Destiny 2 Subclasses & Abilities

Destiny 2 introduces new subclasses. A subclass is a unique set of abilities, skills and super moves for each character class.

The subclass can be changed in the inventory. Scroll over the subclass at the top of the inventory and press the Triangle-Button (PS4) or Y-Button (Xbox One) to change the specific skills.

Titan Subclasses

Titans have the heaviest armor and the best defensive skills in the game. Every team should have one of them.

Sentinel

Description: Valiant heart, unwavering resolve.

This subclass focuses on defensive shields and protecting your teammates. The abilities are geared entirely on defense. It’s great for strikes and raids (especially the Ward of Dawn will keep your team safe).

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• 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.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Magnetic Grenade: A grenade that attaches to enemies and explodes twice.
• Voidwall Grenade: A grenade that creates a horizontal wall of burning Void Light.
• Suppressor Grenade: An explosive grenade that prevents enemies from using abilities for a short time.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Towering Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button to create a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
• Rally Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button 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 (Bind to X / A):

• High Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
• Strafe Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
• Catapult Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Code of the Protector (Passive Skills):

• Turn the Tide: Your Overshield from Defensive Strike lasts longer and increases melee damage and reload speed.
• Ward of Dawn: When Super energy is full, press and hold L1 + R1 to create a shielding dome to protect you and your allies.
• Defensive Strike: Kill an enemy with this Melee Ability to create an overshield around you and nearby allies.
• Rallying Force: Melee kills restore Health for you and nearby allies.

Code of the Aggresor (Passive Skills):

• 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 ability.
• 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.

Sunbreaker

Description: Forge the fury of the undying suns.

This class focuses on the aggressive side of Titans. This subclass shines the most of all Titan subclasses inside the crucible.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Hammer of Sol: Summon a flaming hammer and wreak destruction down upon your enemies.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Incendiary Grenade:A grenade that sets enemies on fire when  it explodes.
• Thermite Grenade: A grenade that sendss forward a burning line of fire.
• Fusion Grenade: An explosive grenade that deals bonus damage when it attaches to a target.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Towering Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button to create a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
• Rally Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button 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 (Bind to X / A):

• High Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
• Strafe Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
• Catapult Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Code of the Fire-Forged (Passive Skills):

• Hammer Strike: While sprinting, use this Melee Ability to swing a blazing hammer that weakens enemies.
• Tempered Metal: Solar ability kills grantt you and nearby allies bonus movement and reload speed.
• Explosive Pyre: Enemies killed by Hammer of Sol explode.
• Vulcan’s Rage: Hammers shatter into explosive molten embers on impact.

Code of the Siegebreaker (Passive Skills):

• Mortar Blast: Strike an enemy with this melee ability to release a Solar explosion, setting nearby enemies on fire.
• Sol Invictus: Solar ability kills restore your health. Grenade and Melee ability kills leave a deadly Sunspot in their wake.
• Sun Warrior: While standing in a Sunspot, your Solar abilities recharge faster and your Super lasts longer.
• Endless Siege: Hammers create a Sunspot on impact. While standing in Sunspots, you throw hammers faster.

Striker

Description: At close quarters, a fist is better than any gun.

The Titan’s striker subclass is geared on maximum damage output — it’s the exact opposite of the Sentinel. Thanks to the Titan’s heavy armor you can stand your ground against PvE and PvP foes while dealing some heavy damage. This subclass is the easiest to use and great for new players. The super move ‘Fists of Havoc’ let you jump into a group of enemies which is can wipe out entire PvP teams if you time it right.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Fists of Havoc: Supercharge your fists and slam the ground with the force of a maelstrom.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Flashbang Grenade: An explosive grenade that disorients enemies it damages.
• Pulse Grenade: A grenade that periodically damages enemies inside its explosion radius.
• Lightning Grenade: A grenade that sticks to any surface and emits bolts of lightning.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Towering Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button to create a large barrier that can be used to reinforce a position with cover from enemy fire.
• Rally Barricade: Press and Hold Circle-Button 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 (Bind to X / A):

• High Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air at greater heights.
• Strafe Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with strong directional control.
• Catapult Lift: Jump while airborne to activate Lift and launch into the air with a strong initial burst of momentum.

Code of the Earthshaker (Passive Skills):

• Magnitude: Gain an additional grenade charge. Increases the duration of grenade effects.
• 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.
• Seismic Strike: While sprinting, activate this melee ability to slam shoulder-first into the target and release an Arc explosion on impact.
• Aftershocks: Damaging enemies with Seismic Strike recharges your grenade.

Code of the Juggernaut (Passive Skills):

• Frontal Assault: Strike an enemy with this melee ability to reload your weapon and increase your weapon stability.
• Trample: Destroying enemies with the Fist of Havoc extends its duration.
• Knockout: Critically wounding an enemy or breaking their shields increase your melee range and damage.
• Reversal: Melee kills immediately trigger health regeneration.

Hunter Subclasses

Hunters are skillful damage dealers and their advanced dodge abilities make them very agile.

Arcstrider

Description: Flow like lightning. Strike like thunder.

The Hunter’s Arcstrider subclass focuses on close combat.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Arc Staff: From a staff of pure Arc energy and acrobatically take out your foes.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Skip Grenade: A grenade that splits upon impact, creating multiple projectiles that seek enemies.
• Flux Grenade: An explosive grenade that deals additional damage when attached to enemies.
• Arcbolt Grenade: A grenade that chains bolts of lightning to nearby enemies.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Marksman’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
• Gambler’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your Melee Ability.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• High Jump: While 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.

Way of the Warrior (Passive Skills):

• Deadly Reach: Dodging increases your melee range, allowing you to lunge further to strike enemies.
• Lethal Current: After dodging, each Arc Staff hit creates a damaging lightning aftershock.
• Combination Blow: Kill an enemy with this melee ability to trigger health regeneration and increase your melee damage temporarily.
• Combat Flow: Melee kills recharge your dodge ability.

Way of the Wind (Passive Skills):

• 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 aare harder to hit when dodging.

Gunslinger

Description: A lone wolf who lives for the perfect shot.

The Hunter’s Gunslinger subclass is focused on mid- to long range combat. It’s the most skillful class in the game. The ‘Golden Gun’ super lets you shoot instant-death projectiles at foes but if you aren’t great at aiming you might miss the shot. Against big PvE boss enemies it’s very powerful.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Golden Gun: Summon a flaming pistol that disintegrates enemies with Solar-Light.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Incendiary Grenade: A grenade whose explosion catches enemies on fire.
• Swarm Grenade: A grenade that detonates on impact, releasing multiple drones that seek nearby enemies.
• Tripmine Grenade: An explosive grenade that sticks to surfaces and detonates upon enemies who pass through its laser trigger.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Marksman’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
• Gambler’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your Melee Ability.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• High Jump: While 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.

Way of the Outlaw (Passive Skills):

• Deadshot: Significantly improves your ability to hit with Golden Gun.
• Six-Shooter: Golden Gun can be fired quickly up to 6 times, but has a shorter duration.
• Explosive Knife: Throw a knife from a distance that explodes shortly after impact with this Melee Ability.
• Chains of Woe: Precision kills increase weapon reload speed for you and nearby allies.

Way of the Sharpshooter (Passive Skills):

• Knife-Juggler: Throw a knife from a distance. Precision knife kills with this ability immediately recharge it. Binds to   /  
• 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 hits with Golden Gun increase its damage and extend its duration.

Nightstalker

Description: Draw from the Void. Light the way.

The Hunter’s Nightstalker Class is a dominantly shines in PvE. Being able to tether enmies to stop them from attacking and doing bonus damage to bosses is crucially essential. With a bow in hand a Hunter can bring victory faster and easier.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Shadowshot: Tether foes to a Void Anchor, slowing, weakening and suppressing them for you and your allies.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Vortex Grenade: A grenade that creates a vortex which continually damages enemies trapped inside.
• Spike Grenade: A grenade that attaches to any surface and emits a torrent of damaging Void Light.
• Voidwall Grenade: An greanade that creates a horizontal wall of burning Void Light.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Marksman’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform an evasive maneuver with a steady hand. Dodging automatically reloads your weapon.
• Gambler’s Dodge: Dodge (Circle, Circle / B, B) to perform a deft tumble, avoiding enemy attacks. Dodging near enemies fully recharges your Melee Ability.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• High Jump: While 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.

Way of the Trapper (Passive Skills):

• Deadfall: The Void Anchors fired from Shadowshot become traps and wait for prey. Void Anchors have increased range and last longer.
• Keen Scout: Spprint and Sneak faster, and gain an enhanced Tracker. Tethered enemies are marked for easy tracking.
• Snare Bomb: Throw a Smoke Bomb from a distance with this Melee Ability. The Smoke Bomb sticks to surfaces and detonates when enemies are near, slowing and disorienting them.
• Vanishing Step: Dodging makes you vanish from sight for a short time.

Way of the Pathfinder (Passive Skills):

• Vanish in Smoke: Throw a Smoke Bomb from a distance with this Melee Ability. The Smoke Bomb creates a smoke cloud that makes you and nearby allies invisible.
• Lockdown: Grenade effects last twice as long, allowing for strong territorial control and increased damage potential.
• Heart of the Pack: Killing tethered enemies creates Orbs of Light, and increase mobility, recovery and resilience for you and nearby allies.
• Moebius Quiver: Fire Shadowshot multiple times, in rapid succession. Shadowshot deals massive damage against tethered enemies.

Warlock Subclasses

Warlocks are great support players. Their healing ability is great for strikes and raids to keep the team alive. They do have light armor, however, so they die faster than other classes. The Warlock uses magic abilities to deal massive damage.

Dawnblade

Description: Spread your wings and set the sky ablaze.

The Warlock’s dawnlade subclass focuses on mid-air attacks and has a close combat super.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Daybreak: Weave Solar Light into blades and smite your foes from the skies. Binds to L1+R1.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Solar Grenade: A grenade that creates a flare of Solar Light that continuously damages enemies trapped inside. Binds to L1.
• Firebolt Grenade: A grenade that unleashes bolts of Solar Light at nearby enemies. Binds to L1.
• Fusion Grenade: An explosive grenade that deals bonus damage when it attaches to a target. Binds to L1.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Healing Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that continuously heals those inside it.
• Empowering Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• Strafe Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong directional control.
• Burst Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong initial boost of speed.
• Balanced Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with both moderate speed and directional control.

Attunement of Sky (Passive Skills):

• Heat Rises: Airborne kills recharge your Grenade and Melee energy. Casting Daybreak instantly refills all your ability energy.
• Icarus Dash: Press Circle, Circle (B, B) while midair to dodge.
• Swift Strike: Strike an enemy with this melee ability to burn your target and temporarily increase your movement and reload speed.
• Winged Sun: Engage your enemies mid-flight. Fire weapons and throw grenades while gliding.

Attunement of Flame (Passive Skills):

• Igniting Touch: Strike an enemy with this melee ability to burn them and cause them to explode.
• 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: Activate while midair to quickly descend and restore your health. While Daybreak is active, Descend causes explosive damage.

Voidwalker

Description: From the smallest atoms bloom the greatest explosions.

The voidwalker class of the Warlock is centered on powerful magic attacks. The Nova Bomb super ability is great to finish off PvP opponents. You can shoot it at groups of enemies from afar. The big blast radius can wipe out an entire enemy team if timed correctly. It’s a nice mix between damage dealer and healer.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Nova Bomb: Hurl an explosive bolt of Void Light at the enemy, disintegrating those caught within its blast.

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Vortex Grenade: A grenade that creates a Vortex which continually damages enemies trapped inside.
• Axion Bolt: A bolt of Void Light that forks into smaller bolts on impact that seek out enemies.
• Scatter Grenade: A grenade that splits into many submunitions and covers a large area with multiple explosions.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Healing Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that continuously heals those inside it.
• Empowering Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• Strafe Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong directional control.
• Blink: Jump while airborne to teleport a short distance.
• Burst Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong initial boost of speed.

Attunement of Chaos (Passive Skills):

• Bloom: Void ability kills cause enemies to explode.
• 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.
• Entropic Pull: Strike an enemy with this Melee Ability to drain your enemy’s life force and use it to recharge your grenade.
• Chaos Accelerant: Hold L1 to draw power from your Super to overcharge your grenade, making it deadlier and more effective.

Attunement of Hunger (Passive Skills):

• Devour: Strike an enemy with this Melee ability to fully regenerate your health. For a short time afterward, kills restore additional health.
• Feed the Void: Consume your Grenade energy to regenerate your health. Grants Devour effect.
• Insatiable: While Devour affect is active, killing enemies extends the duration and recharges your grenade.
• Vortex: Nova Bomb creates a singularity which continually damages enemies trapped inside.

Stormcaller

Description: Harmony within, hurricane without.

The Stormcaller Warlock Class is the overall balanced class performing well in The Crucible and doing a great job clearing adds in PvE. It has the reach of legend ferocity of the gods.

Super Ability (Bind to L1+R1 / LB+RB):

• Stormtrance: Chain Arc Lightning from your hands and electrify enemies with devastating streams of Arc Light..

Grenades (Bind to L1 / LB):

• Arcbolt Grenade: A grenade that chains bolts of lightning to nearby enemies.
• Pulse Grenade: A grenade that periodically damages inside its explosion radius.
• Storm Grenade: A grenade that calls down a focused lightning storm.

Class Skills (Bind to Circle / B):

• Healing Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that continuously heals those inside it.
• Empowering Rift: Press and Hold Circle-Button to conjure a well of Light that increases weapon damage for those inside it.

Movement Mode (Bind to X / A):

• Strafe Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong directional control.
• Balanced Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with both moderate speed and directional control.
• Burst Glide: Jump while airborne to activate Glide and start an airborne drift with strong initial boost of speed.

Attunement of Conduction (Passive Skills):

• Arc Web: Enemies damaged by your Grenades chain deadly lightning to nearby enemies.
• Transcendence: When cast with full grenade and melee energy, Stormtrance lasts longer and fully restores health.
• Chain Lightning: The electrocuting Melee ability hits at extended range and chains lightning from the struck target to nearby enemies.
• Ionic Blink: Activate to teleport during Stormtrance. Binds to   /  

Attunement of Hunger (Passive Skills):

• Rising Storm: The electricuting melee ability hits at extended range and recharges your Super, grenade, and melee energy.
• Landfall: On casting Stormtrance, fire a bolt of lightning into the ground, creating a devastating shockwave under you.
• Electrostatic Surge: Your rift charges faster when allies are near.
• Arc Soul: Your Rift now grants you or an ally that uses it an Arc Soul to aid it in battle.

What is your favorite class & subclass in Destiny 2? Leave a comment below!