Destiny 2’s Best PvP Classes & Subclasses, Ranked (2022)

Let’s start this list off by saying there are no bad classes in Destiny 2. But when we’re talking about the best PvP classes and PvP subclasses for the Crucible, some definitely shine higher than others. Updated for 2022 as of Beyond Light, let’s go from what we feel the “worst” to the best.

12. Arcstrider Hunter

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

The Arcstrider’s primary claim to fame is its roaming super. Up until Forsaken, it lacked some of the pizazz of the other roaming supers like Sentinel, Striker, or Sunbreaker. However, with the Whirling Guard path, you have some defensive utility now too.

If someone fires at you while you’re using Whirling Guard, you can deflect those bullets right back at them until you get close enough.

This gives you an opportunity to close the gap more safely, or at least just evacuate yourself from a sticky spot so you don’t have to waste your entire super. Plus, you might get some kills with it too.

Other than that, the Arcstrider favors Hunters that prefer up close and personal play, as they have perks that sync up with dodging and melee attacks. So if you’re a shotgunner, definitely consider using the Arcstrider.

11. Nightstalker Hunter

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

The Nightstalker, like the other entries towards the bottom of this list, is certainly viable. It’s just overshadowed by the other Hunter subclasses, and most everything else in general.

Its main problem is that its super is not the greatest for getting kills and is better suited to just sabotage other enemies while they are supercharged.

Just because you anchor someone, doesn’t mean you’re going to get around to killing them. It is possible for them to get away, or for a teammate to help bail them out.

That said, tactically saving your super to shutdown an enemy super that you’re worried about can clutch a round in competitive/survival in particular. There’s just obviously a high skill ceiling for this.

Middle tree is a lot better in most cases, and the added utility of being able to go invisible is very nice, but it does run out quite quickly and you still need to get up in player’s faces to kill them which can be dangerous as you don’t have a ton of damage protection.

10. Voidwalker Warlock

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Voidwalker is still feeling the great Void Warp and Handheld Supernova nerfs in PvP. What was once among the strongest and most fun to use PvP subclasses in the game is a shell of its former self. It’s still usable of course, like anything in Destiny 2’s PvP, but it’s not nearly as competitive as it once was.

Its other trees are just more geared towards benefiting from PvE play and it leaves Voidwalker in a not-so-great spot in PvP, at least when compared to other classes.

All that said, some things never change: “Nova Bomb go boom” and that will never be a bad super for shutting down anything that is remotely dangerous in front of you.

9. Sunbreaker Titan

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

The Sunbreaker is a safe, and powerful Titan subclass but compared to the other two, lack the utility and sheer power. It’s a bit of a one-trick pony.

Its super is extremely powerful and safer to use than most others. From a distance, as long as you have a halfway decent aim, you can easily run through an opposing team. However, it’s a bit limited by the number of throws you have and is prone to just straight up missing or tracking poorly.

What was once a strength, Thermite Grenades, has now been turned into a weapon via Wave Frame grenade launchers that any class can use. This sadly has taken a bit of the wind out of the Sunbreaker’s sails.

Finally, like all other Titans, it has a “shoulder charge” melee which will one hit KO an enemy. And, as an added bonus, it can soften up nearby enemies for a follow up attack which should also kill them in one shot if you’re quick about it. But again, every Titan subclass has a shoulder charge of some kind.

The Sunbreaker is only where it’s at on this list because of the stiff competition, and the lack of utility compared to the Sentinel, and the lack of offensive potential compared to the Striker. It’s arguably the safest and easiest of the three to use, though.

8. Sentinel Titan

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

The Sentinel is just a very balanced PvP class right now. It has a roaming Super that not only can wreck enemies up close, you also can throw your shield from a distance to catch people running away.

On top of that, you can actually close the distance from enemies that got a jump on you by raising your shield up and guarding. A trick that lots of players in Crucible forget they can do.

The Sentinel, like the other Titans, have a one shot shoulder charge melee, and they also can go for Defensive Strike for an edge in intense close quarters brawls.

PLUS, if you really wanted to get cheeky, Ward of Dawn is available on that top path to lock down an objective which makes the Sentinel practically invincible in its bubble.

Finally, bottom tree Sentinel can suppress enemy supers with its charge attack, yet another useful move in the Sentinel playbook.

7. Gunslinger Hunter

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Power creep has caught up to the Gunslinger and when compared to the new Stasis subclasses, and buffs to other subclasses, it just doesn’t hold up as well as it used to. That said, it still does what it has done well for all these years now, just fine.

Golden Gun is one of the most powerful supers you can use in the Crucible. From a safe distance, you can wipe an entire team in a matter of seconds if they are lined up right for you. You are extremely vulnerable in this state, though, so you have to be careful.

Blade Barrage is still powerful and is capable of shutting down someone quick. Unlike a Nova Bomb that travels slowly (at least in comparison to this super), the Blade Barrage is almost instant. So if you see a threat or an opportunity, you can fire it up, and in an instant eliminate them, it just isn’t as broken as it was when it first arrived.

Finally, if you’re handy with a knife, the weighted knife can be incredibly satisfying to use.

6. Behemoth Titan

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Although nerfed, the Behemoth still has great mobility and utility. It’s ironic because Titans aren’t generally viewed as speedy but the Behemoth, thanks to Glacial Slide and its melee that can fling you far distances, is just so fast. Pair this mobility with something destructive like Felwinter’s Lie and you’ll be getting hate mail in no time.

In addition to its great speed, it also has the ability to leverage Stasis crystals in a unique way. You can create a wall of stasis with Glacial Grenade to not only create cover for you, but then you can crash through it and easily get kills that way too.

Its super, Glacial Quake, is also just a nightmare to deal with and amplifies the speed and destructive capabilities up to comical levels. Don’t mess with Behemoths.

5. Stormcaller Warlocks

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

The Stormcaller since it was introduced in Destiny 1, is maybe the most unchanged, and simple to use classes especially in PvP. Which is totally fine because the Stormcaller is so powerful.

While the Stormcaller has a lot of neat tools at its disposal, you’re picking it for its hyper-aggressive super that will make you nigh-unkillable as you just roll around the battlefield like Raiden and shock everyone to death in a super that just seems to last forever.

Because of the range, a lot of times, you’ll notice people not even bother to run or fight you if you pop it nearby. Making eye contact with a super-charged Stormcaller is basically a death sentence.

The new super, Chaos Reach, adds a little bit of versatility. It’s a lot easier for people to run away from, but, you have way more range and can snipe enemies and objectives practically from across the map with relative ease.

Still, we’d stick with good ol’ tickle fingers.

4. Striker Titan

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Striker continues to be a menace in the PvP scene as of Destiny 2: Beyond Light, even with all the changes around it. There’s nothing that’s suddenly not good about bottom tree Striker.

Extended super duration from Fist of Havoc kills, health regeneration on melee kills, improved melee range, reload and increased damage on melee hits. What else could you possibly want?

The middle tree super requires a bit more skill but coming out of nowhere to blow up an entire team at an objective or to clutch a Trials of Osiris round is probably the most fun thing you can do in Destiny 2.

On top of that, you have a choice of three excellent grenades each with their own unique utility (Pulse, Flashbang and Lightning) and have the ability to carry two of them at a time.

Barring Bungie deciding to murder it, Striker will always be a solid PvP choice in Destiny 2.

3. Shadebinder Warlock

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Shadebinder, although not nearly as hellacious as it was when it first launched in Beyond Light, is still a pain in the ass to deal with.

Shadebinders are the masters of slow and freeze in PvP right now. Frostpulse attacks can stop anyone in their tracks even, to comical effect, flying Thundercrashing Strikers.

Their rifts? They freeze. Their grenades? They freeze. Its super, Winter’s Wrath? It’s designed to just freeze everything and everything.

If you just want to be the most annoying PITA possible, go ahead and pick Shadebinder.

2. Dawnblade Warlock

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Dawnblade perhaps has the highest skill ceiling of any PvP class in Destiny 2, but it also has potentially the highest reward.

With Attunement of Sky you’ll be able to get a bird’s eye view of the entire map and with Icarus Dash and Heat Rises, the only subclass that will come close to your ability to out maneuver and cover more ground than you is a Behemoth.

You can use this aerial advantage to snipe unsuspecting enemies from far away, or just get a jump on them when they least expected it. However, of course, it also makes you an easier target. This is where Icarus Dash comes in and if you’re going to make the most of Dawnblade, you need to know how and when to use it. If you can though, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better Warlock PvP subclass.

1. Revenant Hunter

Destiny 2 Best PvP, Crucible & Trials of Osiris Classes & Subclasses, Ranked

Take everything you love about the Hunter: its mobility and its ability to dodge to reload/recharge and then add the ability to freeze and slow on top of that.

Then, instead of having to choose between a roaming super or one-bang super, combine them into one super (Silence and Squall) that can not only quickly kill on activation but will auto-roam for you, shutting down an entire area for a period of time, killing everything in its way, providing cover for your allies, while you continue to go and get kills yourself somewhere else.

Then, if that wasn’t enough, throw on top of all that a midair slam attack that will Shatter any frozen targets for a 1 hit kill.

That’s the Hunter Revenant in a nutshell and all of those reasons are why it’s at the top of our list for the best PvP and Trials of Osiris subclasses in Destiny 2.