Destiny 2 Crucible tips - maps, modes, strategies and new Crucible changes to Destiny 2's PvP explained

The Destiny 2 Crucible returns once more now the Destiny 2 beta is here and with it, of course, comes some classic Destiny PvP. It's only partially available for the moment, with the beta containing just two Crucible modes: Control, on the Endless Vale map; and Countdown, on the Midtown map.

Here in this guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about PvP in the Destiny 2 Crucible, including PvP strategies for the available Crucible maps, and a closer look at the available Destiny 2 Crucible modes, too.

Note this page is in need of an update with the arrival of Destiny 2's second year, so be aware some content might be out of date. In the meantime, read our Destiny 2 Forsaken guide and how to reach the new Destiny 2 level cap for an overview of what's new and changed. Plus, there's the return of theThorn quest and Thorn Ornament, Wishes of Sorrow, and our trusty friend Xur, too - here's the answer to where is Xur, Xur's location and what Xur's selling this week!

Destiny 2 Crucible changes - what's new in the Destiny 2 PvP?

The Crucible in Destiny 2 is all about being more approachable to beginners - but still hard to master for the veterans. Here's everything noteworthy that's changed, as of the beta going live:

• Games are now 4v4 only, in all modes.
• The HUD has changed, displaying useful new info like where the enemy got Power Ammo from, when players' Super abilities are ready, and whether players are alive or dead. A suggestion that Bungie are keen to make Destiny 2's Crucible more spectator-friendly?
• Countdown is a new mode, which we detail below.
• Control now begins with teams already controlling one of the three Control Zones.
• Capturing a Control Zone now no longer requires you to uncapture it first - you take it straight from red to blue, and vice versa, with no neutral in between.
• Multiple team members no longer speed up capturing points, so you only need to keep one person on it at a time.
• Holding multiple Control Zones on Control will now give your team points faster.
• Matches are shorter.
• Power Ammo (which was Heavy Ammo) is now found near each team's spawn.

Destiny 2 Crucible tips and PvP strategies

With several modes and maps available, we won't be diving too heavily into the specifics of each. Instead, here's a collection of our best tips and strategies for taking control in every match:

• Scout Rifles arguably work best right now - we found them to be by far the most effective in the beta, at least whilst in the weaker Hunter class, as they're easier to get precision hits with and varying ranges, and the Destiny 2's exotic weapons are currently underpowered.
• Shotguns are a great shout for Power Weapon if you're playing as a Titan, given close quarters of most maps in the new 4v4 system.
• General team shooter tips apply! Lone Wolfing rarely works out better than you getting a one-for-one kill and death, so avoid rushing straight into the fray, especially right after a death - if you do die, take a second to breathe!
• Keep moving is the other main, general shooter tip - camping doesn't work, at all, on tiny maps like these. You can defend a set location like a Control Zone, but you need to do so while staying mobile, and absolutely alert enough to rotate to a different point as quickly as possible if your team needs to.
• Use your Super wisely - often, unless you're really cleaning up, you'll find you only get to use one Super per match. That means each one is very important, and needs to be used at just the right time, and also means you should keep an eye on the enemies' charges, too! The obvious suggestion for your own Super is to use it when flanking a cluster of enemies, but feel free to get creative! The main thing is to avoid unecessarily doubling-up on usage with your allies.
• You'll get one item drop from every completed match in the Crucible - you can check out our Destiny 2 Weapons and Armour guide for more on this, but worth noting is the fact that it's the quickest way to get loot in the game, with it dropping faster than the much slower-to-finish strike.
• In Control, avoid capturing a third point - even though control zones grant more points to your team the more you hold, this rarely works in your favour, as it moves the enemy team's spawn and, in the process, puts them much closer to an undefended point of your own.
• Likewise, focus on holding points the two points that are easiest to defend, with the shortest, safest route between them.
• Sticking with Control still, stay as a group of four, unless there's a way to sneak a capture - if you're down to one point out of three, and know the enemy group's location, then a sneaky solo capture can work. Otherwise, it's better to stick as a roaming four when attacking points, seeing as the opposition rarely does on a consistent basis themselves.
• Steer clear of open areas with lots of crossing paths - they're normally a deathtrap, seeing as it'll be dead easy to flank you without being spotted.
• Rockets or Grenade Launchers are generally the better Power Weapons - unless you're a real 360 no-scoping pro (we're not), then the AoE damage of those weapons will serve you better than a sniper rifle on a fairly small map with obstructions.
• Stick as a four when planting the bomb in Countdown - it's all about getting an early advantage and keeping it. When attacking, stay as a four and stay hidden for as long as possible. When you go for the point, make your attack quickly and try to catch the enemy off-guard with a kill or two while you have the numbers. That way, it's much easier to defend your bomb.
• Likewise on Countdown, you should actually split up when defending - you might think this would be counterintuitive after the above, but there's a way to make it work. Stay further back from the point than you'd naturally want to be, but maintain line-of-sight to it and the surrounding area. That way, when you spot the enemy approaching, you can quickly call out their location to your teammates, and they can move in from the other point for a flank.

The Season of the Deep is here alongside the Into the Depths quest. You can know go fishing too! Don't forget to keep an eye on the Lost Sector and King's Fall challenge rotation schedule!

Destiny 2 Crucible modes, activities and maps

There are several PvP modes available in Destiny 2's Crucible, including the all-new Countdown. Here's a quick rundown of each of them, and an idea of what you can expect.

Destiny 2 Crucible Modes:

• Control - Control is a fairly typical rendition of any PvP Control, Control Zone, or Control Point-style mode from most other online shooters. Your job is to take and hold the three control zones on the map - A, B, and C - whilst the opposing team tries to do the same. You earn points for holding the Control zones, and the first team to 75 points wins.
• Countdown - Countdown is a new mode for Destiny 2, which compares most obviously to Counter Strike - it's all about planting a bomb and defending it until it diffuses, or stopping the opposition from doing so. There are multiple points where you can plant the bomb, so both defending and attacking requires some strong coordination from your team. The first team to six rounds won (by either successfully detonating the bomb or preventing the other team from doing so) wins the match.
• Clash - Standard tean deathmatch affair, with the first team to 75 kills winning, or the team with the highest score when the time's up.
• Supremacy - Similar to Clash, but when anyone dies they leave a Crest in their wake, which needs to be collected. Collect more Crests than the other team to win.
• Survival - Again, similar to Clash, but this team each team only has a total of eight lives. Each time a member of your team dies, you lose a life. The first team to run out of lives loses.
• Trials of the Nine - Time-limited PvP challenges, Trials of Osiris was the special mode in original Destiny, which had players try to go Flawless and win seven PvP games in a row, in order to access the exclusive Lighthouse social space - our own Tom Phillips details his quest to reach the lighthouse brilliantly. In Destiny 2, we know there will be a "trials-like" mode of some kind, which goes live at 10am Pacific Time / 6pm CEST on September 15th, but little else is known about it so far! Expect a kind of exclusive reward and a very tricky competitive challenge, though.

Destiny 2 Crucible Maps: