Lightning Returns XIII-3

[Kachiko]

Check the enemy with R2 to see how to stagger it. Some are nearly impossible to stagger without the right element. Earth eaters in dead dunes for example, are nearly impossible to stagger without wind.

Knowing what they are weak to isn't the problem, and for most every ability that can drop I've run into is either maxed and/or +1'd. For mission 1-5, it's basically Perfect Guard or gtfo if you want to stagger reliably after the first 25%ish of HP. I can understand a bonus for doing that, but as guard/attack or magic just didn't seem to do much of anything, it seems perfect guard is the only thing that really works. Stronger mobs also get incredibly hard to stagger for a while, like Zomaks, until they start using that AOE cyclone ability. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with only being right after 1-5, so I'm assuming that getting stronger gear/abilities will help smooth things out, as I'm not having problems with normal monsters and most Chaos versions.

[lilbubbles]

That and some monsters apparently have a crappy drop rate if you don't stagger them, but they are hard to stagger before killing them lol.

[Zumi]

Anyone got tips for killing Aeronite first play through normal mode ? I heard people were saying you should wait and do him in hard mode, but I am don't want to wait that long.

[Carth]

Anyone got tips for killing Aeronite first play through normal mode ? I heard people were saying you should wait and do him in hard mode, but I am don't want to wait that long.

You have to be really fast at staggering him with magic, and you have to keep it up constantly. Dropping it for a moment will drop the stagger meter down. If you have a ton of ethers so you can spam Overclock to recharge the ATB. If you don't, the other method is to get two schemas, one immune to physical attacks, and the other immune to magic attacks, and just focus on staggering him while switching appropriately. The last schema would be for zerging Aeronite down when he's staggered four times.

Having Artemis' Arrow is great too, though I'm not sure if it'll work on Aeronite, since it seems in the US version of the game, they disabled Artemis' Arrow vs Ereshkigal.

[Datonare]

Do robots have lost ones?

[Carth]

Hoplites, Dreadnoughts, and Aster Protoflorians have Lost Ones.

[hey]

LIGHTNING, WHAT'S HAPPENING, MY READINGS ARE OFF THE CHARTS!

Why does hope say this repeatedly any time you're in chaos...

[Alkar]

LIGHTNING, WHAT'S HAPPENING, MY READINGS ARE OFF THE CHARTS!

Why does hope say this repeatedly any time you're in chaos...

Because he can't track what's going on nor see you anymore.

[SephYuyX]

Played a few more hours the other day, still not thrilled about anything the game has to offer.
One more time playing (waiting to enter the back end of the party at 6pm or whatever), and if still meh, it;s going on Amazon.
This will mark the second game i've ever given up on.

[Elcura]

Because he can't track what's going on nor see you anymore.

Yes, that's obvious. The point is you'd figure Hope would get it.

[fussel]

For mission 1-5, it's basically Perfect Guard or gtfo if you want to stagger reliably after the first 25%ish of HP. I can understand a bonus for doing that, but as guard/attack or magic just didn't seem to do much of anything, it seems perfect guard is the only thing that really works. Stronger mobs also get incredibly hard to stagger for a while, like Zomaks, until they start using that AOE cyclone ability. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with only being right after 1-5, so I'm assuming that getting stronger gear/abilities will help smooth things out, as I'm not having problems with normal monsters and most Chaos versions.

Dang, and I burned through 1-5 using a variety of Thunder in every Schema. Took a few tries, though, and I only did that on day 5 or something.

Also got my ass handed down on the Wildlands boss, after climbing that temple. Those flans in the temple suck, and after all the climbing, I just got raped. -.-

It took me a while to notice that the Chocobo will jump/glide when just holding O, instead of jumping, then pressing O again to glide (FF XIII-2), because sometimes double-tapping did work. Duh.

I tried the Yusnaan boss yesterday evening, failed then went to bed, but I'm pretty certain that it won't be that hard on the next try. He seems to be weak against fire, and incidentally, I just got that nice dress with an extra Fira.

I noticed that there's area transitions marked on the map, maybe an alternative to the monorail, but the path is blocked by gates. Will it eventually be possible to use that route with the Chocobo?

Also, I'm 8/13 Clocks in Luxerion. This quest kinda sucks, because searching for the missing clocks would require time I don't have. Or I'd have to do some "waste time while searching clocks, take notes where they are, then re-load save game and find them ASAP" strategy. Yeah, really nice gameplay addition those time limits (NOT!).

Are there other side quests increasing the max number of EP, besides the one in the (Wildlands spoiler)

Spoiler: show

moogle town? Talking about that, I'm missing the third moogle, too. Again, like with the clocks, I'd like to search, but feel like I don't have the time.

I have only been to the Dunes for a short time yet. Going to fight the Yusnaan boss and then heading to the Dunes after work today. It's time to find the last s. fragment, got all the others already.

[Wulfgang]

Started game on Normal without looking at anything and was surprised that it was a lot harder than expected. Completed the main quest, lost train guy quest, and one Chocolina quest before the day ended (followed hooded guys, but didn't get code) which was terrible. Wiping to the first mob in the Chaos zone and the big mob in the alley (one that killed like 13 hunters from the dialogue) ate two hours unnecessarily.

Restarted last night on easy and am doing much better. I don't think I understand the Schema though. I geared myself with some superior DLC / outerworld gear (e.g. Utsusemi) and for some reason I couldn't equip any of the three schema with attack (option wasn't there). Ended up putting the Savior garb back on the first one to get attack back since it seems to do more damage while staggered (is this assumption accurate?).

In short, total nub right now; somewhat lost. Game is enjoyable, but man the dialogue / story is terrible right now. Love how I have to primarily deal with Lightning / Hope who are both my least favorite XIII characters.

[Alkar]

Attack may not be there because:
-You're on the wrong tab in the ability list (there's one for all skills and others for each type of action like physical attacks, guards, magic attacks and debuffs).
-You don't have an Attack ability at all. The Saviour garb comes with one attached but you need to get more as drops from monsters if you want to equip it to other garbs.

[hey]

Started game on Normal without looking at anything and was surprised that it was a lot harder than expected. Completed the main quest, lost train guy quest, and one Chocolina quest before the day ended (followed hooded guys, but didn't get code) which was terrible. Wiping to the first mob in the Chaos zone and the big mob in the alley (one that killed like 13 hunters from the dialogue) ate two hours unnecessarily.

Restarted last night on easy and am doing much better. I don't think I understand the Schema though. I geared myself with some superior DLC / outerworld gear (e.g. Utsusemi) and for some reason I couldn't equip any of the three schema with attack (option wasn't there). Ended up putting the Savior garb back on the first one to get attack back since it seems to do more damage while staggered (is this assumption accurate?).

In short, total nub right now; somewhat lost. Game is enjoyable, but man the dialogue / story is terrible right now. Love how I have to primarily deal with Lightning / Hope who are both my least favorite XIII characters.

If you have the dlc, just use yuna garb for elementa, and cloud for heavy slash/slayer. Midgard flower girl is also really nice at the start for a defensive schema, since it includes a high level mediguard.

[Wulfgang]

@hey I don't have the extra DLC from pre-ordering, just the "free" outerworld two sets and the Utsusemi one.

@Alkar The issue was the second one you listed; thanks

[hey]

Oh, dang, i didn't realize you couldn't buy it.

[Burningthought]

Dang, and I burned through 1-5 using a variety of Thunder in every Schema. Took a few tries, though, and I only did that on day 5 or something.

Also got my ass handed down on the Wildlands boss, after climbing that temple. Those flans in the temple suck, and after all the climbing, I just got raped. -.-

It took me a while to notice that the Chocobo will jump/glide when just holding O, instead of jumping, then pressing O again to glide (FF XIII-2), because sometimes double-tapping did work. Duh.

I tried the Yusnaan boss yesterday evening, failed then went to bed, but I'm pretty certain that it won't be that hard on the next try. He seems to be weak against fire, and incidentally, I just got that nice dress with an extra Fira.

I noticed that there's area transitions marked on the map, maybe an alternative to the monorail, but the path is blocked by gates. Will it eventually be possible to use that route with the Chocobo?

Also, I'm 8/13 Clocks in Luxerion. This quest kinda sucks, because searching for the missing clocks would require time I don't have. Or I'd have to do some "waste time while searching clocks, take notes where they are, then re-load save game and find them ASAP" strategy. Yeah, really nice gameplay addition those time limits (NOT!).

Are there other side quests increasing the max number of EP, besides the one in the (Wildlands spoiler)

Spoiler: show

moogle town? Talking about that, I'm missing the third moogle, too. Again, like with the clocks, I'd like to search, but feel like I don't have the time.

I have only been to the Dunes for a short time yet. Going to fight the Yusnaan boss and then heading to the Dunes after work today. It's time to find the last s. fragment, got all the others already.

Spoiler: show

Check the northern part of the Jagd Edge and you'll find him. If that's the one you're missing.

Edit: Let me know if you need any more info on where stuff is, I have the strategy guide lol.

[AoE]

Finally beat the game.

Spoiler: show

I wanna say Lightning is pretty much the strongest FF protagonist up to date? Ending was cheesy and predictable but they could've done much worse, thus I'm not upset about it.

[Kachiko]

After getting the Purple Lighting garb, my ability to stagger went through the roof, and looking at my Blue Mage garb, I can now stagger a lot of mobs instantaneously, though some still require good timing to do. Thundara2 is also pretty beast, when used properly.

[hey]

Seems like aeroga+atb charge allows infinite stun lock.