Forums › Final Fantasy XIII Forum › Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 Forum › tiornys, destrian and wheresatari's stag ...

tiornys, destrian and wheresatari's stage 8 mission extravaganza!

Page:

This topic is now read-only on GameSpot.
To post new messages, please visit GameFAQs and log in using the same email and password that you use on GameSpot.

destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 3:37 pm GMT
Note on Mission 37: Aggression does not work at all. You want two Strike Team paradigms and two Cerberus paradigms. That's it.
---
CWLSIV
tiornys

Oct 20, 2012 4:14 pm GMT
destrian522 posted...
I'd really like to see a plan that prevents Dispelga, and I don't think that will be possible with slow battle speed.

Theorycrafting on this....
I don't think we can consistently maintain constant disruption through a paradigm shift without a lengthy animation such as Army of One, and we certainly can't do so through two shifts involving a non-offensive paradigm. Therefore, we have to be able to survive Multicast without Tortoise--and recover--for however many Multicasts the other Raktavija gets off while we kill the first.

If we can get Fang's Magic up around 1500, we can probably count on Shellra lasting throughout the stagger if we refresh it right before staggering. If we're looking to minimize shifts during the stagger, we probably want to be casting Deprotect as it staggers and shifting to our offensive paradigm as soon as we fling the last Deprotect, ideally with an ATB refresh, which would mean we'd need to ATB refresh into the buffing paradigm, get off 3x Shellra in under 12 seconds, and shift to some kind of SAB/RAV paradigm.

If we can kill quickly enough, we can get away with using Renew to heal. Otherwise we might need to use Diversity to kill the first Raktavija. Is it possible to kill a Raktavija in one stagger without t3 weapons at this level of development?

t~
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 4:33 pm GMT
Whatever we use to kill the first will have to suffice to kill the second. This fight requires too many paradigms to diversify like that.

I was hoping to use Fang's prolonged final hit for paradigm shifts, but I doubt that will suffice for a Tortoise shift (that would require strangely convenient timing anyway).

Does Multicast work on a timer? How often will we be expecting it with Slow?
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 4:47 pm GMT
Well, I just got to my first semi-challenging encounter. Corrosive Custard kills me in one hit. This fight might end up a bit defensive guys.
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 5:48 pm GMT
Mission 44: Corrosive Custard, Hybrid Flora, and Monstrous Flan
Battle Time: 3:19
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Fang: Pandoran Spear + Sorcerer's Mark, Sorcerer's Mark, and Sorcerer's Mark
Sazh: Spica Defenders + Ember Ring, Ember Ring, and Witch's Bracelet
Vanille: Belladonna Wand + Ember Ring, Ember Ring, and Witch's Bracelet

Fang/Sazh/Vanille
Sab/Syn/Sab
Sen/Sen/Sen
Sab/Syn/Med
Com/Rav/Rav
Com/Com/Com
Com/Com/Com

Fang can equip three Sorcerer's Marks without raising the target time very much, which is pretty cool. Start in Espionage and get a string of Daze in targeting Corrosive Custard. Switch to Tortoise for Quake (it gets very awkward if it doesn't use it right away). and switch to Evened Odds. Stick Daze on the Custard if you haven't already, stick Daze on the Monstrous Flan, and then stick Deshell on the Hybrid Flora if it isn't already there. Switch to Relentless Assault for two rounds to kill the Hybrid Flora (this is tricky. You need to redirect your allies to attack the Monstrous Flan next by having it targeted when they land the killing blow), and then switch to Evened Odds to stick Deshell on the Monstrous Flan. Switch to Relentless Assault for two rounds to kill the Monstrous Flan. Daze has likely worn off by now but switch to Espionage to stick Fog and Pain. Use Evened Odds if you must for healing. Don't use Libra until after Imperil is stuck or Sazh will switch your Enspell. Once Imperil, Fog, and Pain are stuck, switch between your Cerberus paradigms to kill. It seemed too difficult to chain so I didn't bother, but you could use Smart Bomb and maybe save some time.

Also, it turns out that I have six lightning rings. I don't think the Witch's Bracelets are necessary so it might be better to Libra Corrosive Custard earlier (but probably still after killing the other two) so that you'll get Enthunder buffed. Your damage output will be higher and you'll also take less damage from Monstrous Flan's Thundara spamming. It sounds better. Actually, it will need to be tested. I'm not sure if Sazh and Vanille will survive with their minimal Sen Bonus.
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 6:38 pm GMT
Mission 50: Humbaba
Battle Time: 0:50
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Light: Axis Blade + Sprint Shoes, Aurora Scarf, and Morale Talisman
Hope: Hawkeye + Sprint Shoes, Aurora Scarf, and Whistlewind Scarf
Vanille:Belladonna Wand + Sprint Shoes, Aurora Scarf, and Nimbletoe Boots

Light/Hope/Vanille
Rav/Rav/Sab
Rav/Rav/Rav
Rav/Rav/Rav
Com/Syn/Sab
Com/Com/Com

Start in Tri-disaster and use Libra immediately. Execute Thunder-Fire-Thunder-Fire-Thunder. Depending on how fast you are, you probably don't want Lightning to cast the entire queue. Switch to Smart Bomb and repeat while Vanille sticks Imperil (if you start in Smart Bomb she will stick Deprotect and Deshell). I like to delay the repeat just a little so that I finish before Hope but get more attacks in after Imperil sticks. Switch to Tri-disaster and repeat for a round. Switch to Tri-disaster and repeat for two rounds, staggering Humbaba. Switch to Bully and Auto-Battle to launch while Hope gets an Enfire or two and Vanille sticks Deprotect and Deshell. Switch to Cerberus for a round to kill. I'm fast enough to beat Gore with this setup.
---
CWLSIV
wheresatari

Oct 20, 2012 7:22 pm GMT
I haven't found a way to consistently interrupt it if Deprotect is used, which is a must. I would also count on Fang's prolonged hit. My best run I talked about last night was the only time so far I made it through the stagger with all buffs...in fact, it's the only time I made it through an entire stagger period>.< Getting Fang's magic that high is impossible without losing some Witches' Bracelets, which I don't think we can afford. I have her, as far as I know, best magic weapon on her at T2* (Calamity) and she's about 8 or 900 with her str at almost 1100 (I know it's over 1000). Even if she does have a better magic weapon, Idk if I can afford to lose the Improved debilitation II.

I can survive without Tortoise. In fact, I haven't used it in a while. The only issue is that, as soon as my Sen is gone, I'm toast. This means we may need a Sen throughout the stagger as well. This brings up more issues though, such as being less likely than we already are to keep it interrupted and it definitely taking at least two staggers to kill one (Maybe 3 if there's only one attacker in Fang, with Snow tanking and Vanille healing). That can't happen, so having a constant Sen and two Renews will have to suffice. That's one Renew per stagger.

I haven't killed one yet, but I can make it easier to try without needing to use Tortoise every two seconds. That effectively keeps Shellra up, my party Hasted and it makes it easier to keep the Raks Slowed. Vanille can keep my party healthy enough, especially if you upgrade the Healer's Staff and Umbra. My biggest issues are, if you lose focus for a minute, the gauge can empty, and it's tough to keep Imperil up. One chaining Paradigm sucks as well (especially since it's Mystic Tower). A really nasty aspect is the 2 Adamantites required to upgrade those weapons. It's even more if you max their T2 forms, costing you for 6 UCRs, 79 SCs, 4 PAs, 2 Adamantites, 72 Sturdy Bones, 72, Barbed Tails and 36 Vibrant Ooze for a grand total of the shirt off your back, an arm and a leg. I did have the PA's though.

Edit: I have 808,000 G, and I still had to sell an Entite Ring to do it all. After all that, if I still need G, I have another Entite Ring, a Royal Armlet and a Connoiseur Catalog I can sell. Oh yeah, it'll cost even more if you haven't upgraded the Witches' Bracelets yet (which luckily I did when I fought the Titan's Trials Rak).

All these issues may culminate in not getting 5 stars since there will be 3 T2* weapons present, and 9 Witches' Bracelets* (though Idk how much that'll affect the target times).
---
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except by Me.
-The Lord Jesus Christ. John 14 verse 6.
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 7:18 pm GMT
I'm not sure how it is possible to pull off a Fog-based strategy for Mission 36 without Auto-Veil on everyone. Maybe one in ten fights I will get lucky and it will work but generally it's just a disaster. I'd need to grab Veil and Esuna for Fang, and I don't really want to invest that much in Med right now. I could make it work if I used a bunch of items, too, but that doesn't sound good either.
---
CWLSIV
wheresatari

Oct 20, 2012 7:24 pm GMT
I suggest not buying anything before Haste for Fang. It takes forever to get there already. You can consistently beat the Amam fight by having a Sen like Snow there, and using the Auto-Veil item on your leader.
---
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except by Me.
-The Lord Jesus Christ. John 14 verse 6.
wheresatari

Oct 20, 2012 7:29 pm GMT
Though it may be best to use Auto-Veil on your healer, and an Aurora Scarf on your Sen. I get that you're trying to optimize though. After all, you'll be fighting these guys a lot.
---
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except by Me.
-The Lord Jesus Christ. John 14 verse 6.
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 7:50 pm GMT
My only Auto-Veil item is a single Tetradic Tiara, unfortunately.

Mission 36: Amam x2
Battle Time: 1:47
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Hope: Vidofnir + Aurora Scarf, Sprint Shoes, and General's Belt
Vanille: Belladonna Wand + Aurora Scarf, Sprint Shoes, and Tetradic Tiara
Fang: Pandoran Spear + Aurora Scarf, Sprint Shoes, and Shield Talisman

Hope/Vanille/Fang
Syn/Sab/Sab
Med/Sab/Sab
Med/Med/Sab
Rav/Rav/Rav
Com/Com/Com
Com/Com/Com

Leading with Hope has been far more consistent than leading with Fang. I'd imagine that a more developed party or one with better accessory selection could benefit from using Fang as a leader. Basically, Start in Espionage and quickly cast Veil on yourself. If you get stuck with Fog, you can try to switch to Perseverance for Vanille to Esuna you but you're probably going to lose. Ideally, you will switch to Safe Subversion and Esuna Fang's negative statuses followed by either AoE recovery or single target recovery. Switch back to Espionage for Protect-Barthunder on yourself. Then repeat for Vanille, and then for Fang. Jump to Safe Subversion or Perseverance as needed. Buff Faith-Enfrost on Hope and Vanille and Faith-Bravery on Fang. At that point, I just jumped to Cerberus and used that to end the fight. I did have Fog on both at that point, but other times I did not so I think Barthunder is necessary. I didn't try chaining them or focusing on one at a time. I guess I'll save that for next time. With this strategy as it is, Tri-disaster should probably be Tireless Charge.
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 8:40 pm GMT
Mission 37: Ochu + x2 Microchu
Battle Time: 2:40
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Fang: Pandoran Spear + Ember Ring, Ember Ring, and Warrior's Wristband
Sazh: Spica Defenders + Sorcerer's Mark, Sorcerer's Mark, and Sorcerer's Mark
Vanille: Belladonna Wand + Ember Ring, Ember Ring, and Sorcerer's Mark

Fang/Sazh/Vanille
Sab/Syn/Sab
Sab/Syn/Rav
Sab/Rav/Med
Sab/Rav/Rav
Com/Rav/Med
Com/Com/Com

Ochu hits hard and Daze sticks very easily so I went with a defensive strategy this time. Start in Espionage and use a string of Daze. It will stick. The problem is, Vanille will be hitting Ochu as well. Your goal is to stick Daze, cancel your string, go to repeat or Auto-Battle, change target to a Microchu, and switch to Guerilla before Vanille does anything to knock off Daze. It might take a couple of rounds depending on what she does, but at least she will be sticking debuffs in the meantime so you don't lose out too much.

In Guerilla, Libra a Microchu and Auto-Hinder it. Switch to Diversity and use Attack x5 to kill it. Plead doesn't matter since Ochu is Dazed. Kill the other one and then switch back to Espionage and chain Daze again. You want to stay here until Ochu has Imperil and you've got full buffs. Then use Smart Bomb instead. Don't forget to work Libra in at some point. Also, use Curse-Curse-Daze-Daze-Daze-Daze to stick Curse and Slow-Slow-Daze-Daze-Daze to stick Slow. Chain in Smart Bomb until you see Seed Dispersal, and then jump to Cerberus for some fast damage. I screwed up and went to Diversity instead. Then jump to Diversity to finish the Ochu. Use Cerberus to take out the three summoned Microchus. I only got hit by Ochu one time in the entire fight, and it certainly wasn't Screech.

How much slower was I than you, tiornys?
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 20, 2012 9:54 pm GMT
Mission 48: Verdelet x4
Battle Time: 0:09
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Light: Organyx + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband
Fang: Bladed Lance + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband
Snow: Power Circle + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband

Light/Fang/Snow
Com/Com/Com
Com/Com/Com

I made another Morale Talisman. Just Auto-Battle. Paradigm shift during the second Blitz animation and Auto-Battle again. I've found that party order makes a pretty significant difference in this fight. I'd stick with the order listed here (unless you guys want to try other combos to see if they are better).
---
CWLSIV
tiornys

Oct 21, 2012 1:51 am GMT
Nice progress, destrian!

re: Mission 36. I use Fog-resisting accessories and Mallets to remove Fog if necessary (Pain falls off naturally by the time I care about physicals), I stick Slow before Fog on the Amam, and I have a Calamity Spear, which might be a very big deal given the experiences you and LewdDolphin have had. Once I refined it, my strategy worked well for me 3 out of 3 trials (twice when I was refining, then a third time on another run through the Faultwarrens). I'll probably keep going through the 2x Amam fight to further test it until I'm forced to go the other route. The Rafflesia are easy enough that I don't see any need to test against them repeatedly.

I think you were about 40 seconds slower than I was against Ochu, although I'm not certain since I didn't record my time. The Microchus weren't threatening enough for me to care about them until Ochu was down, although Daze has the advantage of allowing you to only deal with two of them.

Verdelet are just as vulnerable to (non-elemental) magic as physicals, so I gave Lightning a magic spec to efficiently utilize my available eq.

t~
destrian522

Oct 21, 2012 9:20 am GMT
I tried giving Snow a Blessed Talisman and Sorcerer's Mark and he wouldn't cast, so I just went with all physicals. I wanted to keep Light with physicals for her fast Blitz spamming. I can see it being possible, but I find it very hard to believe that magic is more effective. I'm sure its effective enough, though. Maybe with 6 ATB.

I did have to kill five Microchus. Similar to Bart 2 and 3's faces, Orphan's Rain, and Proudclad's bit, I don't think that the Ochus actually use Seed Dispersal. It just happens. I had Daze status active on Ochu when Seed Dispersal triggered, and I'm sure of it. 40 seconds is a lot, though. I'll have to try some time with comparable equipment and see if I can refine it down to that. It would be nice to be both fast and safe, but I'm not sure if that will happen. I like killing the Microchus because it makes Vanille's A.I. work better.
---
CWLSIV
destrian522

Oct 21, 2012 10:08 am GMT
Mission 38: Verdelet x3 + Adroa
Battle Time: 0:08
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Light: Organyx + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband
Fang: Bladed Lance + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband
Snow: Power Circle + Aurora Scarf, Morale Talisman, and Warrior's Wristband

Light/Fang/Snow
Com/Com/Com
Com/Com/Com

Use Auto-Battle, paradigm shift during the second Blitz animation, use Auto-Battle.
---
CWLSIV
tiornys

Oct 21, 2012 11:20 am GMT
Repeated 2xAmam and Ochu, had a hiccup on 2xAmam for the first time as I didn't stick Fog in time to prevent the first Thunderfall, which healed Fog on the other Amam who got a second Thunderfall off, undoing Slow. I was able to stick everything after that and win as normal, but that's a clear flaw with my strategy, and is highly suggestive as to why you've been unable to repeat it.

Ochu does take me about 2 minutes.

t~
destrian522

Oct 21, 2012 11:49 am GMT
Mission 42: Borgbear Hero + Borgbear x4
Battle Time: 1:34
Battle Rating: Five Stars

Fang: Pandoran Spear + Sprint Shoes, Morale Talisman, and Aurora Scarf
Vanille: Belladonna Wand + Sprint Shoes, Blessed Talisman, and Aurora Scarf
Sazh: Spica Defenders + Sprint Shoes, Morale Talisman, and Aurora Scarf

Fang/Sazh/Vanille
Sab/Sab/Syn
Sab/Med/Rav
Com/Rav/Rav
Com/Rav/Com
Com/Rav/Com
Com/Com/Com

Start in Espionage and cast Painga before being interrupted. Cast another just after and shift to Variety. Keep Use Painga more while Sazh gets a couple Firagas in to put the enemies in Staggering range. Then switch back to Espionage and use Painga until they all have it. Then use Fogga until you see Vanille cast Deprotectga. Once you see this, jump to Aggression and Blitz/Attack the Borgbears to kill them all. Use the other Aggression as necessary. Once they are all dead, use Cerberus to kill the Borgbear Hero. If it is not staggered, use Relentless Assault first.

I can do better time-wise because I kept switching to Relentless Assault when I didn't want to. I should have put it somewhere else. If they all gang up on one person in the beginning, that person will die. I need to check and see how much faster Sazh typically buffs than Vanille debuffs because it might be worth losing Auto-Faith and Auto-Bravery for other things.
---
CWLSIV
wheresatari

Oct 21, 2012 8:28 pm GMT
So my preliminary results were a complete failure>.<

I tried Syn/Sab/Sen, Syn/Med/Sen, Sab/Med/Sen. Mystic Tower, Rav/Sab/Sen, Com/Rav/Sen.

I tried WW instead of Witches'* in a slot, and Vanille can't keep up with healing without them.

I didn't even take off half health on one in 3 staggers b/c there's no consistent way to interrupt it without AoO.

I can survive a long time now, but simply can't do any significant damage; the only reason I'm surviving this long, though, is b/c of that Sen during stagger.

I really need to lose the Sen in the last two Paradigms, but I can't survive stagger if I do.
---
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father except by Me.
-The Lord Jesus Christ. John 14 verse 6.
tiornys

Oct 21, 2012 8:46 pm GMT
It might be time to go back to the single Raktavija for research. We need to figure out how to survive Multicast without a SEN and how to keep it interrupted with three attackers (but only one COM), or we need to figure out how to keep it interrupted with two attackers. If we can't manage either of those against the single Raktavija, then we'll need to take a close look at LewdDolphin's strategy.

t~