[b]As a disclaimer, I would like to take a moment to assure people that all opinions on this post are purely personal. Whatever I say is not necessarily the "best" statement.[/b]
After playing extensively with all three classes and all six foci, I've put this guide together for those people who may be curious about which type of behavior each Class and Focus is tailored towards. Some people may find that certain classes or Foci simply don't fit their playstyle. This is a 3-part informational source to help you find and understand which class suits you and others best.
[b]Titan[/b]
Titans are the typical personification of a warrior or paladin-class Guardian. Heavily armored, and fitted with an array of close-combat features, Titans feel most comfortable on the front lines, shattering bones with powerful melee strikes, setting up strategic defensive sanctuaries with Ward of Dawn, deterring enemies with flashbang, DoT, or conal grenades, or wiping out everything in their path with the devastating Fist of Havoc. The Titan class stresses heavy armor and durability, as well as melee combat, while they are still just as comfortable as any Guardian, aiming down the sights of any given weapon, their fists hunger for flesh, and any Titan worth its salt would be more than happy to ease this hunger. Titan grenades are mostly made as a sort of self-support/deterrence. Being the most durable of the three classes, The Titan's biggest weakness is their lack of ranged utility, and the sole fact that they depend very heavily on closing distance to their target. Titan’s start off rather easy, but become progressively difficult within later parts of the game. Mastery often seems like one of those things which is easier said than done. Nevertheless, a skilled Titan is a force to be feared.
[b]Striker[/b] Striker Titans are the warrior class, built to engage an enemy head-on with the purpose of hitting harder than they are being hit. They are the shock troopers of the Destiny universe, and can shatter enemy lines with a shit-eating grin. Striker grenades are mostly used to place up temporary deterrence areas, or to cripple opponents for a finishing blow. Flashbang Grenades, in the hands of a practiced user, can be an invaluable tool in both PvE and PvP. Storm fist is an amplified melee strike, which is mostly just there to do massive damage and little else (unless Transfusion is equipped). Shoulder Charge and Juggernaut further improve the Striker’s ability to literally charge into the fray. Shoulder Charge and Juggernaut warm up by sprinting for 3 seconds, and last until either the Striker stops sprinting, or 5 seconds elapses. This melee override attack deals a massive amount of damage to a single target, and is infamous in the Crucible for its ability to instantly kill any enemy who does not have any form of damage reduction active (such as Supers or temporary shields). Juggernaut provides a frontal shield for the Striker, which can absorb a moderate amount of damage before failing. Fist of Havoc is a close-quarters super which slams the ground to emit a large-radius explosion of arc energy. This Super can be used while in midair to gain further distance, and can be equipped with a variety of abilities to change its behavior, such as Aftermath for a temporary deterrence field, Shockwave for increased kill-radius, and Death From Above for more accurate ranged use. Overall, the Striker class is meant for those who love the ground-pounder combat style, and who love to get into an opponent’s face, and greet it with a fist. Flex those muscles, Guardians.
[b]Defender[/b] Defenders are the “tank” Focus of Destiny. The Defenders are the less-bloodthirsty counterparts of the Striker, who focus slightly more on assisting comrades. Whereas the Striker can shatter enemy lines, the Defender can effectively halt enemy advance in its tracks. The Defender Focus is also tailored heavily towards close-quarters combat with a strong side-order of support and suppression. Magnetic Grenade can be used to take down stronger, more resilient opponents quickly, Spike Grenade can be used to lock down an enclosed area for a short time, and Suppressor grenade can be used to cripple enemies in various different ways (Suppressor grenade can even shut down Supers in the Crucible). Disintegrate provides the Defender with a powerful shield upon a melee kill. This shield can also be upgraded to last longer and effectively double the Defender’s health bar. The Ward of Dawn creates a bubble shield around a small area, which can shelter allies, cripple enemies, and even provide allies with a boost to armor, shields, or weapon damage. Ward of Dawn also serves as a last-ditch health regeneration for Defenders, as activation automatically restores their health and outfits them with a shield, regardless of the modifier chosen. Defenders can be played either one of two ways: with a focus on Ward of Dawn, or with a Focus on Disintegrate. Those who focus on Ward of Dawn are more group-serving, as they can outfit their Ward of Dawn to last longer, provide dramatic supporting buffs to teammates, and even generate Orbs of light as it takes damage. Those who choose to emphasize Disintegrate are slightly more self-serving. Relentless, combined with the exotic No Backup Plans gauntlets, makes Force Barrier last 30 seconds. Players who choose this specific type of build can opt for Unbreakable, which makes Force Barrier continuously recharge, or Gift of Light, which can aide teammates by creating orbs of light with each melee kill while Force Barrier is active. Defenders who take the latter build may find the Monte Carlo auto rifle to be a weapon of choice, as the exotic perk can literally re-grant Disintegrate before Force Barrier even wears off, allowing a Defender to perpetually remain under the effect of Force Barrier. The Defender Focus is a very different focus, as unlike the others, this Focus personifies the age-old belief that the best offense is a good defense. Hold the line, Guardians.
Feel free to leave a comment below if these guides were helpful to you in any way. Hopefully this guide will be able to help new Guardians find the class and Focus that’s right for them.
Here are the links to my guides on the Warlock and Hunter
[b]Warlock[/b] http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/88285741/0/0/1
[b]Hunter[/b] http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/88124649/0/0/1
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Excellent thread!