[b]FULL AKSIS CHALLENGE MODE GUIDE - STAND ON YOUR DAMN PLATES STRATEGY[/b] [b]GENERAL PRINCIPLES MECHANICS AND OBJECTIVES[/b] The challenge mode adds a tiny mechanic that was often overlooked when dealing with Aksis - that of [b]Empowerment Discharge.[/b] Whenever a player is Empowered, he can either slam Aksis to stun him, or "discharge" that empowerment and refill the fireteam's supers. This is done by standing on one of the three Servitor plates (left, right, back middle) and holding Square (PS4) or X (Xbox). - Whenever Aksis teleports, ONE plate is made active (lights up with bright red flames, much like when Servitors are moving towards it). - The active plate can never be on the same side Aksis teleports [i]to[/i], but it can be on the same side Aksis teleported [i]from.[/i] - Let's say Aksis is at left side, then he teleports to the right side. The active plate this time around can never be on the right side; it can either be on the middle, or on the left side. - The middle plate constitutes both front middle and back middle teleport locations. This means it will never be active if Aksis teleports *to* front middle or back middle. - The plate/discharging can only be done before Aksis is slammed/stunned. If a player slams too early, others won't be able to discharge. [b]The Challenge Mode mechanic is that an empowered player must discharge on an active plate -EVERYTIME- Aksis teleports. You cannot miss a single discharge, or a single slam - as doing so will fail the challenge.[/b] This means for every "round", you'll have three discharges, and three slams. - Killing him in two cycles is -not- required, but it is recommended to lessen any future mistakes that can happen as the fight becomes more prolonged. - Using X-number of pillars is not part of the mechanic. - You don't need to kill all Servitors, but you need to throw as many bombs as possible to break the shield (3 in normal, 7 on heroic). -------------------------------- [b]HOW TO DO THE ACTUAL STRATEGY "Stand on your Damn Plates" [/b] [url=http://imgur.com/a/0NZ9W]Please refer to this hastily made MS Paint image of the boss' room[/url]. As you can see, you'll want one Empowered player for the left, right and middle. These players must be standing on the following spots: - Left empowered stands near the edge of the left plate - Right empowered stands near the edge of the right plate - Middle empowered stands just below the ledge that has the middle plate [b]These players will look IN FRONT OF THEM and HOLD SQUARE (PS4) OR X (XBOX).[/b] [i]Well except for middle empowered because he's not standing on an actual plate, but you get the idea...[/i] ----------------------------- [b]For LEFT and RIGHT Empowered:[/b] - Look in front of you if the boss teleported to your side. If he did, run up, jump, slam him ASAP. You will have enough time. - Note that the pillar may block a full view of Aksis but you'll see half his entire body and his spider legs anyway. - If he did not teleport to your side, stay on that plate and keep holding down Square/X. You should be able to discharge. - If he did not teleport to your side and you weren't able to discharge after a couple of seconds, don't worry. It means he teleported somewhere else and another player did a discharge. You'll also see the "supercharge" pop-up at the bottom left of the screen. - Shoot the bastard. [b]For MIDDLE Empowered:[/b] - Look in front of you if the boss teleported to front mid. If he did, run up, jump, slam him ASAP. You will have enough time. - If he did not teleport to front mid, turn around and look - he either teleported behind you, or the plate is the one that's active. Slam/Discharge ASAP. [b] YOU SHOULD NOT BE STANDING ON THE BACK MIDDLE PLATE ITSELF BECAUSE THE BOSS CAN TELEPORT THERE AND SQUISH YOU SO STAY AT THE SPOT BELOW THE PANEL'S LEDGE![/b] ----------------------------- [b]AKSIS ALREADY TELEPORTED FROM X-SIDE, AND I AM EMPOWERED ON X-SIDE[/b] - If you're Left or Right Empowered (he just came from left or right, whatever side you're on), stand on the plate and remember to hold Square/X so that you can discharge immediately. - If you're Middle Empowered and he came from Front Mid on the previous teleport, again, he's either behind you, or the active plate is there - so you should be looking there. - If you're Middle Empowered and he came from Back Mid on the previous teleport, look in front first to see if he teleported there. If he did not, look behind and see if the plate is active there. - Remember that the active plate can be on the side where he came *from*. ------------------------------------- [b]PROS AND CONS:[/b] (1) That's all there is to it. Your job as an Empowered Guardian is simply stay put on a specific position and look in front (as well as do a quick glance behind you if you're at the middle). (2) Even if players are switching sides during the DPS phase, you won't get confused, because you know where you need to be standing on for whatever side you're switching to --- left and right are on plates, middle is below the plate's ledge. (3) The active panels are discharged almost immediately. No one needs to look which panel lights up, no one needs to call it out. It lessens the confusion and keeps the chat a lot clearer. (4) If you're on left and slamming left, then right has instantly discharged, or middle has enough time to turn around then discharge. If you're on right and slamming right, same thing. If you're on middle slamming front or back mid, then left or right have instantly discharged. (5) If you're slamming, you don't need to check your screen if "supercharge" occurred, or hear someone call out that they've discharged. You don't need to stand on Aksis' back and wait. You just run and slam (like in regular modes). The timing is virtually -perfect- for everything your team needs to do. (6) Did I mention that you don't even need to look around as a team for which panel is active? You don't even need to look down at the plates if you're at the left or right (you're just holding down a button). That removes most of the problems with the fight. (7) None of those weird *"I thought the panel was active but it wasn't; it was glowing because of the Servitor"* moments. Aksis teleports, the servitors disappear, a plate is made active, empowerment discharge happens - the end. (8) Perhaps an even more amazing thing - you are not running back-and-forth, or looking around for glowing panels - this means less confusion for *you*. (9) Oh, as for DPS - you actually have a *CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT* to shoot Aksis' head from these spots while waiting for the next teleport. Since you're not looking around randomly, you're spending that time doing damage. More damage = more fun! (10) You're standing on a spot, holding a button or just LOOKING IN FRONT OF YOU! How hard can it be? There's no need for scenarios wherein - *"If X goes left, then Y must go right, and Z goes round and round"* - nope, none of that. You handle a specific side, standing on a specific spot, running to a specific location, or holding a specific button. [b]Simply put, this makes the entire challenge mode simplified and effective for players of varying skill levels - hence "Easy Mode".[/b] As for cons... well, I cannot think of any outside of a runner hitting a wall on the way to Aksis - but that's just silly. ----------------------------- [b]ADDITIONAL TIPS:[/b] (1) Just like on regular/non-challenge modes, if multiple players are empowered on a specific side, call it out, have one person switch to a side that needs an empowered player immediately. The minor difference is that, remember, once you switch to another side, you want to be in the positions outlined above. (2) Middle may seem trickier because you need to cover two spots, but it's essentially one in front and one close behind you. All you need to do any way is look in front most of the time. *If Aksis did not teleport there, or he just came from there, glance behind you for a moment*. If it does become problematic, then it's with the player and not with the tactic itself. I would advise that you place *"two of your more focused players"* in the middle, as they can cover it more often (outside of neither of them getting empowered). But, like I said, it's a very minor issue. (3) If you're not empowered, you should be calling out where Aksis teleports to as quickly as possible. Look at that red smoke/trail he leaves behind whenever he's teleporting. (4) Because Supers get recharged immediately every discharge, use them as often as possible. Just remember that the third/final stun is the longest, and you want to have a "sequence" for those Nightstalker tethers to maximize DPS. (5) For the third/final stun, get those Dark Drinkers out. Have a Titan pop bubble at Aksis' feet and wail away at him happily. (6) Don't forget for Warlocks to use Viking Funeral and chuck those grenades every chance they get to add more damage for the team. (7) If Aksis' health is really low but he has not reached his *"Insta-Wipe Cast"* moment (5% health), do the discharge and slam - but tell everyone NOT TO SHOOT AT HIM WHILE THIS IS BEING DONE, AND NOT TO THROW ADDITIONAL BOMBS. This is because if he is damaged below the threshold (making him go to his *"Insta-Wipe Cast"* moment), the discharge/slam will not register, and the challenge will fail. Do your shooting after the discharge/slams occurred. ====== This is a cross post from reddit, original post by el2mador : https://www.reddit.com/r/DestinyTheGame/comments/5bwhmr/full_guide_aksis_challenge_easy_mode_stand_on/