After ten years, theDestinyfranchise has had 12 DLCs to round out its two installments, and all of them now fall into a ranking.Destinyhas been a generational title for both good and bad reasons. Bungie originally released this sci-fi looter shooter to mixed reviews after a rough development process. Since then, with a marginally better sequel and DLCs that are hit or miss,the game ends its first saga as a popular title that arguably failed to reach its highest heights.
With the Light and Darkness saga over, Bungie has recently given fansthe first look atDestiny 2’s roadmap. This includes two yearly expansions that are expected to be around the size ofRise of IronfromDestiny. These expansions will each have two free major updates and are rumored to be similar in size to theInto The Lightupdate from beforeThe Final Shape.
December 2017
Curse of Osiriswas the first DLC ofDestiny 2and was an unquestionable failure.The plot focused around the Vex trying to alter the pastand bringing the legendary Warlock Osiris into the franchise. However, that is the sole good part of this DLC. The story was short and felt less important than the scale of the threat would deem it to be.
Destiny 2: Every Character Stat (& How They Work)
Character stats are one of the most important aspects of Destiny 2, regardless if players are engaging in any PvE or PvP activity in the game.
This DLC brought a new planet, two strikes, and three crucible maps with it, but only the latter ended up being worthwhile.Another key part of this expansion was the Infinite Forest, a generated run of encounters that ended up being basic and only scarcely used in events before it was sunset. To make matters worse, players were introduced to the first Raid Lair as a substitute for a large-scale Raid. However, Eater of Worlds turned out to be the least popular “Raid” that was ever released.
11Warmind Was A Small Step Up From Its Predecessor
May 2018
Warmindlearned from the failures ofCurse of Osirisbut still failedto be a memorable expansion. The story, while more interesting, was also shorter and culminated in killing an important Hive god in a strike. While Xol was eventually imprisoned in the excellent Whisper of the Worm Exotic mission, it still felt lackluster.
Though it was small,Warminddid manage to add some quality content to the game.The Escalation Protocol event on Mars was chaotic funand the closest thingDestiny 2saw to a horde mode. The Spire of Stars Raid Lair was also added during this DLC, and was a huge step up from Eater of Worlds. Overall, Warmind felt more like a stopgap than its own large event.
10It’s Safe To Say Lightfall Was Rushed Filler
February 2023
Of the larger expansions in the franchise,Lightfallstands out for how poor it was. Guardians flocked to Neomuna to stop Calus from giving The Veil to the Witness. Though the ultimate ending of the Witness winning that battle was good, everything else was poor. A story that felt half likea training arc after unlocking Strand, a subclass that also felt out of place with the story, along with new characters that felt unoriginal and unneeded.
Neomuna itself is a fine location, vibrant and unique, but ultimately uneventful after a few weeks. The Shadow Legion was a nice refresh of the Cabal, but ultimately not the major upgrade they were likely meant to be. Even worse, the Root of Nightmares raid that brought back one of the most notoriousDestinyvillains ended up being a laughable task. In the end,Lightfallis doomed to be remembered as a filler DLC.
9Shadowkeep Began A New Loop
October 2019
Shadowkeepadded the second dungeon toDestiny 2, Pit of Heresy, but it was a forgettable experience that posed little challenge to even solo players.The Garden of Salvation raid was an overall win for the expansion, but ultimately couldn’t bolster the reception. Thus,Shadowkeepbecame a clear sign to fans to always be cautious with hype for this franchise.
8The Dark Below Has Aged But Was Perfect For Its Time
December 2014
The Dark Belowwas the first DLC to be released for the franchise, and whileit pales in comparison to what fans expect nowadays, it was great in the moment. A compact but engaging story that brought about the biggest threat at the time, mixed with the second raid to be released. Crota’s End, in both versions, is a charming raid but ultimately simple, with little reason to replay outside the desire for loot.
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A collaboration between Destiny 2 and Dungeons & Dragons brings several new armor sets, an emote, and other cosmetics to unlock for your Guardian.
Dark Belowdid add two fun new strikes, though one was exclusive to PlayStation for the majority of its existence.It can also be praised for the introduction of Eris Morn, one of the most popular NPCs to be added to the franchise. Overall, whileThe Dark Belowis a nostalgic expansion for many, it is ultimately inferior to what has become standard.
7House Of Wolves Set The Perfect Standard
May 2015
House of Wolvesis arguably the most memorable ofDestinyDLCs. This gave more life to the Awoken and Fallen in a slightly longer story that held weight in the future. However, the Prison of Elders was by far the best addition. This arena PvE experience was immensely replayable and was the most challenging part of the game at the time.
Along with one new strike, four new crucible maps were added. These maps were complimented by the release of the Trials of Osiris.This endgame PvP mode was a breath of fresh air to the gameand, while it hasn’t translated as well in the sequel, has remained a stalwart in the franchise.
6Beyond Light Was A Complicated Step Forward
November 2020
Beyond Lightwas where the Light and Darkness Saga first felt like it was growing. After the Pyramid Fleet arrived and absorbed over half ofDestiny 2’s locations, Guardians were called to the icy hellscape of Europa. There they would discover a Fallen House worshiping the Darkness, the forgotten technology of humanity’s Golden Age, and the first Darkness subclass. Stasis, while overpowered at first, has settled into a perfect spot withthe best Stasis buildsand proved to be a good addition.
Beyond Light’s story was good, but had a pacing issue. The extra PvE content in Strikes, Empire Hunts, and reworked Lost Sectors were intriguing, but never really stuck around as much as Bungie would likely have wanted them to. The crowning achievement ofBeyond Light, besides Stasis, was Deep Stone Crypt.A balanced, beautiful and enjoyable raidthat brought back a sense of loot chasing previous raids had failed to achieve.
5Rise Of Iron Is A Forgotten Gem
September 2016
Rise of Ironwas the last DLC for the originalDestiny, and outside the presence of the Iron Lords, it is one Bungie seems to want players to forget.It was a near-perfect expansion with its only major fault being its lack of long-term relevance, a problem due to its story and Bungie’s reluctance to bring it back. Though never confirmed, the common theory on why nothing fromRise of Ironhas ever made a return is due to the work it would take.
Rise of Ironadded a whole new area of the Cosmodrome, a new Fallen house that played differently, and loads of content. Four strikes were added, with three of them being reprised versions using the new Siva threat.Wraith of the Machine was the most innovative raid at the time, and still stands as one of the fan-favorites all these years later.
4Witch Queen Brought Back Hope
February 2022
After the failure ofShadowkeepand lukewarmreception toBeyond Light,Witch Queenrestored many fans' hope for the franchise. A well-crafted story that moved forward the overarching plot mixed with the first-ever hard-mode campaign was praised by many. Though there was no new subclass, the introduction of Hive Guardians added an exciting new combat mechanic.
Along with a beautiful Hive-themed world,Witch Queencame with plenty of content. The Wellspring wasn’t any longstanding six-player mode, but it was the right thing to compliment the update. Weapon-crafting, though it has become controversial, was monumental at the time andcontinues to be the best friend of casual players. Lastly, Vow of the Disciple is possibly the best raid Bungie has crafted.
3Forsaken Saved Destiny 2
September 2018
After the struggles of vanillaDestiny 2and the worst DLCs of the franchise,Forsakengave Bungie the support to continue. An emotional and mysterious story centered around Uldren led the Guardians to the Dreaming City.This location was a first forDestiny, a complex ecosystem that changed weekly and was filled with mysteries.
Forsakenwas loaded with content from new supers, strikes, maps, a new Raid, and the first-ever Dungeon. Last Wish is still the most complicated raid Bungie has made, and is well known for its notorious day-one experience. IfForsakenhad one downside, the Scorn barons that were killed in small quests felt like a massive waste of potential.
