User blog:KKytes/Third Arc For Newbies: Vilanciel

Hullo, Everyone!

The Third Arc's first birthday is coming up, ever so slowly! Time to get pumped! (o3o)/

I'm just going to keep making these, just to do my best to help others stuck in the sticky situation known as "Third Arc". Today's topic? Vilanciel!

Get ready for a wild ride, Summoners. You're now thrust from the bleak, machine-filled land of Bectas to the winter wonderland known  as Vilanciel. It's beautiful, yes, but don't get too entranced just yet! Get ready for a world of curses and paralysis in the realm where the Bariura empire exists, somewhat.

Vilanciel Map Analysis
Vilanciel is divided into eight main areas, with two extra dungeons, giving a grand total of ten places to visit. Bosses are all related to the Bariura empire in one way or another, and are taken mainly from the "Bariura Royalty" batch, which I'll add a link to in the "External Links" category. What sets this world apart from Bectas is that the difficulty curb skyrockets. The boss of this realm, the fluffy yet frustrating "Divine Wolf", is also related to the Bariura Empire's lore as the being who the Emperor of the Bariura Empire was going to challenge, which has more light shed on in Sirius' GGC.

Grinding
While Vilanciel is a pain to deal with, the rewards granted are considerably better than what Bectas grants. Much like the guide I made for Bectas, I'll add a list of the best grinding spots. Keep note that this is all based on the Vilanciel analysis already present on the Wikia, which provides a chart of how much EXP is granted at the end of each battle.

Bariura Lake Castle: Frozen History (Not that bad of a bossfight, but be careful nonetheless.)

Castle Road: Town Under Collapse OR Days of Collapse (Radia inflicts Paralysis and Weakness)

Snowstorm Woods: Commence Pursuit OR Beautiful Cruelty (Impal inflicts Curse) OR Shadowed Woods

Raujis Lake: Snowbound Advance

Glittering Snowfall: Glittering Snowfall (Curse)

Subzero Road: Secret Signposts

Gallum Icepost: Hellish Avalance OR Darkness A Step Ahead (Better than Hellish Advance)

Mystical Wolf's Lair: Name the Reaper (PAIN. PAIN AND SUFFERING.) OR Divine Territory (Just tons of bosses to deal with, but get one down and the rest will follow.).

Units to Bring
The threat of being debuffed in this realm is real.

Buffs to prioritize are management buffs, especially Ailment Cleanse/Null, BC when Hit, and HoT. Aside from this, damage mitigation buffs are needed more than ever, especially against enemies in the latter half of the world. However, seeing as management buffs can be obtained with spheres, it's better to prioritize damage management. Standard and Elemental Mitigation, Defense Boosts, and Attack and Defense Debuffs are ones to focus on.

Weaponry
Vilanciel gives you three new weapons to play with: the Twin Pistols, Great Sword, and Yearning Scythe.

Twin Pistols
The Twin Pistols are obtained after beating the Divine Wolf the first time in Vilanciel's "Subzero Road". Its main buffs rely on BC management, with a BC Droprate buff on its SBB and a BC Efficacy buff on both its BB and SBB. Aside from this, it also grants a Spark Damage buff in both its BB and SBB. Its Extra Skills are Spark Damage and management oriented, with both of the two EX skills providing Spark Damage boosts and providing either a BC/HC droprate buff or a BC on spark buff. This weapon will prove to be useful in future boss fights. It's worth grinding it up for future battles, as it is a solid weapon.

Great Sword

The Great Sword is obtained after dealing with the Divine Wolf the second time in Vilanciel's "Divine Wolf's Lair". This weapon takes what's great with the Brave Spear and improves upon it, and is a very versatile weapon. It provides a valuable Attack and Defense Boost, as well as an Attack debuff, both found in its BB. Aside from this, it provides a Spark Vulnerability debuff and an Attack debuff on its SBB, making it a weapon which isn't to be frowned upon. Leveling this weapon up also grants two Extra Skills which primarily increase parameters.

Yearning Scythe

The Great Scythe is obtained by beating the Divine Wolf for the last time in Vilanciel's "Merciful Glory". It is the first weapon that is grants an elemental damage boost, which is pretty rare as is. Aside from this, it provides HP management buffs, such as HP when attacking on its BB and SBB and a Burst HP buff in its SBB. Its Extra Skills, like the Great Sword, increase parameters, as well as involves passive HP managements buffs. If you don't have a healer yet, this weapon is priority. Otherwise, only level it up to get the EX skills.

Dealing with the Divine Wolf
The Divine Wolf is the main boss of Vilanciel. You face it a total of three times: Once in the Subzero Road, once in the Mystical Wolf's Lair, and the last in Merciful Glory, the EX Dungeon. After beating it in the Subzero Road, you are rewarded with the Twin Pistols. After beating it in the Mystical Wolf's Lair, you unlock the second Summoning Pedestal, as well as the Great Sword. Lastly, beating it for the last time in Merciful Glory rewards you with the Lupine Mantle, which can be crafted into the first all parameter boosting Leader Sphere.

Battle 1: Subzero Road
-  You're restricted to only using a 6* Reda with an unlocked SBB as a friend. Thanks to this, you're granted a 20% BC Efficacy buff as well as a BC, HC, Zel, Karma, and Item droprate buff via her LS. She acts as a BB management unit, granting a BC and HC droprate boost in both her BB and SBB, a BCoT buff on her BB, and a BC when hit on her SBB.

- Use either the Brave Spear or the Great War Axe. Spear for survivability, axe for nuking.

- You're thrusted straight into the battle, so fujin up!

- "Disease Fang" is an AoE attack which inflicts an array of debuffs, such as sickness. Likewise, "Grinning Rush" is an AoE attack, but doesn't inflict anything.

- "Wild Bites" is a random, single target attack which inflicts weakness. Can happen more than once per turn.

- "Disease Fang", "Wild Bites", and "Grinning Rush" can be used in the same turn.

- At 50%, there is an idle animation, "Tsvarkame", followed by a nuke, "Jade Interloops". Mitigate or guard.

Battle 2: Mystical Wolf's Lair
- The Divine Wolf is considerably tankier now. Make sure your BB gauges are filled before entering the boss round.

- "Icy Doom" is an AoE attack that happens every odd numbered turn.

- "Iceclaw Flurry" is a single-target random attack which can inflict sickness. Happens every even numbered turn.

- "Howling Wrath" happens every 4 turns, and gives an attack boost to the boss.

- Past 50%, the Divine Wolf idles, then nukes. Guard or mitigate.

Battle 3: Merciful Glory
- This battle will be a very long and frustrating one. Good luck.

- If possible, level up the Great Sword, Brave Spear, or Twin Pistols for use here. Twin Pistols grant a good BC Efficacy buff, Great Sword is versatile for both offense and defense, and Brave Spear, preferably with SBB, provides HoT and parameter buffs. Make sure they all have SBB, if possible.

- Same battle pattern as before. Divine Wolf inflicts both Paralysis and Sickness, so be careful.

- "Frost Shock" and "Frozen Bonds" are AoE attacks.

- "Iceclaw Flurry" is a random, single-target attack.

- "Armageddon Roar" is a buff wipe. Happens every 5 turns.

- At 75% and 25%, there's an idle and nuke. Guard and Mitigate.

The EX Dungeon: Dealing with Balamgram
- Be careful: Balamgram can inflict a ton of status ailments, so be very careful.

- Balamgram does a buff wipe and gives itself an attack buff and a chance to inflict curse on attack at 75% and 45%. These buffs can be removed by dealing 5% light damage and 10% light damage respectively.

- Every 5 turns, Balamgram casts "Vindictive", an AoE which brings your health down to 1. Buff accordingly.

- At below 15%, Balamgram casts a random nuke which can cause a game over. Mitigate and/or guard if needed.