Destiny 2 Ash & Iron update drops this September, bringing back the Plaguelands, new exotics, a fresh activity, and more. Here’s the full list of everything coming with this update.
With the launch of The Edge of Fate last month, Bungie officially kicked off the Year of Prophecy and the Fate saga in Destiny 2. But the biggest shift this year isn’t just the story, which is focused on the Nine, it’s how content is being released.
Bungie has moved away from the traditional “one big expansion plus four seasons” model. Instead, we’re now getting two smaller expansions each year, with free major updates in between that add new activities, gear, and story progression for all players.
The first of those updates is called Ash & Iron, and it’s coming in September. It marks the return of one of the most memorable locations from Destiny 1, and adds a bunch of new things to unlock. In this article, we’ll go over everything that’s been confirmed for the Ash & Iron update so far.
Destiny 2 Ash & Iron Update Release Date
Bungie has confirmed that the Ash & Iron major update will launch on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. It’s the first major update of the Year of Prophecy and comes with a full content drop, including a new activity, exotic mission, weapons, and more, all available for free to every Destiny 2 player.
The Plaguelands Returning In Destiny 2 Ash & Iron
Yes, it’s official! We’re heading back to the Plaguelands, the snow-covered destination from Rise of Iron. This fan-favorite location hasn’t been seen since Destiny 1, and it’s finally making its return as part of the ongoing story. (Maybe we’ll even SIVA? fingers crossed)
During the Edge of Fate reveal livestream, Destiny 2 assistant game director Robbie Stevens confirmed this by saying, “So, for our first major update coming a few weeks after the Edge of Fate launches, we’ve got Ash and Iron, right?
“With Ash and Iron, we’re going to be returning to the Plaguelands. That story is going to pick up from where we left off from the Edge of Fate.”
That said, as of now, it’s still unclear whether the entire Plaguelands destination is making a full return as a patrol zone, or if only a portion of the location will be brought back as part of the new activity. We’ll likely get a clearer picture closer to launch.
New Seasonal Activity: Reclaim
Ash & Iron add a new three-player activity called Reclaim. Bungie describes Reclaim as a team-based mission where resources are limited, and working together is essential to survive. “[Reclaim is] a three-player mission where resources are limited and playing as a team is a requirement for success,” said Bungie.
This activity is introduced through a new highlighter event called “New Territory”, which sets the stage for what’s happening in the Plaguelands and ties into the larger story of Ash & Iron.
New Exotic Mission And Weapons
One of the highlights of the Ash & Iron update is a new exotic mission, the kind of content Destiny players love for its unique mechanics. It’ll come with puzzles, story beats, and of course, a brand-new exotic weapon as a reward.
While Bungie hasn’t revealed what the exotic is yet, it’s confirmed that two new exotic weapons will be part of the Ash & Iron update overall.
Dungeon Content Later in the Season
Although no new dungeon will launch with Ash & Iron, Bungie did tease that dungeon encounters will be added to the Portal. In a statement on Reddit, the Destiny 2 team said:
“We’ll have dungeon content coming into the Portal later this season. September timeframe, encounters from multiple dungeons, more to come in future updates and releases.”
This could hint at remixed or rotated dungeon boss fights, or even new narrative-driven changes on existing ones. Bungie will reveal more details as we get closer to the launch.
Desert Perpetual Epic Raid
If you’ve finished The Edge of Fate’s Desert Perpetual raid, there’s more coming. A new “epic” version of the raid will go live a few weeks after Ash & Iron launches.
The Desert Perpetual Epic raid will add new content to the raid, including new weapons and encounters. Bungie hasn’t shared what exactly will be getting added in terms of loot. We’ll get more details in the future.
In-game, several triumphs and items related to the raid are currently redacted, with placeholder text referencing an “Upcoming Content.” This strongly suggests that the Epic version will launch with its own contest mode, possibly similar to Day 1 raid races.
Iron Banner Returns
Ash & Iron will also probably bring back Iron Banner, one of Destiny 2’s longest-running PvP modes. It’ll be back in the Tower sometime during the update, but Bungie hasn’t shared the exact dates yet, and we don’t know what the new loot will look like.
Power Cap Increase & New Artifact Perks
With the Ash & Iron update, the Bonus Power cap is increasing to 550, continuing the new tiered system Bungie rolled out in The Edge of Fate. There are also new artifact perks coming with Ash & Iron.
“With the Ash & Iron major update later this season, you will be able to earn total Power all the way to 550,” said Bungie. “Regular rewards from Portal activities will be able to drop up to 500 total Power, and Prime Engrams will again award gear up to the Hard Cap of 550. Those who reach 500 Power will be rewarded with regular drops of the highest tier of weapons and armor: Tier 5.”
New Seasonal Rewards
As usual, the Ash & Iron update will add new weapons and armor that you’ll be able to earn through the seasonal activity, exotic mission, and other challenges. Bungie hasn’t shown any of the gear just yet, but you can expect a new loot pool tied to Reclaim, Pinnacle Ops, and the Season Pass.
Is Wrath of the Machine Raid Returning with Ash & Iron?
With the return of the Plaguelands in Ash & Iron, a lot of players were wondering: Is Wrath of the Machine finally coming back? After all, the original Destiny 1 raid took place in that very location. But based on official word from Bungie and our own report, the answer, for now, is no.
Back in January 2025, Bungie’s Principal Communications Manager, Dylan Gafner, was asked directly whether Wrath of the Machine would return this year. He said that it’s a “Magic 8 ball” and will likely not return “any time soon. Got new stuff to focus on.”
And that’s everything we currently know about the Ash & Iron update. Are you planning to jump back in for Ash & Iron?
What are you most excited for: the exotic mission, the raid refresh, or the return to Destiny 1’s Plaguelands? Let us know your thoughts.
