FFRK - A Promise Kept (X) Event & Strategies

[Kirin]

Jecht did nothing wrong. Change my mind.

"Ha! Legendary guardian? I was just a boy. A boy about your age actually.
I wanted to change the world too, but I changed nothing. That is my story." - Auron

"You were always such a stiff. But that's what I like about you." - Jecht

"I appreciate your feelings Auron, but I am here to kill grief itself." - Braska

Auron was enlisted by summoner Braska to serve as a guardian on his upcoming pilgrimage to fight Sin, the monster that has terrorized Spira for a millennium. Auron was drawn to Braska due to his noble character and honest intentions to vanquish Sin for the sake of Spira, developing a fierce devotion to him and his cause, addressing him with honor and defending him to detractors.

Prior to departing Auron and Braska paid a visit to a Bevelle holding cell, having heard of a man claiming to hail from Zanarkand being kept there. The other monks dismissed Jecht's proclamations as the ramblings of a drunkard, but Braska took him seriously, telling Jecht that if he joined the pilgrimage he could go home. Though Auron protested and thought Jecht an unfit guardian, Braska thought it "delightful irony" that a disgraced monk, a summoner with a "heathen" Al Bhed wife and "half-breed" daughter, and a drunk from Zanarkand, would be saving Spira together. Auron relented, and the three outcasts began their pilgrimage.

Event Start Date: August 2
Event Bonus Battle: August 5
Event End Date: August 12

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...9f&sh=e6f2a577

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:

Auron's Jug - Accessory 5*: Moderate poison element and Poison status resist.

One of these days I'm going to read Enlir's spreadsheet properly.

Hellfire - Samurai 5*: 4x ST physical fire damage, Atk/Res bargain.
(Non/Power/Fire)

Iai Flamestrike - Samurai 5*: 5x ST physical fire damage with a high critical rate, Mnd/Def+Res* bargain.
(Non/Fire/Lightning)

*Basically done so that it doesn't mess with Wall.

The fire samurai abilities are actually pretty good. Way better than the current ones.

New Characters Acquired:

Dodge 200 lightning strikes in a row?

Dress Spheres Acquired:

Ain't nobody got time for that.

Old Characters Acquired:

Yuna
Rikku
Auron
Jecht
Braska

New Memory Crystals:

Chocobo Racing Time: 0:0.1

Old Memory Crystals:

Auron MC1/MC2
Jecht MC1/MC2
Braska MC1/MC2

New Record Materia:

Tidus:

• Cry - Becomes permanently equipped. No effect.

New Record Dive

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

New Legend Materia:

Spoiler: show

No New Additions:

Acolyte Archives

• Beat 'Soaring Holy Dragon 凶++' with a party consisting of FFX synergy characters.
• Beat 'Infinite Possibilities 滅++' with a party consisting of FFX synergy characters.

Balance Changes

Auron - Support 5*

This happened a few weeks ago, but this is the event it was meant to take place in.

Relics

Auron actually becomes an above average fire damage dealer with this event, and adds Support 5 for extra utility. The downside is that fire can be crowded with a lot of other characters, and Jecht transitioning himself to fire here (hint: hence the picture) complicates a targeted pull.

Not much else to say about the banner, really. There is only 1 this time, and if you want anything other than Auron or Jecht stuff...you're better off saving it for better X banners.

Future Event Banner Comparison:

https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...ru&sh=6d2ea6a0

Next X event should be around early November. This would be the "Torment Struggles" banner.

It also happens to have Yuna's Brave USB... not on accident.

This is actually a simple decision, since almost all of this events prizes do NOT reoccur on the November banner. If you want Auron or Jecht, or need/want physical fire this isn't a bad pull. Otherwise, stay your hand.

Element Boosts:

Spoiler: show

Banner 1:

• Fire: Auron USB, Jecht USB2, Auron OSB, Braska BSB
• Water: Rikku USB
• Holy: Yuna BSB

Banner 2:

• None

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:

Auron's new USB2 is the best version of its offering; 10x ST fire/non with en-fire, EX Mode 'Friend's Promise', and an Exit attack of 'Lingering Flame'.

You could describe this USB as the prototype for Brave USB's. Rank 0 of 'Friend's Promise' is granted on entry, and using Samurai abilities raises it by 1 rank up to a max of 3. With each stage, Auron will gain increased Crit rate (30%/50/70) and cast speed (x2/2.5/3). 'Lingering Flame' deals 35% ST overflow Samurai damage based on the amount of fire damage done within the 15 second duration.

The good news here is that recasting the USB to trigger the Exit attack will then feed into the following Exit attack for damage collection AND because the overflow damage is a Samurai attack, will grant you rank 1 'Friend's Promise' from the start.

Auron's OSB is a bog standard copy of Lightnings, dealing increased damage based on Samurai ability use.

His new BSB isn't terrible, but plays more to his support role than a fire damage dealer. 8x fire/non random hits and pentabreak. Both commands are Samurai, with C1 a 2x fire/non hit + Power BD and C2 the same but with Magic BD.

Jecht shifts into fire monk with a new USB dealing 10x ST fire/non hits with an en-fire entry, Atk/Def boost, 1x CT0, and a 'Beast Rush' chase. 'Beast Rush' is triggered by fire elemental damage and deals 6x ST fire/non Monk hits. Effective, but boring.

His new BSB isn't terrible though. No en-element, but deals 8x fire/non hits on entry with a party Stoneskin. His commands don't play off the Stoneskin tech though. Both are Monk based, with C1 dealing 4x fire/non ST damage with a shortened cast time and C2 dealing 3x ST hits but with Monk ability boost for 3 turns.

Returning Items:

Braska: BSB
Auron: BSB2
Rikku: USB
Yuna: BSB2

Banner 2:

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

No banner 2.

Returning Items:

None

Legend Materias:

• B1 - Auron: Begin battle with en-fire.
• B1 - Jecht: Begin battle with en-fire
• B1 - Jecht: Small chance to w-cast Monk abilities.
• B1 - Rikku: Begin battle with Fastcast x3.
• B1 - Yuna: Small chance to w-cast White Magic abilities.

Relic Discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/FFRecordKee...nd&sh=6ff05416

[Kirin]

Lu? You knew?

Ultimate + Apocalypse Battles

Keeper of the Woods
凶Lord Ochu
HP: 260,000
Target Score:

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

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

Notes: Mixed, but you also needs to worry about piercing damage since Lord Ochu can pierce both res and def. Luckily, only need to worry about Poison as an ailment.

After 80%, Lord Ochu will heal some damage and apply regen to himself. Your choice to dispel him or just finish him off quickly.

You only need to worry about earth and water elements, and the weed can counter physical hits with AoE Earthquake.

Soaring Holy Dragon +
凶Evrae
HP: 350,000
Target Score:

• Defeat Evrae with at least 3 characters not KO'ed.

Weak: None
Absorbs: None
Resists: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Water (50%)
Null: None
Vulnerabilities: None

Notes: There is a token physical hit, but focus on magical mitigation here.

Affliction Break and Astra can shine here, as you have a Petrify counter to worry about (Summons do byass counters...). Also, Evrae can use a 2 turn Poison Breath attack dealing piercing poison element damage. There are a few petrify resist armors lying around though, so think about doubling up a healer with Ultra Cure and appropriate armor/accessory.

Evrae can also haste itself. Being right on the cusp of still being worth a dispel, consider packing one.

Acolyte Archive:

As mentioned, summons bypass counters. And FFX is a realm full of summoners. You're going to need to bring Yuna anyways for the healing, so if you can swing it (Godwall RW) she may be able to contribute to damage too.

Otherwise, bring who you want with the resists in mind. Fight may get a little RNG-y with Petrify, but balancing patience with steady damage is the key. Fire/water resists in a fire/water heavy realm hurts, but use the NE components of attacks to your advantage as well.

World Without Light (Apoc +)
滅Seymour Omnis
HP: 550,000
Target Score:

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

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

Notes: Magical mitigation only. It's been a while since we've fought Omnis, but this time he is 100% magic only.

The mechanics of the fight aren't drastically different. Seymour will shift his weakness in a specific pattern (Ice -> Fire -> Lightning -> Water -> Ice). He also absorbs the opposite element he is weak to (Fire <-> Ice, Lightning <-> Water).

This version is rebuff heavy, however. Every 5 turns of taking *any* damage, he will shift weaknesses to the next in order, AoE Dispel, and cast Ultimate Ultima (piercing NE magic). You will need to reapply shellga/haste after each transition. Watch for Godwall RW's, and pack the White Magic Hastega.

His only other damage options are either a 2x ST or 1x AoE magic attack based on the element he absorbs.

Infinite Possibilities (Apoc ++)
滅Braska's Final Aeon
HP: 700,000
Target Score:

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

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

Notes: Slow resist. Every attack can afflict slow. Just do it. Hastega *and* Astra or Affliction Break are pretty good ideas too. Oh, and thankfully with all the Slow you only need to worry about physical mitigation - though a lot of his attacks happen to ignore Def.

Every 20% HP loss BFA will enter Overdrive mode for 1 turn, dealing a considerably strong 2x ST physical attack. Further down, near 55%, he will then gain an AoE piercing attack - and both of those bypass blink. Packing the extra Mug Bloodlust may be a good idea.

Acolyte Archive:

You're really managing slow here with mitigation so you don't get overwhelmed with just Yuna. Rikku is a good suggestion, both for her USB hastega and Mug Bloodlust access. Wakka isn't terrible too (if you aren't using Rikku for dances, that is) as he can carry Affliction Break.

Without a resistance to worry about, Tidus can do Tidus water things here to good effect. Same goes for Auron with his new abilities. Overall, a little tougher a challenge than the last 2 CM's but still more manageable than Dark Cecil.

[hyoton]

For some reason the X bosses were annoying; I blame BFA. Yuna's lack of instant heal is becoming annoying...