Destiny is arguably the first big event game of the new console generation. It’s a multiplayer shooter from the original creators of Halo, and it combines easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gunplay with an online RPG-like progression system and mission structure.
There are so many ideas going on in the game, it can be daunting for new players. And it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the large swarms of enemies, especially in the Strikes or in the harder difficulty levels.
These tips will help you get the best out of your Destiny experience. Some are classic shooter tips, but others are very specific to Destiny. The game’s developers say they want the game to be around for 10 years , so if you like it, make an investment! Study up, and you’ll be tearing through the enemies even faster.
1. Remember to take cover
There are plenty of shooters out there with cover mechanics — “hit A to go into cover!” — butDestiny isn’t one of them. That said, cover is no less critical than it is in other games. In fact, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with enemies if you don’t jump behind a wall frequently.
Run or jump behind cover when you need to reload. Do it when you need to get your bearings. Most importantly, do it when your health is running low. Health will recharge after a few seconds, but a single hit will reset the timer, so cover is the key to recovery. Fortunately, the game is loaded with very deliberately placed objects for cover. If there’s not a wall to hide behind, there’s probably a very big rock. Use it.
IMAGE: BUNGIE
2. Keep your gear up to date
Destiny borrows a lot of ideas from massively multiplayer online RPGs like World of Warcraft. One of those ideas is the forward march to bigger and better gear. Your gear has stats that impact your ability to absorb damage, recharge your skills, and hurt enemies. Don’t neglect it.
If you find that you’re wearing stuff that’s a few levels below you, visit your class trainer, or the weapons vendor in the Tower and buy some upgrades. It makes a big difference. There are three stats in the game, but any of them are useful to anyone; it’s not like other MMOs where one class is primarily focused on building up one statistic.
To really take your gear to the next degree, make a trip to the cryptarch. He’s a mysterious fellow, but secretly, he’s one of your best friends. Here’s how it works: throughout the game, you’ll receive objects called “engrams.” They can drop from your slain enemies, or appear in your inventory as a reward for completing a strike or other special event.
These are basically tokens for a random, high-quality item. Read their descriptions, and you’ll see some of the possibilities of what you could get if you turn them in. The cryptarch is the guy who will make the exchange. When you turn in an engram, he’ll give you a valuable item. Especially at lower levels, these could very likely be better than the gear you already have.
The cryptarch also sells engrams, so when in doubt, buy something and hope for a great random reward! And don’t forget — the most important item to keep upgraded is your weapon. Armor helps, but killing enemies faster helps more.
3. When in doubt, level up
If your gear is up to date and you’re still having trouble tackling that story mission or Strike, don’t fret. If you’re willing to put in just a little more time training up, you can make yourself more powerful for your next attempt.
Instead of getting frustrated as you hit a wall, dying over and over on the same encounter, drop out of it and take a spin in one of the free roam missions. In addition to story missions and Strikes, each planet has a playground mode where you can do random tasks and gain experience and gear quickly.
Do that and gain one or two levels, then try your difficult encounter again. You’ll definitely fare better! You can also develop your character’s abilities by playing in the Crucible, Destiny’s multiplayer arena.
4. Learn each enemy’s weakness
Destiny has gotten some flak from critics because it doesn’t give you a lot of variety in your attacks or abilities, but the flip side is that it actually has a lot of variety in enemies.
For example, headshots will be one or two-hit kills on your average gun-toting drudge, but that tactic is undesirable when you’re fighting the Vex robot race; take out a Vex’s head, and it’ll become enraged and charge you.
Take notice of each enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Most of them have weak points where you can do more damage to them (signified by yellow damage numbers instead of white), and they often follow predictable behaviors you can take advantage of. It’s an easy cue to miss, but it’s extremely helpful.
This is extra important with the game’s many bosses — particularly those in strikes. The game designers had a specific strategy in mind for each of them, so learn it. For example, beating the Devil Walker in the game’s very first Strike (the one on Earth) requires taking out its legs first. As each leg is destroyed, the boss collapses for a few seconds and reveals its most vulnerable spots. Save your most powerful attacks and ammunition for that moment.
IMAGE: BUNGIE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
5. Play with friends
You can definitely play Destiny alone, but it’s more fun with friends, and a lot easier too. Friends can revive you if you are knocked out of the fight, and more firepower always helps. If you’re having trouble with a battle, invite a friend to join you. Nothing makes a bigger difference.
Friends can join you in any of the game’s modes — don’t look at one mode as “single-player” and another as “multi-player.” It’s all multi-player if you want it to be. In story missions, friends’ help can make missions considerably easier. In Strikes, it’s much easier to coordinate with a friend than with someone you’re randomly matched with. That’s old school MMO common sense!
Even some of the competitive player vs. player modes in the Crucible are team-based. You can queue up with friends to dominate your enemies through superior communication and camaraderie.
6. Keep a wide variety of weapons
It’s natural to feel an affinity for a certain class of weapon — auto rifles, for example — but don’t ditch the other ones. Different enemies and tactical situations call for different armaments. You might prefer the shotgun as your secondary most of the time, but sometimes far away enemies will scream for a sniper rifle. Carry both.
This is so important that it’s sometimes worth switching to a weapon with blatantly inferior stats if it matches the tactical situation. So don’t ditch that old sniper rifle if you don’t have a better one yet. Having more tactical options is always more important than the handful of materials and money you’d get from salvaging your less desired gear.
The same goes for primary, secondary and special weapons. Keep them all, discard none! Learn each of their strengths and weaknesses. Make sure you use each weapon frequently, so you’re not just using a weapon that has already been upgraded to its maximum level. If you have a plasma rifle that’s maxed out, put in some time with the auto rifle for a while; it will level up, making it more effective when you really do need it.
7. Don't neglect your melee attack
Destiny is mostly about shooting things. There’s no doubt about that. That makes it easy to forget about your other abilities sometimes, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not using them. Your class’ special attack and grenades can both be really useful, but the one you never want to forget is your melee attack.
When enemies get very close, it’s hard to target them effectively. In this case, the melee attack is almost always the best move. It does a ton of damage, and it doesn’t require that you set your sights on the enemy’s rapidly moving head to succeed. Every class has melee attack upgrades availability in their skill progressions. When you have a choice, always invest in more melee options. Buy gear with Strength to make your melee even more effective.
Do you have a shotgun? If so, pair a shotgun shot with a melee attack for an instant kill on just about any player, and most normal enemies. This one-two punch is the move the pros are always using in Crucible matches, and there’s good reason for it.
Do you have your own tips for mastering the world of Destiny? Share them in the comments below.
.jpg)
Post a Comment