Before Trials of Osiris was introduced in Destiny and reintroduced in Destiny 2, Iron Banner was the only pinnacle PvP activity for players to experience. Through fighting other players with Light-enabled Crucible matches, players could earn massive increases to their Light or Power level while earning unique gear.

There is more to Iron Banner than meets the eye, though. Lord Saladin is the leader of this event and has a long history of combat and triumphs that shaped this event. He might not have the same enthusiasm as Shaxx or the logistical knowledge of Zavala, but his sheer determination makes Saladin one of the most interesting characters in the Destiny mythos.

10 His Full Name Is Saladin Forge

Saladin Forge is the official name of Lord Saladin. It doesn’t have the same ring to it, but don’t let that undersell his accomplishments.

An entire expansion named Rise of Iron is dedicated to Saladin, resurrecting the SIVA threat that killed most of the Iron Lords. His determination and your Guardian’s skills helped cull the threat. This sci-fi virus is the reason Saladin is so reserved and battle-focused.

9 DIE DIE DIE

If you thought Saladin sounded strangely familiar, you likely heard his voice before! Keith Ferguson voices not just Saladin from Destiny but Reaper from Overwatch as well!

There’s a neat easter egg that references this connection. In Destiny 2, earning a “We Ran Out of Medals” medal by killing 20 Guardians in a single life will provide a unique voice line from Saladin himself. He will begin to shout, “DIE! DIE! DIE - uh, sorry.” to the player, a not-so-subtle reference to the iconic line Reaper gives using his ultimate in Overwatch.

8 One Of Few Remaining Iron Lords

Iron Banner isn’t a random name Lord Saladin came up with. This event is meant to test the mettle of Guardians and commemorate the fallen Iron Lords.

Lord Saladin is one such Iron Lord, one of two that have survived through the ages. These Lords helped establish the Last City by destroying corrupt Warlords that plagued the Dark Ages.

7 Inspired Weapons

You know you’ve become a legend when weapons have been founded after you. Lord Saladin has a few weapons made after him,

Three weapons are based on Saladin’s Legacy: Saladin’s Vigil, The Unbent Tree, and The Hero’s Burden. Saladin’s Vigil is a Legendary Fusion Rifle in Destiny, and The Unbent Tree is an Auto Rifle in Destiny forged in his honor. The Hero’s Burden is a Legendary Submachine Gun in Destiny 2 made in honor of his accomplishments.

6 Fought A Dragon

Dragons don’t exist in Destiny traditionally, although the ancient Ahamkara have a striking resemblance to the mythical creature.

Ahamkara are special in that they grant wishes, usually with a dark twist. Lord Saladin and a fellow Iron Lord Efrideet encountered one such creature. Saladin wished to fight a dragon, only to then slay it using an Iron Battle Axe. He is likely the only person in the Destiny universe who can legitimately say they slew a dragon.

5 Hero of Twilight Gap

Iron Lords care about humanity above all else, resulting in Saladin focusing most of his efforts into creating and maintaining the Last City.

Of course, many enemies of the Darkness came to take over the City throughout the ages. The most infamous battle was the Battle of the Twilight Gap. Saladin worked alongside Shaxx, Zavala, and thousands of Guardians to fend off all Fallen Houses from taking the City. Through their strategy and Shaxx’s aggression, the City was saved, and these three Titans are remembered as heroes.

4 Dislikes Shaxx Due To Twilight Gap

Lord Shaxx and Saladin have overlap in-game since they both host Crucible matches and events, but these two are antagonistic towards each other.

This hostility is mostly a result of the Battle of Twilight Gap. Humanity was losing to the Fallen Houses invading the City, resulting in Shaxx risking the lives of everyone to push towards the Fallen. Saladin told Shaxx to retreat, as Saladin believed the City was lost. Shaxx disobeyed and gave them enough time to regroup. Shaxx’s bravery is the main reason the Last City stands today but Saladin hates Shaxx for disobeying his direct orders.

3 Distrusts Osiris And Rasputin

Distrust is not exclusive to Shaxx, however. Lord Saladin has expressed his distrust of Osiris and Rasputin, key players in Destiny 2’s current seasonal storyline.

Both of these characters have disobeyed authority to save the lives of many. Osiris was exiled from the City for his investigation into the Darkness and Vex while Rasputin is seen as a machine that will sacrifice humanity itself to defeat the Darkness. It seems Saladin has trust issues with rebellious characters, no matter how much good has come as a result of their actions.

One of the most defining events for Lord Saladin and Titans themselves is the Battle of the Six Fronts, yet another battle to defend the Last City against the Fallen.

Four orders stood against the House of Devils, each defending a sector of the Last City. There are nine orders total, but four stood against the insurmountable odds and survived. Lord Saladin stood alongside one of these orders, although the orders involved with this event are unknown. That is why the Titan logo is a hexagon divided into four diamonds. Without Saladin, that battle would be lost, and the logo would likely be different.

1 Iron Banner’s Purpose

In gameplay terms, Iron Banner is a way for Guardians to take advantage of their high Power or Light levels to dominate other, weaker Guardians in Crucible for unique loot.

Lore wise, this event means something similar. Lord Saladin wants to hone the best Guardians through unfair combat to prepare them for the unknown. After losing nearly every Iron Lord due to SIVA and their lack of preparation, Saladin has spent much of his time creating an environment for Guardians to prepare for such threats.

NEXT: Destiny 2: 5 Reasons Why Season Of The Worthy Is Great (& 5 It’s A Flop)