Mechanics on how to beat skolas Basically skolas’ mechanics are solely based on his health. I have provided a link to show what skolas’ health bar looks like. You need to memorize exactly where the 1st and 2nd mines beginning (look at each letter to be more exact). Later, I will explain why it’s so important. Make sure to do these 2 things prior to starting skolas. First, have a treasure key. You will need this key when you defeat skolas. The large treasure chest will give you the skolas emblem, ship, shader and other items. Without a key, you will not be able to receive these items. But you will get credit for the “Moments of Triumph”. Also, have 2 bounty slots open in case you receive an elder cipher. Sometimes the game will glitch and give you 2 ciphers at the same time but only count as 1 cipher. If the game glitches with 2 ciphers and you only have 1 bounty slot open, then you will not receive the elder cipher. It has happened to me. All characters must be level 34. It doesn’t matter which character you run with but having 1 titan and 1 hunter will make things easier. Any combination of characters will do. Below are “imo” the best lay outs for each character. Any primary scout rifle or hand cannon will do but a “Fatebringer” or “Fang of Ir Yut” with arc damage are a plus on Fallen captains. In the special weapon slot should be a shotgun. Preferably a “Found Verdict” or any shotgun with arc damage. If not then any shotgun will do. You can use a sniper rifle if you prefer. Heavy weapon slot should be the “Gjallarhorn” or a rocket launcher with tracking such as “Hunger of Crota”. If you don’t have any of these type of weapons then it’s ok. It just makes things easier. - Titan (Defender), Helm of Saint 14 if you have one, start with “blessing of light” but will change to “weapon of light” at last set of mines, - Warlock (Sunsinger), Self Res - Hunter (Bladedancer), Escape Artist, Stalker, Shadowjack, Vanish, “Don’t Touch Me” gauntlet if you have one. As you enter the Fallen arena, the platform to the left is “platform 1” and the platform to the right is “platform 2”. These 2 platforms are where most of the killings will take place. I have named these platforms for a specific reason. “Platform 1” has 2 ramps which make it dangerous because Fallens can sneak up on you and skolas will come up this ramp. “Platform 2” is better because Fallen have to jump up to the platform and you can see the enemy when they jump up. Also, “platform 2” has space below where you can hide but I tend not to use it. It’s a personal preference on where you want to be at “platform 2” but you must stay together. When you run to each platform, 90% of the time you will run clockwise around the outer arena to each platform. The only time you will rotate counter clockwise is when skolas is coming at you from the entrance area when you are standing on “platform 2”. If you rotate clockwise as skolas is coming from the entrance, then there is a high probability that skolas may kill you. Don’t risk it. Run the other way to “platform 1” There may be times where you may have to keep running around the arena from platform to platform. Just be prepared to run. Also, it a good idea to bunny hop as you run because skolas and Fallen maybe shooting at you. You want to keep your distance away from skolas. Ok let’s begin. Check all your character load outs and weapons. Get your heavy ammo synthesis and loads those rockets! 1. At the beginning of skolas, run to the left towards “platform 1”. Immediate locate the “white servitor” and kill him with your shotgun. You have a 20 second buff to damage skolas. Shoot your rockets at skolas. You may get 2-4 rockets off before the adds and skolas runs toward you. After you fire your rockets, get the hell off “platform 1” and run towards “platform 2”. Don’t hesitate, if adds and skolas come, then run immediately. (this is where most deaths occur at the beginning of game) Don’t panic it’s ok if someone dies. Just go to “platform 2” and kill any adds you see. Just keep killing adds until skolas shows up and starts firing at you. Or you can rotate at any time but make sure the left walk way is clear. It’s time to start your first rotation clockwise toward “platform 1”. If someone is dead, then you can revive him at “platform 1”. Stay on the outer edge of arena. Don’t go in the middle arena. Go to “platform 1” and keep killing adds. Skolas will eventually make his way to you. If you need to rotate, then go to “platform 2”. Try to keep as far away from skolas as you can. If you happened to kill all adds, then send one person to look for the “white servitor” and kill it. Before you kill the servitor, lets your team know when you are about to shoot the servitor. Communication is the key to this game. Once the servitor is down, you have 20 seconds to damage and use rockets on skolas. Rinse and repeat until skolas’ health drops below 75%. At that time the bonds will be broken. Once the bonds are broken, you can damage skolas at will. You don’t have to kill the servitor anymore. 2. Now you will be tainted by the “Devouring Essence” (“DE”), a 30 second count down clock will appear on lower left screen. You will know when you get it. It’s like being shot with the Thorn. If the count down clock expires, you will die. You need to pass the “DE” to your teammate at around 5-10 seconds before it expires. Once you pass the “DE”, you will be immune for 35 seconds and cannot get “DE” until after your immune clock expires. Therefore, you teammates must take “DE” at 10 seconds or less. Remember to know your rotation. Keep in constant contact to see where the “DE” timer is at and know who is going to take it next. If you die with it, don’t panic. Just wait to be revived. There may be times where you will need to die with it, so find a safe place to die where your team can revive you easily. There may be a time where both teammates will die and you’re the only one alive. I usually rotate to the next platform to draw the adds away from my teammates. Depending when I get the “DE”, I may stop and reverse back to revive my team. Know your “DE” clock. You cannot make it all the way around so you need to take a short cut back to your team to revive. The “DE” continues until skolas is dead. 3. Keep killing adds and damage skolas when you can. You need to get skolas’ health bar to the letter “a”. The 1st set of mines will trigger halfway through the letter “a” so be careful. When you get closer to the letter “a”, have only one person shoot at skolas. Once the health bar is touching the right side of “a” and all adds are dead, you need to rotate to “platform 1”. Have everyone max out rocket launchers. Now wait for skolas to make his way towards your team. As he comes around the entrance area of arena, get ready to shoot him. When you have a clean shot from a distance then shoot your rockets until you hear “Dismantle mines yes or you die”. Stop shooting and look for the mines. Keep rocket launcher ready to shoot any adds. The last person to pass the “DE” should be the 1st person to go after the first mine. The other two must stick together to pass the “DE” to each other and go after the mines together. Use your “super” when you need it because this is where it comes in handy. Eventually, the 1st person to defuse the 1st mine will be able to join your team to grab the “DE” when it’s his turn. It’s ok if someone dies as long as your team defuses all 3 mines. If mine “B” triggers and you have a titan, make sure he puts up a bubble immediately when he gets there. It will make things easier. Now go back to killing adds. Also, I choose “platform1” to shoot at skolas and defuse the mines from because “platform 1” is nearest to all the mines than “platform 2”. Since the mines spawn at random, you don’t know which one will spawn first. But being at “platform 1” gives you an edge to get to the 1st mine. If you are at “platform 2”, it takes a long time to get to the furthest mine. 4. Kill the adds and shoot at skolas when you can. Eventually his health bar will approach the letter “K”. When it hits the right side of the “K”, have only one person shoot at skolas. You want to get close as you can to the left side of the “K”. You should stop right before the “I “ line in “K”. If you go passed it, it will trigger the mines –not good. When you are done getting to the left side of “K”, then make sure all adds are dead. If not then kill the adds. Once you kill all adds, the rotate to “platform 1”. Now max out the rocket launchers and wait for skolas to make his way to you. Once skolas comes to the entrance area of the arena, get your rockets ready and be patient. You will see 2 barrier columns at entrance area. Wait for skolas to move right of the barriers and if you shoot, he will hide behind it. Skolas needs to clear the barriers and be in the dirt area for a clean shot. Once skolas is in the dirt area, he can’t hide anywhere. You need all rockets to hit him. Now shoot all rockets at him. Even if you hear “Dismantle mines yes or you die”, instruct your team to keep on firing at skolas. If you run out of rockets, then use primary. Kill him first then go after the mines. No one should go after mines until he is dead. Even if one of you dies in the process, you can still get to the mines with 2 people once skolas is dead. When skolas is dead and 2 people are alive, then one person should stays at “platform 1” and the other goes toward “platform 2”. Hopefully if you follow the mechanics properly, you will kill skolas. Also if you have a titan, make sure he uses his “weapon of light” bubble before you shoot at skolas at the end. This will surely kill him unless one of you blows yourself up with a rocket. 5. If for some reason you cannot kill skolas in time and the mines spawn. Don’t panic, just defuse the mines.