FFRK - The Maiden of Water (III) Event & Strategies
"Crystal of Water. It is time you regain your light!" - Aria
This song choice is very fitting, because this marks the first time a main theme in the FF series was named for a specific character.
Aria, shortly after meeting the party, accompanies them as they venture toward the Temple of Water to retrieve the shard of the Crystal of Water. Using this, she can open the door within the Cave of Tides, where the Water Crystal is kept.
When the party reaches the Water Crystal the group is attacked by Kraken. Aria pushes Luneth out of the way, and takes the blast. After Aria dies from the injuries in Luneth's arms, time flows again in the world, and the party wakes up days later inside an inn in a town named Amur.
Event Start Date: November 2
Event Bonus Battle: November 5
Event End Date: November 12
Don't expect Meia anytime soon, so this should mark events returning to their JP schedule flow.
All information is taken from a mixture of Reddit/Spreadsheets/Kongpakbao Site and my own obviously expert analysis.
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:
Aria's Ribbon - Accessory. Mind + 15 and moderate fire resistance.
Burning Rush - 5* Monk. Deal 4 physical fire attacks with a increased chance to crit (20%).
Honestly, not very overwhelming until the ability boosts come. Though if you have an en-fire monk then after the change it clocks in just below Full Charge in terms of potency.
New Characters Acquired:
Aria - White Magic 5, Support 3, Bard 5, Dancer 4
Dress Spheres Acquired:
Desch wants to meet all the exotic women.
Old Characters Acquired:
Refia
Arc
New Memory Crystals:
Aria MC1/MC2
Old Memory Crystals
Refia MC1/MC2
Arc MC1/MC2
New Record Materia:
Aria RM1: Mind+20%, Mag-20%.
Aria RM2: Restore 1 White Magic ability at the start of battle.
Aria RM3: Increases amount of HP restored by White Magic abilities a moderate amount.
New Legend Materia
Aria "Pure Heart" - Small White Magic healing up.
Aria "Maiden of the Water Crystal" - Medium fire damage reduction.
Arc "Boy's Compassion" - Small White Magic healing up.
Arc "Reliable Growth" - Medium chance to doublecast White Magic abilities.
Desch "Ancient Wisdom" - Small lightning dmg up.
Desch "Awakened Memories" - Medium chance to doublecast lightning elemental abilities.
Cloud of Darkness "Mysterious Destroyer" - Small dark damage up.
Cloud of Darkness "Overflowing Dark Wave" - Medium chance to cast "Overflowing Dark Wave" (1xAoE Dark magic dmg) when using Dark element abilities.
New Record Sphere
Aria - White Magic healing +9%
Cid Missions
Complete 'Cave of the Seal' with a party that includes Ingus.
Complete 'Owen's Tower' with a party that includes Desch.
Complete 'Water Cave' with a party consisting of only FF3 character and include Aria.
Complete 凶+ 'Domination of Darkness' using only FF3 characters.
Relics
Theres some not bad stuff here, including OK's vaunted BSB.
We also have the introduction of Bar spells into FFRK with Aria's BSB. These function similar to imperils with the same -6 to 0 to +6 sliding scale, but a little more impractical to stack for the time being.
Keep in mind though, OK's big banner is the next FF3 event a little ways down the road - right after FF6's Celes + Terra love fest and right before Type-0. Refia and CoD's items show up on that much improved banner, so just keep that in mind.
Do note that Aria's SSB armor is a water resist that is not RS locked...so you can use Gigas Armlets freely.
Also, Luneth is not anywhere on these banners.
Edit: If you want to see what the Onion Knight event brings relic wise, you can read up on it right here.
Banner 1:
Let's talk Refia. There's a reason we're getting a new Monk ability. Her USB is 10 hits of ST fire/non with en-fire, crit fix, and the "Cycle" EX effect from the FF8 event where using element abilities (in this case, fire) grants quickcast for your next 2 abilities. Her BSB and SSB return as well.
Ingus brings us our earth CSB and adds party Last Stand with its entry.
Arc gains a second BSB granting him en-holy with 8 hits of water/holy damage on entry. This is an attack oriented BSB, with Cmd1 hitting 4x water/holy and Cmd2 is a Curaja and 30% Mnd boost to its target. Both commands are White Magic ability class for materia relevancy.
As mentioned, Aria brings Bar-fire in her BSB entry paired with a party Curaga. It's not the best burst entry for healing, but considering you'll be taking a straight reduction in fire damage it balances out. Her commands are standard, with Cmd1 instant curaga + high regen and Cmd2 a medica. Her SSB is a little bit weaker considering no Wrath access with party MBlink and HP Stock 2k.
OK's BSB and reverse wall SSB round out banner 1.
Banner 2:
Cloud of Darkness stakes claim to darkness meta with her USB. A party Mag/Res buff with 7 hits of AoE dark/lightning, en-dark, and chase "Lightning" - which follows up all dark elemental uses with a potent AoE dark/lightning hit (440%). Her Radiant Shield BSB and en-dark SSB return.
Desch and Ashe keep trading blows for magic lightning caster. His contribution to her eventual USB is 10 hits of ST lightning/non, imperil lightning, and party magic quickcast x3. His BSB returns as well for an en-lightning option.
Arc's BSB1 and SSB come back, and Ingus offers up the same options to round out the banner.
Legend Materias:
Banner 1 - Refia: 25% chance to doublecast fire element abilities.
Banner 1 - Arc: Mind boost scaling with # of White Magic hits. Mnd +1% -> 25%.
Banner 1 - Aria: Moderate chance to increase healing potency for 10 seconds when using White Magic abilities.
Banner 2 - CoD: Begin battle with en-dark.
Banner 2 - Desch: Magic boost scaling with # of Black Magic hits. Mag+1% -> 20%.
Banner 2 - Ingus: 25% chance to reduce incoming damage by 30%. Must have shield equipped.
Keep in mind this is FF3. Bosses especially have a tendency to attack twice, and very quickly.
Bonus Battles
Kings of Ocean and Sky Leviathan HP: 100,000 Target Score:
Reduce Leviathan's magic.
Exploit Leviathan's weakness to lightning.
Weak: Lightning Absorb: None Resist: Ice, Earth, Water Null: None Status Vulnerabilities: Poison
Bahamut HP: 120,000 Target Score:
Defeat Bahamut without being KO'ed.
Reduce Bahamut's magic.
Weak: Wind Absorb: None Resist: All others except Earth. Null: Earth Status Vulnerabilities: None
Notes: Both enemies can attack twice each turn.
Levi has a ST attack that can petrify, a ST Blizzaga, and an AoE water hit. He can also cast pro/shell on himself.
Bahamut will counter every attack in his weak phase with self-target Curaga. I believe this fight will allow you to reflect him. Otherwise, its standard Bahamut megaflare business.
Dark Guard Dog ++ Cerberus HP: 200,000 Target Score:
Notes: Cerberus can attack *three* times per round, and most everything is magic based.
Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles
Guardian of the Fang of Earth +++ 凶Hecatoncheir (w/Gaap) HP: Hecatoncheir: 277,895 - Gaap: 23,410 Target Score:
Use a dark element attack on the enemy.
Reduce a Gaap's magic.
Reduce Hecatoncheir's attack.
Weak: Dark Absorbs: None Resists: Everything Else Null: None Vulnerabilities: Sap
Notes: Remember how rage inducing this fight was previously?
If a Gaap takes any non-dark damage, then an additional Gaap will spawn. This means that unless you have a dancer for the 2nd medal condition (or ignore it), you'll spawn one extra Gaap.
Always mind the gaap.
Hecaton isn't very tough after dealing with 3 Gaap waves. ST physical hits or Quake, neither of which is strong.
Domination of Darkness 凶Xande Clone HP: 310,000 Target Score:
(<70% HP only) Firaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical fire)
(<70% HP only) Protect (WHT: Self Protect)
(<70% HP only) Haste (WHT: Self Haste)
(<70% HP only) Quake (BLK: AOE 246% magical earth)
Notes: You won't need protect here. Everything is magic based.
Xande Clone will start each phase change with haste and periodically cast pro/haste, so you may want to slot a dispel in somewhere.
Runic essentially makes a lone character invincible for this fight, but the AoE's will obviously hit the rest of your party...hint.
Though with a holy weakness and no specific counter shenanigans, not too difficult a fight. Just a simple matter of balancing mitigation and offense.
Cid Mission: Aria brings dancer to a realm that was lacking, but thankfully its not needed here. Arc can wreck face with his new BSB if you nabbed it, and with no resistances the other damage dealers in realm (Luneth, Desch, etc) can pick abilities as they see fit.
Guardian of the Staff (Apoc +) 滅Scylla HP: 460,000 Target Score:
If aiming for OK or Refia or whm shit, you really really should just wait for OK USB banner. OK USB 1 & 2 are game changers just like his BSB was, plus all the good shit from this event is on the banner, minus SSBs.
OK physical USB: ATK +50%, Critical = 50%, Hastega, EX mode "Ninja": ATK +30%, cast speed x1.3 plus 0.30 for each attack used during duration of status, up to x3.40 cast speed
OK magical USB: MAG/RES/MND +30%, Hastega, Quick Magic 3, EX mode "Sage": MAG +30%, BLK Magic DMG +15%