How to get Parasite (Exotic Grenade Launcher) in Destiny 2

Parasite is a new Exotic Grenade Launcher put into Destiny 2 as part of the Witch Queen DLC, and this has to be one of the most unique weapons in the game. This thing shot Hive Worms and they explode on impact. Today I am going to take a closer look at the weapons, the perks, plus go into detail about how to get Parasite, including all the quest steps post-campaign in Witch Queen.

It’s worth bearing in mind that this quest is after the main campaign in Witch Queen, so be careful for spoilers if you haven’t played through the campaign yet. Consider this a spoiler warning, as some quest steps may give away crucial details you may not want to be spoiled on. If you don’t mind, then feel free to continue.

First things first, let’s have a look at the weapon in a little more detail.

Parasite is an Exotic Grenade Launcher in the power slot and it’s got some fun perks including:

• Worm’s Hunger – This weapon fires Hive worms that explode on impact. The size and damage of the explosion scale with the number of enemies you’ve defeated just before firing this weapon.
• Worm Byproduct: Taking damage from your own worm projectile detonation empowers your weapons for a short time.

Also, it’s a 120 rpm Grenade Launcher with one in the magazine.

How to get Parasite, Of Queens and Worms Quest

Let’s check out how to get the grenade launcher.

Step 1 – Finish The Witch Queen Campaign

Once you finish the main campaign in the Witch Queen you’ll have a debrief with Ikora and she’ll give you the Exotic Quest called Of Queens and Worms, and she’ll tell you to go and have a chat with Mara Sov in the Enclave.

Step 2 – Speak to Mara

Here you’ll get a nice cutscene with Mara talking about Savathun’s worm. It’s dying, but it still might be useful for us, given it’s knowledge of the collapse. Mara suggests she puts her body forward as a new host, which our ghost is pretty shocked by. After the chat with Mara, she then directs you to a new Strike.

Step 3 – Complete Birthplace of the Vile Strike

For this step of the quest you just need to complete the strike, and you can select this from the Throneworld map. Run through the strike as per normal and once you have completed the strike, it’s back to the Throneworld to speak to Fynch.

Step 4 – Speak to Fynch

Head back to the Throneworld and have a chat with Fynch, and he’ll tell you about a Cryptoglyph rune in the Temple of Cunning.

Step 5 – Find the Cryptoglyph rune in the Temple of Cunning

Here you can use the quest and select it to add some tracking, which is going to make navigating to the next section much easier. Follow the marker on your map and you’ll reach a point where you have to fight waves of Scorn. Keep fighting the waves, and I think you have three waves including one that looks like the Fanatic from Forsaken. Kill the waves of scorn, then it’s onto the next step.

Step 6 – Defeat Scorn in the Throneworld

Next up you have to kill 100 scorn, and you can do this anywhere. I found it useful to go back to the surface and find public events, this then delivered plenty of scorn to me, rather than me having to hunt them down.

Step 7 – Find the Sepulcher Lost Sector

Now we have to find the Lost Sectors on the Throneworld, starting with Sepulcher. This is going to be marked on your map, so use the marker and it’ll help you navigate your way there. Once you get there, look for the Lost Sector icon. It’s below two build buildings on either side of you, then you jump down and you’ll find the Lost Sector. Make your way through the Lost Sector, killing the enemies as you go. At the end, you’ll find the larvae incubator, and put the worm there.

Step 8 – Complete 3 patrols in the Florescent Canal

After the speech by the worm, head back up to the surface and then complete three patrols. These are little nodes that stick out of the ground and you can find them easily if you get your ghost out, they will be indicated by icons on the screen.

Step 9 – Find a Cryptoglyph rune in the Queen’s Bailey

Once you have completed the Patrols, it’s the same as before, head to the marker, face down waves of enemies and you’ll find the Cryptoglyph rune. Be wary here as you’ll face off against a light bearing Lucent Hive, which can be tricky if you aren’t levelled up.

Step 10 – Find the Metamorphosis Lost Sector in Miasma

This is the same as before, find the Metamorphosis Lost Sector by using the quest and map marker, and look for the Lost Sector icon when you are at the location.

Step 11 – Complete the Metamorphosis Lost Sector

Make your way into the Lost Sector, beat the enemies and the boss and use the larvae incubator once again.

Step 12 – Find a Cryptoglyph Rune in Alluring Curtain

Same again, this time you’ll be going to the Alluring Curtain in the Throneworld. Head there, fight waves. This time there is no cache to be found, but there is a puzzle to solve.

Step 13 – Find the hidden cache

Head back outside, and you’ll need to use your Deepsight to reveal some platforms. On three of these platforms are torches, and you want to shoot the torches with your weapon to light them. Light all three, and a chest will be revealed. Inside will be the rune you are looking for.

Step 14 – Find the the Extraction Lost Sector

This is the last Lost sector we have to find, and use the same method as before, a combination of the quest marker and your map. This one is nice and easy to find in the Quagmire. You have to go to the location, then use deepsight and walk down the platform and into the cave.

Step 15 – Complete the Extraction Lost Sector

Work your way through the Lost Sector, beat the boss and use the final larvae incubator.

Step 16 – Speak to Fynch

Next have a chat with our friendly Hive Ghost near the landing point in Quagmire on the Throneworld.

Step 17 – Complete Parasitic Pilgrimage mission

Then we have a final mission with some pretty good mechanics, you have to put the worm down in the pool. You have to be quick and there’s plenty of things that will kill you, but it’s doable after a few tries.

After you’ve done this and made your escape, there’s a final part of the mission where you get to try out the weapon, then after that Parasite it yours.

Overall, it’s a fun weapon. I am not sure if I’d seriously use it for DPS reasons, not when I have something like Gjallarhorn or Sleeper. But if Grenade Launchers get buffed in the future, then it may be viable. For now it’s a niche weapon. Thematically similar to Touch of Malice, although probably not quite as useful.

Let me know in the comments what you think of Parasite, and do you think you’ll use it outside the novelty value?

That’s it for this guide for how to get Parasite in Destiny 2. For more Destiny 2 content like this check out This Week In Video Games on YouTube and subscribe today.