Destiny 2 Ash and Iron is a new, promising DLC for the Edge of Fate expansion with tons of new and fresh content. In this overview, we’ll break down all the major seasonal updates, from the new Reclaim mode and the return of the Plaguelands to fresh weapons, armor, and the updated Power Level cap.
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron Key Takeaways:
- Ash and Iron starts on September 9, 2025;
- Power level now changes to 550 cap;
- New weapons and armor will become available on release;
- The Plaguelands zone returns with the Reclaim the Plaguelands activity;
- Dungeon lairs now include Pit of Heresy, Duality, and Warlord’s Ruin;
- The Desert Perpetual raid receives a new Epic raid difficulty
4.9Destiny 2 Ash and Iron Release Date
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron is a brand-new DLC for the Edge of Fate expansion dropping on September 9, 2025. While Edge of Fate is definitely a major release for Destiny 2, Ash & Iron brings a wave of fresh content and mechanics that every player will want to dive into. And the best part? It’s completely free for everyone.
It’s always good to start the expansion when everything is already prepared, and for this purpose, we have prepared an Edge of Fate Headstart Bundle. It will help you to complete the campaign ahead of others and jump into the Ash & Iron fully prepared.
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron Updates
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron delivers a ton of new content, balance changes, fresh mechanics, the return of Iron Banner, and more. It’s a major update for the game and a must-play for both veterans and new players. Here’s a quick look at all the key Destiny 2 Ash & Iron features:
- Power Level Changes;
- New Weapons;
- New Armor;
- Reclaim Activity;
- Plaguelands Return;
- Dungeon Lairs.
Also, the new Destiny 2 raid, Desert Perpetual, will receive an Epic Difficulty, which is a new challenge for the most experienced players. Lastly, Destiny 2 will introduce some nerfs and buffs that will leave their mark on the gameplay.
Destiny 2 Power Level Changes
One of the key changes in the Ash and Iron update is the Destiny 2 Level Reset. In a word, Destiny 2 Power Level has now been raised to 550, which means it’s time to upgrade your build and chase top-tier loot again.
Bungie also reworked the overall progression curve to make the 200–300 and 300–400 level ranges feel smoother. Standard rewards from portal activities now drop gear up to 500 Power, but the final 50 levels can only be reached through Primal Engrams and Prime Engrams. Also, you can ask our trained team for Power Leveling to skip all the grinding.
Once you hit 500 Power, you unlock access to regular drops of Tier-5 weapons and armor. These items are a big step up and now form the core of Destiny 2 endgame gear. For hardcore players, Bungie added new Destiny 2 difficulty categories:
- Ultimate Difficulty — the most brutal challenges in the game.
- Ultimate Fireteam Ops — high-end co-op missions for coordinated squads.
- Grandmaster Conquests — four veteran-level scenarios.
- Ultimate Conquests — two of the hardest challenges ever introduced.
There’s also a new reward rank system with two tiers: Platinum (450–499) and Diamond (500–550). The higher your rank, the easier it is to farm Tier-5 gear.
Destiny 2 New Weapons
Destiny 2 The Edge of Fate adds a full set of new weapons to chase in the Ash and Iron, with Bungie spreading the loot pool across multiple activities, so you’ll need to grind in different modes to collect them all. Here’s a full list of Destiny 2 new weapons from the general loot pool:
- MIDA Mini-Tool — a lightweight Solar SMG;
- Drang — a Solar Adaptive sidearm;
- Haliaetus — a heavy Strand rocket launcher with high damage.
If you play Destiny 2 Trials of Osiris, you can earn the following weapons:
- Burden of Guilt — a Stasis Fusion Rifle with an Adaptive Frame;
- Everburning Glitz — a fast-firing Kinetic Auto Rifle.
In Destiny 2 Iron Banner, the following weapon is available:
- Finite Impactor — a Solar Hand Cannon with an Adaptive Frame
From Destiny 2 Pinnacle Ops, you can get these weapons:
- Forced Memorializer — a Kinetic Scout Rifle with a Precision Frame;
- Seraphine Haze — an Aggressive Frame Stasis SMG.
As for the rewards from Solo/Fireteam and Crucible Ops, Bungie is still keeping those under wraps. That mystery only adds to the hype for the weeks of content ahead. Anyway, other weapons like Graviton Spike will also do well in the new content, and you can always reach out to our team to get any of them.
Destiny 2 New Armor
The Destiny 2 Ash and Iron update introduces the Despairing Souls Armor Set. Not only does it have a stylish design, but it also provides powerful bonuses that make a real difference in combat. Here are the Destiny 2 Despairing Souls set effects:
- 2-piece bonus — Ride Together, Die Together: Picking up an Orb of Power grants temporary incoming damage reduction.
- 4-piece bonus — Too Old For This: Finishing off a powerful enemy grants progress toward Special ammo drops and restores a portion of your health.
This armor set is clearly built for team-based play and survivability, helping you stay alive longer during the toughest firefights. Also, Armor Set Tier 1-5 is a good choice for any activity, as it empowers you and makes the gameplay as enjoyable as possible.
Destiny 2 Reclaim Activity
The new Ash and Iron DLC introduces a new Portal activity called Reclaim. Destiny 2 Reclaim is a 3-player co-op mode where you and your team won’t just be shooting enemies, but you’ll also be surviving and reclaiming territory step by step. Bungie focused on team coordination here, since resources are limited and solo carrying is no longer an option.
It’s worth noting that Reclaim is closely tied to the Destiny 2 New Territory event. It takes place directly in the Plaguelands, and together with the event, becomes part of the main Ash and Iron storyline. The result is a mix of narrative content and hardcore action, where everything depends on how well you can work as a team. Reclaim the Plaguelands, alongside other Portal Activities, will become an integral part of your gameplay, and you can ease the process of completing it with our team.
Destiny 2 Plaguelands Return
As hinted above, the Destiny 2 Ash and Iron developers bring back the Plaguelands, one of the most atmospheric zones from the original game. Interestingly, this is also where the storyline of the Edge of Fate expansion continues, making the Plaguelands a key part of the overall Ash and Iron narrative. You’ll revisit familiar locations, but through a new lens, with updated enemies and new activities waiting for you.
📌 That said, one mystery remains: will the Plaguelands become a full patrol zone, or only appear as part of specific missions? Bungie hasn’t confirmed anything yet, so we’ll have to wait until launch to see just how expansive the return of the Plaguelands really is.
Destiny 2 Dungeon Lairs
The Destiny 2 Ash and Iron update introduces new Dungeon Lairs, which are now part of the Pinnacle Ops activity. These are special dungeons where players can test their skills and earn unique loot.
The first Destiny 2 Dungeon Lair rotation includes three dungeons: Pit of Heresy, Duality, and Warlord’s Ruin. Each one features distinct environments and mechanics, offering a solid challenge even for seasoned Guardians.
📌 From September 9 to 23, access to all Dungeon Lairs will be completely free.
However, if you want to earn Portal rewards during the free period, you’ll need to activate the Classic Collector mod. After this date, the Dungeon Keys system will become active, required to unlock additional loot. It’s recommended to have a good Team for this type of activity to complete it faster and easier.
Destiny 2 Desert Perpetual Epic Difficulty
The Desert Perpetual activity returns in Destiny 2 Ash and Iron with a brand-new challenge tier: Epic Difficulty. This mode is aimed at players who like to test their skill with a chance to push their builds to the limit. The Epic version offers:
- The Whirling Ovation armor set;
- Tier-5 loot;
- New quests and rewards.
Bungie has also introduced a Destiny 2 Contest Mode, familiar to many from other endgame activities. It’s worth noting that Epic Difficulty launches on September 20, giving us some time to prepare and optimize our builds beforehand. The Desert Perpetual is not only a challenge for the strongest players, but also a source of valuable rewards that can become yours. Just ask our team and enjoy.
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron Nerfs and Buffs
With the release of Destiny 2 Ash and Iron, Bungie rolled out a full sandbox tuning that touched weapons, classes, and even the UI. To keep it clear, here’s a table with the key Destiny 2 buffs and nerfs:
| Category | Buffs | Nerfs |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Whirling Ovation, No Land Beyond, Thunderlord, Hawkmoon | Graviton Spike, Tarrabah, Lord of Wolves, Grand Overture, Outbreak Perfected, Barrow Dyad, Hierarchy of Needs, Temporal Blast Mod |
| Classes | Warlock received noticeable buffs | Titan Stronghold builds hit with heavy nerfs; Hunters slightly toned down |
| Exotics | 10 exotic weapons and 6 exotic armor pieces added to the Featured pool | — |
| Interface | Improved hip-fire reticles: less clutter, clearer status indicators | — |
Destiny 2 Ash and Iron FAQ
In this section, we’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions about Destiny 2 Ashes and Iron so you have everything you need in one place. Here you’ll find answers about new activities, weapons, armor, Power Level changes, and core seasonal updates.
What Is The Reclaim Activity In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
Reclaim is a new 3-player co-op mode where you and your team push forward by capturing territory and surviving waves of enemies with limited resources. Coordination is key.
What Is The Power Level Cap In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
The new Power Level cap is 550. Portal activities can take you up to 500, while Primal and Prime Engrams are required to reach the hard cap.
Do The Plaguelands Return In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
Yes, the Plaguelands from Destiny 1 return as a central location in the Edge of Fate storyline. Expect updated enemies, activities, and story beats.
What Dungeon Lairs Are Available In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
The first set of Dungeon Lairs includes:
- Pit of Heresy;
- Duality;
- Warlord’s Ruin.
What New Weapons Are In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
New weapons include:
- MIDA Mini-Tool;
- Drang;
- Haliaetus;
- Activity-specific gear like Forced Memorializer and Seraphine Haze.
What New Armor Comes With Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
The Despairing Souls Armor Set features unique bonuses:
- 2-piece: reduced damage after picking up an Orb of Power;
- 4-piece: finishers grant Special ammo progress and health regen.
What Is Epic Difficulty In Destiny 2 Desert Perpetual?
Epic Difficulty is a new challenge mode for Desert Perpetual. It brings:
- The Whirling Ovation armor set;
- Tier-5 loot;
- New quests and rewards.
What Nerfs And Buffs Arrive In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
Bungie buffed weapons like Thunderlord and Hawkmoon, nerfed builds like Titan Stronghold, and improved hip-fire reticles for several archetypes.
When Does Destiny 2 Ash And Iron Release?
Ashes and Iron launches on September 9, 2025, alongside the Edge of Fate expansion.
What Should I Focus On First In Destiny 2 Ash And Iron?
Start by leveling up through Portal activities, then shift focus to farming Tier-5 gear and jumping into Reclaim to test your builds and teamplay.
4.9To sum up, Destiny 2 Ash and Iron has a lot to offer to all kinds of players looking forward to playing The Edge of Fate expansion. In this overview, we’ve covered all the key content: the Power Level increase, the return of the Plaguelands, and the new loot pool. Now you have a complete picture of everything this season brings and how to prepare for the challenges ahead.
