Part 28

Learn how to play Skirmish (3v3 Team Deathmatch) and Salvage (3v3 Team Deathmatch with Relic objective) in Destiny: The Taken King, plus map strategies.

Skirmish

This is a 3 vs 3 Team Deathmatch. In addition to being able to fight as a team, you can Revive your teammates for bonus points and allows them to rejoin the fight faster. Dying pays a higher penalty as the respawn timer is longer.

Tips: This mode is about playing as a team so Golden Gun and Nova Bomb are not going to be favored like in other modes. Strikers, Bladedancers, and Voidwalkers will thrive in defeating entire parties quickly but a Defender can use a Ward to stop quite a few attacks allowing for a quick counter attack.

Salvage

This is a 3 vs 3 Team Deathmatch. Much like Skirmish you can Revive your teammates but the true objective is to capture the Relic by deploying your Ghost.

Tips: Play this mode like you would with Skirmish and use your Super Ability to claim the objective and not just to get a kill.

Maps

Anomaly

This map is fairly small and somewhat symmetrical. It's on a research base at the Moon, designed with an inner and outer ring for combat. The inner ring is the area near the artifact at the center of the base while the outer ring consists of the caves and loading dock area. There are little corridors and passages that connect the caves to the docking area, but only a few to the inner ring. It's possible to fight in the open at the center but you are best sticking on the move through the corridors. While sticking to the hallways you want to have close range weapons. Mid-range weapons are useful as you move out to the docking area but Sniper Rifles are not favored.

Melee combat and Shotguns should thrive here as you'll turn corners and could bump into the enemy. Auto Rifles are also a great weapon to carry around for transitioning between the inner and outer rings without fear of being unable to take an enemy down. Stick to Rocket Launchers in this map when it comes to the Heavy Weapons, it's too simple to fire a rocket down a narrow path for a kill. Use the Motion Tracker (a small radar (your minimap with nearby blips and threats marked) on your HUD (heads-up display — the on-screen icons showing health, ammo and the minimap)) to the best of your ability, it's difficult in the inner ring so it's best to make that just a passing through area though you should always be ready for a right.

Asylum

In the remnants of an old city on Venus you'll find this wonderful map. With overgrown streets and buildings, this is a perfect mix of urban combat. Use the buildings as cover (a place to hide behind) and the street to transition between them. Most of the structures are ruined with multiple entry points so there isn't a single place to sit and hide. Behind the large water container you find a decent spot to snipe down the main way but you still are left open at some point. When you do need to hide it's best to crouch on the upper levels to make your pings on the Motion Tracker more faint.

In order to thrive on this map you'll need to pay attention to the Motion Tracker and always check the hallways that transition into the street as it is ripe for combat. Camping in one of the buildings will likely leave you exposed unless you are in a team mode with others though being so close together leaves you open to a Rocket Launcher or Super Ability that will devastate the entire group. Keep on the move between buildings to confuse your enemy and constantly crouch behind the small walls to throw your opponent off.

Bastion

This map is on Mars and features many of the structures you'd see there from the Cabal and Vex. Travel by Sparrow is recommended unless you are able to acquire a Pike or Interceptor. The roads intertwine forming a figure eight with the buildings in between. Buildings are connected by a bridge that leaves players vulnerable to Sniper fire. Each building has a turret on the street side to deal with the vehicles but will be exposed from the buildings. There is a slight elevation change through the middle and more gradual increase along the edges.

This map is great if you are a good Sniper. There are numerous spots among the rocks and buildings to hide in and crouch to avoid being seen often. Aiming down the middle of the map allows plenty to shoot at. If you want to use the Pike and Interceptor then stick to the outside portions of the road and aim inward so you are avoiding the turrets that can easily mow you down. Fighting in the buildings is perfect if you like to use Fusion Rifles and Shotguns, you'll be able to defeat numerous enemies with some craft maneuvering. The Motion Tracker can be deceptive in this map so be careful trusting it.

Blind Watch

On a former human city in Mars you'll find this hydroponics and water processing facility. One half of the map is tightly woven infrastructure for close quarters combat and the other half opens up into a multi-tiered bonanza. The large turbine spins slowly round and round, leaving gaps to enter and leave from. The tanks outside provide cover and way to elevate, looking down at opponents that are near the building. There is an overhang in the back of the building with an open window to allow quick access in and out, of course you could always use the door.

In terms of strategy, you'll simply want to play with whatever you are best at a