Is Destiny 2 DLC Worth it in 2024? Yes, With Some Caveats - 33rd Square (2024)

Destiny 2 remains one of the most vibrant shared world shooters in 2024. With frequent expansions adding new destinations, activities, weapons and more, there‘s always something fresh to experience for new and returning Guardians. But with 4 major expansions now available, it can be difficult to determine which Destiny 2 DLCs are actually worth buying into at this stage.

After reviewing all the options in detail however, I believe the answer is yes – Destiny 2 DLC is still very much worth it in 2024 if you select the right content. Both returning players and newcomers can get great value from the expansions. But you need to be smart about which ones you choose.

In this detailed guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know to make the right Destiny 2 DLC purchases this year. Let‘s dive in!

At a Glance: Destiny 2 Expansions Worth Buying in 2024

Before we get into the nitty gritty details, here‘s a quick overview of which Destiny 2 expansions you should target first in 2024:

• The Witch Queen (2022) – Without question, this is the most worthwhile recent expansion. The campaign, destination, raid, weapon crafting – everything here is fantastic.

• Beyond Light (2020) – This slightly older expansion is also recommended for the excellent Europa destination, Deep Stone Crypt raid and brand new Stasis subclasses.

• 30th Anniversary Bundle – Smaller DLC, but worthwhile for Gjallarhorn exotic rocket launcher, Dares of Eternity activity, and cosmetics.

• Shadowkeep (2019) – Only recommended purchasing when heavily discounted. The moon destination and raid are decent.

Read on for more details on each expansion!

Destiny 2 Expansion Breakdown

Before deciding on expansions, let‘s recap what is actually included in each of the major Destiny 2 DLC releases so far:

The Witch Queen (2022)

• New Throne World Destination – Massive new area to explore with misty swamps, dark tunnels and glowing canyons.

• Legendary Campaign – Fantastic, lengthy story campaign with high difficulty options and cool unlocks. Praised as one of Destiny‘s best.

• Weapon Crafting – Create enhanced custom versions of expansion weapons via quests and materials from activities.

• Glaives – Creative new first-person melee and projectile hybrid weapons. Very fun to master.

• Wellspring Activity – 6 player matchmade horde mode activity with random modifiers for replayability.

• Vow of the Disciple Raid – Challenging end-game raid with standout visuals and boss encounters. Great replayability.

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• Seasonal Content – 4 seasonal updates are bundled with the expansion, bringing new activities, progression and loot.

Clearly, The Witch Queen offers a staggering amount of quality content across the board. It‘s incredibly worthwhile even a year from launch.

Beyond Light (2020)

• Europa Destination – Large new ice moon zone to explore with campaign missions. Gorgeous setting.

• Deep Stone Crypt Raid – Fun and rewarding raid with a standout spacewalk encounter and catchy boss music.

• Stasis Subclasses – Brand new Darkness elemental subclasses with unique powers to unlock. Very strong.

• Exotics – Cool new weapons like Lament sword, Salvation‘s Grip stasis grenade launcher, etc.

• Empire Hunts – Repeatizable mini-campaign missions you can select and farm for rewards.

While slightly dated, Beyond Light holds up due to the subclasses and raid alone. Europa is also one of the coolest destinations added to Destiny 2.

Shadowkeep (2019)

• Moon Destination – Fully revamped moon location with some new areas like the Scarlet Keep.

• Campaign – Decent story focusing on nightmares of past enemies. A bit short at around 5 hours.

• Garden of Salvation Raid – Features some solid encounters and boss fights. Lacks standout moments though.

• Exotics – Popular weapons like Xenophage, Divinity and Deathbringer introduced.

• Nightmare Hunts – Selectable mini-missions to hunt down nightmares. Fun but a bit limited.

While the Moon is spooky fun to explore again, Shadowkeep‘s lighter content holds it back from being a must-buy DLC. Check for discounts.

Direct Expansion Comparison

To see the differences even more clearly, here‘s a direct side-by-side comparison of some key elements across the recent expansions:

You can see how much more robust The Witch Queen is compared to even Beyond Light in areas like campaign content and exotics. Shadowkeep definitely lags behind.

Factors To Consider Per Player Type

With the expansions laid out, which you choose to buy really depends on the type of Destiny 2 player you are:

For Solo Story Players

Focus on The Witch Queen for the amazing 8+ hour campaign with high quality cinematics and challenging heroic modes. It‘s one of the best shooter campaigns out there.

For Multiplayer Fans

Pick up Beyond Light to get the extremely powerful Stasis subclasses for PvP and PvE. They dominate in most activities.

For Raid Enthusiasts

The Witch Queen again wins for having the Vow of the Disciple raid, which is engaging and rewards replay. Deep Stone Crypt from Beyond Light is great too though.

For Casual Players

Stick with the free-to-play content like Vault of Glass raid, core playlists and rotating exotic weapons. Deeply discounted older DLC can work too.

As a Destiny 2 expert, these are the clear expansion recommendations I would give to players based on their interests and playstyle.

Expansion Pricing and Discounts

Of course cost is a factor too. Here‘s what you can expect to pay for each expansion normally:

• The Witch Queen – $40 base, $80 with season passes
• Beyond Light – $40 base
• Shadowkeep – $25 base
• 30th Anniversary Pack – $25

However, Destiny 2 expansions see frequent deep discounts around major sales events. It‘s fairly common to see prices like:

• The Witch Queen – $20 (50% off)
• Beyond Light – $20 (50% off)
• Shadowkeep – $12 (50% off)

Buying expansions at these sale prices make them significantly more tempting. And Destiny 2 DLC goes on sale often – at least a few times per quarter.

My advice is wait for discounts before purchasing, especially for older DLCs. This ensures you get the full value.

Access Expansions via Xbox Game Pass

One other great way to access expansions is via an Xbox Game Pass subscription. With Game Pass, you can play Beyond Light, Shadowkeep, and more expansions at no added cost.

So an Xbox Game Pass subscription can effectively "bundle" all the expansions for just $10-15 monthly. Substantial savings compared to buying individually.

Are Expansion Bundles Worth It?

Occasionally, retailers offer Destiny 2 expansion bundles that package 2-3 DLCs together at a discounted rate.

For example, you may see a "Legendary Edition" with both Shadowkeep and Beyond Light for $40 instead of paying $65 separately.

These bundles can offer good value, especially if you want both expansions anyway. But make sure to price out buying them individually first when discounted. The bundle discount may not be that much extra.

Free-to-Play Still Offers Depth

Importantly, those unwilling or unable to buy expansions can still get a ton of content from the free version of Destiny 2. You can play:

• Original Destiny 2 + 2 small expansions
• Core playlists like Vanguard Ops, Crucible, Gambit
• Rotating selection of Exotic gear
• Vault of Glass raid
• Seasonal events like Festival of the Lost

This alone offers 100+ hours of content. Pair it with 1-2 discounted expansions, and you can stay very busy for minimal cost.

Summary: Top Destiny 2 Expansions to Buy

Let‘s recap my top recommendations for Destiny 2 expansions to purchase in 2024:

The Witch Queen

• Massive Throne World destination
• Lengthy, cinematic campaign
• Huge variety of Exotics
• Deep weapon crafting system
• Fun Wellspring horde mode
• Amazing Vow of the Disciple raid

Beyond Light

• Stunning Europa destination
• Access to dominating Stasis subclasses
• Deep Stone Crypt raid with standout moments
• Strong selection of Exotics
• Fun repeatable Empire Hunts

30th Anniversary Pack

• Gjallarhorn exotic Rocket Launcher
• Cosmetics and armor sets
• Dares of Eternity horde activity

Focus on these newest expansions for the best value and most relevant content for 2024. Grab Shadowkeep on discount if desired.

Ultimately, there is no denying that Destiny 2 DLC remains worth buying even several years after launch. With smart purchases, you can get hundreds of hours of quality looting & shooting! Let me know if you need any other advice.