Destiny is a game that has only gotten better with age thanks to the various expansions building upon not only the world but improving the core mechanics of this shooter. Since The Taken King released back on September 15, 2015, developer Bungie has been adding more and more content into their game. Now with Destiny sprinting towards its third year of DLC content, this expansion is set to deliver tons of content for new and old players alike.
Rise of Iron is the fifth expansion coming to Destiny and will include a plethora of PvE (Player vs. Environment) and PvP (Player vs. Player) material. With a shift in tone, focus on improving previous gear, new loot, and the introduction of private matches this is shaping up to be the biggest DLC yet.
Here’s everything you need to know about the next Destiny expansion, Rise of Iron.
1. The Story Will Focus on The Iron Lords and a Nano Technology Called Siva
Rise of Iron will take place on Earth after a massive winter storm has hit Old Russia. The Fallen House of Devils have uncovered an ancient technology called Siva and are using it to warp and improve their bodies. With this new found power, this alien race has taken control of areas outside of the Cosmodrome dubbed “The Plaguelands” and have begun spreading Siva wherever they can.
You are called upon by Lord Saladin to aid in stopping the Fallen Devils from expanding throughout the Cosmodrome. During this journey, you will become one of the famed Iron Lords and thus solidify your place as a legend. There’s a clear shift in tone from the typical space opera, as Rise of Iron is clearly inspired by Norse mythology and the fantasy genre. This also marks the first time that an expansion will add a completely new section to an already existing world, allowing for players to land in two different zones.
2. ‘Rise of Iron’ Will Include a New Raid, Updated Strikes, and a Different Hub Area
In Rise of Iron, players will be treated to an assortment of PvE content that they can use to acquire better weapons and armor. This content will range from basic story missions all the way up to a brand new raid called “Wrath of the Machine”. Bungie will also be focusing on delivering tons of post game content in the form of updated strikes (including one new one) and a Court of Oryx style area titled Archon’s Forge.
There will also be two new locations for players to explore, with The Plaguelands being the biggest. This area is located in Old Russia and has a post-apocalyptic aesthetic thanks to the rivers of lava and giant industrial towers littered throughout. The Plaguelands is said to house tons of secrets and hidden treasure, much like the Dreadnaught in The Taken King.
Felwinter Peak is the second location and will act as the hub zone for this expansion. What makes this area different than The Reef and The Tower is that users will actually have to fight and reclaim this land from The Fallen first. This marks the first time combat has taken place inside of a hub area in all of Destiny.
Here is all of the PvE Content Coming with Rise of Iron:
- New Campaign
- The Plaguelands location
- Hub zone called Felwinter Peak
- The Wretched Eye Strike (New)
- The Devil’s Lair Strike (Updated)
- The Summoning Pits Strike (Updated)
- Archon’s Forge Area
- New raid called Wrath of the Machine
- New enemies called Devil Splicers
3. The Crucible is Getting Private Matches and a New Game Mode
Anyone who’s a fan of playing in the Crucible will be treated to some new content as well, including the long requested addition of Private Matches. These will not only allow players to finally hold competitive tournaments for an eSports scene but also give users the ability to tweak almost every setting there is. Fan favorite modes like Iron Banner and Trials of Osiris will also make a comeback and will be offering players new loot to earn.
The new game mode added into Destiny is called Supremacy and plays like the very popular Kill Confirmed game type in Call of Duty. In this mode players must obtain crests from fallen opponents in order to score points, but the twist is you can capture your own team’s crests to prevent the other side from scoring. This turns most engagements into frantic battles as players desperately try to gather up every crest they come across. Given that Destiny is known for having chaotic, objective based modes this will fit nicely into the Crucible.
Finally, three new maps are making their way into the rotation, each of them offering something different. Last Exit is a close quarter’s centric map that is full of narrow hallways and enclosed spaces to fight in. Floating Gardens is very reminiscent of the Patheon map and has a good mix of ranged and close quarters locations. However, Skyline is the most interesting of the three as it’s set on top of various skyscrapers in the deserts of Mars. Verticality appears to be a big factor in this symmetrical map, so always keep your head on a swivel.
4. New Armor, Weapons, and Updated Artifacts Will be Available
One of the best additions with any expansion is the inclusion of new loot for you to obtain and horde. These weapons will range from old favorites like the Thorn and Gjallarhorn to new exotics that will inflict all kinds of pain. We will also have a variety of armor sets that span a gambit of designs such as the knight inspired Iron Lord set and the geometric raid set.
In addition to this, artifacts will be receiving a major overhaul for Rise of Iron. Previously these items really didn’t add much to characters outside of small, inconsequential stat boosts to your strength, intellect, or discipline. Now these artifacts will give your Guardian unique properties such as unlimited sprint or controlling enemies. It’s unclear how you will be able to use these abilities, but we do know there is one artifact for each of the Iron Lords.
5. There Will be Various Pre-Order Bonuses and an Official Destiny Collection
Destiny: Rise of Iron will release on September 20, 2016, for only PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This will be the first current-gen only expansion for Destiny and will cost $30 at launch. If you pre-order Destiny: Rise of Iron you will not only obtain the Iron Gjallarhorn but a special Sparrow called the Gjallerwing. These are exclusive to pre-ordering Rise of Iron, but are strictly cosmetic and will not affect the gameplay itself.
You can also purchase Destiny: The Collection which will include not only the core game but all four expansions that have been released. This will cost $59.99 and be available on the same day that Rise of Iron releases.
Buy Destiny: The Collection for PlayStation 4 here.
Buy Destiny: The Collection for Xbox One here.