Iron Banner remains Destiny 2's premier limited-time PvP event, having undergone significant reworks since Season of the Haunted. Occurring multiple times per season and lasting two weeks per run, this Lord Saladin-hosted Crucible variant offers unique gameplay twists, exclusive gear, and a dedicated reputation track. Whether you're a hardcore Trials sweat or a PvE main dipping into the Crucible, Iron Banner provides worthwhile loot like the Riiswalker Shotgun or the reissued Peacebond Sidearm. Forget your basic Control matches – Iron Banner spices things up with mechanics like "The Hunt" and rotating featured modes, rewarding those who dive deep into its competitive chaos.

What Is Iron Banner?

Iron Banner is a special Crucible playlist appearing several times each season. It features unique rule sets for its rotating game modes, a separate vendor (Lord Saladin), and its own exclusive reputation and reward track. Participating grants reputation with both Saladin and Shaxx, allowing Guardians to earn Iron Banner loot alongside standard Crucible rewards. The current loot pool, updated for Episode: Heresy, includes the Warlord's Spear Trace Rifle and the fan-favorite Peacebond Sidearm reissue.

• When It Runs: Typically 2-3 times per season, lasting two weeks each run.

• Impact: Replaces Trials of Osiris while active; core Crucible playlists remain available.

• Key Mechanics: Features "The Hunt" mechanic in certain modes, locking zones and amplifying scoring after dominant plays.

Forging Iron Quest

First-time participants receive the "Forging Iron" quest upon speaking to Lord Saladin in the Tower. This quest introduces the event's core mechanics:

1. Complete an Iron Banner match.

2. Complete a daily challenge.

3. Earn 300 Iron Banner Rank points.

4. Collect an Iron Banner Engram from Saladin.

5. Complete matches while wearing at least one piece of Iron Banner armor.

6. Speak with Lord Saladin.

🔥 Pro Tip: Equip Iron Banner weapons/armor and the required subclass for daily challenges before starting. This lets you knock out steps 2 and 5 passively!

Daily Challenges & Reputation Boost

Maximizing your reputation gain is key to farming efficiently. Daily Challenges are crucial:

• Playlist Challenge: Complete 3 Iron Banner matches (repeatable, max 4x multiplier). Grants a Pinnacle Gear drop and a +50% rep boost per completion.

• Subclass Challenge: Earn 50 points in Iron Banner using Arc, Stasis, Void, or a Prismatic Super matching those elements. Also awards Pinnacle Gear.

Combine this with gear bonuses for maximum gains:

Reputation Boost Source	Effect Per Item/Source	Maximum Bonus
Iron Banner Weapon/Armor Equipped	+40% Rep Gains	+200% (5 items)
Iron Banner Emblem Equipped	x1.5 Multiplier	x1.5 (1 emblem)
Daily Challenge Completion	+50% Rep Gains	+200% (4 challenges)
Iron Banner Activity Streak	+4 to +20 Rep per match	+20 (5-streak)

Simply put: Equip a full set of IB gear (5 pieces), an IB emblem, and complete your daily challenges to turbocharge your rank progress!

Iron Banner Ranks & Rewards

Earning reputation fills your Iron Banner Rank bar. Reaching Legend (10,000 points) allows a reset for additional rewards. Key rank-up rewards include:

Rank Reached	Initial Reward	Post-Reset Reward
Rank 4	Warlord's Spear (Trace Rifle)	Random IB Weapon
Rank 7	Peacebond (Sidearm)	Random IB Weapon
Rank 10	Tinasha's Mastery (Sidearm)	Random IB Weapon
Rank 13	Archon's Thunder (Machine Gun)	Random IB Weapon
Rank 16	Saladin's Pride (Emblem)	Random IB Weapon
Legend	Ascendant Shard	Exotic Engram

Iron Banner Engrams can be focused at Saladin for specific weapons or armor:

• Current Armor: Iron Intent Set (Episode: Revenant).

• Legacy Armor/Ornaments: All past sets are available via "Legacy Decoding" or "Legacy Ornaments" tabs! Unlocking ornaments costs 10,000 Glimmer & 3 Iron Engrams per piece. They require Synthweave for transmog.

Must-Have Iron Banner Weapons (Episode: Revenant)

Five weapons stand out in the current loot pool:

1. Tinasha's Mastery (Sidearm): Stasis Rocket Sidearm! Rolls with Chill Clip - freezes Champions & majors. PvE Monster. ❄️

2. Tusk of the Boar (Grenade Launcher): Strand Wave-Frame! First with Deconstruct (reloads on multi-hits) or Chain Reaction. S-tier PvE clear.

3. Crimil's Dagger (Hand Cannon): 120 RPM dueling beast. Look for Slideways/Adagio or Moving Target/Precision Instrument. Great PvP option.

4. Multimach CCX (SMG): Top-tier PvP SMG. Skip max range; chase Under Over/Kill Clip to shred buffs.

5. Pressurized Precision (Fusion Rifle): PvP Special ammo king! Discord refunds ammo on kills after swapping. Pair with High-Impact Reserves or Rangefinder.

Iron Banner Game Modes Explained

Iron Banner features unique twists on Crucible staples:

🛡️ Control

Classic zone capture, but capturing all three zones triggers "The Hunt," locking zones and boosting kill points for 30 seconds.

Tips: Hold two zones for advantage (Zone Advantage). Control spawns. Use supers aggressively to flip fights.

🏰 Fortress

Control variant focused on capturing Cabal Beacons. Mid-match, a central fortress spawns – capturing it scores major points.

Tips: Control zones pre-fortress. Rush the fortress when active. Use Cabal turrets to activate damage perks (One for All, Surrounded).

💥 Eruption

Clash variant rewarding killstreaks. 2 kills make you Surging (faster abilities). 5 kills make you Primed (marked, score more, explode if idle). Initiates "The Hunt" globally.

Tips: STAY MOVING! Use Solar for healing (Radiant/Restoration). Spam abilities – cooldowns are crazy fast!

⚡ Rift

Grab the Spark (flag) from the center and dunk it in the enemy base. First to 5 dunks wins.

Tips: STICK WITH YOUR TEAM for revives and escorting. Support abilities shine (Stasis turrets, Healing Rifts, Omnioculus). Prioritize movement exotics/perks for runners.

⚖️ Tribute

Supremacy variant. Collect crests from kills & deposit at rotating Cabal Beacons. Central beacon spawns mid-match with turrets.

Tips: Fight near active Beacons. Group up. Use Strand Grapple for mobility. Turrets can proc damage perks.

People Also Ask: Iron Banner FAQs

Q: What's the FASTEST way to rank up Iron Banner reputation?

A: Equip 5 Iron Banner armor/weapon pieces (+200%), an Iron Banner Emblem (x1.5 multiplier), and complete all 4 daily challenges (+200%). Maintain a 5-match streak (+20 rep/match). This combo makes rep gains absolutely bonkers!

Q: Can I still get old Iron Banner armor sets?

A: Yes! Every single Iron Banner armor set, including the Year 1 sets and exclusive ornaments from Curse of Osiris/Warmind, is available via Saladin's "Legacy Decoding" and "Legacy Ornaments" focusing options. Time to complete those fashion sets!

Q: Which Iron Banner weapon should I focus on first in Episode: Heresy?

A: For PvE, prioritize Tusk of the Boar (Strand Wave-Frame GL) or Tinasha's Mastery (Chill Clip Stasis Sidearm). For PvP, Pressurized Precision (Discord Fusion) or Crimil's Dagger (120 RPM HC) are top contenders. Peacebond is also a solid all-rounder.

Q: Does Iron Banner use SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking)?

A: Bungie's current Crucible philosophy (as of 2025) utilizes connection-based prioritization (CBMM) in most 6v6 playlists, including Iron Banner, for better connection quality. Expect varied skill levels in your lobbies.

Q: What happens if I reset my Iron Banner rank?

A: Resetting at Legend rank grants an Ascendant Shard and an Exotic Engram initially. Subsequent resets primarily offer additional Iron Banner Engrams for focusing and Masterwork materials. It's the main path for farming multiple god rolls.

Q: Is Freelance Iron Banner available?

A: Absolutely! A dedicated Freelance node (solo queue only) is always available alongside the main playlist during Iron Banner weeks, making it much easier for solo Guardians to avoid stacked fireteams. Don't sleep on playing Support roles here!