Beating Grahdens in JP and Global!

Hey guys! Sorry for the absence, school work is piling up. German (which I picked as an elective) is freaking hard. I dare say that Japanese is easier compared to German...

Good news, however! You may notice that I mentioned Grah last post. YES, I beat Grah with ONE squad in JP. And guess what? I beat Karl (Global) on Thursday, 21 August 2014, and then Grah three days later!

Yes, I have beaten Grahdens in Global too! Now, I will be telling you how I was able to do this in both files. Karl in Global will come soon, so stay tuned!

Let's start with the JP file...the one-squad clear.

My team consists of:

Hail Mech Reeze (Breaker, level 77, SJ, leader)
Empyreal Drake Lodin (Lord, level 82, Medulla)
Ice Tower Tesla (Guardian, level 54, Goddess Seal)
Genius Elimo (Anima, MAX, Goddess Seal)
Divine Light Alyut (Anima, level 78, Beast Blade)
Friend: Selha 6* (Guardian, MAX, forgot the sphere as friend changes leader quite often)

With this team, it all comes down to a few things:

1. How often you can apply Elimo's DEF buff (every 3 turns if possible)
2. Timing Tesla's BB on the 70%, 40%, and <1% HP marks
3. GUARD ON TURN 1 FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY.
4. Getting Lodin/Alyut/Selha to SBB at least once for more BC/BB gauge fill for more BB...FOR MASSIVE DAMAGE.
5. Use potions sparingly. Units with high REC helps a bit.

Now, in the Global file...the three-squad clear.

Team 1

Hail Mech Reeze (Lord, level 55, Flesh Armor, leader)
Drake Angel Aisha (Lord, level 71, Soul Spear)
Bolt Goddess Amy (Breaker, level 47, Burny Soul Stone)
Unflinching Themis (Breaker, level 36, Holy Crown)
Xenon & Estia (Guardian, level 56, Cordelicite)
Friend: Grahdens (Lord, level 49, SJ)

This team lasted until the 40% HP AOE.

Team 2

Empyreal Drake Lodin (Oracle, level 43, Medulla, leader)
War Rocket Cayena (Guardian, level 54, Flesh Armor)
Gun Goddess Serin (Breaker, MAX, SJ)
Cyborg Lilith II (Guardian, MAX, SJ)
Alpha Tree Altri (Oracle, level 13, Refined Gem)
Friend: Grahdens (Lord, MAX, SJ)

This team is sacrificed for the final AOE at <1% HP.

Team 3

Blade God Seria (Lord, level 57, SJ, leader)
Head Chef Lancia (Guardian, level 65, Royal Shield)
Magistra Lira (Lord, MAX, Soul Spear)
Legatus Melchio (Oracle, level 13, SJ)
Holy Earth Lance (Anima, level 91, Brave Crest)
Friend: Felneus (Anima, MAX, SJ)

This team is the cleanup squad, used to finish off Grah in case the second team couldn't make it past the final AOE. Was used in the end.

It all comes down to these:

1. Making sure my first team plows through until the 40% HP mark (in the middle of the 's' in Grahdens/in the middle of the 'ra' in 'Guradensu' in the JP version, which is the fourth character from the right)
2. Sparking. The only reason my second team was successful in reducing Grah's HP to <1% without much difficulty was because of loads of sparking, producing more BC and ensuring Altri can BB, even when my units are all underleveled.
3. Making sure my units don't die off very quickly. All healers guard. I didn't use a Revive for this battle, mind you.
4. GUARD ON TURN 1. I cannot stress this enough.
5. Grah friends can turn the tables to your favor, as Grah's LS works AGAINST him!

Pattern of attacks

Turn 1: Dialogue box. All units guard.

'How about an attack to start things off?'

Why? Grahdens will use Soul Rejection...

Soul Rejection: AOE that is an insta-kill if you don't guard/have Tesla or Darvanshell's BB activated, but deals 55% of your HP's worth of damage when guarding/with Tesla or Darvanshell's BB activated. This is reduced to approx. 50% with a Grahdens helper.

You'll notice the 'Angel Idol' buff. No, that doesn't resurrect him like Cursed Estia or Holy Flame Vargas in Frontier Hunter. Think of it as 'Endure' from Pokemon, where he stays alive when he's supposed to be dead.

'A normal attack should suffice!'

He then starts using normal attacks and some BBs:

Ignite Heaven: Fire AOE
Cursed Blue Slash: Water AOE
Ground Rock: Earth AOE
Lightning Volcano: Thunder AOE

At 85% HP (?)

'I'm tired. Time for a break.'

Grahdens will swap to Light element, ATK down while DEF up (I believe). Casts Life Shower, (not so sure about Steel Fortification) and can still use the BBs from above.

Life Shower: Health regen for 3 turns (approx. 8000 HP per turn), only once...until a few phases later.

At 70% HP

'Break's over!'

Soul Rejection again. Guard/activate Tesla or Darvanshell's BB. Reeze died here (Global), didn't bother reviving her.

Uses more moves:

Vanishing Wave: Nullifies all buffs
Holy Light: Light AOE that can inflict weakness and injury

At 40% HP

A dialogue box will open, and he uses another strong AOE.

Apocalypse: AOE that is an insta-kill if you don't guard/have Tesla or Darvanshell's BB activated, but deals 55% of your HP's worth of damage when guarding/with Tesla or Darvanshell's BB activated. This is reduced to approx. 50% with a Grahdens helper.

Please note: Apocalypse was the Japanese literal translation. I didn't pay attention to the name in Global for this attack.

Team 1 died here. Barely pulled through the final stretch for that phase. (Global)

'Time for some fun!' (I think.)

He gains an ATK buff here. Normal attacks can inflict weakness and injury.

Can use all attacks and BBs from previous phases, along with a few new ones. Can use Life Shower at any moment.

More attacks:

Sacred Change: AOE that changes his element from Dark to Light, or vice versa
Sharp Gaze: Strong STBB, can inflict paralysis, weakness, and injury
Steel Fortification: Damage mitigation buff for one turn

At <1% HP

Final dialogue box. If you're still in squad 2, you're home free.

Apocalypse Zero: 9999 damage AOE on all your units. 4999 damage while guarding/with Tesla or Darvanshell's BB activated.

Team 2 got annihilated here. (Global)

Then, you're free to attack him all you want, since he supposedly stops attacking for two turns. I'm not sure if this is a glitch, but when I fought Grahdens in Global, he still attacks me after the team swap AND after Apocalypse Zero (causing Altri to die, since he was the only survivor after Apocalypse Zero).

You get 1000000 Zel, 50000 EXP, and a Gem for completion. You also get a unit: Grahdens!

Base stats

HP: 3660
ATK: 1390
DEF: 1220
REC: 1050

LS: Ancient Authority (20% boost to all stats, 15% damage reduction from Light and Dark damage)
BB: Leader's Barrage (15 combo AOE Light and Dark damage, gives Light and Dark element to all allies' attacks for 2 turns)

So...I hope this helps for beating Grahdens!

Bye guys!

Friend spots open! (JP)

I have 18 slots for friends in my JP file, and if you want to add me...go ahead.

First, I should probably list all my leaders and potential leaders...and their stats too. Here they are:

Current leader

Grahdens (Dark, Lord)
Level: 43/80
LS: 20% boost to all stats, 15% damage reduction from dark and light types
HP: 5317
ATK: 1928
DEF: 1770
REC: 1548
Sphere: Medulla Gem
BB: 13 combo light and dark damage AOE, gives light and dark element to all allies' attacks for 2 turns (lv 5)

Other potential leaders

Hail Mech Reeze (Water, Breaker)
Level: 78/80
LS: Nullifies all status ailments
HP: 6218
ATK: 2068
DEF: 1320
REC: 1419
Sphere: Sacred Jewel, Thunder Bow
BB: 10 combo water AOE, chance to inflict paralysis (lv 2)

Empyreal Drake Lodin (Thunder, Lord)
Level: 82/100
LS: 50% ATK boost & large boost to BB gauge fill rate for team with at least 5 elements
HP: 6705
ATK: 2635
DEF: 1972
REC: 2155
Sphere: Medulla Gem, Skill Bracer
BB: Fills BB gauge of allies, gives thunder element to all allies' attacks for 3 turns (lv 10)
SBB: 14 combo thunder AOE, BB regen & gives thunder element to all allies' attacks for 3 turns (lv 4)

Possible future leaders (Bold most likely to be used)

>Dark Warlord Zephyr (Dark, Breaker)
>Havoc Angel Ronel (Thunder, Lord)
>Ice Warrior Karl (Water, Lord)
>Inferno Princess Dia (Fire, Anima)
>Felneus (Water, Anima)
>Ruza 6* (Fire, Guardian)
>Hail Gigantron Reeze (Water, Breaker)
>Wise Mage Elimo (Water, Anima)
>Ice Fortress Oulu (Water, Guardian)
>Deemo and Little Girl (5* form, Light, Lord)
>6* Karl and Grahdens, if they are/will be released. (Lord for both, Karl is water, Grahdens is dark)

But even with all of these, I have some...requirements, see. Here they are:

1. THE most important: Gift accordingly, please!
2. Grahdens, Divine Gale, Ares Excelsior, and Five Light leaders are prioritized. For Five Light and Divine Gale leaders, I accept 5* and 6* forms. You don't need to max out stats, but make sure they SURVIVE in the Agni Region.
3. Your leader must be at least 5*. 4* can be accepted at times, but Grahdens/6* leaders are the most prioritized.

And...I guess that's it. Go ahead and pop me a friend request if you'd like to!

My ID: 23603487
IGN: Raiko

I BEAT KARL WITH ONE SQUAD! Well, in JP.

...YES, it warranted an update.

Karl was insane, let me tell you that. I keep on dying at Blue Execution in my Global file, but in my JP file...

I beat him the first time. With one squad.

I came into the battle with 3 squads, the first one being the squad THE Ushi-sensei suggested (he suggested using a Grah helper, but I didn't have a Grah helper, so...yeah). The three squads are...

Team 1: Reeze 5* (leader, B), Tesla (G), Elimo 5* (A), Alyut 6* (A), Lodin 6* (L), Lira 6* (helper, B)
Team 2: Kushra (leader, L), Elulu 5* (L), May 3* (B), Emilia 5* (L), Falma 5* (A), Eze 6* (helper, G)
Team 3: Aem 5* (Leader, A), Lemia 5* (B), Zephyr 5* (B), Duel GX II (L), Lance 5* (G), Il and Mina 5* (helper, A)

I only used team 1. I brought Fujin Elixir, Divine Light, High Cure, Revive, and Thunder Seal (it was insurance in case my first team died). Tesla and Reeze died at Blue Execution. Lira died near the end, and I revived her to make sure Karl dies quickly.

In hindsight I could've won even without reviving Lira.

So, the stats of my first squad...

Hail Mech Reeze (Leader, B)
Level: 77/80
LS: Nullifies all status ailments
Sphere: Sacred Jewel
Stats (HP/ATK/DEF/REC): 6189/2058/1315/1413
BB: 10 combo water AOE, chance of paralysis (level 2)

Ice Tower Tesla (G)
Level: 54/80
Sphere: Goddess Seal
Stats: 5066/1157/1922/883
BB: Halves damage taken for 1 turn (level 2)

Genius Elimo (A)
Level: 80/80
Sphere: Flesh Armor, Poison Shiv (w/Sphere Frog)
Stats: 5263/1003/1674/1721 (light stat imp buff)
BB: Greatly recovers HP, gives DEF buff for 3 turns (level 2)

Divine Light Alyut (A)
Level: 71/100
Sphere: Beast Blade
Stats: 6273/1906/1795/1644 (light stat imp buff)
BB: 11 combo light AOE, chance of injury (level 10)
SBB: 14 combo light AOE, BB gauge refill & HP regen for 3 turns (level 7)

Empyreal Drake Lodin (L)
Level: 76/100
Sphere: Medulla Gem, Skill Bracer (w/Sphere Frog)
Stats: 6942/2552/1938/2120 (heavy buffing with stat imps)
BB: Fills BB gauge of allies, gives thunder element to all allies' attacks for 3 turns (level 10)
SBB: 14 combo thunder AOE, BB gauge refill & gives thunder element to all allies' attacks for 3 turns (level 4)

God Eater Lira (helper, B)
Level: 100/100
LS: 25% boost to ATK of all units, all allies' attacks has chance to inflict random status ailment
Sphere: Steeple Rose, Beast Armor (w/Sphere Frog)
Stats: 6710/2379/1879/1935 (heavy buffing with stat imps)
BB: 11 combo dark AOE (level 10)
SBB: Strong 13 combo dark STBB (level 1)

How the battle goes:

- Karl uses a water AOE every 5 turns (Frozen Axe), until 75% HP @ first form. Don't use items yet; you'll need it for his second form.
- Karl starts using these attacks @ 75% HP of his first form:
   > Verdant Axe (Earth), inflicts Weakness
   > Lightning Axe (Thunder), inflicts Paralysis
   > Flood Offensive (3 turn DEF debuff, ATK buff)
- 50% HP @ first form, he evolves into his 5* form, regains all HP, starts using Verdant Axe and Lightning Axe. Start using items now.
- 75% HP @ second form, can use a light STBB (Flashing Axe Combo)
- 50% HP @ second form, uses an extremely strong water AOE capable of one-shotting teams that are not mono thunder. Def buff from Elimo and Tesla's BB needed to survive without guarding. Even then, Reeze and Tesla died, Lira was in the red zone, everyone else very close to red, except for Lodin.
- After Blue Execution, Karl can use a strong water AOE at random (Cursed Blue Slash). Two or more in a row is not unheard of.
- 15% HP @ second form, uses an attack that gives him DEF buff and regens health (approx. 7000-7500 HP per turn) for 3 turns. Reapplies this buff 5 turns after the last turn he regens HP.

How I beat him:

- Elimo always heals and reapplies DEF buff as soon as she can use her BB. ALL Fujins go to her.
- Don't mind SBB! As soon as a unit can use their BB, I used it, except Elimo and Tesla. SBB takes too long to charge up.
- Tesla's BB is saved for Blue Execution/Frozen Axe.
- Lodin's BB is needed to deal more damage.
- Save all items for Karl's second form. YOU'LL NEED THEM.
- Activate Tesla's BB @ Blue Execution and make sure Elimo's DEF buff is still present, and you won't suffer a total wipeout, even without guarding.
- When he hits 15% HP, you're pretty much home free, so slug all you have at him.

So there! Hopefully this helps in finishing off Karl.

See you!

Brave Frontier and Deemo's collaboration: New event unit!

Alim does a collaboration yet again, people! This time, they're collaborating with Rayark, the guys that created Cytus and Deemo!

This collaboration has brought the characters of Deemo: the titular character and the little girl that he tries to help. They are a collective unit, and is of light element.

THEY ARE FREAKING OP. Well, for a free unit.

I mean, their Brave Burst AT FOUR STARS is already 18 combo Light AND Dark damage, and increases Spark damage for 3 turns! And in five stars, their Brave Burst is the same, but has 20 combos!

Their LS fills the BB gauge when sparking. Kinda OP when their regular attack hits for at least 8 times in a short time frame between hits.

What I like is the adjustments Brave Frontier JP made because of this event. The Vortex dungeon list had its song changed from 'Hazama' to the menu screen of Deemo (the music in the piano room, attic, and the library). The dungeon itself plays the song 'Friction' in the battles leading to the boss, and the boss, Deemo and Little Girl, has the AWESOME song 'Magnolia' playing!

'Magnolia' is also sung by Guriri, a well-known utaite, so...yeah.

And their Brave Bursts?

At four stars, it's read 'Furikushion'.

At five stars, it's read 'Magunoria'.

'Friction' and 'Magnolia'.

*faints*

Status Update!

I'm starting school tomorrow...

I'm taking the IB course this year in my new school. I have a feeling that the learning will get intense within one or two weeks, so...

I won't be able to update both my blogs often now, but I'll try to update at least once a week.

Thanks for understanding!