Summary
With the release of The Final Shape,Destiny 2has received its possible last expansion, totaling the number to 8 expansions over the course of 8 years. Whilst the future ofDestiny 2looks bright, that was not always the case, as several expansions in the past have often underwhelmed players, whereas other expansions have blown expectations away, creating some of the best narratives and gameplay fromDestiny 2.
Each expansion offered new content to players, and to make the ranking fair, they will be judged based on their campaigns and features, meaning the more each expansion has to offer in terms of weapons, abilities, activities, and an engaging story, the higher it will rank as the bestDestiny 2expansion.
8Curse of Osiris
Enter Mercury to Meet the Legendary Osiris and Fight the Vex
Secrets unfold on Mercury, as Guardians continue their stories and entwine it with thelegendary exiled Warlock, Osiris. Players are tasked with mending Sagira, Osiris’ Ghost, and finding her loyal friend, who has gone missing when delving deep into the mysteries of the Vex in the past to stop a dark future. Despite a promise of a new Vex threat emerging, Curse of Osiris didn’t really offer much, but it is still great to see Osiris feature as a prominent character inDestiny 2.
Within Curse of Osiris, players are tasked with a rather simple and short story and not much else to do. Mercury isn’t the most exciting location, and it’s such a small location with minuscule rewards that players were better off elsewhere in the Sol System.
7Warmind
Wake Rasputin and Slay a Hive God
New threats take over the surface of Mars. Players are tasked with aiding Ana Brey, a Guardian who seeks to uncover her past before her Ghost finds her. Warmind has potentially dire consequences for the Guardian’s relationship with the Vanguard, as awakening the Warmind Rasputin could have diabolical potential, but a necessity when it comes to fighting a literal Hive Worm God.
With interest inDestiny 2slowing down, the second expansion, Warmind, attempted to bring back some flair into the game. Warmind is rather underrated as an expansion, and it brought about many new activities to keep Guardians engaged. The addition of Ikelos weapons and armor from the Mars Protocolpublic eventswas a decent reward for a challenging activity, and new Exotics became entirely memorable to the point where they are still used today.
6Shadowkeep
Scale The Scarlet Keep and Release Tormenting Nightmares
Nightmares creep out of the Moon, bringing forth dread, doubts, and fears to Guardians who once thought themselves safe from threats once conquered. Teaming with the illusive and creepy Eris Morn, players are tasked with uncovering the threats of the Scarlet Keep, and the growing Hive forces that attempt to fill the power vacuum with Crota and Oryx’s death.
The campaign of Shadowkeep is relatively short, and not much is revealed about the future but more questions. Shadowkeep is also a fairly grindy expansion, where if players want to earn new weapons, armor, and Exotics, they’re in for long sessions of farming and grinding repeated activities, as Nightmare Hunts and the Pit of Heresy dungeon seek to challenge players for somewhat mediocre reward.
5Lightfall
Master Strand and Combat The First of the Witness' Fleet
The Witness and the Black Fleethave arrived in the Sol System, along with its new disciple, Calus. The Last City must hold strong, and as the forces of humanity, Awoken, Eliksni, and Cabal band together, Guardians must take the fight to the secret city of Neomuna on Neptune to stop Calus from taking control of the mysterious Veil that threatens to become the key to unlocking the Traveler and undoing the universe.
Many fans were disappointed with Lightfall, as although Strand has some of the most fun mechanics from any subclass, it also requires a tedious grind to fully unlock. Not only was obtaining Strand a chore, but the campaign underwhelmed, acting more as a prologue than that of a penultimate finale. Fans left Lightfall with a list of questions, and the lack of exciting Exotics certainly didn’t help.
4Beyond Light
Tame The Darkness and Uncover Secrets Buried in Snow
In search of Variks, the former warden of the Prison of Elders, players will end up on Europa, where they uncover a new Fallen House that threatens the Traveler, led by Eramis, the Kell of Darkness. Guardians must band together, embracing Darkness and wielding its new power to take down this new foe, whilst also trying not to lose themselves to unruly power.
While Stasis was a lot of fun to wield asDestiny 2’sfirst Darkness subclass, it also required an intense and agonizing grind to unlock fully. Whilst Beyond Light didn’t have one of the strongest campaigns and even further questions were asked on what the role of Darkness is in this saga, it still managed to entertain thanks to the volley of new Exotics, and the Deep Stone Crypt Raid, which introduces new mechanics to an expanding game.
3The Witch Queen
Fight The Deceitful Sister of Oryx and Delve Deep Into the Black Fleet
Mars returns but within the snare of Savathun’s Throne World. Savathun, The Witch Queen, is Oryx’s sister, who has come not with an army of Taken, but an army of Lucent Hive. These Hive are gifted with the Light of the Traveler, casting seeds of doubt and confusion among the Vanguard, all whilst Savathun feasts on their feelings, and only grows in power to become one of the most deceitful and cunning characters ever seen inDestiny 2.
The Witch Queen is easily one of the best campaigns forDestiny 2, and the post-campaign content is even greater. Whilst it’s disappointing that fans did not receive any new powers for The Witch Queen, the story and the activities made up for it, as players could delve deep into Savathun’s Throne World to learn more about the Witness, and thefirst Disciple, Rhulk, the final boss of one of the bestDestiny 2Raids, Vow of the Disciple.
2Forsaken
Avenge Cayde-6 with Powerful Exotics in Expansive Locations
Cayde-6 and the Guardian must venture inside the Prison of Elders to stop the riots and ensure that its most dangerous prisoners are still intact. Yet, deep within, only one of them is getting out alive.The loss of Cayde-6affected everyone, players and Vanguard alike. The odyssey of vengeance against Uldren Sov and the Scorn Barons brings the themes of a Western to a sci-fi epic, as players hunt down and kill those who murdered Cayde-6 across the Tangled Shore and beyond.
Forsaken is exactly whatDestiny 2needed. A deeply cutting story about revenge, which has players explore 2 new destinations the Tangled Shore and the Dreaming City. The locations and enemies were brimming with excitement, and so many great Exotics featured in Forsaken, made this expansion feel a lot like a sequel toDestiny 2rather than just a minor update.
1The Final Shape
A Grand Finale That Features Plenty of Amazing Powers
The finale to the Light and Darkness saga, The Final Shape ends the journey that started with the Guardian being resurrected by their Ghost in Old Russia. The Witness has almost won, but hope is not lost, and the Guardian along with the Vanguard head into the Pale Heart of the Traveler to put an end to Darkness and the finality that could end the universe in simple stillness.
The Final Shape is the ultimate finale, andDestiny 2players will be completely satisfied upon its conclusion. The narrative pays off triumphantly, and emotionally, and even still, the curious mysteries of the Pale Heart are a joy to explore. The Exotics feel great, and the addition of a new Super and Prismatic, which blends Light and Darkness powers into one, makes Guardians feel stronger than ever, withan immersing arsenal of powersat their fingertips.
