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« on: February 12, 2012, 11:21:36 AM »
Playing low level Arche:
Arche doesn't have interesting moves at low levels. Just make sure to block the AI's normal attack and cartwheel / roll away if she goes airborne. A battle of attrition and a test of reflexes basically.
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Playing high level Arche (lv16-23):
Since this is a 1 v 1 (or even a 1 v 2) fight, moves such as Knight's Thrust (↓ + X) are not as useful simply because there's not as many targets.
Arche's defining characteristic is her high mobility on the ground, so abuse it - Move quickly or initiate by using leaping slash (↑ + → + X, unblockable) if you want to end up behind the AI, or jumpkick (→ + ↑ + X) if you want to bounce right back to where you are. If you are already close to the AI, execute wheel slash (→ + ↓ + X) to end up behind her and guard immediately. If she attacks, block it, Snap Slash (← + X) if you need to and lead into one combo, then disengage with leaping slash, finish with a guard, and wait for a chance to repeat. If the AI jumps, cartwheel back and initiate again. Don't jump into the air unless you have to because the AI will take advantage of your predictable trajectory, but if you ever do, try to land near the AI and execute Full Moon (Air + ↑ + X) when you're near but chances are you'll get combo-ed. Downstab (air + ↓ + X) is not recommended as its recovery period is way too long for an opponent this fast, and the hitbox too small.
I don't know if this happens to anybody else, but I tend to miss the timing for Snap Slash (← / → + X) so Arche ends up hitting nothing and takes a hit right in the back. It helps a ton to always, always guard beforehand so that doesn't happen, and this applies in the story as well, against kobolds, cocorats, and the harder myconids especially.
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Playing Sana:
Before the battle starts, Sana automatically casts Shield.
Always keep your best shield up - if you lose it the fight is already over. Priority of spells is
1. Shield. If it's flashing, stand on the spot and re-cast ASAP even if you're being attacked.
2. Heal if your HP is below 50% or by common sense
3. Sleep, if you have it
4. Damage spell. Best is Water Blast, other than that you only have Diamond Dust I / II
That's it. Sana vs Arche is the easiest match-up IMHO, as if your sleep takes effect, you can fully re-shield, heal, and cast a single Water Blast to win you the battle right there. Even if you don't have sleep, Diamond Dust has a ridiculously large AOE so hitting AI Arche is pretty much guaranteed.
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Playing Stella:
Before the battle, Stella automatically casts Blade.
Like in Sana's case, always keep Blade up - if you lose it the fight is over. Actually if you let your firewall go down, against high-level AI the fight is usually over as well.
Immediately cast firewall at the beginning, then Cerberus if you have it. Alternate between Firewall -> Spell slot -> Firewall -> Spell slot -> Firewall -> Blade; and keep walking towards AI Arche to corner her against the wall, because if she takes the full duration of a single inferno spell you win the game. As for which spells to cast between firewalls, re-cast Cerberus if it dies, life force if you desperately need the healing, otherwise either inferno or explosion depending on whether Stella has the levels to cast the spell. This fight will be very brief since either party will defeat the other in no time if one messes up.
If AI Arche ever manages to get past your firewall it quickly gets hard to maintain control of the flow. Leap back (↓ + →) if you can and let Blade push her back a bit, jump into the air and immediately Firewall -> Blade (if expiring) -> damage spell / firewall. Chaser works very well if you want AI Arche to maintain distance as she will attempt to dodge all those homing projectiles - once she does that, land an Explosion. Explosion or inferno gives very good (but brief) cover as well if you are ever in a position to move inside the AOE since the AI avoids it like the plague.
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Playing Chiffon:
Haha, I wish... Maybe if Mr K. Kitahara returns to Lizsoft some day
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