I want this wolf helmet.
Two fan favorite PvP modes are returning to Destiny for the first time since the launch of The Taken King.
Iron Banner, which pits players against one another without removing level bonuses, returns on October 13th. This is one of my favorite Crucible modes since it's Control but a little more competitive. (Control, or zone capture type game modes are often my favorite in various shooters.)
The popular Trials of Osiris is also returning, though a few days later on October 16th. Teams of three play one another in this competitive tournament where only the very best of the best receive the greatest rewards.
Some changes, both large and small, are coming to both modes.
Iron banner will now offer up most of its rewards through drops after each match. As such, drop rates have been increased. You can still buy gear from Lord Saladin, but the primary way to get weapon and armor in the Iron Banner is now drops.
If you do purchase from Lord Saladin, it will cost you Legendary Marks instead of glimmer. He'll have some new emblems in his inventory now as well.
There will also be nine new daily bounties and three new weekly bounties which reward Legendary Marks.
Here's the full list of changes:
- The tempered buff is now automatically applied and continues to grow in effectiveness each day of the event.
- The alt catch-up buff and Iron Medallion mechanics are unchanged.
- Potential match completion rewards now include both weapons and armor, matching the same items available from Lord Saladin during each event.
- Drop rates have been increased and are intended to be the primary source of rewards from Iron Banner. If you don't get what you're hoping for, you have the option to visit Lord Saladin instead.
- Gear purchased from Lord Saladin now requires Legendary Marks instead of Glimmer.
- New emblems have been added to his inventory.
- All new bounties including 9 Daily bounties (3 per day) and 3 new Weekly bounties which reward Legendary Marks.
- Recommended minimum Light for Iron Banner: 230.>
- Only Level 40 Guardians can lead a Fireteam.
The changes here are bigger than Iron Banner. Now Trials gear will drop exclusively as end-of-match rewards for winning teams. The more you win, the better the gear. Poor Brother Vance will see far fewer visitors, at least from the winning side, though he will start offering new Trials Bounties as an added way to earn gear even without reaching the Lighthouse.
(It strikes me, as I type really any Destiny post that anyone not familiar with the game reading this must feel instantly lost.)
Here's the full list of changes for Trials of Osiris, per Bungie:
- Trials gear will now drop exclusively as end-of-match rewards for winning teams.
- The more you win, the better those drops will be!
- There’s no need to return to Brother Vance, all rewards come directly to you.
- Passage Coins still drop for the losing team. Trials is still about winning, but Coins can help make that easier.
- Trials Passages now have a Details page containing your active buffs. You won’t be able to add buffs once you’ve started your Trial, so make sure you buy them first!
- Players that go undefeated on their Passage will continue to be invited to The Lighthouse.
- Players may continue to play in the Trials past 9 wins (but they won’t get any better gear).
- Brother Vance now has Trials Bounties available each weekend to provide players with a way to get sweet Trials gear, even if they’re not reaching the Lighthouse.
- Regular Crucible Bounties are also still valid in Trials.
- We will attempt to match up teams with similar win counts.
- If you have 1 win, we will try to match you with another team with only 1 win.
- If you have 8 wins… yup.
- If we can’t find a high-quality match, we will loosen the win requirements first (in other words, we will not prioritize “wins” over low-latency matches).
- Overtime timer in Elimination will now show 0:00 instead of stopping at 0:01 when time expires.
- Teammate and enemy Revives now have distinct audio cues.
- Recommended minimum Light for Trials of Osiris: 290.
- Only Guardians with at least 251 Light can lead a Fireteam.
Both these modes are designed around high level play, and the new Light Level requirements basically ensure that no players without The Taken King can participate, which is a shame.
