Master the fundamentals of combat in Destiny 2 to survive the threats of the solar system. This section breaks down essential combat mechanics, including weapon types, ability usage, and movement. Learn how to effectively engage enemies, manage your resources, and utilize your Guardian's unique skills to overcome any challenge.
Weapon Archetypes & Usage
Destiny 2 features a diverse array of weapon types, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Understanding their roles is crucial for effective combat:
- Primary Weapons (Kinetic/Stasis/Strand): These include Auto Rifles, Pulse Rifles, Scout Rifles, Hand Cannons, Submachine Guns, and Sidearms. They have unlimited ammunition and are your go-to for sustained damage and clearing weaker enemies.
- Special Weapons (Energy/Stasis/Strand): Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Fusion Rifles, Grenade Launchers, and Trace Rifles use limited ammo found in the environment or dropped by enemies. They are excellent for dealing burst damage to tougher foes or majors.
- Heavy Weapons (Power): Rocket Launchers, Linear Fusion Rifles, Machine Guns, Swords, and Exotic heavy weapons deal the highest damage but have the most limited ammunition. Reserve these for bosses and high-priority targets.
Abilities & Cooldowns
Each Guardian class has access to unique abilities that recharge over time:
- Grenades: Various types like Pulse, Incendiary, Voidwall, and Arcbolt, each with different elemental effects and damage patterns.
- Melee Abilities: Powerful close-range attacks, such as the Titan's Shoulder Charge, Hunter's Knife Trick, and Warlock's ite.
- Class Abilities: Provide utility, like the Titan's Barricade for cover, the Hunter's Dodge for evasion or reload, and the Warlock's Rift for healing or buffs.
- Super Abilities: Devastating ultimate abilities that require a full Super meter to activate. These can turn the tide of battle.
Ability cooldowns are influenced by your Guardian's stats (Discipline for Grenades, Strength for Melee, Recovery for Class Abilities) and equipped mods.
Movement & Positioning
Effective movement is key to survival and dealing damage:
- Jumping: Each class has a unique jump (Titan's Lift, Hunter's Jump, Warlock's Glide) that can be upgraded for better control and distance.
- Sprinting & Sliding: Use sprinting to cover ground quickly and sliding to evade fire, reposition, or initiate melee attacks.
- Cover: Always utilize cover to avoid enemy fire. Peek out to engage and retreat to safety.
Enemy Types & Weaknesses
Destiny 2 features various enemy factions, each with unique combat behaviors:
- The Fallen: Agile and adaptable, often using shock tactics.
- The Hive: Resilient and magical, summoning swarms and using dark rituals.
- The Vex: Robotic and methodical, utilizing time-bending technology and energy weapons.
- The Cabal: Heavily armored and militaristic, employing brute force and shields.
- The Taken: Corrupted versions of other races, possessing unique abilities and resilience.
- The Scorn: Undead Fallen, driven by rage and using dark magic.
Pay attention to enemy shields and elemental weaknesses. Matching your weapon's element to an enemy's shield will break it faster.
Ammo Management
Conserving and acquiring ammunition is vital. Primary ammo is plentiful, but Special and Heavy ammo are scarce. Prioritize using Special and Heavy weapons on high-threat targets. Mods and perks can increase ammo drops or reserve capacity.