Official Final Fantasy XIII thread

[blurredvision]

I suspect that I'm getting close to the end of chapter four, and while the combat isn't difficult with respect to staying alive, I find it's virtually impossible to get a five-star rating without a pre-emptive attack. I managed to have more frequent success with Sazh/Vanille utilizing the Saboteur role, but I'm just not finding a good strategy using Lightning/Hope, particularly since his Synergist buffs tend to be defensive, not offensive, and I'm finding it difficult to score staggers on the predominant mech enemies.

I'm no expert, but maybe you're not switching your paradigms enough. I found that a 5-star battle is a much better possibility if you go in with roles that will immediately get the buffs placed so you can then switch into a Com/Rav paradigm and start building up that stagger bar.

In the example of Lightning/Hope, I'd go in as Com/Syn. As soon as Hope would have both of us shielded, I'd switch to a Com/Rav and take out any lesser enemies that can be taken down easily. Then for the tougher ones, I'd stay with a Com/Rav until I got the stagger bar up at least halfway and make sure it's depleting slowly, then switch to a Rav/Rav. The stagger would come quickly after that since Ravagers specialize in chain attacks that build the stagger quickly. Once the enemy was staggered, I'd switch back to Com/Rav to maximize damage. If any healing was needed, I'd switch to Hope being a medic for only the amount of time needed to heal, then I'd immediately switch back.

When I first started experimenting with switching paradigms during battle, I kept waiting for attacks to finish, but now I just switch whenever I need and go on my way. Almost every time after a paradigm switch, my ATB bar was full, so I could immediately throw off some attacks.

I don't know if that helps you at all, but at least half of my battles are 5-star rated, the rest are 3-4 stars. I'm at the start of Chapter 5 and I've really grown a lot in learning the battle system and utilizing the roles properly.

 

[Rage187]

Where is that? I haven't had any trouble really keeping my characters CP up (only focusing on 2 trees each mainly) but I'm super low on components at the moment.

somewhere in chapter 4 or 5 or mayb e 6 there are some elevators right next to some easy creatures that give 156 cp each fight. Just kill them, run back take the elevator up and down and fight the mobs again. 156 is a lot even in later chapters. Plus the mobs later in the game are rediculously hard; I've had soem non boss fights take 8 freakin minutes; I must be doing something wrong even though I know my paradigms.

 

[Maleficus]

Finished the game, Disc 3 made me hate it.

 

[blurredvision]

somewhere in chapter 4 or 5 or mayb e 6 there are some elevators right next to some easy creatures that give 156 cp each fight. Just kill them, run back take the elevator up and down and fight the mobs again. 156 is a lot even in later chapters.

I actually am right at that spot, I'm glad I read your post before I started playing this morning. It's in the beginning stages of Chapter 5, it's the second elevator you take after beginning the chapter. After you take that elevator down, there's a save point and 6 really easy mobs waiting to be killed.

I grinded it a bit this morning, and will continue doing so until I can level up everything available in Hope and Lightning's crystariums, then I'll be on my way. If I had my entire party with me at this point in the game, I'd probably grind out a few thousand cp before continuing, but with just 2 of them, I'd rather continue with the story than grinding.

 

[hans030390]

Finished the game, Disc 3 made me hate it.

Is that because it became very difficult? Or are there other reasons? I've heard the game is at its best later on...

 

[Rage187]

Found my favorite grind spot for CP and crazy money.

Spoiler

right after Hope's dad's apartment gets raided you are in his place and have 2 sets of guards. Keep running around this small circle counter clockwise and kill the same sets over and over.

The reward? are you ready? 160 cp per group and they drop Incentice Chips that are worth $2500. In 3 fights I had more money than I had had all game. I collect 4 chips, pawn those and then upgrade something. I have tons of gear that was 3 or 4 close to 20. Not to mention I have a reserve of 25,000 CP. I may stay here for a few days and just upgrade the crap out of my gear.

Just put the paradigms to Relentless Assault and go to town. You never have to switch.

 

[blurredvision]

Rage, I didn't read your spoilers because I have no idea where in the game it is. What chapter do your spoilers refer to?

 

[Maleficus]

Is that because it became very difficult? Or are there other reasons? I've heard the game is at its best later on...

No, the game never becomes difficult, it just takes FOREVER to kill things. literally 15-20 minute fights.

also rage that grind spot, don't waste your time there. I did the same thing but it isn't even remotely worth it.

 

[Rage187]

Rage, I didn't read your spoilers because I have no idea where in the game it is. What chapter do your spoilers refer to?

Spoiler

Chapter 7. Healing the Rift, I believe

 

[smackababy]

No, the game never becomes difficult, it just takes FOREVER to kill things. literally 15-20 minute fights.

also rage that grind spot, don't waste your time there. I did the same thing but it isn't even remotely worth it.

I am over 18 hours in (

Spoiler

Chapter 10 or 11

) and the only fights that take me a long time were the split party ones or a couple boss fights. Once you get the hand of switching paradigms, it becomes a lot easier to burn things down quickly.

 

[Rage187]

also rage that grind spot, don't waste your time there. I did the same thing but it isn't even remotely worth it.

we must not be talking about the same spot. I just grinded 6 hours there and everyone has star weapons.

I forgot to mention that they drop a large amount of Phoenix Downs that each sell for 500 gil. I found this out when I hit 99 and worried I wouldn't be able to carry more. What a nice 25,000gil surprise for the 50 I sold.

 

[maziwanka]

just fought the boss in gapra whitewood - was a tough battle for me, but fun. rage, i will keep in mind your level grind spot.

 

[Maleficus]

we must not be talking about the same spot. I just grinded 6 hours there and everyone has star weapons.

I forgot to mention that they drop a large amount of Phoenix Downs that each sell for 500 gil. I found this out when I hit 99 and worried I wouldn't be able to carry more. What a nice 25,000gil surprise for the 50 I sold.

No, we're talking about the same spot, it's not worth much I promise. later on you find gold nuggets worth 60k and lots of other stuff, a lot bigger CP rewards and better drops.

 

[Maleficus]

I am over 18 hours in (

Spoiler

Chapter 10 or 11

) and the only fights that take me a long time were the split party ones or a couple boss fights. Once you get the hand of switching paradigms, it becomes a lot easier to burn things down quickly.

depending on the characters you use, i can see this. I used characters I liked which just happened to be the wrong characters because the only way to get through a lot of the 'tougher' fights is

Spoiler

Lightning/Hope/Fang because you need dual medics and a saboteur to keep up with the damage output they deal in a timely manner and you need the debuffs to be able to even look at the enemy, this fact alone makes the game bad

 

[Beev]

Well, after holing up in my apartment for a few days I'm about 35 hours in, and I'm enjoying the game a TON. I just started chapter 12 and can't wait for post game stuffs.

depending on the characters you use, i can see this. I used characters I liked which just happened to be the wrong characters because the only way to get through a lot of the 'tougher' fights is

Spoiler

Lightning/Hope/Fang because you need dual medics and a saboteur to keep up with the damage output they deal in a timely manner and you need the debuffs to be able to even look at the enemy, this fact alone makes the game bad

I've gone through the entirety of the late game with

Spoiler

Lightning/Snow/Hope and haven't had any trouble whatsoever. Not saying I wouldn't probably have an easier time with Fang instead of Snow, but I certainly haven't NEEDED a saboteur

 

[waggy]

well i got the game. well my wife got it for me.

but hell it freezes up after hitting "new game"! damnit

 

[Rage187]

I've gone through the entirety of the late game with

Spoiler

Lightning/Snow/Hope and haven't had any trouble whatsoever.

after grinding with them for the last half day, I am excited to hear I can use them as I want later in the game.

 

[Maleficus]

Well, after holing up in my apartment for a few days I'm about 35 hours in, and I'm enjoying the game a TON. I just started chapter 12 and can't wait for post game stuffs.



I've gone through the entirety of the late game with

Spoiler

Lightning/Snow/Hope and haven't had any trouble whatsoever. Not saying I wouldn't probably have an easier time with Fang instead of Snow, but I certainly haven't NEEDED a saboteur

You are going to have to elaborate on this for me.

Spoiler

How did you possibly beat barthandelus at the end without any debuffs? with 2 medics you have the recovery aspect covered but I was doing 30k a hit with lightning and pretty heavy hitting with the other, even switching to tri-disaster with those 3 and then working your way up to say 600% dmg I don't see them hitting hard enough to kill him before he casts doom on you.

 

[Beev]

You are going to have to elaborate on this for me.

Spoiler

How did you possibly beat barthandelus at the end without any debuffs? with 2 medics you have the recovery aspect covered but I was doing 30k a hit with lightning and pretty heavy hitting with the other, even switching to tri-disaster with those 3 and then working your way up to say 600% dmg I don't see them hitting hard enough to kill him before he casts doom on you.

Are you talking about

Spoiler

the end of chapter 11? It was definitely a tough fight. It ended up taking me 19 minutes, but I botched a lot of stuff because I was on the phone. I had semi-spoiled the fight for myself, so I knew he was going to cast Doom, and I prepared for it... then he never cast it. Perhaps I would have lost if he had.

 

[Maleficus]

Are you talking about

Spoiler

the end of chapter 11? It was definitely a tough fight. It ended up taking me 19 minutes, but I botched a lot of stuff because I was on the phone. I had semi-spoiled the fight for myself, so I knew he was going to cast Doom, and I prepared for it... then he never cast it. Perhaps I would have lost if he had.

Spoiler

No I'm talking about the final fight of the game, I thought you had beat it.

 

[Dumac]

I have to say, the game got a lot more enjoyable once they let you switch paradigms and start leveling up. I enjoy the fighting system, and the game keeps getting more interesting the more I play.

 

[Rage187]

for those who have finished it:

Spoiler

What is the Mission stuff I keep reading about? I see during mission 55 you can get the CP egg but I don't know when this occurs. Are there really 55 missions after a certain point. Is it after they let you lose on the world or after you beat the game?

 

[smackababy]

I just made it to

Spoiler

Gran Pulse

and am debating grinding my characters up and weapons as well. The King Behemoths are unkillable as far as I'm concerned. I managed to sneak up on one and ended up getting 999.99% damage increase. So, while I'm hitting for 38k+ or so, he just casually heals up to full, then one hits my entire party...

 

[Beev]

I just made it to

Spoiler

Gran Pulse

and am debating grinding my characters up and weapons as well. The King Behemoths are unkillable as far as I'm concerned. I managed to sneak up on one and ended up getting 999.99% damage increase. So, while I'm hitting for 38k+ or so, he just casually heals up to full, then one hits my entire party...

Gotta get a preemptive attack then keep them juggled until they're dead.

 

[Rage187]

I just made it to

Spoiler

Gran Pulse

and am debating grinding my characters up and weapons as well. The King Behemoths are unkillable as far as I'm concerned. I managed to sneak up on one and ended up getting 999.99% damage increase. So, while I'm hitting for 38k+ or so, he just casually heals up to full, then one hits my entire party...

sadly the game forces you into using the Saboteur and Synthecist roles to buff your team and debuff your enemies.

Just start off with a paradigm with these as the default and then switch to Relentless assault once all the buffs have been rolled out.