As of the Season of Dawn, there are twenty seven different Destiny 2 subclasses. So which one do you choose?

It's been almost five months since Shadowkeep was released, and the meta of Destiny 2 has started to settle down. While the changes to subclasses and damage calculations upon the release of Shadowkeep turned many tried and true builds on their head, they also created opportunities to design and test new and exciting builds. Below is a ranked list of the best subclasses to be building around right now in Destiny 2, as well as an explanation of what the ranks mean.

S-Tier: The best of the best. You’re likely to see these subclasses in almost any raid, nightfall, or competitive lobby.  

• Sentinel (Code of the Protector): 100/100
• Dawnblade (Attunement of Grace): (92/100) 
• Gunslinger (Way of the Sharpshooter): (90/100)

A-Tier: Not quite S-Tier, but still a solid choice for most top-level content. You might not be as effective in PVE or lose to someone using an S-Tier subclass in PVP, but it would be a close fight. 

•  Gunslinger (Way of the Outlaw): (89/100)
• Nightstalker (Way of the Wraith): (88/100) 
• Sunbreaker (Code of the Fire-forged): (88/100) 
• Striker (Code of the Juggernaut): (87/100)
• Dawnblade (Attunement of Sky): (84/100)
• Acrstrider (Way of the Current): (83/100)
• Stormcaller (Attunement of Control): (82/100) 
• Nightstalker (Way of the Pathfinder): (81/100)

Voidwalker (Attunement of Chaos): (80/100)

B-Tier: Technically still usable in top-level content, however, you’re going to be at a disadvantage compared to someone using an A or S-Tier subclass. 

• Nightstalker (Way of the Trapper): (79/100) 
• Sunbreaker (Code of the Siegebreaker): (78/100) 
• Dawnblade (Attunement of Flame): (75/100)
• Stormcaller (Attunement of Conduction): (73/100)
• Stormcaller (Attunement of the Elements): (72/100) 
• Sentinel (Code of the Commander): (70/100)

C-Tier: At this tier, you may want to reconsider using a subclass for anything but casual play. While you could theoretically use this subclass in high-level activities and PVP, expect to be fighting for your life against enemies and to be destroyed by enemy players. 

• Sunbreaker (Code of the Devastator): (70/100) 
• Voidwalker (Attunement of Hunger): (69/100)
• Gunslinger (Way of a Thousand Cuts): (68/100)
•  Arcstrider (Way of the Wind): (67/100) 
• Voidwalker (Attunement of Fission): (66/100)
• Arcstrider (Way of the Warrior): (65/100)
• Sentinel (Code of the Aggressor): (62/100)  
• Striker (Code of the Earthshaker):  (61/100) 

D-Tier: Expect only to have success with these subclasses in a niche build or in casual content. 

• Striker (Code of the Missile): (50/100) 

  Sentinel (Code of the Protector): S Tier (100/100) 
 

Though almost every other subclass is flexible enough to be optionally taken in high-level content, every single raid group has at the very least one top tree Sentinel Titan for the extremely useful Ward of Dawn ability. 

Pros:

• Gives the best damage buff in the entire game to your fireteam making it a must take for top-level content. 
• Offers protection while providing said damage buff, possibly saving your fireteam from enemy fire during damage phases.

 

Cons: 

• N/A

  Dawnblade (Attunement of Grace): S-Tier (92/100)
 

Despite being nerfed by the changes to auto-reload mechanics with Shadowkeep, Well of Radiance is still a staple of most raid groups.

  Pros: 

• The radius and open line of sight provided with its health regeneration and damage boost makes it one of your go-to options for boss fights. 
• Charging your grenade allows you to float almost indefinitely, and throwing it heals your teammates or yourself.

Cons: 

• Edged out damage-wise by the recently buffed Titan bubble.
• Limited utility in multiplayer.

Gunslinger (Way of the Sharpshooter): S-Tier (90/100) 

 

One of the tried and true subclasses from the very start, bottom tree Gunslinger still offers the best single target damage in the game with its charged shot alongside Celestial Nighthawk. 

Pros:

• Extremely high damage to bosses with Celestial Nighthawk super damage.
• Utility with your throwing knife allowing you to chain kills via precision hits.
• Future proof to build around due to your almost assured continued relevance for burst damage.
• Recently had its PVP utility improved, giving you a one-shot headshot throwing knife and neutral game improving abilities.

Cons: 

• Not as effective in PVP as top tree Gunslinger.

Gunslinger (Way of the Outlaw): A-Tier (89/100)
 

The go-to Gunslinger subclass for PVP following the nerfs to Blade Barrage, giving you as many kills as you can manage during its time frame.

Pros:  

• For each kill you get with your Golden Gun, a round is added back to the cylinder, meaning if you hit your shots you can keep killing enemy players until your super runs out. 

Cons: 

• Completely outclassed in PVE by the Way of the Sharpshooter subclass. 

Nightstalker (Way of the Wraith): A-Tier (88/100) 

 

Despite a nerf to its invisibility duration and nerfs to super resistance in general, using the middle tree Nightstalker subclass is still one of your best choices for PVP as a hunter.

Pros: 

• High damage and fast attacks give you a chance against other roaming supers in PVP.
• The ability to turn invisible after a successful heavy attack kill gives you the ability to disengage from fights that aren’t going in your favor. 

Cons: 

• Very little use outside of PVP.

Sunbreaker (Code of the Fire-forged): A-Tier (88/100) 

 

Though nerfed like many other subclasses with the release of Shadowkeep, the top tree Sunbreaker subclass is still a valid choice in both PVP and PVE.

Pros:

• You have access to a shoulder charge that both kills guardians in one shot in PVP and weakens bosses significantly in PVE.
• Your hammers are given splash damage during your super, giving them a larger lethal radius.

Cons:

• Your shoulder charge debuff no longer stacks with other damage boosts used by other subclasses, and the amount the enemy is debuffed has been reduced. 

Striker (Code of the Juggernaut): A-Tier (87/100)

 

Like many other effective PVP subclasses, the bottom tree Striker subclass was hit by several nerfs with Shadowkeep’s launch. However, it is still a versatile and lethal choice for PVP and some PVE activities. 

Pros: 

• Long uptime due to receiving super energy back on kills.
• It gives you a high damage resistance in PVP while in your super.
• Ability to clear out large amounts of adds even in high tier PVE situations.

Cons: 

• Lacks utility against bosses and elite enemies.

Dawnblade (Attunement of Sky): A-Tier (84/100)

 

Recently reworked to bring its power in line with other subclasses, the top tree Dawnblade has gone from the laughing stock of warlock to a true contender. 

Pros:

• Lets you hover while aiming.
• It gives you the ability to dodge in mid-air.
• Charging and launching your Celestial fire alternate grenade attack synergizes well with sunbracers.

Cons: 

• Limited utility in PVP.
• Lacks high damage output.

Acrstrider (Way of the Current): A-Tier (83/100)

 

While none of the Arcstrider subclasses are particularly amazing, the middle tree option is by far the best of the lot, giving you the useful ability to completely deflect damage in your super for a brief period.

Pros: 

• Being able to block with your super without giving up as much utility as a Titan’s shield gives you good utility.
• Your Tempest Strike uppercut ability allows you high mobility while attacking in PVP.

Cons: 

• Very little utility outside of PVP.

Stormcaller (Attunement of Control): A-Tier (82/100) 

 

Introduced in Forsaken, the middle tree Stormcaller subclass replaces your wide field of lightning with a concentrated beam of electric energy and remains a go-to for mid to high-level PVE activities.

Pros:

• Synergizes well with several exotics to keep your abilities up at nearly all times.
• Useful in almost all situations due to its variety.

Cons:

• While capable in all situations, it doesn’t truly excel compared to other subclasses.
• The brightness of the Chaos Reach beam can make target acquisition troublesome. 

Nightstalker (Way of the Pathfinder): A-Tier (81/100)

 

After being buffed in Shadowkeep, the bottom tree Nightstalker subclass offers good utility in both PVP and PVE, though is not the absolute best at either option.

Pros: 

• It is a good choice in both PVP and PVE due to the damage buff to the Moebius Quiver Shadowshot ability allowing for one-shotting enemy players as well as buffs to various other abilities allowing you to support your teammates. 
• Gives you decent (but not top tier) damage against high tier enemies with your Super ability. 

Cons: 

• You suffer from being a jack of all trades and a master of none, with better options available both for PVP and PVE respectively.

Voidwalker (Attunement of Chaos): A-Tier (80/100)

 

While not your top tier choice, Attunement of Chaos still gives you a massive amount of burst damage and a seeking projectile for multiplayer.

Pros: 

• Your tracking Nova Bomb gives you an easy way to delete elite enemies and deal chunk damage to bosses.
• Also useful for killing blobs of enemies in PVP.

Cons: 

• Lacks top tier damage output.
• Lost your main source of utility when super regeneration exotics got nerfed prior to Shadowkeep.

Nightstalker (Way of the Trapper) B-Tier (79/100) 

 

While still very useful, the top-tree Nightstalker subclass has been significantly nerfed by the changed to Super regeneration.

Pros: 

• A hunter with Orpheus Rigs and this subclass is still a valid choice in high-level content, though not as useful as before.
• You’re the best Nightstalker subclass for PVE.

Cons: 

• You’ll lack utility in PVP.
• You’re outclassed by numerous other damage buff and crowd control supers.

Sunbreaker (Code of the Siegebreaker): B-Tier (78/100) 

While the relatively new Phoenix Cradle exotic boots let you help your teammates with your sunspots, the bottom tree Sunbreaker still isn’t quite top tier. 

Pros: 

• Leaving a bunch of orbs that burn your foes and buff your allies can be extremely useful in small arena engagements. 
• Quite a bit of synergy exists between your various abilities when using them all together.

Cons: 

• It only gives you lackluster damage against bosses and is harder to clear enemies with due to a smaller blast radius on your hammers compared to its top tree counterpart. 

Dawnblade (Attunement of Flame): B-Tier (75/100)

 

The bottom tree Dawnblade option suffers from not being updated as recently as its top tree counterpart.

Pros: 

• The tracking projectile given in your super is useful in PVP.
• You are able to quickly dodge downwards and regain health. 

Cons:

• You’ll be largely superseded by other subclasses, you’re not really getting anything that another option can’t do better.
• Your build will lack any real unique abilities set it apart from other choices.

Stormcaller (Attunement of Conduction): B-Tier (73/100)

 

The better of the two pre-Forsaken Stormcaller trees, Attunement of Ions is still a solid choice for either roaming in PVP or add clear in PVE.

Pros: 

• Give you the ability to quickly cover the distance with a short teleport while in your super.
• Lets you chain electrical damage between nearby enemies.

Cons: 

• Despite the new exotic armor piece Stormdancer’s Brace, your damage output will be lacking.

Stormcaller (Attunement of the Elements): B-Tier (72/100) 

 

The bottom tree Stormcaller subclass is the weakest of the three but is still a solid choice. The Arc Soul ability will be quite useful in some specific encounters as well. 

Pros: 

• Capable of add-clear and support for your teammates.

Cons: 

• Lacks any real defining features outside of the Arc Soul ability. 

Sentinel (Code of the Commander) B-Tier (70/100)

 

The changes to damage buff stacking introduced alongside Shadowkeep have removed the main use case of the middle tree Sentinel subclass.

Pros: 

• Still offers you some light utility in specific boss encounters.

Cons: 

• No utility in PVP.
• Outclassed by other damage boosting subclasses such as top tree Sentinel or middle tree Dawnblade.

Sunbreaker (Code of the Devastator): C-Tier (70/100) 

 

While similar to the Code of the Missile subclass in that spinning around with a giant mace destroying everything is really cool, the middle tree Sunbreaker subclass also shares a lack of utility with the middle tree Striker subclass.

Pros: 

• Gives you access to a giant hammer you can throw and pick up and throw again so long as you’re able to retrieve it before its timer runs out.

Cons: 

• It doesn’t give you much in the way of movement abilities meaning you’re slow and easy to hit during your super.
• The neutral abilities you gain access to aren’t good enough to compete with other similar subclasses.

Voidwalker (Attunement of Hunger): C-Tier (69/100)

 

While there was an extremely powerful combo during Season of the Undying allowing for virtually unlimited grenades and healing, with the removal of the seasonal mods that allowed that, the bottom Voidwalker tree has been significantly nerfed.

Pros: 

• Even post mod removal, devour allows for some mildly useful combos with some exotic armor.
• The Vortex variant of the Nova Bomb super allows for some decent damage potential.

Cons: 

• Has almost no utility in PVP.
• The fact the Vortex Nova Bomb super doesn’t track enemies makes hitting targets inconsistent. 

Gunslinger (Way of a Thousand Cuts): C-Tier (68/100)

 

With the nerf to super-regenerating exotics, the middle tree Gunslinger subclass has lost much of its utility in both PVP and PVE.

Pros:

• The two bursts of thrown knives during your super offers utility both for dealing damage and clearing high-power enemies.

Cons: 

• Outclassed in PVP and PVE by most other subclasses.
• You’ll be severely hampered by nerfs to your ability to regenerate super energy.

Arcstrider (Way of the Wind): C-Tier (67/100) 

 

Sharing a lot of the same issues as the top-tree Arcstrider subclass, the bottom tree Arcstrider subclass suffers from having very little unique about it.

Pros: 

• Simple to pick up and use, and can be mildly effectively built around.

Cons: 

• Very little reason to take this subclass over almost any other. 

Voidwalker (Attunement of Fission): C-Tier (66/100)

 

While initially one of the most overpowered multiplayer subclasses at the release of Forsaken, the middle tree Voidwalker tree has consistently been nerfed to the point of almost uselessness, save for its Handheld Supernova ability.

Pros: 

• Nova Warp offers better add-clearing ability than either Nova Bomb variant.
• Additionally gives you better roaming potential.

Cons: 

• The Handheld Supernova ability has been significantly nerfed over the past year.
• Is outclassed by almost any other super at most of its roles.

Arcstrider (Way of the Warrior): C-Tier (65/100)

 

While some utility can be found in the Combination Blow ability, the top tree Arcstrider subclass in largely unremarkable.

Pros:

• Serviceable in most low-level activities and PVP.

Cons: 

• Requires specific builds to get much high-level utility, and even then will only be about on par with other subclasses.

Sentinel (Code of the Aggressor): C-Tier (62/100) 

 

While the bottom tree Sentinel subclass offers the best choice if you want to use a Sentinel Titan in PVP, there are better choices for the Titan class when fighting other players.

Pros: 

• Two throwable shields give you better ranged ability during your super than any other Sentinel Subclass.
• You get access to a shoulder charge ability.

Cons: 

• You’re still outclassed by most other choices both for PVP and PVE in terms of pure utility.

Striker (Code of the Earthshaker): C-Tier (61/100) 

 

While by no means horrible, the top tree Striker subclass simply doesn’t offer enough to outclass other similar choices.

Pros:

• Offers some utility with certain exotics and builds.
• Gives you access to the shoulder charge, arguably one of the best melee abilities in Destiny 2.

Cons: 

• Has rather weak abilities that aren’t compensated for enough by its decent neutral game.

 

Striker (Code of the Missile): D-Tier (50/100)

 

The only thing this subclass beats out the others in is cool factor. Being able to fly around like Superman and slam fist first into your foes is undeniably awesome, but unfortunately is objectively worse than almost every other subclass in the game. 

Pros: 

• Is incredibly cool.
• It can find some niche utility in gambit when paired with certain exotic weapons and armor pieces.

Cons: 

• Has terrible damage, add-clear ability, neutral game, and has basically no utility in almost every facet of the game. 

So there you have it, a list of what subclasses you should (and shouldn’t) be using in Destiny 2. With this knowledge, you should be all set to start experimenting with your own builds and tearing up the raid or this week's Nightfall.

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