Guardians, Edit 2: this guide is still relevant despite recent changes to the Skolas encounter. In fact, one could argue it is even more relevant. I may make additional changes to this to ensure it reflects the update to Skolas. On another note, one comment embedded links for me to update this post and link to the relevant sections. I will update this in due course. EDIT: This post is split up into multiple posts. Unfortunately, I'd have to link them together, which I have no way to do on my iPad, so this will have to suffice for now. Please note that there are four posts: introduction; before you enter; the fight and the strategy. Please be mindful to keep them to the top, if you are going to comment. Thanks! There are a lot of strategies around about how to bring down Skolas on the level 35 Prison of Elders - Skolas' Revenge. Generally, people haven't found it too difficult using the "burn him down before everything spawns and kills us" method. Admittedly, I did this in the first week with three Gjallahorns and it worked like a charm. Sadly, however, many of us do not have Gjallahorns (or, during the arc and void burn weeks, high impact snipers or Fourth Horsemen in order to burn him down fast enough; and frankly, some of us aren't Titans, so that method may not work). If you're a beginner to Skolas, and need a few tips/strategies, this post may be of some help. To others, this may not be of any help at all, but I'm not posting it for your sake. This is a beginner level guide. ABOUT ME Before I begin, I want to briefly tell you my experience with Destiny. I've been playing Destiny since September 2014. In that time, I've accumulated about 1400 hours played time, 100+ Crota hard mode completions (mostly as swordbearer), 150+ Crota normal completions, 50+ VOG Hard completions, and have now completed Skolas several times. I play mostly with a small team of friends and family, but I am always there to lend a hand to anyone that wants it. I'm a New Zealand-born Australian resident, and am currently studying Masters degree. THE BASICS Skolas essentially has three different mechanics, split up into "phases" of the fight: 1. The breaking of the bonds between him and the servitors; 2. The essence and immune (de)buffs; 3. Defusing the mines. Skolas himself has two different damage kinds: 1. His Scorch Cannon; and 2. The ground slam (occurs when you get within 1-2 metres - damage from this can be avoided by double jumping or standing on a higher ledge to where he is). There are many types of enemies (or "adds" or "mobs") that you'll encounter, and all are Tier 1 (red bar), assuming Heroic or Epic modifier is not on: 1. Shanks; 2. Captains (both shotgun and sword; swords will one hit you, no matter what burn); 3. Vandals (both kinds); and 4. Dregs.