Is Destiny 2 good without DLC?

Let‘s be upfront – Destiny 2 is fun but extremely limited without purchasing any DLC expansions. The free-to-play version serves more as an unlimited trial or demo. You‘ll have a great time at first, but will quickly run out of content and hit progression walls compared to owning the paid expansions.

The Free Version Lets You Try Before You Buy

The base Destiny 2 experience, also called New Light, provides a solid taste of the core activities like story missions, strikes, Crucible, and Gambit. There are some exotic quests, a raid, and seasonal public events to participate in as well. You can reach max power level, earn plenty of basic gear, and experience the satisfying core gameplay loop.

But how long does that limited content hold your interest? According to third-party analytics firm NewZoo, the average player engagement for free-to-play titles drops off significantly after one month compared to games with paid expansions. And Bungie themselves have said the free version aims to let players sample the experience, while driving purchases is needed for long-term sustainability.

So the free content gives you a good sense of what Destiny 2 has to offer – but leaves you wanting more. Let‘s look at exactly what you‘re missing without paying up.

Paid Expansions Add Breadth and Depth

Destiny 2‘s major expansions – Forsaken, Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen – provide a ton of additional content and progression for invested players. Each expansion adds:

• New story campaigns and cinematics expanding the lore
• Additional destinations and patrol zones to explore
• Exotic quests to earn powerful new weapons and gear
• Raids and dungeons offering intense PvE co-op challenges
• New competitive Crucible maps and modes
• New subclasses and abilities to test out
• Higher level caps to continue advancing your character

For example, The Witch Queen expansion added the Throne World destination, several campaign missions, legendary difficulty mode, the Glaive weapon type, Vow of the Disciple raid, and the Void 3.0 subclass rework.

Meanwhile, players with only the free version miss all this additional content. Let‘s compare:

As you can see, owning the paid expansions significantly expands the world, activities, and progression in Destiny 2.

Endgame and Post-Campaign Content

While the free version offers the basics to try out, virtually all of Destiny 2‘s challenging endgame content requires the paid expansions.

Activities like raids, dungeons, Grandmaster Nightfalls, Trials of Osiris, and higher difficulty seasonal content are locked for free players. This is where you‘ll find the biggest challenges requiring top-tier gear and coordination.

Bungie data shows over 65% of active players engage in endgame activities each week. So without expansions, you‘re missing out on what keeps much of the playerbase coming back.

The seasonal model also means new content and features are continually added via the current season pass. Free players get some seasonal activities but miss much of the evolving storylines and gear tied to each season.

Without Expansions, Progression Stalls Out

Destiny 2‘s satisfying feeling of continuous advancement and being rewarded with new gear is a huge factor in its success. But without DLCs, progression stalls out much quicker.

Free players can reach the soft power cap with blues and legendaries. But the hard power cap requires owning the latest expansion to increase via pinnacles. Only DLC owners can infuse gear up to the max power level.

Exotics like Thunderlord, Ace of Spades, Telesto and Izanagi‘s Burden provide awesome new abilities and perks. But many of the most game-changing exotics come from expansion quests or lost sectors.

And while free players can enjoy core modes like Crucible and Gambit, the lack of maps, modes, and gear from DLCs again limits variety and progression.

Reasons for the Free-To-Play Model

Destiny 2 went free-to-play in 2019, three years after initial launch. Expanding the free offering aimed to attract new players, recapture lapsed players, and provide an easy entry point across platforms.

And it succeeded – the move doubled Destiny 2‘s daily active users almost overnight. But it also came with tradeoffs. Players report feeling less rewarded and more aggressively pushed towards purchases. Monetization increased with the seasonal battle pass model and cosmetic-only Eververse store.

For Bungie, the free version serves its purpose as a funnel. The studio reported in 2020 that over 50% of new light players transition to paying customers. And with Destiny 2 earning over $300 million annually, the strategy seems to be paying off.

Should You Stick to the Free Version?

Trying Destiny 2 for free is a great way to experience the basics with no commitment. You can sink dozens of hours into core activities and see much of what the gameplay has to offer while paying nothing.

But ask yourself – do you enjoy Destiny enough to keep playing it as a hobby? Will you miss having new challenges, loot and adventures if you tap out once the free content feels stale? Do you want to experience Destiny 2 to its fullest?

If so, buying the paid expansions is highly recommended. The additional campaigns alone provide 30+ hours of content. Unlocking endgame activities offers hundreds more hours of playtime and advancement. And you‘ll never run out of exotic quests, triumphs to chase, and new seasonal content with an active expansion pass.

Does paying extra sting after getting a taste for free? Of course. But look at it as an investment into a hobby you enjoy rather than a one-time purchase. No other shooter offers this much variety and endless progression for your money.

While by no means pay-to-win, buying into Destiny 2‘s ecosystem pays off with way more fun and less frustration in the long run. Ultimately it comes down to deciding if Destiny 2 is worth further investment as one of your go-to gaming hobbies.

For most players who enjoy the free trial, the answer is a resounding yes. Destiny 2 thrives when you‘re all in and engaged across all the expansions. The free ride only takes you so far.