[b]Disclaimer[/b]: These aren't "rules", they're more like... [i]guidelines[/i]. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE SUGGESTING MORE TIPS. [b]STOP TELLING ME YOU CAN BLINK STRIKE THE MINES. [i]IT'S ALREADY IN THE POST.[/i][/b] =========================================== [u][b]A quick review of the fight mechanics with some good starter tips:[/b][/u] [spoiler]- Skolas cannot be damaged normally. There are cloaked servitors around the map, you must destroy them to "weaken the servitor bonds" which means he is vulnerable for 20 seconds at a time. Don't worry, these servitors respawn around the map continuously and will never run out. - Once skolas is at about 70% health, his servitor bonds will break. This means from that point on in the fight, Skolas can be normally damaged and servitors will no longer spawn or be needed. - As soon as his bonds are broken, one player in the fireteam will be afflicted by the Devouring Essence. This essence has a 30 second timer. The essence does not impair you in any way other than giving your screen an overlay similar to the Thorn's poison. - Your teammates must take the essence off the essence holder (by holding x, don't worry it's easy) before the 30 second timer runs out, or the essence holder will be killed. Be warned, taking the essence does not happen instantly, it has about the same wait time as reviving a teammate with quick revive. - Once the essence is taken off of you, you will become immune, which means you cannot take the essence off of someone else. It lasts longer than the essence, so there is no way for you to take the essence after you just had it. - You shouldn't take the essence until your teammate's timer is below 10 seconds. If too many people take it before 10 seconds, the immunity will end up overlapping and it will force someone to die as 2 others will be immune. - This essence never goes away until Skolas is defeated, so don't expect it to go away and don't forget about it. - You must dismantle mines twice, at 50% health and at 25% health. If they aren't all dismantled, you'll be wiped. Tips on how to beat this are below. - Once both waves of mines are dismantled, you are home free. All there is to worry about now is Skolas and the essence. Good luck![/spoiler] =========================================== [b][u]Current Modifiers: Brawler, Juggler [/u][/b] [b]Suggested loadout (For the current week):[/b] [i]-All should be ascended-[/i] - Your favorite arc primary (I prefer Oversoul Edict or Fatebringer) - Praedyth's Revenge (Or a similar high fire rate/large mag sniper) - Gjallarhorn or other tracking rocket launcher (Dragon's Breath is a nice second choice as well) [b]Suggested Fireteam:[/b] -[i]It is possible with any, but this is the easy one[/i]- - One warlock to stay back with self res at mine 1 - Two hunters to go invisible for mines 2 and 3 -[i]Any combination of hunters and warlocks are good. I've found that titans can work, but hunters and warlocks are much more practical.[/i]- =========================================== [b]Here are the facts.[/b] - Skolas's health has been almost cut in half from 27000 to 15000. - Skolas will never have an elemental burn anymore. - Enemies spawn at health intervals now, so if you don't shoot skolas you can kill all the extra adds and not have to worry about them again until [i]you[/i] are ready. - Skolas hides. - Mines spawn at 50% health and 25% health. =========================================== [b]Here are the tips.[/b] - What's gonna work? [b][u]TEAAAMWORKKK[/u][/b] - For the love of all things holy and good, don't play with unpleasant people... - It's good to have one person (preferably the most intelligent one) calling the shots. That way you dont get [i]"Screw this I'm running" "No wait stay it's fine now!" "Ugh I'll follow him so he doesn't get killed by the essence"[/i]. - Gjallarhorn is still viable if the modifiers are not specialist or small arms. You can't kill him in 30 seconds, but you can break his bonds with 2 maxed Gjallarhorns and an Ice Breaker without Weapons of Light at the first servitor. - Take advantage of whatever modifiers are up. They're there for a reason. - Wear the armor Variks sells with fallen round bonuses. Stat boosts will really help. - Plan your attacks. Because of how reliant the fight is on Skolas's health, don't start mines until your whole team is alive and prepared. Check to make sure everyone is ready before proceeding to take him past 50% and 25% health. - Captains are bad news. Watch your radar. Plenty of teams have been wiped out by a single captain with a shrapnel launcher that caught them off guard. - Hunters are beautiful for dismantling mines. - Stay on the back right corner of the map after the first left servitor. Two more servitors spawn in a row on the right after the left one. - Stay on the back right for the remainder of the fight unless you absolutely need to run. One mine always spawns there, and a warlock or titan are nice to have to stay there with a bubble or self res to pick that mine up while a hunter gets the other two. - Have one teammate start heading towards the other side of the map as soon as mines are announced. Otherwise, one person wont defuse the mine in time if it spawns the farthest away. - Never leave the one who goes to dismantle the mines with the essence. Leave it with the titan or warlock so they can grab the mine in the back right since they have a bubble or self res to save them. - After dismantling the first two mines, run to the third one even if youre not in charge of it. If your teammate dies unexpectedly and you're not prepared, you're wiped. - If someone is across the map with the essence and you can meet halfway and save them, do it. It could save you a wipe. - Don't tell someone to take the essence if you know you're about to die. It's better for the essence holder to die than anyone else as it gives the others a break from the essence. - Never double take the essence. Communication is key, and if one takes it off of someone who just took it that leaves two people immune, guaranteeing your death. - When the time to dismantle mines comes, make sure your hunter who is going to the far side is immune as soon as mines are called. Plan to start mines as soon as it's the warlock's turn to take the essence. Take it as soon as mines start, and the hunters should immediately get going. This way the hunters have no essence to worry about for mines and the warlock can self res if the mines are inconvenient locations. If you're worried about your supers, keep reading. - Save your supers. Self res only when dismantling a mine or saving your team from a wipe, and use your titan bubble only to dismantle mines. Only go invisible to dismantle the last two mines, as it won't last long enough for all 3, and try to save your blade dance for the second set of mines as it probably won't recharge by then. - Gjallarhorn is nice to get Skolas to the next 1/4 health but snipers are great too if you dont have one. I use 365 Praedyth's Revenge. - In the back right corner platform, You can hide behind the barriers and shoot through the crack between them. Use that to your advantage. - If you're on PS3 or 360 and your inventory loads slowly, look at the ground and turn away from the action. It'll help you load faster and maybe get a heavy synth in. - Hunters- crouch to be invisible to dismantle the first mine. If you can't find an enemy to safely blink strike after that, use your super. If you're the one in charge of dismantling the two far mines and you die, you just lost your team the fight. - If you really want your super as a backup for both sets of mines, use it on the first set then take skolas to just over 25%. Kill all the adds and don't shoot skolas so no more adds will spawn. Skolas himself wont kill you if you're on the back right, so you can simply wait out your supers for the next mines if you'd like. - Hunters can blink strike the mine itself as you dismantle it to give you another chance at invisibility. - A popular callout of mine is "mines are coming soon dont shoot him until we're all alive" then once we're all up we hit him a bit more and the "mines are up get cover" callout happens. - Focus on staying alive more than killing skolas. Try to never have 2 people dead at a time or your teammate may get wiped by the essence. - When it comes to Skolas shooting at you, jumping is your friend. So friendly I made a song about it one run. - Patience, young one. =========================================== I've beaten skolas every week and I love doing it. [i][b]If you have any extra tips or questions, please post in the comments. I'm here to help.[/b][/i] =========================================== Edit1: I havent played destiny in almost a month, so I really can't help you guys. Hopefully you can find someone to help you. I'll see you when TTK drops ;) Edit2: Woaaaah 1000 replies o-o Edit3: Daaannngg, 1500 replies! Edit4: AHHHHH! 1000 LIKES! Let us celebrate by preparing for TTK! I shall see you all in two weeks!