Honestly, I enjoy hand cannons in gameplay. They have power and often times are a deciding factor in PvP. [u][i]But why do we have so many exotic hand cannons and so few of other weapon archetypes?? [/i][/u] Hand cannons are the only type of exotic that we consistently see being introduced to the game. With the exception of the third season of Destiny 2, there is [i]always at least 1 exotic hand cannon introduced[/i] while the other weapons are significantly lagging behind in offerings. There are always at least twice as many exotic hand cannon offerings as there are other weapon types. Don't believe me? Below is a detailed count of all the exotic weapons currently in D2 with a note next to hand cannons and bows for the recently announced exotics. **[u][b]NOTE:[/b][/u] This list is as complete as I can get it based on what's in the database now & what I'm aware of being announced/shown so far. Also, yeah, some exotics function uniquely or similar to other weapon types. I believe the term [i]Exotic [/i]clearly indicates that the weapon should be unique in some fashion or another. How it functions doesn't change the weapon slot or official classification of the weapon, though. [b]Hand Cannons[/b] - 8 (+1 for [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/48097]announced Eriana’s Vow[/url]) *Yes, I know the new HC is "like a sniper" --Sunshot (S1:Launch) --Sturm (S1:Launch) --Crimson (S2) *Yes, I know this is "like a pulse" and is basically a small magazine Red Death --Ace of Spades (S4) --Malfeasance (S4) --The Last Word (S5) --Thorn (S6) --Lumina (S7) *Yes, we all know there are storylines that go w/some of these. Just like MIDA, Sleeper, Whisper, Wish Ender and so on... [b]Scout Rifle[/b] - 4 --MIDA Multi-tool (S1:Launch) --Skyburner's Oath (S1:Launch) --The Jade Rabbit (S2) --Polaris Lance (S3) [b]Fusion Rifle[/b] - 4 --Merciless (S1:Launch) --Telesto (S2) --One Thousand Voices (S4) *Yes, I know this functions differently than most fusion rifles, incl. linear types --Jötunn (S5) [b]Sniper Rifle[/b] - 4 --Borealis (S1:Launch) --D.A.R.C.I. (S1:Launch) --Whisper of the Worm (S3) --Izanagi's Burden (S5) [b]Shotgun[/b] - 4 --Legend of Acrius (S1:Launch) --Tractor Cannon (S1:Launch) --The Chaperone (S4) --Lord of Wolves (S4) [b]Auto rifle[/b] - 4 (+1 for [url=https://youtu.be/MspAKr8THf4?t=45]shown Monte Carlo in clip[/url]) --Sweet Business (S1:Launch) --Hard Light (S1:Launch) --SUROS Regime (S3) --Cereberus (S4) [b]Grenade Launcher[/b] - 4 --Fighting Lion (S1:Launch) --The Prospector (S1:Launch) --The Colony (S2) --Anarchy (S5) [b]Pulse rifle[/b] - 4 --Vigilance Wing (S1:Launch) --Graviton Lance (S1:Launch) *Yes, I know it works like a Scout, but is officially classified as a Pulse --Outbreak Perfected (S6) --Bad Juju (S7) [b]Bow[/b] - 3 (+1 for [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/48097]announced Leviathan’s Breath[/url]) --Wish Ender (S4) --Trinity Ghoul (S4) --Le Monarque (S5) [b]Linear Fusion Rifle[/b] - 3 --Sleeper Simulant (S3) --The Queenbreaker (S4) *Yes, this is basically a sniper & linear fusion in one --Arbalest (S6) [b]Rocket Launchers[/b] - 3 (+1 [url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/09/02/destiny-2-deathbringer/]new Deathbringer void[/url] [url=https://youtu.be/MspAKr8THf4?t=34]Rocket Launcher in video clip[/url]) --The Wardcliff Coil (S1:Launch) --Two-Tailed Fox (S4) --Truth (S7) [b]Submachine gun[/b] - 3 --Riskrunner (S1:Launch) --Huckleberry (S3) --Tarrabah (S7) [b]Trace Rifles[/b] - 3 (+1 [url=https://imgur.com/a/YK0HzH1]for new Divinity arc[/url] [url=https://youtu.be/MspAKr8THf4?t=39]Trace Rifle shown in clip[/url]) --Coldheart (S1:Launch) --Prometheus Lens (S2) --Wavesplitter (S4:PS4 Exclusive until recently) [b]Sword[/b] - 2 --Worldline Zero (S3) --Black Talon (S4) [b]Machine Gun[/b] - 1 (+1 [url=https://youtu.be/viJDi3p4564?t=70]for the currently unknown name[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkRBUv_vJzQ&app=desktop]"bug" powered LMG[/url]) --Thunderlord (S4) [b]Sidearm[/b] - 1 --Rat King (S1:Launch) The developers have constantly commented that they want balance in the gameplay and want to see players using a variety of weapon types. But then they continuously release hand cannons and leave the other types to languish. The common solution seems to be part "add more hand cannons", part "nerf weapons that we think are OP to balance it out" and part "apply a moderate buff to obscure weapon to encourage usage". Could you please consider bringing in exotics that aren't hand cannons? Perhaps instead of nerfing favorite gear because it's "OP", you could perhaps buff other gear to bring it up to that fun feel of OP instead of making sure everything is bogged down by mediocrity? I know there are new gear & balances coming along with Shadowkeep, but FFS please stop focusing so much on hand cannons, at least for a little bit. *END RANT* EDIT: Added Monte Carlo notation beside auto rifle count EDIT 2: Added unknown Trace Rifle beside Trace Rifle count EDIT 3: Added notes related to common comments EDIT 4: Added in links to announced weapons (that I know of) and filled in other announced weapons as brought to my attention