Examining Destiny 2 skill trees
Bungie has been rather hush-hush about all of the subclasses that will be available when Destiny 2 launches in September, but for now we have two for each class. A lot of things look familiar, but some additions make each class more viable in groups as well as accentuate their existing benefits.
You’ll notice that the subclasses for each class share class skills and movement mode. Across the board, they all follow similar patterns of execution, which is what makes each subclass more viable in groups. This may seem like a simplification of the game, but each player will still have all the options that come from class-specific skills and unlockables.
How to unlock subclass abilities
To unlock new skills and abilities for subclasses, players will need to earn upgrade points which work in a similar way to XP in the original Destiny. We’ll have more details as we head towards release.
Meanwhile, here’s the current skill trees, which will be updated as more information is given by Bungie.
Power up your Titan
Class Skill
Towering Barricade
- Press and hold Circle to create a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
Rally Barricade
- Press and hold Circle to create a small barrier that allows you to peek over it while aiming down sights, and which instantly reloads your equipped weapon when you take cover.
Movement Mode
High Lift
- Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights. Binds to Cross.
Strafe Lift
- Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control. Binds to Cross.
Catapult Lift
- Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum. Binds to Cross.
Sentinel
Grenades – Binds to L1
Magnetic Grenade
- A grenade that attaches to enemies and explodes twice.
Voidwall
- A grenade that creates a horizontal wall of burning Void Light.
Suppressor
- An explosive grenade that prevents enemies from using abilities for a short time.
Code of the Protector
Rallying Force
- Melee kills restore Health to you and nearby allies.
Defensive Strike
- Kill an enemy with this Melee Ability to create and overshield around you and nearby allies.
Ward of Doom
- When Super energy is ful, press and hold L1 + R1 to create a shielding dome to protect you and your allies.
Turn the Tide
- Your Overshield from Defensive Strike lasts longer and increases melee damage and reload speed.
Code of the Aggressor – Unlockable Abilities
Shield Bash
- After sprinting for a short time, use this Melee Ability to unleash a devastating Shield Bash that disorients enemies.
Superior Arsenal
- Grenade kills recharge your Grenade energy.
in the Trenches
- Kills while surrounded by enemies reduce the cooldown of your Super.
Second Shield
- Gain an additional Shield Throw charge while Sentinel Shield is active.
Super
Sentinel Shield: Press L1 + R1 to summon a shield of Void Light. While Sentinel Shield is active, press R1 to attack. Hold L2 to guard. Press L1 to perform a Shield Throw. Binds to L1 = R1
Striker
Grenades – Bind to L1
Flashbang
- An explosive grenade that disorients enemies it damages.
Pulse
- A grenade that periodically damages enemies inside its explosive radius.
Lightning
- A grenade that sticks to any surface and emits bolts of lightning.
Code of the Earthshaker
Magnitude
- Gain an additional grenade charge. Increases the duration of grenade effects.
Aftershock
- Damaging enemies with Seismic Strike recharges your grenade.
Seismic Strike
- While sprinting, activate this melee ability to slam shoulder-first into your target and release an Arc explosion on impact.
Terminal Velocity
- Fists of Havoc’s ground slam attack leaves a damage-dealing field in its wake and deals more damage the longer it’s in the air.
Code of the Juggernaut – Unlockable Abilities
Frontal Assault
- Strike an enemy with this Melee Ability to reload your weapon and increase your weapon stability.
Reversal
- Melee kills immediately trigger health regeneration.
Knockout
- Critically wounding an enemy or breaking their shields increases your melee range and damage.
Trample
- Killing enemies with Fists of Havoc extends its duration.
Super – Binds to L1 + R1
Fists of Havoc: Supercharge your fists and slam the ground with the force of a maelstrom.
Power up your Hunter
Class Skills
Marksman’s Dodge
- Dodge (Circle, Circle) to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
Gambler’s Dodge
- Dodge (Circle, Circle) to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your Melee Ability.
Movement Mode – Binds to Cross
High Jump
- Wile airborne, jump a second time to reach greater heights.
Strafe Jump
- While airborne, jump a second time with strong directional control.
Triple Jump
- While airborne, sustain your air control with a second or third jump.
Arcstrider
Grenades – Binds to L1
Arcbolt
- A grenade that chains bolts of lightning to nearby enemies.
Flux
- An explosive grenade that deals additional damage when attached to enemies.
Skip
- A grenade that splits upon impact, creating multiple projectiles and seek enemies.
Way of the Warrior
Deadly Reach
- Dodging increases your melee range, allowing you to lunge further to strike enemies.
Combat Flow
- Melee kills recharge your dodge ability.
Combination Blow
- Kill an enemy with this melee ability to trigger health regeneration and increase our melee damage temporarily.
Lethal Current
- After dodging, each Arc Staff hit creates a damaging lightning aftershock.
Way of the Wind – Unlockable abilities
Disorienting Blow
- Strike an enemy with this melee ability to disorient the target and nearby enemies.
Focused Breathing
- Sprinting recharges your dodge ability. Increased maximum sprint speed.
Combat Meditation
- While critically wounded, melee and grenades recharge drastically faster.
Lightning Reflexes
- You are harder to kill while dodging.
Super
Arc Staff – Binds to L1 + R1: Form a staff of pure Arc energy and acrobatically take out your foes.
Gunslinger
Grenades – Binds to L1
Tripmine
- An explosive grenade that sticks to surfaces and detonates upon enemies who pass through its laser trigger.
Swarm
- A grenade that detonates on impact, releasing multiple drones that seek nearby enemies.
Incendiary
- A grenade whose explosion catches enemies on fire.
Way of the Outlaw
Deadshot
- Significantly improves your ability to hit with Golden Gun.
Chains of Woe
- Precision kills increase weapon reload speed for you and nearby allies.
Explosive Knife
- Throw a knife from a distance that explodes shortly after impact with this Melee Ability.
Six-Shooter
- Golden Gun can be fired quickly up to six times, but has a shorter duration.
Way of the Sharpshooter – Unlockable abilities
Knife-Juggler
- Throw a knife from a distance. Precision knife kills with this Melee Ability immediately recharge it.
Practice Makes Perfect
- Enter a trance with each precision hit, reducing the cooldown of your Super.
Crowd-Pleaser
- Enables precision damage with Golden Gun. Precision hits with Golden Gun generate Orbs of Light.
Line ‘Em Up
- Precision kills with Golden Gun increase its damage and extend its duration.
Super – Binds to L1 + R1
Golden Gun: Summon a flaming pistol that disintegrates enemies with Solar Light.
Power up your Warlock
Class Skills
Healing Rift
- Press and hold Circle to conjure a well of Light that continuously heals those inside it.
Empowering Rift
- Press and hold Circle to conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.
Movement Mode
Strafe Glide
- Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start and airborne drift with strong directional control. Binds to Cross.
Blink
- Jump while airborne to teleport a short distance. Binds to Cross.
Burst Glide
- Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start and airborne drift with a strong initial boost of speed. Binds to Cross.
Voidwalker
Grenades
Vortex Grenade
- A grenade that creates a Vortex which continually damages enemies trapped inside. Binds to L1.
Axion Bolt
- A bolt of Void Light that forks into smaller bolts on impact that seek out enemies. Binds to L1.
Scatter Grenade
- A grenade that splits into many submunitions and covers a large area with multiple explosions. Binds to L1.
Attunement of Chaos
Bloom
- Void ability kills cause enemies to explode.
Chaos Accelerant
- Hold L1 to draw power from your Super to overcharge your grenade, making it deadlier and more effective.
Entropic Pull
- Strike an enemy with this Melee Ability to drain your enemy’s life force and use it to recharge your grenade.
Cataclysm
- Nova Bomb travels slowly and seeks enemies. Detonations shatter into smaller seeker projectiles. Fire your weapon at the Nova Bomb to detonate it early.
Attunement of Hunger – Unlockable Abilities
Devour
- Kill an enemy with this melee ability to fully regenerate your health. For a short time afterward, kills restore additional health.
Feed the Void
- Hold L1 to consume your grenade energy to regenerate your health. Grants the Devour effect.
Insatiable
- While the Devour effect is active, killing enemies extends its duration and recharges your grenade.
Vortex
- Nova Bomb creates a singularity which continually damages enemies trapped inside.
Super – Binds to L1 + R1
Nova Bomb: Hurt an explosive bolt of Void Light at the enemy, disintegrating those caught within its blast.
Dawnblade
Grenades – Binds to L1
Solar Grenade
- A grenade that creates a flare of Solar Light that continuously damages enemies trapped inside.
Firebolt
- A grenade that unleashes bolts of Solar Light at nearby enemies.
Fusion
- An explosive grenade that deals bonus damage when it attaches to a target.
Attunement of Sky
Heat Rises
- Airborne kills recharge your Grenade and Melee energy. Casting Daybreak instantly refills all your ability energy.
Winged Sun
- Engage your enemies mid-flight. Fire weapons and throw grenades while gliding.
Swift Strike
- Strike an enemy with this Mele Ability to burn your target and temporarily increase your movement and reload speed.
Icarus Dash
- Press Circle, Circle while midair to dodge.
Attunement of Flame – Unlockable Abilities
Igniting Touch
- Strike an enemy with this melee ability to burn them and cause them to explode when killed.
Fated for the Flame
- Daybreak projectiles seek targets as they travel and, upon impact, launch a streak of deadly flames.
Everlasting Fire
- Killing an enemy with Daybreak extends its duration.
Phoenix Dive
- Hold Circle while midair to quickly descend and restore your health. While Daybreak is active, Descend causes explosive damage.
Super
Daybreak Weave Solar Light into blades and smite your foes from the skies. Binds to L1 + R1.
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