#3: Your Guardian: Subclasses, Abilities and Gear

You are a Guardian, a Lightbearer, a Risen, a being of infinite possibilities capable of using the powers of the Light, but also the Darkness. You serve Humanity and its allies, and you will fight many foes in your path. 

Every Guardian shares a similar story: they can’t remember who they were before; they were raised back from the dead by their Ghost, who is bonded to them; and they are either Human, Awoken, or Exo. That doesn't mean all Guardians are the same, not at all. You will define how your Guardian fights, how they look, and,  if you're feeling creative, even your own unique backstory for them!!

As warriors chosen by the Traveler, Guardians have a plethora of abilities and can use an almost unlimited amount of gear, so let's jump in and take a deeper look at what Guardians are all about in Destiny 2.  

Subclasses

A big aspect of your identity as a Guardian is what subclass you use. Subclasses are linked to the forces of Light and Darkness that can be found in the Destiny universe, with each of them related to different elements.

No matter what class you pick, you will have access to all elements, and you will be able to switch freely after you have unlocked them. And as you progress in the game, you will acquire more parts of your kit as your Guardian and become stronger. 

That said, each class has their own way of using said elements, so using a Solar subclass with a Hunter is not going to feel the same as doing so with a Titan, even if some aspects are shared between them.

Here's a quick overview of all six current subclasses; what buffs they can apply to help their fireteam, debuffs they can use to turn the tides of a fight against the enemies, and what physical constructs they can manifest in combat.

Solar

Burn and explode enemies but also empower and heal allies

• Light element
• Buffs: Radiant, Cure, Restoration
• Debuffs: Scorch, Ignition
• Construct: Firesprite

Arc 

Become lightning and deal powerful strikes that disorient enemies

• Light element
• Buffs: Amplified, Bolt Charge
• Debuffs: Blind, Jolt
• Construct: Ionic Trace

Void

Concentrated energy meant for both destruction and protection

• Light element
• Buffs: Devour, Invisibility, Overshield
• Debuffs: Suppression, Weaken, Volatile
• Construct: Void Breach

Stasis

Charge into battle and freeze your enemies to destroy them

• Darkness element
• Buffs: Frost Armor
• Debuffs: Slow, Freeze, Shatter
• Constructs: Stasis Shards, Stasis Crystals

Strand

Weave new ways to move and crowd control your opponents

• Darkness element
• Buffs: Woven Mail
• Debuffs: Suspend, Sever, Unravel
• Constructs: Tangle, Threadling

Prismatic

Use a selection of Light and Darkness powers at the same time

• Light and Darkness elements
• Limited access to all buffs, debuffs and constructs
• Special ability: Transcendence
  • Deal Light and Darkness damage to charge overcharge your abilities and unlock a special, more powerful Prismatic Grenade.

The moment you start tinkering with different subclasses, you’ll find that there are many ways to personalize how you play—and you’ll feel increasingly more powerful as you get comfortable with your build or experiment with new ones, and as you earn more gear. 

Abilities

Subclasses are determined by their element and the abilities they allow you to use in battle. Some abilities are shared between all three classes (like grenades and ragments), but others are exclusive to Hunters, Warlocks, or Titans (like Supers, melees and Aspects). 

Let’s cover the basics of how they work.

Supers

Super abilities charge over time and when you damage enemies. They are the most powerful abilities a Guardian can use as they can do very high damage, add more damage to your weapons, debuff enemies, or protect your fireteam in ways no other abilities can. Use them wisely to change the course of a battle. 

Grenades

Grenades explode doing damage in a wide area… except if you use a healing grenade! They can bounce off walls or pursue enemies, apply elemental effects, sometimes they overcharge for extra explosions, and, if you create the correct build, you can even use them as your main source of damage with very quick up-time. 

Melees

Guardians have uncharged melee attacks that do a small amount of damage in closer quarters, as well as charged melees that consume melee energy and do more damage. Some charged melees require enemies to be very close (like a Shoulder Charge from a Titan), while others (such as the Hunter’s Lightweight Knife) can hit enemies from a safer distance. Melees can be buffed for tons of damage, act as a debuffing tool, or benefit your Guardian and your teammates with additional effects. Many builds have a specific charged melee as their cornerstone.

Class Abilities

A unique ability linked to your class, and your class only:

• Hunters have the dodge
• Warlocks have the rift
• Titans have the barricade

There are a few variants of these class abilities that apply different effects. A dodge can reload weapons or create melee energy for your Hunter, a rift can heal or empower your Warlock and their allies, and a barricade can block damage as a wall or serve as a mounting point for your Titan’s weapon.

Some subclasses have extra options for class abilities (like Phoenix Dive for Solar and Prismatic for Warlocks), while others can add extra air moves to be executed while airborne, such as Shatterdive for Stasis Hunters. Finally, Exotic armor can often alter how you use your class ability entirely, like Arbor Warden, which allows Titan’s barricades to be created from a distance. You can base your play around constant use of class abilities with the right build.

Aspects

Aspects add an additional layer of complexity to your subclass, as they can buff or completely change some of your abilities. Each subclass has a variety of them, but you can only equip two at a given time. Aspects also open slots (normally, between two or three each) so you can equip Fragments. 

Fragments

Fragments are the final refinement of your build. You can increase your stats, alter the effects of abilities, empower said effects, and much more depending on which Fragments you equip. There’s a huge variety of Fragments to choose from, but only a limited amount you can equip depending on the slots that your equipped Aspects grant. 

Weapons

Weapons are one of the most important parts of Destiny 2, and alongside your abilities, they are a crucial tool in your battle against the enemies of Humanity.

All classes have access to all available weapons in the game, with just a few exceptions that can only be used by a specific class. If you play with more than one character, you can pick any weapon from your Vault and equip it onto any character.

Having a big variety of weapons will help you adapt to all kind of situations, as some enemies require shooting from longer distances so you can be safe, while others will try to get close to you, so a very strong weapon for close ranges will help the most.

Here's a quick guide to better understand weapons in Destiny 2.

Weapon Rarity

The most basic way to tell apart weapons is by their rarity, which determines the background in their icon. You will mostly tell them apart that way by its own container and color, but there's more to know about them that we’ll explain below. 

Uncommon and Rare Weapons

When you start playing Destiny 2, most of your weapons will be Uncommon (Green background) or Rare (Blue background). You'll earn them as you play campaign missions and progress through your first power levels. 

Although these weapons are effective for a new player and will teach them how to play the game, don't get too attached to them. They lack most of the key benefits of stronger weapons, and it's recommended that you scrap them when you start earning Legendary weapons.

Legendary Weapons

You can identify Legendary Weapons by their purple background. These are the weapons you’ll use almost exclusively after you have leveled up a bit and completed a few activities.

There are several ways to earn Legendary weapons. They drop from enemies, are often exclusive rewards at the end of different activities, and some of the most unique and strong examples can only be earned in raids and dungeons.  

Legendary weapons can have different perks and traits to slightly customize them, and slot mods to further improve their capabilities. Legendaries can also be equipped with shaders to change their color schemes. You will get very familiar with how they work and have a few favorite ones you will use for each time you jump into an adventure. 

Exotic Weapons

Exotic weapons are the most exclusive weapons in Destiny 2 and often the strongest. You can easily spot them for their unique design and golden background. 

Exotic weapons can be earned in a variety of ways, the most common being Exotic Missions and very rare drops of Exotic Engrams. If you get an Exotic Engram, visit Rahool at the Tower so he can decrypt it (or focus, if you have the required resources) for you.

Most Exotic weapons have fixed stats and perks, although there are some exceptions, like weapons with more than one perk, or that are even completely craftable. Additionally, some weapons have an Exotic Catalyst, that increases stats, adds more effects or perks, or even changes the element of the weapon. 

It's recommended to always use an Exotic weapon for your build, as their unique perks and synergies are often the key for unlocking your damage potential. After all, if your build relies on scorching enemies and igniting them, why not use an Exotic that does exactly that?

Always be on the lookout to earn more Exotic weapons, get familiar with them and complete their Catalyst. Some of the most emblematic weapons in the history of the Destiny franchise are Exotic weapons: including standouts such as like Gjallarhorn, Ace of Spades, and Graviton Lance. To this day, finding your favorite Exotic remains ohne of the most memorable parts of playing Destiny for fans.

Weapons in the Character Screen

The weapons you can use can be found on the Character screen, and they are defined primarily by the slot they fit in, the element they use, and the ammo type they shoot. 

Weapon Slot

Weapons are assigned to a specific slot in your Character screen depending on the ammo they use and their damage type.

• First slot
  • Sometimes referred to as Primary slot or Kinetic slot.
  • Primary and Special Ammo weapons
  • Elements: Kinetic, Stasis, Strand
• Second slot
  • Also known as the Energy slot.
  • Primary and Special Ammo weapons
  • Elements: Solar, Arc, Void
• Third slot
  • Also known as the Power slot or Heavy slot.
  • Exclusive to Heavy ammo weapons
  • Elements: all of them (Kinetic, Solar, Arc, Void, Stasis, Strand)

Your slots have a limited capacity: one equipped weapon and nine more that can be equipped directly. When you start earning more weapons that you want to keep, keep them in your Vault, which can be accessed through your Character screen or in social spaces like the Tower and elsewhere.

Weapon Ammo Type

Ammo defines the type of weapon you are using. Some weapons have a limited amount of ammo you can carry and that you must collect from defeated enemies. As you can imagine, having ammo is required to fire said weapons. 

Weapons in Destiny 2 use three types of ammunition.

• Primary Ammo – White Icon
  • It’s unlimited!
  • Primary ammo weapons do normal amounts of damage.
  • Usually used against rank-and-file combatants.
• Special Ammo – Light Green Icon
  • Limited amounts available.
  • For weapons that do considerable amounts of damage.
  • Usually used against major enemies, Champions, and mini-bosses.
• Power Ammo – Light Purple icon
  • More limited than Special ammo.
  • For weapons that deal high amounts of damage.
  • Usually used against the strongest enemies, like bosses.
  • Sometimes called Heavy ammo.

Special and Power ammo is generated by taking down enemies, and how much you earn from each defeated foe depends on a variety of factors, like the weapon generation stat on the weapon you are using, whether you are using an ammo generation mod on your chest armor, or the modifiers active on an activity. 

Getting sufficient ammo during an activity is key to success, particularly when you have to fight a big bad boss to progress, so it's a good idea to have ways to earn the most ammo possible for you and your allies. 

Weapon Damage Type

Weapons have a unique damage type or element that determines the kind of damage they do and gives them access to certain perks that are connected to said element.

• Kinetic
  • Non-elemental damage
• Light Elements
  • Solar
  • Arc
  • Void
• Darkness Elements
  • Stasis
  • Strand

Know Your Weapons

Weapon Archetypes

Each weapon fits into an archetype, a category that defines their role in combat. There are many, many options, and they all fit in a specific role and feel very different to shoot or use.

• For example, Auto Rifles have a high rate of fire, but don’t have as much range as Scout Rifles. 
• Each archetype has sub-archetypes that alter things like damage per bullet, ammo capacity, rate of fire, and stats. For example, a Hand Cannon can have the following archetypes: Precision, Aggressive, Adaptive, Lightweight, Spreadshot, or Dynamic Heat.

It's recommended you collect and keep in your Vault a good number of weapons with different archetypes, as well as weapons of different elements and ammo types. The more options you have, the easier it will be to handle certain missions or challenges.

Weapon Perks

Perks or traits are random modifiers fitted into your weapons that modify and improve their functionality in many ways. 

• Few examples:
  • Kill Clip: Reloading after a kill grants increased damage.
  • Zen Moment: Causing damage with this weapon reduces recoil and flinch over time.
  • Incandescent: Defeating a target spreads scorch to those nearby.

Some weapons may get enhanced perks that further improve their effects on weapons. You'll identify them for their golden shade on the perk icon.

As you play Destiny 2, you'll start identifying what each perk does, which ones suit your playstyle the best, what you should use for PvE or PvP, and the most powerful ones to take down the meanest enemies in the game. It's a process, so don't worry if at first you have no idea what each one of them does. You'll get there.

Weapon Origin Traits 

An extra effect based on the origin of the weapon. They are usually related to the activity, the foundry, or the event where you earned the weapon.

• Weapons of the same origin share the same trait.
  • For example, Trials of Osiris weapons have the Fleet Footed origin trait.
• Weapons can have up to three origin traits, and you can change between them freely

Similarly to perks, some weapons also get enhanced origin traits with improved effects.

Weapon Tiers

When playing the most recent Destiny 2 content, weapons you earn will have an associated Tier level. Each weapon Tier builds upon itself, with higher weapon Tiers giving more perks, enhanced modifications, and special traits at Tier 5. What Weapon Tier you earn is linked to several aspects, like your Light Level, your progress in a given expansion, the type of activity you are playing, or if there's a modifier active that improves the armor Tier drop quality. 

Weapon Mods

A modifier for weapons that gives them a little extra effect. 

• All current Legendary weapons have a mod slot.
• The effects are varied: increase ammo generation, increase a given stat, slightly change zoom are just a few examples.
• There are some mods that are only active during a given activity, season, or event.

Weapons of higher Tiers get access to enhanced mods with improved effects.

Weapon Masterwork

Each weapon has a Masterwork field that improves one of its stats, like Range, Reload Spade or Charge Time.

• Masterworks are assigned randomly, like perks, and can't be changed.
• Increasing a weapon masterwork (or "Masterworking a weapon," as Guardians say) will add extra points to that specific stat, up to ten points.
• Depending on the quality of your weapon, Masterworking may also slightly increase other stats of the weapon by a smaller amount.

Weapons of higher Tiers get access to enhanced Masterworks, with improved effects.

Armor

Armor is another big part of your Guardian's identity. While abilities and weapons are used to defeat enemies, armor is used to increase their effectiveness. And of course, armor also makes you look good! Fashion is a big part of Destiny 2. 

Similarly to weapons, it's recommended you have a variety of armor pieces so you can face most situations with the most advantageous kit. But in contrast to weapons, armor is class exclusive, and you need specific armor pieces for each class. A Titan-class Helmet is only meant for them and can't be equipped by a Warlock or a Hunter.

Lastly, an armor set is comprised of five different pieces:

• Helmet
• Gauntlets
• Chest Armor
• Leg Armor
• Class Item
  • Hunters wear Cloaks
  • Warlocks wear Bonds
  • Titans wear Marks

Armory Rarity

Uncommon and Rare Armor

The most basic armor. Uncommon has a green background while Rare uses blue. They have limited perks and mods capabilities but can be used while you increase your Power level and when you play your first Destiny 2 campaigns.

Similarly to common and rare weapons, they are good to use when you don't have Legendary gear, but once you start getting it, invest in the more powerful one!

Legendary Armor

Legendary armor is the next step up from common and rare armor, with a purple background. These are non-Exotic and can be obtained from a variety of content including Crucible, Gambit, vendor engrams, seasonal rewards, and Trials of Osiris to name a few. These pieces of armor can be upgraded to Masterwork status (as explained earlier) for better stats. 

Legendary Masterworks are Legendary weapons and armor in Destiny 2 that are upgraded to have modified traits. Legendary gear can be upgraded to Masterworks through the use of various upgrade materials but can also drop from any source of Legendary gear. Raid and Trials of Osiris weapons and armor will have a very high chance to be Masterworks when earned as rewards.

Exotic Armor

Exotic armor is the rarest kind of armor in the game and tends to be the most powerful as well. With its  golden background color, these are the highest rarity of armor that you should be using at higher Power levels. You can earn them by doing end-game content, such as the newest raids, dungeons, and events. 

Armor Stats

Stats are among most important aspects of armor. Each piece of armor you get will have different base stats that will determine the recharge time of your abilities, how much health you earn from Orbs of Power, and how much damage your weapons do. 

You can get up to 200 points in a single stat. Each point you add to a stat will increase its benefits to you Guardian, and those effects vary between 1 to 100 points and 101 to 200.

Armor Archetypes

Archetypes define the primary and secondary stats of a specific armor piece and help you quickly identify what this piece will add to your build. You can freely equip armor of different archetypes. 

As a rule of thumb, invest all you can into the stat that benefits your build the most. For example, if your build requires using grenades very often, invest in the grenadier archetype.

Currently, there are six archetypes:

• Bulwark: Health primary, Class secondary
• Brawler: Melee primary, Health secondary
• Grenadier: Grenade primary, Super secondary
• Paragon: Super primary, Melee secondary
• Specialist: Class primary, Weapons secondary
• Gunner: Weapons primary, Grenade secondary

All armor has a third stat that will be assigned randomly, no matter the Archetype.  

Mods

Each armor piece has slots for modifiers (aka mods) that can further improve a Guardian’s capabilities. 

Each armor piece has four armor slots, one for general use that is used to increase a stat of your choice, and three for armor piece-specific mods. In other words, Helmets have their unique armor mods, as do Arms, Chest, Legs, and Class Items, but all five of them could take one mod each to increase a specific stat. 

The list of armor mods available to each armor piece is very long, so we recommend you carefully examine them to understand what they do and that you try different combinations to find out what effects suit your playstyle the best. 

Set Bonus

Set Bonuses are unique effects that are only granted to your Guardian when you are wearing two or four armor pieces from the same set. Where you have earned a specific armor piece will determine its set bonus. For example, Fireteam Ops armor may have the Smoker Jumper set bonuses. 

It's possible to invest in having four pieces of armor with the same set bonus for a stronger effect, or you can wear two armor pieces from two different sets to have different effects at the same time, although not as overly powerful. No matter what approach you choose, you can still equip your Exotic Armor of choice without affecting the outcome. You can learn moore about the set bonuses available to different armor sets by examining the Armor Set Bonus information on the Character screen. 

Armor Tiers

When armor drop from a variety of in-game content, they will have an associated Tier level. Similarly to weapons, the higher the Tier, the more advanced your gear is. Armor will get higher base stats and at Tier 5, a new mod socket is introduced to allow players to boost a random stat to optimize how they want to play. What Armor Tier you earn is linked to several aspects, like your Light Level, your progress in a given expansion, the type of activity you are playing, or if there's a modifier active that improves the armor Tier drop quality. 

Ornaments

Armor appearance can be changed through ornaments. Armor ornaments can be earned in various ways, as rewards from some activities, through season passes and also in the Eververse store. You can also create an armor ornament from any armor piece unlocked in your collection by using certain currencies obtained from Ada-1 bounties. 

Check our Armor Synthesis guide for more information. 

Just remember that Legendary armor and Exotics get have their own ornaments and they can't be mixed. Also, keep in mind that in PvP content, it will show your Exotic’s original model for visual clarity.

Additional Gear

Artifact

Collectibles gathered by Guardians, artifacts are items that can grant  boons strictly from a gameplay perspective, providing boosts to players and the ability to unlock special perks for weapons, armor, and abilities. They play a critical role in defining what elements and what weapons are the most effective at a given time, as Artifacts are bound to the current Season, and they also allow you to unlock some critical perks, like those that allow certain weapons to stun Champion combatants. 

Ghost Shells

Wherever you go, your Ghost will follow. These ”little lights” help you immensely throughout every mission you go on, from scanning the area and pointing to your next objective to hacking terminals and reviving you when you fall in combat. When your teammates go down, look out for your fireteam member’s Ghost serving as a revive marker as well.

You can also collect Ghost Shells appearances for your own ghost utilizing Ghost shells, which are collectible from events, challenges, vendors, the Eververse Store, and other in-game engagements. Each Ghost Shell has its own mod slots, which you can unlock by leveling up your preferred Ghost Shell for abilities such as enhanced XP and other useful benefits.

Emblems

Emblems are a unique cosmetic that customizes your profile and shows off the content you’ve completed in Destiny 2 to anyone who checks your profile. You can earn them from special achievements, engaging in events, donating to Bungie Foundation, Twitch Drops, and a variety of other ways.

There are many emblems to hunt and discover, and even more to earn through in-game content, so we suggest you look for one among the many options that fit your unique style!

Shaders

Shaders are another level of customization available for your gear, allowing you to change the color palette or pattern of your gear to a color scheme or pattern of your preference. You can earn them from activities like missions and raids, bounties and challenges, purchase them from vendors, or even use Bright Dust in the Eververse shop to build your collection. They can infinitely be reapplied to different armor, and the mixing and matching potential is limitless.

Sparrows and Skimmers

To help you navigate your way around the maps you’ll be engaging with throughout your time playing Destiny 2, you’ll be introduced to the Sparrows and Skimmers. These vehicles are used by Guardians to traverse the open world quickly as a form of travel. 

New players can earn their first Sparrow by completing the main campaign and then speaking to Amanda Holliday in the tower.

Ships

Your ship is your personal vessel across the galaxy, and a customizable piece of equipment. It doesn’t provide stat bonuses but instead are a way to show off your achievements in lobbies to other players you’re grouped with. You can earn new appearances to your ship as rare rewards from difficult activities, or by completing achievements.

Legacy Gear

Legacy Armor

Legacy Armor can be earned in content from New Light through The Final Shape. It's not part of the latest Tier system in Destiny 2 and, even if you can still use it, it's not considered the best you can earn at the moment. These pieces are defined by: 

Legacy Weapons

Legacy Weapons can drop in older Destiny 2 content and they have not been updated to the current Tier system. They are still efective and very usable, but they don't get certain buffs and the newer gear is generally considered better.