Taniks, the Scarred

"Taniks has no House. He kneels before no banner, owes allegiance to no Kell."

- Variks, The Loyal

Taniks, the Scarred is an infamous Fallen mercenary working 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. 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. Taniks was also inspired by the accomplishments of Sekris, Baron of Shanks.

Taniks is known to graft new technology onto himself from each of his exploit, including salvaged tech from the Fallen, Vex, and Humanity. 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.

Vanguard Dare
"He is a murderer...and very good at what he does."

- Variks, the Loyal

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. Even Osiris and the Speaker had brought in Saint-14, an infamous Guardian known amongst the Fallen, to find and kill the mercenary himself.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Wolf Rebellion
"I remember Taniks from the Reef Wars. Many Awoken dead. Clever, clever creature."

- Variks, the Loyal

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.

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

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.

Gameplay
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.

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.
 * 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.

List of appearances

 * Destiny
 * House of Wolves
 * The Taken King
 * Rise of Iron
 * Destiny 2
 * Curse of Osiris
 * Forsaken
 * Shadowkeep
 * Beyond Light