The Division 2 guide: How to upgrade Exotics

The Division 2 already has a powerful arsenal of Exotic weapons. Guns like The Chatterbox, Liberty, and Merciless are potent tools in many different builds. But they’re also difficult weapons to come by. Some require lengthy quest lines, while others require long hours of grinding the same mission.

Thankfully, you don’t need to repeat the grind to get a more powerful version of your favorite weapon. This guide will teach you how to upgrade all the Exotics in your arsenal. This will increase that Exotic to the current maximum Gear Score.

Step 1: Buy the blueprint

Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft via Polygon

When you first walk into the White House, there are two vendors in the front hall. To your left is the Quartermaster, responsible for your subclass upgrades and skill purchases. On the other side of the room is a more traditional vendor. Once you’ve unlocked an Exotic — either by crafting it or picking it up off the ground — this vendor’s inventory will change.

The vendor will start selling an upgrade blueprint for each Exotic you own. You can buy these blueprints for 1,010 E-credits. Once you have the blueprint, you’re almost ready to start crafting again.

Step 2: Upgrade your table

Now that you have access to the blueprint, you’ll be able to upgrade the Exotics you already have. However, you can’t create a max level Exotic without a max level crafting table. Use the various resources found around the world of The Division 2 to upgrade your table before you proceed.

If you hit a snag — like running out of Polycarbonate, for example — explore the open world. Take over lost control points, and use the resource farm buff to make your life a bit easier. Once you’ve upgraded your bench, it’s time to move on to the final step.

Step 3: Build your upgrade

Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft via Polygon

Now it’s time to upgrade your Exotic. You’ll need an assortment of crafting materials, the old version of the Exotic, and an Exotic Component. The Exotic Component will be the hardest thing to find. To get one, you need to dismantle an Exotic. When you have all the materials, use the workbench to craft your fully upgraded Exotic.