How to find all the gold chests in Destiny. Want more? How to find all 62 Dead Ghosts.
For frequent players of Call of Duty: Ghosts or Battlefield 4, the player-versus-player combat in Destiny, also known as the Crucible, will come as a major shock. Where most first-person shooters involve a combination of skill and finding the winning load-out formula, Destiny is about preparation and understanding. For the most part the playing field is level, thus rewarding those who take the time to understand and master the system that Bungie created.
We’ve spent some time in the Crucible, and while it hasn’t always gone as smoothly as we would have liked, we kept grinding away to try and wrap our heads around this unique experience. The results of those efforts are five tips that will help anyone who struggles with the PvP side of Destiny.
Learn the Maps
This tip isn’t specific to Destiny, but it should serve as a reminder to new players that until they learn the ins and outs of each map, they’re going to struggle. The biggest factor in who does well and who lands at the bottom of the scoreboard in player-versus-player is map knowledge. Not just knowing the ins and outs of each environment (although that is key), but also observing player tendencies over time to predict the most likely path they will take. If there are two doors to a room, and experience tells the player that 95 percent of the time opponents come through the door on the left, they should play the odds and focus their attention on that entrance.
Strength in Numbers
Having good and reliable teammates is always a benefit, but in Destiny, the time-to-kill (TTK) makes it an absolute must. Where in most first-person shooters players can drop an enemy in just a few shots, Destiny requires several. This formula makes it very difficult for even one skilled player to take down two unskilled players. For this reason, players should try to play the Crucible with a friend that he or she can communicate with. They should stick together and work as a team. If they come across two enemy players… may the best duo win. If they come across a lone wolf, however, the only uncertainty will be which one of them gets the kill.
Understanding the Radar
We already covered a bit of the preparation that goes into being successful in the Crucible, and now we’re going to discuss the radar.
The radar in Destiny will show all players at all times who are within a certain range, with a few minor exceptions. What players need to know first is that if someone is within range, he or she will show up via a bright red indicator that points in the direction they are located. If that player is crouched, they may disappear from the radar briefly, but they will pop back up every five seconds. If the enemy is either above or below, the indicator won’t be bright red, but rather somewhat faded. The main thing to remember here is that players will almost always see their enemy on the radar before they have line of sight, and their enemy will see them as well. Who wins depends on who uses this information wisely.
Using the radar effectively is the difference between winning and losing gun battles, and players must train themselves to constantly check it for threats. If they see someone moving from the right to the center, and there just happens to be a door in front of them, a pre-fire might be in order to surprise that foe. If they see a threat on the radar that suddenly disappears, either that player is dead, or he or she entered the crouched position. In this case, Guardians should wait five seconds. If their opponent doesn’t show up again, that means they’re dead. If they do show up again, they might be camping. Take this information and plan an effective attack.
Use Heavy Ammunition
This tip is definitely specific to Destiny, and it’s worth mentioning primarily because hardly anyone picks up and uses the Heavy Ammunition.
The Heavy Ammunition drop can usually be found in two locations on the map, one close to each of the beginning spawn points. Players should pick this up as soon as they can, then equip a Machine Gun in order to bring death and devastation to their foes. The Rocket Launcher can be effective, but gets far fewer rounds to work with, and in that way it’s somewhat unforgiving. With the Machine Gun, even if a few rounds miss, players have plenty of bullets left over to rectify the situation.
Because the Heavy Ammunition does such high damage, the person who gets his or her hands on it will have a major advantage over the competition, and when combined with some of our other tips, might just find themselves at the top of the scoreboard.
Unlock the official Destiny Digital Guide (also available in a Print Edition).
Boom! Headshot!
A select few players will always aim for the head in first-person-shooters, but the natural tendency is to aim for the body. It’s the biggest target available, and aiming for it usually means more bullets land and the bad guy dies.
This is not the case in Destiny.
As we mentioned earlier, the time-to-kill in Destiny is much higher than most gamers are used to, and therefore scoring critical hits is essential to winning those one-on-one battles. By aiming for the head, players can ensure that they are delivering maximum damage to their opponents, and can even come out on top in gun battles where they started off already wounded, or perhaps didn’t get the first shot off.
In close quarter battles, Guardians will want to put their cross hairs on their opponent’s face, hip-firing to ensure they have full range of motion. At medium to long range, players might want to adjust and aim for the upper torso. As the target gets smaller it’s easier to miss, and therefore it’s better to land 15 shots to the body than one shot to the head. Always play the odds.
For more information on Destiny, be sure to keep it locked on Prima Games.
Made for the ultimate Destiny fan, the Destiny Limited Edition Strategy Guide is a beautiful 400-page guide that comes with two exclusive lithographs, a gorgeous premium double-sided dust jacket (featuring a unique cover design on the exterior and additional artwork direct from Bungie on the interior), as well as one of Three Deluxe, Collectible Covers based on the Hunter, Warlock, or Titan. This Limited Edition book is a must-have collectible for Destiny fans.
The Destiny guide is also available as a Signature Series Guide and as a Digital Guide.
