Destiny 2’s Iron Banner is back, and this season it features new loot, a new game mode, and more. Plus, on top of rewarding four Pinnacle rewards, Iron Banner also has a few great weapons on offer.
Not every Iron Banner weapon is a winner, but some of them are considered to be among the best weapons in the entire game. This guide covers every Iron Banner weapon in Destiny 2, including the best rolls for PVE and PVP.
Guide updated as of Season of Plunder’s release (S18).
Destiny 2 Iron Banner Weapons: Ranked
The Tier list below includes every non-sunset legendary Iron Banner weapon in the game. Keep in mind that moving forwards, all Iron Banner weapons will come with the following Origin Trait:
-
Trait
Source
Activation | Effects
Specs
Source Type
Released
Skulking Wolf
Iron Banner
During the Hunt, final blows with this weapon grant enhanced radar and remove you from opposing radar.
Only applicable in Iron Banner matches.
Activity
The Witch Queen
This list starts with the S Tier weapons and moves down from there. It also covers both PVE and PVP, with the “Excels in” column clearly identifying where each weapon shines:
⛔ These weapons are on a seasonal rotation. Each season, some weapons will become unobtainable, leaving room for previously unavailable weapons to return.
Name
Weapons
Type
Archetype
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Rank
Source
Available?
Tier rank
Source ❘ DLC
Final Verdict
Released
Perks
Riiswalker
Riiswalker
Shotgun
Lightweight
Special
Kinetic
Free-to-Play
Yes
S › Best
Iron Banner
Best
❘ S
Excels in: PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight
PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Iron Reach
► It's not often that Iron Banner delivers a must-have weapon, yet Riiswalker was definitely the case. Taking advantage of the indirect nerfs to Aggressive frame shotguns, Riiswalker came out with some of the best stats and PVP perks ever seen on a Lightweight shotgun, including Quickdraw and Iron Reach, which provide absurd amounts of range for barely any cost.
Season 14
Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight
PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus) + Iron Reach
PvP God Roll: Rangefinder (also good: Killing Wind) + Swashbuckler PvE God Roll: Subsistence + Headstone
► With good base stats that match those of the fan-favorite High Albedo, Peacebond also happens to offer several top-tier perks for both PVE and PVP. Peacebond was one of the few weapons to offer Headstone and that made it very special. That isn't any longer the case, as many other weapons can roll with Headstone these days. Still, Peacebond remains a solid sidearm.
PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Multikill Clip (also good: Frenzy) PvP God Roll:Rangefinder + Iron Reach
► Allied Demand's reissued version offers some pretty good perk combinations. With tons of damage and reload traits for PvE and the rare combination of two range perks for PvP, this sidearm has what's needed to help Guardians succeed anywhere.
PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit (also good: Subsistence) + Multikill Clip (also good: Frenzy) PvP God Roll:Rangefinder + Iron Reach
Archon's Thunder
Archon's Thunder
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
A › Strong
Iron Banner
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Rampage
► Even though machine guns aren't the strongest option right now, those in the High-Impact Archetype (such as THE SWARM or Archon's Thunder) are best. If you're in need of a heavy-duty ad clear, this gun can fill that role well.
Season 14
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster) + Rampage
Roar of the Bear
Roar of the Bear
Rocket Launcher
High-Impact
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
A › Strong
Iron Banner
Strong
❘ A
Excels in: PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Demolitionist) + Lasting Impression (also good: Incandescent)
► Roar of the Bear is back and has a couple of perks to back up its reissue in PvE. The Hothead and other rockets will still be the go-to options, but perks like Incandescent help Roar of the Bear stir the pot.
Season 18
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: High-Impact
PvE God Roll: Field Prep (also good: Demolitionist) + Lasting Impression (also good: Incandescent)
► Though Aggressive Frame Hand Cannons were significantly nerfed a while ago, Crimil's can still two-tap with Kill Clip active. However, without the perk active, Crimil's Dagger (and any other 120 RPM hand cannon) lags behind the competition in PVP.
Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight
PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Pulse Monitor) + Rangefinder
► Orewing's Maul is a personal favorite. However, compared to its main rival, Truthteller, it falls slightly short in PvE due to its perk pool. However, in PvP, Orewing is excellent. With Rangefinder, you can easily reach maximum velocity, and Quickdraw allows you to hot-swap much quicker.
Season 11
Slot: Void | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Lightweight
PvP God Roll: Quickdraw (also good: Pulse Monitor) + Rangefinder
PvP God Roll: Killing Wind (also good: Dynamic Sway Reduction) + Kill Clip (also good: Iron Reach)
► While close-quarters combat is mostly dominated by shotguns, Multimach CCX remains viable thanks to its consistency, insanely fast time-to-kill (one of the fastest among primary ammo weapons), and an absurd amount of range. The Multimach CCX is a must-have for anyone using SMGs in PVP.
PvP God Roll: Under Pressure (also good: Quickdraw) + Iron Grip (also good: Rampage)
► The Time-Worn Spire is a reprised Year 1 Iron Banner weapon that returned with plenty of fantastic perks. It belongs to one of the better archetypes, which, coupled with solid perks, can be a great choice for PVP.
► Razor's Edge is the first-ever Iron Banner sword. It looks cool, it is part of the Vortex archetype, immediately placing it above many other swords. Furthermore, it can roll with a couple of interesting perks and features the Skulking Frenzy Origin trait.
PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage (also good: Explosive Payload)
► High-Impact Scout Rifles have a pretty quick optimal TTK at 0.80s, but require 3 headshots to reach that, making them a slightly inconsistent option. Despite that, if you're going to use one, Talons of the Eagle is a good pick with good perks.
PvE God Roll: Outlaw + Rampage (also good: Explosive Payload)
Forge's Pledge
Forge's Pledge
Pulse Rifle
Adaptive
Primary
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Iron Banner
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Heating Up (also good: Stats for All) + Rampage (also good: One for All)
► Despite the fact that Pulse Rifles have never been the meta in PVE, Forge's Pledge can roll with Rampage and other good perks, making it decent when the seasonal champion mods support it.
Season 15
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Heating Up (also good: Stats for All) + Rampage (also good: One for All)
Bite of the Fox
Bite of the Fox
Sniper Rifle
Aggressive
Special
Kinetic
Free-to-Play
No
B › Average
Iron Banner
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive
► With its strong perks and low zoom compared to other Aggressive Frame snipers, Bite of the Fox has never been a bad option in PVP. That being said, there are better Iron Banner weapons, making it average on this list.
Season 11
Slot: Kinetic | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive
► Just like Talons of the Eagle (and every other High-Impact scout), The Guiding Sight has a quick TTK that's sadly fairly hard to achieve. However, this weapon is still an alright choice because of its decent base stats.
► Occluded Finality can get some pretty great perk rolls, but isn't used too much because of its terribly high zoom value. This wasn't as much of a problem before, but now that low zoom snipers were buffed, Occluded Finality can't compete anymore.
Season 14
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: Aggressive
PvP God Roll: Snapshot Sights + Opening Shot
The Wizened Rebuke
The Wizened Rebuke
Fusion Rifle
High-Impact
Special
Arc
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Iron Banner
Average
❘ B
Excels in: PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: High-Impact
PvP God Roll: Under Pressure (also good: Moving Target) + Backup Plan (also good: Iron Grip)
► Like The Epicurean, The Wizened Rebuke is alright in PvP but doesn't stir the pot much. With the right roll, this fusion can excel to great heights; however, there are easier-to-grind options with arguably better rolls.
Season 17
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Special | Archetype: High-Impact
PvP God Roll: Under Pressure (also good: Moving Target) + Backup Plan (also good: Iron Grip)
Frontier's Cry
Frontier's Cry
Hand Cannon
Precision
Primary
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Iron Banner
Average
❘ B
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision
PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Kill Clip
► Frontier's Cry can actually roll with some decent perks, but still falls flat in every activity as Precision Frame Hand Cannons aren't very good.
Season 16
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Precision
PvE God Roll: Rapid Hit + Kill Clip
The Hero's Burden
The Hero's Burden
Submachine Gun
Adaptive
Primary
Void
Free-to-Play
Yes
B › Average
Iron Banner
Average
❘ B
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Kill Clip
► The Hero's Burden has a solid perk pool, but its average stats prove to be its downfall. If you don't have a better SMG, this one will get the job done. However, with how many S-Tier SMGs there are already, there's no reason to run The Hero's Burden for too long.
Season 17
Slot: Void | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Feeding Frenzy + Kill Clip
The Fool's Remedy
The Fool's Remedy
Sidearm
SUROS Rapid-Fire
Primary
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
C › Weak
Iron Banner
Weak
❘ C
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: SUROS Rapid-Fire
PvP God Roll: Moving Target + Kill Clip
► The Fool's Remedy can roll with some decent perks, but Sidearms, in general, aren't that good (especially when not on a controller). Plus, while it has a solid optimal TTK at 0.67s, there are Archetypes with better TTKs out there.
Season 11
Slot: Solar | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: SUROS Rapid-Fire
► When The Forward Path first came out, it was exciting because we thought it could be a kinetic version of Gnawing Hunger… But it has unfortunately too many problems that destroy its usefulness. There’s something about this auto that makes it unwieldy. It has decent stats, nice scopes, and awesome perks. Still, this auto rifle just feels bad to use...
► Just like all other 120RPM Hand Cannons, The Steady Hand has gradually become a less desirable option in PVP. Plus, the only damage perk it has is Swashbuckler, which makes it harder to two-tap with this weapon compared to True Prophecy, Loud Lullaby, or Crimil's Dagger.
► Swarm of the Raven used to be one of the strongest weapons in the game back in Season of Opulence. However, Destiny 2 has changed a lot since then, and Swarm of the Raven has been left behind with its unimaginative perks and subpar archetype.
Season 11
Slot: Void | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Rapid-Fire
PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Quickdraw
Shining Sphere
Shining Sphere
Rocket Launcher
Adaptive
Heavy
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
D › Worst
Iron Banner
Worst
❘ D
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Tracking Module
► Even though Rocket Launchers are amazing in PVE right now, this one isn't great. Shining Sphere simply can't hold a candle to the many excellent rocket launchers that have been released these past few seasons.
Season 11
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Heavy | Archetype: Adaptive
PvE God Roll: Auto-Loading Holster + Tracking Module
Finite Impactor
Finite Impactor
Hand Cannon
Aggressive
Primary
Arc
Free-to-Play
No
D › Worst
Iron Banner
Worst
❘ D
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive
PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Iron Reach
► Being an Adaptive Frame Hand Cannon, Finite Impactor has some tough competition with S-Tier picks like The Palindrome and Eyasluna. And with some abysmal overall stats and mediocre perks, this weapon sadly ends up being one of the weakest 140s in the game.
Season 14
Slot: Arc | Ammo: Primary | Archetype: Aggressive
PvP God Roll: Killing Wind + Iron Reach
These are the different Tier levels used for our list:
S Tier – Best: Highest ranking weapons in our Tier List.
A Tier – Strong: Very strong weapons, but not on the same level as S Tier Choices.
B Tier – Average: Decent choices that can be lethal in the hands of a skilled player.
C Tier – Weak: The middle of the pack, somewhat mediocre.
D Tier – Worst: Lagging behind the competition, these don’t have much to offer.
New Iron Banner Weapons in Season 18
Season of the Haunted re-introduced two returning weapons from Destiny 2 Year 1:
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Available?
Requires
Released
Slot
Craftable?
Allied Demand
Sidearm
Adaptive
Legendary
Primary
Kinetic
Free-to-Play
Yes
Primary
Kinetic
Strong
❘ A
PvE + PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 18
Kinetic
No
Roar of the Bear
Rocket Launcher
High-Impact
Legendary
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
Yes
Heavy
Solar
Strong
❘ A
PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 18
Heavy
No
Weapons cycled out from the loot pool
With now 22 Iron Banner weapons in total, Bungie cycled out 4 weapons at the beginning of Season 16 (Multimach CCX, Timeworn Spire, Guiding Sight, Steady Hand), two weapons at the beginning of Season 17 (Occluded Finality, Finite Impactor) and two more at the beginning of this season, Season 18 (Peacebond and Archon’s Thunder). This means these weapons can no longer be obtained until Bungie decides to reintroduce them to the loot pool.
Best Destiny 2 Iron Banner weapons in 2022
This section covers the top Iron Banner weapons in Destiny 2, including those that can’t be obtained this season. This can be frustrating for those of you who didn’t have a chance to get these before, but rest assured, all the unobtainable weapons will eventually return.
5. Archon’s Thunder
Excels in PVE
Even though Machine Guns aren’t the PVE meta right now, Archon’s Thunder still packs a punch and is very underrated.
With its high damage per bullet, you’ll be able to chunk down both red bar enemies and Elite/Miniboss-level enemies with ease. Plus, with the chance to roll with Rampage or High-Impact Reserves in the second column, you’ll be able to get even more damage out and demolish everything standing in your way.
While LMGs can lack in DPS, they’re still a great option for some situations. Even during a boss fight, they can be useful–pair this with Divinity, and you’ll have ad clear on lock while also helping your team with damage.
With its high damage per bullet and additional damage perks, Archon’s Thunder is a great pick for any PVE activity when you need some extra help with ad clear.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Field Prep (also good: Auto-Loading Holster)
Perk 2: Rampage
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Available?
Requires
Released
Slot
Craftable?
Archon's Thunder
Machine Gun
High-Impact
Legendary
Heavy
Solar
Free-to-Play
No
Heavy
Solar
Strong
❘ A
PvE
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 14
Heavy
No
4. The Time-Worn Spire
Excels in PVP
With its 0.80s TTK and great perk combinations, The Time-Worn Spire is an outstanding option for any Pulse Rifle user out there.
In the first column, this pulse can roll with tons of great perks. With Slideways and Under Pressure, you can get tons upon tons of stability, making this weapon compete with some of the longest-range weapons in the game currently. Moving Target and Feeding Frenzy are also good, depending on how you play.
The second column is also filled with a couple of different amazing perks. Iron Grip provides even more stability, allowing this gun to fire in a nearly straight line. Rampage (and even Vorpal Weapon) can also be used to buff your damage a bit more.
Overall, because of its ability to get tons of stability and differing sights, The Time-Worn Spire is one of the best Pulse Rifles in the game for PVP and is never a bad option.
PVE God roll:
Perk 1: Under Pressure (also good: Quickdraw)
Perk 2: Iron Grip (also good: Rampage)
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Available?
Requires
Released
Slot
Craftable?
The Time-Worn Spire
Pulse Rifle
Rapid-Fire
Legendary
Primary
Kinetic
Free-to-Play
No
Primary
Kinetic
Strong
❘ A
PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 13
Kinetic
No
3. Orewing’s Maul
Best PVE Iron Banner weapon in Destiny 2
While this Grenade Launcher doesn’t seem like much at first, Orewing’s Maul is actually an S-Tier pick in PVE with the right perks.
The bulk of this weapon’s utility doesn’t actually come from a perk in the last two columns; instead, it comes from a magazine option: Blinding Grenades. This perk allows this weapon to completely inhibit your enemy’s ability to fight back, allowing you to get the upper hand in a fight in seconds.
Paired with Field Prep or Auto-Loading Holster, you can blind everything in sight, something extremely useful in any PVE activity–even Grandmaster Nightfalls and Master Raids.
While special ammo Grenade Launchers aren’t amazing as a whole right now in PVE, the utility that Blinding Grenades gives is unmatched, making Orewing’s Maul a great choice.
Riiswalker is one of the best shotguns in the game as it comes with some unique perk combos, among other things.
To begin, Riiswalker is one of only two kinetic pellet shotguns in the game (that aren’t sunset) that can roll with Quickdraw. This already makes it an extremely great pick, as Quickdraw is an S-Tier perk for shotguns.
Additionally, because its an Iron Banner weapon, Riiswalker can roll with Iron Reach in the second column. This adds almost 20 range, which is the most important stat when talking about the consistency of shotguns.
Lastly, this weapon belongs to the Lightweight archetype, which gives you an extra bump in Mobility and movement speed. While not needed, these buffs are a nice cherry on top.
Riiswalker is a great special weapon for any PVP player and is one of the best shotguns in the game.
PVP God roll:
Perk 1: Quickdraw (also good: Surplus)
Perk 2: Iron Reach
Art
Weapon
Type
Archetype
Rarity
Ammo
Element
Requirements
In loot pool?
Ammo?
Element?
Tier
Excels
Source
Available?
Requires
Released
Slot
Craftable?
Riiswalker
Shotgun
Lightweight
Legendary
Special
Kinetic
Free-to-Play
Yes
Special
Kinetic
Best
❘ S
PvP
Iron Banner
Free-to-Play
Season 14
Kinetic
No
1. Multimach CCX
Best PVE Iron Banner weapons in Destiny 2
Submachine Guns have always been a great pick in PVP, and the Multimach CCX is one of the best out there.
Lightweight Frame SMGs in general are very good, as they have an amazing TTK at 0.67s. Additionally, they provide a nice Mobility and movement speed buff.
In the first column, Killing Wind is the best choice, giving this weapon some extra range. In the second, the two most popular options are Iron Reach (for extra range) or Kill Clip (for extra damage).
With the great traits that this can get, plus the ability to change sights, Multimach CCX is able to get insane amounts of range for an SMG, making it one of the best PVP weapons in the game.
Overall, the Multimach CCX is a great and well-rounded choice because of its quick TTK, nice intrinsic movement speed and Mobility buffs, and its ability to get near-max range.
You now know everything there is to know about weapons dropping from Iron Banner in Destiny 2, whether that is for PVP or PVE content.
So, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
About The Author
Andrew Sideris
When my brother introduced me to the Destiny franchise in 2015, I immediately knew that it would take up a lot of my free time for years to come. With my over seven years of game knowledge, six months of writing experience for Blueberries.gg, and hundreds of Blueberries already guided through endgame content, I hope to allow newcomers to have the same great introduction I had all those years ago.
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