Opening chests, choosing stats > soulbound
The whole soul-binding process on exotics is completely illogical, because it is inconsistent. For instance, you need to get the guild weapon you want to form into a tenebrous/shimmering weapon with the character who knows the respective craft, because it is soul-bound on acquire (wth?). Applying runes/sigils also soul-binds your item, which IMO is illogical, too.
If they could make it so that items only soul-bind upon equipping them, for all exotics, that would really be a nice QoL update.
Yea its very counterintuitive.
I wasted 6 triumphant armor boxes this way, because I openend heavy armor for my guard on my ranger. Thanks anet!