FFRK - Warriors of Dawn: Enduring Bonds (V) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

Literally the convalescent home from FFV joins the roster. An old man and an aged wolf confirmed for Sma5h.

"Let's see how you like my Pine Attack!" - Kelger
"Don't worry...I'll always be with you when you need me..." - Xezat
"STELLA!!!" - Dorgann

When Exdeath awoke from the Great Forest of Moore, he wreaked devastation on the land until the Dawn Warriors—Galuf Halm Baldesion, Dorgann Klauser, Kelger Vlondett, and Xezat Matias Surgate—drove him to Bartz's World. They defeated him in battle but lacked the power to kill him, and thus sealed him using the power of the four crystals of the world.

Dorgann felt that leaving Exdeath in an unwitting world was wrong, and remained to watch over the seal. The other three returned to their homeworld and took up rulership of their countries. Dorgann settled in Lix and married Stella, passing away from an illness three years prior when his son, Bartz Klauser, was 17.

During their adventure, the Light Warriors get help several times from the Warriors of Dawn, though all of them eventually perish during the struggle against the revived Exdeath: Xezat is killed in the Barrier Tower, Galuf falls in battle against Exdeath (his granddaughter Krile inherits his position), and Kelger uses the last of his strength to help dispel an illusion on Castle Exdeath.

Event Start Date: March 15
Event Bonus Battle: March 18
Event End Date: April 4

Yes, this event lasts 3 whole weeks.

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

Much info for the event comes from this thread and its related links: https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...2m&sh=64efbd06

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:

Shifting Sands - Ninja 5*: Two ST earth physical hits and grants Physical Blink 1. Can stack up to 2 times. (Dark/Earth/Wind)

Desert Mirage - Ninja 5*: 3/5/7 physical hits, scaling with number of Physical Blink's on the user. (Dark/Earth/Ice)

Just when you thought you were done with dark orbs...oh no no sir! Welcome back to daily purgatory.

Whisperweed - Accessory 5*: Major silence resist.

New Characters Acquired:
Xezat: Combat 4, Spellblade 5, Black Magic 4, Knight 3.
Kelger: Combat 5, Celerity 5, Ninja 5, Thief 4

Dress Spheres Acquired:
'Knight do it two-handed' Bartz

Old Characters Acquired:
Lenna
Krile
Dorgann
Galuf
Bartz

New Memory Crystals:
Xezat MC1/MC2
Kelger MC1/MC2

Old Memory Crystals
Lenna MC1/MC2
Krile MC1/MC2
Dorgann MC1/MC2
Galuf MC1/MC2
Bartz MC1/MC2

New Record Materia:

Xezat:

• Friendly King: Moderate chance to recover a Spellblade ability at the start of battle.
• Swordsman's Pride: Deal moderately more damage with Spellblade abilities.
• Icy Swordsman: Low chance for 'Attack' to become Frost Strike.

Kelger:

• Brave Werewolf: Moderate chance to recover a Celerity ability at the start of battle.
• Speedy Wolf Warrior: Moderate chance to begin the battle with a full ATB bar.
• Fierce Wolf's Fangs: 'Attack' becomes an instant action dealing heavy damage but does not charge the SB bar.

New Legend Sphere
Xexat: Sword 3%, Spellblade 12%
Kelger: Sword 3%, Ninja 9%

New Legend Materia

• Dorgaan "Courageous Decision" - Small Knight damage up.
• Dorgaan "Crystal Watcher" - Medium chance to doublecast Knight abilities.
• Xezat "Aged Swordsman" - Small Spellblade damage up.
• Xezat "Warforged King" - Medium chance to self Smart Ether 1 when dealing Ice element damage.
• Kelger "Warrior Who Despises Evil" - Small earth damage up.
• Kelger "Chief of the Werewolves" - Medium chance to self Quickcast 3 when using Ninja abilities.

※ Balance Change: Gaffgarion's LMR increases to a 'Moderate' chance to self ether.

Cid Missions

• Beat '凶++ North Mountain' with a party consisting of only FF5 synergy characters.

Relics

Good news is that this event lasts 3 weeks.

Bad news is we don't know what changes will happen to the anniversary banners, what becomes of this odd new DeNa relics survey, or if Xezat and Kelger will ever see new SB's again.

What we do know, is that this banner is the earth and ice motherload. Banner 1 has all sorts of earth and ice + gear that it'll make your head spin.

Ultra EX/Chase Type Glossary:

Spoiler: show

Work in Progress

Banner 1:

Dorgann, Bartz's father, leads us off on B1 with his USB. Earth/wind x10 on entry with a 100% Def boost, en-earth, and a rank based chase 'Sandstorm' hitting with 2-6 hits of earth/wind/non damage after using Knight abilites.

His Atk/Def +AoE imperil earth BSB returns as well.

Xezat does what Sora did, just not as well. Damn you, ©Disney! This spellblade's USB entry is 10x hits of ice/lightning, one turn of 2x cast speed, en-ice, and an ability class boost based on rank for Spellblade, capping out at 30% for a 5-6* ability.

Xezat's BSB is a touch more what you would expect from a non ©Disney character. 8x ice/lightning random hits carrying an imperil-ice on entry. His C1 is 3 ranged Spellblade ice/lightning hits carrying a 15% Spellblade boost for 3 uses and C2 is a 2x ranged AoE attack with an Atk/Def bargain.

Finally, his SSB offering is a bit on the 'meh' side, with 6 hits of ST ice/lightning damage and a party ether.

Kelger is the earth ninja people have been waiting for. USB entry is 10x earth/wind damage with a self Physical Blink, Ninja rank boost, and a 'Lupine' chase of 4x ST earth/wind/non Ninja damage with +2 hits for each Physical Blink on the caster. the chase is triggered by earth element use.

His BSB is close to standard fare of Yuffie and Edge, 8x ST earth/wind hits with en-earth on entry. C1 carries 4x earth/wind hits with a reduced cast time, and C2 is 2x ST earth/wind with a Physical Blink - also with reduced cast time.

His SSB offering is much better than his Dawn Warrior brethren, offering an instant 40% medica and Physical Blink.

Galuf gains a new BSB here, but with a cut and dry entry of 8x ST earth/fire with imperil-earth. The good news is that his commands play better with Monk abilities. C1 carries 4x earth/fire ST hits, while is 2x earth/fire but a crit fix of 50%. His USB returns to finish off this banner.

Banner 2:

Krile gains an Ultra, packing a potent portents of problematic proportions. 10x ST fire/non damage with a Mag/Res boost, en-fire, and a 'Flame Dance' rank-based chase triggered by fire abilities.

Her chain is not here, but her OSB is.

Bartz continues his streak of new BSB. When will the madman stop? His fire offering brings 8x ST fire/non with en-fire. His commands are pretty cut and dry though, with C1 carrying 4x ST fire/non and C2 3 hits but with a 15% Spellblade boost for 3 turns.

His much more utilitarian water BSB and multi element OSB shows up here to quell all the flame dancing.

The rest of the banner is reruns.

Exdeath: USB, BSB
Lenna: BSB2
Gogo: BSB

Legend Materias:

• Banner 1 - Xezat: Small chance to doublecast Spellblade abilities.
• Banner 1 - Kelger: Small chance to gain P.Blink 1 when using Ninja abilities.
• Banner 1 - Dorgann: Begin battle with en-earth.
• Banner 1 - Galuf: Small chance to doublecast Monk abilities.

• Banner 2 - Lenna: small chance to chase White Magic healing abilities with a medica.
• Banner 2 - Krile: Begin battle with en-fire.
• Banner 2 - Bartz: slight chance to triplecast Spellblade abilities.
• Banner 2 - Exdeath: Begin battle with en-dark.

Relic Discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...tf&sh=edf61218

[Kirin]

Bonus Battles

Istory Waterfall
Triton, Nereid, Phobos
HP: 33,000 each
Target Score:

• Win without being KO'ed.

Weak: Trion: Ice - Nereid: Fire - Phobos: Earth
Absorb: Triton: Fire - Nereid: Ice - Phobos: Poison
Resist: None
Null: None
Status Vulnerabilities: All: Poison, Blind, Sap - Phobos: Sleep

Leviathan
HP: 100,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Leviathan without being KO'ed.

Weak: Lightning
Absorb: Water
Resist: None
Null: Fire, Earth
Status Vulnerabilities: Slow

Notes: The triplets only have a token physical hit, so bring your dancers for magic mitigation. Valigarmanda makes quick work of all three. Oh look, Krile has Summon 6.

Leviathan is a bit more mixed, but focuses on magic. The headache here is really the physical hit counter of Paralyze. White/Black doesn't get off scott free here, as Tsunami can hit lower level parties hard. Pack summons or a quick TGC OSB to finish this up.

Sunken Walse Tower ++
Famed Mimic Gogo
HP: 180,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Famed Mimic Gogo without being KO'ed.

Weak: None
Absorb: None
Resist: None
Null: Water
Status Vulnerabilities: Silence, Slow

Notes: Capturing the essence of mimicry will make this fight very tame. Those unwilling (or unable) to grasp the nuances of copying Famed Mimic Gogo's actions will feel his true powers awaken unto them like the force of 10,000 suns.

Exdeath's Castle +++
Exdeath
HP: 200,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Exdeath without being KO'ed.

Weak: Holy
Absorb: None
Resist: None
Null: Poison
Status Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Mainly a magic/gravity fight.

Full weakness to Holy here makes quick work of him. Nothing is very dangeous on the whole, however.

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Ship Graveyard
凶Siren
HP: 260,000
Target Score:

• Exploit Siren's weakness to fire attacks while she is vulnerable to fire.

Weak: Fire (Undead)
Absorb: Poison (Undead)
Resist: Omni Resist (Default)
Null: None
Status Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Siren begins the fight in default form and will always cast Protect as a first action. Pack dispel if you're relying on physical hits.

Siren shifts forms every 3 turns, with default being 100% magical damage and undead being physical and status effects. the good news is that Runic/GC can save you from the status troubles without needing Affliction Break.

The poison status you can receive from her undead form is much more potent than regular poison, so it might be a good idea for White Mages to pack some AoE regen.

North Mountain +
凶Bahamut
HP: 388,610
Target Score:

• Reduce Bahamut's magic.

Weak: Ice
Absorbs: None
Resists: None
Null: Earth
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset:

(Phase 1 only) 凶 Megaflare (NAT: AOE piercing supermassive magical non-element)

(Phases 2-7 only) Attack (PHY: ST moderate physical)

(Phase 2 only) Atomic Ray (NAT: AOE magical fire)
(Phase 2 only) Blaze (NAT: AOE magical ice, medium chance to Sap)

(Phase 3 only) Inferno (NAT: ST maximum HP gravity)
(Phase 3 only) Earthshaker (NAT: AOE moderate magical earth)

(Phase 4 only) Aqua Breath (NAT: AOE moderate magical water)
(Phase 4 only) Lightning (NAT: ST massive magical thunder)

(Phase 5 only) Maelstrom (NAT: ST current HP gravity)
(Phase 5 only) Snowstorm (NAT: 2T supermassive magical ice)

(Phase 6 only) Poison Breath (NAT: 2T heavy magical bio, medium chance to Poison)

(Phase 7 only) Megaflare (NAT: AOE heavy magical non-element)

Notes: All magic and gravity here. Leave protect at home. He can cover 6 elements however, so gravity resist is the way to go for accessories.

This fight comes down to pace. You have to deal 5% damage in Bahamut's first 3 turns or face Ultimate Megaflare. After that, you need to push as hard as possible while balancing your ability to heal, because you'll take a good amount of damage and you only have 2 medals to play with for mastery.

Cid Mission: Nothing important mechanics wise specific to the CM honestly, just deal 20k damage within 3 turns to avoid being blasted in the face.

The ice weakness screams Xezat if you pulled here. A Bartz is fine too.

Sealed by the Four Warriors (Apoc +)
滅Exdeath
HP: 1st: 100,000 - 2nd: 150,000 - 3rd: 120,000 - 4th: 300,000
Target Score:

• Win the battle with at least 2 characters alive.

Weak: 1st: Wind - 2nd: Water - 3rd: Fire - 4th: Earth
Absorbs: Poison
Resist: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Moveset:

Spoiler: show

Moveset (1st Form):

Attack (PHY: ST 188% physical)
Bio (BLK: ST 450% magical bio)
Graviga (BLK: AOE 303% chance to 50% current HP gravity)
Doom (NAT: ST Doom)
Earthshaker (NAT: AOE 260% magical earth)
Inferno (BLK: AOE 303% chance to 30% maximum HP gravity)
Firaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical fire)
Blizzaga (BLK: ST 490% magical ice)
Thundaga (BLK: AOE 294% magical thunder)

Moveset (2nd Form):

Attack (PHY: ST 188% physical)
Bio (BLK: ST 450% magical bio)
Doom (NAT: ST Doom)
Earthshaker (NAT: AOE 260% magical earth)
Inferno (BLK: AOE 303% chance to 30% maximum HP gravity)
Hurricane (NAT: ST auto-hit 60% current HP gravity)
Vacuum Wave (PHY: AOE 202% ranged physical, 21% chance to Sap)
Firaga (BLK: AOE 490% magical fire)
Thundaga (BLK: AOE 294% magical thunder)

Moveset (3rd Form):

Attack (PHY: ST 188% physical)
Bio (BLK: ST 450% magical bio)
Graviga (BLK: AOE 303% chance to 50% current HP gravity)
Doom (NAT: ST Doom)
Earthshaker (NAT: AOE 260% magical earth)
Hurricane (NAT: ST auto-hit 60% current HP gravity)
Vacuum Wave (PHY: AOE 202% ranged physical, 21% chance to Sap)
Blizzaga (BLK: ST 490% magical ice)
Thundaga (BLK: AOE 294% magical thunder)
凶 Sword Dance (NAT: RT 206% physical, 4 hits)

Moveset (4th Form):

Attack (PHY: ST 188% physical)
Bio (BLK: ST 450% magical bio)
Graviga (BLK: AOE 303% chance to 50% current HP gravity)
Vacuum Wave (PHY: AOE 202% ranged physical, 21% chance to Sap)
Firaga (BLK: AOE 342% magical fire)
Blizzaga (BLK: ST 490% magical ice)
Thundaga (BLK: AOE 294% magical thunder)
凶 Sword Dance (NAT: RT 206% physical, 4 hits)
凶 Maelstrom (NAT: AOE auto-hit 60% current HP gravity)
凶 Orbit Guard (NAT: Self Protect, Shell, and Haste)

Notes: The first form uses Gravity attacks, but the next 3 forms all have decent enough physical hits to force you to bring Protect/Shell and mixed mitigation. You will need to reapply debuffs for each form.

Gravity/KO resist is preferred over elemental resist because of its prevalence. But even then some are auto-hit (Hurricane and Ultimate Maelstrom).

The final form packs a Pro/Shell/Haste along with an already beefy statline. Bring a dispel. Additionally, it may help for White Mages to pack the AoE regen again because Sap can cause enough damage after Gravity that youll die very quick.

Jump Start Notes: No changes from the A+ version.

[hyoton]

Wait xezat's is one turn of quickcast??? Not quickcast cycle?

[Kirin]

Nope. 1 turn of Quickcast. His "Ex Boost" effect is a Spellblade class rank based damage boost.

[Moridam]

i want bartz' new BSB for the sake of completion but i have way too much on that banner already, and with 'fest banners looming that makes it an even easier pass.

[hyoton]

Hmm, that ultra being that bad makes me reconsider pulling.

[IceSylph]

Hmm, that ultra being that bad makes me reconsider pulling.

It has Ice boost on it, if I recall. The banner is full with elemental boosts, which is why I'm considering a pull. Especially since one of the weapons is ice.

[Kirin]

Yeah, there's like 3 earth armors, and then 2 of each ice weapon/armor and earth weapon.

Banner is literally earth or ice boost. And the banners will be around post anniversary, event lasts 3 weeks.

[hyoton]

It has Ice boost on it, if I recall. The banner is full with elemental boosts, which is why I'm considering a pull. Especially since one of the weapons is ice.

Yeah that's the only reason I'd pull. But gear really should have some usability and without doublecast I don't think the dog dude is that good.