Click to watch embedded media
As a long-time Destiny 2 fan, it's a fantastic sight to see so many returning players and newcomers join the fray thanks to Season of the Lost and the upcoming Witch Queen expansion. While Destiny has always had a story, it truly feels like the Forsaken DLC kicked off a new wave of inspiration from the team. The studio over at Bungie continued that flow with Shadowkeep and the current expansion, Beyond Light. From there, the seasonal content hit a crescendo that is nothing short of inspiring, especially so with Season of the Chosen and Splicer.
With Season of the Lost bringing back a beloved character from the first game, many veteran Destiny players are returning after long hiatuses. That, and newcomers are finally checking out what the space shooter has in store. That being said, the Destiny 2 available today is almost nothing like it was at launch, and that can be very intimidating when looking at all of the different content. Where should you start? What should you skip? What should be your focus? Well, Guardian, strap in, because here's your Destiny 2 Beginner's Guide for new and returning players before diving into what Season of the Lost has in store.
Should I pay for the expansions or try free-to-play first?
Free is always good but in this case? Paid is way, way better. If you're looking for story, the expansions are the way to go. Forsaken, Shadowkeep, and Beyond Light are the current expansions you can dive into, with the first being a true pivot for the Destiny 2 experience. When the game first launched, it was rough, which we talked about here, but Forsaken truly acted as a catalyst for positive change. Then Shadowkeep came and took the story into an even darker place with the current expansion, Beyond Light, shattering us in ways (sometimes literally) that are both painful and beautiful. Purchasing the expansions is also a great way to get better gear because it's assumed that you've played the game before now while also granting access to higher-tier content such as Raids.
The free version isn't a bad start if you are on the fence about whether or not the style of gameplay is right for you. You can play PvP events like Crucible, PvPvE events like Gambit, and enjoy additional content such as Strikes. You can also enjoy the Vault of Glass raid, the only raid that is free for everyone that has returned from its Destiny 1 glory. Expansion-specific Exotic quests are also limited to paid players. What you will also be missing out on is some of the best storytelling in Destiny history, as well as the seasonal content that adds gut-wrenching lore and tales of inspiring feats.
Classes and Subclasses
There are three classes to choose from, I recommend running one of each to level faster and to experience the wildly different ways each one approaches combat:
- Hunter - Perfect for rogue lovers
- Titan - Perfect for tank lovers
- Warlock - Perfect for magic lovers
- Think of Warlocks as a Support character due to healing rift abilities and its Well of Radiance Super
Each class has four subclasses to master, individually unlocked:
- Solar
- Arc
- Void
- Stasis
- This can only be unlocked if you have Beyond Light
Each subclass has three skill trees to unlock, which are different from class to class. Play around for different trees depending on the instance. For example, when I run raids as a Warlock, I'll typically either go top-tree void or Solar for Well of Radiance to keep my fireteam alive. Or, if I want to do massive damage with my Titan, I will go Thundercrash using the Arc subclass. Paired with a unique Exotic chest piece, that damage is increased even more, making this a powerhouse addition to any fire team. Hunters also have a unique Tether ability which is great for clearing large groups of enemies at one time.
Where should I start?
It's easy to feel overwhelmed at first, whether you are completely green or a returning player. When dropping into Destiny 2 for the first time, New Light starts you with doing the introduction mission on the Cosmodrome. This is a tutorial segment of the game that shows you the basic ropes, such as Supers, basic combat, weapon types, and varying NPC roles. When you are there, you will be directed to your first NPC that will dole out what are called Bounties. These are specific tasks that give instructions on what players will need to do in order to complete them. They are great for getting XP to level while also earning Pinnacles and Powerfuls, which is something we'll go into more detail about in the Gear section.
When running around to get your first ship, it can be a little disorienting because a new player isn't going to be super familiar with how Destiny works quite yet, which can be a tad overwhelming. Pay attention to what the NPCs that have a marker over them tell you, grab bounties, and then pay attention to your Quest log to track which action items you want to do first. This will get more complicated as you go on, but the start of your journey will focus on catching you up on everything to do in-game. Once the New Light campaign is complete, you'll then head to the Tower where there will be quest markers for key characters:
- Shaxx - Crucible, PvP
- Banshee - Weapon bounties, consumables, purchasable items with Glimmer (in-game material used as currency), Legendary Shards, etc
- Drifter - Gambit bounties
- Zavala - Titan vanguard for Strike bounties, Strikes in a playlist can be found in the Destinations tab on your menu alongside Gambit and Crucible
- Ikora Rey - Warlock vanguard
- ADA-1 - Armor Synthesis agent for transmogrification, offers unique bounties for materials needed to make cosmetic changes
Eventually, there will be an extension to the Tower called the H.E.L.M, but you don't need to worry about that until you reach Beyond Light content and continue on with Season of the Chosen and everything after that point.