Final Fantasy Brave Exvius

So in general, for the ELT of this new Exploration Challenge-
If you can get to the last boss, make sure you have Minfilia, Marie, or Cerius. Lots of fire damage; if you don't reduce it enough, the physical attacks will probably kill you. They were doing low hundreds to my characters, but after some sort of physical sweeping attack against the party, most of my characters were below half health, and this was also with Cecil's LB MAXED AND Y'shtola's LB (which does total damage mitigation rather than defense boosting). The only way my defense could've been better would be specific equipment setups and leveling up Y'shtola's LB. Unfortunately, I can't give much advice for long-term fights, as I had it down in two rounds because Orlandeau shenanigans.

With that Trust Moogle, as well as the monthly arena reward, Ramza is now at 60% Trust towards that Brave Suit. I'm currently trying to think of the best way to balance out my gear between him and Noctis, because Noct can't use heavy armor & helms, so it would be a waste to not have someone use the good stuff like Demon Mail and the new Imperial Helm, but the best stuff is light equipment, and usually you'd want the best equipment on the best attacker (Orlandeau).

Finished Monster Breastplate TMR. For some reason, I'm getting anxious and thinking that the XI Raid Boss event might be coming up soon, so I think I'll do another Champion Belt next.

I'm not sure what'll come first down the line: X event or XI event. What I can say is that X seems to have better characters in Tidus and Rikku, though XI has my personal favorite, Prishe, and I will say that Werei has an awesome TMR for Longsword users (which I have two awesome ones). I'm up to 10k Lapis again, which leaves me wondering how I'll want to use that Lapis between those two sets (XI, while it does still use a Raid Summon system, will not have Raid Summoned Units like XIV did).

EDIT: Oof, I take it back. If they're actually doing the Bahamut raid, then the XI Shadow Lord raid is probably much further off than I'd hope. Fun fact: Bahamut actually came BEFORE Lord of Inferno Ifrit in JP. Sounds like it'll be time to further save Lapis and tickets for the future. I'll still go with Champion Belt for TMR farming though.
And Dark Fina gets her ability awakenings this week... and I still don't have her. T-T

IMPORTANT: Next 10 days have free Rare Summon draws.

People are actually looking forward to the 4* unit on the Dragon Killers draw coming up; the Blood Mage Zyrus. Mostly because at 6*, his Limit Burst grants him the power to use 2 of his "Blood" abilities in a single turn (for 2 turns). Definitely might be good if you have someone to use Entrust (like Ling?).

Note: Try not to forget that there is two Shadow of Bahamut Vortex banners. One is for the Raid (done with orbs), the other is for the Trial (done with NRG, can be a one-and-done deal).

Also, in the next few weeks, be on the lookout for a new Farplane Trial boss. The next one going by the JP schedule is Ultros and Typhon, however... it looks like they've made a new one to be released for Global. And by the silhouette shown elsewhere, people are saying it's Echidna (based on FF3). No idea what kind of reward will be obtainable from it.

I beat Trial Bahamut, though didn't get the "defeat with Esper" mission clear. As for that King Burst Pot, thanks but no thanks, just getting through Bahamut was hard enough with the other missions.

If you have a decent Reberta on your Friend List, take them, her powerful jumps are great and can be timed to avoid Megaflares. That Megaflare is no joke though. My Cecil, with over 7k HP after using Focus (to get everyone else some more SPR for magic resist, else he'd be guarding too) was immediately downed by it. EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO DEFEND OR THEY WILL DIE (Except for maybe your healer if their SPR is high enough, I know Y'shtola barely survived one without guarding toward the end). Hell, they might still die, that's how powerful it is. The victory was my second attempt, my first was pretty much worthless once I found out how truly powerful Megaflare was (it was taking down some people that were defending, though I hadn't given them SPR boosts). Also, I hear this Bahamut resists Holy, so Divine Ruination/Excalibur chains are not recommended.

Back to the grind.

Alright, we have confirmation on Echidna!

Special gear reward: Assassin's Vest. Light Armor class. DEF+40, SPR+20. Nullifies Poison and Paralysis. Looks to have Evasion boosts to it, don't know how much yet. Unfortunately, since it's Light Armor, Ling can't use it. Noctis and Lightning can, if you're willing to throw out the opportunity for ATK bonuses. I think people are also talking about a 100% Evade Warrior of Light (though we STILL don't have his 6* awakening yet, dammit!). Anyways, only other unique thing from Echidna is "Echidna's Kiss," which is MAG+30% (and unfortunately takes another ability space. They could've just made it MAG+30% and have it stack with Shantotto's TMR).

Battle of Judecca next, or "Type 0, Event #3." 4* King and 5* Rem. Their event weapons now give exclusive boosts to their respective characters, and King and Rem can now naturally Dual Wield their particular weapons. Rem is loved in Arena because AOE Osmose; I'm pretty sure she's also considered a top healer.

Is it the Echidna IV, XIV, or III?

Rainday wrote:Is it the Echidna IV, XIV, or III?

III.
The ugly snake hanging from the ceiling. I'm pretty sure they used the vampire-girl sprite for Echidna in the later Advance version of IV because of the ceiling-hangingness.

Okay then... Echidna is not easy. Certainly no way to cheese her like some people have been doing with other fights, like a Ling setup that is completely invincible against Gilgamesh (100% Evasion, 100% Light Resist, Wind weapon to seal the wind attack that lowers elemental resistance, and Safety Bit to avoid Death). Supposedly, you'll want Minfilia in your group if you don't have Marie, because HEAVY wind damage pretty much every turn, among other things, so you'll want her elemental guards. She has 50% Light resist, so having Orlandeau x2 chaining Divine Ruination will only do neutral damage. She can Charm a unit (incurable), as well as Confuse. I got frickin smoked my first run, I'll have to see how things go when I take Minfilia along instead.

Actually, Minfilia might be preferable to Marie for this fight, as she also has confusion resistance for the party, something that was a major hindrance for me.

Anyways, before my first attempt at Echidna, I took the time to find my way to the Sorcerer's Hideaway in Mysidia. Finally got myself that Safety Bit from the Fat Chocobo. You'll want it on your tank for Echidna, as she has a Death attack too. After my failed attempt on her, I decided to face off with Gilgamesh once more instead, with a 5-unit party. A pair of Orlandeaus really did a number on his health (not nearly what they did to Dark Ifrit), and I didn't need to worry too much about his magic swords besides Light and Fire. Unfortunately, his Death seemed to get around Provoke, and ended up taking out other units besides my tank at times. But I still beat him in a short amount of time, and got the ATK+30% reward from him.

Now I'm on the path to unlocking Titan (yeah, I was a slowpoke this time around).

DoubleEdged wrote:

Rainday wrote:Is it the Echidna IV, XIV, or III?

III.
The ugly snake hanging from the ceiling. I'm pretty sure they used the vampire-girl sprite for Echidna in the later Advance version of IV because of the ceiling-hangingness.

That's a pity, I just found out she got another sexy design in Final Fantasy Legends II
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Echidna

Speaking of III...

I haven't been having much luck getting banner units out of gold crystals. Been running into plenty of gold crystals though.

My last two have been Refia (III), and Setzer (not-III).
I do have a Dualcast ready for Refia if I were to level her up now, though I'm wondering if I'd be better off benching her until she gets enhancements. I pretty much have all the best healers now until Ayaka.
Setzer is really going to change things up now that I have one of my own. He is absolute hell in Arena with Cursed Card (if you don't have everyone with Ribbons or Tilith/Seven TMRs), but since I have Orlandeau, I can simply use an Orlandeau companion and have Setzer Double Dice the Divine Ruination chain.

Oi... what else can go not as intended...

So, apparently we have actual bots clogging up the standings for the Raid event. I'm talking tens of thousands of bots. Yesterday, I was at rank 17k-ish in the morning. By nighttime, I was rank 80k.

And now today, I screwed up in the summoning menu. I was trying to use some Bahamut coins in the Raid Summon, but accidentally ended up using 5000 Lapis in the Dragon Killers banner.
Good news- I finally managed to get Zyrus, and easily picked up his TMR with all the Moogles I've been getting from the Raid Summon. I also got another 5* base. Unfortunately... it was Lightning. Not sure what I can do with her at this point. Sure, I may have really wanted her a long time ago, but that was before so many better characters came out.

We're in trouble!

They're releasing FFXIV part 2 WAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!!
Japan had Cloud, Tidus and Rikku, and even the Sworn Six among their rosters when this raid boss came out, not to mention 6* awakening for Warrior of Light. And I hear Titan was still tough even then! This could very well be an unfair level of difficulty for us unless they nerf Titan.

I know Stormblood is coming out this next month, but I was still expecting Shadow Lord to be coming our way before Titan.

On the bright side, 2 new free 4* units- Black Mage Papalymo and Monk Yda.

Also, take note- the part 3 event is going on right now in Japan, and it introduced recipes with which you can upgrade the TMRs of the XIV units (a value of 5% added to each respective stat boost I believe). Keep collecting as you can.

Also, apparently Japan's FFBE announced that their next event will be a new Mana event. In particular... Seiken Densetsu 3.

Everyone but Duran and Angela I hear. And they'll probably all be in their starting forms, so I can't really fantasize about Fenrir Knight Riesz (Riesz being a 5* base character, by the way).

But it doesn't matter, since there's no way we'll be getting the event in Global anyways.

Also, I finished Quick Assault number 3. After I finish a Romandan Pistol, I'm going to start focusing on some ailment-resisting TMRs; Arena has just been killing me lately because Ling and Setzer. I already have one Ribbon, and now I've got Tilith in the TMR party alongside 4 Mustadios. When Mustadio is done, I'll probably go with all the Kefkas I have to go for a second Ribbon.

New event format incoming! This one seems like a sort of "progressive story" style. If you've played Record Keeper, I think I can fairly say it's like a longer version of a Record Keeper stage- you have to play through the whole scenario at once, with no healing in between portions.

Next unit summon looks nice as well.
Fohlen the Chocobo Knight is apparently a very powerful wind attacker.
Amelia the maid can dual-wield guns, and her TMR maid apron is clothing armor that increases ATK for gun wielders by 30%. She has AOE stop, and I believe a 10-hit AOE damage attack, good for chaining.
Camilla has a dual wield (Sword only) Sword TMR with water element.
Not sure about Ilias.

Well, this new event style looks alright to me. It does take a lot more energy than I expected though. People are pretty much saying you can treat it as "One-and-done," at least while Awakening Giancrysts are still not dropping from the last bosses. Most of the missions are pretty simple, I've only missed two so far (after 8 out of 10 stages), and one was because I didn't look close enough at the mission list before I started (Evoke Siren, and I didn't have anyone equipping Siren). Anyways, it's a decent way to earn Ability Crystals without using the Vortex Chamber.

Don't know if anyone else around is still keeping up, but-

With the story update this week, the Mysidia vault can be completed, which grants a non-element Longsword with over 100 ATK.
And with the Main Character Trials coming up, you can obtain another decent longsword (with fire element) and katana, however, they really are only decent (neither above 100 ATK) in the hands of anyone other than Rain and Lasswell, respectively. And then there's the fact that you can only run these trials with the main cast (Rain, Lasswell, Fina, Lid, Nichol, Jake, Sakura). If you intend to run this, I'm pretty sure anyone will tell you your party should mainly be Rain, Lasswell, Fina (all at 6* forms now), and Sakura (she apparently has a very good skill that people would kill to have on better units), fifth being who cares.

Datamining shows that the return of the Maxwell trial will also come with a higher-level fight. I don't know if there will be any unique items from it, or just stuff like Moogle/event currency/tickets/Lapis.

Also this weekend, they should have a banner for an 11-pull summon, with the added bonus of ONE GUARANTEED 5*-BASE CHARACTER. However, I have no confirmation as to whether this is free, or will still cost 5000 Lapis. And then there will also be a month of free daily pulls. FFX event coming soon, Rikku (4*) is a real game changer, Tidus (5*) is very powerful. I'll see about getting Rikku, definitely trying to save up what I can for Prishe (who just got some awesome awakenings in JP I hear). I still believe XI would've been scheduled to come this month instead of XIV-Titan.

And I should have Kelsis this week.

Well, that Adventurer materia plus upgrades seems simple enough to get, but very grindy. Thousands of relics, while the most you can get in an expedition in 8 in an S-rank.

Also, I like the new app icon. The "Intertwined Dreaming Finas" image, AKA the "not-kissing Finas" image.

Reference
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:FFBE_Fina_Dark_Fina_CG.png

Very nice.

Well, I went and did that 5000 Lapis pull with guaranteed 5* character. Only 1 rainbow crystal in that pull.

SEABREEZE
DARK
FINA

*sigh*
Not the original, but goddamn, I'LL TAKE HER!!!
Her TMR (Dark Fina's Swimsuit) is best singular MAG-boosting armor, only beaten by good robes while the wearer also uses (standard) Dark Fina's TMR which boosts MAG for Robe & Rod wielding.
For reference, the differences between the Dark Fina's are:
- Dark Element Dystopia is now Water Element Utopia
- Limit Burst is also Water element
- 2 skills shared by all three summer girls: Water Veil (Watet Resist) and Charm (All three have different names, Dark Fina's being "Sexy Charm")
- As mentioned, a much different TMR
- In JP, she just got her enhancements; 2/3 of them are the same. The third is a change to Physical Fall instead of Utopia (where DFina got a Dystopia enhancement)

Also got Grace the cyborg Magitek pilot, and Amelia the maid.

*sigh*

So they've announced the NieR: Automata collaboration at the FanFest in Paris.
On the one hand, hey, it's NieR: Automata, that's great!
On the other hand, GODDAMMIT, PRISHE IS GETTING PUSHED BACK AGAIN!!!

Though at the very least, our version of the collab gets MORE CHARACTERS. A2 and Eve will be joining 2B, 9S, 21O, and Adam (Adam was a Raid Summon, I'm guessing Eve might go that way too; A2 will probably go on the Featured Summon, no idea what rarity she'd be). How many tickets/Lapis should I be spending on this? I certainly want the three leads, and I know Adam will be easy enough (maybe Eve too); but this is a limited banner so this'll be the only time to get them, and I still want to save for Prishe/FFXI.

I'm noticing a lot of Featured Summon characters coming up with my Daily Free Summon, which I thought was supposed to be the general pool, not the featured rate-up pool. I got a Rikku through it recently (after spending so many tickets and failing, then using a 4* guaranteed ticket to get her), and I just got Ashe through it today (man, I'm going to regret getting rid of all of those Ingus units, she's the start of a new meta with Thundaja).

Just did the Dr. Cid + Famfrit trial. A Summer Girl can help here, and there's always Minfilia, or a Tidus friend. By taking along Seabreeze Dark Fina, I felt I didn't need Minfilia, leaving me more space for damage. It was... actually too easy. So, time to get through this Elves story.

If I were to guess, I'd say next week will be the new Ariana Grande event (with a new Ariana unit, which I'll probably get rid of unless she has a good TMR), and MAYBE the week after will be NieR: Automata? I may actually use up a lot of my summoning resources for that one, especially with it being limited. 2B is a natural dual wielder with major Machine Killer traits, and 9S is one of the best support units with his TMR. 21O actually has quite a nice TMR for tank units. Adam is free. I would guess that A2 will be a natural Doublehander, though how good she'll be will probably depend on whether she's a Featured Summon or a Raid Summon, and her starting rarity; she probably wouldn't beat Olive unless she's also a 5* Featured Summon. Eve will probably also be free.

Sorry, haven't been online for a while and had a break from FFBE as well. Congratulations on Seabreeze dark Fina. (I got Wilhelm as my guaranteed 5*.
Guess he'll join my massive pile of tanks.

Managed to complete CID and Famfrit with a Tidus friend (%100 water resistance and MP restore, way to good for that challenge. )

Wilhelm has probably the best tank LB, better than Cecil. Though WoL I guess is considered best tank now with his move set.
No event this weekend, just story and new trial. More lapis to save, and more NRG to spend on TMR grind (currently Vanille x3, gunmaid, and Seabreeze Dark Fina).

I really need a new unit to spend Burst Pots on. I want to see about saving them for NieR units (especially 2B if I can get her). Rikku's LB, while awesome, doesn't strengthen decently at higher levels. I'm about to have 3 King Burst Pots and 3 normals. That's 39,000 points right there.

I did the protagonist trials this morning. I'm surprised it only took 45 energy for all three. Very easy if you have a lot of TMRs. You can take a full party, but I only took those I had at max level: Rain, Lasswell, Fina, and Sakura. If you have Dual Wield, it should be enough.

Rain: Undermine
Fina: Cheer, then Curaja
Sakura: Defensive Barrier, then thunder stuff
Lasswell: Awakened, or Exorcism Strike on Rain's trial

No KO is a reward condition, so don't fill the gaps with Jake, Lid, or Nichol unless they can survive.

2 good weapons
300 Lapis
3 Summoning tickets

Worth it

Also, I got elf wife Lunera in yesterday's free summon. I really hope this doesn't hurt my chances at 2B...

Hoooooly crap, I finally made it through The Octopus Teacher (barely)! Not even going to bother with the 5-man run to get that Toxic Rain skill. I can't believe how much NRG I've been using up to get these trials done. I've even been digging into those NRG-Restore 10 potions.

Now I'd really like to get Echidna done as well, but I'm pretty sure my best shot relies on a companion that resists Petrify and Confuse... and no one with Orlandeau puts him up with resists.

With the Magistral Crest I just got (Thank you Vanille x3), as well as the Rod Mastery materia from the trial I just did, Seabreeze Dark Fina is now at 845 MAG, and less than 10% away from getting her Swimsuit TMR, which will add another 25 MAG and Auto Refresh.

BTW Rosssi, if you haven't beaten Gilgamesh yet, let me know. Apparently, I have what it takes to make a literally invincible Lightning, provided you don't do anything except attack with her. Her LB is fine since it should still use her weapon elements, and my Odin should give you Fingersnap to Dispel his defense buffs while also using said elements. And with her alone, you should be able to accomplish every mission in the fight, though if it actually comes down to being her alone, it would drag on for quite a while.