FFRK - As The Sky Falls (VIII) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

"I haven't forgotten your order. Just stay close to me." - Squall
"I have to fight, to prove to myself that I can do it..." - Rinoa

During the SeeD inauguration ball, Squall is approached by an unfamiliar girl. He is struck by her demeanor and easy familiarity, and they end up dancing. Little did he know that meeting this girl, Rinoa, would change his fate forever.

When Rinoa is vaulted into space, Squall leaps out after her. Rinoa seems resigned to her fate, but hearing Squall brings her back from the edge. Finally reaching Rinoa, Squall takes her in his arms, and vows to save her.

Event Start Date: July 27
Event Bonus Battle: July 30
Event End Date: August 6

All information is taken from a mixture of Reddit/Spreadsheets/Kongpakbao Site and my own obviously expert analysis.

Most info for the event comes from this site: https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...xh&sh=f040c291

Though the information provided is used as a guideline and not always taken directly from the thread. When necessary, additional thoughts on Cid Missions and battle strategies are added.

Notable Rewards:
Rinoa's Ribbon - Accessory. Moderate earth and ice resistance. (Finally!)

New Characters Acquired:
Squall remains the best looking guy at the ball.

Dress Spheres Acquired:
Squall remains the best looking guy at the ball.

Old Characters Acquired:
Squall
Rinoa
Fujin
Seifer

New Memory Crystals:
Squall remains the best looking guy at the ball.

Old Memory Crystals
Squall MC1/MC2
Rinoa MC1/MC2
Fujin MC1/MC2
Seifer MC1/MC2

New Record Materia:
Squall remains the best looking guy at the ball.

New Legend Materia
Seifer LM1: Disturbed Deserter - Small dark damage up.
Seifer LM2: Obsession for Victory - Begin battle reraise and last stand.
Fujin LM1: Sharp Wind - Small wind damage up.
Fujin LM2: Godspeed Fighting Style - Medium chance to gain quickcast 3 when using wind element abilities.

New Record Sphere
Rinoa dated Seifer once, ya'know?

Characters Needed for Battles
Beat 'Invaders From Outer Space (Classic)' with a party of only Squall and Rinoa.
Beat 'Lion and Knight (Elite)' with a party of only Squall.

Cid Missions
Complete Ultimate++ fight with a party of VIII heroes.

Relics
Previous FF8 event wasn't too long ago, and certainly not long enough for FF8 specific powercreep to become a big thing. Those of you who chased Squall's BSB2 probably don't need to pull at all here, and those that have gained decent FF8 synergy over the past few months probably don't need to either.

Keep in mind that the next FF8 event is Kiros/Ward, which does have a lot of nice stuff on it but this event is also the last shot at Squall BSB 2 for a minute.

Banner 1:

Squall gets a USB to go along with his recent BSB2 (which is also on banner 1) that sports 9 hits of ice/non ST on entry, self Quickcast 2, and EX mode SeeD. When Squall's EX mode is active, he will follow every 2 spellblade ability uses with a 4x AoE ice/non attack. This is exclusive to the current charge of his USB, so if he uses the USB again or it falls off, the counter resets.

Seifer is the other focus of banner 1. His USB is ST dark/fire on entry with the multiplier scaling in opposition to his current HP%. It also bestows him en-dark and heals him for 70% of his Max HP. Truly built for the darkness physical skills. Like his nemesis, the Sorceress's Knight also has his BSB return.

The rest of banner 1 is duplicates including best teacher's BSB and hastega SSB, Laguna's imperil ice SSB, Seifer's party Atk/Mag but self Def bargain SSB, and Selphie's Dreamstage magic blink SSB.

Banner 2:

Rinoa and Fujin anchor banner 2.

Rinoa's sorceress powers brings the Ice Chain SB in "Shiva". 11x summon magic hits with party high quickcast 2. She also brings her improved BSB back.

Less important is Rinoa's SSB en-earth returns.

Fujin gains a decent OSB, modeling it after Agrias' in doing more damage if the target is weak to wind. Fujin's potent BSB and en-wind SSB pair well with it, just need to find something to provoke that wind weakness.

Raijin and Edea are just kinda hanging around on the end of the banner. Edea offers her imperil dark SSB though Raijin brings back his lifesiphon-able last stand.

Legend Materias:
Banner 1 - Squall: Begin the fight with en-ice.
Banner 1 - Seifer: Raise atk based on hits taken. 3% -> 35%.
Banner 2 - Rinoa: Raise mag based on black magic used. 1% -> 20%.
Banner 2 - Fujin: Begin the fight with en-wind.

Relic Discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...5f&sh=969362d3

http://ffrk.kongbakpao.com/event-123/

[Kirin]

Bonus Battles

Distorted Loyalty +

Fujin & Raijin
HP: Fujin: 70,182 - Raijin: 75,863
Target Score:

• Defeat Fujin & Raijin without being KO'ed.
• Reduce Fujin or Raijin's attack.

Weak: Poison
Absorb: Fujin: Wind - Raijin: Thunder
Resist: None
Null: None
Status Vulnerabilities: Slow, Blind, Stun

Mobile Type-8
HP: 101,252
Target Score:

• Defeat Mobile Type-8 without being KO'ed.
• Exploit Mobile Type-8's weakness to thunder attacks.

Weak: Thunder
Absorb: None
Resist: None
Null: Earth
Status Vulnerabilities: Stun

Notes: You can blind Raijin and slow both members of the Disciplinary Committee to make that fight mainly about Fujin and magic mitigation.

Just focus on Mobile Type-8's main body and don't worry about when its' support weapons come out. TG Cid (RW or otherwise) can make sure Type-8 is dead before they do.

Craving Victory ++
Seifer
HP: 155,000
Target Score:

• Reduce Seifer's attack.
• Reduce Seifer's magic.
• Reduce Seifer's defense.

Weak: Poison
Absorbs: None
Resists: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: Stun

Notes: Nothing fancy. Seifer will use Zantetsuken Reverse as a counter to using the Odin summon, but otherwise the ability is not in his AI normally.

Two Witches +++
Adel (w/Rinoa - Junctioned)
HP: Adel: 196,700 - Rinoa: 40,000
Target Score:

• Reduce Adel's attack.
• Reduce Adel's magic.
• Do not kill Rinoa.

Weak: Wind
Absorbs: Holy
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: Stun

Notes: Token physical attack, but otherwise you can focus solely on magical mitigation.

Adel will use Drain on Rinoa when Adel's HP gets low.

If Rinoa dies, Adel will only use Ultima.

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Confronting the Twin Giants (U)
凶Iron Giant + 凶Behemoth
HP: 125,000 each
Target Score:

• Exploit 凶Iron Giant's weakness to thunder attacks.
• Exploit 凶Behemoth's weakness to ice attacks.
• Reduce 凶Iron Giant's or 凶Behemoth's defense.

Weak: Iron Giant: Thunder (150%) - Behemoth: Ice (150%)
Absorbs: None
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset (Iron Giant):
(100%-40% only) Attack (PHY: ST 188% physical)
(100%-40% only) Attack (PHY: AOE 112% physical)
Grand Sword (NAT: AOE 159% physical)
Downward Swing (NAT: ST 344% physical)
(<70% HP only) Counter Grand Sword (15% response to physical; NAT: AOE 188% physical)
(<40% HP only) Mighty Guard (NAT: Self Protect & Shell)

Moveset (Behemoth):
(100%-40% only) Attack (PHY: ST 110% physical)
Assault Horn (PHY: ST 266% physical)
Tornado (BLK: AOE 294% magical wind)
Thundaga (BLK: ST 410% magical thunder)
Flare (BLK: ST 650% magical non-element)
Meteor (BLK: AOE 390% magical non-element)
(<70% HP only) Counter Meteor (15% response to white or black magic; BLK: AOE 390% magical non-element)
(<40% HP only) Mighty Guard (NAT: Self Protect & Shell)

Notes: You fight both targets simultaneously. Both have a chance at 40% to begin countering with Mighty Guard.

Iron Giant is purely physical and Behemoth is almost pure magical, so pick one to focus down at a time and mitigate them accordingly.

Ancient Beasts (U++)
凶Archaeosaurs (2x)
HP: HP: 212,278
Target Score:

• Exploit an 凶Archaeosaur's weakness to ice attacks.
• Reduce an 凶Archaeosaur's attack.
• Reduce an 凶Archaeosaur's defense.

Weak: Ice (150%)
Absorbs: None
Resist: Everything Else
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: Slow, Stun

Moveset:
Attack (PHY: ST 110% physical)
Tail Swipe (PHY: AOE 206% physical)
Attack (PHY: AOE 159% physical)
Quake (NAT: AOE 294% magical earth)
Magma Breath (NAT: FR [front row] 246% magical fire, 30% chance Petrify)
Counter Bite (30% response to black magic; PHY: ST 266% physical)
(<70% HP) 凶 Tail Swipe (NAT: AOE 300% physical)
(<70% HP) Bite (NAT: ST 500% piercing0.5 physical)

Notes and Strategies: Any front row characters are subject to the petrifying effects of Magma Breath. Ultra Cure can of course fix that, but may be best to gear frontline fighters with the one or two petrify accessories you may have. Short of that, definitely rely on Affliction Break.

Killing one Archaeosaurs will dramatically boost the speed and defense of the 2nd, while raising its regular token physical hit to nearly a 200% attack. Time your kills to be around the same time.

Counter Bite is the other main attack you need to watch out for. While it isn't ranged, it is a 500% piercing physical hit.

Cid Mission: FF8 has ice synergy out the wazoo with some wazoo to spare. The resistance to the other elements though makes some teams have to think a bit.

Laguna with decent buffs can do some harm here with the new-ish Icicle Shot and some atk buffs. Squall or Rinoa's ice SB's can do a lot of good, and if you can pump Edea's magic past 1205 then she can be a must bring if you have her BSB. 6 hits of 8k+ damage? Yes please.

Witch Posessed By Hatred(Apocalypse +)
滅Edea
HP: 454,788
Target Score:

• Reduce 滅Edea's magic.
• Reduce 滅Edea's defense.
• Reduce 滅Edea's resistance.

Weak: See Notes
Absorbs: None
Resist: None
Null: Everything except weakness
Vulnerabilities: Stun (Immune to Reflect)

Moveset:
(1st Turn) Protect (WHT: Self Protect)
(2nd Turn) Shell (WHT: Self Shell)
Astral Punch (NAT: ST 422% physical)
Graviga (BLK: AOE 303% chance 40% maximum HP damage)
Sleepga (BLK: FR [front row] 63% chance Sleep)
(70%-40% HP) 凶 Astral Punch (NAT: AOE 300% physical)
(<40% HP) 凶 Astral Punch (NAT: AOE 350% physical)
(70% & 40% HP) Dispel (WHT: AOE Dispel)

Thunder Weak (>70% HP):
(100%-70% HP) Thunder (BLK: ST 250% magical thunder)
(100%-70% HP) Thundaga (BLK: ST 490% magical thunder)
(100%-70% HP) Thundaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical thunder)
(100%-70% HP) 凶 Thundaga (NAT: AOE 390% piercing0.5 thunder)

Fire Weak (70% - 40% HP):
(70%-40% HP) Firaga (BLK: ST 490% magical fire)
(70%-40% HP) Firaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical fire)
(70%-40% HP) 凶 Firaga (BLK: AOE 390% piercing0.5 magical fire)

Ice Weak (40% - 0% HP):
(40%-0% HP) Blizzaga (BLK: ST 490% magical ice)
(40%-0% HP) Blizzaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical ice)
(40%-0% HP) 凶 Blizzaga (BLK: AOE 390% piercing0.5 magical ice)

Notes and Strategies: First, Astral Punch can hurt. Don't neglect physical mitigation.

Second, Gigas Armlets are great options as Edea will only use Fire/Ice/Thunder in her element selections.

There are scripted Dispelga's at on weakness changes at 70% and 40%, but it's just the regular Pro/Shell/Haste removing Dispel. It is also a good idea to bring a dispel of your own to counter her initial Pro/Shell casts.

Outside of the above, the mechanics of this fight aren't too terrible to understand. She will use the element she is weak to, and Sleepga will always follow Dispel but only hits front row characters.

Jump Start Notes: With changing elemental weaknesses, it isn't quite the Buff + Nuke approach. And with her null-ing all elements outside her weakness you'll have to rely on the non-elemental side of non-weakness affiliated OSB/BSB's to get you through.

If you've got a pimped out OK, he is a good option to bring. As would Vaan and his superior magical mitigation talents. Both can be operated at range as well which helps with Sleepga.

The boon, as mentioned above, is that Gigas Armlets (and Necrophobe Ward, etc) are great mitigation tools to help you last a little longer with the weaker non-elemental sides of attack options. Edea herself doesn't have anything too dangerous and you can control the scripted Dispels with smart OSB use.

[kuronosan]

Ooh this will be so fun.

[Ratatapa]

god this event was short

[hyoton]

Sleepga? Come on guys remember your poison pots!
Can't wait for this CM.

[hyoton]

CM: Dinosaurs do a lot of damage but sure can't take it. I RW'd vessel (I think?) for this but ice would have been nicer.
Apoc: Edea's pretty fragile but the start of the battle was slow because I had to ramp into my soul breaks. Once the train got going it was fairly easy.
Jump start: See apoc except 1000000 times easier because you don't have to ramp. Used celes indom and rolled it.
MP ult+: blitzed it down
MP apoc: Oh god. Team had 2 song of spiras, slots full cure (me) and star prism which meant a super slow kill. Bring KO resist and HP stock if you can, and bssbs which are preferably uncounterable. The main problem is that it can go OHKO (triggers guts) but a counter ultimate junk or sap tick afterwards will kill you. We also had a memento of prayer user which worked up to a point. Reraise is good because the damage isn't actually overwhelming (although respawning with no attack buffs sucks), we didn't have sent grim and I didn't find it would have made a difference.

[Moridam]

haven't done apoc edea yet, but i did solo the MP apoc just now. team setup was:

ramza: FB/PBD shout/USB
squall: BSB2 + full dive & LM
eiko: protectga, BSB
cloud: BSB2
edge: northern cross/powerchain, blink/LS SSB

RW was ramza USB. lots of instant cast and manual targeting on C1 heals to make sure blinks were up on the right people. probably should've taken affliction break to stop sap instead of full break. cloud actually died fairly early on as he got taken out before i could reblink him, but the rest managed to carry it just fine. PUGing this one seems like it would be a total nightmare.

[IceSylph]

Dinosaurs were the most annoying fight. The MO were both hiliarious on both difficulties.

Edit: Grammar