On April 17, 2018, the April Iron Banner in the 6v6 format started with a week’s delay. We tried out the new old Control mode in Destiny 2 and report to you how it plays.
With the Weekly Reset on April 17 the April Iron Banner also started yesterday with a week’s delay. The special thing about it: this time the PvP event is played in the long-awaited 6v6 format, which represented the standard in the Crucible for Destiny 1.
Numerous fans have been looking forward to the 6v6 since the announcement. Many hoped that this return to the roots of Destiny PvP could breathe new life into the unpopular Crucible of Destiny 2.
Our Destiny author Sven fought for glory and honor in the Iron Banner yesterday and reports on his experiences with the new old 6v6 format.
6v6 Iron Banner – old love, new luck
This is undoubtedly what most remaining Guardians have been waiting for – the 6v6 format from the Crucible of the popular predecessor has finally entered Destiny 2 – albeit only for the Iron Banner event.
Already during planning and preparation, a remarkable difference was noticeable. Within just a few minutes, my clan had three full 6-man teams ready for the PvP event – spontaneously and without major announcements.
What had previously been extremely laborious and lengthy, often even completely unsuccessful, was now once again a self-runner – just like in the days of the predecessor. This had not even been achieved by one of the major update milestones, the new raid, or the double event during the Crimson Week.
The anticipation and excitement were correspondingly high.
Does the 6v6 bring back the old Crucible feeling?
And after just a few minutes in the first match, we all realized – the 6v6 indeed makes a difference! The PvP feels invigorated because of this.
While the Crucible in Quickplay had primarily been characterized by team-shooting tactics and heavy weapons, this is now only rarely the case in 6v6. Although team-shooting is still possible, the smaller map sizes and spawn mechanics now provide the other team with many more tactical options to effectively counter this playstyle.
The games now all play out offensively and dynamically – camping is no longer possible with just two more opponents on the current map size. Accordingly, smaller squads and individual players are also more daring. Last night, I felt like I experienced more heroic moments than in my entire time with Destiny 2 before.
The 6-man team is now more often broken down into smaller elements, allowing for a completely different tactical approach – especially for fixed and well-rehearsed teams.
Fights are taking place almost everywhere. Since the opposing team rarely stands completely together, it is now easier to take out one or multiple opponents without automatically meeting one’s demise.
If the other team is moving in a pack, it can be much easier to stop that with a super, a grenade, or heavy weapons – the new ammo distribution and opponents who drop their heavy ammo upon death make this now easily possible.
Rarely can a well-rehearsed team control the action across the entire map. In most cases, one can manage to break through the defense from some side and disrupt the opponent’s formation.
The spawn system here usually helps significantly. This mechanic works against all expectations in most cases really well. I have rarely respawned right in front of an opponent’s gun.
I have also rarely encountered situations where an opponent spawns right at my feet – and that despite the relatively small maps. I had feared worse after the Rumble debacle.
But there were also negative aspects
Even though the positive experiences have so far outweighed for me personally, there were also some negative aspects that caught my eye during the first Iron Banner night.
Some Crucible maps actually turned out to be a bit too small for twelve Guardians. It would be desirable for Bungie to either provide well-known maps from Destiny 1 or to consider the 6v6 format when designing new maps.
Fixed teams still have advantages over randomly assembled groups. This was also the case in the predecessor, but this group dynamic can now be better countered.
But for the future, it would be desirable for Bungie to consider both the team size and the team structure during matchmaking. Fixed teams should face fixed teams, and individual Guardians should face groups of randomly assembled players.
6v6 must return – not just in the Iron Banner
After last night in the Iron Banner, one thing became clear to me: the 6v6 must return – and permanently and across game modes. This is finally fun for me in the Crucible of Destiny 2, and I will certainly throw myself into Guardian duels again and again until the Weekly Reset to enjoy the experience I so painfully missed.
Because the 6v6 creates an unprecedented dynamic that, in my view, does great good for the Crucible. The last time I had this much fun in PvP was back during the times of Destiny 1. Although the feeling still doesn’t completely match that of the predecessor, it brings the Crucible experience in Destiny 2 a whole lot closer.
In my opinion, the 6v6 remains an immense enrichment for the current PvP of Destiny 2. A buddy from my 6-man team stated at the end of the night the fitting closing words:
“With 6v6, you finally feel at home again. Just like back in Destiny 1. Old love, new luck.”
This new format may not save the game, but it certainly contributes immensely to making the Crucible fun for Guardians, at least for the first time. This creates, in my view, a solid basis that Bungie can further develop and expand in combination with other changes, such as lowering the Time to Kill.
In the end, this could lead to the PvP once again becoming a cornerstone of the overall game – just as it was in Destiny 1.
What experiences have you had in 6v6 so far? Do you see this format as an enrichment for the Crucible in Destiny 2?
And the Crucible isn’t the only thing that’s fun again:
Destiny 2 reinvents Graviton Lance – Pioneering for all Exotics?
