In the MMO shooter Destiny, with the new Iron Banner, it will also be possible for non-raiders to come very close to the maximum level, the light level 30.
Actually, Friday is reserved for Xur, otherwise there’s not much happening in Destiny. There’s enough excitement, when the old noodle face shows up. But that will change from now on: Bungie has moved the “Weekly Update” forward by one day. There, they talk with the community once a week. The blog will now no longer come (according to our time) in the night from Friday to Saturday, but now already from Thursday to Friday. The reason is that they have now become “global”.
Between the lines, one could suspect it’s because gaming sites were already into the weekend by the time the update came, and the results of the Weekly Update were usually not available on their sites until Monday. However, the Iron Banner could already be followed on the relevant pages on Friday morning.
Anyway: Iron Banner 2.0 is coming.
The new Iron Banner should be as it was meant to be.
What has happened so far: The Iron Banner ran at the beginning of October as a week-long event. It was designed as a highlight for PvP players, a counterpart to the raid, so to speak. In the Crucible, the Guardians’ armor should now fully count, it was said. But that was not the case. There were difficulties in the event, and the equipment only played a slightly more significant role in the normal Crucible. Moreover, what equipment was available was not very appealing. Additionally, the Iron Banner suffered from several process issues: Players who thought they would lose simply left a match and started the next one, as they received no reputation for a defeat but also had nothing to fear in terms of negative consequences.
Bungie then decided to put the event on hold – just like the other major event in Destiny The Queen’s Wrath. They announced extensive changes, which they must have been working on in recent weeks. Actually, the Iron Banner should have returned last week but it was mistakenly active for 3 hours. However, they probably needed a bit longer to make the changes.
The Iron Banner and You: The most important questions about the new Iron Banner in Destiny
When is the new Iron Banner supposed to come? Data for it should be uploaded on Monday. It should start maybe on Thursday, the 20th of November, or Friday, the 21st of November. So far, it has only been mentioned as “by the end of next week”. And only if everything goes smoothly.
Equipment counts this time: Like a boss
Does armor count this time? Yes, they promised. A more heavily equipped player should feel like a “boss” to a weaker one. However, even the less well-equipped players can deal damage. It’s important to bring fully upgraded weapons to the Iron Banner. Players below level 20 can only participate in the mode if they team up with a player above that level (in a fireteam).
What about reputation?
What’s happening with reputation? The reputation from the last time carries over. However, there are now five reputation ranks instead of three. A 12-hour bonus can be activated. During this period, players gain significantly more reputation. The bonus should be used as late in the week as possible, as it brings more, it is said. The bonus is still quite a puzzle, regarding how it will work.
Attention, important: After this event, the reputation will be reset again. One should “forge the iron while it’s hot.” This could cause disappointment and frustration for some.
Running away doesn’t count in Destiny
How does Bungie want to prevent players from just leaving a match when they lose?
For a defeat in the Iron Banner, there’s no reputation but a “medal.” In the event of a victory, up to 5 of these medals can be redeemed. Therefore, a defeat can still provide some reputation after the next win. Quitters get nothing.
And now the most important thing? What gifts await? Where’s the loot?
Is it worth it this time? According to Bungie, yes. However, players need to reach higher rank levels. It will therefore be something for frequent players of Destiny or for frequent winners.
At a higher rank level (probably 5), there will likely be legendary gloves and boots that, when fully upgraded, will reach the light value of 30. Only exotic armor parts or legendary parts from the raid previously achieved this. Whoever has all 4 armor pieces at light level 30 reaches the light level 30, the current maximum level. This player will deal significantly more damage to level 30 mobs (important for the raid) and their drop chances will improve as well.
In the old system, players had to rely on luck in “The Glassed Chamber” to score some raid gear. This is likely to change now.
- So far, to reach 30: Either all four armor pieces from the raid. Or three legendary armor pieces from the raid and one exotic helmet, chest or pair of gloves.
- After the new Iron Banner: To reach 30: An exotic helmet or chest, 1 raid helmet or raid chest, and then boots and gloves from the Iron Banner.
All items will, of course, need to be upgraded with upgrade materials.
Almost to 30 without a raid, but just almost
This means: You still can’t make it without a raid. But whoever has the raid chest and an exotic helmet from Xur (that should be possible), can likely reach “safely” level 30 with the Iron Banner through effort. Depending on how the new items are distributed, whether randomly or available for purchase – that is still uncertain. It’s also hard to say how long it will take. Up to rank 5 could be quite a long way.
Besides the two armor pieces, there will likely be shaders, emblems, maybe ships, and also some legendary weapons.
Important: Legendary weapons have random “perks,” i.e., attributes. In the new Iron Banner, you should be able to reset them repeatedly until you are completely satisfied with a combination of these attributes.
