Disclaimer: I searched the forums and didn't find any mention of this, but if it is redundant, I apologize.
I just realized/discovered that you can kill Markis and cap the "Barrage" at the very start of the Iron Mines of Molaldune Mission.
You don’t have to complete the mission & it is actually much easier and faster with henchies than with live players.
The only caveat is that all live players have to have Necrotic Traversal in their skill bar or they have to wait until Markis is dead before they can run around and join you.
The basics are:
At the start of the mission, instead of heading east towards the bridge, go left to the ledge over looking a gaggle of assorted badies (Mostly White Mantle with a few Jades & Mursatt). If you Tab around a bit you will see where Markis is standing. He is always there and will not move unless triggered.
Next you need to create a corpse to use so you can use necrotic traversal. Simply target one of the many reachable White Mantle down below and cast any degens, life sucking, injury causing distance attacks you can. The henchies will follow your lead and soon you will have a corpse…or four. The moment you have the chance, cast necrotic traversal and zip down to the fray. Then, without moving out of range of the henchmen, continue killing anything that is within agro distance.
Once your immediate area is clear and there is no immediate threat, walk down (away from Markis) towards the ice. As soon as you are out of range, the henchmen will run around and join you. The Mantle and Stone Summit are usually too busy fighting to notice the henchmen & they will be able to just run past. Whatever you do, do not cross the frozen river, if you do, Markis will be triggered to run & you will have to start over. Any player that does not have Necrotic traversal MUST wait until Markis is dead before they run around and join you. Live players can make controlling the henchmen a bit tricky also…
When the henchmen have joined you head back towards Markis and his White Mantel Knight guard.
You should be able to kill the White Mantel Knight in a matter of seconds. Don’t worry about Markis, he won’t even notice you. However, sometimes the pathing of one or two of the remaining Jades and Mursaat that are past Markis might bring them within agro range, so be aware of what they are doing. Usually they pose no imminent threat.
Once the Knight has fallen, target Markis with everything you have.
With the help your assorted crew of henchies in a few moments, Markis should be dead and you may now cap Barrage.
(Note: If needed, I can post more screenshots to clarify)
I wish I had known about this a year ago…it would have saved a whole lot of frustration and time.
Oh, and I have no idea how this affects the outcome of the mission.
Note: In about 30 minutes & depending on the spawn, you can also Cap two of the following Elites in the same area just beyond Markis:
Hilios the Dutiful - Oath Shot (Ranger Elite)
Martigris the Stalwart - Devestating Hammer (Warrior Elite)
Feodor the Baneful -Life Transfer (Necro Elite)
