FFRK - Crossroads of Time (XIII-2) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

"I'm ready to go. It's not a dream, or a lie. I know my sister is alive out there!" - Serah

As a result of Cocoon's fall at the end of Final Fantasy XIII, some of its surviving citizens now reside on Gran Pulse, the "lowerworld," and the world has adopted a new dating system ("AF" or "After the Fall"). In the three years since, new towns and cities have been established. While searching for Lightning, Serah and Noel travel to old and new places on Pulse and in Cocoon.

Meanwhile Lightning finds herself in a mysterious new world called Valhalla, the realm of death and chaos at the edge of time in the distant future, ruled by the goddess Etro.

Event Start Date: December 14
Event Bonus Battle: December 17
Event End Date: December 24 (Merry Happy!)

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...k4&sh=bc71f037

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:
Serah's Hairband - Mag +15 and moderate wind resist.

New Characters Acquired:
They said Hope could become anything he wanted. So he became a god.

Dress Spheres Acquired:
They said Hope could become anything he wanted. So he became a god.

Old Characters Acquired:
Serah
Noel
Snow

New Memory Crystals:
They said Hope could become anything he wanted. So he became a god.

Old Memory Crystals
Serah MC1/Mc2
Noel MC1/MC2
Snow MC1/MC2

New Record Materia:
They said Hope could become anything he wanted. So he became a god.

New Record Sphere
They said Hope could become anything he wanted. So he became a god.

New Legend Materia

• Serah "Wish for Reunion" - Small ice damage up.
• Serah "Traveler Beyond Time" - Scaling Mag boost based on ice element black magic used.

• Noel "Hunter from the Future" - Small physical damage up.
• Noel "Resolve to Change History" - Start battle with Haste and Instant Cast 3.

• Hope "Love for the Mother" - Small holy damage up.
• Hope "Hope Beyond Love and Hate" - Medium chance to doublecast holy element abilities.

• Sazh "Cheerful Father" - Small Support damage up.
• Sazh "Love for the Son" - Medium buff duration increase.

Cid Missions
Just do the event with a XIII party. Almost everything is a CM.

• Beat 'Bresha Ruins AF 005, Part 1' with a party which must contain at least 1 FF13 character.
• Beat 'Bresha Ruins AF 005, Part 2' with a party which must contain at least 1 FF13 character.
• Beat 'Archylte Steppes, Part 1' with a party which must contain at least 2 FF13 characters.
• Beat 'Archylte Steppes, Part 2' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat 'EX Neglected Utopia' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat 'EX++ Red Eyed Dragon' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat '凶 The Stalwarts of the Big Tower' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat '凶++ Calling Chaos' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat '滅+ Giant Soldier' with a party which must contain at least 3 FF13 characters.
• Beat '凶++ A Brave Lie, A Kind Love' with a party consisting of only FF13 characters.

Relics
Fitting for a event in December. To paraphrase Fire Emblem's Reinhardt: "Ice is everything!"

Unless your husbando is Noel, really want the increasingly rare mag/mnd boosts from Serah, or want a reforged Noel SSB sword (?), theres probably better stuff to use mythril on...

...like ritual sacrifice to Bhunivelze to not pull Noel's SSB.

Banner 1:

The good news here is that the imperil ice pool of relics has doubled from 2 to 4! The bad news is that they gave one of them to Noel.

His USB overall is actually okay, memes aside. Instant Atk/Mag/Res breakdown with 10 hits of ST ranged ice/non and imperil ice. But thats its, no fancy EX mode, chases, or anything of the sort. Very similar to Faris's USB2 in practice, actually. He doesn't get much else in the event though, with his BSB and SSB showing up again here.

Serah is giving Edea and Rinoa a run for their money in the ice game, however. Entry is 10 hits of ice/non magic damage with en-ice and "Time Reader" - 30% mag boost and provides the "cycle" effect (fast cast cycling) for ice ability use.

Her BSB2 is the other imperil ice here, packing 10 random ice/non hits on entry. Her commands run on a shortened cast time already (0.83) with Cmd1 and 2 carrying the usual 4x/2x AoE spread with no additional effects. Her previously mentioned Mag/Mnd hastega shows up here as well.

Snow honestly has the best showing here, gaining a strong USB and a different BSB2. His USB offers a standard 10 ice/non entry, but grants him an ice elemental Radiant Shield effect as well as 100% counter attack (2x ST Monk ice/non) to any physical or black magic hit. The radiant shield effect only returns 75% of damage, but is affected by elemental rates and will contribute to chains. For the counter effect to proc, Snow must also take damage from that source (so no Stoneskin).

His BSB2 offers a little mix of Basch's and Onion Knight's. Atk/Mag and party haste on entry, with Cmd1 offering 4x Monk ice/non damage (+1 if weak) and a 2x AoE hit with a Def boost.

Vanille's instant medica BSB returns here to finish Banner 1.

Both Serah and Noel's LM armor carry Ice+.

Banner 2:

Otherwise known as "Sazh can buff the gyshal out of you now".

Soul man's USB packs a Mag/Def/Res boost with Hastega and Astra. No frills, no fuss. Oh, and his Atk/Mag buff BSB and party Atk + Magic Blink SSB are here now too.

Hope joins the USB game with 10 hits of holy/non entry damage, a Mag/Def self boost, en-holy, and Auto CT "Destructive Barrage" (Summon ST holy/non 5x.)Hope's improved BSB2 is here as well. His 2 armor pieces here are also Holy+ gear.

Rounding out B2 are Lightning's OSB and BSB2, and Jihl's BSB and SSB.

Legend Materias:

• Banner 1 - Noel: 20% damage increase w/sword (?) equipped. Also works on regular swords.
• Banner 1 - Serah: Moderate chance to doublecast ice element abilities.
• Banner 1 - Snow: Scaling Atk boost when taking damage. 3% -> 35%.

• Banner 2 - Hope: Begin battle with en-holy.
• Banner 2 - Sazh: Begin the fight with Haste and CT0x1.
• Banner 2 - Lightning: Moderate chance to doublecast lightning element abilities.

Relic Discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...bb&sh=10bf8164

[Kirin]

Be mindful of all medal conditions here. In all instances, you have only 1 medal condition to meet instead of 3 - so don't waste your stamina auto-ing only to find out you needed that "hit x with ice" medal condition.

Bonus Battles

Neglected Utopia
Nelapsi & Taxims
HP: Nelapsi: 40,166 - Taxim: 30,059
Target Score:

• Exploit a Taxim's weakness to ice attacks.

Weak: Taxim: Fire, Ice, Thunder, Earth, Wind, Water
Absorb: None
Resist: None
Null: None
Status Vulnerabilities: Slow, Stun

Caius Ballad
HP: 80,488
Target Score:

• Reduce Caius' attack.

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

Notes: Nelapsi and Taxim both have mixed attacks - with Nelapsi using wind and Taxim opting for ice. The Taxim can also use a move with a low chance to blind and stop, and can reduce your defense.

Caius hasn't changed here, really, just not as potent at a lower difficulty. Mind the regen and atk/mag boost of 'Body and Soul' with a dispel/break effect of your own.

Red-eyed Dragon +++
Svarog
HP: 225,484
Target Score:

• Exploit Svarog's weakness to ice attacks.

Weak: Ice, Wind
Absorbs: None
Resists:Fire
Null: Earth
Vulnerabilities: Paralyze, Sleep

Notes: Purely a physical fight.

The Dragon Breath attack has a decent chance to silence and stun you.

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Stalwarts of the Tower
凶Grand Behemoth x2
HP: 200,000
Target Score:

• Defeat the Grand Behemoth with at least 4 heroes not KO'ed.

Weak: Wind (150%)
Absorbs: None
Resists: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset:
Attack (PHY: ST 110% physical)
Attack (NAT: ST 188% physical)
Fira (BLK: AOE 150% magical fire)
Heave (NAT: ST 188% physical, 63% chance to Stun)
Attack (PHY: AOE 159% piercing0.63 physical)

Counter Heave (50% response to physical; NAT: ST 188% physical, 102% chance to Stun)
Counter Haste (50% response to black or white magic; NAT: Self Haste)

Notes: You face off against both Behemoths at the same time.

Their attack pattern is also very strict regardless of phase:
Behemoth A: Weak attack, strong attack, Fira, Heave, AoE attack, strong attack, repeat.
Behemoth B: Weak attack, strong attack, Heave, AoE attack, Fira, strong attack, repeat.

The fight prefers a magic based team, due to the Counter Heave chance.

The Fira is fairly weak, so its possible to neglect shell and magic BD. You'll want stacking attack debuffs, because the physical hits are potent.

Both need to be defeated in order to win the fight.

Calling Chaos
凶Chaos Bahamut
HP: 320,000
Target Score:

• Reduce Chaos Bahamut's magic.

Weak: None
Absorbs: None
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset (Seymour):
(Default only) Haste (NAT: Self Haste)
(Default only) Attack (PHY: ST 110% physical)

Ignis (NAT: AOE 390% magical fire)
Claw (NAT: ST 422% physical)
Heavy Strike (NAT: ST 500% physical)
Megaflare (NAT: AOE 342% piercing0.55 magical non-element)

(Weak/V Weak only) 凶 Ignis (NAT: 294% piercing 0.55 magical non-element)

Notes: Mixed mitigation fight. A lot of the magical attacks do piercing damage, but the one that doesn't still hurts so you'll want some shell. You'll also want to dispel the haste, as it cannot reapply it.

The fight comes down to stacking mitigations and damage output, really.

Cid Mission: Only needing 3 XIII heroes here for the CM helps a lot on party construction. It allows you to bring Vaan for his magic mitigation, or pack out of realm healers if you don't have anything for Vanille.

Just focus on the mitigation and bring the best of what you have for the last 2 slots.

Giant Soldier (Apoc +)
滅Atlas
HP: 480,000
Target Score:

• Reduce Atlas' magic.

Weak: Ice
Absorbs: None
Resist: Fire
Null: Lightning, Wind
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset:
Punch (NAT: ST 188% physical)
Crushing Grasp (NAT: FRAOE 337% magical non-element, Dispel, Self Esuna)
Crushing Grasp (NAT: BRAOE 337% magical non-element, Dispel, Self Esuna)
Chain Strike (NAT: RT 344% physical, 2 hits)
Roar (NAT: AOE 342% magical non-element)

Notes: Super scripted fight.

Crushing Grasp (either) -> Chain Strike -> Roar

You'll want to focus on magic mitigation, but wont have the luxury of leaving protect/power BD at home. In fact, its worth a non debuff ability slot to pack Power BD (and Mug Bloodlust).

However, his physical hits are not ranged. If you can muster an entire back row party you can probably get away without protect.

There is an additional CM here for having at least XIII characters in party.

Jump Start Notes: The stats for the JS are the same. No changes.

[hyoton]

Null lightning in a XIII event? BOOO!!!!!

[Ratatapa]

DENA really slow at fixing the JS

[Melena]

DENA really slow at fixing the JS

What's wrong with the JS? Also going through hell trying to do the XIII CM and may have to say fuck it. Having bad luck with Tyro getting a second wall up before he pounds my team into dust. Damage has been the easy part thanks to Squall and Rinoa BSB's.

[Ratatapa]

What's wrong with the JS? Also going through hell trying to do the XIII CM and may have to say fuck it. Having bad luck with Tyro getting a second wall up before he pounds my team into dust. Damage has been the easy part thanks to Squall and Rinoa BSB's.

The new JS is simply blocked, no one can do it

[Robertfb]

Temporary workaround to access Jump Start for event, courtesy of Reddit.

1. Enter JS Screen
2. Hit Event Rules
3. Hit Enter Event
4. Restart Game
5. ???
6. Profit!