It's almost Halloween, and you know what that means — it's time to play some great horror games that are sure to get you feeling spooked. There has never been a better time to be a fan of these titles, either, as many horror games from recent years are often considered some of the best Xbox games in the industry. While we do recommend playing through classics like Alien: Isolation, we also believe it's important to spotlight some of the best new horror games that have come out in 2021. Therefore, we've put together a list of the best horror games from this year that we think you should play right now.

Best overall: Resident Evil Village

2021's premier horror experience is Resident Evil Village, Capcom's follow-up to 2017's excellent Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Set in a grounds of a massive castle and in a nearby village, Resident Evil Village is filled to the brim with deadly creatures that are inspired by zombies, werewolves, vampires, and other monstrosities. To survive, you'll need to comb through each area for weapons, use the environment to your advantage, and find ways to outsmart the forces that are hunting you. There are also plenty of story collectibles to find in each area as well, giving you a chance to piece together the parts of the narrative that the main cutscenes don't focus on (the story can be a bit nonsensical at times, unfortunately). These collectibles also make Resident Evil Village very replayable, as there's a good chance you'll discover something new in follow-up playthroughs.

Resident Evil Village is also a visual spectacle, as it features superb textures and supports ray-traced lighting on next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X as well as high-end PCs like rigs equipped with NVIDIA RTX 30-series GPUs. You can rest assured knowing that in Resident Evil Village, every gore spatter and grotesque creature will look horrifyingly realistic.

Pros:

• Excellent survival horror gameplay
• Fantastic visuals
• Very replayable

Cons:

• Story doesn't make sense at times

Best overall

Resident Evil Village

• $60 at Microsoft
• $60 at GMG (Steam)

The legendary franchise continues

Resident Evil Village is one of the franchise's finest entries, blending tense action with impeccable atmosphere and world design.

Best shooter: Chernobylite

If you're after a shooter that has lots of horror elements, look no further than Chernobylite. Set in the depths of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Chernobylite tasks you with searching for your lost wife while paramilitary soldiers and supernatural threats alike bear down on you at every turn. Throughout the game, you'll have to carefully manage your supplies so that you always have a way to defend yourself against the threats you encounter. Throughout the journey, you'll also meet several allies that can help you on your quest, though they'll abandon you if you treat them poorly and don't take their own concerns and perspectives seriously.

The enemy AI can be a little inconsistent at times, but overall, Chernobyl is an excellent game if you enjoy tense shooters with lots of stealth and horror elements. Don't overlook it.

Pros:

• Tense horror-style shooter gameplay
• Nuanced storyline with many possible outcomes
• Lots of different enemies and environments

Cons:

• Enemy AI can be inconsistent

Best shooter

Chernobylite

• $30 at Microsoft

Welcome to the Zone

Chernobylite is one of the best stealth shooters you can play if you love horror, as both its natural and supernatural threats are frightening. Cherish every bullet you find, because you're going to need them.

Best adventure: The Medium

The Medium is one of the strongest Xbox exclusives in recent memory, offering players a uniquely slow-paced adventure experience that trades action-packed thrills for a focus on psychological horror. You play as Marianne, a woman who has the unique gift of being able to transcend between two different realities at the same time — a "medium," in other words. With her abilities, Marianne has to contend with evil spirits at an abandoned government-funded resort and uncover its horrifying secrets.

The Medium's biggest strengths are its intricately detailed environments and masterful storytelling, both of which are crucial to getting psychological horror right. The Medium is also a fantastic-looking game, although the fact that it doesn't reach 60 FPS on Xbox Series X is disappointing. Still, the game is absolutely worth playing if you're after an adventure-style psychological horror experience.

Pros:

• Excellent psychological horror
• Expertly crafted environments
• Masterful storytelling

Cons:

• Can't do 60 FPS on Xbox Series X

Best adventure

The Medium

• $50 at Microsoft
• $50 at GMG (Steam)

Two realities, one person

The Medium is a slow and unnerving game that focuses heavily on psychological horror. It's also visually stunning, and it looks amazing on next-gen consoles.

Best puzzle: Little Nightmares II

If you like horror games that have lots of puzzles, Little Nightmares II will be right up your alley. In it, you play as a boy called Mono who is trapped in a world corrupted and tainted by an evil transmission. Together with the character Six from the first Little Nightmares game, Mono has to find ways to safely traverse each area so that he can eventually find and stop the transmission.

Throughout Little Nightmares II, players will come across various different types of puzzles, including platforming segments, physics-based challenges, and situations where you need to figure out how to move without being heard or seen. Solving these puzzles is a fun, yet tense experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Little Nightmares II is also dripping with dark, stylized atmosphere that ties the whole experience together. The controls can be a little unwieldy at times, but the game is ultimately a gem that no horror fan should miss.

Pros:

• Creative puzzle gameplay
• Lots of puzzle variety
• Tons of creepy atmosphere

Cons:

• Controls can be unwieldy at times

Best puzzle

Little Nightmares II

• $30 at Microsoft

Find the transmission

Little Nightmares II is a puzzle-heavy horror game that's dripping with unsettling atmosphere. We can't recommend it enough.

Best co-op: Back 4 Blood

People who want a co-op game to play with their friends this Halloween should give Back 4 Blood a try. Similar to Turtle Rock Studios' original Left 4 Dead series, Back 4 Blood pits four players up against the zombie hordes of the Ridden. This alien parasite has enslaved most of the human race, and it's up to you to take as many of them down as you can so that humanity can rebuild.

Like Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood has excellent action shooter gameplay centered around squad tactics and dealing with the "special infected," which are zombies that have unique capabilities. Unlike Left 4 Dead, though, Back 4 Blood has a deck-building system that allows players to use stat-boosting cards in-game to create specialized builds. And when you pair the gameplay with the game's gore-filled visuals and high-octane soundtrack, the result is one of the best zombie games ever made. The only real downside is that there's no traditional Left 4 Dead Versus mode or a way to progress in the game if you're playing solo.

Pros:

• Action-packed zombie slaying gameplay
• Focus on squad tactics and cooperation
• Awesome presentation

Cons:

• No traditional Versus mode
• No solo progression

Best co-op

Back 4 Blood

• $60 at Microsoft
• $60 at GMG (Steam)

The Left 4 Dead 3 we've been waiting for

Back 4 Blood is essentially Left 4 Dead 3, featuring refined shooter mechanics, a creative new deck-building system, and a heavy focus on squad communication and coordination.

Best visual novel: Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

The hit 2017 visual novel horror game Doki Doki Literature Club (DDLC) has finally made its way to Xbox with the release of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, which features the original game's content as well as some extra side stories. The story of DDLC has you attending a high school literature club and interacting with members Sayori, Yuri, Natsuki, and Monika.

As you play through the game and build relationships with the four characters, you'll begin to uncover dark secrets about the literature club that will completely change the way you perceive the story, the characters, and the game itself. We won't say more than that since we don't want to spoil the twists, but you should definitely give this incredibly unique and powerful game a try.

Pros:

• Incredibly creative concept
• Excellent story and characters
• Charming presentation (most of the time)

Cons:

• Not very replayable

Best visual novel

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

• $15 at Microsoft

Just Monika

DDLC Plus is the definitive edition of Team Salvato's legendary 2017 visual novel, featuring one of the most clever and impactful stories of any horror game ever made.

Best style: Mundaun

If you're looking for something with a unique style, give Mundaun a shot. Like The Medium, Mundaun is slow-paced and focused on psychological horror. However, what makes Mundaun stand out is that all of its visuals are completely hand-drawn, giving the game's environments a fascinating and distinct sketch-like appearance. While playing Mundaun, it almost feels like everything on screen is part of an animated sketchbook.

In terms of gameplay, Mundaun is filled with lots of clever puzzles to solve and overwhelming threats to survive. Set in a dark and unsettling valley within the Alps, players will need to use their wits wisely and manage their inventory well if they want to uncover the secrets of the Mundaun mountain. The game is a little bit too slow at times, but overall, Mundaun is excellent.

Pros:

• Incredibly unique style
• Tense psychological horror
• Healthy mix of creative puzzles

Cons:

• Can be too slow at times

Best style

Mundaun

• $20 at Microsoft
• $20 at GMG (Steam)

Hand-drawn horror

Mundaun is a slow-burning psychological horror game with unique hand-drawn textures and environments, making it stand out from the crowd.

Best remaster: Alan Wake Remastered

Alan Wake Remastered is perfect for fans who want to play a modernized version of a classic, as Alan Wake is generally considered one of the best horror games ever made. Set in the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls, you play as Alan Wake, an author whose wife, Alice, has gone missing. As you search for her, you come across pages of a horror story that you supposedly created but don't have any memories of writing. The situation worsens as elements of the story come to life before your eyes, with the primary threat being an evil darkness that corrupts everyone it comes into contact with.

Armed with little more than a flashlight and a pistol, it's your job to journey forth to try to discover what happened to your wife while also working to put an end to the nightmarish threat of the darkness. Complete with advanced new textures, lighting effects, and support for 4K resolution, Alan Wake Remastered is the definitive version of Remedy Entertainment's fan-favorite horror classic.

Pros:

• Great story
• Strong atmospheric horror
• Gorgeous visuals

Cons:

• No ray tracing is disappointing

Best remaster

Alan Wake Remastered

• $30 at Microsoft

A classic returns

Alan Wake Remastered is the definitive version of Remedy's original masterpiece, featuring updated textures, new lighting effects, and support for 4K resolution.

It's time to get spooky

It's important to get into the spooky spirit as Halloween draws near, and one of the best ways to do that is to play one (or all) of 2021's excellent horror games. Even though horror is one of the smaller game genres overall, tons of excellent horror games have still been made recently, and all of them are worth checking out. For some other awesome horror games to play, don't miss our roundup of the best Xbox horror games.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.

These are the most powerful and efficient Exotics in the Destiny 2 sandbox.

Exotics are the most powerful and unique items you can obtain in the Destiny 2 sandbox, and with them at your disposal, you'll be well equipped to take on the enemies of the Guardians (or Guardians like yourself in the Crucible). With that said, some Exotics are more powerful than others, and using the best ones will help you maximize your efficiency and effectiveness in battle, especially if you incorporate them into full character builds (check out my guide to the best Destiny 2 builds for more on that topic). Therefore, you should aim to get your hands on the best Exotic weapons and armor pieces as soon as you can. Here's a look at all of the best Exotics in Destiny 2 in 2021.

Survive the Truth

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

$40 at Microsoft (Xbox) $40 at Steam (PC) $40 at Bungie Store

Take back the Light

The upcoming Witch Queen expansion features the sinister Savathûn and her brood of Light-wielding Hive, which will undoubtedly prove to be the most challenging foes faced by Guardians yet. Players can expect tons of new loot, enemies, locations, and more.

Quick menu:

• Best Exotic weapons
• Best Titan Exotics
• Best Hunter Exotics
• Best Warlock Exotics

Destiny 2: Best Exotic weapons

The best of Destiny 2's Exotic weapons are the ones that are effective in many different types of content and are also viable for all three of the game's character classes. Generally, the best Exotic weapons also either bring valuable utility or superb damage per second (DPS) to the table.

Witherhoard

The Witherhoard Exotic grenade launcher has become a staple in every player's inventory when it comes to endgame PvP, as its ability to spawn trap enemies and deal high damage to tanky targets like Champions makes it a versatile and powerful weapon. It's not as good as it was during Season of the Splicer since the Breach and Clear mod is gone, but it's still a fantastic option if you're using an elemental primary and want to pair it with a kinetic special weapon.

To get Witherhoard, you'll have to purchase it from the Monument to Lost Lights kiosk on the Tower.

Divinity

The Divinity is one of the best and most valuable tools for players to have in their arsenal, especially if they frequently play Raids and high-level Nightfalls. This is because this trace rifle has the unique ability to debuff enemies by covering them in a bright blue bubble that stuns enemies and makes all damage done by allies critical. Therefore, for strong enemies like Champions, Divinity is phenomenal. It's also an excellent choice for one member of a fireteam to use during a Raid boss, as bosses such as Taniks from the Deep Stone Crypt (don't miss my guide on how to beat every Deep Stone Crypt encounter if you haven't done the new Raid yet) have a weak spot that's difficult to hit normally. With Divinity's blue bubble, you can achieve critical damage without the risk of missing.

To get the Divinity, you'll need to complete a series of small puzzles spread throughout the Garden of Salvation Raid. When you kill the final boss after completing all the puzzles, you'll receive the weapon.

Ticuu's Divination

If you're going up against lots of ads that use Solar shields and also need to stun Overload Champions, the Ticuu's Divination is the best Exotic you can use in Season of the Lost. Its explosive power makes it a perfect choice for clearing entire waves of enemies, and it can do some decent damage to Champions as well. It's a particularly good choice in the Hallowed Lair Grandmaster Nightfall, as its tracking arrows make short work of the deadly mini screebs that often blow players up.

To get Ticuu's Divination, you'll have to purchase it from the Monument to Lost Lights kiosk on the Tower.

One Thousand Voices

In Season of the Lost, the One Thousand Voices Exotic heavy fusion rifle is easily the best heavy weapon you can take into endgame content. Paired with the Particle Deconstruction mod from Season of the Lost's artifact, the One Thousand Voices can do a tremendous amount of damage. With this weapon, you can blow Champions to smithereens without issues, and it's even possible to one phase most of Destiny 2's Raid bosses if everyone on your fireteam is using the One Thousand Voices as well.

To get One Thousand Voices, you'll need to complete the Riven encounter at the end of the Last Wish Raid. It isn't a guaranteed drop, but your chances of getting the weapon increase every time you don't get it.

Ager's Scepter

Season of the Lost's premiere Exotic is Ager's Scepter, which is a Stasis trace rifle that slows and freezes enemies around the ones that you kill with it. Additionally, with the catalyst that you get from Astral Alignment runs, you can choose to consume your Super energy to "overdrive" the Ager's Scepter and make its beam directly freeze targets and do significantly more damage.

In situations where you're stuck fighting tons of ads and you're not able to kill all of them fast enough, Ager's Scepter is superb since its ability to freeze crowds provides invaluable crowd control. And if someone else on your Fireteam is using a good ad-slaying Exotic like Ticuu's Divination, you'll never have to worry about hordes of generic enemies overrunning you ever again.

You can get the Ager's Scepter by completing the story quest available in Season of the Lost.

Dead Man's Tale

While scout rifles are overall pretty weak across the board, the Dead Man's Tale Exotic from Season of the Chosen is one of the best weapons you can take into the Crucible right now, and the gun is pretty strong in PvE as well. Rapidly chaining precision hits improves your damage and quickens your reload speed, which can help you significantly in duels against other players or in situations where you have a lot of enemies to kill in PvE activities. The weapon can also roll with some nice random perks like Outlaw, Vorpal Weapon, and Snapshot Sights.

To get the Dead Man's Tale, you'll need to first obtain its quest, then complete the Presage story mission, which you can access from the Tangled Shore map screen.

Vex Mythoclast

The Vex Mythoclast is one of the best Exotic fusion rifles you can use in either PvE or PvP right now. The fact that it uses primary ammo and shoots like an auto rifle makes it great for stunning Unstoppable Champions (with the Unstoppable Fusion Rifle mod equipped) and applying the Particle Deconstruction debuff to enemies, and its high damage means that you can rely on it for quick Guardian kills or chunking down tough ads. Additionally, once you get a few kills with it, you can hold down the reload button to temporarily transform the weapon into a linear fusion rifle that's capable of one-shotting enemy players and many PvE foes.

To get Vex Mythoclast, you'll need to complete the Atheon encounter at the end of the Vault of Glass raid. It isn't a guaranteed drop, but your chances of getting the weapon increase every time you don't get it.

Destiny 2: Best Titan Exotics

Titans are generally at their most powerful when fortifying and defending ground or aggressively taking it. Because of this, the most effective Titan Exotics are ones that strengthen these approaches.

Helm of Saint-14

The Helm of Saint-14 has been a top-tier pick ever since Bungie buffed the Ward of Dawn super (colloquially known as "bubble") in Shadowkeep, and it's my favorite Exotic armor for high-end PvE content. This Exotic makes it so that you and your allies gain an overshield each time you walk into your bubble, which helps immensely with survivability and makes strafing in and out of the bubble to do damage much safer. Additionally, the Helm of Saint-14 also causes your bubble to blind enemies when they walk into it, making them much easier to kill.

To get this Exotic, you'll need to get a lucky drop from Exotic Engrams or obtain it from Xur.

Ursa Furiosa

The Ursa Furiosa is an Exotic that I consider extremely underrated, and I'm not sure why. It makes it so that the damage you block with your Sentinel Shield super is converted into super energy after the super ends, effectively allowing you to chain Sentinel Shield supers very quickly, especially if you have a high Intellect stat that helps recharge what this Exotic does not. This isn't that useful for bottom-tree Sentinel Shield, but it's fantastic for the Code of the Commander skill tree since it makes your shield huge and amplifies your allies' damage when they shoot through it. If you're not a fan of the immobile nature of Helm of Saint-14 with Ward of Dawn, I highly recommend this combo as an alternative.

To get Ursa Furiosa, you'll need to own the Forsaken expansion and get a lucky Exotic drop or buy it from Xur when he has it available.

The Insurmountable Skullfort

This Exotic has been the prime choice for Striker Titans ever since Destiny 2 came out, and that hasn't changed one bit. It returns your melee energy to you when you get an Arc melee kill while also triggering health regeneration, making it a superb choice for aggressive close-quarters play in PvE and PvP alike. It's also one of the few offense-focused Exotics that shines in Master-level content and Raids since the health regeneration effects allow you to survive against stronger enemies.

To get this Exotic, you'll need a lucky Exotic Engram drop, or you'll need to get it from Xur.

Heart of Inmost Light

This is a stellar subclass-independent Exotic that makes it so that using any of your core three abilities (barricade, melee, grenade) causes the other two to recharge faster and become more effective when used (barricades have more health, melees and grenades do more damage). This effect allows you to chain your abilities together quite quickly, making it very effective overall across every game mode and difficulty level.

You'll need to own Forsaken and either get a lucky drop or buy from Xur to get this Exotic.

One-Eyed Mask

The One-Eyed Mask has received nerf after nerf over the last few years, but while it's not nearly as effective as it used to be, it's nevertheless the Exotic most Titans should reach for in PvP. Its special effect is that it highlights whoever last damaged you in yellow, and if you kill them, you're rewarded with a full heal and an overshield. This overshield then lets you confidently fight your next opponent, resulting in another overshield if they damage you, proc the highlighting effect, and lose. You can go on a pretty huge streak if you can chain this effect, although be wary of becoming too aggressive since multiple players working together can burn through your overshield pretty quickly. This Exotic is also a good choice for solo PvE content if you're not a fan of playing with others.

You can obtain it once you own Forsaken and either get a lucky drop or purchase it from Xur.

Cuirass of the Falling Star

Cuirass of the Falling Star massively buffs the Titan's Thundercrash super, making it do double damage and also giving the Titan an overshield (the farther you fly before hitting a target, the stronger it is). This gives Titans a massive burst damage option like Warlocks and Hunters have, and it can also be a bit useful in Crucible and Gambit as well since using your super will be safer and less risky.

You can get this Exotic by farming solo Legend and Master Lost Sectors that have chest armor drops active (the drops rotate daily).

Destiny 2: Best Hunter Exotics

Hunters are the most agile of Destiny's classes. Most Hunter abilities are designed to give players opportunities to use that mobility to have strong bursts of impact on the battlefield. As a result, the best Hunter Exotics are ones that enhance and improve these bursts of impact.

Celestial Nighthawk

When paired with the Way of the Sharpshooter skill tree, this Exotic turns your Golden Gun super into a devastating single-shot nuke that does hundreds of thousands of damage points to an enemy, assuming you're hitting a crit. This makes it perfect for instantly deleting difficult enemies like Champions in Nightfalls and making it fantastic to do some big boss damage in Raids. This Exotic is even more effective with a build centered around super regeneration, as you'll have your Golden Gun available frequently.

You'll need a lucky drop or a purchase from Xur to obtain this Exotic.

Omnioculus

The Omnioculus allows bottom-tree Nightstalker users to get their smoke bombs back very quickly as long as they make themselves and their teammates invisible with them, which effectively allows your entire fireteam to stay hidden from enemies frequently. This is invaluable in high-level Nightfalls since staying hidden from deadly foes is a great way to increase your survivability, and it also allows everyone in the fireteam to ambush enemies like Champions before they get a chance to fight back. It's also incredibly useful when you need to go for a risky revive.

You can get this Exotic by farming solo Legend and Master Lost Sectors that have chest armor drops active (the drops rotate daily).

Orpheus Rig

This is a superb Exotic for top-tree Nightstalkers that gives you huge ability regeneration for each enemy you or an ally kills that is affected by your debuff tethers, including up to 50% of your super. This makes it a stellar choice for endgame PvE content, especially if you pair it with an Intellect build that helps recharge the rest of your super meter quickly so you can use another tether.

You can get this Exotic from random drops or from Xur.

Liar's Handshake

This Exotic is perfect for Arcstrider Hunters that like to go on the offensive in close quarters. It hugely buffs your melee attacks whenever you either have your Arc melee ability charged or get hit by an enemy melee attack, allowing you to decimate any enemy (including Guardians!) that isn't a Raid boss. Its main strength is in PvE, although it's also a great counter to punch-happy Titans in PvP, who will undoubtedly expect to win the melee duel after landing the first hit.

You can get this Exotic by owning Forsaken and then either getting a lucky drop or buying it from Xur.

The Sixth Coyote

This Exotic is simple, yet very effective. All it does is give you an extra dodge to use in combat. Still, since Hunters can dodge to reload instantly or instantly recharge their melee, this Exotic ends up being hugely effective when used with builds centered around melee abilities or powerful weapons that have low magazine sizes. It's also a superb Exotic to pair with Stasis, as you can pair it with Gambler's Dodge to recharge your ice shuriken melee and freeze enemies consistently.

You'll need to own Forsaken and either get a lucky drop or purchase this Exotic from Xur to use it.

Wormhusk Crown

This Exotic is great for turning the tables on foes in PvP, as it boosts your dodges by giving you a small burst of healing and shield regen when you use them. This is incredibly effective when used to dodge out of an enemy's line of sight during a duel, only for you to pop back out with half of your health back and either a fully reloaded weapon or a freshly recharged melee ability. This Exotic is also a good choice in PvE content as well if you need survivability.

You can get it from Exotic Engrams or from Xur whenever he's selling it.

Destiny 2: Best Warlock Exotics

Warlocks are more ability-driven than the other two classes, and often, the most effective way to play Warlock is to find ways to keep your abilities off cooldown as much as possible. Due to this, the best Warlock Exotics are the ones that help give Warlock players maximum ability uptime. Exotics that enhance the effects of rifts in cooperative PvE content are also excellent choices.

Nezarec's Sin

This Exotic boosts the regen rate of all of your abilities, including your super, whenever you score kills with Void damage. This Exotic has become a favorite of Voidwalkers due to this, but it's also a strong choice for other subclasses, too, provided that you're using a good Void primary weapon. This is the Exotic I recommend if you're looking to play aggressively with your abilities.

You can get this Exotic by finding it in random Exotic drops or buying it from Xur.

Phoenix Protocol

Fans of the Well of Radiance super in high-end PvE content will love this Exotic, as it makes it so that any kills or assists you get while standing in your Well of Radiance will return super energy to you. Depending on how many kills and assists you and your teammates can rack up, it's possible to get up to half of another Well of Radiance back. This makes it very potent since Well of Radiance is one of the best ways to stay safe against lethal enemies like Champions, and being able to use them often is awesome..

You can get it by owning Forsaken and either getting a lucky drop or buying it from Xur.

Eye of Another World

The Eye of Another World helmet is the perfect Exotic for Warlocks using Stasis, as it boosts your ability recharge rate. This means that you'll be able to get your melee, grenade, rift, and super available much faster, and since Stasis is so ability focused, being able to use your Stasis powers as frequently as powerful is ideal. This Exotic is particularly effective when using the Bleak Watcher Aspect, as it helps give you new Stasis turrets (which use your grenade energy) to throw as often as possible. This combo becomes even more effective when you use tools like the Grenade Kickstart mod and the Whisper of Shards Fragment, as well as high Discipline stats from your armor.

To get it, you'll need to get a lucky Exotic drop or purchase it from Xur.

Crown of Tempests

This is basically the Stormcaller's version of the Nezarec's Sin, with two noticeable differences. Firstly, only Arc abilities can proc the ability regen effect; Arc weapons will not work like Void weapons do for the Nezarec's Sin. Secondly, the Crown of Tempests also allows you to extend the Stormtrance super's duration by getting kills with it. Overall, this is a stellar Exotic if you prefer playing as a Stormcaller instead of a Voidwalker or Dawnblade.

To obtain it, you need to get it via random Exotic drop or from a Xur purchase.

Ophidian Aspect

Warlocks don't have many good PvP Exotics, but the best one is, by far, Ophidian Aspect. It boosts your weapon reload speed permanently, allowing you to always have your weapons ready no matter when an enemy decides to attack you. Additionally, it also gives you a longer melee range, which can be advantageous if you want to start a melee duel by landing the first hit. This Exotic may not be flashy, but the huge boost it gives your neutral game is extremely valuable.

This Exotic can be obtained from random drops or from Xur whenever he sells it.

Geomag Stabilizers

The Warlock's Chaos Reach super is one of the better options for a general use high damage super that's great for both boss damage and clearing ads. The Geomag Stabilizers simply extend the duration of the super, allowing you to deal even more damage with it. This is incredibly beneficial in endgame PvE activities like Nightfalls where enemies like Champions tend to be tankier and may not die quickly.

This Exotic can drop randomly, but you can also buy it from Xur when he's selling it.

Your thoughts

What do you think of the list? What are some of your favorite Exotics, or Exotics that you consider to be the best? Let me know.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is available for preorder now on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows 10 PCs for $40. The base game is free on all platforms, so if you haven't tried it out yet, I highly recommend doing so since it's one of the best Xbox One shooters available. If you do end up giving it a shot, don't miss my guide on how to get into Destiny 2 in 2021 for some tips, tricks, and important information.

Survive the Truth

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

$40 at Microsoft (Xbox) $40 at Steam (PC) $40 at Bungie Store

Take back the Light

The upcoming Witch Queen expansion features the sinister Savathûn and her brood of Light-wielding Hive, which will undoubtedly prove to be the most challenging foes faced by Guardians yet. Players can expect tons of new loot, enemies, locations, and more.

It sounds complicated, but it's not.

Minecraft developer Mojang recently began encouraging players to migrate their Mojang accounts to Microsoft accounts. The primary reason for this is that Java Edition users will need to migrate to a Microsoft account to gain access to Bedrock Edition in the Minecraft Launcher when the Microsoft PC Bundle releases in 2022 (you can get it early through Xbox Game Pass on Nov. 2, 2021). Another reason why migrating accounts is a good idea is because Microsoft accounts have better security.

The process of migrating accounts sounds like it might be complicated and difficult, but thankfully, it's actually very quick and simple. In this Minecraft guide, we'll show you how to migrate your Mojang account to a Microsoft account.

How to migrate your Mojang account to a Microsoft account

To migrate your Mojang account to a Microsoft account, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Minecraft profile page and log in.

2. Select MOVE MY ACCOUNT.

   

3. You'll be prompted to confirm your Mojang email address with a code. First, select GET CODE.
4. In a separate tab, check your Mojang account email for a code email. Copy the code.
5. Back on the Minecraft website, paste the code into the box.

6. Select SUBMIT AND START MIGRATION.

   
7. You will be prompted to create a Microsoft account. Select Create account.
8. Fill out your personal information in the fields and select Next on each page.
9. Alternatively, you can sign in with an existing Microsoft account by selecting Use another account.
10. Once you've created a new Microsoft account or have signed in with an existing one, select COMPLETE MOVE.

The migration process is now complete. Note that you'll now need to use your Microsoft account credentials instead of your Mojang account credentials when signing into the Minecraft Launcher.

More Minecraft resources

For more help with Minecraft, check out our Minecraft ultimate starter guide for tons of helpful information on how you can get the most out of Mojang's masterpiece. It's easily one of the best PC games ever, so don't hesitate to dive in if you haven't played before.

Also, keep in mind that you can get access to both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition on Nov. 2, 2021, through an Xbox Game Pass for PC or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription (make sure you use the same Microsoft account for Xbox Game Pass that you used for Minecraft).

A library at your fingertips

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.

Additional updates are coming in the next few weeks.

Following the conclusion of the Battlefield 2042 beta, developer DICE has shared a brand new blog post in which the studio goes over the major pieces of feedback that it collected during the Open Beta period. The post also includes several of the changes and adjustments that DICE is planning to make prior to the launch of Battlefield 2042 so that players can have an optimal experience on day one.

Some of the biggest takeaways from the beta were that the servers weren't properly backfilling players and used bots too often, that the UI was difficult to read and didn't convey enough information, and that team communication was difficult. In response, DICE has stated that it was able to solve the server issues during the Open Beta, and that a system called Big Map is being implemented so that players can get a clear overview of the battlefield when they need it. Additionally, players can also expect UI elements on the HUD to be more organized and readable thanks to position shifts, clearer indicators that will make it easier to tell who is an enemy and who isn't, and the usage of highlighted friend-or-foe colors. Players will also have access to Battlefield's traditional Commorose system (it was disabled during the beta) that allows players to make simple preset callouts to each other.

DICE also discussed Battlefield 2042's Specialists at length, acknowledging that the limited number of Specialists available in the beta made squad play feel lacking in terms of depth. However, the studio ultimately stood by the Specialist system, noting that it felt "there were multiple factors in play during the Open Beta that ... contributed to the perception of how the Specialists role contributes to squad play in Battlefield 2042." These factors primarily include the aforementioned issues with the UI and team communication avenues.

The developers also shared some of the core gameplay changes that players can expect when Battlefield 2042 launches. These include the following:

• Increased the number of Tanks that you'll experience on Orbital. It's up from 4, to 8 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
• Made changes to movement, adding strafe input to sliding, adding the ability to vault on moving objects, and toning down jump spamming.
• A nearby Grenade Indicator has been added.
• Entry and Exit animations for vehicles are now shorter, with some being removed entirely.
• Elevators have been fixed so that you see less funky behaviours with doors.

Battlefield 2042 is slated to launch on Nov. 19, 2021, with Early Access to the game starting on Nov. 12 for players who have preordered the Battlefield 2042 Ultimate Edition. DICE has confirmed that as the game's launch draws nearer, the developers will share additional updates so that players understand what they can expect from the full game.

All-out warfare

Battlefield 2042

From $70 at Amazon From $70 at Xbox (Series X|S) From $60 at Xbox (Xbox One) From $70 at PlayStation Store

Battlefield goes back to the future

Battlefield 2042 debuts Electronic Arts' next-generation vision for the military shooter, supporting up to 128 players, the largest-ever maps, devastatingly destructive weather systems, and more.

Perfect for a Spartan-level gaming rig.

Microsoft and AMD have announced the creation of special Halo Infinite-themed RX 6900 XT graphics cards, complete with a custom design that's reminiscent of the Master Chief himself. This includes a reflective iridium gold fan border, the "117" callsign, a Cortana-blue light that looks similar to the AI slot on the back of Master Chief's helmet, and plenty of green metal plates.

Unlike the Halo Infinite Xbox Series X and Xbox Elite Controller, these special RX 6900 XT GPUs won't be going on sale. Instead, Microsoft and AMD are planning to give away several of these graphics cards in the coming weeks. The first opportunity to potentially win one of these GPUs begins later today, so keep your eyes peeled.

The reveal of the Halo Infinite-themed RX 6900 XT came alongside a lengthy blog post and a detailed video that details some of the ways that Microsoft and 343 Industries are ensuring that the Halo Infinite PC experience is high quality. This includes support for AMD FreeSync, tons of PC-specific options, integration with Discord and RGB lighting setups, and more.

Halo Infinite is slated to launch on Dec. 8, 2021 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows PCs. Note that Halo Infinite preorders are available now, though keep in mind that the campaign costs $60 and the multiplayer experience will be entirely free-to-play (with paid Halo Infinite Battle Passes).

A new journey awaits

Halo Infinite

$60 at Microsoft $60 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy $60 at Steam

The next big adventure

Halo Infinite will hopefully be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on the beta and what was seen at E3 2021 and Gamescom, it looks like Halo Infinite will be a blast.

Whether you're typing up large documents while working from home, bringing the fight to opponents in a high-stakes game, or looking to enjoy the convenience of wireless technology as you do both, there's a great keyboard deal perfect for you during Black Friday. Here's a detailed overview of all of the absolute best keyboard deals we've found, including deals on ergonomic keyboards, gaming keyboards, and wireless keyboards.

Best keyboard deals available now:

• Ergonomic keyboards: From $30
• Gaming keyboards: From $35
• Wireless keyboards: From $30
• More info: Getting the best keyboard deals for you

Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED | $59 off at Amazon

$71 at Amazon

This wireless gaming keyboard was the cream of the crop ... in 2017. Nevertheless, it still holds up superbly by today's standards, and it's currently on sale for a huge 46% discount.

Today's best keyboard deals

• Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro Wireless — $180 ($50 off)
• Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED — $71 ($59 off)
• CORSAIR K95 PLATINUM RGB — $160 ($40 off)
• Logitech G915 TKL Wireless — $159 ($48 off)

We've rounded up the best deals on all kinds of different keyboards, so no matter what you need, we have a recommendation for you. Make sure you check out the list below!

Best Black Friday ergonomic keyboard deals

If you're someone who frequently spends hours typing at a time, an ergonomic keyboard is a good investment. This is because these keyboards are designed to maximize comfort and minimize stress and fatigue buildup in your hands, ensuring that you'll be able to work long periods without cramps or pain.

Best Black Friday gaming keyboard deals

PC players and, in some cases, even Xbox ones can enjoy the benefits of a quality gaming keyboard, which include switches with fast actuation, textured keycaps, macro keys, durable designs and materials, snazzy RGB lighting, and more.

Best Black Friday wireless keyboard deals

If you want to cut the cord while working or while gaming, a wireless keyboard will be right up your alley. You'll have to deal with managing battery life, but the tradeoff is that you'll be able to get typing or playing without any cables whatsoever.

Getting the best Black Friday keyboard deal for you

Getting any good Black Friday keyboard deal is great, but ultimately what matters most is that it's a good deal for you. Therefore, there are a few things you need to think about before pulling the trigger.

Firstly, give yourself a budget. In most cases, it won't be worth going over your budget just because there's a deal on a very pricey keyboard. Instead, try to look for deals where a keyboard that's usually not in your price range has fallen into it thanks to the sale. Alternatively, you can opt for keyboards that were already in range of your budget but have become even more affordable thanks to Black Friday.

Secondly, think hard about what you need out of a new keyboard. If you want something that's optimized for all-day typing, you'll likely be best off with an ergonomic keyboard. However, if you like to play games a lot too, than it may be worth it to go with a gaming keyboard instead since they're still great for typing and are much better for gaming than ergonomic keyboards. Lastly, if the freedom provided by cutting the cord would be useful for you, consider opting for something wireless.

Finally, consider the bigger picture. While having a good keyboard is incredibly important, it's not the only thing that matters. If you need them, make sure that you're including room in your budget for deals on other peripherals too. If you need to spend a little less on a keyboard to do that, that's fine — it's better to roll with a balanced suite of well-rounded accessories than having to pair a premium keyboard with, say, a low-quality mouse. Make sure to check out our roundups of the best Black Friday computer part deals for more awesome money-saving opportunities and our PC building guide for details on putting everything together. Also, don't miss our list of the best computer keyboards if you're interested in seeing other available options.

Builds have become more relevant than ever before in Destiny 2.

While Destiny 2's sandbox has traditionally been a simple one that offers more width than depth, the developers at Bungie have made strong efforts to give players tools to put together powerful and creative builds over the course of 2020 and beyond. Thanks to the addition of three new stat types, the Armor 2.0 system, and dozens of armor mods that tweak moment-to-moment gameplay, creating and using builds is more relevant than ever before.

However, many players may have a hard time knowing where to start when it comes to builds, especially if they're not franchise veterans (if that's you, check out my beginner's guide on how to get into Destiny 2 for a broader overview of the game overall).

If you're not sure what build to use or how to make a build of your own, don't worry — I'm here with an overview of some of the best builds in Destiny 2 for both PvE and PvP, as well as a crash course on how you can start forming your own builds.

Wield the Darkness

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

$40 at Microsoft $40 at GMG (Steam) Also on Xbox Game Pass

Europa awaits

Beyond Light is the next big expansion for Destiny 2, introducing a new element for Guardians to wield, a new area on the Jupiter moon Europa, a new story, and plenty of loot to go around.

Quick menu:

• Best Titan builds
• Best Hunter builds
• Best Warlock builds
• Tips for making your own builds

Destiny 2 best builds: Titan

In general, Titans are at their strongest when they're getting up close and personal with enemies in PvE as well as PvP. As such, the best Titan builds emphasize close-range combat with shotguns, swords, and melee attacks. They also have the best options for damage mitigation and tanking out of the three classes.

Ursa Furiosa Endgame build

• Subclass: Sentinel, Code of the Commander
• Exotics: Ursa Furiosa
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Intellect
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Protective Light

This is the best Titan build for endgame Nightfalls, especially at the Master and Grandmaster level. The Code of the Commander's Banner Shield super allows you to block near-infinite damage from everything from generic red bar enemies to Champions and bosses while also giving your fireteam members a damage boost when they fire through the shield. The Ursa Furiosa Exotic gauntlets then return a huge chunk of super energy to you based on how much damage you blocked, meaning that you can often chain multiple supers together quickly. This keeps your team safe, which is crucial in endgame content.

This build is even more effective if you have a high Intellect stat and you make use of Charged with Light mods (namely, Protective Light) as well as masterworked weapons to boost your super recharge rate even more while also enhancing your tankiness. These stat and mod combinations basically guarantee that you won't die as long as you're playing smart, while also ensuring that you get your Banner Shield super back in seconds.

Cuirass of the Falling Star build

• Subclass: Striker, Code of the Missile
• Exotics: Cuirass of the Falling Star
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Intellect
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Protective Light

If you want to hit Raid bosses or Champions for millions of points of damage, this is the build for you. It's centered around the Cuirass of the Falling Star Exotic chest piece, which dramatically improves the damage of the Thundercrash super and also provides you with an overshield after hitting your target so that you can get to safety. This Exotic singlehandedly makes Thundercrash the best Titan super for endgame PvE if you want to dish out lots of damage in one huge burst.

To maximize the effectiveness of this build, you'll need to have a high Intellect stat so that you get your Thundercrash back as quickly as possible. You're also going to want to use a standard Protective Light Charged with Light setup to maximize your survivability, as sometimes even the Cuirass of the Falling Star's overshield isn't enough to protect you from the enemies your super doesn't kill (this is only a concern in Grandmaster Nightfalls).

Icefall Mantle Tank build

• Subclass: Any
• Exotics: Icefall Mantle, Heir Apparent
• Weapons: IKELOS_SMG_v1.0.2, preferred shotgun
• Primary armor stats: Resilience, Recovery
• Important mods: Wrath of Rasputin, Warmind's Protection, Global Reach, Fireteam Medic, Recuperation

This is a subclass-independent Warmind Cell PvE build that's centered around the Icefall Mantle Exotic and is all about turning yourself into the ultimate frontline tank. The Icefall Mantle allows you to trade your barricade, your high jumps, and your ability to sprint for a very resilient overshield. This allows you to survive attacks from enemies that would normally kill you, especially in endgame activities like Nightfalls (this build is less effective in Grandmaster Nightfalls, however). As you kill enemies with your IKELOS SMG, you'll also be making Warmind Cells that will reduce enemy damage. If needed, you can also destroy these to instantly heal you (and any nearby teammates). If you want to be even tankier, you can use the Heir Apparent for its Arc shield that activates when you spin it up at full health. The Recuperation mod is also a good choice, as it allows you to heal when picking up Orbs of Power.

Related: Destiny 2: Beyond Light guide: List of new Exotic weapons and how to get them

Since this build is Icefall Mantle focused, you're going to want as much Resilience as you can get. This is because Resilience makes your barricade recharge faster, and since the Icefall Mantle replaces your barricade ability, having high Resilience shortens the cooldown of the Icefall Mantle overshield.

Behemoth PvP build

• Subclass: Behemoth, Cryoclasm
• Exotics: Antaeus Wards, Salvation's Grip
• Weapons: Preferred primary, preferred shotgun
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Mobility
• Important mods: Targeting/unflinching aim, shotgun scavenger

This is one of the best builds that Titan players can take into PvP in the Destiny 2: Beyond Light era, and it's focused entirely on taking advantage of how powerful the Behemoth subclass' Cryoclasm Stasis Aspect is. Slide-shotgunning is the absolute best way to push against the other team in the game (especially if you have a strong PvP shotgun like Felwinter's Lie), and the Cryoclasm Aspect makes your slides faster and longer. This makes you harder to hit, and it also means that you can execute the slide-shotgun combo before the enemy even sees it coming.

Antaeus Wards increase your safety by reflecting enemy attacks for a brief window each time you slide, and you can use the Salvation's Grip to freeze enemies for a quick kill with the Cryoclasm Aspect's empowered slide. Make sure to equip targeting and unflinching mods that match your primary weapon choice, and don't forget shotgun scavenger either since it will ensure you always have ammo.

Destiny 2 best builds: Hunter

Hunters are strongest when you take advantage of their high mobility and burst damage potential in both PvE and PvP. Due to this, the strongest Hunter setups are centered around taking advantage of the class's positioning and/or its DPS strengths.

Golden Gun Endgame build

• Subclass: Gunslinger, Way of the Sharpshooter
• Exotics: Celestial Nighthawk OR Star-Eater Scales
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Intellect
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Energy Converter, Firepower, Innervation

This Charged With Light mod-heavy build is completely centered around getting your Golden Gun super back quickly. This, when paired with the Celestial Nighthawk Exotic, will allow you to kill Nightfall Champions incredibly consistently. Additionally, it will also allow you to do huge boss DPS in Raids, for which your fireteam will love you. To make your super recharge faster equip the mods listed above and masterwork your favorite primary weapon and collect the Orbs of Power that drop when you get multikills with it to get Charged With Light. Then, throw your grenade to replenish a large chunk of your super energy. Further Orbs of Power will both contribute to your super charge and return your grenade energy to you, allowing you to keep the recharging cycle going until your Golden Gun is ready again. High Intellect will also help charge your super, too.

If you don't have Celestial Nighthawk or don't like centering your build around one single Golden Gun crit, the Star-Eater Scales Exotic is a viable alternative. When it's fully charged with four Orbs of Power it actually outperforms Celestial Nighthawk in terms of damage. Additionally, the Exotic's other benefits also help you get your Golden Gun back even faster. The trade-off is that you have to hit three crits instead of just one, and missing any of them will significantly reduce your effectiveness.

Related: Destiny 2 Deep Stone Crypt raid guide: How to beat every boss encounter

Omnioculus Nightfall build

• Subclass: Nightstalker, Way of the Pathfinder
• Exotics: Omnioculus
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Mobility OR Strength
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Protective Light

This Nightfall-focused build is arguably the best option for Hunters right now for difficult Master and Grandmaster Nightfalls. The core component of the build, the Omnioculus Exotic chest piece, allows you to spam invisibility smoke grenades in quick succession as long as you cloak everyone in your fireteam each time you use them, which helps make many dangerous sections of Nightfalls much easier. It's also a great way to make going for revives easier, too.

The Charged With Light mods aren't crucial for getting the build to work, but the enhanced protection given by Protective Light makes you even safer since it will reduce incoming damage significantly. In situations where your fireteam is on the ropes, Protective Light will often be the difference between narrow survival and a wipe.

Shatterdive PvP build

• Subclass: Revenant, Shatterdive, Glacial Grenade, Touch of Winter, Whisper of Fissures, Shards, and Torment
• Exotics: Mask of Bakris
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Mobility, and Discipline
• Important mods: Targeting/unflinching aim, scavenger for special, Grenade Kickstart

The Shatterdive Aspect for the Revenant Stasis subclass is one of the deadliest things you can use in PvP right now, as it can reliably one-shot any Guardians near your Glacial Grenade crystals when you shatter them using the Shatterdive ability. The Whisper of Shards Fragment and the Grenade Kickstart mod help you get your Glacial Grenade back faster when you throw it, while the Touch of Winter Aspect and the Whisper of Fissures Fragment enhance the potency of Shatterdive itself. Mask of Bakris is also a great Exotic to use with Shatterdive since its teleport-like dodge makes it very easy to get out of danger once you've performed your Shatterdive combo.

In terms of stats, it's recommended to use a mix of Recovery, Mobility, and Discipline. Mobility and Discipline in particular are important, as high Mobility lets you jump higher before Shatterdiving while Discipline further enhances your grenade recharge rate.

Spectral Blades PvP build

• Subclass: Nightstalker, Way of the Wraith
• Exotics: Gwisin Vest
• Weapons: Preferred primary, preferred shotgun, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery OR Intellect, Mobility
• Important mods: Targeting/unflinching aim, scavenger for special

If you want a simple PvP-focused build that will dominate, look no further than this Spectral Blades-focused one. Way of the Wraith is one of the best PvP subclasses in the game, and it's arguably the best one for Hunter due to the fact that you go invisible on headshot kills if you're at full health. Additionally, Spectral Blades is nasty in PvP because of how fast it makes you, and if you use it smartly you'll often get three to five kills against the other team. Gwisin Vest extends the duration of the super when you get kills with it, too, which is awesome. For stats, Recovery and Mobility are what you should hunt for since quick healing and high jump height are great for PvP. You could switch Recovery out for Intellect if desired, which will give you a faster Spectral Blades charge time.

One of the best things about this build is that it's very applicable regardless of the weapons you like to use. Whether you're a crackshot sniper or an aggressive shotgunner, this build will work excellently.

Destiny 2 best builds: Warlock

Warlocks are unique in that they are more support oriented compared to Titans and Hunters. Therefore, Warlock builds that encourage a support playstyle are among the most powerful and effective. If you want a build geared towards lethality instead, aim for a setup that recharges your abilities quickly.

Endgame Shadebinder build

• Subclass: Shadebinder, Bleak Watcher, Iceflare Bolts
• Exotics: Eyes of Another World OR Verity's Brow
• Weapons: Masterworked primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Discipline
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Protective Light, Grenade Kickstart

This Shadebinder Stasis build is incredible for endgame PvE like Grandmaster Nightfalls and the Master Vault of Glass (it can also put in some work in PvP), as the Stasis turret you can create with the Bleak Watcher Aspect provides insane crowd control value that keeps every enemy on the field frozen. Iceflare Bolts also make enemies that you kill while frozen freeze other nearby enemies, which is helpful. Since the Bleak Watcher turret relies on using a grenade charge, you should aim for high Discipline as well as Recovery. Eye of Another World also helps recharge your grenade faster since it gives a flat recovery rate increase to all of your abilities. You could swap it for Verity's Brow if you're using Stasis weapons, as that Exotic gives you grenade energy when defeating enemies with an element that matches your subclass.

Related: How to get Stasis Aspects and Fragments in Destiny 2: Beyond Light

In terms of mods, I recommend the classic Taking Charge and Protective Light combo, along with some supporting mods like Stacks on Stacks or Supercharged. In high end content, survivability is key, and since nothing offers better survivability than Protective Light, it's considered to be the best mod for most situations. Grenade Kickstart is also a must, as it gives you a chunk of grenade energy every time you throw your grenade (aka your turret).

Voidlock PvE build

• Subclass: Voidwalker, Attunement of Chaos OR Attunement of Hunger
• Exotics: Nezarec's Sin
• Weapons: Masterworked Void primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Discipline OR Intellect
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, High Energy Fire OR Protective Light

If you want all-out offense as a Warlock, your best bet is the tried-and-true "Voidlock" build that's centered around getting plenty of Void kills with your weapons and abilities to proc the Nezarec's Sin Exotic, which will in turn boost the recharge rate of all of your abilities. Either Nova Bomb Voidwalker skill tree works excellently here (avoid Nova Warp), and as for your Void primary weapon (don't forget to masterwork it!), I recommend either Gnawing Hunger or a Reckless Oracle.

When it comes to armor stats, I recommend Recovery for good health regen and Discipline for faster grenade cooldowns. You could opt for Intellect here if you want, but in my experience, Void grenades are fantastic for keeping your Nezarec's Sin well fed with Void kills.

Well of Radiance Nightfall build

• Subclass: Dawnblade, Attunement of Grace
• Exotics: Phoenix Protocol
• Weapons: Preferred IKELOS/Seventh Seraph primary, preferred special, preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Intellect OR Discipline
• Important mods: Wrath of Rasputin, Cellular Suppression, Global Reach, Fireteam Medic

This is the ultimate support/healer build for Nightfall runs, as Phoenix Protocol allows you to recharge your Well of Radiance super very quickly as long as you and your teammates are getting kills while using a Well of Radiance. Additionally, the Divine Protection grenade ability is fantastic for healing your teammates in situations where you don't have a Well of Radiance ready or when using one would be impractical. For stats, you should primarily go with Recovery for strong health regen and Intellect for an additional boost to your Well of Radiance recharge rate. You could swap Intellect for Discipline if you want to use the Divine Protection grenade more often.

The build becomes even more powerful when you throw some Warmind Cell mods into the mix. Cellular Suppression allows you to blind enemies by shooting your Warmind Cells, which is extremely helpful in Nightfalls at the Legend difficulty and above. Additionally, you can also destroy your Warmind Cells to heal you and your teammates with Fireteam Medic, which is great for scenarios where your Divine Protection ability is on cooldown.

Mantle of Battle Harmony build

• Subclass: Shadebinder (Any Aspects and Fragments)
• Exotics: Mantle of Battle Harmony
• Weapons: Preferred masterworked primary, Ager's Scepter, masterworked preferred heavy
• Primary armor stats: Recovery, Intellect
• Important mods: Taking Charge, Stacks on Stacks, Supercharged, Protective Light

For a fun and effective build with Ager's Scepter and the Mantle of Battle Harmony Exotics, give this setup a try. At the build's core, you only need the Mantle of Battle Harmony and Ager's Scepter with its catalyst. When using Shadebinder, kills with Stasis weapons boost your Super energy gain thanks to the Mantle of Battle Harmony's Exotic perk. This is where Ager's Scepter comes in, as it can freeze and kill normal enemies with Stasis damage rapidly.

Then, once your Super is charged, you can hold down your reload button to activate Ager's Scepter's "overdrive mode" that does significantly more damage but drains Super energy. As you kill enemies with the overdrive mode, you'll still get Super energy returned because of the Mantle of Battle Harmony. This means that you can offset the Super drain of the overdrive mode with chunks of Super energy, prolonging the amount of time you get to use it. For maximum survivability while playing aggressively, use a standard Protective Light Charged with Light build.

Destiny 2 builds: Tips for making your own builds

If none of the above builds sounds good to you, or if you simply feel like getting creative yourself, I highly recommend experimenting and coming up with your own personal Destiny 2 build. If you're not sure where to start, these tips will help get you going in the right direction.

• Choose one or two core goals for your build. Destiny 2 builds are best when you go all-in on one or two specific "themes" such as fast ability regen or strong damage reduction. Trying to be good at everything will result in underwhelming performance overall.
• Pick the right subclass and skill tree. You should make sure that you're using the subclass and skill tree that best synergizes with your build goals. For example, if you want to heal teammates and you're a Warlock, pick the Dawnblade subclass with the Attunement of Grace skill tree. In general, your subclass will act as the foundation for your builds.
• Make sure you choose the right Exotics. Exotics are a huge part of any strong build. This is because they typically enhance specific abilities or weapons, which in turn allows you to use them to specialize. Study what Exotics are in the game and pick the Exotic armor and/or weapon that's ideal for your chosen build goals.
• Aim for 70+ points in two stats that synergize with your build. When searching for well-rolled armor, you should aim for at least 70 points or more in two stats (three is possible, but requires excellent RNG) that will help you achieve your build goals. For example, a build focused on damage mitigation will benefit the most from Recovery and Resilience. In general, I always recommend choosing Recovery as one of your target stats regardless of build. This is because good health regen is optimal in high-level content and PvP. However, you can sacrifice good Recovery and still be okay if you'd prefer to target another stat.
• Never go above 100 points in a stat category. The effects of a stat cap at 100 points, so any further points in the stat above that are wasted. Try to find armor that allows you to hit 100 in one of your build's chosen stats, but doesn't go higher.
• Use the right mods. Mods have been heavily fleshed out over time in Destiny 2, and as a result they're some of the strongest build tools in the game right now (especially Charged With Light and Warmind Cell mods). Making good use of them isn't that important for PvP builds, but mods are crucial for any top notch PvE build. You can also use stat adjustment mods that allow you to tweak specific armor stats up by 5 or 10 points, which is helpful if you're struggling to get the specific armor rolls you want.
• Masterwork everything. Masterworking your weapons and armor is a great way to enhance your build's overall effectiveness. Aside from flatly boosting all of your armor stats by a slight amount, masterworking your armor also allows you to use stronger mods or multiple weaker mods per armor piece. Masterworking weapons, meanwhile, boosts one of the weapon's stats and allows them to generate Orbs of Power for you and your allies on multikills.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about builds, ask me in the comments and I'll be happy to answer you. Also, make sure you check out my Destiny 2: Beyond Light review for my thoughts on Destiny 2's latest expansion.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is available now on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows 10 PCs for $40. The base game is free on all platforms, so if you haven't tried it out yet, I highly recommend doing so since it's one of the best Xbox One shooters available.

Wield the Darkness

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

$40 at Microsoft $40 at GMG (Steam) Also on Xbox Game Pass

Europa awaits

Beyond Light is the next big expansion for Destiny 2, introducing a new element for Guardians to wield, a new area on the Jupiter moon Europa, a new story, and plenty of loot to go around.

Stay subscribed, Spartans.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has announced that Halo Infinite will offer monthly multiplayer rewards to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
• These rewards likely include exclusive cosmetic items and in-game consumables like XP Boosts.
• Halo Infinite is slated to release on Dec. 8, 2021 on Xbox and PC.

In a new official blog post, Microsoft has announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get exclusive access to monthly rewards in Halo Infinite as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks program. This program gives Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers unique in-game bonuses and perks, incentivizing members to stay subscribed.

The blog post notes specifically mentions "monthly multiplayer bonuses," suggesting that subscribers will be able to unlock exclusive cosmetics for their Halo Infinite multiplayer Spartan. These may include armor coatings, weapon coatings and charms, or other types of customization items. Players may also get access to extra consumables like XP Boosts and Challenge Swaps as well.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the most advanced version of Xbox Game Pass available. On top of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perk program, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members also get access to Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass on PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Halo Infinite is slated to launch on Dec. 8, 2021 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows PCs. Note that Halo Infinite preorders are available now, though keep in mind that the campaign costs $60 and the multiplayer experience will be entirely free-to-play (with paid Halo Infinite Battle Passes).

A library at your fingertips

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.

A new journey awaits

Halo Infinite

$60 at Microsoft $60 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy $60 at Steam

The next big adventure

Halo Infinite will hopefully be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on the beta and what was seen at E3 2021 and Gamescom, it looks like Halo Infinite will be a blast.

The popular RPG shooter expands.

What you need to know

• Outriders is officially coming to the Microsoft Store through Xbox Game Pass for PC on Oct. 19, 2021.
• The game will support cross progression between the Xbox and Microsoft Store versions of the game, and it will also support crossplay between all platforms as well.
• Additional updates for Outriders are also coming soon, according to the official blog post regarding the move to Xbox Game Pass for PC.

In a brand new blog post, it has been announced that the popular RPG looter shooter Outriders is coming to the Microsoft Store on Oct. 19, 2021 through Xbox Game Pass for PC (and by extension, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate). Like other Xbox Game Pass for PC titles, players will be able to download, install, and play Outriders through the Microsoft Store on Oct. 19 and beyond.

It has also been confirmed that veteran players can transfer progress between Xbox consoles and the Microsoft Store version of the game on PC, meaning that you won't need to make a new character and start over as long as you're using the same Microsoft Account on your Xbox and your PC. Additionally, Outriders will also be updated with support for crossplay on all platforms, allowing all players to play with each other regardless of platform.

The blog post concluded with a tease that fans should "keep your eye on Outriders in the coming weeks" and that "some exciting updates are coming your way," suggesting that there will be new features and/or content announced for Outriders soon. Overall, Outriders is already one of the best Xbox shooters for fans of the looter shooter genre, so it's great to see that it's being improved with crossplay, cross progression, and more.

A library at your fingertips

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.

Oh, Elden Ring!

What you need to know

• Footage of Elden Ring being run on an Xbox One console has allegedly leaked online.
• The gameplay shows basic movement (including fluid jumping), and also shows off one of the game's environments.
• The environment matches what has been seen in official screenshots, suggesting that the leak is real.
• Elden Ring is slated to release on Jan. 21, 2022 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

Footage of Elden Ring, FromSoftware's upcoming action RPG that the studio itself considers the spritual successor to Dark Souls, has allegedly leaked online. According to journalist Jeff Grubb, the gameplay was recorded on a base Xbox One console. The footage doesn't show anything very significant, although based on the character's jumps in the gameplay, it appears that players will be able to jump more fluidly in Elden Ring than in most previous FromSoftware games.

It's important to take leaks with a grain of salt, although based on the visual location of the leaked gameplay, it's very likely that the leak is real since the surrounding environment matches the castles, forrests, and the green sky that has been seen in official screenshots. You can watch the leaked footage below:

Alleged Elden Ring footage from xbox One. pic.twitter.com/uaGbogXBrB

— Jeff Grubb (@JeffGrubb) October 16, 2021

If the leak is real, it marks the first time that we've seen Elden Ring gameplay outside of official trailers. We expect to see more of Elden Ring soon since the game is slated to release on Jan. 21, 2022, but this small tidbit is sure to get fans excited in the meantime. Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the most highly-anticipated games of 2022 and could easily end up being one of the best Xbox games ever, so anything is sure to get fans hyped.

The successor to Dark Souls

Elden Ring

$60 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy $60 at Walmart

Elden Ring ... oh, Elden Ring!

Elden Ring is FromSoftware's next fantasy epic, featuring a focus on open-ended design in a universe created by both FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin.

Best answer: The Minecraft PC Bundle is a bundle of the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft in the Minecraft Launcher that will be available to Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers on Nov. 2, 2021. The bundle will fully launch and become available to all PC players in 2022.

What is the Minecraft PC Bundle?

During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios announced the "Minecraft PC Bundle," which is a package deal that gives players access to both the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, which is one of the best PC games available. Both editions of the game will be playable through Mojang's Minecraft Launcher with this bundle. Previously, only Java Edition was available through the launcher; if you wanted to play Bedrock Edition, you'd have to buy it separately on the Microsoft Store. This will no longer be the case thanks to the Minecraft PC Bundle, and players that already own one version of the game will be given access to the other one for free once the bundle releases. Note that the Minecraft PC Bundle will only be obtainable with a Microsoft Account; Mojang Account users will need to migrate to a Microsoft Account from their Minecraft.net profile page.

There are some fairly large differences between the Java and Bedrock Editions of Minecraft, so the fact that PC players won't have to choose between the two will be welcomed by many. Java Edition allows players to use custom pieces of content like the best Minecraft mods and the best Minecraft shaders, while Bedrock Edition has better overall stability and provides access to Minecraft with RTX as well as cross-play functionality with Xbox players.

When is the Minecraft PC Bundle release date?

The Minecraft PC Bundle will first be available for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers starting on Nov. 2. Then, the bundle will fully launch and become available as a standalone purchase for all PC players at some point in 2022 (Mojang hasn't provided any specific dates yet). Note that players who already own one edition of the game won't gain access to the other one until the 2022 release unless they subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for PC.

How much will the Minecraft PC Bundle cost?

Mojang is yet to announce Minecraft PC Bundle pricing for the standalone package. In the meantime, access will be granted via Xbox Game Pass through its PC membership from $10 monthly, or those with its $15 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate-tier subscription.

A library at your fingertips

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.

The best of both worlds.

What you need to know

• Mojang Studios has announced the Minecraft PC Bundle during Minecraft Live 2021.
• The bundle includes Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition, and is coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC on Nov. 2, 2021.
• Players will need to migrate their Mojang Accounts to Microsoft Accounts to access the titles through Xbox Game Pass for PC.
• In 2022, Mojang is planning to release the Minecraft PC Bundle as a standalone purchase for interested players.

Mojang Studios, the development studio behind one of the best PC games ever made, Minecraft, has announced the "Minecraft PC Bundle" during Minecraft Live 2021. This bundle allows PC players to access and play both Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition through the Minecraft Launcher, which previously only supported Minecraft: Java Edition.

Mojang has confirmed that the Minecraft PC Bundle will first be available for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers starting Nov. 2, 2021. The bundle will then officially launch in full at some point in 2022, although Mojang has not provided any specific dates for the release of the bundle at this time. Players who have previously purchased either Minecraft: Java Edition or Minecraft: Bedrock Edition will gain access to the edition of the game they don't have for free once the bundle retails in 2022. Note that Java Edition players will need to migrate their Mojang Account to a Microsoft Account on their Minecraft.net profile page to get access to Bedrock Edition once the bundle releases.

Bundling Java Edition and Bedrock Edition together should be a welcome change, as previously, fans have had to choose between one or the other when buying Minecraft. Java Edition offers players support for the best Minecraft mods and other forms of custom content such as the best Minecraft shaders, while Bedrock is more stable, supports crossplay with Xbox players, and gives players access to Minecraft with RTX. Both versions of the game have their pros and cons, meaning PC players can now play both with this new bundle.

A library at your fingertips

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $45 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.

Get ready for a creative new Battlefield experience.

Battlefield has always been known for its all-out warfare style of gameplay, and Battlefield 2042 has plenty of it in the form of modes like Conquest that feature up to 128 players on massive maps with plenty of destructible structures and objects. However, EA and DICE are also looking to offer players a fresh experience in Battlefield 2042 with "Hazard Zone," which will be much different than the usual open warfare modes. With satisfying open warfare-style modes and an enjoyable new experience with Hazard Zone, Battlefield 2042 could end up being one of the best Xbox shooters.

So far, the developers have been fairly tight-lipped about Hazard Zone, and because of that not many details about it are currently known. However, we do have some details about the mode thanks to a few developer comments, official descriptions, and a short trailer. Here's everything we know about Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone.

All-out warfare

Battlefield 2042

From $70 at Amazon From $70 at Xbox (Series X|S) From $60 at Xbox (Xbox One) From $70 at PlayStation Store

Battlefield goes back to the future

Battlefield 2042 debuts Electronic Arts' next-generation vision for the military shooter, supporting up to 128 players, the largest-ever maps, devastatingly destructive weather systems, and more.

Quick menu:

• What is Hazard Zone?
• Is it a battle royale?
• When will DICE show more?
• Release date

What is Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone?

According to official descriptions from EA and DICE, Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone is "an all-new, high-stakes, squad-based game type that is a modern take on the multiplayer experience." The game mode has been described as "distinctly Battlefield," but it will offer an experience that's much different than all-out warfare modes like Conquest.

In the August 2021 issue of PLAY Magazine, DICE General Manager Oskar Gabrielson provided some additional details about what to expect from Hazard Zone. "Hazard Zone is really something that's taken the superpowers at DICE to a new level. It's a high-stakes squad-based experience. It's not your battle royale you might be expecting; it's something more new and a bit more contemporary I would say," Gabrielson said.

DICE Senior Design Director Daniel Berlin also commented on Hazard Zone. "The important thing to remember is that this is not a battle royale mode. It's something we're building for Battlefield, it's something that is ours, but it's really built on those mechanics, those high-stakes mechanics that build tension as you play — those sweaty palm moments," Berlin said. "We are a squad-based team play shooter, and there's no other space within 2042 where the choices you make in terms of specialists, weapons, and gadgets — there's such an incredibly high importance in this mode. There's really really tight squadplay, tight communication is important, and (it) is built around the tension-filled gameplay."

Based on the recent trailer that released on Oct. 14, it looks as if players will have to retrieve data drives from fallen satellites in Hazard Zone and then extract from the map, while other teams of players need to try to stop them and take the drives for themselves. Notably, Battlefield 2042's Specialists appear to be the main playable characters in Hazard Zone. It also looks like Hazard Zone will be playable on the same maps as Conquest and other all-out warfare modes.

Is Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone a battle royale?

Many fans have been wondering whether Battlefield 2042's Hazard Zone is a battle royale, and the answer is complicated. In the August 2021 issue of PLAY Magazine, DICE stated that Hazard Zone will "move the battle royale concept on in a way only Battlefield can." However, both Oskar Gabrielson and Daniel Berlin stressed that Hazard Zone shouldn't be thought of as a battle royale mode.

Based on this, it sounds like Hazard Zone will incorporate elements of battle royale games like a shrinking map and randomized weapon drops, but will be distinctly different because of unique squad mechanics. Ultimately, we'll have to wait until EA and DICE show more of Hazard Zone before we can confidently say how similar it will be to battle royale games.

When will DICE show more of Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone?

EA and DICE showed off Battlefield 2042's Hazard Zone in a brand-new trailer that dropped shortly after the conclusion of the Battlefield 2042 beta on Oct. 14, 2021, at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. The link to the trailer is embedded above, so you can watch it here.

Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone release date

In the recent Hazard Zone trailer, EA and DICE confirmed that Battlefield 2042 Hazard Zone will release alongside the full Battlefield 2042 experience, including all-out warfare modes and Battlefield Portal, on Nov. 19, 2021. Notably, purchasing a Battlefield 2042 preorder will give you early access to the full suite of Battlefield 2042's content, though EA and DICE haven't specified when exactly early access will begin.

What you need to know

• 343 Industries has revealed Halo Infinite's competitive settings.
• The settings include Battle Rifle starts, a disabled Motion Tracker, no grenade hitmarkers, and Slayer, CTF, Strongholds, and Oddball as available modes.
• The goal with these settings is to give players a viable and effective weapon on spawn while also emphasizing the importance of teamwork and communication.

Halo developer 343 Industries has revealed the Halo Infinite competitive settings in a new livestream and blog post. These settings will be used in the game's competitive Arena playlists, and they'll also be active during Halo Infinite esports competitions. The competitive settings include:

• Battle Rifle starts
• Motion Tracker disabled
• Grenade hitmarkers disabled
• Slayer, CTF, Strongholds, and Oddball modes

During the livestream, the developers explained that the goal with these settings was to make sure each player had a powerful utility weapon after spawning, while also ensuring that players wouldn't be able to identify where enemies were in a cheesy way with the Motion Tracker or grenade hitmarkers. Instead, players in competitive Halo Infinite need to use close communication to keep track of where the opposing team is.

In the blog post that accompanied the livestream, the developers noted that ultimately, the goal with Halo Infinite's competitive experience is to promote fair play, teamwork, and mastery through a combination of mechanical skill and good gamesense. 343 Industries has also designed the experience in a way that ensures sandbox items like power weapons and equipment pieces are powerful, but not too powerful; with smart playmaking, opponents can outplay the advantages these items provide and take control of them themselves. I highly recommend reading through the blog for several more in-depth developer insights about Halo Infinite's competitive experience.

Halo Infinite launches Dec. 8, 2021 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows PCs. The campaign will cost $60, but the multiplayer is free-to-play. Notably, Halo Infinite preorders are available now.

A new journey awaits

Halo Infinite

$60 at Microsoft $60 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy $60 at Steam

The next big adventure

Halo Infinite will hopefully be an incredible game filled with wonder, adventure, and more. Based on these competitive settings, the beta, and what was seen at E3 2021 and Gamescom, it looks like Halo Infinite's multiplayer will be perfect for high-stakes competitive play.