To unlock new subclasses and their skill trees in Destiny 2, players must engage with specific quests and collect unique items throughout various campaign expansions. Below is a structured guide detailing the unlocking and upgrading processes for these subclasses, including important notes to consider:

Unlocking New Subclasses

1. Campaign Progression:
– Each major expansion generally introduces new subclasses. For instance, in the Forsaken expansion, players unlock their first new subclass by progressing through the campaign. After completing the first mission, enemies will drop an item called Visions of Light. Collecting 100 Visions of Light activates a quest on Io that rewards players with a Seed of Light, enabling a new subclass skill tree and a new super ability.

2. Subclass Unlock Mechanism:
– Typically, when a new subclass is obtained, only the super ability is accessible initially. To unlock melee and passive abilities, players must utilize the newly acquired super and engage in combat using grenades and melee attacks.

3. Newer Subclass Systems:
– Recent systems, such as the Prismatic subclass introduced in the Final Shape campaign, allow players to unlock subclasses as part of the campaign directly. After completing the main storyline, players must undertake additional quests, like “Found in the Dark” and “Found in the Light,” to access customization options including Prismatic Aspects and Fragments, which enhance subclass abilities.

4. Initial Quests for New Players:
– New players can unlock subclasses by completing the New Light quest and interacting with key NPCs like Zavala, Amanda Holliday, and Ikora Rey. They will provide the necessary quests to initiate the unlocking process.

Upgrading Subclass Skill Trees

1. Experience Points (XP) Accumulation:
– To unlock subclass skill nodes, players need to gain experience points while playing. Actively utilizing subclass abilities (such as grenades, melee attacks, and supers) will contribute to earning subclass XP, facilitating faster unlocking of skill nodes.

2. Progression of Skill Trees:
– Skill trees unlock from left to right within columns. Nodes, particularly the lower ones, may require more XP to unlock, requiring players to focus on leveraging their subclass abilities during gameplay.

3. Integrated XP System:
– Subclass experience contributes to overall gameplay, meaning players should prioritize using their subclass abilities to expedite their progression along the skill trees.

Important Notes

– Quest Requirements: Not all subclasses can be unlocked immediately; many require completion of specific campaign missions or prerequisites. If players encounter issues locating subclass quests (e.g., from Ikora Rey), it might be necessary to consult the quest archive or revisit prior quests, such as Spark of Hope, to trigger the required unlocks.

– Account-wide Customization: For the Prismatic subclasses, certain customization elements are shared account-wide. This means that unlocking fragments or additional abilities can benefit all characters associated with the same account.

Summary

To effectively unlock and upgrade subclasses in Destiny 2, players should:
– Engage with the relevant expansion campaigns to access subclass unlock quests.
– Collect specific items (like Visions of Light in Forsaken) necessary for triggering subclass quests.
– Utilize subclass abilities regularly to accumulate XP and progressively unlock skill tree nodes.
– Complete additional quests post-campaign for deeper customization of subclass options.
– If necessary, check quest archives to ensure all unlock paths are activated successfully.

By following these steps and maintaining a focus on subclass abilities in combat, players can fully explore and enhance their Destiny 2 experience through evolving subclass systems.