Big bird problems - funland

[Powersword]

Not sure what I’m doing wrong here. Currently at level 120 but find myself losing to big bird in arena survival mode. Mainly because I’m running out of health items. Should I be higher level? Or use the bloody armour cheats?

[This PC]

What kills you exactly ?
Who are you using ?
What's your setup ?

[Powersword]

The last mob the big bird just kills me as I don’t have enough healing to last. I got further with the eternia sword and light speed attacks but ran out of healing. Then tried with a sword with hp drain but still didn’t work well as hard to combo against it as it’s flying… using Claude at the moment. All the other mobs I don’t even need to use specials to beat (only other issue was the shield guy in invulnerability mode but still could beat him eventually)

[Almighty Boof]

I was max level (255) with the best gear possible when I did it. I lost a couple times too (Universe). I spammed Double Slash with Claude because that is his only Killer Move that hits flying enemies - not sure who you plan on using.

Level 120 might be too low, maybe unless you play on an easier difficulty? Some things you can try is putting Lone Wolf and War Cry factors on you equipment, which significantly increases your stats if you start from battle 1. Also, use Double Slash x2 so you can actually deal damage to it and Sword of Life to stay alive without worrying too much about items.

You can definitely use one of the cheese methods, like Bloody, but it is doable without them.

[This PC]

Use air slash, set yourself up to heal on crit. (factors)
I cleared this with dias + air slashes, same way I used to on the psx.
I suspect it works with claude too. ;p
lure an attack > move vertically to avoid it > shoot a single air slash at long range > rinse/repeat
Patience is key here.
You miiiiiiiiiiiight be able to fit a second slash if you have them comboed~

[Powersword]

Originally posted by Almighty Boof:

I was max level (255) with the best gear possible when I did it. I lost a couple times too (Universe). I spammed Double Slash with Claude because that is his only Killer Move that hits flying enemies - not sure who you plan on using.

Level 120 might be too low, maybe unless you play on an easier difficulty? Some things you can try is putting Lone Wolf and War Cry factors on you equipment, which significantly increases your stats if you start from battle 1. Also, use Double Slash x2 so you can actually deal damage to it and Sword of Life to stay alive without worrying too much about items.

You can definitely use one of the cheese methods, like Bloody, but it is doable without them.

Curious about the war cry factor. Is it only for chain battles ? Did consider lone wolf too

[Powersword]

Originally posted by This PC:

Use air slash, set yourself up to heal on crit. (factors)
I cleared this with dias + air slashes, same way I used to on the psx.
I suspect it works with claude too. ;p
lure an attack > move vertically to avoid it > shoot a single air slash at long range > rinse/repeat
Patience is key here.

I’ll give it a try. Guess in the original I was about 140ish when I did it but also had all the secret cave gear. My skills still aren’t maxed out yet…

[Almighty Boof]

Originally posted by UnholyBlood:

Curious about the war cry factor. Is it only for chain battles ? Did consider lone wolf too

I haven't used it myself, but War Cry will increase all your stats by 5% for each consecutive chain battle. So, if you start from Battle 1, that's 245% stat increase if you make it to Big Bird (Battle 50).

[Xengre]

Originally posted by UnholyBlood:

The last mob the big bird just kills me as I don’t have enough healing to last. I got further with the eternia sword and light speed attacks but ran out of healing. Then tried with a sword with hp drain but still didn’t work well as hard to combo against it as it’s flying… using Claude at the moment. All the other mobs I don’t even need to use specials to beat (only other issue was the shield guy in invulnerability mode but still could beat him eventually)

Try HP drain and then put Helmetbreaker on Claude (alternatively you can do sword of life + MP drain, but you still need Helmetbreaker to actually properly hurt it).

You should also have at least two other Star Ocean game assault characters who are break oriented (they're very good) and you can equip a third one from your own recruited party that can actually hit a flying target with a break skill to your assault action as well. Put someone with a buff on for Angel Feather. You could take the third assault (your party member) and use it for another buff potentially if you want to try.

When you break the boss it will be so much easier to hit then when it is flying plus you will do way more damage. If it is broken very frequently then that means it is not attacking you, either. This all also means you take less dmg and have an easier time healing off hitting it unlike before.

IIRC this boss has Meteor Swarm right? May need an accessory to absorb light dmg for this.

Alternatively. Just beat it down with a magic caster via either Southern Cross Celine or Rena Gravity Crush spam. You will either need MP Absorb for Rena or HP Absorb (unless you feel you wont get hit) on Celine. For Celine to handle the MP cost you will use the MP regeneration formation (there is one very specific to strong MP regeneration but I don't recall the name atm so you will have to look them over). When I did the survival those two basically walked all over it, including the final bird boss. Rena's Gravity Crush has weaker dmg but surprisingly is able to stun them during the attack animation very well. Celine breaks and does tons of dmg with Southern Cross. You could also put ADV stacking on them so they don't get hit easily (really good anyways but you will get a ton of high end gear when you do post game content, anyways, if you haven't beaten the game yet so may feel waste to bother with that now on disposable gear).

Hopefully one of these methods works for you, but otherwise you could just wait until post game and do it then as well.

[AH-1 Cobra]

Don't use Claude, pick another fighter. Ernest, Opera, Precis, Chisato, Dias, Ashton all do better against the bird. Dias using a Sword of Marvels and bunny shoes with air slash is probably the easiest low level survival arena win you can get.

[Powersword]

Still getting used to break thing in this guess it was introduced in 3. Normally I kill so quick I don’t need to use it but for breaking I’ve always used helmet breaker, as it helps get to the target quicker too. Are they any moves that also have a break effect too? I hear people taking about meteor Palm a lot

[This PC]

Originally posted by Xengre:

snip

He's talking about big bird in solo survival 50 battles arena mate.
Those are the trash mob megabirds you encounter in phynal.
He's not talking about anything story related and doesn't have access to his party.

Originally posted by UnholyBlood:

Still getting used to break thing in this guess it was introduced in 3. Normally I kill so quick I don’t need to use it but for breaking I’ve always used helmet breaker, as it helps get to the target quicker too. Are they any moves that also have a break effect too? I hear people taking about meteor Palm a lot

meteor palm is dps related skill, claude is not really good at breaking afaik. His best break skill is this fire punch thing ? knuckle burst I think.
I also don't think looking for a break will save you.

Originally posted by AH-1 Cobra:

Dias using a Sword of Marvels and bunny shoes with air slash is probably the easiest low level survival arena win you can get.

Originally posted by This PC:

I cleared this with dias + air slashes, same way I used to on the psx.

[Powersword]

Cheers for the advice. If all else fails I’ll just max at the stats. I’m positive all were maxed when I did it before

[This PC]

You can also roll hp/mp drain factor on weapon and use bloody armor/bloody helm.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Would recommend MP Drain/Bloody helm more than the other option if you do this.

[Xengre]

Originally posted by This PC:

Originally posted by Xengre:

snip

He's talking about big bird in solo survival 50 battles arena mate.
Those are the trash mob megabirds you encounter in phynal.
He's not talking about anything story related and doesn't have access to his party.

You lost me. My entire post is about the 50 round survival and the giant Phoenix variant (purple one iirc). Not Phynal. Maybe you responded to the wrong post I'm guessing?

[This PC]

Originally posted by Xengre:

You lost me. My entire post is about the 50 round survival and the giant Phoenix variant (purple one iirc). Not Phynal. Maybe you responded to the wrong post I'm guessing?

no, I honestly misread. I played so much of this on the psx, and assault characters are still relatively new to me, my brain tuned that out and thought you were talking about running a party.

the last bird at the end of that 50 round fight do be a monster in phynal tho ?