Skyborn FAQ and Hard Mode Boss guide. Inferno719 0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678 ================= Table of Contents ================= 1) Version History 2) Quick Review 3) Introduction 4) Sidequests 5) Some Stuff 6) Main Guide 7) Ending Stuff ================== 1) Version History ================== Version 1.1 2014-03-31. Updated for version 1.1. Version 1.0 2014-03-08. Finished and submitted. =============== 2) Quick Review =============== An interesting game. Between 10-15 hours is the playtime I'd estimate for most people. If you like Final Fantasy, I think you'll like this. Graphics: Pretty good, I'd say. I was never dissatisfied with it, and the characters were well drawn. I might complain that while their expressions changed on their pictures, their stances never did. Sound: The music was well done, I thought. Definately fit. Gameplay: A little easy at times. The second boss Lamia was REALLY hard, until you discovered her weakspot, or you went back to town and armed (augmented) yourself to the teeth. I LIKED that! I wish more of the bosses had been this way, too many of them were just so easy. Story: Good. The story in the early half of the game was humorous, and then it developed a bit into a respectable game story. TL;DR: I had a blast with this game. It would be great if it were longer, but I think the game is worth the price. =============== 3) Introduction =============== This is my 5th guide, and I think the one I wrote the fastest. I'll attribute that to the game's longevity, even Symphony of Eternity took longer lol. Once again I find myself writing a guide for a fringe game, but that's okay. I felt the game was fun enough, and at times challenging enough, to be worth the time. Also, I noticed there were few good resources to find the Spades cards, so I figured I'd slap that in here as well. ============= 4) Sidequests ============= Spade Deck sidequest 2: Nordenwald forest. North 3 screens, then east. It's on the right side. 3: Nordenwald Subterrain. Behind a green door in the "room that goes on for miles." 4: Pick it up behind the Accessory shop in New Ark (the treetop village) 5: Prison at the begining of the game. Keep an eye out for a lever: from there, go south, then west over the water. 6: In the mines where you meet Chaska. At the entrance to the sub-cave, go west. 7: After the events in Nordenwald, fly to the desert. Exit east and east. 8: Port District. On a ship to the south, find the bridge. 9: Blackstone Industries. From the large area in the ventilation shafts, go east then north. 10:The area outside Nordenwald Forest. South-west corner, on a bridge. J: Industrial District, north-east corner. Q: Nordenwald forest. Inside the ruins before the rest point. On bridges moving eastward. K: Beat the arena. A: Nordenwald Subterrain. Behind a yellow door. Switch way off to the west. Nordenwald Goldpetels sidequest There are two in Nordenwald Island area. There are another TWELVE in the forest area, and all before the rest area and none in the ruins. Do a careful search and you will find at least 10 in no time at all. ============= 5) Some Stuff ============= This guide was written assuming version 1.10. I strongly recommend using ores only to craft "highest quality" weaponry. Armor can be bought, and +2 weaponry is much better than the stuff you can get from stores... sometimes even better than the unique weaponry you pick up in dungeons. Remember that Metal Ingots bonus applies to all non-weight stats on a weapon, not just strength. In particular, you'll want to put metal ingots on Chi Blasts. Agility is good for block rate (not block chance), critical hit, and dodge. This means Sullivan should stack agility, not strength. ============= 6) Main Guide ============= -------------- Boss 1: Warden -------------- Prep: None needed. Laughably easy. If you can't 1-shot this guy with ease, Hard isn't for you. Attack with Claret and heal with Corwin. I would make a single +2 gun for Claret, but save the rest of the iron for later. ------------- Boss 2: Lamia ------------- Prep: Claret Steel Magnum +2 (Metal Ingot +1) Steel Magnum +2 (Ruby) Battle Cap (Ruby) Leather Armor (Ruby) Steel Grips (Ruby) Diamond Ring x2 Sullivan Steel rapier +2 (Ruby) Stiletto (Metal Ingot +3, from the chest, don't buy it.) Steel gear, Ruby x3 Diamond Ring x2 Corwin Chi Blast 2 (Metal Ingot +2) --- Silken Hat (Saph) Silken Tunic (Saph) Sapphire Bracers (Saph) Diamond Ring x2 Chiska Bronze Claw (Silence Bell) <=========== IMPORTANT. --- Stylish Hat (Ruby) Leather Armor (Ruby) Steel Grips (Ruby) Diamond Ring x2 Strategy: Attack with Chaska using NORMAL attacks until she is silenced. If you are as well geared as I recommend in the prep section, you can beat this boss, but with 1.10 she's still a challenging fight. Be very careful with everyone's health, especially Sullivan. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Please note. Between these two bosses you get your first class change apple. I will be continueing the guide assuming you DID NOT use it. Of course, most people will (and should) use it immediately. Anyway, what this means for you is, as you're reading it, I will be providing strategies that will be useful no matter which classes you choose. For example, if Chaska learns Throttle, you can safely remove the silence bell from her claw and replace it with a metal ingot, or for Shynn, instead of just enduring her Paragon, you might be able to Equalizer the effect off of her entirely. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------ Boss 3: Sand Dozer ------------------ Prep In New Arc, buy a Golden Hairpin. After you get platina out in the desert, walk all the way back and forge yourself a Platina 1-hand highest quality. Claret Steel Magnum +2 (Metal Ingot +1) Platina Magnum +2 (Ruby Cluster) Battle Cap (Ruby) Leather Armor (Ruby) Steel Grips (Ruby) Diamond Ring x2 Sullivan [NO CHANGE] Steel rapier +2 (Emmy) Stiletto (Metal Ingot +3) Steel gear, Emmy x3 Diamond Ring x2 Corwin Chi Blast 2 (Metal Ingot +2) --- Silken Hat (Saph) Silken Tunic (Saph) Sapphire Bracers (Saph Cluster) Diamond Ring Golden Hairpin Chaska [NO CHANGE] Bronze Claw (Silence Bell) --- Stylish Hat (Ruby) Leather Armor (Ruby) Steel Grips (Ruby) Diamond Ring x2 Strategy: Have Corwin cast Regenerate and Claret Napalm every turn. Have Chaska attack normally to silence it. ------------- Boss 4: Shynn ------------- Prep: All [NO CHANGE] Strategy: As with Lamia, Silence the main boss with Chaska's normal attack. But even silenced, the enemy team will be putting upwards of 1800 damage per turn on Sullivan even if everything is blocked: get Corwin's Magic Barrier up to prevent around 400 of that. Resist the urge to Napalm or otherwise go full throttle on the enemy team. Single target down the support so that Sillivan can Defend instead of trying to get more Threat. Also, using Corwin's Debilitate on the main boss will absolutely CRIPPLE her until she casts Paragon. Do note: it seems that killing off both of her subordinates will cause her to start spamming cyclone, which will very quickly kill your party. Quickly down one soldier, then focus Shynn herself down before mopping up. After this boss, stuff happens then you get to go to Uptown. Go out to the forest, collect Alda, then come back and do some Arena. Prep: Claret Steel Magnum +2 (Metal Ingot +1) Platina Magnum +2 (Ruby Cluster) Platina Medium armor set (Ruby x3) Diamond Ring x2 Sullivan Steel rapier +2 (Emmy) Stiletto (Metal Ingot +3) Platina Heavy armor set, Emmy x3 Diamond Ring x2 Corwin Chi Blast 3 (Metal Ingot +2) --- Platweave Hat (Saph) Platweave Tunic (Saph) Sapphire Bracers (Saph Cluster) Diamond Ring Golden Hairpin Chaska Bronze Claw (Silence Bell) --- Stylish Hat (Ruby) Leather Armor (Ruby) Steel Grips (Ruby) Diamond Ring x2 Alda [NO CHANGE] Arena fight 1 Have Chaska try to silence the sparks, have Alda and Claret throw fire, have Sullivan Taunt and then Defend, and Corwin spam Regeneration. Arena fight 2 Easy. Arena fight 3 Have Chaska silence the Assaultbots. Go easy on Threat so Sullivan can defend through the Hoverbots attacks. Have Corwin spam Regenerate. Let Alda normal attack the melee bots. Arena fight 4 (behemoth) Blind it asap. Gouge and Alda's Lightning will do the trick. Have Sullivan defend and ensure nobody passes him on Threat until it is blinded. Arena fight 5 (phantoms) Prep: That new gold claw, put another silence bell on it. Strategy: Silence them. Make damn sure Sully is defending the first round, and make sure to use Magic Barrier. I put the metal ingot +4 on Corwin's Chi Blast 3. That's enough for now. ------------------- Boss 5: Hypnocampus ------------------- Prep: None. Well you can't slow it but it can sure as hell slow you. MAKE SURE to use Miracle Herb any time it successfully slows you. You'll be using a lot of potions as well. Make sure that Ryler uses Equalizer to wipe Haste off the boss. -------------- Boss 6: Fafnir -------------- Prep: Claret Platina Magnum +2 (Metal Ingot +1) Platina Magnum +2 (Ruby Cluster) Platina Medium armor set (Ruby x3) Diamond Ring x2 Sullivan [NO CHANGE] Steel rapier +2 (Emmy) Stiletto (Metal Ingot +3) Platina Heavy armor set, Emmy x3 Diamond Ring x2 Corwin Chi Blast 3 (Metal Ingot +4) --- Platweave Hat (Saph) Platweave Tunic (Saph) Sapphire Bracers (Saph) Diamond Ring Golden Hairpin Chaska Gold Claw (Silence Bell) --- Platina Medium armor set (Ruby x3) Diamond Ring x2 Alda Imperial Warglaive (Metal Ingot +1) Platina Warglaive +2 (Metal Ingot +2) Platina Medium armor set (Ruby x3) Diamond Ring x2 Strategy: Blind him as your first priority. Use Gouge and Lightning nonstop until this is accomplished. Silence him if you want, but his Napalm and Immolate can be Regenerated through. His Skull Bash has a chance to Paralyze your tank; use Cleanse or a Miracle Herb immediately so Sullivan can keep taunting and defending. Don't be afraid to throw Potions at Sullivan if things aren't looking good. Seems to be immune to Slow and Intimidate, so don't use Corwin's ice spell. Time for more arena. Prep: [NO CHANGE] Arena Bronze 1 (garuda, asura) BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND BLIND. They both only use AoE attacks, but finish them off as soon as possible, they hurt. Arena Bronze 2 (Abombination) Laughably easy. Blind and Slow him. Arena Bronze 3 (Giga Behemoth) Silence and you win. Key to the City: Get. Go buy some new armor. If you have been fighting all enemies, you should have around 13k, which you'll need because this crap is expensive. The important stuff is Centinilla (Metal Ingot +3) and Third Eye for Sullivan, and Arcane Cloak for Corwin. Arena Silver 1 (Behe and Giga Behe) Silence right, blind left. That's all for now. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fly to Industrial District and get your 2nd class change apple. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In the Industrial District, complete the Diminutive Alchemist quest. My prep sections will be structured assuming you have Claret drink the potion. This will mostly just mean she has large metal ingots on her guns, so make preparations relevent to your playstyle. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fly to the Desert and go east until you find a newly opened door. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In the Upper town area, find the questgiver and do her quest. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Venom Depths are now available. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ At this point you should have enough money to purchase a Draconoid Ring for everyone: do so. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ At this point you have a lot of side questing you can do, so my equipment and yours will probably not match up. I will be shortening the prep sections until the "final leg" and I trust you can figure out what's best for yourself. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ Venom Depths ++++++++++++ ----------------------- Optional Boss Six Wings ----------------------- Blind him as soon as possible. For the first few turns he'll just attack your tank, but after that he starts throwing in Coup de Grace and Cyclone, dealing obscene amounts of damage. As soon as he's blinded, start spamming him with EVERYTHING you have that reduces his strength: even blind, his AoE is still extremely dangerous. I believe he starts using Double Strike at 75%, Coup de Grace at 50, and Cyclone at 25%. Just be sure to keep him Blinded and his strength debuffed. -------------------------- Optional Boss Magimistress -------------------------- Don't walk into this fight with anything less than Obsidian +2 weaponry on Claret and Alda, all with metal ingot +4s on them. Failing that, get a ton of magical resist on everyone because her siphon life hits like a truck. Back to the main quest. ------------- Boss 7: Titan ------------- Prep: Do some sidequests. Loot the venom depths, even if you don't fight the monsters. Get +2 obsidian weaponry for Alda and Claret. Strategy: An interesting fight. No Corwin or Alda means no healing spells and no support magic. Gear arm will use circle of healing a lot to heal the group. Claw arm will melee whoever has highest threat, so make sure to keep threat up until it dies. Titan Body will AoE your party. As you might expect, killing the body will kill the arms if still alive, but as you might expect it's easier just to kill the arms. Napalm will help greatly with this task. The best way to handle this fight is to have Chaska Marked Target everything and then to throw healing items at Sullivan whenever he needs it. Claret should spam Immolate every turn, and SUllivan should be Taunting and defending. -------------------------- Boss 8: M. Night Shyamalan -------------------------- Damage to "her" is irrelevent, and "she" cannot die. Fight ends when "he" is at 50%. "He" should be blinded and weakend, or Coup de Grace will kill someone. Finish off the Arena now. The reward is so nice. Arena silver 2 (fire water) kill fire first. Try to silence it. Magic Barrier will help, but you'll probably be too busy spamming AoE healing with Corwin to cast it. Arena silver 3 (earth wind) Silence earth or die. Wind does nothing. Arena gold is all easy. You know what to do. For the behemoths remember to silence. The arena king is a pathetic joke. Nothing he does hurts. Nothing. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Spades Gauntlet. Found in the Venom Depths. Once you have all the cards (list at the top) go there and head north. Tuxedo Mask will meet you there and look at your deck. Once he's gone, talk to the broken crystals to repair them and the door appears. AFAIK there is no special conditions required for the crystals to be able to be lit up... just talk to the 3 unlit ones and they light up? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---------------------------- Spades Boss 1: Caldera Queen ---------------------------- PREP: FOR ALL BOSSES, PUT THE ARENA'S THREAT ACCESSORY ON SULLIVAN. At this point, you have to be max class, so I will now begin refering to class- specific spells Corwin: Paragon, Blood Tap. Sullivan: Inspiration, defend. Claret: Napalm, attack. Chaska: Humiliator spam on boss. Alda: Majesty, Prep, Lightfury Crusher, attack. You should have 0 problems with this. ------------------------ Spades Boss 2: Titan MK2 ------------------------ Still easy. Corwin: Paragon, Blood Tap, Haste+Innervate on Claret Sullivan: Inspiration, defend. Claret: Spam EMP Chaska: Humiliator spam. Alda: Majesty, Prep, Lightfury Crusher, attack. ------------------------- Spades Boss 3: Magimaster ------------------------- Stopped being easy. Corwin: Magic Barrier, Paragon, Blood Tap. Sullivan: Battlefield Presense. Claret: Firewall, attack. Chaska: Humiliator spam. Alda: Majesty, Prep, Lightfury Crusher, attack. Is actually dangerous. Eliminate does massive damage to one person (and, for some strange reason, can EMP Sullivan.... Robo-Sullivan) and darkness will do an obscene amount of damage to your whole party. Do everything you can to lower his int ASAP so Darkness wont kill half your team; if it does, hopefully Corwin is Paragon'd and can Renew your team quickly. ------------------------------ Spades Boss 4: Astral Warriors ------------------------------ Prep: Put Drakonid Ring and Ascot of Unbridled Swagger on Robo-Sullivan. Corwin: Paragon, Blood Tap, Magic Barrier. Robo-Sullivan: Defend, Inspiration, then defend. Claret: Firewall, Whatever Chaska: Humiliator spam. Alda: Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Majesty Priestess needs silenced ASAP, or her lightning will probably drop a few party members. Valk hits pretty hard, so make sure Robo-Sullivan has threat and is defending until she's blinded. The mage can cast Eliminate, dealing a lot of damage. Finally, the warrior will DROP Robo-Sullivan unless he's defending. I watched him put on 5800 damage after the block. This can be mitigated with the Drakonkid Ring, but a followup by the Valk will still Incapacitate him. Strangely, it appears that his Zealous Strike does less damage than his normal attack. Beware his Coup de Grace, which can easily down random members of your party. Make sure to keep an eye on Priestess' silence falling off. She might cast Renew, which heals and revives for 4500 health (whatever) but also removes all of the debuffs you worked so hard to place. ...Or just kill her first. +++++++++ FINAL LEG Get your gear in order. I strongly suggest a Puffin Feather on every peice of armor. If do, take another Puffin Feather for Alda's BIS armor you get later. Also, carry a +4 Metal Ingot for Alda's BIS weapon. Sell everything else. Iblis Family Crest MUST be placed on Robo-Sullivan. Nullifier augment doesn't do jack ****, and Humiliator that the 2 hard bosses use will put a slew of debuffs on Robo-Sullivan and you don't always have time to deal with that crap. +++++++++ ------------- Boss 9: Shynn ------------- Humiliator. Win. ---------------------- Optional Boss: Saehral ---------------------- Unlike the vast majority of bosses, she isn't utterly crippled by Humiliator. In fact, she's immune to most debuffs. Her abilities: Blood Tap. Saehral powerup (basically paragon.) Meteor (deadly). Saehral Smash (physical damage.) Humiliator. Siphon Life (deadly with Blood Tap) Her vulnerabilities: Blood Tap. Majesty. Phys/magic/tech resist down. Bleeding. Battlefield Presense. Notice she is vulnerable to Majesty!!!! You MUST keep it up as often as you possibly can! Keep Alda hasted as much as you can. Majesty will make her act much less often, and it will keep her Meteor from being lethal to half your team. Her Powerup will give her a slew of dangerous buffs, and remove all debuffs except Blood Tap. Try to keep Magic Barrier up on Claret and Chaska so meteor doesn't hit as hard. Have Corwin Paragon'd as much as you can so you can react to poorly timed Meteors with Renew faster. One strange thing you'll learn in this fight. Command Aura (given by her Powerup) acts as a shield against Majesty. If you use Majesty on a Command Aura'd unit, command aura falls off and Majesty is not applied. Just something to keep in mind: you should be Equalizing or Humiliatoring her buffs off immediately anyway. Try to get rid of her Blood Taps using Renew. Siphon Life already hurts enough as it is. This fight will take a while, she has a significant amount of health, in the neighborhood of 250k ~ 300k. ---------------- Boss 10: Dhacian ---------------- A harder than last time. He seems to favor Lightning at first. This will probably drop Chaska unless you have done some serious preparation. Make sure to spam Majesty on him, and try to get Robo-Sullivan to Battlefield Presense him. This will make him hurt much less. Once Chaska is back on her feet, her Humiliator will Silence him, which pretty much puts him in "Fish in a barrel" status. Keep Majesty and Battlefield Presense on him just in case, but properly debuffed he is not a threat to you. The challenge is getting him under control before his Lightning defeats you. Immediately followed up by ---------------- Boss 11: Qua'lon ---------------- Similar in a lot of ways to Saehral. He's not immune to quite as many things (he can be poisoned and a few others.) One irritating differance is immunity to physical resist down. His tech and magic resistances can still be lowered. His Rebirth skill will wipe a bunch of his debuffs off and give him a mini- Paragon of new buffs: of course you must immediately Humilator or Equalize them off. NOTE: This does NOT remove Majesty or Blood Tap!! He has two extremely dangerous skills. 1) Gather Energy. This gives him the Energized buff and only wastes a partial turn: if it becomes his turn and you have not Equalized/Humiliatored the buff off, he deals ~17000 irresistable damage to your team, aka you die. For this reason, you MUST NEVER allow Chaska's Energy to drop below 25%, you must always have a Humiliator in reserve, because you have VERY little time to take the debuff off of him. 2) Mega Equalizer: deals a little damage to your team, sets the MP of your 3 magic users to about 10%, and removes all buffs. Throw an Ether at Corwin and have him paragon. If he Blood Taps, use Renew when you have some free time with Corwin. It's worth the 16 mana to get rid of it, and he doesn't do it often. =============== 7) Ending stuff =============== If you wish to contact me, my e-mail is darksteelhyren@yahoo.com Please make the subject of the e-mail include "Skyborn". Special thanks to Gamefaqs.com for hosting this guide. Chaska for always smiling. Only www.Gamefaqs.com may host this guide. If you wish to host this, contact me via e-mail. This may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. Copyright 2014 Robert Herman