Target: Taken Captain Race: Taken Special: Blink and Dark Energy Taken Captains pose multiple threats in combat. When a stronger mob is close by they will fall back to protect it, but once one decides to engage get ready to have your hands full. Able to move quickly, blink between 5-20 meters, accurate with ranged weapons, shielded, and able to manifest dark energy that can blind and damage its target. The Taken Captain is one of a handful of enemies that should be truly respected on the battle field. First lets talk about the weapons these brutes use. Ranged TCs will use a taken version of the Shrapnel launcher. Same concept and hits just as hard and they are deadly with it. Unlike the Fallen Captain, the TC will actually get close enough to makes it's shots work. Melee TCs use Taken versions of the shock blades and shock daggers. Outside of special events, bosses, and high end target mission, I would rank the melee TC in the top three deadliest to engage hand to hand. Even those with the heavy sword need to be cautious. They naturally attack faster than Guardians and can get a hit in before we can land a strike. Both ranged and melee use LoS to their advantage. Hiding and ambushing targets as they please. Second their health and shields are nearly unmatched. Compared to the Fallen Captain, Taken Captains have stronger shields, more health, and better recharge rates. In similar, the TC will retreat and hide until they recharge. That is unless the TC is going in for the kill then they do not stop until you make them stumble or they kill their target. Third is how capable they are at moving around. TCs are quick on foot and blink aggressively. Think of the Fallen Vandal (melee) as foot speed, and the blinking a TC does is second only to Vex Minotaurs. This gives the TC the edge in closing into a target or falling back. Fourth the TC is very protective. They will stay around stronger mobs to help give fire support and drive off anyone getting too close. Their favorite thing to do is to manifest Dark Energy and launch it at their targets. This is a nasty attack that can blind/darken your screen and does moderate to heavy damage depending on the mob being elite or not. The attack flies in a linear fashion and is not affected by gravity. It has a long range and travels until it hits a solid surface or extends its full range. They use this attack as much, if not more, than their weapons. Boss TC will use this to keep targets at bay while they bombard them with the shrapnel rifle. When the TC is the strongest mob in the group, they run the gambit in combat. They are relentless and pursue their targets with extreme prejudice. How to handle: First look around you and know your LoS spots, pit falls, ramps/stairs, and so on. This will help when giving chase, tracking down, or avoiding the TC. If a boss or boss like enemy is near by, you will find 80% of them by the boss. AoE attacks work in weakening and dropping these protectors. If they are the stronger being, they will be engaging on all fronts. Keep an eye open for Taken Vex Goblins, if they are near, they will shield the TC and will make them unstoppable. First get rid of all Taken Goblins, if any are present. If possible get rid of sniper support or farm the TC out of LoS. At long to mid range use snipers or rocket launchers. Up close use shotguns/fusion rifles. Rapid fire weapons will work too, but only if close enough to get all the shots in. Shields are strong so be patient. Elites over use the Dark Energy attack. Also their melee attacks do a bit of damage. These guys bring a lot of chaos to a fight and can keep their targets on the run. Personally I try to farm them around and either group them up to AoE them with grenades, rockets or supers. I will also bottleneck them up a flight of steps to center my attack. If they are supported by snipers or goblins I use their fast speed to my advantage by breaking them apart from these groups into a new location where it is one-on-one. When protecting a boss figure I will rid myself of the Vandals, then start throwing in grenades and rockets. Or as a defender I will bubble up and go to town with my sword.