Mark

Marked is a unique status effect. No character or monster can resist it(it still can miss) but it does nothing on its own. However, there are many hero and enemy skills that will deal extra damage to any character bearing a Mark.

List of marking Heroes

 * Arbalest - mark applies DODGE debuff, Sniper Shot has increased damage and crit vs. marked;
 * Bounty Hunter - mark applies PROT debuff, Collect Bounty has increased damage vs. marked;
 * Hound Master - mark applies PROT debuff, Hound's Rush has increased damage vs. marked;
 * Occultist mark applies DODGE debuff;
 * Grave Robber - Thrown Dagger has increased damage vs. marked;
 * Highwayman - Pistol Shot has increased damage vs. marked;
 * Crusader, Man-at-Arms, Leper and Flagellant can mark themselves, making some enemies focus their attacks on them;
 * Arbalest can clear any marks from her teammates with Rallying Flare.

Making use of marking
Usually, it's better to straight up attack the enemy, as marking by itself does nothing and you have to wait until next turn to take advantage of it. Mark works well against a high health enemy that takes a few turns to kill, like Large monsters and some bosses. For marking to be used effectively, it is recommended to have a few Heroes in the party who have synergies with marking. Some popular combos are fast Occultist and Bounty Hunter, Occultist and Arbalest, Arbalest and marking Hound Master. Hound Master's mark also comes with a PROT debuff, which makes it very useful even in the party without synergies. Best use of marking comes from The Marking Party: Arbalest, Occultist, Hound Master, Bounty Hunter. Self marking comes with the benefits like activating riposte or increasing PROT, but the extra damage a Hero receives makes it a lot less useful.

Lowering Defenses
While marking itself does nothing unless certain skills are used, marking skills are still important to use. This is because all marking skills will also debuff the enemy's defenses, making them easier to kill. Knowing which marks lower what kind of defense is important too, since some enemies protect themselves with PROT to reduce damage, while others have high DODGE making it hard to hit them.

List of marking enemies

 * Cultist Acolyte's Stressful Incantation (Veteran and Champion levels only);
 * Webber's Web
 * Collector's Life Steal (sometimes)
 * Swine Drummer's Drum of Debilitation
 * Large Carrion Eater's Weaken Pray
 * Fungal Artillery's Mark Prey
 * Wilbur's End This One/End These Two

List of enemies utilising marks

 * Cultist Brawler's Rend for The Old God
 * Webber's Bite
 * Spitter's Spit/Bite
 * Bone Arbalist's Quarrel
 * Carrion Eater's Munch
 * Large Carrion Eater's Tentacle Devour
 * Swine Prince's Obliterate Body/Obliterate Masses
 * Fungal Scratcher's Rend The Marked

Dealing with being marked
Being marked when facing an enemy which can utilize mark is a real danger. Increased (often doubled) damage is not the biggest threat - focused attacks on a single party member is. The simplest solution is to dispatch marking enemies before they have a chance to apply it. Other solutions include:
 * guarding;
 * removing mark with Arbalest's Rallying Flare;
 * moving marked members in the back ranks where they can't be reached;
 * buffing a marked party member's resistances, protection or healing to counteract damage;
 * sometimes it's simply faster to kill enemies who benefit from the mark first.