The Best Destiny 2 Starting Point: A Guardian’s Guide for New Lights

So, you’re thinking of becoming a Guardian, eh? Welcome to the fold! Destiny 2 is a sprawling, often bewildering universe, and figuring out where to even begin can feel like staring into the void (pun intended). Let’s cut through the noise and get you pointed in the right direction.

The best Destiny 2 starting point for beginners is the Destiny 2: New Light free-to-play version, followed by purchasing the The Witch Queen expansion.

New Light provides a comprehensive introduction to the core gameplay loops, weapon types, enemy factions, and social spaces without requiring any initial investment. This allows you to experience the feel of Destiny 2 and decide if it’s right for you. However, to truly dive deep and experience the best storytelling and endgame content, The Witch Queen is an absolute must-buy. Its campaign is widely regarded as the best in Destiny history, offering a compelling narrative, challenging missions, and a wealth of new gear and activities. While other expansions offer valuable content, The Witch Queen provides the most satisfying and impactful experience for new players, setting them up for long-term engagement.

Diving Deeper: Why New Light and The Witch Queen?

Let’s break down why this combination is so effective.

• New Light: The Free Dip in the Pool: This version gives you access to core activities like Strikes (cooperative missions), Crucible (player-versus-player combat), and Gambit (a hybrid of PvE and PvP). You also get a taste of each of the three character classes: Titan, Hunter, and Warlock. Experiment with each to find the one that suits your playstyle. The Cosmodrome tutorial area will familiarize you with basic mechanics and weapon handling. More importantly, New Light allows you to experience Destiny 2’s gunplay, which is arguably its biggest strength. If the shooting doesn’t click, no amount of story will keep you hooked.

• The Witch Queen: The Deep Dive: Once you’ve gotten your feet wet with New Light, The Witch Queen unlocks the true potential of Destiny 2. This expansion introduces the Lucent Hive, a terrifying new enemy faction with the power to wield the Light just like Guardians. The campaign is expertly crafted, with memorable characters, stunning environments, and genuinely challenging encounters. The introduction of weapon crafting also adds a whole new layer of customization and progression. Moreover, the The Witch Queen offers a significant amount of endgame content, including the Vow of the Disciple raid, which is a pinnacle activity for coordinated teams. This provides long-term goals and a reason to keep playing and improving your Guardian. The quality and quantity of the Witch Queen content is unmatched by the other expansions.

Other Expansions: A Secondary Consideration

While New Light and The Witch Queen are the recommended starting points, expansions like Lightfall, Beyond Light, and Shadowkeep also offer unique content and experiences. However, they are less crucial for new players. Lightfall offers the Strand subclass, but opinions on the campaign are mixed. Beyond Light introduces the Stasis subclass, which is powerful but can feel overwhelming to master initially. Shadowkeep offers the Nightmare Hunts and a more horror-themed experience. While these expansions add value to the overall game, their content isn’t as essential for new players as that from The Witch Queen. Consider picking these up after completing the The Witch Queen storyline if you’re enjoying the game.

Progression: Power Level and Gearing Up

Destiny 2 utilizes a Power Level system to determine your effectiveness in combat. As you play and complete activities, you’ll earn gear that increases your Power Level. The Witch Queen (and any subsequent expansions you purchase) will raise the Power Level cap, allowing you to continue progressing and becoming stronger. Focus on completing campaign missions, Strikes, Crucible matches, and Gambit matches to earn rewards and increase your Power Level. Once you reach the soft cap, you’ll need to engage in more challenging activities like Nightfall Strikes and raids to reach the hard cap and pinnacle cap.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions from new Guardians:

1. Do I have to play Destiny 1 to understand Destiny 2?

   • No, you don’t. While knowing the lore of Destiny 1 can enhance your experience, Destiny 2 does a good job of introducing its own story and characters. You can catch up on the major plot points through online summaries and videos if you’re interested.

2. Which character class should I choose?

   • It depends on your playstyle! Titans are the tanky, melee-focused class. Hunters are agile and excel at ranged combat and stealth. Warlocks are the support class, with powerful abilities that can heal allies and damage enemies. Try all three classes in New Light to see which one you enjoy the most.

3. What are the different weapon types, and which are best for beginners?

   • Destiny 2 features a wide variety of weapon types, including Auto Rifles, Pulse Rifles, Hand Cannons, Scout Rifles, Submachine Guns, Shotguns, Fusion Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Machine Guns, Rocket Launchers, and Swords. For beginners, Auto Rifles and Pulse Rifles are generally easier to use due to their forgiving recoil and consistent damage output. Experiment with different weapons to find what works best for you.

4. What is the Crucible, and how do I get started?

   • The Crucible is Destiny 2’s player-versus-player (PvP) mode. To get started, simply select the Crucible playlist from the Director (the in-game menu). You’ll be matched with other players and participate in various game modes like Control, Clash, and Supremacy.

5. What are Strikes, and how do I complete them?

   • Strikes are cooperative missions that pit you and two other players against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses. Select the Vanguard Strikes playlist from the Director to start a Strike. Communicate with your teammates and work together to overcome the challenges.

6. What is Gambit, and how does it work?

   • Gambit is a unique hybrid of PvE and PvP. Teams of four Guardians fight enemies, collect motes, and deposit them in a central bank. Depositing motes summons Blockers that can invade the opposing team’s side and disrupt their progress. The first team to summon and defeat their Primeval (a powerful boss) wins the round.

7. What is a raid, and how do I find a group to play with?

   • Raids are challenging endgame activities that require coordinated teams of six players. They are the pinnacle of Destiny 2’s cooperative gameplay. To find a group, you can use the Destiny 2 companion app, online forums, or Discord servers dedicated to finding raid teams.

8. What is weapon crafting, and how do I unlock it?

   • Weapon crafting allows you to create and customize your own weapons. It is unlocked through The Witch Queen campaign by progressing the story. You’ll need to gather resources and complete specific objectives to craft and upgrade your weapons.

9. What are subclasses, and how do I unlock new ones?

   • Subclasses are different variations of your character class that offer unique abilities and playstyles. Each class has several subclasses based on different elemental energies like Solar, Arc, Void, Stasis, and Strand. New subclasses are unlocked by completing specific quests or purchasing expansions like Beyond Light and Lightfall.

10. What are mods, and how do they work?

    • Mods are modifications that can be applied to your armor and weapons to enhance their stats and grant additional abilities. They can improve your reload speed, increase your damage output, or provide other beneficial effects. Mods are obtained through various activities and vendors.

11. What is Power Level, and how do I increase it?

    • Power Level determines your effectiveness in combat. It is increased by equipping higher-level gear. Complete activities and earn rewards to obtain new gear and raise your Power Level.

12. What are shaders, and how do I get them?

    • Shaders are cosmetic items that change the color scheme of your armor and weapons. They are obtained through various activities, vendors, and Eververse (the in-game store).

13. What is Eververse, and should I spend money there?

    • Eververse is the in-game store where you can purchase cosmetic items like shaders, emotes, and armor ornaments using Silver (the premium currency). Spending money at Eververse is entirely optional and does not affect gameplay.

14. How do I report a bug or provide feedback to Bungie?

    • You can report bugs and provide feedback to Bungie on their official forums or through their social media channels.

15. Where can I find more information about Destiny 2?

    • The Games Learning Society website is a great resource for all things gaming and learning. You can also find information on the official Destiny 2 website, YouTube channels, and online communities. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for educational gaming resources.

Welcome, Guardian! The world of Destiny 2 awaits!