Choosing the right paradigm

[Doombard]

So I'm around chapter 4 and having a little bit of trouble with some of the fights with Sazh, Hope, and Vanille (<3) as my party. Only offensive job is RAV and I can't seem to stagger any enemies that way. I've been using RAV RAV RAV as the paradigms.

[Kiarax]

Time Sazh's spells carefully and you should be able to stagger stuff just fine.

[Exoduso]

That section is annoying since you don't have a COM to slow down the stagger bar... just go RAV/RAV/RAV and you should stagger things just fine (although some enemies like the mechanical workers that are there will take a while to take down...)

Note that when you do get a COM in your party again, you only need them to attack an enemy once to force their stagger bar to go slow.. then you can switch them to RAV along with the others to build that stagger bar quickly, because a COM only halts the stagger bar's process, it doesn't actually do much to raise it to the breaking point.

[ChooChooTrain]

Edit: stated above, sorry.

[avelle]

Saboteur has something that slows down chain degradation. Try Rav/Rav/Sabo and see what you think. I was able to stagger that way then swap back to Rav/Rav/Rav for maximum damage.

[Blarg]

That section is annoying since you don't have a COM to slow down the stagger bar... just go RAV/RAV/RAV and you should stagger things just fine (although some enemies like the mechanical workers that are there will take a while to take down...)

Note that when you do get a COM in your party again, you only need them to attack an enemy once to force their stagger bar to go slow.. then you can switch them to RAV along with the others to build that stagger bar quickly, because a COM only halts the stagger bar's process, it doesn't actually do much to raise it to the breaking point.

So I just got the ability to use paradigms. Does COM slow stagger by default or is it an ability you have to learn to get that effect?

[Kiarax]

So I just got the ability to use paradigms. Does COM slow stagger by default or is it an ability you have to learn to get that effect?

Just by default. It's also possible to, say you're using two party members, use COM RAV, then swap to RAV RAV to build the chain faster and still keep the bonus for a little while.

[Rionel]

Ah yes, the curse of triple RAVs...

But there's a good way to get around this. If you find even after attacking with 3 RAVs doesn't quite get you the Stagger, this is one way to remedy it:

1. Attack with all 3 RAVs.

2. With your RAV, try to get another attack as soon as possible rather than wait for the ATB gauge to fill completely. So press Triangle as quickly as you can when you get the chance to do one attack/one ATB bar fills.

3. Because you throw out an attack so quickly after the triple RAV attack, the stagger gauge will rise again and essentially stall it. This gives your other 2 RAVs time to charge up their ATB gauge.

4. Repeat step 3 if you must if the other 2 RAVs aren't attacking yet.

5. Staggering enemy with 3 RAVs!

Hopefully that helps.

[avelle]

Or you can use a Saboteur if one of the character's have it available.

[Odin'sLaw]

Ah yes, the curse of triple RAVs...

But there's a good way to get around this. If you find even after attacking with 3 RAVs doesn't quite get you the Stagger, this is one way to remedy it:

1. Attack with all 3 RAVs.

2. With your RAV, try to get another attack as soon as possible rather than wait for the ATB gauge to fill completely. So press Triangle as quickly as you can when you get the chance to do one attack/one ATB bar fills.

3. Because you throw out an attack so quickly after the triple RAV attack, the stagger gauge will rise again and essentially stall it. This gives your other 2 RAVs time to charge up their ATB gauge.

4. Repeat step 3 if you must if the other 2 RAVs aren't attacking yet.

5. Staggering enemy with 3 RAVs!

Hopefully that helps.

what i normally do is Powerchain my first hit then go tri rav's normally the powerchain can keep the atb in slow mode long enuff for me to get most things into stagger mode

[fren.]

The Light/Hope part in the forest is gruelingly long. Should I just avoid fights? I've been trying to grind CP so I've basically fought everything. I managed to beat the boss at the end and then got dumped back into the forest.

[Exoduso]

Is it weird that the only char I haven't used since everyone joined up is Sazh? =/ I either do Light/Fang/Hope or Light/Snow/Vanille... don't see any good combos with Sazh in them (I like a SEN setup to be available at all times, can't really go without one.. taking all the enemies onto a single char saved my ass quite often in this game in rough fights.)

[Elcura]

Usually when I have Sazh I have Light and Vanille with me

Most common Paradigms I use are:

Decimation, Relentless Assault, Tri-disaster, Hero's Charge, Diversity and something with Vanille as SAB. Sometimes I switch Decimation for Bully.

Though I need to find some other set ups. Haste is just too useful, so until someone else learns it, I'll be using Sazh.

[dejet]

Is it weird that the only char I haven't used since everyone joined up is Sazh? =/ I either do Light/Fang/Hope or Light/Snow/Vanille... don't see any good combos with Sazh in them (I like a SEN setup to be available at all times, can't really go without one.. taking all the enemies onto a single char saved my ass quite often in this game in rough fights.)

Its really sad, I used sazh a few times because he does have some nice spells, hello haste. The thing is he does not make for a good DD(at least I cant find a way to make him as strong as light/fang) and offers less in buffs if you ask me V.S hopes tect/EN-spells/Shell/Bar spells.

If I could bring his DMG up to almost par with light or fan I might swap him in, I just cant seem to do it.

Also I forgot he cant launch a mob into the air when staggered, this leads to less down time for the mob(even after stagger is done you can keep it up for a few more sec)

[Anakron]

Saboteur has something that slows down chain degradation. Try Rav/Rav/Sabo and see what you think. I was able to stagger that way then swap back to Rav/Rav/Rav for maximum damage.

What's the name of this ability/spell? I couldn't see it looking at lists from gamefaqs guides.

[Kiarax]

Just seems to be an automatic effect, like Commandos. Not as potent but with 3 party members it works as well as.

[avelle]

What's the name of this ability/spell? I couldn't see it looking at lists from gamefaqs guides.

Sorry I was kinda vague, it's something similar to commando like Kiarax said. I've only ever had to use it once for this reason when I was early in the game with Sasz, Hope, and Vanille.

[Anakron]

Ah, ok. Yea, I was thinking something like that, because I noticed the Stagger bar going down very slowly with RAV/SAB/SYN at the Sazh Hope Vanille part you mentioned.

[LinktheDeme]

Just seems to be an automatic effect, like Commandos. Not as potent but with 3 party members it works as well as.

It seems like saboteur has an inbetween effect when it casts as well.

Like it'll build up the chain gauge faster than commando, but slower than ravager. Also it slows down the stagger faster than ravager (If you consider extending it slowing it down) but not faster than commando

[Norellicus]

With two members you can go SAB RAV to ~40% and then RAV RAV to stagger without losing it; with three, you can probably hit stagger with RAV RAV RAV as soon as a single SAB spell lands.