‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 17.0: Control Returns: What You Need To Know

Another week-long Iron Banner event returned to Destiny on Tuesday, just ahead of Bungie’s planned April update. The developer returns to form with this event and gives PlayStation and Xbox players a chance to grind it out one more time before the multiplayer meta changes with the upcoming gameplay balance tweaks.

When Does It Run?

This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, March 29 and will run until the Destiny weekly reset on Tuesday, April 5. This typically occurs at 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT.

What Modes And Maps Are Supported?

Bungie returns to the tried and true Control for this Iron Banner. Destiny players will want to keep an eye out on if Rift is rotated in for future events.

It does help immensely to run Control with a full fireteam. Consider running with a group of friends, a clan, or a pickup group from sites such as the100 and DestinyLFG.

Rewards

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Bungie has made Iron Banner more rewarding for players with the following changes from the 2.0.2 update.

• Iron Banner reputation from winning matches increased by 20 percent.
• Activity completion rewards increased at all ranks, with even more significant increases at Rank 2 and above.
• Packages from Lord Saladin upon reaching Rank 3 and Rank 5.
• Iron Banner Artifacts can be obtained from the Rank 3 package.
• Iron Banner Ghost Shells can be obtained from the Rank 5 package or activity completion rewards.

Here is the end-match reward breakdown for the current Iron Banner:

• Rank 2 – Chest Armor
• Rank 3 – Hand Cannon, Gauntlets, PlayStation Gauntlets
• Rank 4 – Machine Gun

Does Gear And Level Still Matter?

Yes. Bungie Senior Designer Derek Carroll provided an overview of how power levels in Iron Banner have changed with the introduction of the new Light level system implemented with Destiny 2.0. Essentially, a difference in 10 levels of light represents approximately a 2 percent difference in damage. Another way of looking at it is if you are at a 280 Light level facing off against someone at a 300 Light level, you will be at a 4 percent damage disadvantage.

The approximately 2 percent damage drop in every 10 levels of light continues until a 50 light level difference represents a 10 percent difference in damage. It then gets slightly steeper, to a 2.6 percent damage drop per Light level over the next 100 Light levels. We reach a light level difference. The Destiny power curve then goes into free fall at this point, with every 10 levels representing a 10 percent power difference.

In short, you will probably stay competitive within 20 light levels of a player you are facing and can still do damage up to a 50 light level difference. After that, you are probably looking at getting stomped. Since most Destiny players are hovering around 300 Light right now, it’s probably a safe bet that 280 Light is the safest starting point, though 230 is listed as the minimum recommended Light level, with a required level of 40.

Your Standing Has Been Reset?

Yes. All Destiny 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 added to Destiny.

Equip Your Iron Banner Items

If you still have the Iron Banner emblem, shader, and class item, go ahead and equip them. The Destiny Year One items still count. Each gives a 10 percent experience and reputation boost, and they do stack with each other for the possibility of a 33 percent total bonus. If you don’t have any Iron Banner items yet, purchase the Iron Pride emblem from Lord Saladin as soon as you reach rank one to begin earning bonus experience and reputation points.

The Tempered Buff

The Iron Banner Tempered Buff is now applied automatically to Destiny characters every day.

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

• 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 Destiny 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 Destiny 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.

Iron Banner Weapons

Both weapons being sold by Lord Saladin this Iron Banner have excellent rolls. If you don’t receive a good drop from the event, there is nothing wrong with taking either of these and leveling up their Light.

Note that you also have a chance to receive other weapons as end-of-match drops after you reach Iron Banner reputation rank two. This is the best way to obtain Iron Banner weapons in Destiny, as there is a chance for them to drop at high Light levels.

“LM” is short for Legendary Marks.

Iron Banner Armor

Here is the armor that is being sold by Lord Saladin in Destiny. Curiously, Gauntlets are being offered as rewards and for sale again after being available in February’s Iron Banner. Note that they all start with a Defense rating of 280. They can be infused to higher levels just like the weapons, though.

You should not break down any of these armor items, as you will not receive Shards or any other additional material. Also, like the weapons, end of match drops are the best way to obtain Iron Banner armor at high Light levels.

It’s also worth noting that PlayStation owners of Destiny will have the opportunity to get exclusive gear.

Iron Banner Bounties

Destiny changed the daily bounties for Iron Banner with the release of The Taken King. There are now three-week-long bounties, along with three daily bounties that are available each day. The daily bounties come from a pool of nine to allow for a little more variation than in previous events.

Tip: Wait to turn in the Weekly bounties toward the end of the week to make the most of the Tempered Buff to boost your character up to level 5.

Remember that Crucible bounties can be completed in Iron Banner too. Destiny players will want to pick those up to advance their reputation with the different factions and gain additional experience.

Iron Medallions

Destiny players 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.

Is The Taken King Required?

Yes. The Iron Banner has a level 40 requirement to participate and uses maps from the expansion. The only way that can be achieved is with the purchase of Destiny: The Taken King.

Good Luck!

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

[Images via Bungie]