares of Eternity, chances are you’re already level four with Xur. If not, jump back into the activity until you level up more and can buy the key.

Step 5: Use the Strange Key in the valley, and find the weapon

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This is the part of the quest where things get a little tricky. With your new key in hand, head out of Xur’s treasure room (without leaving the destination) and go to the connecting room. Stand in the purple smoke and you’ll teleport down to the Valley — the Dares of Eternity arena.

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When you land on the little ramp, look to your right and start walking on the sand. You’re looking for some rubble. You’ll see a small cluster of rocks. Walk toward it. The farthest right rock, near the slope, will have what looks like small slab sticking out the top. Walk around the other side of that rock. You should see an interact button telling you to use your key. It’s a little finicky, so you may need to adjust a little.

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Once you’ve inserted your key, you should have an objective marker on your screen. If you don’t, head straight forward from where you inserted the key, toward the grey tower in the distance.

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When you reach the tower, turn right and look for a small path in the rocks. Go forward until you see some bronze balls floating into the ceiling. Jump up on the rocks above you (you don’t need to ride the balls up but you can).

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Jump up again into the tallest gap.

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You’ll see a white mountain with bronze platforms. Use the platforms to climb the mountain. When you reach the cylinders in the mountain, turn left.

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You’ll need to climb this next room by timing your jumps to the beat of the platforms, which are constantly dipping in and out of the wall.

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Once you reach the top, go into the next room and investigate the little Cryo Pod — a great Halo easter egg for fans. You’ll get the Anomalous Object.

Step 6: Talk to Banshee-44

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Bring the Anomalous Object to Banshee-44 in the Tower. He’ll have a lot to say before giving you your new Forerunner Exotic sidearm.

What does the Forerunner do?

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The Forerunner is a clear homage to the Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum, one of the greatest weapons in video game history. In Destiny 2, it uses Special ammo and has two noteworthy perks.

Pace Yourself is Forerunner’s intrinsic perk and gives the weapon more accuracy and less recoil when you tap the trigger.

Full Stop gives Forerunner extended range and higher damage rounds. It can be fired in full auto and deals increased precision damage to unshielded targets.

Forerunner also has an Exotic Catalyst (which requires more Xur level ups). The Exotic Catalyst grants a new perk called The Rock, which allows players to spend reserve ammo after a kill to transform their next grenade into a Halo-style frag grenade.