Gambit in Destiny 2: A Guide

In the constellation of gameplay modes that Destiny 2 offers, Gambit stands out as a shining star for those Guardians who wish for something a little different. A unique amalgamation of PvE (Player vs. Environment) and PvP (Player vs. Player) elements, Gambit challenges fireteams to juggle combat prowess against AI adversaries with strategic invasions and defenses against live opponents. This guide is an atlas, charting the intricacies of Gambit and providing strategies to navigate its complexities, ensuring your crew emerges victorious.

Understanding the Gambit Mode#

Gambit is a hybrid mode requiring a blend of sharpshooting, quick decision-making, and cooperative strategy. Two teams of four Guardians are pitched in separate arenas, where they must defeat AI opponents to collect Motes. These Motes are then deposited in a central bank, the goal being to fill the bank to summon a Primeval, a powerful boss. The first team to vanquish their Primeval wins the round, best of three.

But there’s a catch – every so often, portals open, allowing one Guardian to invade the opposing team’s arena, turning a straightforward monster mash into a nail-biting blend of anticipation and action. Successful invaders can tilt the scales by eliminating opponents and causing them to lose Motes, or by healing the opposing team’s Primeval, adding an extra layer of strategy.

Effective Gambit Loadouts#

Your arsenal in Gambit should be versatile, capable of rapid mob clearance, efficient invader elimination, and robust Primeval dps (damage per second). Optimal loadouts generally include:

Kinetic and Energy Weapons: For mob clearing, weapons with a high rate of fire and significant area-of-effect (AoE) damage, like auto rifles with the Rampage perk or shotguns with Full Auto Trigger System, are preferred. Weapons that excel in Guardian elimination, such as snipers or hand cannons with high impact, are crucial for dealing with invaders or when invading.
Power Weapons: Linear fusion rifles or heavy grenade launchers can be invaluable. They serve dual purposes – punishing invaders from a distance or rapidly depleting a Primeval’s health bar. Look for weapons with perks that increase damage on consecutive hits or provide bonus damage against bosses.
Exotic Choices: Exotics like The Riskrunner for dealing with arc damage, or The Jötunn for its tracking explosive rounds, can be game-changers in the right situations. For your power slot, exotic rocket launchers like Truth, with its aggressive tracking, can decimate an opposing Guardian or put significant dps on a Primeval.

Primeval Killing Strategies#

Once your team has summoned the Primeval, the race is on. Efficiently taking down the Primeval requires coordination and the right approach:

Priority Targets: Before focusing fire on the Primeval, eliminate the Primeval Envoys. Killing these aides significantly reduces the Primeval’s damage resistance, making it much more susceptible to your attacks.
Supers and Heavy Ammo: Coordinate with your team to unleash your most potent abilities and heavy ammo once the Primeval’s defenses are down. Timing is crucial; premature uses can waste precious damage opportunities.
Invader Awareness: Keep an ear out for invader alerts. An invader can quickly heal your Primeval with just a few Guardian eliminations. Positioning and readiness can mean the difference between victory and defeat during these critical moments.

Invading and Counter-Invading#

The art of invasion is a delicate balance of timing, weapon choice, and map awareness. Conversely, countering an invader requires vigilance, quick reactions, and sometimes, a little bit of pre-planning:

When to Invade: Ideal invasion moments are when the enemy team has a significant amount of unbanked Motes or their Primeval is active. This maximizes the potential to disrupt their progress.
Weaponry and Strategy: Long-range weapons like sniper rifles or linear fusion rifles are invaluable for picking off distant targets. However, don’t underestimate close-quarters tactics, especially if you’re wielding a powerful shotgun or sword. Use the element of surprise to your advantage.
Counter-Strategies: Upon an enemy invasion, communication is key. Call out locations, stick together to avoid giving the invader easy targets, and prioritize the invader over Motes or even the Primeval if necessary. A well-placed sniper or a quick flank can neutralize the threat swiftly.

Advanced Gambit Strategies#

To excel in Gambit, it’s not enough to simply understand the basics; mastery comes from implementing advanced tactics and making the most of every match scenario:

Mote Management: Efficient Mote collection and banking is crucial. Banking in increments of 5, 10, or 15 summons blockers of increasing difficulty for the enemy team, disrupting their ability to deposit Motes. Strategize with your team on when to bank to maximize disruption.
Team Roles: Establish roles within your team – dedicated mob clearers, Mote collectors, invaders, and anti-invaders. Specializing allows for more consistent performance in each match aspect.
Map Control and Awareness: Understanding the layout of each Gambit map can give you significant advantages, especially for invasion and anti-invasion roles. Knowing where enemies are likely to spawn, and where you can find cover or advantageous sightlines, can turn the tide of an encounter.
Adaptability: Finally, the key to true mastery of Gambit lies in adaptability. Be ready to switch roles, change tactics, and alter loadouts based on the situation, your team’s composition, and the opposing team’s strategies.

Gambit in Destiny 2 represents a thrilling and dynamic challenge, blending the best aspects of PvE and PvP into a single, cohesive mode. Whether you’re coordinating with your fireteam to efficiently dispense a horde of enemies, strategically planning your next invasion, or rallying to take down a Primeval, Gambit offers a depth of gameplay that rewards creativity, skill, and teamwork. Armed with the insights from this guide, your journey from a Gambit greenhorn to a Primeval pulverizing pro is just beginning. Embrace the chaos, adapt, and above all, enjoy the relentless pursuit of victory against the odds.