‘Destiny’ December Iron Banner: What You Need To Know As Rift Returns

Another week-long Iron Banner event arrived in Destiny Tuesday. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners will once again have the chance to battle each other for loot in the shooter’s Crucible multiplayer. There is a bit of a twist, though, as the Rift gametype returns as the featured mode.

When Does It Run?

This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, December 6, and will run until an hour before the Destiny weekly reset on Tuesday, December 13. This typically occurs at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.

You will need to visit Lord Saladin at the Felwinter’s Peak social area to receive a quest to participate in Iron Banner if you’ve never done so before. This only has to be done once.

What Changes Have Been Made With Rise of Iron?

Iron Banner has been streamlined, as previously covered. The Tempered Buff mechanic is gone, and reputation will be earned equally throughout the week at a higher rate than Year Two. Victories now earn 250 Reputation while redeeming Iron Medallions will earn 150 Reputation. This also removes any buff received from wearing Iron Banner items or equipping emblems.

Additionally, packages that players received when reaching ranks 3 and 5 have been retired. Players will now earn rewards from completing bounties and from loot drops at the end of matches.

The Daily Bounties have also been removed and replaced with four Weekly Bounties, which can be picked up from Lady Efrideet in the Iron Temple at Felwinter’s Peak. She is also the Iron Banner vendor and will be where you need to go to purchase Iron Banner weapons and armor. You’ll nee to visit Lord Saladin first though to pick up the quest for the event.

What Modes And Maps Are Supported?

This month’s Iron Banner trips the Rift. The game type introduced with The Taken King has only been used for the monthly event once before. 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

Working with a fireteam greatly increases your chance of success. Consider running with a group of friends, a clan, or a pickup group from sites such as the100 and DestinyLFG or using the new LFG feature on the Xbox One.

All maps regularly used in the Rift playlist from Rise of Iron are available. Some are weighted more than others, though.

Rewards

Iron Banner rewards can drop up to 400 Light depending on your current Light level. This will never be more than 5 levels above your current Light.

Post-match loot rewards start dropping at Iron Banner reputation rank 0. Everything being sold by Lady Efrideet is possible as a drop from the very beginning along with Artifacts and other armor items. Players have a chance to earn a Ghost once they reach rank 5.

Iron Banner Weapons

Both weapons being sold by Lady Efrideet during this Iron Banner have decent rolls. In fact, The Clever Dragon has a really good roll of perks and is one of the best PVP weapons currently available in Destiny. 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, but with different rolls. 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 and increase your Guardian’s overall Light level.

“LM” is short for Legendary Marks.

Iron Banner Armor

Here is the armor that is being sold by Lady Efrideet in Destiny. Boots and Chest Armor can be purchased from her with excellent stat rolls and infused to higher levels just like the weapons. There is also a chance they will drop at the end of Iron Banner matches with a random roll.

Titan Armor

Hunter Armor

Warlock Armor

Iron Banner Bounties

Lady Efrideet is who you will want to visit at Felwinter’s Peak to pick up bounties. She is located across the bridge in the previously closed off section mountain. There are four in all that will reward more than just reputation.

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. They will not help Iron Banner reputation, however.

Does Gear And Level Still Matter?

Yes. 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 350 Light level facing off against someone at a 370 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. 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 stay competitive within 20 light levels of a player you are facing and can still do damage up to a 50 light level difference. You will probably get stomped after that. Since most Destiny players are hovering around 360 Light now, it’s probably a safe bet that 340 to 350 Light is a safe starting point.

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 zero and should be able to quickly reach rank one 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.

Multi-Character Buff

Your second and third Destiny characters could 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 reputation rank three, your second and third Destiny character will be able to reach the same level in approximately half the time.

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.

Good Luck!

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

[Featured Image by Bungie; all table information via Destiny]