Choosing a class to play can be hard in any video game. Before you can experience the game's combat loop, most games force you to pick how you'd like to specialize your character. Destiny 2 is no exception to this.
Guardians can choose between one of three classes: Hunter, Warlock, and Titan. All three classes provide unique abilities, Supers, and Exotic armor for the player to use. All three of them excel in certain aspects and, when played well, can shine in the game's toughest environments. While you can make one of each class in Destiny 2, you'll still need to decide which class to play first.
Updated October 14th, 2021, by Charles Burgar: Destiny 2 is revving up for some massive changes in Year 5. The Witch Queen expansion will begin to overhaul each of the Light subclasses to match the versatility of Stasis, a subclass introduced in the Beyond Light expansion. We've updated this article to cover the core roles and playstyles of each class, giving you a clearer idea as to what each class plays like. We'll be updating this guide throughout Year 5 to cover the Light subclass reworks as Bungie releases them.
Why You Should Play Hunter
Hunters are Destiny 2's most played class, having twice the number of players as Warlocks and Titans. They are known for their agility, endless utility, and fashionable capes. Your abilities focus on aggression and utility. Throw a smoke bomb at your feet to turn invisible, throw an explosive knife that acts as a mine, or even punch an enemy so hard they turn into stardust. Hunters have a little bit of everything, although they aren't able to support their team as well as Warlocks or Titans.
Subclass Breakdown
Gunslinger(Solar) | Arcstrider(Arc) | Nightstalker(Void) | Revenant(Stasis) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role |
|
|
|
|
| Playstyle |
|
|
|
|
PvE
In PvE, Hunters are fantastic for soloing content due to their wide range of abilities. Their damage potential is great, but it pales in comparison to a Hunter's utility and Supers. Arcstriders have ways to force healing or ability regeneration, Nightstalkers can suppress enemies and make themselves invisible, and Revenants can slow down the action whenever necessary.
Only the Gunslinger subclass is solely focused on outputting a ton of burst damage, something it does well against bosses. Don't pick Hunters if you want to support your team, however, as Hunters don't provide any team-wide healing or damage buffs in any subclass spec. They're considered lone wolves for a reason.
PvP
As for the Crucible, Hunters morph into a league of their own. Thanks to Stasis and the ST0MP-EE5 Exotic boots, Hunters have a degree of agility that no class can match. They might not match the sheer speed of a Dawnblade Warlock of a Behemoth Titan, yet Revenant Hunters can dominate on the ground or in the air with equal proficiency. Glacier Grenades and the Shatterdive Aspect make Hunters a force to be reckoned with.
Excluding Stasis, Nightstalker and Arcstrider Hunters have an excellent amount of utility baked into their respective kits. Nightstalkers can see through walls and turn invisible, while Arcstriders have a fantastic neutral game.
Why You Should Play Hunter
Overall, Hunters are best suited for Guardians that want as many tools at their disposal as possible. You might not have the other two classes' support capabilities, but Hunters more than make up for that with style and grace. If you are mostly a solo player on the fence about which class to play, give the Hunter a try. They have almost everything you need to solo Destiny 2's hardest content.
Strengths:
- Unmatched utility
- Agile
- Can easily solo content
Weaknesses:
- The only class that lacks support buffs
- They're the most popular class, making them less desired for certain groups
- Hard to gear (requires Mobility, Recovery, and either Discipline or Intellect)
Why You Should Play Warlock
Despite what the name implies, Warlocks are not spell-slinging whirlwinds of destruction in Destiny 2. This class still relies on firearms as Hunters and Titans do. However, Warlocks make up for this with their excellent neutral game. Warlocks focus on improving Destiny 2's core gameplay loop instead of replacing it altogether, a massive deviation from how most spellcasters are treated in other ARPGs and MMOs.
Subclass Breakdown
Dawnblade(Solar) | Stormcaller(Arc) | Voidwalker(Void) | Shadebinder(Stasis) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role |
|
|
|
|
| Playstyle |
|
|
|
|
PvE
Warlocks are the only class in the game that can regain all of their health on kill or float in the air for nearly a minute. Warlocks are a blessing in any PvE activity, mostly thanks to the Attunement of Grace spec for the Dawnblade subclass. This subclass lets players heal allies, buff their damage, and allow Warlocks to create a Well of Radiance that is nigh-impossible to die in.
Should you decide to play solo, Warlocks also have the ability to throw overcharged Void grenades that deal obscene damage. Alternatively, you could become nearly invincible by using Attunement of Hunger from the Voidwalker subclass, granting all of your health back after killing someone. A few builds can make Warlocks ability-slinging wizards that the class suggests, but don't expect this behavior when starting out. What you can expect is a magic-infused killing machine that never backs out of a tough fight.
PvP
Few things are as terrifying as a good Warlock inside the Crucible. The Dawnblade's Attunement of Sky subclass offers a degree of movement more reminiscent of classic arena shooters than a modern-day FPS. Chaining glides together while Icarus Dashing never gets old, allowing you to traverse maps faster than the competition. An excellent array of Exotics also gives Warlocks solid utility buffs such as reloading while sprinting or better Blink teleports. From Quickplay to Trials of Osiris, Warlocks seldom disappoint.
Why You Should Play Warlock
Ultimately, do you want to focus more on Destiny's Light and Dark magic? If so, Warlocks are by far the best choice. They can buff teammates, freeze enemies in place, or throw dozens of grenades out with the right gear. Mastering this class is a tall order for some, but the payoff is more than worth it. Few things are as terrifying as a skilled Warlock player, both in PvE and PvP.
Strengths:
- Top-tier in PvP
- Best support abilities in the game
- Have the most unique builds
Weaknesses:
- Lackluster PvE DPS Supers
- Little utility
- High PvP learning curve
Why You Should Play Titan
No class can stand their ground quite like a Titan. When combat gets chaotic, Titans disrupt the enemy's plans with a well-placed Barricade or melee ability. If the opposition is timid, Titans can utterly annihilate them with raw aggression. Titans are a flexible class that can suit any playstyle. They offer incredible buffs in PvE, powerful abilities in PvP, and can generate cover when gunfights go south.
Subclass Breakdown
Sunbreaker(Solar) | Striker(Arc) | Sentinel(Void) | Behemoth(Stasis) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role |
|
|
|
|
| Playstyle |
|
|
|
|
PvE
Most Titan subclasses encourage Titans to get in the thick of combat. Nearly every Titan melee ability utilizes their body to strike targets, making them a high-risk, high-reward class. Certain subclass specs such as Code of the Defender and Code of the Siegebreaker can provide invaluable buffs. Defender Titans can deploy the Ward of Dawn Super, an impenetrable bubble that grants everyone inside a 35% damage boost for 15 seconds. Siegebreakers turn their enemies into lethal Sunspots that deal damage over time. If you can embrace their aggressive nature, Titans have a solution for every problem.
PvP
Fighting a skilled Titan in PvP can be nearly impossible if they take advantage of their entire subclass. Most of their melee abilities one-shot Guardians or let them traverse maps at great speed. Titan grenades are adept at shutting down corridors or Control points. Most importantly, Titans can create Barricades to absorb enemy fire.
All of these tools give Titans a degree of map control that no other class can match. You can pressure enemies to retreat by pushing forward with a Shoulder Charge, or you can create a diversion by deploying a Barricade. Timid players get punished by a Titan's melee abilities, while aggressive players have difficulty dealing with their Barricades.
Why You Should Play Titan
Guardians that value versatility above all else should play as a Titan. They have a solution for every problem you'll face in Destiny 2, provided you can embrace their rather samey melee abilities. Variety is one of the largest downsides of Titans, with nearly every spec revolving around punching something. If you can get past that, Titans have a lot to offer.
Strengths:
- Unmatched versatility
- Excellent team players
- Dominates in close quarters
Weaknesses:
- Identical abilities between subclasses
- Struggles with soloing pinnacle PvE content
- Multiple Titans don't synergize well together
