Destiny Character Builds by Subclass

Destiny Character Builds by Subclass by KillerKodiak69

Just a little guide I whipped up for my clan, just realized it would be an excellent addition to this sub, as I have yet to see a comprehensive guide for builds. I’m open to both changes for what I have already and any builds you run yourself that I did not include.

Titan

Striker Builds

Stormbringer (Aftershocks) – PvE/PvP

Do not fear the storm; you ARE the storm.

• Grenade: Lightning (DoT)
• Havoc: Aftermath (DoT)
• Storm: Amplify (Faster FoH)
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Aftershocks (Better DoT)
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Unstoppable
• Stats: Intellect, Balanced (Faster Fist, Grenades or Melee as needed)
• Exotic: The Armamentarium (2x Lightning grenades for even more DoT)

Boxer (Transfusion) – Solo PvE/PvP

In the Wild stands a Boxer, and a Fighter by his trade.

• Grenade: Flashbang/Lightnight (PvE/PvP)
• Havoc: User Preference
• Storm: Overload (Chance to reset cooldown)
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Transfusion (Health regen on SF & SC)
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Shoulder Charge (OHKOs & health regen)
• Stats: Strength (More melee for more health regen)
• Exotic: An Insurmountable Skullfort (Improved Transfusion lets you replace Transfusion)

Man of Steel (Death from Above) – PvE/PvP

Bring the rain.

• Grenade: Flashbang/Pulse
• Havoc: Death from Above
• Storm: Amplify
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Headstrong
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Unstoppable
• Stats: Intellect, Balanced (As much FoH as possible, grenades and melee are secondary)
• Exotic: Helm of Inmost Light (Replace DfA and Headstrong with Aftermath and Aftershocks)

Defender Builds

Vindicator (WoL) – PvE

Your Light protects your companions; it also empowers them.

• Grenade: Spike/Magnetic (Mob AoE/Target burst)
• Ward: Weapons of Light (Increases DPS of Fireteam)
• Barrier: War Machine (Increases personal DPS)
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Bastion (Longer Ward = Longer WoL)
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Illuminated (Stronger WoL)
• Stats: Intellect, Balanced (Faster Ward, Grenades or Melee as needed)
• Exotic: The Glasshouse (Longer WoL)

Paladin (Orbs) – PvE

Provide shelter with which to fill one another with Light.

• Grenade: Spike/Magnetic (Mob AoE/Target burst)
• Ward: Blessings of Light (Give Fireteam Overshield while still being able to deal damage)
• Barrier: Gift of Light (Generate Orbs)
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Gift of the Void (Generate Orbs)
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Iron Harvest (Generate Orbs)
• Stats: Intellect, Strength (Faster Ward, Faster Barrier for more Orbs)
• Exotic: Crest of Alpha Lupi (Generate more orbs)

Sentinel (Tank) – PvE/PvP

You are the solitary rock, but you are not alone; weather the tide so others may break it.

• Grenade: Spike/Magnetic/Suppressor (Mob AoE/Target burst/PvP)
• Ward: Armor of Light (Durability in the middle of a mob or on a Control/choke point)
• Barrier: Unbreakable (Durability outside of Ward)
• Codex: I (Recovery & Toughness)
• Perk 1: Relentless (Barrier +5 seconds and stronger)
• Codex: V (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Untouchable (Faster Ward)
• Stats: Intellect, Strength (Faster Ward, punch all the things)
• Exotic: No Backup Plans/Helm of Saint-14 (PvE: Barrier +5 seconds/PvP: blind enemies)

Warlock

Voidwalker Builds

Darkstar (Vortex) – PvE/PvP

Send them to the brink, and watch as they are consumed.

• Grenade: Vortex/Axion Bolt (PvE & PvP/PvP)
• Nova Bomb: Vortex
• Energy Drain: User Preference
• Arcane: Wisdom or Spirit
• Perk 1: Annihilate
• Order: Ancestral
• Perk 2: Vortex Mastery
• Focus: Intellect, Discipline
• Exotic: Obsidian Mind/Voidfang Vestments (PvE/PvP)

Shadow Priest (Energy Drain) – PvE/PvP

Devour their soul; feed their destruction.

• Grenade: User Preference
• Nova Bomb: User Preference
• Energy Drain: Soul Rip
• Arcane: Wisdom or Spirit
• Perk 1: The Hunger (longer Energy Drain)
• Order: Ancestral
• Perk 2: Embrace the Void (more Energy Drain)
• Focus: Discipline, Strength (spam grenades & melee to trigger Energy Drain)
• Exotic: Skull of Dire Ahamkara (replaces the Hunger, can use Angry Magic if Lance is taken, or Annihilate)

Sunsinger Builds

Salamander (Overshield) – PvE/PvP

With scales of flame, nothing can harm you.

• Grenade: User Preference
• Radiance: Radiant Skin
• Scorch: Flame Shield
• Arcane: Spirit
• Perk 1: Radiant Will
• Order: Ancestral or Divine
• Perk 2: Gift of the Sun
• Focus: Intellect & Strength (more shields from Radiance and Scorch)
• Exotic: Claws of Ahamkara (2x Scorch)

Fireskald (Song of Flame) – PvE

Sing their praises and help them Light the world.

• Grenade: User Preference
• Radiance: Song of Flame
• Scorch: User Preference
• Arcane: Wisdom or Spirit
• Perk 1: Sunburst (Orbs from Scorch)
• Order: Ancestral
• Perk 2: User Preference
• Focus: Intellect & Strength (more Radiance and Scorch for more Orbs)
• Exotic: Light Beyond Nemesis (more orbs from Radiance) or Heart of the Praxic Fire (stronger buffs from Song of Flame)

Pyromancer (Ignite) – PvE/PvP

Burn them to ash.

• Grenade: Solar
• Radiance: User Preference
• Scorch: User Preference
• Arcane: Wisdom or Spirit
• Perk 1: Viking Funeral
• Order: Ancestral
• Perk 2: Touch of Flame
• Focus: Discipline & Strength (more DoT from grenades and Scorch)
• Exotic: Sunbreakers (longer grenades for more things burned)

Hunter

Gunslinger Builds

Despite my first character being a Hunter, I was not able to come up with any distinctive builds for Gunslinger.

Bladedancer Builds

Berserker (Fast Twitch) – PvE/PvP

Thin their ranks with efficient weapon handling, then close the gap and cut them down.

• Grenade: User Preference
• Arc Blade: Showstopper/Razor’s Edge (PvE/PvP)
• Blink Strike: Fast Twitch (Lost of melee)
• Path: Forbidden (Agility & Recovery)
• Perk 1: Quick Draw (Immediate draw & ADS)
• Way: Drifter (Agility)
• Perk 2: Encore (Longer Arc Blade)
• Focus: Intellect, Discipline (Blink Strike is capped at 5 seconds so buff Super & Grenades)
• Exotic: Mask of the third Man (sustainable Arc Blade)

Rogue (Shadowjack) – PvE/PvP

If they can’t see you, they’re already dead.

• Grenade: User Preference
• Arc Blade: Vanish (Invis)
• Blink Strike: Backstab/Escape Artist (Assasinate/Invis)
• Path: Forbidden (Agility & Recovery)
• Perk 1: Shadowjack (Longer invis)
• Way: Drifter/Nomad (Agility/Recovery)
• Perk 2: Stalker (Even more invis & stealth revives)
• Focus: Balanced
• Exotic: Don’t Touch Me (More invis), will be Ikaheka’s Hooks after HoW

Phantom (Hungering Blade) – Solo PvE/PvP

Float in and out of combat like a ghost.

• Grenade: Arc Bolt/Flux, Skip (PvE/PvP)
• Arc Blade: User Preference
• Blink Strike: Escape Artist (As the name suggests)
• Path: Forbidden (Agility & Recovery)
• Perk 1: Fleet Footed (Get to cover)
• Way: Nomad (Recovery)
• Perk 2: Hungering Blade (Regen)
• Focus: Balanced
• Exotic: Don’t Touch Me (More Invis)