[Kobiko]

Just wondering how a BLU fairs on this annoying battle, I have tried the ranged setups and things just go haywire after the first 50%. I would like to know some more strategies people have used. I sadly have no jobs that can participate in a zerg setup (I would much prefer a short fight, spends less time on battle so refarming the stones is not as tiring). Does the crystal have any natural regen (thinking of Lowing as help for dealing more dmg). Any advice on how to get this out of the way would be greatly appreciated.

[Saniiro]

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Ode_of_L...wing/Strategies

As far as I've seen, BLUs have been used to hang back and take care of adds. I don't what else could work. I'm 0/3, myself. I honestly wonder how people manage. My first try we got it to 2%, and I odn't even get how after having done it twice now. It is really annoying.

[Izod]

BLUs are good at handling adds for ranged set ups - they're also pretty effective overall with Cannonball builds for simply just railing adds and DPS. I had a BLU putting out some darn good DPS on one of my attempts. Read something somewhere (maybe wiki) about BLU having almost no resist rate.

It is a shame it seems the community has relegated itself to basically 2 set ups.

Also I highly recommend PLD/drk for your tank. Although I've heard/seen success with /nin, /war, and /rdm.

[Kobiko]

I've read every word on the discussion/strategy page of wiki and only see info on cookie cutter builds thus far. I've only gone as WHM so far. I read that the crystal doesn't resist blu magic, but it resists headbutt's effects.

What I'm gathering is that BLU is quite useful for this fight, to kill adds and just spam Cannonball. What about other ranged blu magic spells like Jet Stream? I would think there would have to be damage in between casting cannonball to keep the crystals HP dropping consistently.

I think /NIN is kinda silly for jobs that are going to be on the frontlines of battle, due to the constant AOE moves the crystal uses.

What I would like to see is other spell damage like the big 3 on the crystal. Would it be possible to zerg as a BLU? Maybe have a BLUx5 RDM/DRKx1, I'm just thinking they can unload their magic pretty quickly but not sure if their damage would be enough to destroy the crystal.

Edit: Just thought of something, because the crystal doesn't have a front or back, and you'll be doing ranged dmg as BLU, would /WAR be acceptable for the use of Defender?

[Symbios]

The thread right under this one has some strategies towards deeper in. General discussion about what we thought of the expansion as well, if you're into that sort of thing.

This fight is actually incredibly easy if you just know what you're doing. I posted a youtube video someone else made somewhere in that thread as well, you might wanna check it out (The person also made another zerg video where he just barely won).

My advice: Don't take a zerg setup, it's a complete crap shoot, and with the stupidity of what's needed to regain the entry item I wouldn't bother taking the risk just because it's easier to make a zerg.

Best setup, IMO, is this:
3x DD, 2x Healer, 1x Stunner/backup healer

Guess I'll copy/paste what I said in there for your convienence.

I did the fight today as MNK, BLU, BLU, WHM, RDM, RDM/DRK, and won with ease. This fight really isn't as hard as people make it out to be- the important thing is to take it slowly. We took about 20 minutes to beat the BC.

MNK Hundred fists right off the start since it's going to get deleted if he doesn't anyway, and just tanks the crystal the whole time (/WAR btw). MNK ran away at the sight of any WS the crystal was readying, and he dodged charm every time. Don't wait till the name of the WS pops up, just run away if you hear the growling sound and you'll be fine- it's worth losing like one turn of attacks if he uses something harmless. If he does get charmed, just sleep charmed, and have people run away if they get drawn in.

BLUs spam cannonball of course. I think a NIN with a gun, RNG, COR, SAM/RNG- anybody with some form of ranged attack, would have done just fine. Seeing as how we only took 20 minutes to beat it, I would say having one DD without Ranged attacks to kill thralls should be safe. I was able to take out Seed Thralls with a single Cannonball, but since recast was down most of the time from spamming on the seed crystal, I would suggest using a ranged weapon to pull Thralls to you rather than a Bibiki Seashell or something to improve your cannonball damage.

WHM and RDM/WHM just focused on curing the MNK, and the RDM/DRK stunned -ga spells. Even when the -ga spells hit they were surprisingly weak. Everyone except the MNK needs to stay near the entrance or else you'll be hit by that 800+ damage seed move he does under 50%.

[Kobiko]

I have watched the videos and done lots of research on this, I did try the 3xHealer (two rdm/drk and a whm/smn) 3x DD setup, but no one felt like killing the adds so we lost, if we were more managed in our briefing before the battle we could have won, I forget what % we got it to. I probably am making this mission harder than it needs to be by forcing myself into the cookie cutter builds.

[Symbios]

Should always designate a clone killer for sure, they're embarrassingly weak (Like 500 HP or something), I can kill one with a single Cannonball, so there's no reason whatsoever a clone should be alive at any point in time if you have a BLU.

Also a single RDM/DRK is more than sufficient, only need to stun the -ga III spells. Everything else the tank can take, and he can run away from charm.

[Majhone]

I have watched the videos and done lots of research on this, I did try the 3xHealer (two rdm/drk and a whm/smn) 3x DD setup, but no one felt like killing the adds so we lost, if we were more managed in our briefing before the battle we could have won, I forget what % we got it to. I probably am making this mission harder than it needs to be by forcing myself into the cookie cutter builds.

If people arent killing adds, its probably going to go badly.

Our strat was to use ranged only and depend on slow DMG to win. We finished in 20min, only had 1 charm go off, and no deaths.
Our setup was RNG RNG COR BLM RDMDRK WHM PLD

entire PT stayed on stairs with the exception of the PLD, who did the usual voke/flash/cure pattern to keep hate. She always ran to the left or right side of the lower area as soon as she was drawn in. By doing this, she was almost always out of range of Charmga by the time it went off. Only one time did she ever get charmed, at which point the BLM slept her and the RNG with the most hate got drawn in. While RNG was drawn in, he proceeded to do what the PLD did by running to the left or right constantly to avoid a lot of the AoE's

RNG's attacked crystal from up on the stairs with the rest of the PT. They saved TP for the seed thralls as to eleminate them quickly. Very little TP was used on the seed crystal itself. Aside from the PLD, we also made sure all people in the pt were using ele staffs to avoid unnecessary dmg being done from the Seed Thrall player-clones when they came up the ramp.

I was WHM/SMN in the fight, i had to use a Yagudo Drink a couple times when the RDM got busy but aside from that my refresh served enough to keep my mp well, I never had to rest. I was wearing +22% cure Potency, -35 enmity(/w merits), and -35% Cure casting time + Loq. Earring. I stuck to 115hp Cure II's mostly and the stoneskin from the new WHM job abilities played a big part as well I think. - I did a LOT of curing. I believe the potency and -Enmity was probably really important to keep me from getting hate for that whole 20min.

DMG was slow but pretty constant, the PLD knew what to do, and nobody got in a real big hurry. PLD dropped to 10% on boss's 2hr, but we had her topped off fast and didnt have any other close calls.

From what ive been hearing in lschat and in whitegate shout-rants. Zerging is the worst option. It seems that SE was making sure players had to use their brains instead of brawn.

[Izod]

Making sure your PLD knows how the heck to run away from charm is pretty darn key, most all the mobs moves are avoidable.

[Corrderio]

You can zerg but it's risky and more of an all or nothing thing, since even with CSS the final boss will probably pull off a couple attacks. And if it's the charmga one, consider the fight over right there.

Since you don't have a zerg job the best thing you can do is just do a ranged setup. I beat it with COR/RNG, RNG/WAR, PLD/RDM, BLU/DRK (/WAR is better, but our RDM was slow on stuns), RDM/DRK, and SCH/RDM.

[MrReinhardt]

from what I see, the PLD shouldnt be near the crystal just run away everytime it draws PLD in go to outside use spells or w/e for hate

[Corrderio]

from what I see, the PLD shouldnt be near the crystal just run away everytime it draws PLD in go to outside use spells or w/e for hate

This.

[Symbios]

Seeing as how he draws in every couple seconds, I can see that being very irritating, and sometimes when he draws you in you feel disoriented because the camera makes this annoying shift. Personally I'd say just running away every time he readies WS, because you always have the danger of draw in + immediate WS.

[Corrderio]

I don't think it's possible to outrun his WS since they go off ungodly fast. I know I seen a video with a CSS zerg and it was able to make like 2-3 clones.

[Symbios]

Charm is easily outran, the other ones not so much. That's the only one you need to really avoid.

[Dhragon]

Ok, so what I've read from you folks so far...

I know I can have Blu/War, Rdm/Drk, Whm/Blm & Pld (not sure what subs he has available) for this fight. I should just look for a couple more ranged DD's? Should I only look for Rng's or would Cor be just as effective? Since I'll be the Blu in this pt, I'm guessing my secondary role will be dealing with the thralls. Any further insight you folks can give would be much appreciated.

Oh, and is there any sub better than any other for the Pld to use?

[MrReinhardt]

subbing /rdm or /drk is best, /rdm gets the mdb job trait and with mdb gear that pld would be in decent shape, otherwise /drk gets stun as well as several other spells that can help generate hate as well

[Armandan]

SMN is a good job as well for main damage on the crystal. If everyone does what they are supposed to do during the fight it is an easy endurance battle. I went 1/7 on it.

[Saniiro]

Best setup, IMO, is this:
3x DD, 2x Healer, 1x Stunner/backup healer

This.

Except 2 healers shouldn't be necessary. I usually main heal as SCH/RDM and only have MP problems if the rest of the PT is screwing up; and even then it doesn't take long to recover if things straighten out. Can keep the tank SS'd and healed enough without any problems. If you have to spam cures so much that you need to help, someone isn't doing their job.

Pretty much any setup works as long as it accounts for all of the major issues in the fight:

1. Charm
2. Seed of Judgment
3. Thralls
4. Aga's
5. AoE Damage
6. Dealing damage

As long as your setup handles all 5 of those points efficiently enough to last at least 25 minutes, you should win the fight. I just went and got my second body piece; This fight has become stupidly easy, haha. (At least for me..)

Notes on Jobs: (From my experience)

SCH: Good for main healing, can nuke a Thrall down with a single tier III.
BLM: Good for thralls and stun, but typically has trouble with MP (doesn't make a good main add handler). BLM/RDM's recast for Stun is shorter than the Seed Crystal's recast for Aga spells (they all operate on the same recast timer)
BLU: Good at supplementary damage (Cannonball), and easily one shot thralls efficiently.
SMN: Great main damage, can solo damage the crystal down to 35% within 25 minutes (this goes for good SMNs; subpar SMNs do significantly less damage)
RNG: Best overall damage, good for thralls as well. Can duo with a SMN or another RNG damage-wise and win well within the timelimit.
COR: Pretty much like RNG, a tad slower. Great for MP management
BRD: Good for MP and zergs
MNK: A good MNK can tank pretty effectively, but it is very risky and they have to be -really- good. Decent for thralls, might need help pulling them. Good for zergs
DRG: Good for thralls, and maybe zergs
WAR, THF, SAM, DRK: Great for handling thralls, can supplement main damage if ranged attack is capped. Good for thralls. Great for zergs.
WHM: Great for main healing
RDM/DRK: Best stunner. Also useful for Chainstun for zergs.
PUP: No experience, but I believe they can supplement main damage and/or handle thralls. I'll try it when I hit 75.
BST: Good for handling thralls.
NIN: Good for thralls, no real experience with brining NINs
PLD: Best tank for ranged setups. A PLD in full +M.DEF gear can easily survive SoJ.


I've been helping so many people with this fight it's getting depressing, lol. I liked the Fei'yin fight way more, much more exciting, haha.

subbing /rdm or /drk is best, /rdm gets the mdb job trait and with mdb gear that pld would be in decent shape, otherwise /drk gets stun as well as several other spells that can help generate hate as well

No...

If you're talking about PLD, then /WAR is best. Stun from RDM/DRK or BLM/DRK can accumulate a lot of hate. Hell, curing the PLD generates a lot of hate; the loss of Provoke isn't worth the miniscule Magic Defence Bonus bonus /RDM would give. There's never enough time for a PLD to cast Stoneskin, either, so it's best to just go with the sub that can generate the most hate.

/DRK, I guess might be useful, but the only thing the PLD needs to worry about is getitng the hell away from the crystal. It's a waste of energy and an excessive burden to put stunning ontop of the PLD's responsibilities, especially considered 6 out of 10 can't even handle dealing with draw in without spinning around like a chicken with its head cut off for the first few seconds.

/WAR or bust. Keeping hate and preventing Healers/Stunners from from getting drawn in > then miniscule bonuses from other subs.

Like I said before, the Aga III recast timer for the Seed Crystal is longer than the cooldown for a BLM/RDM, RDM/DRK, or SCH/DRK's Stun. A single stunner can easily handle stun by themself as well as help with other things should their MP managment skills allow it. There's no reason to trouble anyone else with it.

Ok, so what I've read from you folks so far...

I know I can have Blu/War, Rdm/Drk, Whm/Blm & Pld (not sure what subs he has available) for this fight. I should just look for a couple more ranged DD's? Should I only look for Rng's or would Cor be just as effective? Since I'll be the Blu in this pt, I'm guessing my secondary role will be dealing with the thralls. Any further insight you folks can give would be much appreciated.

Oh, and is there any sub better than any other for the Pld to use?

Look for a RNG or a really good SMN and a melee DD with capped ranged attack. a THF or SAM with RNG sub would be good. They can handle thralls as well as help you guys deal damage to the Seed. Typically you want Main Damage + Supplementary Damage x2. BLU can deal good Cannonball damage, but MP management and the unexpected events (sometimes the seed likes to spawn 3-4 thralls back-to-back and it becomes increasingly important to get rid of them quickly) can short cut your DPS and leave you losing @ <10% b/c of the time limit.

Note: If you can get a SMN and a RNG or two RNG's that works too. BLU can handle thralls easily, so you can let the other two do the main damage. Two SMNs works asll, but they both have to be really good, Predator Claws is multi-hit, the damage can range from 150-1,000; the better the SMN the more consistently high the damage is. I've had losses with two SMNs, I've had wins with one SMN and minor damage help from other jobs. Depends on the quality of the player and their gear.

[Robert Redford]

I'm 0/3 with the zerg strategy so far. For the SAMs who've won with a zerg...did you 2-hour before leaving the ramp, or did you open with sekkanoki and immediately 2-hour after using the TP? The second option seems to be better if it works, but for one of my runs it wiped my 2-hour so quickly I didn't get a chance to use it at all.