Just about each week brings one thing new to Destiny 2, whether or not it is story beats, new actions, or fascinating new mixtures of components that allow gamers devastate one another within the Crucible. Iron Banter is our weekly take a look at what is going on on on this planet of Destiny and a rundown of what is drawing our consideration throughout the photo voltaic system.A plot level Destiny 2 has been constructing towards for greater than a 12 months has lastly happened–and there are some fairly huge implications about what may occur subsequent within the Season of the Lost and The Witch Queen. Here there be spoilers, so if you have not completed this week’s seasonal story level, go run some Astral Alignments and go to the Shattered Realm, after which get again to us.Meanwhile, we had one other enjoyable and engaging week with the Trials of Osiris, and it has been fascinating to look at Bungie handle group suggestions and be taught because it goes. We’re getting a break from Trials this weekend in favor of the return of the Iron Banner, and Grandmaster Nightfall Strikes make their return subsequent week.Endgame actions and Crucible competitions are enjoyable and all, however y’all, I’m frightened about Crow, my huge delicate softy Hunter pal.Revelations And BetrayalsThe ongoing story because the launch of the Beyond Light growth this 12 months has been about Crow–first, discovering his approach not simply as a lone Lightbearer, however as a Guardian; then garnering the belief of the Vanguard; subsequent, coping with the troubling grey space between enemy and pal; and eventually, coming to phrases with Savathun’s lies and what they imply for the particular person he desires to be.But hanging over all of that has been the central piece of data of Crow’s id. Crow was once Uldren Sov, the brother of queen Mara, manipulated by Riven (apparently on behalf of Savathun, though the ins and outs of that relationship are possibly a bit murky), assassin of Cayde-6, and eventually killed by you.Savathun offers Crow a fast psychic crash-course on his previous on this week’s seasonal story, and it is a beat we have been anticipating, and dreading, because the Season of the Hunt. It could not have come at a worse time, actually, as a result of Crow’s out right here reeling from the truth that Osiris, principally the primary particular person to be type to him (exterior of us gamers, though our relationship is extra of a Thor-Hulk “friend from work” vibe), turned out to be Savathun, and was mendacity to Crow and probably messing along with his head. Now he finds out that everybody else, from us to Ikora to Zavala, has been mendacity to him as nicely.Honestly, he took it higher than I used to be anticipating, however I feel Crow’s subdued emotional response (and admittances like “I don’t think I would have told me, either”) seem to be they’re hiding a deeper scarring. Crow does not know who to belief, and with what Savathun simply revealed to him, that extends to himself. He was already in a whirlwind mindset as he grappled with seeing good in enemies and unhealthy in buddies, in coping with the likes of Petra and Mara and the Guardians who’ve judged him as a result of he wears the face of a person he cannot bear in mind being, and now he simply discovered that his previous is a shitshow of lies, betrayal, and cruelty. Plus, we do not know what Savathun truly imparted to Crow, or how full the knowledge was, or what bits may need been emphasised or held again.This is a large moment–expect this to be a turning level for the remainder of the Season of the Lost and certain a significant story hinge all the best way as much as and thru The Witch Queen. We’ve been ready for this shoe to drop all 12 months, and it is no stretch to say that Crow is presently Destiny 2’s essential character. He may go anyplace from right here, as nicely; he may throw himself into his function as a Guardian as a way of erasing his previous, he may wind up falling again into the thrall of Mara Sov (a plan she’s been slowly making an attempt to execute), or he may discover himself drawn to the aspect of Savathun, an individual who, for all her different manipulations and machinations, has genuinely helped him. Maybe it is not the hubris of a mistake by the Techeuns or a tactical maneuver by the Traveler that offers Savathun the facility of the Light–maybe it is a betrayal by Crow as he chooses a aspect.It’s no stretch to say Crow is Destiny 2’s Anakin Skywalker, and proper now, he is teetering on the precipice, able to fall.Venutian VenturesThe story for this week ends on a lore tidbit that raises some fascinating questions, as nicely. If you learn the Ripples lore guide entry that unlocks after listening to Crow’s radio transmission with Ikora within the HELM, you discover out that Crow is headed to Venus for unknown causes. Crow beforehand recommended he may head to Venus to discover again within the Season of the Hunt, solely to be turned away from the thought by Savathun-as-Osiris. With Osiris revealed, turning Crow away from Venus looks as if a extra pointed transfer now than it was on the time. So what’s Crow looking there?I’ve received lots of concepts, and members of the group on Reddit have recommended that Venus may very well be the precise location of Savathun’s throne world, which might clarify why she did not need Crow going there. The ins and outs of Savathun’s world aren’t tremendous clear but, but when it is something like Oryx’s Dreadnaught, and it looks as if it could be, she may need truly parked the Ascendant Realm location on the bodily location of Venus.I, for one, assume Venus has extra to do with the Vex, nevertheless. All 12 months, we have been seeing connections construct between us and factions which have all the time been enemies of humanity, and in some instances, we’re even creating alliances. Crow is on the forefront of the “have we just tried talking to them” faculty of thought on the subject of interactions with the Eliksni and the Cabal, and I’m wondering if he is beginning to assume the identical factor in regards to the Vex.This would all hinge on the occasions of the Season of the Splicer, through which Savathun used Quria to regulate the Vex community and assault the Last City. That complete scenario appeared like Quria was utilizing the Vex in opposition to their will, an essential level of rivalry about their actions. The Vex have objectives and attempt to kill people after they see them, however their motivations are bizarre and alien and never essentially evil. They’re extra about survival, evolution, and changing into the Final Shape; actually, not even all of the Vex appear to straight worship the Darkness, like those within the Black Garden do.I’ve puzzled for some time if we’re constructing towards some sort of communication with the Vex, and on the finish of the Season of the Splicer, there was an enormous trace in that route. In the ultimate Override mission, you would discover a unusual non-combatant Harpy that communicated in beeps and boops that turned out to be Morse code, spelling out the phrase “Assistant.” Everyone instantly took that to imply that Asher Mir, the Warlock who’d been learning the Vex on Io earlier than it was taken by the Darkness, had both been became a Harpy or was speaking by way of the Harpy. Either approach, it appeared like a possible level of contact for interplay with the Vex collective.We even have years of setup right here which have come up extra usually. In the Insight Terminus Strike, there’s point out of a person within the Vex community known as M-Sund-12–a character from the lore named Maya Sundaresh. She was a Golden Age researcher working with the Vex whose thoughts was simulated by the Vex collective, and we noticed her once more being utilized by the Vex to govern Clovis Bray within the Deep Stone Crypt lore from Beyond Light. Maya is, primarily, the human face of the Vex, when it wants one.So Crow may very well be headed to Venus so as to parlay with the robots. If you are the man who’s been betrayed by Savathun, you consider there’s extra to humanity’s enemies than simply taking pictures them on sight, and also you’re attempting to show that you just’re not nonetheless the murderous puppet you have been previously, this makes a sort of sense. The Vex have gotten to be sad they have been managed and manipulated by Savathun. They could be prepared to entertain an alliance in opposition to her. With each Asher and probably Maya floating round in pretty current story and lore, it could be time for them to floor within the story as Vex representatives. After all, this complete 12 months has been about constructing alliances in opposition to the Darkness–and one with the Vex is all that is lacking.He may be on a collision course with Shayura, the Warlock talked about within the Trials of Osiris weapons and armor lore of late, and he or she of the Shayura’s Wrath submachine gun. In the gun’s connected lore entry, we be taught Shayura is looking Guardians who use Stasis and killing House of Light Eliksni–she’s principally gone rogue, and whereas she appears to assume she’s doing good, she truly appears very unhealthy. We’ve seen Crow defend the Eliksni earlier than, so possibly he is on the hunt, as soon as once more as a type of redemption.Then once more, Crow could be after one thing private we do not truly learn about or which is buried within the lore someplace, so this might all be moot.The level is, that is an thrilling factor to consider, and this can be a enormous story growth I’ve been ready for all 12 months. I am unable to wait to see the way it pans out, and I hope that even when Crow’s mad at us, we keep buddies.Trials And TribulationsWe’ve talked lots about Trials of Osiris and after final week’s Trials Labs experiment, it looks as if it requires just a little extra consideration earlier than we let it go for some time. The response to Bungie’s changes appeared fairly mixed–the addition of a management level in matches was an fascinating one, however I do know a number of gamers who have been instantly irritated that the purpose typically gave one staff a bonus over the opposite.Personally, I preferred Labs and the addition of the brand new factor to Trials matches, as a result of it actually shook up gameplay and technique. I additionally thought the motion of the management level across the map wasn’t that huge of a deal, regardless of it actually bothering some gamers {that a} staff may need the large benefit of the purpose on their aspect of the map. In my expertise, matches hardly ever went so lengthy that the benefit was a significant downside, however then once more, the expertise for higher-level gamers could be completely different than for me and my group, the place matches tended to change into shootouts and everybody on one aspect or the opposite died fairly shortly anyway.My favourite a part of this complete factor, although, has been Bungie transparently working by way of changes to the mode and speaking them out with the group. If you have not learn this week’s TWAB about what Bungie uncovered and the way it’s feeling in regards to the changes, you need to. It’s fascinating to see Trials altering and creating over time as Bungie tries issues, learns issues, and listens to individuals discuss issues.There’s no Trials this weekend, however we do have Iron Banner again this week, and I’ll shut this out by saying that you need to be enjoying Iron Banner when you’re usually an individual who ignores it. You’ll need these Pinnacle drops, as a result of Grandmaster Nightfalls are again subsequent week, and you need to play these too. They have extra new, cool weapons! And mods! And actually, that is an endgame exercise that Bungie is slowly making extra accessible and extra rewarding, identical to Trials, and that is cool. I’ll speak extra about my Grandmaster experiences subsequent week, as a result of like Trials, GMs have loved a current renaissance that’s worthy of consideration.Back to Iron Banner, though–if you play it for no different purpose, you need to chase Riiswalker, particularly one with the standard good shotgun perks, reminiscent of Opening Shot, and range-boosters like Iron Reach, which is just about excellent for this gun. I sat on a pair in my Vault for some time, however pulled it out and dusted it off just lately. Even my comparatively crap roll of that gun is great. You ought to get one.If you have received concepts about Crow, lore, Venus, Trials, or anything, drop them within the feedback.