Graviton Spike is an exotic hand cannon added into Destiny 2 with The Edge of Fate. This is a dual-element weapon dealing Arc and Stasis damage, and it’s a fantastic exotic weapon you’ll want to add to your arsenal. Today we’re going to check out the weapon, how to get it Graviton Spike, and how to get the intrinsic upgrades, plus the catalysts too.
Graviton Spike
Graviton Spike is an Exotic Energy Hand Cannon and it comes with the perks Temporal Manipulation and Temporal Anomaly.
Temporal Manipulation – Alternate Weapon Action to swap between fast-firing Arc mode or slow-firing Stasis mode. Final blows and precision hits overcharge the opposing mode to enable additional effects.
Temporal Anomaly – While overcharged, each mode expends a portion of overcharge for additional effects on final blows or precision hits:
Arc mode calls down lightning strikes.
Stasis mode creates an explosion and a formation of Stasis crystals.
How to get Graviton Spike
To begin your journey toward acquiring Graviton Spike, you first need to complete the Edge of Fate campaign in Destiny 2. Once that’s done, visit the Lodi in Caldera on Kepler (accessed via The Portal), who will offer you the exotic quest titled “Graviton Through the Ages.”
This quest requires that your Rosetta Level is at least 3, and you must have already spoken to the Emeritus in Caldera. The core of the quest involves tracking down four Graviton Spike weapon parts, each hidden within distinct regions of the Pale Heart—specifically: the Outer Steppes, The Gorge, Exiles Accord, and Central Academy.
In each of these regions, you’ll begin by hunting down a Rosetta Sentry enemy. After defeating the Sentry, interact with a nearby console that prompts you to “Input fluent Aionian command.” This unlocks a short navigation puzzle using Deepsight powers like Matterspark and Mattermorph, which allow you to traverse hidden platforms or solve environmental mechanics. Once you reach the mysterious “dark object,” interact with it to retrieve one of the weapon parts. Repeat this process in all four areas to gather every component.
Let’s have a look at each of the locations, plus what to do, follow along on screen for instructions.
With all parts collected, return to Lodi to advance the quest. You’ll then need to complete the Sieve activity, which becomes available afterward. These are multi-phase combat encounters that take place on Kepler. The Seieve actvity isn’t available all the time, you can hover over an icon near Caldera to see when it’s next available (this can range from minutes to hours).
Upon successfully finishing the Sieve and opening the final chest, you’ll receive the Graviton Spike exotic hand cannon. Be sure to extract its Deepsight resonance, which unlocks the ability to craft the weapon later on, allowing you to fully customize its perks and unlock powerful intrinsic upgrades.
How to get Graviton Spike Intrinsic Upgrades
Once you’ve obtained the Graviton Spike exotic hand cannon in Destiny 2, the next step is unlocking its powerful Intrinsic upgrades, known as the Temporal Manipulation traits. These upgrades enhance the weapon’s performance and are essential for customizing your crafted version of the gun. There are three key intrinsic upgrades — Temporal Manipulation II, III, and IV—and you can unlock them in any order. However, you must have the Graviton Spike equipped when hunting them down, as some puzzle mechanics only activate when you’re using the weapon.
To unlock Temporal Manipulation II, head to the Caldera region. Start from the altar fast travel point and move left until you spot a Matterspark portal that leads into a lower chamber. Inside, you’ll find a flower pod and a large fan. Use Arc mode on the Graviton Spike to open the pod, then switch to Stasis mode to temporarily freeze the fan blades, allowing you to pass through safely. Continue navigating until you reach a hidden room containing the upgrade.
Next, for Temporal Manipulation III, make your way to the Exiles Accord, particularly to an area known as Curtilage Divide. Climb onto one of the huts with a rooftop flower pod. As with the previous upgrade, use Arc mode to open the pod, clear any Stasis crystals inside, and then activate Mattermorph to reveal a hidden passage. Proceed carefully past any fans or traps to find the next intrinsic node.
The third upgrade, Temporal Manipulation IV, can be found in The Stellar Sink, accessible via the Assimilated Basement entrance. Follow a series of Matterspark jumps and drop into a cavern filled with fungal growth. Look for a large circular door and go through it to locate another flower pod. Again, use Arc to open it and Stasis to disable any obstacles. Nearby, a small passage or crawlspace opens up, leading directly to the third and final intrinsic upgrade.
Each of these upgrades deepens the customization potential of Graviton Spike, enhancing its exotic identity. Once you’ve collected all three, you’ll have full access to the weapon’s Temporal Manipulation trait tree, allowing for greater flexibility in builds and gameplay styles.
How to get Graviton Spike Catalysts
Once you’ve obtained the Graviton Spike and unlocked its intrinsic upgrades, you can start hunting down its catalysts to unlock enhanced weapon perks. There are four catalyst refits — Rapid Hit, Subsistence, Transcendent Zen, and Temporal Alignment — each requiring the discovery of three unique parts hidden throughout Kepler. Importantly, these puzzles can only be accessed in Fabled or Mythic world tiers, so make sure you’re playing on higher difficulty to uncover them.
Rapid Hit Catalyst
To unlock Rapid Hit, start by heading to Exile’s Accord. From the main path, take the first left, then a quick right through a Matterspark portal. In the back of the room, shoot a Graviton Spike flower, enter the adjacent chamber, and destroy three wall-mounted fuses. Afterward, use the Relocator to climb the pipes and find a hidden portal that leads to the first fragment.
For the second piece, go to the Outer Steppes, sticking to the left path until you find a room lit with red lights. Inside, destroy a nearby Rosetta machine—one is located by a rock wall near a weather balloon, the other on a rooftop. Use Graviton Spike to disable a fan and reach the terminal holding the second fragment.
The third part is in the Singularity. Enter through the Hub, follow the Vex encounter, and use Matterspark to drop into laser-filled rooms. Look for a Vex structure, destroy it, then shoot the Relocator Relay to teleport next to a Mattermorph node. Use it to access a hidden room with a flower; destroy it and find the final fragment tucked below it.
Subsistence Catalyst
The Subsistence catalyst begins where you left off with Rapid Hit #3 — in the Singularity. Head right past the Vex Cyclops into an open chamber with a Graviton Spike plant and follow the path to the first fragment.
The second piece is in Exile’s Accord—start from the fast travel point and use two consecutive Matterspark teleporters. Afterward, navigate through a train and follow the tracks to a Relocator at the back-left. Place it near a fan, use Graviton Spike to open the flower and slow the fan, then shoot into it with the Relocator to teleport to the fragment.
The final piece is in the Outer Steppes. Use Mattermorph to reach a large reactor room, then go through a white door on the right. Continue through the area until you encounter a rock wall—use Mattermorph and a nearby Relocator to open a portal. Inside, power a Vex Pylon with Matterspark to deactivate a barrier, then destroy a Graviton Spike flower near a slowed fan to access the last catalyst piece.
Transcendent Zen Catalyst
Transcendent Zen can only be acquired on Mythic difficulty. The first piece is in Caldera, where you’ll find a flower near a cliff on the right side of the central building. Shoot it with Graviton Spike to unlock a door. Inside, destroy two Rosetta machines, defeat a Fallen enemy, and activate the terminal to collect the fragment.
The second fragment is located in the Aionian Campus. Use Matterspark to enter a portal, then take the first right into a cavern. Destroy a flower on the ceiling, pass through a fan, and pick up Mattermorph. Circle back behind the plant to a room with another flower and a vent. Use Mattermorph to open the vent and collect the piece.
The third is in Assimilated Easement, accessed from Caldera. Follow the left path to Singularity, and then go left again past a Vex fight. Use Mattermorph and enter a pipe-filled path to find a flower. Shoot it to disable a fan and drop into a room with a Fallen boss. After the fight, collect the final piece.
Temporal Alignment Catalyst
The Temporal Alignment catalyst also requires Mythic difficulty and conveniently begins in the same room where you fought the Fallen boss for the Transcendent Zen catalyst. After the battle, head up the elevator and shoot a flower above to disable a fan. Pass through and find a Matterspark portal. Take the right path to a large room with rooftops and platforms. Access the terminal at the back, then return to the first rooftop to find a new flower and an open room near the ceiling where the first fragment is found.
The second part is in The Gorge. Follow the main path and take the second left. After using Matterspark, climb the rocky terrain to the top and glide to the back of a Vex structure. Destroy a nearby flower, grab the Relocator, and quickly enter a cave with a slowed fan. Use the portal there to reach the second piece.
The final fragment is back in Caldera—head left from spawn to find a flower and a fan. Use Matterspark at the end of the tunnel to retrieve the last collectible.
Let me know what you think about the Graviton Spike in the comments, plus let me know which catalyst is your favourite.