‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 15.0: Tripping The Rift Edition, What You Need To Know


The first full Iron Banner of 2016 will be a different spin than what Destiny players are used to undertaking. PlayStation and Xbox players will want to find a good team as the usual Control mode has been replaced by Rift.

This Iron Banner event will be interesting to watch in more ways than one. Aside from the change to an all-new game mode, Bungie will be delivering a matchmaking update to Destiny on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. This update will prioritize connection quality in an attempt to reduce some of the lag that has been encountered in the Crucible since the December update. Full details can be found here.

When Does It Run?

This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, January 26 and will run until the Destiny weekly reset on Tuesday, February 2. This typically occurs at 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.

What Modes And Maps Are Supported?

Bungie is experimenting this event by going with Rift. This is a team-oriented Neutral Bomb gametype with a Destiny spin. The goal is to grab the Spark in the middle of the map and carry it to the opposing team’s Rift to score points. Of course, there are other ways to score points too.

  • Regular Kills earn 100 points.
  • 10 points are earned for headshot kills
  • Picking up the Spark earns 300 points
  • Kills as the Spark Runner earn 150 points
  • Killing the Spark Runner earns 300 points
  • Passing checkpoints (5 total) as the Spark Runner earns 100 points per checkpoint
  • Slamming the Spark in Rift earns a whopping 1,500 points

This is the most team-oriented Crucible mode in Destiny. It’s highly suggested to run with a group of friends, a clan, or a pickup group from sites such as the100 and DestinyLFG.

The general strategy is to choose one or two highly mobile fireteam members to be the Spark Runner while the rest of the team focuses on defending the runner or the Rift.

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 – Boots
  • Rank 3 – Chest Piece, PS Exclusive Helmet, Colovance’s Duty Scout Rifle
  • Rank 4 – Ashraven’s Flight Fusion Rifle

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.

Destiny Iron Banner Power Level Differences (PlayStation, Xbox)
The power level curves for Iron Banner. The red curve is for Destiny: The Taken King. Each ‘Level Delta’ across the top represents a 10 level difference. [Image via Bungie]
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.

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

Destiny Colovance's Duty Scout Rifle - Iron Banner (PlayStation, Xbox)
The Colovance’s Duty Scout Rifle [Image via Bungie]
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 best primary way obtain Iron Banner weapons in Destiny, as there is a chance for them to drop at high Light levels.

Name Type Perks Cost IB Rank
Colovance’s Duty Scout Rifle
  • Red Dot OES/Ranged Lens RLR5/Truesight IS
  • Zen Moment
  • Field Scout/Braced Frame/Smallbore
  • Hidden Hand
90 LM 4
Ashraven’s Flight Fusion Rifle
  • Quickdraw IS/Sureshot IS/Red Dot OAS
  • Hidden Hand
  • Enhanced Battery/Rifled Barrel/ Feather Mag
  • Hot Swap
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.

Destiny Iron Banner PlayStation Exclusive Gear
The PlayStation exclusive Iron Banner armor for Destiny. [Image via Bungie]
Name Class Stats Perks Rank Cost
Wolfswood Mark Titan Intellect 26 /
Strength 26
  • Auto Rifle Focus / Sidearm Focus
  • Crucible Champion
3 40 LM
Wolfswood Cloak Hunter Intellect 26 /
Discipline 28
  • Hand Cannon Focus / Shotgun Focus
  • Crucible Champion
3 40 LM
Wolfswood Bond Warlock Intellect 25 /
Discipline 26
  • Pulse Rifle Focus / Rocket Launcher Focus
  • Crucible Champion
3 40 LM
Iron Companion Plate Titan Intellect 61 /
Discipline 66
  • Auto Rifle Ammo / Shotgun Ammo
  • Void Recovery / Void Armor
4 40 LM
Iron Companion Vest Hunter Intellect 65 /
Discipline 69
  • Hand Cannon Ammo / Shotgun Ammo
  • Solar Recovery / Solar Armor
4 40 LM
Iron Companion Vestments Warlock Intellect 68 /
Discipline 62
  • Auto Rifle Ammo / Sniper Rifle Ammo
  • Arc Recovery / Arc Armor
4 40 LM
Iron Camelot Mark (PS Exclusive) Titan 3 40 LM
Iron Camelot Cloak (PS Exclusive) Hunter 3 40 LM
Iron Camelot Bond (PS Exclusive) Warlock 3 40 LM

Iron Banner Bounties

Destiny Iron Banner Bounties (PlayStation, Xbox)

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.

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]

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