‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 11.0: What You Need To Know


The last Iron Banner event in Destiny before the launch of The Taken King kicked off on Tuesday for PlayStation and Xbox owners. The end of July brings yet another Iron Banner event to Destiny for PlayStation and Xbox owners who can make a run at decently rolled Felwinter’s Lie shotgun or just enjoy one last round of dominance from Thorn and The Last Word prior to their upcoming nerf.

When Does It Run?

This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, August 25, at 1 p.m. ET and will last until Tuesday, September 1, at the Destiny weekly reset, which usually occurs at 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.

What Modes And Maps Are Supported?

As before, the only game mode available in Iron Banner is Control. Bungie currently has the following maps in rotation.

  • Asylum
  • The Anomaly
  • Blind Watch
  • The Burning Shrine
  • The Cauldron (New)
  • Exodus Blue (New, PS Only)
  • Firebase Delphi
  • First Light
  • Pantheon (New)
  • Rusted Lands
  • Shores of Time
  • Twilight Gap

Previous patches have changed the weighting of these around so that combined with a greater number of maps, there will be fewer repeats.

Does Gear And Level Still Matter?

Destiny Iron Banner (PlayStation, Xbox)

Yes. You need to be at least level 20 to get into the Iron Banner, or have a level 20 fireteam leader bring you along for the ride. Realistically, you can expect to see many level 33 and 34 players since the addition of The House of Wolves.

You need to be within four light levels of another player to do any real damage with the release of House of Wolves, per an update from multiplayer designer Derek Carroll. The weapon attack level counts, too, so bring your most powerful weapons and armor.

Is Dark Below Or House of Wolves Required?

No, The Dark Below and House of Wolves expansions are not required. The Dark Below maps have been added for free to everyone, and the House of Wolves maps are not used in Iron Banner.

Your Standing Has Been Reset?

Yes. All players start each Iron Banner event with their reputation at zero. You max out at level five.

Iron Banner Ranks

You start out at rank 0 and should be able to quickly reach rank 1 after the first win. The climb to the max rank is a bit steeper, but still obtainable thanks to all the buffs.

IB Rank Reputation Points Needed
1 100 rep points
2 1200 rep points
3 2400 rep points
4 2400 rep points
5 2400 rep points

Equip Your Iron Banner Items

If you still have the Iron Banner emblem, shader, and class item, go ahead and equip them. Each gives a 10 percent experience and reputation boost, and they do stack with each other for the possibility of a 30 percent total bonus. If you don’t have any Iron Banner items yet, purchase the Sigil of the Iron Lords emblem from Lord Saladin as soon as you reach rank one to get the bonus experience and reputation points.

Name Type Cost IB Rank
Sigil of the Iron Lords Emblem 1000 Glimmer 1
Million Million Armor Shader 1000 Glimmer 2
Scar of Radegast Emblem 1000 Glimmer 3
Silmar’s Iron Shash Titan Class Item 2000 Glimmer 4
Mantle of Perun Hunter Class Item 2000 Glimmer 4
Felwinter’s Iron Bond Warlock Class Item 2000 Glimmer 4
Goldspiral Armor Shader 5000 Glimmer 5

Purchase The Tempered Buff

Lord Saladin sells a Tempered Buff for one Mote of Lite. The buff lasts for 12 hours and gives an experience and reputation boost in Iron Banner. As the week progresses, the boost will increase. Additionally, a new buff can be purchased every 12 hours.

Here’s the progression that the Tempered Buff should follow, based on the last Iron Banner.

  • Tuesday: +10 percent
  • Wednesday: +15 percent
  • Thursday: +25 percent
  • Friday: +40 percent
  • Saturday: +60 percent
  • Sunday: +100 percent
  • Monday: +150 percent

Multi-Character Buff

Your second and third characters can receive a 100 percent reputation boost in addition to all the other buffs when playing Iron Banner. The buff is active as long as one or more of your characters are at least one Iron Banner rank ahead of the character being played.

For example, if you get one character up to level 3, your second and third character will be able to reach the same level in approximately half the time. This is especially true when combined with all of the other buffs.

Etheric Light

Etheric Light is being sold by Lord Saladin for the first time so that players can ascend their gear to the new 42 light level for armor and 365 attack level for weapons. One Etheric Light can be purchased for 5,000 Glimmer when they reach Iron Banner Rank 3, and another when Iron Banner Rank 5 is achieved. With up to three Guardians per account, that’s the potential of gaining six Etheric Light during the week.

Iron Banner Weapons

Destiny - Felwinter's Lie (PlayStation, Xbox)

Iron Banner features weapons that start at the 331 attack level and can be upgraded to the new 365 attack level with Etheric Light. Lord Saladin is selling the Felwinter’s Lie shotgun along with the Silmar’s Wrath auto rifle this week. The perk rolls on both are decent though you can always reforge for a shot at something better..

Felwinter’s Lie comes with the coveted “Aggressive Ballistics” and “Shot Package” perk options to combine with “Kneepads.” Meanwhile, Silmar’s Wrath has the “Focused Fire” and “Counterbalance” perks.

Perks for both, including the elemental damage for the Machine Gun, can be re-rolled using Motes of Light with the Gunsmith to something that you prefer.

Name Type Max Attack Cost IB Rank
Felwinter’s Lie Shotgun 365 7,000 G 4
Silimar’s Wrath Auto Rifle 365 7,000 G 5

Note that you also have a chance to receive the Efrideet’s Spear sniper rifle and Timur’s Lash hand cannon as end of match drops after you reach Iron Banner reputation rank two.

Iron Banner Armor

Destiny Iron Breed Hood (PlayStation, Xbox)

Here is the armor that is being sold by Lord Saladin. Note that they all start at light level 36. However, they can be ascended to light level 42 with Etheric Light. That means they will help you get to the current max light level of 34 in Destiny.

Note that you should not break down any of these armor items, as you will not receive Shards or any other additional material.

Name Class Max Light IB Rank Glimmer
Iron Breed Greaves Titan 42 3 5,000
Iron Breed Boots Hunter 42 3 5,000
Iron Breed Boots Warlock 42 3 5,000
Iron Breed Great Helm Titan 42 4 5,000
Iron Breed Mask Hunter 42 4 5,000
Iron Breed Hood Warlock 42 4 5,000

Iron Banner Bounties

Destiny Iron Banner Bounties (PlayStation, Xbox)

The daily bounties for Iron Banner have not changed from the previous event. However, we should all expect a significant update to bounties for The Taken King.

Bounties are given by Lord Saladin and returned to him as well. Be sure to have the Tempered Buff active when turning them in.

Remember that Crucible bounties can be completed in Iron Banner too. So, you’ll want to pick those up to advance your reputation with the different factions (as long as you equip their class item) and gain additional experience.

Bounty Name Description IB Rep Experience
Hard Forged Earn 10,000 XP while competing in the Iron Banner tournament. +100 +5,000
Iron Embrace Defeat 10 Guardians with a close quarters Melee attack while competing in the Iron Banner. +100 +5,000
Iron Wrath Defeat 10 Guardians without dying while competing in the Iron Banner tournament. +200 +10,000
An Iron Grip Participate in the capture of 15 Control zones in the Iron Banner tournament. +100 +5,000
The Chaos and the Calm Defeat 15 Guardians with Heavy Weapons while competing in the Iron Banner. +100 +5,000
Heavy Metal Earn 3 Machine Gun sprees while competing in the Iron Banner. +100 +5,000

Tip: Complete the Weekly Nightfall first for an even greater experience boost for the Crucible bounties. The Nightfall boost will not help Iron Banner reputation, though.

Reforging

Destiny Iron Banner Reforging (PlayStation, Xbox)

You can reforge your Iron Banner weapons with the Gunsmith in the Tower to get better stats and perks in exchange for Motes of Light. Note, though, that this will not increase the item’s light level or attack level. It will also reset the progress of the weapon.

Lord Saladin no longer offers reforging services.

Iron Medallions

You will receive an Iron Medallion for each match you lose in Iron Banner. You can carry up to five at a time in your inventory. These will be redeemed automatically after your next win for Iron Banner reputation.

If you still have Medallions left over after Iron Banner ends, hold on to them. They can still be redeemed when the next event rolls around.

Good Luck!

Do you have any Iron Banner tips you want to share? Please post them in the comments section below!

[Images via Bungie]

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