‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 9.0: What You Need To Know [Update: Issues Resolved]
The start of a new month brings another Iron Banner event to Destiny on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The ninth edition of the multiplayer event doesn’t come with many changes after the significant changes to the last. However, it does include a Pulse Rifle being offered by Lord Saladin for the first time.
Update 1: As of 3:30 p.m. ET it is best to avoid Iron Banner. The event is not counting bounty rewards and it is not rewarding Iron Banner reputation for wins. Bungie has put out a notice that it is aware of the issue.
We are actively investigating reports that Iron Banner gains are not being granted after matches. Please stand by for updates.
— Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) June 30, 2015
Update 2: Bungie says that issue with Iron Banner have been resolved.
Issues impacting some players’ ability to gain Iron Banner reputation and rewards has been resolved. Thank you for your patience.
— Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) June 30, 2015
When Does It Run?
This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, June 2, at 1 p.m. ET and will last until Tuesday, June 9 at the 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?
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.
HoW Damage Curve Update: Damage scales linearly @ 1%/level for 4 levels, then curves to 10% at a delta of 10 levels. pic.twitter.com/cgWrzvcPS8
— Derek Carroll (@_mantis_) June 2, 2015
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.
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
Iron Banner features weapons that start at the 331 attack level and can be upgraded to the new 365 attack level with Etheric Light. This time around, Lord Saladin is selling Jolder’s Hammer and the Skorri’s Revenge Pulse Rifle. This is the first time that the latter has been sold.
Jolder’s Hammer comes with the “Surplus” and “Persistence” perks. Meanwhile, Skorri’s Revenge has the “Third Eye” and “Army of One” 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 |
| Jolder’s Hammer | Machine Gun | 365 | 7,000 G | 4 |
| Skorri’s Revenge | Pulse Rifle | 365 | 7,000 G | 5 |
Note that you also have a chance to receive the Gheleon’s Demise Scout Rifle, Perun’s Fire Fusion Rifle, and Radegast’s Fury Rocket Launcher as drops in Iron Banner after you reach the second rank.
Iron Banner Armor
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.
The armor being sold this week is all new compared to past Iron Banners. They are new “Iron Breed” models versus the past “Iron Regalia” offerings.
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 Gauntlets | Titan | 42 | 3 | 5,000 |
| Iron Breed Boots | Hunter | 42 | 3 | 5,000 |
| Iron Breed Gloves | Warlock | 42 | 3 | 5,000 |
| Iron Breed Plate | Titan | 42 | 4 | 5,000 |
| Iron Breed Sleeves | Hunter | 42 | 4 | 5,000 |
| Iron Breed Vestments | Warlock | 42 | 4 | 5,000 |
Iron Banner Bounties
The daily bounties for Iron Banner have not changed from the previous event.
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
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 below!
[Images via Bungie]
[Edit: Updated the Iron Banner weapon drops. Bungie changed them to start dropping at rank two and there’s now a chance to get three.]
