‘Destiny’ Iron Banner 21.0: Control For July Event

Last month’s Destiny Iron Banner event got a late start, but July’s event starts on time. Bungie flipped the switch on for the monthly multiplayer competition for PlayStation and Xbox players with a chance to continue to level characters up towards the Year Two Moments of Triumph.

When Does It Run?

This Iron Banner event started Tuesday, July 19 and will run until an hour before the Destiny weekly reset on Tuesday, July 26. This typically occurs at 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT.

What Modes And Maps Are Supported?

Control is the name of the game for July’s Iron Banner. Bungie continues to rotate between Control and Clash every month for the event.

Working with a fireteam greatly increases your chance of success in the very team-oriented Control. Consider running with a group of friends, a clan, or a pickup group from sites such as the100 and DestinyLFG.

All maps regularly used in the Clash playlist from The Taken King are available. Some are weighted more than others, though.

Rewards

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Bungie has made Iron Banner more rewarding for players with the April 2.2 update, plus the ability for armor and weapons to drop at up to 335 Light. This post-match loot rewards starting at rank 0 with gear Light values dependent on your character’s current Light level.

Does Gear And Level Still Matter?

Yes. A difference in 10 levels of light represents approximately a two 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 four percent damage disadvantage.

The approximately two 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 Destinyplayers are hovering around 320 Light now with the April update raising the cap to 335, it’s probably a safe bet that 300 Light is the safest 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.

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. 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 is the progression that the Tempered Buff follows:

• 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 three, 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 during 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, 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.

Name Type Perks Cost IB Rank Weyloran’s March Sniper Rifle

• SightSys SLS20 / Longview SLR10 / Tacsys SLS15
• Grenadier
• Armor Piercing Ronuds / Rifled Barrel / Oiled Frame
• Hidden Hand

90 LM 4 Nirwin’s Mercy Pulse Rifle

• Red Dot-OAS / Focus Lens FLA5 / Quickdraw IS
• Counterbalance
• Speed Reload / Braced Frame / Oiled Frame
• Feeding Frenzy

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. Class Items and Helmets are the order of the day. Note that they all start with a Defense rating of 280, although higher level editions can drop at the end of matches. They can be infused to higher levels just like the weapons.

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

Name Class Max Stats Perks Rank Cost Iron Companion Gauntlets Titan Discipline 44 / Strength 43

• Rain Blows / Momentum Transfer
• Shotgun Loader

3 40 LM Iron Companion Sleeves Hunter Intellect 41 / Discipline 40

• Fastball / Impact Induction
• Scout Rifle Loader

3 40 LM Iron Companion Gloves Warlock Intellect 45 / Discipline 42

• Energy Projection / Impact Induction
• Auto Rifle Loader

3 40 LM Iron Companion Greaves Titan Intellect 62 / Discipline 62

• Sniper Rifle / Rocket Launcher Ammo
• Solar Double-Down / Second Wind

3 40 LM Iron Companion Boots Hunter Intellect 42 / Discipline 59

• Shotgun / Rocket Launcher Ammo
• Solar Double-Down / Second Wind

3 40 LM Iron Companion Legs Warlock Intellect 57 / Discipline 60

• Sniper Rifle / Machine Gun Ammo
• Void Double-Down / Second Wind

3 40 LM Iron Camelot Gauntlets (PS Exclusive) Titan Intellect 30 / Discipline 31

• Rain Blows / Momentum Transfer
• Sniper Rifle Loader

3 40 LM Iron Camelot Grips (PS Exclusive) Hunter Intellect 32 / Discipline 29

• Fastball / Impact Induction
• Hand Cannon Loader

3 40 LM Iron Camelot Gloves (PS Exclusive) Warlock Intellect 30 / Discipline 28

• Snap Discharge / Momentum Transfer
• Pulse Rifle Loader

3 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. 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.

Good Luck!

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