Are Destiny 2 expansions like Forsaken and Shadowkeep worth it?

With Destiny 2: New Light, players can buy every piece of Destiny 2 content separately.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth your time and money to invest in Destiny 2: Forsaken, the Annual Pass, or Shadowkeep, we have some advice about what you should and shouldn’t buy.

What are the expansions, annual pass, and seasons?

Destiny 2 developer Bungie launches one expansion a year, and three seasons follow each expansion. In 2018, Bungie released Destiny 2: Forsaken for $39.99. Forsaken added new Exotic quests, Strikes, and locations. The studio also created an Annual Pass to keep players busy until the 2019 expansion, Shadowkeep.

With Destiny 2: New Light, some parts of of the game that used to cost money in the Forsaken expansion are now free for all — like the two locations and the new Strikes. But players who currently don’t own Forsaken can still buy the expansion now that New Light is out.

A lot of the activities added in the expansion are still locked behind that pay wall, including a group of Exotic weapons. Shadowkeep, the 2019 expansion, is the same way, and players need to pay the $34.99 to gain access to some new Exotic quests, the raid, and the upcoming Shadowkeep dungeon.

Even with Destiny 2: New Light, you won’t be able to access those quests or activities without purchasing the correlating expansion.

In 2019, seasons replace the Annual Pass. Players can buy seasons piecemeal, every three months, for about $10. But unlike the Annual Pass offerings, each season’s new activities, weapons, and Exotic quests won’t be accessible once their three months is up.

So what do you gain access to when you buy the Destiny 2: Forsaken – Complete Collection or Destiny 2: Shadowkeep? We’ve got full lists for you and some recommendations.

Forsaken and the Annual Pass

Bungie, High Moon Studios/Activision

Destiny 2: Forsaken and Destiny 2’s 2018-2019 Annual Pass come in a $24.99 bundle called the Destiny 2: Forsaken – Complete Collection.

Locked content

Some of Destiny 2: Forsaken’s content becomes free for all with New Light’s launch. Even Guardians without Forsaken can land on The Tangled Shore and The Dreaming City, do patrols, and play Strikes. But some things are still locked behind a paywall.

Here’s everything you’ll gain access to when you buy the Destiny 2: Forsaken – Complete Collection:

Activities

• The Last Wish raid
• The Scourge of the Past raid
• Crown of Sorrow raid
• Forsaken campaign
• New Supers and abilities

Exotics

• Wish-Ender bow
• Ace of Spades hand cannon
• Malfeasance hand cannon
• One Thousand Voices fusion rifle
• The Last Word hand cannon
• Le Monarque bow
• Jotunn fusion rifle
• Izanagi’s Burden sniper rifle
• Anarchy grenade launcher
• Thorn hand cannon
• The Chaperone shotgun
• Truth rocket launcher
• Tarrabah submachine gun
• Lumina hand cannon
• Trinity Ghoul bow
• Wavesplitter trace rifle
• Lord of Wolves shotgun
• Two-Tailed Fox rocket launcher
• Black Talon sword
• The Queenbreaker linear fusion rifle
• 6 Exotic armor pieces per-class

Is buying Forsaken it worth it?

The short answer is yes.

Forsaken and the Annual Pass kept Destiny 2 fans busy for a full year. Some of the content here won’t last you nearly as long, but it opens up a lot of new build opportunities and a chance to test yourself against challenges like the Shattered Throne dungeon and the three raids.

Forsaken was a revitalizing expansion for Destiny, and the story is rather important for where Destiny 2 seems to be going. The included Annual Pass also offers some of the best weapons in Destiny 2.

If you’re enjoying your time in Destiny 2, it’s certainly worth going back and playing Forsaken, and the Annual Pass will fill some gaps in your arsenal.

Shadowkeep

Image: Bungie

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is a stand-alone expansion like Forsaken and costs $34.99. It comes bundled with the currently active Destiny 2 season (depending on when you buy it). At launch, that’s the Season of the Undying.

Locked content

Some key features — the Moon location, finishing moves, Strikes, and Armor 2.0 — are available for all Destiny 2 players. But Shadowkeep also comes with plenty of activities and weapons locked behind the expansion wall.

Shadowkeep exclusive activities

As of this writing, Shadowkeep isn’t out yet, but here’s what we know that it will include (so far):

• New campaign
• Nightmare Hunts
• Garden of Salvation raid
• New dungeon

Exotics

• Xenophage
• Divinity

Is it worth it?

Without serious hands-on time with Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, it’s difficult to make a value assessment. If you’re enjoying your time with Destiny 2: New Light, hold off until players have a better idea of the expansion’s content.