‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 14.0: What You Need To Know, Plus PlayStation Exclusive Armor
The final Iron Banner in Destiny for 2015 also doubles as the first for 2016. The week-long Crucible multiplayer event kicked off Tuesday, and will run into the New Year with a chance for PlayStation and Xbox players to earn high level gear and weapons.
This Iron Banner event should be an interesting one to watch, as it is the first since the massive weapon balance update (that had a few misfires) earlier in December. The meta has shifted slightly to make Pulse Rifles less favored, and has brought Scout Rifles a little more to the forefront. Expect to see lots of the Year Two version of the MIDA Multi-tool following it going on sale with Xur last week.
When Does It Run?
This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, December 29, and will run until the Destiny weekly reset on Tuesday, January 5. This typically occurs at 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.
What Modes And Maps Are Supported?
After a flirtation with Clash in the last Iron Banner, Destiny players are back to the Control gametype for this event. The goal is to hold points on the map to earn bonus points with every kill. Holding one control point grants 50 bonus points per kill, two control points give 100 bonus points, and three control points give 200 bonus points.
It is difficult to hold all three control points on a map. The typical successful strategy in Control is to gain hold of two control points and defend them.
Rewards
As the Inquisitr previously covered, 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 – Helmets
- Rank 3 – Class Items, Haakon’s Hatchet
- Rank 4 – Deidris’s Retort
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.
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.
| IB Rank | Reputation Points Needed |
| 1 | 100 rep points |
| 2 | 1,200 rep points |
| 3 | 2,400 rep points |
| 4 | 2,400 rep points |
| 5 | 2,400 rep points |
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.
| Name | Type | Cost | IB Rank |
| Iron Pride | Emblem | 1000 Glimmer | 1 |
| Million Million | Armor Shader | 1000 Glimmer | 2 |
| The Ironwood Tree | Emblem | 1000 Glimmer | 5 |
| Goldspiral | Armor Shader | 1000 Glimmer | 5 |
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
| Name | Type | Perks | Cost | IB Rank |
| Haakon’s Hatchet | Auto Rifle |
|
90 LM | 4 |
| Deidris’s Retort | Shotgun |
|
90 LM | 5 |
“LM” is short for Legendary Marks.
Iron Banner Armor
Here is the armor that is being sold by Lord Saladin in Destiny. Note that they all start with a Defense rating of 280. They can be Infused to higher levels 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 this is the first Iron Banner where PlayStation owners of Destiny will have the opportunity to get exclusive gear.
| Name | Class | Stats | Perks | Rank | Cost |
| Iron Companion Greaves | Titan | — | — | 3 | 40 LM |
| Iron Companion Boots | Hunter | — | — | 3 | 40 LM |
| Iron Companion Legs | Warlock | — | — | 3 | 40 LM |
| Iron Companion Helm | Titan | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
| Iron Companion Mask | Hunter | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
| Iron Companion Hood | Warlock | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
| Iron Camelot Helm (PS Exclusive) | Titan | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
| Iron Camelot Casque (PS Exclusive) | Hunter | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
| Iron Camelot Hood (PS Exclusive) | Warlock | — | — | 4 | 40 LM |
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. So, Destiny players will want to pick those up to advance their reputation with the different factions and gain additional experience.
| Bounty Name | Description | IB Rep | Experience | Legendary Marks |
| Iron Gauntlet (Weekly) | Impress Lord Saladin with extraordinary feats in the Iron Banner. Get 10 kill streaks, 5 double kills, the top overall score in a match, and reach Iron Banner Rank 4. | +525 | +5,000 | +25 |
| Iron Marathon (Weekly) | Complete 13 Iron Banner matches and win 7. | +525 | +5,000 | +25 |
| Iron Versatility (Weekly) | Defeat 50 Guardians with Primary Weapons, 25 with Special Weapons and 13 with Heavy Weapons. | +525 | +5,000 | +25 |
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]
