Destiny 2 Class Guide

Here’s a breakdown of the classes in Destiny 2 the way I see them.

Table of Contents

Class Basics
Hunter
Titan
Warlock

Class Basics

Destiny 2 has a three class system, Hunter, Titan and Warlock. Each of the three classes have subclasses (or specs). These subclasses can be unlocked by getting a quest at random from chest (though you start with one). The best way I’ve found to unlock these quick is run Public Events or farm chest (not level bound).

Each of these classes functions similar; you get one grenade ability, an active ability a melee ability and a “Super.” Each of these is on a cool down or can be used once or for a limited time then has to recharge before another use. All the classes feel similar yet different and fairly balanced in comparison to other games I’ve played.

Supers – these are powerful abilities that have to charged by kills or picking up orbs from other players. Some of these are instant or others transform you into a powerful version of yourself.

Hunter Basics

Feels like – Nightblade from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Static Ability – Dodge, basically avoid damage and either recharging your melee or reload. Dodge seems fairly week in comparison to the other two classes in terms of PvE potential but can be awesome in PvP.
Jump – You get a “triple” jump making it the most mobile both vertical and speed.
The Hunter is the speedy, stealthy and heavily based on aiming (head shots). As a player moving from PC to consoles, my aim is terrible so this class isn’t as useful for me since I’m poor at headshots currently. My initial thoughts are, very high skill cap though harder for people with poor aim to play.

Titan Basics

Feels like – Dragonknight from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Static Ability – Barricade, a very functional shield wall that can either be a huge wall or allow you to peak over and instantly reload. If an enemy walks through the wall, it will take damage and be slowed.
Jump – This is the second best jump with a strong double but no triple.
The Titan feels strong in every single aspect. Each tree has unique benefits to you and your group. You can play melee juggernaut, super focused or grenade machine and be effective. If you’re looking for an all around strong character, Titan is for you.

Warlock Basics

Feels like – Templar from The Elder Scrolls Online.
Static Ability – Rift, place a static circle on the ground that either heals or provides weapon damage.
Jump – By far the worst jump and very hard for people who are Mario challenged like me.
The Warlock is my favorite of the classes as it feels like a healer and very strong solo. I plan on making this my “main” even though the jumping mechanic is terrible but I’ll get over it.

Below is the list of each class abilities and subclasses you can choose from. Tune into my video for detail descriptions of each!

Hunter

SUBCLASS Acrstrider

Super – Arc Staff – conjure a staff powered by arc light, and run around hitting things with it.

Grenade Choices

Skip Grenade – a grenade which splits on impact, creating multiple projectiles which seek enemies.
Flux Grenade – an explosive grenade which deals additional damage when attached to enemies.
Arcbolt Grenade – a grenade that chains bolts of lightning to nearby enemies.

Active Ability Dodge

Marksman’s Dodge – automatically reloads your weapon when dodging.
Gambler’s Dodge – dodging near enemies generates melee energy.

Jump Choices

High Jump – upgrades Double Jump with even greater height.
Triple Jump – upgrades Double Jump with a third jump.
Strafe Jump – upgrades Double Jump with better directional control while in the air.

Specs (can choose only one)

Way of the Warrior

Combat Flow – melee kills recharge your dodge skill.
Deadly Reach – dodging temporarily increases melee range.
Lethal Current – Arc Staff attacks hit twice after dodging.
Shocking Blow – striking an enemy with this powerful melee attack emits a deadly bolt of lightning from your fist.

Way of the Wind

Disorienting Blow – striking an enemy with this debilitating melee attack. disorients the target. Killing a target with Disorienting Blow instantly recharges it.
Lightning Reflexes – take less damage while dodging with Arc Staff active.
Battle Meditation – when critically wounded, melee and grenade skills recharge faster.
Focused Breathing – sprinting reduces dodge cooldown, increased sprint speed.

SUBCLASS Gunslinger

Super – Golden Gun – summons a flaming pistol that disintegrates enemies with Solar Light. Carries six bullets, each of which can kill a low-tier mob in one shot, but it’ll take two to finish an enemy Guardian in PvP.

Grenade Choices

Swarm Grenade – a grenade that detonates on impact, releasing multiple drones that seek nearby enemies.
Incendiary Grenade – A grenade whose explosion catches enemies on fire.
Tripmine Grenade – an explosive grenade that sticks to surfaces and detonates upon enemies who pass through its laser trigger.

Active Ability Dodge

Marksman’s Dodge – dodge to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
Gambler’s Dodge – dodge to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your melee ability.

Jump Choices

High Jump – while airborne, jump a second time to reach greater heights.
Triple Jump – while airborne, sustain your air control with a second or third jump.
Strafe Jump – while airborne, jump a second time with strong directional control.

Specs (can choose only one)

Way of the Outlaw

Explosive Knife – throw a knife from a distance that explodes shortly after impact with this melee ability.
Chains of Woe – Precision kills increase weapon reload speed for you and nearby allies.
Six-Shooter – Golden Gun can be fired quickly up to six times, but has a shorter duration.
Deadshot – Significantly improves your ability to hit with Golden Gun.

Way of the Sharpshooter

Knife-Juggler – throw a knife from a distance. Precision knife kills with this melee ability immediately recharges it.
Practice Makes Perfect – enter a trance with each precision hit, reducing the cooldown of your Super.
Crowd-Pleaser – enables precision damage with Golden Gun. Precision hits with Golden Gun generate Orbs of Light.
Line ‘em Up – Precision hits with Golden Gun increase its damage and extend its duration.

SUBCLASS Nightstalker

Super – Shadowshot – Fires a non-lethal Void Anchor that slows affected enemies, causes them to take more damage, and prevents them from using abilities.

Grenade Choices

Vortex Grenade – a grenade that creates a vortex that continually damages enemies caught inside.
Spike Grenade – a grenade that attaches to any surface and emits a torrent of damaging void light.
Voidwall Grenade – a grenade that creates a horizontal wall of burning Void Light.

Active Ability Dodge

Marksman’s Dodge – dodge to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
Gambler’s Dodge – dodge to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your melee ability.

Jump Choices

High Jump – while airborne, jump a second time to reach greater heights.
Triple Jump – while airborne, sustain your air control with a second or third jump.
Strafe Jump – while airborne, jump a second time with strong directional control.

Specs (can choose only one)

Way of the Trapper

Snare Bomb – Throw a smoke bomb trap from a distance with this Melee Ability. The smoke bomb sticks to surfaces and detonates when enemies are near, slowing and disorienting them.
Keen Scout – Sprint and sneak faster, and gain an enhanced tracker. Tethered enemies are marked for easy tracking.
Deadfall – The Void Anchors fired from Shadowshot become traps and wait for prey. Void Anchors have increased range and last longer.
Vanishing Step – Dodging makes you vanish from sight for a short time.

Way of the Pathfinder

Vanish in Smoke – Throw a smoke bomb explosive from a distance with this Melee Ability. The smoke bomb creates a cloud that makes you and nearby allies invisible.
Lockdown – Grenade and smoke effects last twice as long, allowing for strong territorial control and increased damage potential.
Heart of the Pack – Killing tethered enemies creates Orbs of Light and increases Mobility, Recovery, and Resilience for you and nearby allies.
Moebius Quiver – Fire Shadowshot multiple times in rapid succession. Shadowshot deals massive damage against tethered enemies.

Titan

SUBCLASS Sentinel

Super – Sentinel Shield – Summon a shield of Void Light. The shield can be used to attack, guard, and perform a Shield Throw.

Grenade Choices

Magnetic Grenade – a grenade that attaches to enemies and explodes twice.
Voidwall Grenade – a grenade that creates a horizontal wall of burning Void Light.
Suppressor Grenade – an explosive grenade that prevents enemies from using abilities for a short time.

Active Ability Barrier

Towering Barricade – a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
Rally Barricade – a small barrier that allows you to peek over it while aiming down sights and instantly reloads your equipment when you take cover.

Jump Choices

High Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
Srafe Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
Catapult Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Specs (can choose only one)

Code of the Protector

Rally Force – Melee kills restore health for you and nearby allies.
Turn The Tide – Your Overshield from Defensive Strike lasts longer and increases melee damage and reload speed.
Ward of Dawn – When Super energy is full, press and hold activation key to create a shielding dome to protect you and your allies.
Defensive Strike – Kill an enemy with this melee ability to create an overshield around you and nearby allies.

Code of the Aggressor

Shield Bash – After sprinting for a short time, use this melee ability to unleash a devastating Shield Bash that disorientates enemies.
Superior Arsenal – Grenade kills recharge your grenade energy.
In The Trenches – Kills while surrounded by enemies reduce the cooldown of your Super.
Second Shield – Gain an additional Shield Throw charge while Sentinel Shield is active.

SUBCLASS Striker

Super – Fists of Havoc – supercharges your fists and slam the ground with the force of a maelstrom.

Grenade Choices

Pulse Grenade – a grenade that periodically damages enemies inside its explosion radius.
Flashbang Grenade – an explosive grenade that disorients enemies it damages.
Lightning Grenade – a grenade that sticks to any surface and emits bolts of lightning

Active Ability Barrier

Towering Barricade – a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
Rally Barricade – a small barrier that allows you to peek over it while aiming down sights and instantly reloads your equipment when you take cover.

Jump Choices

High Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
Srafe Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
Catapult Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Specs (can choose only one)

Code of the Earthshaker

Aftershocks – damaging enemies with Seismic Strike recharges your grenade.
Magnitude – gain an additional grenade charge. Increases the duration of grenade effects.
Terminal Velocity – Fists of Havoc’s ground slam attack leaves a damage-dealing field in its wake and deals more damage the longer it’s in the air.
Seismic Strike – while sprinting, active this melee ability to slam shoulder-first into your target and release an Arc explosion on impact.

Code of the Juggernaut

Frontal Assault – strike an enemy with this melee ability to reload your weapon and increase your weapon stability.
Reversal – melee kills immediately trigger health regeneration.
Knockout – critically wounding an enemy or breaking their shields increases your melee range and damage.
Trample – killing enemies with Fists of Havoc extends its duration.

SUBCLASS Sunbreaker

Super – Hammer of Sol – Activate to hurl flaming hammer projectiles at enemies, dealing significant damage with each hit.

Grenade Choices

Incendary Grenade – a grenade whose explosion sets enemies on fire.
Thermite Grenade – a grenade that sends forward a burning line of fire.
Fusion Grenade – an explosive grenade that burns enemies when it attaches to targets.

Active Ability Barrier

Towering Barricade – a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
Rally Barricade – a small barrier that allows you to peek over it while aiming down sights and instantly reloads your equipment when you take cover.

Jump Choices

High Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
Srafe Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
Catapult Lift – Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Specs (can choose only one)

Code of the Fire-forged

Hammer Strike – While sprinting, use this Melee Ability to unleash a blazing Hammer strike that weakens enemies.
Tempered Metal – Solar Ability kills grant you and nearby allies bonus movement and reload speed.
Battle-Forge – Enemies killed by Hammer of Sol explode.
Vulcan’s Rage – Hammers shatter into explosive molten embers on impact.

Code of the Siegebreaker

Mortar Blast – Strike an enemy with this Melee Ability to release a Solar explosion setting nearby enemies on fire.
Sun Warrior – Solar Ability kills restore your health. Grenade and Melee Ability kills leave a deadly Sunspot in their wake.
Rings of Fire – While standing in a Sunspot, your Solar Abilities recharge faster and your Super lasts longer.
Solar Siege – Hammers create a Sunspot on impact. While standing in Sunspots, you throw hammers faster.

Warlock

SUBCLASS Dawnblade

Super – Daybreak – weave Solar Light into blades and smite your foes from the skies

Grenade Choices

Solar Grenade – a grenade that creates a flare of Solar Light that continually damages enemies trapped inside.
Firebolt Grenade – a grenade that unleashes bolts of Solar Light at nearby enemies
Fusion Grenade – an explosive grenade that deals bonus damage when it attaches to a target

Active Ability Rift

Healing Rift – conjure a well of Light that continually heals those inside it.
Empowering Rift – conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Jump Choices

Strafe Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with string directional control.
Burst Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with a strong initial boost of speed.
Balanced Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with both moderate speed and directional control.

Specs (can choose only one)

Attunement of Sky

Winged Sun – engage your enemies mid-flight. Fire weapons and throw grenades while gliding.
Heat Rises – airborne kills recharge your grenade and melee energy. Casting Daybreak instant refills all your ability energy.
Icarus Dash – dodge in mid-air.
Swift Strike – strike an enemy with this melee ability to burn your target and temporarily increase your movement and reload speed.

Attunement of Flame

Igniting Touch – strike an enemy with this melee ability to burn them and cause them to explode when killed.
Fated For The Flame – Daybreak projectiles seek targets as they travel and, upon impact, launch a streak of deadly flames.
Everlasting Fire – killing an enemy with Daybreak extends its duration.
Phoenix Dive – descend from mid-air to quickly restore your health. While Daybreak is active, descending causes explosive damage.

SUBCLASS Voidwalker

Super – Nova Bomb – Hurl an explosive bolt of Void Light at the enemy, disintegrating those caught within its blast.

Grenade Choices

Vortex Grenade – A grenade that creates a vortex which continually damages enemies trapped inside.
Axion Bolt – A bolt of Void Light that forks into smaller bolts on impact that seek out enemies.
Scatter Grenade – A grenade that splits into many submunitions and covers a large area with multiple explosions.

Active Ability Rift

Healing Rift – conjure a well of Light that continually heals those inside it.
Empowering Rift – conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Jump Choices

Strafe Glide – Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with string directional control.
Blink – Jump while airborne to teleport a short distance.
Burst Glide – Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with a strong initial boost of speed.

Specs (can choose only one)

Attunement of Chaos

Chaos Accelerant – Draw power from your Super to overcharge your grenade, making it deadlier and more effective.
Bloom – Void ability kills cause enemies to explode.
Cataclysm – Nova Bomb travels slowly and seeks enemies. Detonations shatter into smaller seeker projectiles. Fire your weapon at the Nova Bomb to detonate it early.
Entropic Pull – Strike an enemy with this melee ability to drain your enemy’s life force and use it to recharge your grenade.

Attunement of Hunger

Devour – Kill an enemy with this melee ability to fully regenerate your health. For a short time afterward, kills restore additional health.
Feed The Void – Consume your grenade energy to regenerate your health. Grants the Devour effect.
Insatiable – While the Devour effect is active, killing enemies extends its duration and recharges your grenade.
Vortex – Nova Bomb creates a singularity which continually damages enemies trapped inside.

SUBCLASS

Super – Stormtrance – While active, Stormtrance allows a Stormcaller to float across the battlefield, electrocuting and disintegreating foe after foe.

Grenade Choices

Arcbolt Grenade – chains bolts of lightning to nearby enemies.
Pulse Grenade – periodically damages enemies inside its explosion radius.
Storm Grenade – calls down a focused lightning storm.

Active Ability Rift

Healing Rift – conjure a well of Light that continually heals those inside it.
Empowering Rift – conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Jump Choices

Controlled Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with string directional control.
Burst Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with a strong initial boost of speed.
Balanced Glide – jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with both moderate speed and directional control.

Specs (can choose only one)

Attunement of Ions

Chain Lightning – Deliver an electrocuting Arc melee strike at extended range that chains from the struck target to another enemy nearby.
Transcendence – When cast with full grenade and melee energy, Stormtrance lasts longer and fully restores health.
Arc Web – Enemies Damaged by your grenades chain deadly lightning to nearby enemies.
Ionic Blink – Press the Sprint button to teleport during Stormtrance.

Attunement of the Elements

Gale Force – This electrocuting Melee Ability hits at extended range and recharges your Super, grenade, and melee energy.
Landfall – On casting Stormtrance, fire a bolt of lightning into the ground, creating a devastating shockwave under you.
Rising Storm – Your Rift charges faster when allies are near.
Arc Soul – Your Rift now grants you or any ally who uses it an Arc Soul to aid you in batlle.

Thanks for viewing my Destiny 2 class guide. Hopefully this helped you determine which class is suited best for you. Stay tuned for more detailed class builds and discussions around the corner.

Destiny 2 Class Guide