[Destiny 2 is reworking all of its subclasses with new abilities and options. Below are the known subclass skill trees, which we will continue to update as Bungie reveals more.]
Destiny 2 is reworking the subclasses longtime fans have come to know very well. The game will add a new subclass for each class of Warlock, Hunter, and Titan, but fans will also find changes to how subclasses like the Gunslinger and Striker work as well.
Read on to see how the subclasses in the latest gameplay reveal build of Destiny 2 are shaping up, including new abilities and organization of perks.
Dawnblade Warlock
The Dawnblade is the brand new subclass for Destiny 2’s mage-like Warlock class. It is a Solar subclass, which appears to be replacing the Sunsinger subclass from Destiny 1.
Super: Daybreak
Press L1 + R1 to weave Solar light into blades and smite your foes from the skies.
Despite the description, Warlocks will be able to shoot fiery blades at enemies from both the air and while on foot. This Super bathes the Warlock in fire and allows him/her to summon a blade of fire that shoots fire bolts at enemies, causing maximum damage.
Grenades
Fusion Grenade: Explosive grenade that causes bonus damage when attached to target
Solar Grenade: Creates a flare of Solar Light which continuously damages enemies trapped inside
Firebolt Grenade: Unleashes bolts of Solar Light at Nearby Enemies
Grenades didn’t see a change for this class in Destiny 2, offering exactly what fans know well from the original game. Fusion grenades are sticky, Solar grenades zone off areas, and Firebolts reach out to hit enemies with a bolt of fire within a certain range.
Jumps
Controlled Glide: Better directional control
Balanced Glide: Bonuses to Speed and Control
Focused Burst: Initial Boost of speed for Glide
Just as with the grenades, jump types did not change in Destiny 2, however the Warlock glide does feel less floaty and a little closer to a Titan jump from Destiny 1.
Class Ability
Healing Rift: Conjure a well of Light that continuously heals those inside it
Empowering Rift: Conjure a well of Light that increases the attack power of those inside it.
New to Destiny 2 are Class Abilities, which give each class an extra talent to contribute to the game. The Warlock’s functions much like a Defender Titan’s Ward of Dawn, just without the protection that Super offers. Holding down Crouch (on console) activates the skill and the Warlock will summon a pool of light. Any player standing in that pool will be buffed with either healing or attack power, depending on the perk selection.
Build 1: Attunement of Sky
The way Destiny 2 is handling subclasses has changed. Instead of giving players multiple rows of perks to choose from, the game is offering two builds from which to choose. Each one of those builds grants four unchangeable perks. At the Destiny 2 Gameplay Reveal event, the Attunement of Sky build was the only one available.
Igniting Touch: A powerful melee ability that ignites enemies and causes them to explode.
Risen Angel: While in air, aim your weapon to hover in place for a short time. Dealing Precision damage extends this effect's duration.
Skyfire: While Daybreak is active, Descend causes explosive damage where you land.
Phoenix Dive: Hold O while in-air to quickly Descend and regenerate health.
It’s obvious that Bungie is building these skill tree groups with perks meant to compliment one another. Igniting Touch and Risen Angel (basically the Sunsinger’s Angel of Light) are familiar, but Skyfire and Phoenix Dive are new to the Warlock.
When the Warlock jumps, the player can descend rapidly from the air (it’s on display in the gameplay reveal of the Homecoming story mission). Phoenix Dive works well with Risen Angel because it gives the Warlock the ability to float and shoot at enemies, but then quickly descend when hurt and gain health on the way down. The flip side of that defensive capability is seen in Skyfire, which let’s Warlocks deal damage while their Super is active.
Build 2: Unnamed
Firestarter: A power melee ability that damages enemies while also increasing your movement and reload speed
Wild fire: Engage your enemies mid-flight. Fire weapons and throw grenades while gliding
Blazing Dash: Press O,O while midair to Dodge
Everlasting Flames: Killing an enemy with Daybreak extends its duration
This build was not named, but it appears to give some extra offensive skill to the Dawnblade. It focuses on fast movement with Firestarter sounding like the Voidwalker’s Surge ability, Wild Fire allowing the Warlock to engage in mid-air (doing so normally would cause them to fall or float if using the build above) and also dodge midair like the Destiny 1 Titan exotic Twilight Garrison. The build also looks to extend the class’s Super as long as they can keep killing with it.
Striker Titan
Super: Fist of Havoc
Press R2 to slam the ground
Press R1 to smash shoulder first
The big change to the Striker Titan is that the Fist of Havoc Super is now a roaming Super, not a one-and-done attack. In addition to being able to slam multiple times, the Striker can now also do a shoulder attack, much like the Sunbreaker’s Sunstrike ability.
Grenades
Pulse Grenade: Periodically damages enemies in its radius
Flashbang Grenade: Disorients enemies
Lightning Grenade: Emits bolts of lightning
Grenades did not see any change from Destiny 1.
Jumps
Increased Height: Greater height on lift
Catapult: Strong initial burst of momentum
Increased Control: Better directional control on lift
Just like grenades, the Titan’s jumps did not change. However, those who were able to go hands-on with Destiny 2 discovered that Titan skating is no longer possible in Destiny 2.
Class Ability
Towering Barricade: A large Barrier that can be used for cover or to seal off dangerous areas
Rally Barricade: A small barrier that allows you to peek over while aiming down the sights and instantly reloads your equipped weapon when you take cover
The Titan’s class skill will summon a shield wall in front of the Titan. Towering Barricade is a larger version just as the description says, while the Rally Barricade instantly pulls the player into a crouch behind it, reloads the currently equipped weapon, and allows instant peek over by aiming down sights.
Build 1: Code of Juggernaut
Knockout: Breaking enemy shields increases your melee range
Reversal: Melee kills immediately trigger health regeneration
Frontal Assault: A powerful melee punch that grants you increased weapon stability
Trample: Fist of Havoc lasts longer while sprinting. Killing enemies with Fist of Havoc extends the duration.
This build exemplifies the warrior Titan, buffing the class’s melee abilities and gives the ability to sprint to enemies without the Super running out and keeping the new roaming version of Fist of Havoc lasting longer.
Build 2: Unnamed
Shoulder Charge: After sprinting for a short time press R1 to slam shoulder
Aftermath: Fist of Havoc disorients enemies and leaves a damage-dealing field in its wake
Magnitude: Increases the duration of Pulse/Lightning Grenades and Aftermath
Aerial Strike: Fist of Havoc deals more damage the longer it is in the air
This build will be very familiar to Destiny veterans, as it includes perks like Shoulder Charge and Aftermath. Magnitude could be a great perk to have in PvP, while Aerial Strike could be useful in PvE.
Gunslinger Hunter
Super: Golden Gun
Summon a flaming pistol that disintegrates enemies.
The Gunslinger’s Super isn’t changing, however one build can modify it in an interesting way.
Grenades
Tripmine Grenade: Places a tripmine
Incendiary Grenade: Catches enemies on fire
Swarm Grenade: Release seeking drones
Like the other two classes, the Gunslinger’s grenades did not change.
Jumps
High Jump: Double Jump with greater height
Strafe Jump: Better directional control while in air
Triple Jump: Upgrades Double Jump with a third Jump
While the jumps have new names, they aren’t any different from what is in Destiny 1.
Class Ability
Gambler's Dodge: Dodging near enemies generates melee energy
Marksman's Dodge: Automatically reload your equipped weapon when dodging
Whereas the Titan and Warlock class abilities are team-focused, the Hunter’s helps the class lay down more damage while also avoiding it. When activated, the Hunter will perform a dodge move, and while doing so it will instantly refill the class’s melee energy or reload the currently equipped weapon. It is very similar to McCree's Roll ability in Overwatch.
Build 1: Way of the Outlaw Tree
Bombs for Bullseyes: Precision Hits generate Grenade Energy
Chain of Woe: Precision Kills increase weapon reload speed for you and nearby allies
Six-Shooter: Golden Gun can be fired quickly up to 6 times but has a shorter duration
Explosive Knife: Throw a knife at enemies that explodes shortly after impact when melee energy is full
These skills focus on what a Gunslinger is all about, having an accurate shot. Bombs for Bullseyes will reward Grenade energy for being accurate and Chain of Woe is a Destiny 1 perk, although its buff now affects nearby allies not just the Hunter alone. Six-Shooter gives the Golden Gun six shots instead of three. Finally Explosive Knife is a big change, combining the Throwing Knife with the un-nerfed version of the Gunslinger’s Tripmine Grenade.
Build 2: Unnamed
Line 'Em Up: Precision hits with Golden Gun increases its damage and extends its duration
Crowd Pleaser: Precision Hits with Golden Gun generate Orbs of Light for your allies
Gunslinger's Trance: Enter a trance with each Precision kill, reducing the cool down of your Golden Gun
Knife Juggler: Throw a knife at enemies when melee energy is full. A precision kill with this ability immediately recharges it.
While Knife Juggler is well known to current Destiny players, the rest focus on the class’s Super, helping it last longer, generate Orbs, and reduce its cooldown.
Bungie has yet to show off the other subclasses and their skill trees in Destiny 2, but players will have to get used to this new setup. But the builds could lead to some interesting matchups for the game's new 4v4-only PvP modes.
Destiny 2 will launch on September 8th on PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version will launch at a later date.