Iron Banner is the longest running event in theDestinyseries, initially promising high-level PVP combat where player levels would make a difference in each fight. However, the legacy of Iron Banner as it currently exists has finally evolved to the point where jumping into the event offers a much higher challenge than the consistently availableDestiny 2’s Cruciblemodes with lower stakes.
This difference for challenge level in the modern Iron Banner doesn’t come from any changes made since Iron Banner first arrived in the originalDestinynearly 8 years ago, though. Instead, it is the individual skill of the players who move from other competitive events inDestiny 2, like Trials of Osiris, in order to make Iron Banner a deep end for PVP.
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The Origins of Iron Banner
Longtime fans of theDestinyseries recognize that Iron Banner started as the very first live-event to visit the tower in 2014, promising to make level matter in PVP. This was significant at the time because the Crucible where other PVP modes are available removed the damage modifiers that came with fighting enemies at different levels. Considering that evenDestiny 2’s most recently updated Cruciblemaintains this balance for player levels, the concept of level advantages can be enticing for players with powerful gear.
While the level advantage has since been removed from Iron Banner, the early years of the event saw a considerable amount of criticism with the execution of the concept. Not only did the level advantage originally provide only a small change in damage and resistance, but the matchmaking system made it nearly impossible for max-level players to be pitted against lower-level combatants. However, the loss of this level advantage hasn’t hinderedIron Banner inDestiny 2as the new game types instead draw in a different level of competitive challenge for players who previously dipped into Crucible more casually.
Where Iron Banner Finds a New Challenge
As is the case with most titles these days that offer some sort of competitive content,Destiny 2divides its Crucible into a more casual experience and several more competitive-focused ones. On most days, this takes the form of different playlists that track player progress as either Crucible Rank or Glory Rank, with the latter requiring players to win matches in order to advance. Then there is theTrials of Osiris playlist, which appears periodically to offer the most challenging PVP experienceDestiny 2has to offer.
What makes these different tiers of competitive gameplay inDestiny 2important for Iron Banner is the way that the event tends to draw in players from all ends of the PVP spectrum. With Iron Banner offering some impressive weapons and gear that can reachDestiny 2’s power cap, even players who don’t generally enjoy Crucible will show up for the daily rewards. The result is that Iron Banner becomes the deep end for players more accustomed to jumping into the more casual experience of Control or Mayhem.
Loading into a round of Iron Banner then becomes a showcase of the strongest PVP gear available across Crucible and Glory ranks, as well as Trials of Osiris. The result is a daunting challenge that will pit more casual players against opponents that are well outside of their own personal skill level. Combine this with the way that the new Iron Banner game mode Eruption that recently replacedDestiny 2’s Rift Mode, and rusty players can easily be crushed by the momentum of highly skilled enemies.
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Iron Banner Earns the Moniker of Crucible
In theDestinylore, Lord Shaxx’s Crucible is named what it is because it is meant to be a place where Guardians are forged into the super-soldiers needed to fight off threats likeThe Witch Queen’s Savathun. However, in practice, it is a fun game type for players to engage with PVP gameplay that pits them against opponents that are smarter and less predictable than the AI-controlled enemies in the PEE content. That being said, the lower stakes Crucible game modes like Control and Clash will more than likely place players against others of their own skill level, not necessarily forcing growth in order for players to earn a few victories.
In the case of Iron Banner, however, the influx of players from Trials of Osiris and the Glory Rank playlists means that the overall skill level of any given team is much higher than in regular Crucible matches. The result is an incredibly difficult experience for players who haven’t turned tricks andtips forDestiny 2’s Crucibleinto second-nature instincts. Something as simple as approaching a doorway from too close will instantly get a player killed by an opponent with a well-placed shotgun.
Pitting players of all skill levels then quickly forces those who are less attuned to the pacing of high-stakes PVP to learn some of the tricks necessary to stay alive for more than a second. While this increased difficulty might not exactly be what every player is interested in when it comes toPVP inDestiny 2, it can be a stepping stone for those curious about the more competitive modes to start honing their skills. So, in a way, Iron Banner pulls in players from competitive and casual PVP and hardens those interested enough to stay into competitive-level Guardians by the end of the event.
More Cycling Game Modes Could Improve Throughout Season of Plunder
The currently running game mode in Iron Banner, Eruption, also adds its own level of competitive difficulty to the event. Giving incentives to momentum, it rewards players for early success in a match with more ability uses, which then can lead to even more kills and higher kill streaks. On the other end, it forces any player that falls behind to step up their game in real time if they want to earn the ability energy needed to turnDestiny 2’s powerful supersagainst their opponents and stunt their momentum.
That being said, Eruption’s momentum can decide a match early as one team gets overwhelmed by an entire opposing team raining down Hammer of Sol or Chaos Reach in the first few minutes. So, to keep players on their toes and get more players introduced to different types of Crucible game modes,Destiny 2should continue to cycle in new modes within theSeason of Plunderinstead of only changing from season to season. More new modes would also be appreciated, but even making the swap over to already existing modes like Elimination or Lockdown could make Iron Banner an even better way to introduce players to higher-level PVP.
Destiny 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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