As most of you are probably aware by now, the Iron Banner event kicked off in Destiny yesterday. This special, week-long event offers players a new type of Crucible (PvP) experience by removing the automatic player balancing. This means the weapons and armor you’ve spent weeks grinding for finally means something in PvP.
The lack of balancing is something that could scare some of you from participating — particularly those of you who don’t yet have a full set of Legendary gear or any Exotics. Really, though, there is no reason not to participate in The Iron Banner.
Here’s how the Iron Banner works: it’s a separate playlist that you select from the Crucible menu. When participating in this particular playlist, you’ll earn Iron Banner reputation (for wins only) and progress through the specific Iron Banner bounties (which also reward you with reputation). However, because it’s still a Crucible match, you’ll earn regular Crucible (or whatever faction you chose) reputation and marks on top of the Iron Banner reputation you’ll get. Though the Iron Banner reputation is dependent on a win, you’ll be rewarded with Crucible reputation regardless of the outcome of the match.
Now you may be thinking, ‘I already have the marks for the regular Crucible or faction vendor, why do I need Iron Banner also?’ Well, basically, it comes down to the vendor selling Legendary items for really cheap. Whereas traditional Crucible Legendary armor can range anywhere from 65 to 150 Crucible marks, Iron Banner gear — once you obtain the required rank (which does take a while) — can be purchased for just 10 Crucible marks each, or sometimes even Glimmer. That’s insanely cheap and well worth it if you need decent gear for the Vault of Glass raid.
So really, aside from the frustration of maybe having lesser gear than your opponents, there’s no point in not doing the Iron Banner. You’re still earning the same Crucible reputation and marks you’d be getting regularly, but you’re also increasing your chance at other items via the Iron Banner vendor.
And in all honesty, I’ve been playing Iron Banner since it went live yesterday and I don’t notice too much of a disadvantage — and I haven’t even purchased an Exotic piece of armor yet. I’m also rolling with a Rare Auto Rifle and a Legendary (Invective) Shotgun. With that, I’d like to add that even with my lackluster gear (I’m level 28), I still managed to complete the bounty where you must be the highest score in an Iron Banner match. So skill does have more to do with your success than your gear.
