PS Plus Requirements for Playing Destiny 2
Part 1 - Exploring the Worlds of Destiny 2 Without PS Plus
Destiny 2 offers a vast universe filled with beautiful worlds just waiting to be explored. As a lone guardian, you can freely roam the planets and complete solo quests without needing a PS Plus membership. The diverse open maps like Earth, the Dreaming City, and beyond provide countless hours of discovery as you scout for resources, defeat enemies, and uncover hidden secrets. Solo players enjoy complete freedom to follow waypoints, advance the story at their own pace, and experience the lore of Destiny’s living worlds.
Scouting the EDZ
One of the earliest destinations, the European Dead Zone (EDZ) on Earth serves as a perfect starting point. Wander through the rustic ruins taking in vistas of towering cliffs and winding rivers. Keep an eye out for materials to gather and public events where you can assist other nearby guardians against challenging foes. The EDZ gifts an accessible introduction to Destiny’s vibrant environments.
Treasure Hunting in Lost Sectors
Hidden throughout each world lie mysterious entrances to Lost Sectors, cramped underground complexes brimming with ancient treasures and threatening alien presences. Solo players relish the thrill of the hunt as they stealthily pick off enemies, scan for clues, and claim valuable loot in these isolated mini-dungeons. Mastering Lost Sectors develops your light and knowledge of the location.
Part 2 - Story Missions to Enjoy Solo
Beneath Destiny 2’s lively multiplayer core lies a rich narrative with memorable characters and cinematic set pieces. As a solo adventurer, you hold full control over progressing the campaign’s main story beats and additional side quests.
Following the Stranger’s Call
One early quest sees you assisting the mysterious Exo Stranger to thwart a Vex temporal attack. Match wits against cunning machines as you solve puzzles, blast through intricate levels, and reach climactic showdowns. This early mission excels at world-building intrigue.
Showdown in the Almighty
Later arcs ramp up the scale, such as defending against the Cabal’s orbiting city-destroying Almighty superweapon. Pilot a jumpship through stressful dogfights and daring maneuvers among the stars. Such story highlights offer tangible stakes and pulse-pounding action perfect for solo play.
Part 3 - Public Events for Impromptu Action
While exploring open zones, guardians may come across public events unfolding around them. These spawn randomly to provide impromptu cooperative fights against powerful foes for all nearby players to join in. Whether you’re alone or in a group, public events act as exciting diversions that don’t require pre-planning.
Defend the Warsat
In the EDZ, a mysterious alien Warsat crash-lands needing protection from waves of Fallen attackers. Defend hack points and blast incoming dropships to earn rewards once the objective succeeds.
Battle Walkers in The Divide
On Mars, massive robotic Walkers stomp across the canyons. Players must team-up to take down its shields and core in a tense race against time. Public events like these forge bonds between lone wolves and inspire heroic last stands.
Stop Taken Blight Incursions
In the Dreaming City, dark rifts spawn blights that rapidly corrupt the landscape. Eliminate adds, destroy blights, and defend the area to push back the Taken corruption as a spontaneous fireteam.
Part 4 - Explore New Worlds Through Story DLC
While the base game lets solo players experience the highlights of Destiny 2’s living worlds, downloadable expansions provide substantial new worlds, artifacts, and mysteries to discover through solo story missions.
The European Aerial Zone (EAZ)
Beyond Light gifts access to a frozen frontier on Europa belonging to the Exo Stranger. Trek through its frigid valleys and cavernous interiors facing off against cadres of aggressive Vex and Fallen. Alongside the main quest, hidden caches of upgrade modules and collectibles incentivize thorough exploration.
Savathûn’s Throne World
Most recently, The Witch Queen delivers a brand new destination - the creepy, fungus-filled Throne World under Savathûn’s control. Here haunting lore secrets and twisted enemies await amongst decaying structures. Solo players relish unraveling the mysteries at their own pace while leveling up gear.
Quests to Boost Light
Each expansion also introduces multi-part questlines that solo players can complete to earn powerful weapons, gain access to special playlists, and boost their Light level - preparing them for harder group activities. Side missions continue world-building and yield unique Exotics or legendary gear.
Part 5 - Strikes Offer Scalable Cooperative Fun
While not requiring others at their easiest difficulties, Strikes provide scaled up cooperative missions designed around teams of three guardians. Solo players enjoy increased challenge and rewards when joining public matchmaking to face tougher foes synergistically alongside random allies.
The Devil’s Lair Strike
The original campaign Strike returns players to face off against Fallen kell Sepiks Perfected atop the scorched earths of the EDZ. Perfect for learning strikes mechanics with low-pressure public matchmaking.
The Inverted Spire Strike
On Nessus, vault against swarms of Vex amidst complex machinery in a tense race against time reaching the summit. Communicating with teammates to focus fire targets and revive each other amps up the fun.
Lake of Shadows Strike
On the Cosmodrome, blast through legions of Hive and Taken to sabotage their summoning ritual in a climactic boss showdown. Some of the most rewarding moments come from last-second revives keeping a fireteam’s Light alive.
Part 6 - Explore Raids and Dungeons with Clans
While playable solo through unconventional methods, Raids and Dungeons flourish as the pinnacle group activities designed around coordinated fireteams communicating on mics. Solo players gain immense benefit from joining active clans where they can schedule sessions to experience Destiny’s most engaging challenges alongside friendly and skilled allies.
Vault of Glass Raid
As Destiny’s first Raid, players delve into the intricate Vex citadel across time itself. Experienced clans walk new members through the tactical encounters, from the jumping puzzle and defending confluxes to battling Atheon in his throne world.
Prophecy Dungeon
Taking place in a mysterious Drangon-infested shipyard, teams face challenges centering around platforming, puzzle-solving, and dueling against mighty weapons like Kell Echo. Learning the mechanics through patient clans fosters camaraderie.
King’s Fall Raid
The massive Dreadnaught Raid emerges as many players’ favorite, confronting Oryx’s savage Hive army across an epic storyline. With an engaged clan’s guidance, even newer players join in the epic setpieces and strategic boss fights.
Part 7 - Crucible and Gambit Offer Competitive Thrill
While online multiplayer activities in Destiny 2 require PS Plus for matchmaking, solo players itching for PvP thrills can experience the free-to-play Crucible playlists at their cores through peer-to-peer connections. Similarly, Gambit lets them test their skills in hybrid PvE/PvP competition.
Clash and Control Game Modes
Crucible staples like Clash and Control deliver fast-paced deathmatch action across classic symmetrical arenas. Even disorganized solos enjoy improved performance by understanding map flow, abilities countering enemy tactics, and perfecting their aim under pressure.
The Drifter’s Gambit
Gambit splits fireteams to race against an enemy clan to bank motes, summon and destroy blockers/invaders, then face off in frantic PvE and PvP showdowns. While no match for coordinated four-stacks, solo players develop versatile loadouts excelling at all roles for when they quest further.
Iron Banner Events
Periodic events like Iron Banner up the ante, leveling the playing field in Power-enabled matchmaking for all to prove themselves. Strong solo performances draw the attention of top clans, expanding one’s Destiny network exponentially.
Part 8 - Conclusion
While some coordinated group activities require PS Plus access, Destiny 2 grants solo players a wealth of engrossing content to enjoy freely through story and exploration. Fortuitous public events offer opportunities to assist impromptu fireteams as well. Down the line, matchmade activities provide incentives to practice one’s skills until ready to seek out clans. Overall, Bungie’s acclaimed shared-world shooterimmerses solitary guardians for hundreds of hours across its living, bountiful worlds.