Destiny 2 is Bungie's shared-world looter shooter combining FPS gunplay with MMO-style progression, RPG buildcrafting, and some of gaming's best raid encounters. Three classes — Titan, Hunter, Warlock — each have multiple subclasses with unique supers, grenades, and class abilities. The game's seasonal model adds new story content, activities, and gear regularly. With the addition of Prismatic subclasses combining Light and Dark powers, and the conclusion of the Light and Darkness saga, Destiny 2 offers deep buildcrafting and challenging endgame content.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titan | S | Tank damage, provide team buffs, control areas with barricades and supers. | Heart of Inmost Light (versatile) or Loreley Splendor (Solar survivability) |
| Hunter | A | Stay mobile, dodge to reload/go invisible, burst bosses with Super damage. | Star-Eater Scales (super damage), Omnioculus (team invisibility) |
| Warlock | S | Place Wells for team healing, cast grenades and rifts constantly, support the fireteam. | Phoenix Protocol (Well refund) or Osmiomancy Gloves (Stasis grenades) |
| Prismatic Build | S | Alternate between Light and Dark abilities to charge Transcendence, unleash combined power. | Exotics that synergize with mixed ability types |
| Strand Build | A | Grapple for mobility, suspend enemies for control, generate tangles for damage. | Swarmers (Warlock), Abeyant Leap (Titan), Cyrtarachne's Facade (Hunter) |
S-Tier: Titan
The tank/support class with Barricade (deployable cover), high resilience, and devastating Supers. Void Titan with Ward of Dawn (bubble) provides the best team buff in raids (+25% damage). Solar Titan with Loreley Splendor is nearly unkillable. Strand Titan grapples and suspends enemies.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Gjallarhorn | The iconic rocket launcher returning from Destiny 1. |
| Core Gear | Heart of Inmost Light (versatile) or Loreley Splendor (Solar survivability) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Resilience 100 > Discipline > Recovery > Strength | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | light subclasses | Each class has access to Solar, Arc, Void, Stasis, Strand, and Prismatic subclasses. |
How to Play Titan
Tank damage, provide team buffs, control areas with barricades and supers.
The tank/support class with Barricade (deployable cover), high resilience, and devastating Supers. Void Titan with Ward of Dawn (bubble) provides the best team buff in raids (+25% damage). Solar Titan with Loreley Splendor is nearly unkillable. Strand Titan grapples and suspends enemies.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Gjallarhorn and light subclasses creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Heart of Inmost Light (versatile) or Loreley Splendor (Solar survivability) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Resilience 100 > Discipline > Recovery > Strength) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Hunter
The agility class with Dodge (class ability), invisibility (Void), and the highest burst DPS Supers. Blade Barrage (Solar) and Gathering Storm (Arc) deal massive boss damage. Void Hunter provides team invisibility for revives and repositioning.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Witherhoard | An exotic grenade launcher that creates a persistent Taken blight pool dealing damage over time. |
| Core Gear | Star-Eater Scales (super damage), Omnioculus (team invisibility) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Mobility 100 > Resilience > Recovery > Discipline | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | exotic armor synergy | One Exotic armor piece can be equipped at a time. |
How to Play Hunter
Stay mobile, dodge to reload/go invisible, burst bosses with Super damage.
The agility class with Dodge (class ability), invisibility (Void), and the highest burst DPS Supers. Blade Barrage (Solar) and Gathering Storm (Arc) deal massive boss damage. Void Hunter provides team invisibility for revives and repositioning.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Witherhoard and exotic armor synergy creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Star-Eater Scales (super damage), Omnioculus (team invisibility) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Mobility 100 > Resilience > Recovery > Discipline) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Warlock
The support/caster class with Rift (healing or damage empowering pool). Well of Radiance (Solar) is the most important raid Super — a healing/damage zone. Void Warlock with Devour heals on every kill. Strand Warlock suspends enemies for crowd control.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Izanagi's Burden | An exotic sniper that loads all 4 rounds into one Honed Edge shot dealing 4x+ damage. |
| Core Gear | Phoenix Protocol (Well refund) or Osmiomancy Gloves (Stasis grenades) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Recovery 100 > Resilience > Discipline > Intellect | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | raid mechanics | 6-player raids feature complex mechanics requiring communication and role assignment. |
How to Play Warlock
Place Wells for team healing, cast grenades and rifts constantly, support the fireteam.
The support/caster class with Rift (healing or damage empowering pool). Well of Radiance (Solar) is the most important raid Super — a healing/damage zone. Void Warlock with Devour heals on every kill. Strand Warlock suspends enemies for crowd control.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Izanagi's Burden and raid mechanics creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Phoenix Protocol (Well refund) or Osmiomancy Gloves (Stasis grenades) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Recovery 100 > Resilience > Discipline > Intellect) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Prismatic Build
The newest subclass combining Light and Dark abilities. Prismatic unlocks a unique Transcendence super-charged state by using both Light and Dark abilities. Allows mixing Aspects and Fragments from different subclasses for unique combinations.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Arbalest | An exotic linear fusion rifle that breaks all shield types regardless of element. |
| Core Gear | Exotics that synergize with mixed ability types | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Varies by Light/Dark ability selection | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | seasonal artifact | Each season provides an artifact with unlockable mods that define the seasonal meta. |
How to Play Prismatic Build
Alternate between Light and Dark abilities to charge Transcendence, unleash combined power.
The newest subclass combining Light and Dark abilities. Prismatic unlocks a unique Transcendence super-charged state by using both Light and Dark abilities. Allows mixing Aspects and Fragments from different subclasses for unique combinations.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Arbalest and seasonal artifact creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Exotics that synergize with mixed ability types amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Varies by Light/Dark ability selection) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Strand Build
The newest Dark subclass using psychic threads to grapple, suspend enemies, and create tangles (damage objects). Strand provides the best crowd control with Suspend (enemies frozen in air). Warlock Strand suspends groups, Titan Strand grapples aggressively, Hunter Strand creates severing clones.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Outbreak Perfected | An exotic pulse rifle that creates SIVA nanites on precision hits, dealing increasing damage as more nanites attach. |
| Core Gear | Swarmers (Warlock), Abeyant Leap (Titan), Cyrtarachne's Facade (Hunter) | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Resilience > Strand weapon > Discipline > Recovery | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | mod system | Armor mods provide stat bonuses, ability regeneration, weapon handling, and combat style benefits. |
How to Play Strand Build
Grapple for mobility, suspend enemies for control, generate tangles for damage.
The newest Dark subclass using psychic threads to grapple, suspend enemies, and create tangles (damage objects). Strand provides the best crowd control with Suspend (enemies frozen in air). Warlock Strand suspends groups, Titan Strand grapples aggressively, Hunter Strand creates severing clones.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Outbreak Perfected and mod system creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Swarmers (Warlock), Abeyant Leap (Titan), Cyrtarachne's Facade (Hunter) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Resilience > Strand weapon > Discipline > Recovery) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Hunter — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Titan once you understand core mechanics and have access to Gjallarhorn
- Keep a Warlock setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Strand Build for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Complete the New Light quest line first — it introduces all core activities and rewards useful starter gear. New players should finish this before tackling endgame.
- Exotic ciphers from Xur (weekly quest) let you buy Exotics from the Monument to Lost Lights kiosk. Prioritize Witherhoard, Gjallarhorn, and Arbalest.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
