Bungie just kicked off year four in Destiny 2 with the new Beyond Light expansion. The Darkness has arrived, heralding with it an old foe from the series' past. Drastically changing the state of the game and available content, Beyond Light makes the nearly half-decade-old game feel new even for returning players.
The start of a new expansion is the perfect time to return to or begin playing Destiny 2, but it can be a lot to take in. Beyond Light introduces much to the game and changes things up a bit. Here are some tips, tricks and strategies to help you conquer the Cosmodrome and excel on Europa.
Conquer the Cosmodrome
Beyond Light reintroduces the Cosmodrome. Initially playable in the first Destiny title, this is where Guardians start their adventure when creating a new character. Though some things have changed, it's still very similar to the opening players may have experienced in the first game. The Cosmodrome's layout hasn't changed much, so returning players shouldn't have much trouble finding their way around.
The bounties and quests you can get from Shaw Han will provide a strong baseline for new players to get started. Shaw will walk new Guardians through the basics, and they can snag their first Exotic, The Chaperone, as soon as they meet him. It'll also pay to make a habit of keeping an eye open for Spinmetal Leaves (a crafting resource) and world chests tucked in nooks and crannies of the map. These resources will become vital to Guardians as they progress.
Patrol This!
Patrols have gotten a bit of facelift since Shadowkeep. Gone are the tedious or boring patrols that littered the game's areas. Instead, patrols are one of two tasks: eliminate enemies a certain way, or collect items from a specific type of enemy. This is a major improvement over the previous patrols that would assign Guardians to a specific location away from their current objective. It's never been easier to rapidly complete patrols than while adventuring or doing public events.
Upgrade Modules and the Finest Matterweave
In the first stretch of a new Destiny expansion, Upgrade Modules are among the most coveted and useful items. Upgrade Modules are components that allow Guardians to upgrade equipment. By sacrificing a higher-powered piece of gear from the same category, players can boost a favored weapon or armor piece. They make good gear stay good. Upgrade Modules can be earned from specific bounties Banshee-44 gives out and periodically as a reward in the season pass. Players can also craft Upgrade Modules with an ever-shifting crafting resource requirement and Enhancement Cores.
Finest Matterweave is an unsung hero in most Guardians' inventory. The item provides a buff when used that increases the chance an Enhancement Core will drop. Once dropped, the buff goes away, but it still makes one of the better ways to grind towards Upgrade Modules.
Grind on the Moon
For those who thought Guardians were done with their adventures on the Moon, think again. Much in the same vein as Destiny 2's previous expansions, there are quests to grind and challenges to complete that call for an absurd number of defeated enemies. The Moon offers excellent venues for this purpose. Between the hordes upon hordes of enemies fought when partaking in the Alter of Sorrow activity and the tightly packed army of Vex just before the entrance to the Garden of Salvation raid, the Moon makes for a comfortable location to rack up kills with a specific weapon or ability.
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend
To no one's surprise, Stasis is incredibly powerful. The first of the powers that Darkness offers, Stasis is the polar opposite of Solar, freezing enemies and creating icy crystal barriers. Multiple Guardians using Stasis can synergize their attacks for a big pay off, freeze a group of enemies and smash them to pieces with a well-aimed melee or super. Though lacking the same utility options that the powers of Light offered, Stasis allows players to brute-force their way through most problems.
A couple of guardians using Stasis can do some real damage, but one can only imagine a whole fireteam of players freezing and obliterating their foes -- a terrifying prospect that will surely be witnessed once the Deep Stone Crypt is opened. Whether jumping back in for the start of year four, or starting Destiny 2 for the first time, keep these tips in mind and soon, you'll be ready for whatever mysteries Europa holds.