Destiny 2 has a controversial relationship with its monetization model. The game had a price tag, but Bungie shredded it to make the game free-to-play—though the most significant content is still locked behind purchases.
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This convoluted DLC structure also brings a myriad of separate content packs, expansions, and even dungeon keys, creating a constellation of items to buy. This can be particularly daunting if you’re looking to try out the game, or if you’re coming back after a long absence and want to take a breath before opening your wallet.
Here’s a list of the free-to-play activities in Destiny 2.
Is Destiny 2 free to play?
Destiny 2 is free to play, and there’s a litany of free activities you can undertake as a player. The lion’s share of content is behind paywalls, however, and if you’re really into the game, you may feel the need to open your wallet to access more activities. Playing the game without spending is closer to a free trial than a fully free-to-play title, though you’re not limited by level or playtime.
That said, you can still engage in a decent number of activities without facing a paywall, and the list of free options in Destiny 2 has grown over time, including a new game mode and two old campaigns. There’s even Bright Dust as a currency to buy cosmetics in the Eververse store without spending any money on Silver.
What can you do for free in Destiny 2?
You can have a good time as a free-to-play player, but if you’re keen to dive into the franchise, it’s worth getting more DLCs. They usually go on sale fairly frequently, making it easy to figure out what content is worth buying.
Here’s a summary of activities you can participate in without paying, as long as you meet the appropriate prerequisites.
| Activity | Description |
| Vanguard Strikes | Short (10ish minutes) PvE missions with three guardians. Drops Vanguard loot. |
| Onslaught | A three-player PvE tower defense mode with excellent rewards from the BRAVE Arsenal. Has a 10-round variant and a 50-round variant. |
| Weapon crafting | Available for all players after completing the introduction to The Witch Queen. Not all weapons can be crafted, and crafting specific ones may require purchasing the associated content. |
| Dares of Eternity | A round-based, six-player PvE mode. Drops older gear and grants access to the Dares weapons. |
| Beyond Light campaign | The campaign portion of the Beyond Light expansion, including the Stasis subclass. Weapons and armor are purchased through the Beyond Light Pack. |
| Shadowkeep campaign | The campaign part of the Shadowkeep expansion. You need the Shadowkeep Pack to fully access the rest of the expansion, including a dungeon and a raid. |
| Stasis subclass | The glacial subclass is available for players who complete the Beyond Light campaign. |
| Season Pass (Free track) | You can earn items from the free track in the season pass, though you must purchase the current episode to access the premium track. This includes the seasonal Exotic. |
| Gambit | A PvEvP mode in which you must collect and bank motes to summon a boss before your opponents. Has unique loot. |
| Crucible (PvP) | A rotating selection of PvP modes with different objectives. Is tied to Lord Shaxx in the Tower, who can grant you specific loot. |
| Iron Banner (PvP) | A special Crucible mode available on select occasions. Also has unique loot. |
| Vault of Glass raid | One of Destiny‘s most famous raids, best done with six players. You can loot the raid’s weapons and armor. |
| King’s Fall raid | Another returning raid from the original Destiny, King’s Fall also has some good weapons to acquire—and it’s also best done with six players. Raid gear is unlocked through gameplay. |
| Crota’s End raid | Another six-person raid reprised from Destiny. This time, players can dive into the Hellmouth to take on Crota, son of Oryx. Also offers raid loot. |
| Prophecy dungeon | A dungeon with three encounters that drop strong weapons. We recommend having three players for this. |
| The Whisper and Zero Hour (missions) | Two iconic missions from the older days of Destiny 2 return, granting access to powerful Exotics for free. |
| Exploring destinations | Some destination activities may be partially unavailable. |
| Destination events | Altars of Sorrow, Blind Well, and Terminal Overload (seemingly, you can only open one chest on the latter). |
| Intro missions to other expansions | The setup missions are required to unlock free roam in a destination and features like weapon crafting. |
| Seasonal events | Destiny 2 has four major seasonal events (The Dawning, Guardian Games, Solstice, and Festival of the Lost) available for all players during a limited time each year. |
There’s a plethora of activities to do in Destiny 2 if you’re a free-to-play guardian, and if you’re dedicated enough, you can get good gear to take in your adventures. Onslaught, for instance, offers 12 good weapons from the BRAVE Arsenal, while loot from the playlists (Vanguard, Gambit, Crucible) can also be worth taking, even though it’s expensive to focus older weapons.
Should I buy Destiny 2 DLC?
Buying DLC in the game will unlock a myriad of content, including raids, dungeons, campaigns, and more weapons. Sentences like “Destiny 2 is free to play, but pay to enjoy” are a common adage in the community, and for good reason.
The latest expansion is usually the most expensive, but it comes with new content that’s more in vogue than the rest of the activities. Generally, it also comes with powerful weapons.
That said, DLCs usually go on sale relatively often and with generous discounts, especially on past expansions. The Legacy Collection brings all the older content in the game (except for dungeon keys) and can come with a discount, and individual DLC can also boast markdowns as high as 85 percent. It’s worth buying those items on sale if you can afford them.
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