Game:

Labyrinth of Touhou 2 (2013)

Duration: 3:58

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Abyssal Kokoro's main gimmick is very much in line with previous Corridor bosses (like the Unicorn of Order and Ring of Great Power). At certain HP thresholds,, she will equip a mask that inflicts permanent stat changes to herself and everyone in the front row. She has about five different mask changes (at 85%, 60%, 50%, 40% and 25% HP) and if you go past several HP thresholds before she gets a turn, she will use these mask changes in succession. It's worth noting that, unlike the Unicorn or the One Ring, not all of the Mask Tsukumogami's stat changes are inherently negative. Here are the Kokoro's Masks and their effects in order:

Joy: 32% to ATK/DEF, -32% to MAG/MND for Kokoro
Anger: 32% to ATK/MAG, -32% to DEF/MND for Kokoro
Pathos: 32% to MAG/MND, -32% to ATK/DEF for Kokoro
Cheer: 32% to SPD, -32% to ATK/MAG
Hope: 32% to all stats

If that's too confusing, I'll describe it another way:

First Mask: physical up, magic down
Second Mask: attack stats up, defenses down
Third Mask: magic up, physical down (aka it's the reverse of the first one)
Fourth Mask: speed up, attack down
Hope: everything down

32% doesn't sound too bad... except it's not that simple. Those are the values for positive boosts on your characters. For negative boosts, your characters get triple the effect (i.e. -96%). These stat changes thankfully max out at "only" 99%. Your tanks can probably live with the lowered stats (if they still have regular buffs) but attackers will probably become useless unless you're using a piercing attacker.

As mentioned before, these stat changes can benefit your own party. If you open with a physical attacker, they can benefit from the increased ATK for Mask 1 and Mask 2. Magical attackers can benefit from increased MAG if brought in for Mask 2 and 3. Unfortunately, the last two masks provide no attacking benefits (Mask 4's speed boost might help your tanks, but Mask 5 is just a bad time for everyone in front)

How you approach this fight will really be up to you and your party. My strategy was to open with buffs, bring in Futo (who would benefit from Mask 1), bring in Kanako (who would benefit from Mask 2 and 3), substitute her for Futo (who would absorb the negative boosts from Mask 4 and 5) and just finish off Kokoro with Suwako. I was able to blitz through this fight because Moriya synergy + Desperation + Boost + Kokoro's EX Buffs = Kanako performing Miracles

Regardless of party, you should aim to boost your main attacker during the first three Masks. Take note of what I said before (start with physical attackers, introduce magical attackers after the first mask). Depending on how hard your newly boosted character can hit, you can probably finish off Kokoro with the help of Aya. If you can't hit that hard, have a disposable attacker (possibly two) for Mask 4 and 5 and then bring in your main, boosted attacker to finish her off. If you want an option who isn't reliant on attacking stats, Toxicologist Wriggle can be brought in to inflict PSN (since Kokoro lacks special resistance to the ailment)

If you're having trouble keeping your main tanks and supports alive, my recommendation would be to bring some backup / disposable tanks for the Mask switches. I would also recommend bringing Eirin. Her heal won't be affected by lowered ATK/MAG since it's percentage based. And weakened characters will appreciate the overhealing. If Awakened, Eirin is also a viable option for PSN'ing Kokoro in her last two phases.

To be honest, Abyssal Kokoro's actual attacks aren't too special. They're a mix of generic skills (like Shadowstep, Paralyze and Leg Sweep, which slow your party with SPD debuffs and PAR) and personal attacks (she has a group targeting WND attack, Four Humors Possession, and later on, a dual elemental, group targeting attack, Worrisome Man of Qi, which strikes at WND and NTR). To counter these, stock up on WND and NTR affinity + PAR resistance.

Abyssal Kokoro fully resists SHK, TRR and debuffs and is very resistant to SIL, but has only some resistance to HVY and no resistance to PSN or PAR. She has high DRK affinity, somewhat high SPI affinity and some affinity for CLD, WND and NTR, but is otherwise neutral to MYS and weak to PHYS and FIR. Her DEF and MND are equal, but physical attackers can benefit from Kokoro's lower resistance to HVY.

It's also possible that Abyssal Kokoro may be weak to DTH (just like her Heavenly counterpart) but I can't confirm that (since I forgot to test her DTH resistance before overwriting my save)

Music is "The Lost Emotion" from Touhou 13.5

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