Taniks, the Scarred

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Taniks, the Scarred
Taniks the Scarred.jpg
Biographical information

Other name(s):

Taniks, Perfected
Taniks, Reborn
Taniks, The Abomination

Species:

Fallen

Faction:

House of Scar (speculated)
House of Exile (inferred)
House of Winter (mercenary)
House of Wolves (mercenary)
Taniks' Crew
House of Salvation (inferred)

Rank:

Mercenary

Class:

Captain

Gender:

Male

Height:

12'1

Combat information

Mission:

The Shadow Thief
Nightmare Hunt (nightmare)
Deep Stone Crypt (raid)

Weapon(s):

Scorch Cannon
Shock Cannon (perfected)
Null Cannon (perfected)

Abilities:

Teleportation
Ultra Smash
Summon Fallen
Temporary Immunity
High Durability
Summon Walker
Rapid Movement
Temporary Vanish

 

"Taniks has no House. He kneels before no banner, owes allegiance to no Kell."
Variks, The Loyal[1]

Taniks, the Scarred is an infamous Fallen mercenary that worked for the House of Wolves during the Wolf Rebellion, though he will hire himself out to any House. He is encountered in The Shadow Thief Strike.

Biography

Taniks was once a Dreg docked by his Kell, only for him to had killed said Kell with prosthetic arms he built himself.[2] Since then, Taniks had made himself a reputation as an undying huntsman among the Eliksni, whose physical self is joined with a mix of technologies, each pilfered from legendary treasure troves.[3] Taniks was also inspired by the accomplishments of Sekris, Baron of Shanks.[4]

Taniks is known to graft new technology onto himself from each of his exploit, including salvaged tech from the Fallen, Vex, and Humanity.[3] He also craves combat, as he views his enemies as trophies and as such hones his combat skills for fun, and worships machinery to such a degree he has augmented himself extensively.[5]

Vanguard Dare

"He is a murderer...and very good at what he does."
Variks, the Loyal[6]

During the early City Age, Taniks sought to claim the bounty on an infamous crew of Hunters, including Andal Brask, Shiro-4, and Cayde-6. During a mission where Andal led to raid one supply cache while Cayde, Shiro, Nian Ruo, and Lush hit another, the Fallen mercenary ambushed Nian and Lush; murdering the former and destroying the latter's Ghost before they escaped.[7] Even Osiris and the Speaker had brought in Saint-14, an infamous Guardian known amongst the Fallen, to find and kill the mercenary himself.[8]

Despite their losses, Andal and the others decided to personally hunt down Taniks in retaliation. One night, Andal and Cayde stayed up late drinking and decided to make a Vanguard Dare, as the position of Hunter Vanguard had been empty for two years following Kauko Swiftriver's disappearance. They decided that whoever failed to kill Taniks would have to become the new Hunter Vanguard while the winner would live the life of a free Hunter.[9] Taniks was killed twice by Cayde's hand; leading Andal to become the new Hunter Vanguard while the latter would continue living a free Hunter.[9]

However, Taniks survived both his encounters with Cayde after his crew rebuilt him back from the dead. He then proceeded to murder Andal in cold blood, to which Cayde took up the mantle of Hunter Vanguard in memory of his fallen friend.[10] The Fallen mercenary, having cheated death yet again, was later hired out by the House of Winter to break Aksor, Archon Priest free from the Prison of Elders.[11]

Wolf Rebellion

"I remember Taniks from the Reef Wars. Many Awoken dead. Clever, clever creature."
— Variks, the Loyal[5]

Hired by the House of Wolves, Taniks and his crew attempted to plunder the Hellmouth before a fireteam of Guardians, sent by Variks, arrived to kill him, pursuing the mercenary through his Ketch before meeting his end.[12][13]

Resurrection

A year after the Taken War the Devil Splicers uses SIVA to resurrect him and become Taniks Perfected.[14]

Legacy

Taniks's infamy among the Guardians would carry on, as his form would taken as a Nightmare that the Guardians would face in the newly discovered crimson fortress on the moon. The Nightmare of Taniks, the Scarred, representing the Essence of Isolation, would be hunted down by Guardians sent by Eris, as she needed the essence to forge armor needed to resist the Nightmares and breach the Pyramid.

Beyond Light

Taniks appears in the cutscene after beating The Glassway strike alongside Eramis, Kell of Darkness and her elites.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Later, in the Deep Stone Crypt, a fireteam of Guardians would discover to their horror that Atraks-1, Fallen Exo has rebuilt Taniks yet again, who immediately begins angrily banging on a window in Clarity Control after spotting them. Taniks continues to harass the team as the Morning Star descends towards Europa, before seemingly dying again in the crash site, Desolation. However, Taniks survived the crash by merging himself with a Heavy Shank at the last minute, and re-emerges as a monstrous hybrid now dubbed "the Abomination" once the fireteam goes to investigate a pile of rubble. Desperate to succeed where he had repeatedly failed years ago, Taniks puts up a last stand in the crash site, but is finally dismantled for good at the hands of the fireteam.

Gameplay

Strike

He and his Ketch, Kaliks-Syn, are found on the Moon. Unlike most Fallen commanders, he is armed with a Scorch Cannon, which he uses with devastating effect. With this weapon, he can effectively hold down an area at any range. In addition, he will smash the ground if a Guardians wanders too close to him. Like many Captains, he can teleport. Unlike most Captains, though, he can teleport long distances. He uses this to avoid being defeated in one confrontation, requiring players to wear down his health until he can be cornered.

Raid

Trivia

  • Taniks is believed to have once been a member of an extinct Fallen house called the House of Scar. According to the flavor text of the Legendary Auto Rifle Does Not Bow, Taniks was punished with docking by his Kell; subsequently he built his first mechanical arms and took revenge.[15]
  • Taniks' cloak is orange and features an insignia not belonging to any known House. Whether it belongs to the House Taniks originates from, or is unique to Taniks himself, is unknown. It is also a random strike-exclusive Legendary drop for the hunter.
  • Taniks' is one of three Fallen Ultras found with Scorch Cannons, the others being Skolas and Vosik.
  • Taniks is one of the only Fallen enemies to kill a high authority of the Last City.
  • He leads his own group of loyal Fallen called Taniks' Crew.
  • Based on the context of Cayde-6's last messages, specifically for Taniks, it is plausible that Taniks, despite being killed twice by the events of Destiny (during the Wolf Rebellion, and the Age of Triumph), may once again be active.

Gallery

List of appearances

References

  1. ^ Bungie (2014/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Variks, The Loyal: Quotes
  2. ^ Bungie (2015/05/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, Item Description: Does Not Bow
  3. ^ a b Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Taniks, the Scarred
  4. ^ Bungie (2017/5/12), Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Mask of Sekris
  5. ^ a b Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: The Shadow Thief
  6. ^ Bungie (2014/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Variks, The Loyal: Quotes
  7. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Lore: Raise
  8. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Lore:Winner Take All
  9. ^ a b Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Activision Blizzard, Lore: Turn
  10. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Hunter Vanguard
  11. ^ Bungie, Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Taniks, the Scarred
  12. ^ Bungie (2014/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, The Shadow Thief
  13. ^ Bungie (2014/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, The Shadow Thief 2
  14. ^ Bungie (2016/20/9), Destiny: Rise of Iron Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: The Shadow Thief: Revisited
  15. ^ Ishtar Collective - Does Not Bow

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