Defense of Amnytas: need clarification on a couple of steps

[Harfang.1507]

I have already done Defense of Amnytas many times, but there are still a couple of things I don't get about this meta.

First, once we reach the top platform, we have four tentacles to eliminate before targetting the boss. They need to have some kind of armor buff removed. I gather it is from one of the golems. Which one to head for? Or am I missing something else?

Second, "Help stop the tentacles from damaging the spire below." I gather I need to shoot tentacles with my skyscale's fireballs. Where are those tentacles? I see nothing targettable.

Third, as a bonus: when I first ran this meta, I usually got 200% participation by the end. Now I have trouble going past 125% and I am most definitely not going afk. I do not know what I may be doing different. Thoughts?

[Randulf.7614]

First) I don't usually do the top bit as I head to the spire tentclaes below, but if memory serves the golem is nearest the tentacle it debuffs. The wiki might be clearer on that

Second) The spire tentacles are further down and spawn on different sides and at different heights. I think there are usually four/five, with the last one right near the bottom. They shouldn't be too hard to spot if you down under the platform and circle the spire itself. You will see the tentacles coming up out of the side with turrets nearby. If you can't see them, it's prob because they've been taken out as some players split off as soon as the four on the platform spawn. 

Third) The participation % has been widely noted as varying considerably. People have suggested there is a bug that causes the participation to actually decrease. I'm not aware it makes much different to the reward or if it does, it is negligible

Edited March 28 by Randulf.7614
spelling

[neighto.7386]

3 hours ago, Harfang.1507 said:

Second, "Help stop the tentacles from damaging the spire below." I gather I need to shoot tentacles with my skyscale's fireballs. Where are those tentacles? I see nothing targettable

When everyone goes up top platform to fight the tentacles there are usually a handful of people who go down to fight the spire ones... you can do both parts at the same time.   If you arent seeing any targetable on the spire it means they have been cleared already.   Almost every time I have done this meta I tend to head down and to clear the spire and there are usually 3-5 other people with the same mindset so it helps speed things up a bit

[Chyro.1462]

One thing I noticed is that sometimes some of the white fields giving the special skills are missing, even though the mechanic requiring them is still happening (particularly the poison icon insta death that only 2 of the skills can cleanse). How does that happen?