Bungie has finally unveiled the upcoming expansion for their shared-world shooter, Destiny: Rise of Iron. Just like fans have suspected, as this was leaked a little before the reveal, players will be dealing with Saladin and the Lords of Iron as they push back a brand new threat on Earth. It turns out that the trailer was just the tip of the iceberg, giving only a very quick glimpse of what’s on the way.
Bungie has a lot of exciting things in the pipeline for Destiny fans, and there is plenty to be excited for. Let’s break down what’s store for all of us Guardians when Rise of Iron releases on Sept. 20 this year.
Gjallarhorn
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. The Gjallarhorn is finally getting a Year Two upgrade, and it won’t be locked behind some ridiculous RNG. In fact, every player will be able to obtain it as long as they complete a specific quest. That means as long as you have Rise of Iron, you have a guaranteed opportunity to add one of these bad boys to your arsenal.
If you really want to welcome back Gjallarhorn in a big way, you can pre-order Destiny: Rise of Iron to obtain the Iron Gjallarhorn. This is a black and silver version of the long-awaited returning weapon that will make you stand out in the tower and have enemies fearing your arrival. No word yet on any new features the weapon may be receiving, but it will certainly feel good to let those Wolfpack Rounds go on the hunt once more.
Brand New Campaign
The new campaign will cover the story of the Iron Lords and their quest to seal a powerful plague that had tried to eliminate humanity. It turns out that it is a technical plague whose origins are currently unknown but the imagery does give an idea, with locations reminiscent of Rasputin’s lair and other mechanical locations. Being able to drop further into the lore is something that players have been requesting, and nothing could be more perfect than the birth of the Iron Banner.
Players will see the roots of that activity as well as what Lord Saladin has gone through to make sure it never happens again. This hopefully will unveil tons of new lore and help to flesh out one of the most popular characters in the Destiny universe. It shall be interesting to run with such a respected Titan.
New Raid
There’s nothing like a new raid to help Guardians prove just how powerful they’ve become. It’s been a long time since players were given a brand new, raid-level challenge. King’s Fall was the pinnacle of The Taken King but that’s been out for nearly a year. Rise of Iron looks to bring something fresh to the table.
There haven’t been any details revealed other than a glimpse at some type of “Devil Zamboni.” Still, the locations shown depicted a ravaged section of earth and some mechanical growths that could be very interesting if done right. And if Destiny’s raids have proven anything, it’s that Bungie can certainly do it right.
Augmented Fallen Look Badass
The new enemies players will be facing are Fallen that have unearthed that deadly mechanical plague to harness its power. This means you’ll be facing enemies who will seem familiar but are full of of new abilities and wicked designs – dregs who are part alien part machine, walking on blades and using powerful new weapons and abilities.
New traps, Walkers, and vehicles used by the vicious adversaries will be coming in as well. These “splicers” that you will now be facing are unlike anything you’ve ever come across. Guardians will have to adapt new strategies if they hope to overcome the nightmares that lie ahead in Destiny: Rise of Iron.
More Power
Unfortunately, Bungie wasn’t ready to reveal many specifics. However, they were willing to share that the new Light Level will be a significant jump over the current level. It isn’t the only way that players will be obtaining more power to push back enemies in Destiny: Rise of Iron. There are new weapons to obtain, as well as new world drops to give you a temporary boost like Blades of Crota provided during the Dark Below.
One such weapon is the two-handed flaming battle-axe. This will not only make you look like the ultimate Guardian, but you will also gain a drastic increase in power to drive back the darkness.
Become an Iron Lord
Probably one of the coolest things revealed during the Destiny: Rise of Iron stream was the fact that players will be working to become an Iron Lord themselves. You will be able to join the exclusive ranks of some of the bravest warriors in the universe. While most of the last members have sacrificed their lives, you will be able to pick up the torch and continue on their quest to shield the world from darkness.
Guardians will also be able to pay homage to the fallen Iron Lords in Destiny Rise of Iron. By completing quests and other challenges, they will earn favor and receive great rewards from those who came before. As Destiny slowly moves towards its sequel you will rise through the ranks and build your greatest legend yet.
So Much New
Destiny: Rise of Iron has a little something for everyone when it releases later this year. Aside from a new campaign and some awesome new ways to increase your power, there are a ton of new activities for players to partake in. First are the brand new locations that await those brave enough to fight against the darkness. The Plaguelands, Felwinter Peak, and The Wall. The Wall is actually where our adventures all began, only this time you will be able to fully explore it and discover its secrets before crossing over into the prison that housed the plague.
Other new locations will serve as Crucible maps, although nothing has been revealed specifically. We do know, however, that there will be a brand new mode for Guardians to test their mettle in come Destiny: Rise of Iron. Of course there will be new rewards as well, so start practicing now.
For those more into PvE, new and updated Strikes will be unveiled, as well as new Public Events and Patrols, giving you plenty of reasons to link back up with your old Fireteam.
Oh, and let us not forget all the new gear that will undoubtedly trickle from the Iron Heavens down to our Guardians.
Like The Taken King before it, Rise of Iron looks to be a full fledged expansion that looks to shake up the monotony that Destiny has fallen into. Are you excited for what the future holds? Let us know in the comments below.
Safe travels, Guardian.
