CODA 2 Roderick fight advice?

[Hackaljackal]

Hey all,

Been struggling with this boss fight in CODA 2 aka Rodrick. So a lot of these tutorials and videos really talk about using certain characters and items and I'm still having trouble taking down this SOB down. Do y'all have any feedback or advice for those that have beaten him?

Some lessons learned:
*Don't bring a healer
*Bring fewer healing items
*Bring a lot of debuffs
*Maybe strip some skills you would normally use cuz Rodrick will mimic your roster and load out

Honestly I think it's really RNG at this point cuz I watched some of these YT videos and I'm like wth 😑😑

[Pickleton]

Basically bring something that requires setup to be effective.
Heavy hitting characters that are strong all on their own will just be stronger for the enemies, but there are ways to exploit the AI's priorities to get away with all sorts of strats.

For example, if you bring a fairy familiar that has Boon of Swiftness, Poison and Petrify, the enemy AI will use none of those spells, and instead try to walk over and smack you with their cudgel. This character would be borderline useless for anything more than soaking a couple hits in the AI's hands, but a menace in the player's.
Similarly, if you use a unit like a beast tamer with debuff items, a petrify blowgun and a damasc blowgun, the AI enemy version will most likely use nothing but the damasc blowgun over and over because it's technically higher damage than the petridart, and enemy AI prioritizes damage over status effects. Then you just give Lord Denam a sword and shield, petrify an enemy near a cliff and give them a gentle nudge.

[knockoffsoda]

Ultimately I ended up doing this fight with just Denam and Shaman Iuria. She was able to fly over the chasm on I think the second turn and 1-shot Rodrick with a tier II summon. Possibly got lucky with Engulf/Nature's Touch procs--just can't remember.

Fewer units in the battle means less utility for his Risk Management skill, so it may be wise to go with more of a quick strike team.

[DVerde]

Originally posted by Pickleton:

Basically bring something that requires setup to be effective.
Heavy hitting characters that are strong all on their own will just be stronger for the enemies, but there are ways to exploit the AI's priorities to get away with all sorts of strats.

For example, if you bring a fairy familiar that has Boon of Swiftness, Poison and Petrify, the enemy AI will use none of those spells, and instead try to walk over and smack you with their cudgel. This character would be borderline useless for anything more than soaking a couple hits in the AI's hands, but a menace in the player's.
Similarly, if you use a unit like a beast tamer with debuff items, a petrify blowgun and a damasc blowgun, the AI enemy version will most likely use nothing but the damasc blowgun over and over because it's technically higher damage than the petridart, and enemy AI prioritizes damage over status effects. Then you just give Lord Denam a sword and shield, petrify an enemy near a cliff and give them a gentle nudge.

I'm both intrigued, and disturbed, that you can *push statues with a shield*. Denam must be more ripped than Barbas, or something.

[Pickleton]

Originally posted by DVerde:

Originally posted by Pickleton:

Basically bring something that requires setup to be effective.
Heavy hitting characters that are strong all on their own will just be stronger for the enemies, but there are ways to exploit the AI's priorities to get away with all sorts of strats.

For example, if you bring a fairy familiar that has Boon of Swiftness, Poison and Petrify, the enemy AI will use none of those spells, and instead try to walk over and smack you with their cudgel. This character would be borderline useless for anything more than soaking a couple hits in the AI's hands, but a menace in the player's.
Similarly, if you use a unit like a beast tamer with debuff items, a petrify blowgun and a damasc blowgun, the AI enemy version will most likely use nothing but the damasc blowgun over and over because it's technically higher damage than the petridart, and enemy AI prioritizes damage over status effects. Then you just give Lord Denam a sword and shield, petrify an enemy near a cliff and give them a gentle nudge.

I'm both intrigued, and disturbed, that you can *push statues with a shield*. Denam must be more ripped than Barbas, or something.

Oh yeah ... forgot about that. Mind was in PSX mode.

[Hackaljackal]

Omg it really is based on luck.

Originally posted by knockoffsoda:

Ultimately I ended up doing this fight with just Denam and Shaman Iuria. She was able to fly over the chasm on I think the second turn and 1-shot Rodrick with a tier II summon. Possibly got lucky with Engulf/Nature's Touch procs--just can't remember.

Fewer units in the battle means less utility for his Risk Management skill, so it may be wise to go with more of a quick strike team.

Omg it really is based on luck and good call with bringing fewer units. I brought in a fire dragon with a winged ring, denam with bryndhir and a shield and catua with a shield and club.

What was really frustrating was that I weakened Rodrick with Denam and Warren goes ahead and attacks the enemy's catua. Luckily Lord Denam is strong enough to take a few hits from Rodrik and I eventually got behind Rodrick and kill him with the final 1h sword ability.

What really worked was the red dragon drawing enemy Denam and the enemy red dragon away from Warren like near the edge.

I finally beat him so that's all that matters 😅

[1ttffsse]

Yeah exploit dumb game ai:
-they love targeting dragons / griffons with large health pools but low defences
-if you bring a mage with high mind that can charm you can charm mirror denam to fight for you

[Cold Gespenst]

Its actually simple: dont use too many characters. 4 is enough


My detailed experience:
My party was Denan, Vyce, Catiua and Sherri. Basicaly put some float/warp item in all of them and fly to Roderick's "arena". Vyce and Denan can cast Quick in Catiua and Sherry using the Luminant Gaut's power. Sherry can restore Catiua's MP and attack in the next turn. Two LV2 Summons will kill Roderick, he has only 2000 HP, and since we have only 5 enemies they wont have time or firepower to kill Warren in only two turns.