[Minimalist Series] #3 Complete first two batches of Lost Chapters with minimal investment (without Sazh)

My roster for attempting all the Lost Chapters:

“god” tier (2) – MLB Cloud with both cp35 passives and both cp15 passives, MLB cp35 Garnet with cp15 passive

“power” tier (6) – MLB cp15 Hope, MLB cp15 Yuna, MLB cp15 Zell, 0LB cp35 Vanille, 0LB cp35 Prishe, 0LB cp35 Eiko

“back up” tier (13) – 0LB-2LB cp15 for various characters (only used for synergy)

NOTE: I don’t have cp35 Sazh, he will probably single-handly complete all the LCs due to his time-travelling OP-ness. If it happens that you have Sazh’s cp35, then this entire guide would be trivial to you.

In general, Ifrit is used as summon for all fight, maintain full HP as long as possible, at least until the start of last wave for 20% damage bonus. This is especially important if the team has characters like Garnet with ultimate passive that activates at final wave with full HP.​

#1. Lost Chapter – Squall

This is the 2nd easiest of the 6, I completed it at time of the release without any of the synergy characters

Team: Cloud/Hope/Prishe + Squall (Friend)

Just make sure you find a fully maxed Squall friend, he will single handly take care one of the two bosses on final wave during summon (helped with Ifrit, who will hit the bosses’ weakness), then the team work to finish the 2nd one.

The major tip here (many players should have known) is that when boss is using “ALL” attack (aka, Earthquake), make sure to HP attack with all party members to avoid BRV drains. Other than that, the fight is almost threat-free (after Friend Squall kills one, that is).

#2. Lost Chapter – Vanille

This fight is tricky – it is super hard to complete due to HP objective, but much easier if you have Eiko. I could not complete this one at release, but was able to do it once I MLB Yuna (before Garnet banner).

Team: Hope/Yuna/Vanille + Vanille (Friend)

I did it with Vanille friend, but if you have Eiko (cp15), or use a maxed Vaan friend (wasn’t released yet when I attempt this fight), it should be even easier to do.

Hope is here for protect, he also hits relatively hard with MLB + synergy. Yuna turns the Malboro mini-boss into a joke, also serves as her standard role as BRV battery, she also hits reasonably hard with MLB + synergy. Vanilles (mine + friend) main job is to remove Berserk (ignore Haste buff if you are running short in Dispel charges, those are largely nullified by Hope’s protect).

There isn’t much strategy here, I think I purely completed this fight relying on synergy and gears (2 MLB cp15 + 1 cp35, most synergized and geared party among all 6 LCs. This is achieved largely thanks to RNGsus who handed me a 4/11: Vanille cp35, Hope cp15x2 and Yuna cp15 on the half priced gem draw – my luckiest multi ever since Day 1).

​#3. Lost Chapter – Setzer

This is the 2nd hardest of the 6, a maxed Setzer friend is almost mandatory

Team: Cloud/Garnet/2LB cp15 Laguna + Setzer (Friend)

At last wave, summon Setzer, use his first Freeze Joke, then go full-out on one boss (don’t worry about getting broken since their BRV is frozen), on last turn before Friend Setzer leave, cast his 2nd Freeze joke, then continue to DPS down, hopefully kill one of the birdies.

The 2nd half of the fight is gamble around RNG – when Boss gains 12k BRV, use Cloud to stun the boss and shave its BRV away, if stun fails, Summon Ifrit, that will take care one of his “enrage”. Repeat it when he “enrages” again. Basically gamble a stun when he “enrage”, Ifrit can make up a failed gamble, but when you fail twice, the boss will kill a party member and you will need a reload.

This fight would be much easier if you have a good Setzer, or a decent ranged character (I don’t have any, Laguna is the best I have and luckily he has synergy in this event, but he can’t shave that well and that’s why I had to rely on Cloud’s stun RNG)

​#4. Lost Chapter – Balthier

This is the hardest LC released so far, in my opinion, the machines have too much AOE to work around…and there are two of them, their high HP means it is impossible to kill one quickly, so it means I have to work on two of them at the same time…while both get AOE…

Team: Garnet/0LB cp15 Edge/0LB cp15 Balthier + Tidus (Friend)

First, I attempt many times with various friend characters, Lightning was an obvious choice for her lightning damage, but in the end, I figured out that the debuff from Tidus on both machines is more valuable than the higher burst DPS Lightning offer (since she won’t be able to burst down a boss in her 5 turns).

Also, I compared my MLB cp35 Cloud vs. 0LB cp15 Balthier, I could clear the stage with Cloud, but can’t meet the HP taken objective – Balthier worked better thanks to his synergy here (which I believe stacks with the buffs he steals).

The idea is between Summon + Friend Tidus (sub out Edge to save his Shock – very important in 2nd stage of the wave), we cripple one of the machines (to around 40%), while leave both debuffed before Tidus departs, then work to kill that machine. Avoiding break is very important, be patient, if boss if doing AOE, then don’t do HP attacks. Whenever the boss start charging, use Edge’s Shock and Balthier’s Snatch Shot to shave it (and steal those beefy buffs). Balthier need to constantly steal the buffs to keep the boss clean and sane. Garnet is the support here for AOE thunder, and BRV-regen – she is the queen for long, multi-target fight like this one.

​#5. Lost Chapter – Eiko

The easiest LC so far. I completed this at release. All you need is a maxed Eiko friend.

Team: Cloud/Hope/0LB cp15 Eiko (did not have her cp35 back then, but it doesn’t matter) + Eiko (Friend)

At last stage, summon Ifrit + Eiko, Eiko will fill everyone’s BRV with Smite, other members just do HP attacks. The boss will go down in a flash.

​#6. Lost Chapter – Tidus

This LC is tricky. It seems hard because enemies have super high DPS, but if you use a tank character (I used Hope), it becomes very manageable. A maxed Tidus friend is almost mandatory.

Team: Cloud/Garnet/Hope + Tidus (Friend)

Hope keeps the party shelled/protected at all time during the fight (all waves). Garnet does her AOE job, as usual. Cloud can use a couple Cross-slash to burst down manakin Lightning (wave 1) and Seifer (last wave). Don’t need to be too conservative on abilities since enemies tend to do their tricks if we keep them alive for too long.

Save summon/friend for the resurrected Seymour, after he summons manakin Seifer and Y’shtola. Tidus will debuff all three of them, burst down Siefer ASAP while keep Y’shtola alive (so Seymour won’t re-summon them). Hope’s shell is very important to keep Seymour at bay. Kill the debuffed Seymour, then the hopeless Y’shtola, who betrayed her master by kindly serving as free source of BRV.

​That is it! All 6 LCs done with two MLB cp35 characters and no Sazh cp35. AMA if you need any details.

Best luck to all of you and onward to LC3!

Here is my personal ranking for the 6 LCs in terms of difficulty

EASY: Squall and Eiko – the two LCs I was able to complete at release

MEDIUM: Vanille – could be ranked higher in difficulty in general, but I had the gears…

HARD: Tidus – needed gears from Garnet/Cloud banner to complete

HARDER: Setzer – needed gears from Garnet/Cloud banner, as well as reload for RNG for stuns

HELL: Balthier – fuk this…I think it took me 3 days to figure this out, with full roster, I wrote this guide immediately upon completion of this event.

Update on 2018/08/29

I decided to go for JeSazh cp35 on Summer banner (dam you SE! for re-introducting JeSazh, i already gave up on him, then you re-ignite of my desire.)

Latest roster:

–“god” tier (3) – MLB Cloud with both cp35 passives and both cp15 passives, MLB cp35 Sazh with cp15 passive, MLB cp35 Garnet with cp15 passive

–“power” tier (8) – 0LB cp35 Squall with cp15 passive, 2LB cp15 Laguna with limited cp15 passive, MLB cp15 Hope, MLB cp15 Yuna, MLB cp15 Zell, 0LB cp35 Vanille, 0LB cp35 Prishe, 0LB cp35 Eiko

–“back up” tier (13) – 0LB-2LB cp15 for various characters (only used for synergy)

Thanks all!

Special credit: 5dPZ