Understanding Destiny 2’s Quest Order

Bungie has built an immense and complex narrative over several expansions, seasons, and updates in the world of Destiny 2. It is a video game where players are Guardians who fight against a number of alien species threatening humanity and explore the beautiful universe. Therefore, it tells its story through numerous quests and campaigns. Such overabundance causes players to get lost, or in some cases, buried under the weight of the numerous quests and how sometimes they are not even arranged in order of the sequence of events. The aspect of quest order is very important to gamers, and especially to new or old players who may wish to play the game following the main story’s chronology, and appreciate important events in the history of the game – namely, the events of the Destiny universe.

This review will discuss the reasons why quest order is relevant in Destiny 2, the order of playing the missions offered by the campaigns, and the problems with the game players explore due to the constant enlargement of the game space.

1. Why Quest Order Matters

In relation to playing Destiny 2, knowing how quests fit together in terms of the order of their execution is important because of the following:

Narrative Coherence

Destiny 2 has a very comprehensive lore as its story consists of multiple characters, different interwoven storylines, and a plethora of universes. Players within the simplistic constraints of the game are never encouraged to play it in an arbitrary order which would be completely baseless as players might fail to understand plot twists, character arcs or key factors of the plot. There is a proper sequence of events that is often referred to as quest order that is appreciated most by the dedicated gamers who want to understand the plot because it most likely connects the different Expansion Packs of the game, namely, The Red War, Forsaken, Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen.

Evolution and power level

In Destiny 2 quests are creative implementations making room for newer content including better loot and power-ups. Logical Sequencing of those tasks is meant to regulate the players in terms of the level pacing enabling them to get the sufficient power level also known as light level to engage in a more difficult task. If a player resorts to the endgame content way too early than intended they will more often than not find themselves lower than the level required for successfully completing the objectives thus engaging in frustration.

Features Ready for Players

Some mechanics and features like weapon crafting, subclass progression, and exotic hunt become available after completing some particular quests and campaigns. Mission completion in the specified sequence helps players avoid loss of important functions of the game, which is safe and fun to play.

Availability of Seasonal Activities

Destiny 2 has a seasonal pattern of play where new quests, activities, and stories are availed with the dawn of a new season. The consideration of the order of seasonal content eases the understanding of players on how to participate in such limited in time opportunities based on events and information present in the game’s world.

2. A Breakdown of Destiny 2 Campaigns and Questlines

The Destiny 2 ‘race’ is formulated into several focal campaigns with even more seasonal and new content attached to it. For those players wishing to play through the story in a bonafide chronological order, this article will provide the reader with details of the major campaigns and how they slot into the story as a whole.

The Red War (Vanilla Destiny 2)

This was the base campaign that launched with Destiny 2 in 2017. The Red War storyline focuses on the Guardian’s war against Dominus Ghaul, the head of the Cabal Red Legion that has invaded Earth and taken the Light away from the Guardians. Players need to reassemble the Last City’s Vanguard, conquer Ghaul to aid in the restoration of the Traveler’s Light and reclaim the Last City.

While The Red War campaign has been vaulted and is therefore unplayable, it still acts as the first chapter of the Destiny 2 storyline. Players, however, that is no longer the case as players have to start with the New Light questline which is an introduction to the game Destiny for the new players.

Curse of Osiris and Warmind (DLCs)

After the release of The Red War, came the release of two smaller extansions: Curse of Osiris and Warmind.

The Curse of Osiris centers on the Guardian’s attempts to prevent a Vex threat on the planet Mercury, as well as the search for the fabled Warlock, Osiris. The narrative touches on the concept of time and how it is manipulated in the Vex controlled endless worlds.

Warmind is more on Mars where the Guardian together with Ana Bray goes to revive the Wamind Rasputin from a deep sleep and prevent ancients called the Hive from using an evil worm god to devour the solar system.

However, both of these campaigns have also been vaulted, but they presented important characters and storylines that are referenced in the following expansions. For players who return to their video game after a prolonged absence, there is a benefit of remembering these stories within the context of the present timeline.

Abandoned

Abandoned is one of the groundbreaking extensions in the history of Destiny 2. It starts with Uldren Sov (later known as Crow), brutally killing Cayde-6, another favorite character among the leaders of the Vanguard. The Guardian sets off on a mission for vengeance by actively seeking out the Barons who assisted Uldren in his scheme. This quest leads the players to one of the locations in the gameplay expansion, the Tangled Shore, and the Dreaming City.

In addition to the storyline of a quest for retribution, Forsaken also introduces Awoken Queen Mara Sov, the curse of the Dreaming City, and the rise of Scorn. These factors are important in the events that play out in the subsequent expansions for example The Witch Queen.

For the users of the game however, Forsaken to remain one of the expansions one must play even though some of the content has been vaulted. The Dreaming City and its weekly curse cycle, however, is still available and concerned with endgame activities.

Shadowkeep

Subsequently, the Moon becomes the scenario for the sequel after Forsaken, which is the Shadowkeep expansion. In this narrative, the Guardian helps Eris Morn deal with the awful visions linked to a snowy pyramid ship depressingly settled on the Moon. These pyramid ships nicknamed as the Black Fleet are the harbingers of the darkness which is the chief antagonist in the Destiny lore.

Shadowkeep also serves as an introduction to a more extensive plot already hinted at in the previous chapter concerning the war of Light and Darkness that will be explored in the subsequent cases. The expansion also brings back the Moon as a place to carry out patrols, quests, and other endgame activities.

Beyond Light

Looking at the development of the plot in Destiny 2, Beyond Light is certainly a very important chapter… As part of the new expansion, the Guardians received the new subclass of Stasis, which for the first time lets players use the powers of the Darkness. The action takes place on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, and the Guardian must defeat Eramis, the leader of the Fallen faction who wishes to control Stasis in order to destroy the Traveler.

This expansion also focuses on the backstory of the Darkness, Exo Stranger return, and the war between Light and Darkness. Beyond Light has a lot of relevance to players who follow the Destiny storyline because it brings to the conclusion certain themes that were introduced long ago and have not resolved till now.

The Witch Queen

The plot of The Witch Queen expansion focuses on the enigmatic Hive goddess Savathûn, Oryx’s sister (the main villain from the Taken King expansion pack of the first Destiny). Savathun’s Throne World was painted in the center of the expansion, a bright and somewhat puzzling world.

The tale studies Savathûn’s ongoing battle with the Light, as well as her development of Hive Guardians with abilities reminiscent of the player’s. But the Witch Queen also adds new mechanics for instance crafting and offers more lore about the Hive, Light, and Darkness.

The Witch Queen is that expansion where players will not be able to escape unless they want to avoid the story. It assists in establishing pivoting conflicts to be precisely registered in the coming expansion and gives out crucial information about the Traveler and Darkness.

Lightfall (Coming Up For Release)

Lightfall, which is set to be released within 2024, will also pick up the ever increasing tension between Light and Darkness as the Guardian will have new challenges engineered by the Witness, the main villain credited with the Black Fleet. It would be interesting to know that this expansion is geared towards being on the war’s winning side; hence this expansion is expected to be focused more on action and dare I say odds than the previous ones.

Although information is still scant, Lightfall appears slated to wrap up several arcs that have endured for quite some time, making this expansion imperative for many players who want to appreciate the story of Destiny 2.

3. Seasonal Content and Quest Flow

Aside from the major expansions, the seasonal model also acts to build up the narrative of Destiny 2. Each season provides a closure to a story that is however related to the overall storyline, and is frequently supplementary to the gaps in the expansions.

This season focuses on the Vex at any Vashto and the war against their artificial reality with the help of Fallen Warlord Mithrax. Brought Empress Caiatl, the daughter of the former Cabal emperor, with the help of the Guardians to battle the Darkness.

Mara Sov has returned back and is on the mission to rescue Uldren Sov from the clutches of Xivu-Arath who has possessed him since the Last War turned Guardian Crow.

New quests, activities, and loot are added for each season. For players who wish to understand the narrative progression, in chronological order of the events, it is essential to indulge in seasonal content as and when it is available. This in turn has a more serious impact as seasons can complete certain arcs and therefore players may miss those story revelations and developments, though Bungie often includes don’t worry, we have this video to catch you up on the important bits.

4. Issues with Adhering to the Quest Order

Despite the fact that Destiny 2 has a memorable and rich story, some players find it difficult to go through the quest in the order they are needed due to several reasons:

Content is being Vaulted

As part of Bungie’s strategy to Vault Cont and keep the quality of their the game-basing system, older content is irreversibly removed from the game from time to time to make way for new expansions and updates. For instance, campaigns like ‘The Red War’ have been vaulted along with that of ‘Curse of Osiris’ and Warmind, which makes it hard for newbies to get the entire plot. While these campaigns are referenced in these new adventures and quests, the removal of the primary narratives has presented issues for gamers who have not been affected by them before.

Non-Linear Progression

The quest design of Destiny 2 has a great number of non-linear passages, which means there are several quest lines active at the same time. Players can find themselves trying to complete several quests at once, ranging from exotic quests and seasonal events, to campaign quests and side quests. It can make hard to organize priorities or even follow the storyline. The game also does not provide a logical sequence and directions, which leads players to omit some quest lines or stray to other content with the passage of time. The game, in a way, encourages players to enjoy its quests at their own pace however doing so may lead to players missing out on critical story elements.

Various Entry Points Available

As the Destiny 2 game is enriched with newer functions, various points of entry have been created by Bungie for players playing the game at different times. An example is given of how players who commenced playing during Beyond Light or The Witch Queen editions are able to commence playing without bothering with prior episodes. Understanding some of the characters or plot points may prove to be difficult since the game does not always provide a good deal of backstory on certain events or figures. It is common for creative players to find and view lore videos or read over community guides to get the full story.

Challenging Secondary Objectives

Certain quests within Destiny 2 include objective requirements that can be quite complex, or include hidden steps, in particular exotic weapon quests or pinnacle activities. Such quests usually require the player to combine completing a campaign mission, a strike, a raid, and even a few PvP matches for them to advance in the quest. For players that are strictly playing through the story and focusing on the particular content, it can be very jarring especially when they are forced to switch from this content to completely different activities.

5. Suggested Quest Order to Follow For Beginners

For the benefit of new or returning players who intended to experience the storyline of Destiny 2 in a proper and fulfilling order, here’s a suggested quest order that guarantees that you do not miss out on the story arcs while playing the game.

Step 1: Finish the New Light Questline

The New Light questline, which aims to provide players an overview of the game’s setting and gameplay mechanics, is the first quest undertaken by players. Players taking this quests initially would traverse Cosmodrome on Earth, learning the ropes of combat, movement and abilities once again. Although this quest isn’t relevant to main storyline of Destiny 2, it does prepare players within its context and more significantly helps them get to know how the game is played.

Step 2: Engaging the Forsaken Campaign (If Accessible)

Despite the partial vaulting of the Forsaken expansion, the campaign remains an essential aspect of the Destiny 2 saga. In instances where the campaign is present, players should make every effort to finish Forsaken since it introduces important characters such as Crow (who was previously known as Uldren Sov) and Mara Sov. The curse of the Dreaming City, as well as the revenge conspiracy of the Barons, are significant events that propel the narrative further in the game.

Step 3: Shadowkeep Campaign

Following Forsaken, the player begins the Shadowkeep campaign that centers on the Moon. This expansion foreshadows the battle between Light and Darkness, as we see pyramid ships for the first time and Eris Morn explaining the dynamics of the Darkness. Shadowkeep is vital in comprehending future expansions like Beyond Light and The Witch Queen.

Step 4: Beyond Light Campaign

When Shadowkeep is successfully accomplished, then the player moves on to the Beyond Light expansion pack. This campaign wraps up with Europa and a new subclass known as Stasis which draws its energy from the Darkness, this campaign deals on the emergence of the Stasis subclass. Light versus Dark conflict in this particular campaign has the Guardian versus Eramis the Fallen. Leader of the House of Darkness. The Lore of Beyond Light is also significant with the introduction of the Exo Stranger and the Exos.

Step 5: The Witch Queen Campaign

The Witch Queen is among the freshest and most important expansions in the narrative evolving on Destiny 2. After completing the events of Beyond Light, players should take a bathe in this campaign in order to face off against the sly Witch God Savathun_ The expansion pack adds new complexities to the understanding of the structure of the Traveler, the Light, and the Darkness while adding to the existing lore of the game about the Hive and their use of Light based powers. Some of the highlights of the expansion concern Savathun’s Throne World and the first appearance of Hive Guardians.

Stage 6: Targeting Seasonal Content

While carrying out the campaigns, it is recommended that you include seasonal content when it start to be available. New seasons brings new narratives to the gameplay most of which build between the major expansion events. Take for instance, the seasons of the chosen, splicer, and the lost are crucial seasons because they introduce characters and points of influence essential to the main story. Engaging in these specific seasonal activities will help you to catch up with what is going on with the latest events within the game’s narrative.

Stage 7: Lightfall is coming

As for Destiny Lightfall expansion, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is going to be the bursting climax of many plot lines given the fact that it has been a focal point of many such plots in which the witnesses and guardians rivalry will fall. In order to understand the story behind Lightfall expansion, make sure to play all older campaign and season content because the new expansion will use plot points from The Witch Queen and Beyond Light, as well as previous expansions. Check Bungie periodically to make sure you don’t miss their ‘we are working on this’ content coming out shortly.

How to move on with Destiny 2’s story?

With every new expansion and season, the lore of Destiny 2 expands further and thicker. To those players concerned about the game’s narrative and who wish to continue playing, observation of the quest order and no backlog in the releases is necessary. Thanks to Bungie’s seasonal model, players can also opt to play during absences and find the game world has transformed and certain plot events have unfolded, which are essential for the cluster of key plot elements.

Order of Quests and Other Related Activities: Additional Forms of Assistance

Due to the difficulty in ensuring one adheres to the quest order of Destiny 2, some players seek external aids in mastering the content of the game. The following represent some of those aids and guides.

Destiny 2 Wiki: A wiki community of players created the Destiny Wiki and has incorporated all of the possible information regarding quests, campaigns, and storyline. It is useful for players who wish to maintain the world’s chronology of events and quests.

YouTube Lore Channels: There are many Youtuber Destiny 2 lore channels, for example, My Name is Byf and Myelin Games, which create videos covering the story, characters and events in detail. New players benefit from these channels by the way of lore contained in expanded universe which does not exist in the game, or simply goes vaulted.

Reddit and Destiny Forums: Destiny 2 players have access to services like Reddit where they upload game quest order and story progression tips and guides about the game to other players. It helps you to be current with all the new and advanced things in the game.