First of all, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Destiny 2 so far. I have played a bit of it the past few days and at the time of writing this piece, I am a Level 12 Gunslinger that’s doing okayish in the Campaign and Adventure missions. That being said, though, I only started to understand how exactly the game works in the past few hours of my gameplay.
What’s more, I would still be clueless to how I am supposed to play if I didn’t land a gig writing wiki articles for the game. While it did spoil some of the Adventures for me because I wrote the walkthroughs before I actually played them, it also managed to clear up some aspects of the game for me.
So, without further ado, here are the things that I found hard to understand as a newcomer to Destiny 2.
Damage Types
The first issue I had with Destiny 2 was the damage type of Energy Weapons. While you’re going through the tutorial, the game makes sure to let you know that Energy Weapons should be used on the enemy’s shields. That’s all fine and dandy until you realize that there are actually three separate damage types – Solar, Arc, and Void. Each of them should be used on the corresponding enemy shields, but this you have to find out for yourself.
Never does an NPC or a text prompt in the game let you know that using a Void weapon on a Minotaur’s Void shield will not only bring it down faster but will also make the shield explode and deal splash damage to all enemies in range.
Once I learned that I thought to myself that I shouldn’t have dismantled all other weapons but the one with the highest attack. Especially considering that it was a Solar weapon and I had a huge amount of Vex to deal with in the next few missions.
Weapon Types
So far, I have used just about any type of weapon the game has to offer. SMGs, Auto Rifles, Scout Rifles, you name it. However, I still have no clue whatsoever if the weapon type matters at all.
I do realize that the weapon one uses is up to their own preference. If you prefer a quick-firing weapon for close-quarter combat, you go with the SMG. If you favor precise shots from a distance, you go for the Scout Rifle. But what about all the other types, such as Pulse Rifles, Shotguns, Hand Cannons, and whatnot? What are they for and what are their benefits?
Currently, I try to use Hand Cannons and Sidearms only. Not because I know what their purpose is exactly, but because I’m a Gunslinger and they look cool. Does this benefit my character and my play style? Hell if I know.
My current loadout. Is it any good?
Armour Stats
When it comes to MMO games, I have never been exceptionally good at figuring out what makes a good armor set. I remember playing WoW and thinking to myself that I have no idea what this particular piece of chest armor does, but it is Rare, while my current one is Uncommon. Therefore, it had to be better. Before I learned what I need and what I don’t, I may have worn robes that are far better for a Demonology Warlock than for my Fire Mage.
Right now, I have the same problem with Destiny 2. I understand the armor rating – the more, the better. But when it comes to the rest of the stats, I am completely lost. What the Hell are Resilience, Mobility, and Recovery? And which one should I prioritize as a Gunslinger? I don’t know and I could hardly give a toss, honestly. If it has a higher defense rating than my current piece, I am equipping it. Period.
Now, I hear you shouting at me that I can always read a guide and stop complaining. Guess what! I know that. I wrote some of the guides out there myself. But when I turn on my console, I want to play, not educate myself.
Conclusion
When it’s all said and done, Destiny 2 is not a bad game at all. It does have its quirks and, just like many games out there, it does have a learning curve. However, that’s completely normal, especially for an MMO.
At times, I do wish there was a more comprehensive tutorial or that the game did a little more of a hand holding than it currently does. Yet, players don’t want tutorials, they want gameplay. I can totally understand that.
Perhaps, letting people learn from guides and their own experience is the better approach. After all, this is an MMO game and there will always be casual players and hardcore ones. If casual players had the same information as the ones that worked hard to gain their rank, the ones that actually put effort into it might feel cheated.
If anything, the short tutorial and the relative lack of hand holding will make the ones that want to get good stand out. It will award their efforts and this is something wonderful.
