Steps of the Rite

Steps of Rite is a mission in the campaign of Legacy of the Void, and the first mission in the Tal'darim storyline.

Background
""Behold the Death Fleet, under Amon's command. Poised to lay waste to all life in the sector."

- Alarak

The Spear of Adun warped into orbit of Slayn, as Artanis and Alarak looked upon the Death Fleet. Alarak stated they had to make preparations, to which Artanis stated there was no time to sit and idly prepare. Alarak was firm in that the rite of Rak'Shir that would allow him to depose Highlord Ma'lash could not be rushed it they were to be accepted. Artanis grudgingly had no choice but to follow Alarak's wishes.

Mission
""I thought you promised an assured victory, Alarak." "You enjoy a challenge, do you not?"

- Artanis and Alarak

Alarak informed Artanis that the guardians of Ma'lash needed to be slain before Rak'Shir could commence. The Daelaam were deployed to the surface of Slayn, and established a base, but terrazine fog began to arise from the chasms of the planet. This came in cycles, and shadows of the Void began to manifest and attack the Daelaam base. After surviving the onslaught, the Daelaam mobilized a counterattack against Ma'lash's guardians.

During the attack, Karax discovered two Tal'darim motherships with solarite cores, that could be destroyed to upgrade the Spear of Adun. One by one the Daelaam killed the guardians, fighting through cycles of terrazine fog, tal'darim and hybrid. With the last guardian dead, Alarak revealed that this wasn't actually part of Rak'Shir, but would help him in it. He came to Ma'lash and invoked the rite of Rak'Shir, challenging him to a duel to the death for leadership of the Tal'darim.

Aftermath
""We are not here to slay your enemies under false pretenses. Deceive me again and this 'alliance' of ours comes to an end." "Slaying Ma'lash's guardians fulfilled more than one purpose. Once the highlord lies dead at my feet, none my challenge my rule."

- Artanis and Alarak

Artanis confronted Alarak stating that if he deceived him again, there would be no alliance. Alarak countered by stating killing the guardians would help secure his rule as highlord. He took a dose of terrazine, which allowed him to feel Amon's rage at Alarak's betrayal. Alarak stated that his victory was assured, but Artanis warned him that his overconfidence would be his opponent's greatest strength.

Walkthrough
The player starts in the southeast corner, and initially must hold off waves of shadows of the Void. These are weaker versions of units from all three factions, but they come in a large number and with powerful combinations, so a strong defense of photon cannons and shield batteries is recommended.

After the wave subsides, start void ray production. This can serve as both a defensive unit once the terrazine fog starts and as a unit that can destroy most of guardian's defenses. Attack from angles that have the minimal number of defenders, and with sufficient numbers the shrines holding the guardians should be destroyed with little chance for them to counterattack. Once the terrazine fog begins pull forces back to defend the base.

The motherships are also easily countered by a large number of void rays, but it is recommended not to engage them with too small of numbers as they are moderately well defended and cloak all units around them.