Do you love the thrill of an intense PvP competition in Destiny 2? Then, Iron Banner is the ultimate test of your skills. This limited-time event pits Guardians against each other in a no-holds-barred clash for glory and exclusive rewards you can’t get anywhere else.
But what exactly is Iron Banner? How do you rank up and earn those coveted pinnacle rewards and Iron Banner weapons and armor? When will the next Iron Banner take place?
As a long-time Iron Banner veteran, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know in this complete guide.
We’ll cover how Iron Banner works, the best strategies for winning matches and ranking up fast, and showcase all the amazing new loot you can earn.
Whether you are an Iron Banner newcomer or a hardened veteran, you’ll discover the tips and info needed to dominate the competition and claim your glory.
Participating in Iron Banner Events
Are you ready to jump into the fray and test your mettle in Iron Banner?
As a seasoned Iron Banner combatant, I’ve learned the ins and outs of what it takes to participate.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Complete the “A Guardian Rises” Quest
- Lord Saladin, the Iron Banner handler, offers this quest at the Tower
- Unlocks the ability to equip Iron Banner gear
- Required for participating in the Iron Banner playlist
2. Tackle the “Light Reforged” Quest
- Picking up this quest is essential for earning Iron Banner rewards
- You must reach the “Legend” rank in a prior Iron Banner to access it
- Enables earning Pinnacle Iron Banner gear when completed
3. Meet the Power Level Requirement
- Iron Banner has unique Power Level advantages enabled
- Currently, the minimum Power Level is 1560
- Being below this threshold puts you at a severe disadvantage
4. Assemble Your Fireteam
- While Iron Banner can be played solo, it’s best enjoyed with a pre-made fireteam.
- Coordinate loadouts and subclass builds for optimal performance
- Having a team also helps complete certain challenges and bounties faster
Once you’ve checked these boxes, you can enter the Iron Banner arena and battle for glory. The competition is fierce, but the rewards are well worth it.
Earning Reputation and Ranks in Iron Banner
Earning a reputation and climbing the ranks is key to unlocking Iron Banner’s most prestigious rewards.
As someone who’s reset my Iron Banner rank more times than I can count, I’ve learned all the best ways to maximize rep gains.
Here’s what you should focus on:
1. Complete Iron Banner Matches
- Win or lose, completing matches is the primary way to earn the Iron Banner reputation.
- Wins award more reputation than losses
- Play the objective and work as a team to maximize your win rate
2. Rack Up Killstreaks
- Going on killstreaks of 3, 5, and 7 without dying awards bonus reputation
- The higher your streak, the bigger the reputation gain
- Playing cautiously and disengaging when hurt can help maintain streaks
3. Equip Iron Banner Gear
- Wearing a full set of Iron Banner armor and equipping Iron Banner weapons grants an XP boost
- The boost gets larger based on the number of Iron Banner pieces equipped
- This season’s armor set is the Iron Forerunner set
4. Complete Iron Banner Bounties
- Each day, Lord Saladin offers four daily bounties that award reputation upon completion
- He also has two additional weekly bounties that give even larger reputation gains
- Bounties range from getting kills with certain weapons to capturing zones
5. Unlock Iron Banner Challenges
- Challenges are season-long objectives that award a significant chunk of reputation
- These include things like earning a certain number of ranks or getting kills with specific subclasses
- Challenges unlock as you increase your Iron Banner rank
6. Reach Iron Banner Ranks
- There are 5 Iron Banner ranks to progress through: Guardian, Brave, Heroic, Fabled, and Mythic
- Once you reach Mythic, you can reset your rank and start again from Guardian for bonus rewards
- The higher your rank, the more reputation is required to reach the next one
You can rapidly rise through the Iron Banner ranks by combining match completions, killstreaks, bounties, challenges, and gear bonuses.
The grind can be tough, but the glory and loot that await are more than worth it.
Iron Banner Challenges and Rewards
Iron Banner isn’t just about winning matches – it’s also about pushing yourself to complete challenging objectives.
As an Iron Banner regular, I’ve faced my fair share of tough challenges, but the rewards have always been worth it.
Here’s a rundown of what you can expect:
1. Weekly Challenges
- Each Iron Banner event features four weekly challenges that remain the same throughout the week.
- These challenges often involve getting kills with specific weapon types or subclasses.
- Examples include “Void Feast” (Void ability kills) and “Iron Confidence” (Hand Cannon kills)
- Weekly challenges award pinnacle gear, which can help raise your Power Level
2. Daily Challenges
- In addition to weekly challenges, four daily challenges rotate each day.
- These tend to be quicker to complete than weekly challenges
- Examples include “Advantageous Arsenal” (get kills with the daily featured weapon) and “An Iron Will” (complete a certain number of matches)
- Daily challenges award bonus Iron Banner rank reputation
3. Seasonal Challenges
- New to Season of the Deep are two seasonal Iron Banner challenges
- These long-term challenges span the entire season and require significant dedication to complete
- One example is “Iron Lord’s Oath,” which requires resetting your Iron Banner rank three times in a single season
- Completing seasonal challenges awards a large reputation bonus and exclusive Iron Banner cosmetic items
4. Iron Banner Gear Rewards
- Matches and challenges award Iron Engrams, which decode into Iron Banner weapons and armor
- Higher difficulties have a chance to drop “Artisan” gear with enhanced perks and stats
- At the end of each Iron Banner week, Lord Saladin offers a pinnacle gear reward for characters who’ve reached the rank of Iron Lord
- The pinnacle reward is typically a high-stat armor piece or one of the Iron Banner weapons with a unique role
5. Tokens and Materials
- Dismantling Iron Banner gear awards Iron Banner Tokens, which can be spent on focused Iron Engrams
- You can also earn enhancement materials like Prisms and Ascendant Shards from Iron Banner rank-up packages
- These materials are crucial for masterwork armor and upgrading gear in general
The challenges in Iron Banner can be daunting, especially for solo players.
But you’ll make steady progress by staying focused, playing to your strengths, and grinding out matches.
And once you’re decked out in gleaming Iron Banner gear, all that hard work will feel worthwhile.
Iron Banner Exclusive Gear and Loot Table
One of the biggest draws of Iron Banner is the exclusive loot you can earn.
As someone who’s spent countless hours grinding for the perfect roll, I know firsthand how exciting it is to get your hands on these coveted items.
Here’s an overview of what you can add to your arsenal:
1. Iron Companion Armor Set
- Each season features a new Iron Banner armor set with a unique aesthetic
- Season of the Deep introduces the Iron Companion set, which has a sleek, futuristic look
- Armor pieces include gauntlets, chest armor, leg armor, and a class item
- Collecting a full set and equipping it grants a substantial reputation boost
2. Iron Banner Weapons
Iron Banner has a rotating selection of weapons that can drop from matches, engrams, and tokens. Some of the standouts include:
Allied Demand
- An aggressive frame pulse rifle with hard-hitting burst damage
- Can roll with perks like Kill Clip, Outlaw, and Headseeker
- Excels in mid-range engagements and can compete with meta-pulse rifles
Archon’s Thunder
- High-impact machine gun with a slow fire rate but devastating damage per bullet
- Perks like Rangefinder and Eye of the Storm make it lethal in the right hands
- Holding down lanes and shutting down enemy supers is where this weapon shines
The Hero’s Burden
- A quick and snappy submachine gun that’s deadly in close quarters
- Possible perks include Ricochet Rounds, Threat Detector, and Kill Clip
- A top pick for highly mobile playstyles that involve flanking and getting up close
Riiswalker
- Lightweight frame shotgun that’s fast to fire and deadly at close range
- Can drop with perks like Quickdraw, Surplus, and Iron Reach
- Fantastic for shutting down rushers and securing close-quarters objectives
3. Peacebond
- Precision frame sidearm with a fast time-to-kill and generous effective range
- Perks like Rangefinder, Heatseeker, and Swashbuckler give it a lot of versatility
- It pairs excellently with a sniper rifle or pulse rifle for a complementary loadout
4. Forge’s Pledge
- High-impact pulse rifle that requires precision but rewards skilled users
- Rolls to look for include Heating Up, Multikill Clip, and Iron Grip
- Dominates lane fights and can secure multi-kills when catching enemies off guard
Other weapons in the loot pool include Frontier’s Cry (hand cannon), Roar of the Bear (rocket launcher), Finite Impactor (auto rifle), and more. With so many great weapons to chase, it’s always exciting to decode those Iron Engrams and see what loot awaits.
Of course, getting the weapon or armor piece you want is only half the battle. Getting a roll with the ideal perks and stat spread would be best. But that’s all part of the fun, and it keeps me coming back to Iron Banner week after week.
Strategies for Maximizing Your Iron Banner Experience
As a veteran Iron Banner player, I’ve picked up a few strategies to make the most of the event over the years. Whether you’re chasing a specific weapon roll or just trying to hit max rank as quickly as possible, these tips will help you achieve your goals:
1. Optimize Your Loadout
- Equip a full set of Iron Banner armor and weapons for a substantial reputation boost
- Experiment with different perk combinations to find your ideal role for each weapon type
- Consider using an Exotic armor piece that synergizes well with your playstyle and subclass
2. Play the Objective
- Focus on capturing zones and holding territory rather than just slaying out
- Sticking with teammates and working together is key to winning matches consistently
- Use your Super and heavy ammo wisely to swing the momentum in your team’s favor
3. Prioritize Daily Challenges
- Always grab the daily Iron Banner challenges from Lord Saladin in the Tower.
- Check the challenges before queuing up so you can plan your strategy accordingly.
- Aim to complete at least 2-3 daily challenges per play session for maximum reputation gains.
4. Maintain Your Streaks
- Focus on extending your killstreaks as much as possible, as they award significant reputation bonuses.
- If your health gets low, don’t be afraid to disengage and recover before challenging again.
- Team shooting and sticking near cover can help you survive longer and rack up killstreaks.
5. Communication is Key
- Call out enemy positions and coordinate your pushes if you’re playing with a fire team.
- Even if you’re playing solo, using the in-game chat to relay information can give your team an edge.
- Designate roles based on each player’s strengths, such as having a sniper hold down sightlines.
6. Take Breaks
- Iron Banner matches can be intense and draining, especially if you’re on a losing streak.
- If you feel tilted or tired, take a short break to recharge mentally.
- Sometimes, stepping away and returning fresh can work wonders for your performance.
Remember, Iron Banner is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, stay focused, and, most importantly, have fun.
The loot will come naturally as you rack up matches.
Conclusion
As this guide has covered, Iron Banner is a challenging but incredibly rewarding event for Destiny 2 players.
To recap, here are the key things to remember as you prepare to compete: meet the Power Level requirement and complete the necessary quests to access Iron Banner, assemble a fireteam if possible, and coordinate your loadouts and strategies.
Focus on capturing zones and playing the objective rather than just slaying out. Complete daily and weekly challenges to maximize your reputation gains. Maintain killstreaks and equip Iron Banner gear for substantial reputation bonuses.
Stay focused, communicate with your team, and take breaks when needed.
If you’re new to Iron Banner, don’t be intimidated by the fierce competition. Every Guardian starts somewhere; the only way to improve is by diving in and learning from your mistakes. Watch streams, read guides, and seek advice from more experienced players.
Iron Banner veterans should remember to keep an open mind and adapt to the shifting meta. Every season brings new weapons, perks, and strategies to consider.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different loadouts and playstyles to find what works best for you.
