Curio Of The Nine Destiny 2: Your Ultimate Guide To The Wish’s Exotic Class Item

Have you ever wondered what hidden power the enigmatic Nine left behind for Guardians to discover in the tangled timelines of Destiny 2? What could possibly be so valuable that it becomes a cornerstone for some of the most potent builds in the entire game? The answer lies in a deceptively simple, yet overwhelmingly powerful, piece of gear: the Curio of the Nine. This isn't just another exotic to add to your collection; it’s a paradigm-shifting exotic class item that fundamentally alters how you approach ability regeneration and ultimate uptime. Whether you're a seasoned Warlock main seeking infinite Dawnblade or a Titan looking to never stop throwing barricades, understanding the Curio is non-negotiable for mastering the current endgame.

This comprehensive guide will dissect every facet of the Curio of the Nine. We’ll journey from its mysterious origins in the Season of the Wish to its current status as a meta-defining artifact. You’ll learn exactly how its unique perk functions, the best ways to acquire it, and, most importantly, how to build around it to unleash devastating, ability-spam combos. By the end, you’ll know precisely why this unassuming item has become a must-have for so many Guardians and how you can harness its power to dominate everything from Grandmaster Nightfalls to seasonal activities.

The Origin and Lore of the Curio of the Nine

To truly appreciate the Curio of the Nine, we must first understand the enigmatic beings who created it. The Nine are not simple enemies; they are ancient, psychic entities born from the consciousness of the asteroid belt itself, existing as a gestalt of thought and shadow. Their motives are inscrutable, often playing a long, complex game that sees them both aiding and hindering humanity. During the Season of the Wish, their influence was felt more directly than ever as they manipulated events within the newly revealed Pale Heart destination.

• What Happened To Jessica Tarlov
• Vijay Height
• Did Jessica Tarlov Get Fired From Fox News
• Jessica Tarlov Fired

The Curio itself is a physical manifestation of the Nine's psychic resonance. It’s described as a small, ornate locket or trinket that hums with a strange energy, seemingly tapping into the fundamental frequencies of the universe. Lore entries suggest it was left as a "gift" or a "test" for the Guardian who could prove themselves worthy within the Wish’s domain. It represents the Nine’s unique ability to manipulate fate and energy, translating that power into a tangible gameplay effect for the wearer. This isn't a weapon of direct destruction like a Gjallarhorn; it’s an instrument of profound systemic change, echoing the Nine’s role as subtle orchestrators of reality.

How the Curio of the Nine Works: Unpacking the Perk

The core of the Curio of the Nine’s power is its intrinsic perk, Nine’s Favor. This is where the magic—and the build-crafting genius—happens. The perk has two interconnected parts that must be understood together:

1. "When you pick up an Orb of Power, you gain a small amount of Super energy."
2. "When you cast your Super, all of your abilities are instantly recharged."

On the surface, it’s a straightforward loop: orbs give you Super, Super gives you abilities. But the implications are staggering. The "small amount" of Super from an Orb is significant enough that, with consistent orb generation, you can achieve near-permanent Super uptime. More importantly, the instant recharge of all abilities upon Super cast means you can chain your most powerful abilities together without the usual downtime. Imagine unleashing your ultimate, and the moment the animation finishes, your grenade, melee, and class ability are all ready to go again. This turns your Super from a once-per-major-encounter tool into the central engine of a relentless, cyclical ability rotation.

• Brooke Nevils
• Richard Harmon
• Doug Brunt
• Has Jessica Tarlov Been Fired

The synergy is multiplicative. Abilities generate orbs (through multi-kills with certain weapons or abilities), orbs fuel Super, Super resets abilities, and the reset abilities generate more orbs. It creates a self-sustaining engine of power that, once properly tuned, can feel almost game-breaking. This is why Curio of the Nine build crafting has become one of the most popular and discussed topics in the Destiny community.

Acquiring the Curio of the Nine: Your Path to Power

So, how do you get your hands on this coveted exotic? The Curio of the Nine debuted as the primary exotic reward for the Season of the Wish (Season 23). Its acquisition method is tied directly to the seasonal activity, The Final Shape’s "Wish" content, specifically through the "Warden of the Nine" triumph.

Here is the primary method and key details:

• Source: The exotic engram for the Curio can drop from the final chest of the "Warden of the Nine" activity, which is part of the seasonal narrative on the Pale Heart. You must complete the associated triumph, which involves completing specific objectives within this activity.
• RNG Factor: Like many exotic drops, it is not a 100% guaranteed drop upon first completion. You may need to run the activity multiple times. However, the drop rate is considered relatively generous compared to older, more obscure exotic quests.
• Alternative Sources:
  • Xur: The Agent of the Nine occasionally sells the Curio of the Nine in his weekly inventory, but this is rare and not a reliable farming method.
  • Exotic Ciphers & engrams: Once you have unlocked the Curio on one character (by obtaining it), you can purchase it from the Monument to Lost Light in the Tower using an Exotic Cipher and 150,000 Glimmer, provided you have first acquired it on any character. This is the ultimate safety net for completionists.
• Current Status: With the conclusion of the Season of the Wish, the Warden of the Nine activity remains accessible on the Pale Heart. This means farming the Curio is still very much possible for players who missed it during the season, though the drop rate from the final chest is unchanged.

Pro Tip: To maximize your chances, ensure you have a "Wish" active that increases exotic drop rates from the activity. Complete all related triumphs for the season to unlock any potential bonus drop rates.

Building Around the Curio: Class-Specific Domination

The true power of the Curio of the Nine is unlocked through synergistic build crafting. The instant ability reset on Super cast opens up possibilities that are class-defining. Here’s how to maximize it for each Vanguard class.

Warlock: The Infinite Dawnblade or Stormcaller

For Warlocks, the Curio is arguably at its most potent. The classic pairing is with Dawnblade (Solar).

• Core Loop: Use your Daybreak Super. The moment you finish your aerial slashes, all abilities reset. Immediately throw a Solar Grenade (or use Firebolt Grenade for tracking), which with the right fragments (like Ember of Singeing for grenade energy on kill) and mods (like Kickstart), can quickly generate Orbs of Power. These orbs refill your Super, letting you summon Daybreak again in seconds. You become a perpetual, flaming sword-wielding whirlwind.
• Alternative:Stormcaller (Arc) works similarly. Cast Stormtrance, reset abilities, drop a Lightning Grenade or use Chain Lightning melee to clear groups and generate orbs, repeating the cycle. Mods like Feedback Fences or Electrostatic Mind become incredibly powerful in this loop.

Essential Mods:Kickstart (Grenade/Melee/Class), Orb of Light (Masterwork weapon), Font of Might (for damage buffs), Elemental Shards (to turn orbs into elemental wells for further buffs).

Titan: Unstoppable Barrier and Throwing Hammer Barrage

Titans translate the Curio’s loop into unrelenting defensive and crowd-control pressure.

• Core Loop: Cast your Sentinel Shield (or Thundercrash for a more aggressive, one-shot loop). Abilities reset. Place a Barricade immediately for cover and damage resistance. The barricade can generate orbs with the Rally Barricade mod or through weapon kills. Use your Throwing Hammer (with Hammer of the Gods for Super energy on throw) or Shield Bash to generate orbs and damage, refilling Super. You are a fortress that constantly replenishes its own walls and ammunition.
• Alternative:Striker (Arc) with Fists of Havoc. The slam resets abilities, letting you immediately follow up with a Pulse Grenade or Seismic Strike melee, creating a devastating ground-slam loop.

Essential Mods:Rally Barricade, Kickstart (Barricade/Melee), Heavy Handed (for melee energy), Offensive Bulwark (damage resistance while barricade is active).

Hunter: The Unending Spectral Swarm or Golden Gun

Hunters can achieve terrifying ability spam, especially with invisibility or precision damage loops.

• Core Loop:Gunslinger (Solar) with Golden Gun. Cast Deadshot or Colony. Abilities reset. Throw a Trip Mine Grenade or use Knife Trick melee to secure multi-kills and orbs. With Fan Fire and Ember of Torches, your Golden Gun shots can also generate orbs, creating a rapid-fire loop. You become a relentless, precision executioner.
• Alternative:Nightstalker (Void) with Moebius Quiver or Spectral Blades. The invisibility and weaken effects combined with constant ability resets allow for unparalleled control and survivability in high-end content. Glaive users can also benefit hugely, as the Curio resets the Glaive’s special melee energy.

Essential Mods:Kickstart (Grenade/Melee), Orb of Light, Font of Might, Trespasser (for increased damage against weakened enemies with Void builds).

The Curio in the Current Meta: Is It Still S-Tier?

With the ever-shifting landscape of Destiny 2 balance, a common question is: "Is Curio of the Nine still good in [Current Year/Season]?" The short answer is a resounding yes. While specific subclass reworks or artifact mod rotations can slightly alter the peak builds, the fundamental mechanic of "Super resets all abilities" is timeless and universally powerful.

Its value is proven by its persistent presence in top-tier community build guides for Grandmaster Nightfalls, Trials of Osiris, and seasonal activities. Any activity where ability economy—having the right tool at the right time—is critical, the Curio shines. It transforms subclasses that are already strong into ones that are consistently dominant. The only potential downside is the reliance on Orb of Power generation. In solo content or with a disorganized fireteam, orb generation can be inconsistent. However, in coordinated fireteams or with self-sufficient builds (using weapons with Onslaught or Orbit perks, or mods like Elemental Charge), this weakness is easily mitigated.

Compared to other exotic class items, the Curio offers a unique and powerful systemic benefit rather than a situational damage buff. It’s less about a single "pop" and more about enabling a relentless, sustainable playstyle that aligns perfectly with the ability-focused design of modern Destiny.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s address the common queries every Guardian has about this exotic:

Q: Can the Curio of the Nine work with any subclass?
A: Yes! The perk is subclass-agnostic. It works with Solar, Arc, Void, Strand, and Stasis. However, its effectiveness is maximized on subclasses that have strong, spammable abilities or supers that can quickly generate orbs (like Dawnblade, Stormtrance, or Golden Gun). Some subclasses benefit more than others.

Q: Does the Super energy from picking up an Orb of Power scale?
A: The amount is fixed and relatively small. Don't expect a full Super from a single orb. The power comes from accumulation. Picking up 3-5 orbs in quick succession will typically fill a significant portion of your Super bar, especially with mods that increase Super energy gain from orbs (like Orb of Light on a masterworked weapon).

Q: What are the best weapons to pair with a Curio build?
A: Weapons that generate Orbs of Power on multi-kills are ideal. Look for perks like:

• Onslaught: (From the Wellspring origin trait) - "Final blows with this weapon create an Orb of Power."
• Orbit: (From the Dead Messenger trace rifle) - "Final blows with this weapon create an Orb of Power."
• Wellspring: (Weapon perk) - "Final blows with this weapon create an Orb of Power."
• Adagio: (While not orb-gen, the range and stability buff can help secure multi-kills for other orb-gen sources).
  High rate-of-fire weapons (SMGs, Auto Rifles) or AoE weapons (Glaives, Trace Rifles) are excellent for clearing groups and generating orbs to feed the loop.

Q: Is it worth farming if I already have a good exotic for my class?
A: Absolutely. The Curio is a "force multiplier" exotic. It doesn't just make one ability stronger; it makes your entire kit more available. This versatility makes it valuable in almost every PvE scenario, often outperforming more specialized exotics in sustained engagements. It’s one of the few exotics that is almost always a top-tier choice.

Conclusion: Embrace the Nine’s Favor

The Curio of the Nine is more than an item; it’s a philosophy of play. It rewards aggressive, ability-focused Guardians who understand the rhythm of combat and the power of cyclical momentum. It transforms the Super from a climax into a starting point, turning every ultimate cast into the first beat of a devastating new sequence.

Acquiring it is a straightforward, if potentially grindy, process tied to seasonal content. Mastering it, however, is an art that involves careful mod selection, weapon pairing, and subclass synergy. Whether you’re slashing as a Dawnblade, barricading as a Titan, or quickscoping as a Gunslinger, the Curio provides the key to an almost endless torrent of power. In the grand puzzle of Destiny 2’s endgame, it is a piece that fits into almost every build, a testament to the profound and lasting impact of the mysterious Nine. Now, Guardian, go forth, collect your orbs, and experience the unending favor of the Nine.