FFRK - Requiem For The Meager (Tactics) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

Obligatory:

Spoiler: show

She always does.

"A heretic at prayer in a church. Passing bold, Ramza." - Delita

"I shall ask it plain. Why has the High Confessor planted you among Goltanna's men?" - Ramza

Leaving Ovelia and Agrias at Lionel, Ramza accompanies Mustadio to his home in Clockwork City of Goug where they discover Baert Trading Company is working for the Cardinal to obtain the auracites. Realizing Agrias and Ovelia are in danger, they make their way back toward Lionel by an alternate route. They rescue Agrias after she escapes, but they are tricked into thinking Ovelia is to be executed, only to find it a trap set by Gaffgarion. Ramza learns the truth about the Holy Stones: they are connected to the Lucavi demons, one of which, Cúchulainn, possesses Delacroix.

Ramza defeats Cúchulainn and ventures to the Royal City of Lesalia to warn his elder brother Zalbaag to stop the war. On the way to Lesalia, Ramza rescues Orran Durai, the stepson of the legendary war hero Cidolfus Orlandeau. At Lesalia, Ramza is confronted by Zalmour Lucianada, a Heresy Examiner for the Church of Glabados, and branded a heretic for his murder of the Cardinal, as him having been possessed by a demon is covered up by the church. With the help of his sister Alma, Ramza thwarts Zalmour's attempt to detain him.

Event Start Date: July 12
Event Bonus Battle: July 15
Event End Date: July 22

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...a1&sh=0925d1b6

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:

I got a good feeling!

New Characters Acquired:

This is the way!

Dress Spheres Acquired:

Mercenary Ramza

Old Characters Acquired:

Agrias
Ovelia
Montblanc

New Memory Crystals:

I got a good feeling!

Old Memory Crystals:

Ramza MC1/MC2
Agrias MC1/MC2
Ovelia MC1/MC2
Montblanc MC1/MC2

New Record Materia:

This is the way!:



New Record Dive

I got a good feeling!

New Legend Materia:

Spoiler: show

This is the way!:

Acolyte Archives

• Beat 'Floating Grudge 凶++' with a party consisting of FFT synergy characters.
• Beat 'Fallen Commander 滅++' with a party consisting of FFT synergy characters.

Balance Changes

Technically, this was to be around where Ramza gained Knight 5, but we are already party to the High Priests' plot.

Relics

Eh. Okay. Like Mustadio buying Agrias the perfume for her birthday...he meant well.

Really kind of a boring event and banner overall. Though you could say that for the general higher quality of Tactics event banners, eventually there was going to be a slump.

There are some considerations here for tackling the Neo Torment, and the next Tactics banner was just announced for soon in JP...so we're a good 6 months away.

Do note that Meliadoul's LMR is a rare +earth sword.

Future Event Banner Comparison:

We don't know about contents yet, only that it will include the best Astrologist Ivalice has ever seen; Olan Durai.

Element Boosts:

Spoiler: show

Banner 1:

• Holy: Ramza USB2, Agrias USB2/BSB1, Ovelia BSB1

Banner 2:

• Holy: Alma USB, T.G. Cid OSB,
• Earth: Meliadoul USB, LMR

Ultra EX/Chase Type Glossary:

Spoiler: show

Rules of thumb:

1. Stat buffs from the EX mode have a unique ID and will stack with everything.
2. Many USB’s come with a built in class damage boost. These are separate from the iteration class boosts and do stack.
3. EX modes last 15 seconds, while buffs provided by the USB entry last 25 seconds. (Terra is an exception, with her EX Mode lasting 25 seconds).

Special Effects:

• General Boost: These can be anything specifically tied to the EX Mode - HP Stock, Crit Fix, Cast Speed, Element Boost, Stat buffs, and even Break Damage Limit. This will stack with every other buff on the user, including other EX Modes.
  
• Rank Boost: This provides a damage boost scaling with the rank of the ability used. The boost starts out at ~5% for R1 increasing to ~30% for R5+.
  
• Class Boost: This provides a flat damage boost for a specific class of abilities (Knight, Black Magic, etc). Generally weaker than the Rank Boost at ~15-20%, but applies to all abilities under that class - including Burst commands.
  
• Chase: Follow up attack(s) triggered by using abilities of a specific element or school while under the EX Mode. The number of these chase attacks can be random, reliant on the rank of the ability used (Rank Chase) or status of the user (Status Chase).
  
• Cycle: Unit receives a quickcast or instacast charge when using abilities tied to a specific element or school – generally meant to be used in repetition for maximum effect.
  
• Build Up: A gradient damage boost toward a specific ability school based on the number of ability uses from the start of the battle to when the EX mode is applied. This buff is not tied to EX mode duration, and will persist whenever the EX mode is active.
  
• Wind Up/Finisher: Generally applying to Summoners, this will provide additional damage based on the sum total of all type (class or element) damage done during EX mode when the mode expires. The unique aspect of this is that a recast of the USB will count toward the exit damage of the previous EX mode.
  
• Phantom Cast: This effect will auto cast an attack every few second at a set rate independent of the character. The number of attacks or potency is not reliant on any outside factors (Haste, Slow, QC) and will generally produce 4 actions per EX Mode.
  
• Cheer: This will grant a party wide effect after using a triggering ability. For example, Marche will triple the cast speed of every front row party member (himself included) for 1 turn after he uses a Knight ability.
  
• Ability Double: This will guarantee that an ability will cast 2 times per use at the cost of 2 hones. The first cast can trigger appropriate W-Cast materia for a total of 3 hits, but the additional hits will not generate SB gauge.

Banner 1:

Ramza takes a shot at living up to his father, Balbanes, by going for more an offensive role. His USB2 is 10x ST holy/non damage, en-holy, 1x of self fastcast, and a cycle + chase combo with 'Truthseeking Mercenary' - matching a holy element attack with an additional fastcast charge and 4x ST holy/non damage.

Agrias gets a USB2 that plays off her dive a bit better, but IMHO still does not live up to the utility of her USB1. 'Divine Shatter' is 10x ST holy/non hits with an imperil holy and will follow up with another minor imperil holy for every 2nd Knight ability used.

Montblanc kind of becomes the winner here. His new USB has his normal fire/ice/lightning tech of 10x ST hits, but brings Hyper Break and Pro/Shell along for a support flavor.

Ovelia gains a new BSB; entry is Yshtola's medica + Stoneskin. C1, though not instant, provides a Curaga + Esuna combo while C2 is your standard medica.

Returning Items:

Ramza: BSB2
Agrias: BSB
Montblanc: BSB
Ovelia: BSB1, USB

Banner 2:

More of the repeat banners, but this has some good options on it.

Marche USB for the Cheer effect of front row fastcast, Alma's support suite USB, and Cid's OSB for TGM.

Returning Items:

All

Legend Materias:

• B1 - Ramza 2: Small chance to w-cast holy element abilities.
• B1 - Montblanc: Small chance to decrease all targets' Atk/Mag/Mnd when using Dancer abilities.
• B1 - Ramza: Begin battle with CT0x1 and Full ATB.
• B1 - Agrias: Small chance to w-cast Knight abilities.
• B1 - Ovelia: Small chance to w-cast White Mage abilities.

• B2 - Marche: Medium Knight damage boost when equipping swords.
• B2 - Alma: Small chance for ST White Mage abilities to grant Magic Blink.
• B2 - Meliadoul: Medium Knight damage boost when equipping swords.
• B2 - T.G. Cid: Small chance to w-cast Knight and Darkness abilities.
• B2 - Delita: Atk buildup: Spellblade hits. 2% -> 34% Atk.

Relic Discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...5r&sh=36aae672

[Kirin]

Death song, death door, death river awaiting! Rich!

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Devil Who Abandoned Ideals
凶Belias (w/Archaeodaemon x3)
HP: Belias: 100,000 - Archaeodaemon: 30,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Belias with 3 or more heroes not KO'ed.

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

Notes: Mostly magical damage, though if Belias lives long enough for things to matter then you have tougher issues than popping almost any OSB once and breathing on him for that last 1 HP.

Belias can Petrify/Silence/Confuse, and the Archaeodaemons have some magical piercing damage. Otherwise, nothing to really worry about.

Floating Grudge +
凶Ghoul x3
HP: 120,000 Each
Target Score:

• Defeat the three Ghouls with at least 3 characters not KO'ed.

Weak: None
Absorbs: None
Resists: None
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: Surprisingly, mostly a physical fight. There is an AoE fire spell to keep you honest though. Also, a 60 second doom timer to start the fight.

You can wear fire resist accessories if you want, as their AI won't change through the phases nor will they gain any new attacks. Focus on AoE as best you can and clear them out.

They do have a slightly accurate Sleep attack that can cause some headaches.

Acolyte Archive:

AoE is the name of the game, so Montblanc can help here even if hes only packing Meteor or Ruinga and a Dance break.

Plently of Knight characters in realm too for Aegis Strike.

Honestly, not the most difficult of fight for this level. Plug who else you want in and buff accordingly.

Beautiful Assassins (Apoc +)
滅Celia and Lettie
HP: S400,000 each
Target Score:

• Defeat the bosses with 2 or more heroes not KO'ed.

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

Notes: Probably the 2nd hardest fight in Tactics. This FFRK entry is slightly better. Thankfully, you only need to beat one to win the fight. You'll absolutely want both mitigation types with a preference towards magic.

Stop Bracelet? Yup.
Astra? You'll want it.
Affliction Break: Probably a good idea.

Lettie can Confuse, Stop, and Petrify while Celia can Stop, Petrify, and KO.

Celia's Ultimate Suffocate is an instant action and targets the front row member with the highest HP%. Good news is that it is not auto hit, and a major resist accessory and/or Affliction Break will make it much easier to manage. Regular Suffocate still causes instant KO, but at a much safer initial accuracy of 30%.

Physical teams can avoid the scripted Ultimate Suffocate's entirely by focus firing Lettie, while mage teams would be better served hitting Celia hard.

Fallen Commander (Apoc ++)
滅Elmdor (w/Celia + Lettie)
HP: Elmdor: 538,200 - Celia: 209,300 - Lettie: 209,300
Target Score:

• Defeat Elmdor with 2 or more heroes not KO'ed.

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

Notes: Remember how I said that Celia + Lettie was slightly easier than their FFT entry? Nevermind. Bring both mitigation types.

Lettie now gains an Ultimate Suffocate use at 40% HP, and they all now share phases so no gimping a kill quick. That said, the fight ends when Elmdor falls - just be cognizant of his 70% and 40% thresholds, as you'll see a total of 3 Ultimate Suffocates. Celia and Lettie are unchanged from the previous fight outside of that.

Elmdor will begin with a pro/shell cast and refresh it, so packing a Banishing Strike would help. His attacks are also all physical, and at 70% you'll have 30 seconds on a Doom timer to finish him off.

Elmdor's 'Ultimate Binding Darkness' is a ranged piercing physical hit that decreases Def/Res by 30%...so those using Wall RW beware. It is scripted for use at 70% and 30%, so if you're able to get the first phase done quick, you can ignore that RW use for the first 30%. Elmdor can also todd out 'Verse of Oblivion' that reduces ALL ability charges by 2. It may be smart to pack a BSB backup for characters.

Acolyte Archive: Montblanc with Meteor may not cut it here, so if you're thinking in-realm AoE pack an Aegis Strike. He can still bring dances though for support.

Wall becomes the big issue here with RW use. Since Elmdor can decrease your Def/Res, clearing that first 30% to trigger the scripted debuff can be a good idea worthy of frontloading a Cid USB or an OSB option with entrust.

With the lack of a really good AoE option, your best bet is to focus fire on Elmdor.

[Alkar]

No TGCid USB but I gotta give it a shot on that banner 1, my Tactics sinergy is awful and I have nothing for Agrias despite pulling multiple times

[synistar]

Pulling for Waifu + Husbando. And I guess Ovelia USB. And all 3 of their LMRs to further my chances at D-Whale Torment

[Sumy]

well, either they still didn't fix Meliadouls HP, or Assault Saber is just that good...