
In general, the more Powerful Gear you get, the faster you progress. However, keep in mind that they drop in a random slot - if you have let's say a high Power Level Kinetic Weapon already, and you get another Kinetic Weapon from your Powerful Gear, it might be on the same or even lower level than the one you already have. They take your "best" set of items into account - if you have a higher Power Level weapon in your inventory and you can equip it, but you don't, because you play with something else, it will still count. In general, they drop between +5 and +8 above your Power Level. Like I've said above, Powerful Gear is the only way to increase your Power Level past 500. However, while it's very easy up to 500, it gets significantly harder afterwards. Nearly everything in Destiny 2 is gated behind a Power Level requirement, which means that increasing it should be your highest priority. If you face an opponent with a Power Level that's 50 higher than you, then it's completely immune to your damage. It also works the other way around, to a certain extent (the gains aren't as big as handicaps).


If you're lower, then you will deal less damage to them and take more damage from their hits. Each of the enemies in every single location has its own, (for the most part) static Power Level too. This is the most important number in Destiny 2. But that's not something you have to remember, as it won't really matter that much in the game (just keep in mind that weapons are most important when it comes to your Power Level). To be precise, each weapon contributes roughly 14.3%, each piece of armor 11.9% and your class item - 9.5%.

Each of your items has its own Power Level, and your total Power Level is roughly an average of those. This is the big number you see in your inventory, and what is provided by your gear. However, the more important level is your Power Level.
