Destiny 2 Guide: Tips For How To Be The Best Hunter

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Choosing the Hunter class in Destiny 2 positions you as a versatile guardian capable of excelling in both close-quarters and ranged engagements. This agile combatant not only delivers impressive kill counts but also provides exceptional battlefield mobility that can dictate combat flow. While your Super abilities provide significant power spikes, mastering the Hunter’s nuanced movement and ability systems separates competent players from true class specialists.

For foundational Hunter mechanics and basic gameplay principles, consult our comprehensive Class Guide that covers core mechanics across all guardian types. Additionally, explore our extensive Destiny 2 resource library for advanced tactics and meta strategies. If you’re evaluating alternative class options, explore the links provided below for comparative analysis.

When you’re prepared to optimize your Hunter for endgame activities and competitive play, continue with these advanced strategies.

Each Hunter subclass delivers distinct combat experiences tailored to different playstyles and team roles. Your subclass selection should align with both personal preference and team composition needs. The Arcstrider specializes in aggressive melee combat with exceptional close-range burst potential. Gunslinger enthusiasts benefit from precision-oriented abilities that reward accurate shooting and strategic positioning. Nightstalker operators provide invaluable team utility through enemy control and debuff applications that create advantageous engagements.

Your initial gameplay hours will focus on unlocking the Arcstrider’s complete ability suite. Both passive ability clusters—Way of the Warrior and Way of the Wind—enhance the subclass’s inherent melee dominance. This deliberate progression system trains you in aggressive engagement tactics and rapid disengagement maneuvers. Develop proficiency in entering combat zones decisively while maintaining escape routes for when your shield integrity becomes compromised.

At maximum mobility investment, the triple jump capability transforms your aerial evasion potential, significantly increasing survivability. Although Hunters lack conventional ground slam attacks, they compensate with devastating aerial melee strikes executed during double or triple jump descents. This vertical combat dimension provides unique engagement angles that many opponents fail to anticipate effectively.

The Hunter’s combat agility stems primarily from its two specialized dodge abilities. Implement these maneuvers frequently not merely for mechanical practice but to determine which variant complements your specific combat methodology. For melee-focused practitioners—particularly Arcstrider mains—the Gambler’s Dodge delivers exceptional value by refreshing your melee cooldown immediately.

Synergize this evasion technique with the Way of the Warrior’s Combination Flow and Combat Flow passive abilities. When coordinated effectively, this combination creates nearly perpetual ability uptime, with one power regenerating your dodge while the other activates health recovery sequences.

The Marksman’s Dodge better serves ranged weapon specialists by instantly reloading your currently equipped firearm. This proves particularly advantageous when utilizing high-impact weapons with extended reload animations that typically create vulnerable engagement gaps.

As your first unlocked subclass, the Arcstrider provides extensive practice opportunities with the Arc Staff Super. This remains one of Destiny 2’s most accessible Super abilities, enabling devastating area denial and crowd clearance. While the aerial slam delivers impressive burst damage, the Arc Staff’s true potential emerges through sophisticated attack chaining.

This Super integrates both melee and ranged input commands, allowing experimental combination attacks through alternating input sequences. Advanced practitioners can maintain nearly continuous damage output by mastering the rhythm between light and heavy attack variations.

If after extensive Arcstrider experience you discover stronger aptitude for distance engagements, transition to the Gunslinger upon its availability. Two specific Way of the Outlaw passive abilities directly enhance the Golden Gun Super’s performance characteristics. For guardians excelling at precision eliminations, the Way of the Sharpshooter passive cluster provides unmatched rewards for marksmanship excellence.

The optimal complements to sharpshooter precision remain the area-denial capabilities of the incendiary grenade. Coordinate these with the lethal throwing knives available within either passive ability pathway to create versatile engagement options.

A single Golden Gun projectile represents one of Destiny 2’s most devastating Super attacks. The inherent limitation lies in the standard three-round capacity before requiring Super energy regeneration. Target selection becomes critically important—prioritize high-value threats or clustered opponents to maximize ammunition efficiency.

This constraint doesn’t diminish the Gunslinger’s overall effectiveness. Four of the subclass’s eight passive abilities specifically enhance this Super through various mechanisms including: improved target acquisition, ammunition duplication (with reduced duration trade-off), and significant damage amplification against prioritized targets.

Advanced Gunslingers should master the “Six-Shooter” perk which trades individual shot power for increased ammunition capacity, ideal for clearing grouped combatants in activities like our Complete Guide to enemy density management.

For guardians prioritizing team contribution over individual performance metrics, the Nightstalker subclass delivers exceptional strategic value. Its ability suite focuses on battlefield control through non-lethal incapacitation effects that dramatically reduce enemy combat effectiveness.

Nightstalker abilities create favorable engagement scenarios for entire fireteams by neutralizing threats without immediate elimination. The Shadowshot Super anchors enemies in place while applying vulnerability debuffs, transforming dangerous encounters into manageable tactical exercises.

Strategic Void arrow placement can single-handedly alter encounter dynamics, particularly in objective-based modes. The subclass’s smoke grenades provide additional crowd control through disorientation effects that disrupt enemy targeting and movement patterns.

When coordinating with specialized Weapons Unlock combinations, Nightstalkers can create nearly impenetrable defensive positions or methodical advance corridors for their teams.

Mastering Hunter combat requires understanding several advanced technical applications beyond basic ability usage. Movement optimization represents your primary survival tool—the class’s exceptional agility enables engagement control that other guardians cannot replicate.

Develop the discipline to disengage before your shield breaks completely. The Hunter’s lower resilience compared to Titan counterparts means you cannot absorb equivalent damage volumes. Instead, leverage your speed to control engagement distances and timing.

Ability synergy represents the Hunter’s true combat potential. Coordinate dodge cooldowns with melee ability availability to maintain continuous pressure on opponents. This ability cycling creates combat rhythm that overwhelms less mobile adversaries.

For endgame content, your subclass selection should align with both personal proficiency and team requirements. No single Hunter subclass excels in all scenarios—strategic switching based on activity requirements demonstrates true mastery.

Remember that Hunter excellence emerges from strategic positioning and timing rather than raw durability. Your value lies in creating advantageous engagements through mobility and specialized ability applications rather than surviving unfavorable exchanges through sheer toughness.

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