Destiny 02: Class Breakdown

     No, the title is not a typo.  It was completely intentional because name-dropping is what the GamerGeek does best.  Moving on!  Welcome, Guardians, to Zer0PM’s tips and tricks guide to the newly released critically acclaimed online-multiplayer FPS (first-person shooter) video game: Destiny 2.  Developed by Bungie and published by Activision, some people may recognize Bungie as the creator of the popular FPS game Halo (dropping some familiar characters like Master Chief and Cortana to jog the memory) which was first released by Microsoft for the Xbox systems in 2001.  Now they’ve moved on to greater projects with the Destiny series which is now released on all platforms.  It follows the same genre of military science-fiction where the player controls the hero assigned with the daunting task of saving not only their own world but the entire universe from malevolent space creatures (since alien sounded too bland) that threaten to either dominate it or destroy it.

     For those unfamiliar with the Destiny series or what the plot entails, let’s start with the first game.  The player awakens in a dystopian automobile graveyard where they are apparently brought back to life by a chatty floating robotic fairy light called a Ghost that wastes no time in informing them that they are chosen by a giant ball in the sky to combat the evil forces that now terrorize the Earth.  The giant ball in the sky is called The Traveler which not even civilization can pinpoint its origins (just know that it’s super big and super old), but apparently it travels (get it?) from planet to planet to bestow the inhabitants with a special superpower called the Light (doesn’t take a wild guess on what the antagonist forces that combat this are called……..Darkness, if that wasn’t clear).  These powers of Light are divided into three: Void (darkness, ironic), Solar (fire, duh), and Arc (lightning, not so obvious).  Knowing just that tidbit, the same premise follows for Destiny 2: waking up in a ravaged setting gone to hell and being forced to shoot the way to survival.  It should be noted that one does not need to play the first Destiny to play the second, though it is highly recommended for easter eggs (lore).  What’s the character controlled by the player like?  Following the theme of three, the person behind the controller can also choose one of the three classes while creating their character which will be broken down into RPG terms indicated by parenthesis (because “air quotes” just quite don’t cut it as far as setting the tone goes)...

     HUNTER.  The Hunters are the rogues in regards to gameplayWhile most certainly the squishiest (most susceptible to dying), they are easily the most mobile of the three classes with both speed and skillsets that focus on swift, acrobatic combat complete with a handy-dandy military knife.  Remember the three elements mentioned before?  The rogue class is immediately expanded into three respective sub-classes for greater diversity in both PVP (player-versus-player) and PVE (player-versus-environment).  The Solar element awakens the Gunslinger subclass in the Hunter where Overwatch fans can compare to their favorite cowboy McCree* as a master of the heavy-duty revolver (it’s High Noon* somewhere), giving three blazing shots that does massive area-of-effect explosive damage upon impact.  The Void elements awakens the Nightstalker (badass name), the Legolas* of the Hunter subclasses as it lets the guardian shoot using a purple bow and arrows of pure dark energy.  Oh, did that Hunter miss their mark?  No, as wherever the bolt lands, it creates an anchor that tethers to nearby enemies to not only slow them, but weaken them significantly and leaving the poor souls open to massive damage. And last but not least, the Arc element heralds the Arcstrider.  In the first game, the lightning thief wielded only a tiny knife that electrocutes people on contact and makes them superfast on their feet.  The updated subclass in Destiny 2 is not so different, only they now wield a thunder staff and become parkour masters!  The Hunter class is the most picked class so far and the best for new players to the Destiny world for their balanced kits.  Plus, they wear badass capes.

      WARLOCK. The Warlocks are the mages (who could’ve guessed).  They command the elements at the tip of their fingers but without the mantra and crazy hand gestures.  They are the least mobile of the three classes, but damn it can they fly like no one’s business!  This class is focused on self-sustaining, healing, and area-of-effect damage as opposed to the Hunter’s one-on-one combat or the Titan’s one-man barricade mechanics.  The Arc subclass grants the Warlock the ability to call upon the storm, guess that’s why the class is called Stormcaller.  This allows the guardian to literally float around the area and electrocute nearby enemies to death like a messiah ready to smite some poor souls to the depths of black space.  The Void class has the Voidwalker in which the Warlock can (and this is not even exaggerated) Kamehameha* an aimed area that explodes on impact and kill everything around the impact.  Just like the Hunter with their Arcstrider class, the Warlock’s Solar subclass receives a slight makeover as well. In the first Destiny, the Warlock commanding the power of fire can self-resurrect themselves upon death to continue the current fight (because Guardians do not quit!), the new game removes this perk and gives the mage a flaming sword thus appropriately calling the class the Dawnblade!  Referring back to Lord of the Rings, Gandalf the Grey became Gandalf the White.

     TITAN. Literally a walking tank as far as appearance and gameplay goes.  They are slightly more versatile when it comes to moving around the map than a Warlock, though does not get anywhere as easily as a Hunter.  But don’t let their hulking appearances fool…..seriously, don’t as Titans have the capabilities of carrying their fireteam* to victory in the “glory of battle” as Shax* would say.  This class is the heaviest and most-picked for PVP for their bruiser capabilities of not only taking a hit, but packing a punch themselves.  Speaking of punches, a Titan’s Arc subclass dishes one out literally in the super move called the Fist of Havoc where they can literally come in from the air and make a Superman* landing or more appropriately a Thor* landing to those that have seen the most recent MCU trailer like a giant thunderbolt of hate.  This ability will literally electrocute everything nearby into dust.  Another nod to Thor shouts out to the Solar subclass the Sunbreaker, where the Guardian also wields a hammer that’s perfect for not only bashing enemies heads in, but hurling fiery projectiles of inferno badassery.  Think that’s cool with all of these Marvel references?  Not done yet.  The first Destiny grants Titans the ability to call upon the power of Void Light and project a spherical shield that protects everything inside and provide extra health.  This is removed in Destiny 2, of sorts.  Changing the name Defender to Sentinel, these tanky Guardians are given a purple shield and basically become Captain America*.  That’s right, with the throw of their mighty shield, all enemies of darkness will yield!  It’s a good thing said enemies don’t really know how to duck.

     Still haven’t decided? Don’t want to be locked into one role?  Don’t worry.  The good thing about the Destiny games is that each account can create up to three characters.  Three characters, three classes, go forth and save the world as one of each!  Below are videos and a bit of gameplay of how each class plays as well as the significance of the three elements in the environment. Hopefully this quick breakdown rallies more potential players to join the fight against evil invaders, but rest assured that more covering the massive lore and gameplay will be coming soon.  Thanks for reading, Guardians and remember to stay… KindaGeeky!

Notes:

Overwatch – A popular MMO game created by Blizzard

·         McCree* - an Offense hero from Blizzard’s Overwatch that is designed as a Gunslinging cowboy. 

High Noon* - McCree’s infamous quote for his super ability Deadeye where he can instakill multiple targets when locked on

Lord of the Rings – A fantasy-fiction series written and created by master story-teller J.R.R. Tolkien which was adapted to the highly successful movie series of the same name

·         Legolas*- Prince of the Woodland realm and one of the main characters of the Lord of the Rings, he is the elven archer most famously portrayed by Orlando Bloom in the series

·         Gandalf the White* - in the books and the movie, Gandalf battles a demonic Balrog, seemingly falling to his death.  He returns to the world of the living and has transcended from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White, considered the most powerful wizard of his council.  In the movies, he is portrayed by Ian McKellen and also wields a sword in a badass fashion.

Marvel Comics

·         Thor* - a character from the Marvel universe portrayed after the hammer-wielding Norse God of Thunder of the same name.  He is portrayed in the Marvel Cinematics Universe by Chris Hemsworth where he makes a superhero landing to Asgard like a dramatic bolt of lightning as shown in the Thor: Ragnarok movie trailer.

·         Captain America* - a character from the Marvel universe most notable for being an all-around, all-American nice guy/super soldier who wields a round shield that can hurt bad guys once thrown like a Frisbee.  For some reason, said Frisbee comes back and this is the same for the Titan Sentinal.

Kamehameha* - a super ability created and most famously used in the Dragonball as a blast of pure energy that pretty much kills almost everything it hits.  It is portrayed using two hands, although Warlock Voidwalkers use one.  However, the results and animation are almost the same.

Superman* - a superhero created by DC Comics to be created without limits and defend humanity.  Several characters like Shax mentioned before show shades of this which would explain their poses similar to the Superman pose.  He also makes landings similar if not exactly like the Titan Strikers.

Shax* - A character in the Destiny series that runs the Crucible (PVP) arena for the Guardians.  He is a Guardian himself and is of the Titan class.

Sources:

·         “Rally the Troops” – Destiny 2 Worldwide Reveal Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJLAJVmggt0

·         “Legends Will Rise” – Destiny 2 Live Action Trailer featuring Nathan Fillion and highlighting the three classes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSxElWwWVFE

·         “Which Destiny 2 Class is Right for You?” – GameSpot introduction to the three classes as well as their subclasses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgZY7hQP7Ug

·         http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/destiny-2 - Metacritics archive of Destiny 2’s review from several resources for those that like to read more than one to make their defining research before the decision for purchase