DFFOO [JP][Edge IW] C90 Edge and Garnet vs Scuffed CPU stage
19Just a heads up, the stage is currently bugged because the AoE orb uptick condition is not working at all. So everything is harder than it should have been.
Originally did a Y'shtola run with Endwalker tracks because Edge is from IV, there are sphere shaped things near the end of the LD era, and it was ruined by the fact that you have to kill all the small CPUs again even though the boss is dead and you have killed them before. So I turned to a slightly more ST dmg approach. It does work out much more smoothly. I might return to this when the stage is fixed.
Orb Condition: limit 15 on middle CPU boss only
+1: Boss takes thunder dmg
+1: AoE dmg (currently bugged as tested and announced on notice)
+15: Evading an attack
-4: player action
Because of the bug, orb becomes much more jumpy and less tolerating than usual. Even with off-turn dmg it is not really easy to keep the orb alive with a net -2/-3 per turn. So most likely you would have to resort to dodging once in a while.
It does not have to be Edge. Prompto, Leila, Galuf, Shadow and Cater all works. Shadow is less feasible due to consecutive turns and high net orb turn loss. Leila has the added benefit of having lightning attacks.
Note that both Freya and Kain in the air are considered dodging the attacks.
It is doable with all 3 being turn rate users, but it is better to space out the target's turns or break them "wrongly" just so you don't end up pushing them away with breaks due to AoE / off-turn dmg at the last orb turn and wipe to the orb.
Notable mechanics:
1. At 30%, the main CPU cleanses 5 debuffs and puts on 5 buffs on all targets.
2. When all adds are wiped, if you are not in summon / BT state, the main CPU immediately cleanses all debuffs, resummon all adds at full HP and use a randomly targeted attack. Devs want you to use Edge's Mirage buff from EX to help everyone evade this. Obviously you can have Galuf or other tank deal with this as well.
3. As mentioned before, it matters not if you have killed the adds before already, when the boss dies all adds must also perish for the stage to end.
4. C (left CPU) mostly heal A and then B scaling with their respective max HP. A has the lowest amount of HP. If A is dead then C will heal B instead, and the heal is 3mil (10%). If both A and B are dead, then C heals itself. So depending on what stage you are at or what comp you are using, you may want to (a) let C heal A so it does not die; kill or delay C so it does not heal or; (b) kill all of them together so the fight is not dragged out.
(unless it actually heals the one with lowest HP lol)
About Edge:
Edge is quite good as a support DPS. Not counting the off-turn dmg from counters, he is at around 3-4 HP dumps, and the counters are either 2 or 4 HP dumps on top of that.
The Red Scarf:
His LD gimmick is whenever he dodges, the stack goes up by 1. When it reaches two, the next counter becomes Advent of Phoenix and it consumes all stacks. The stacks do not affect his stat benefits for the party.
The LD comes with an abnormally high dmg support package at 50% BRV / 20% HP dmg and overflow. At the current stage of the game he can be your sole support if you have a little bit of DEF down from CAs or other characters. It comes from the red scarf stack so it is always there and you don't need to use his LD to refresh it. Use it as you please, because all of his counters inflict the imperils.
Red Scarf also gives him 30% BRV retention (Iroha LD effect), and he BRV refunds after counter, so he does not have an obvious weakness for being broken after acting.
Do note that since he is now a Fire/Thunder Imperil (framed) user, using him alongside Vincent can save you from the trouble of some debuff management.
Overall both of them are solid support with nice dmg now.
Another notable thing is his Smoke Screen now has 6 turn worth of evasion, so management should be easier. His EX also has 20% recast up, so even though the 100% team evasion buff Mirage from EX still lasts for 2 turns, it should have more uptime now.
About Garnet:
Seems like off-turn dmg being 3 dumps is the trend now. Garnet's dmg potential may have significantly increased.
Stances:
Devs have made her stances slightly more distinct by putting an added party-wide 10% BRV gain to her aquamarine stance, and 20% BRV dmg to her Peridot stance while Holy Prayer is active. Her base skills (stance changes) have more uses and dumps, so technically you can keep spamming skills unless you want to stay in one stance or you want specific dmg structure/ refund (e.g. use BRV++ during Peridot for refund and avoid being broken).
Do note that the added 10% BRV gain is due to the fact that on her LD debut her party-wide BRV gain support is at 10%. So combined with her C88, at max she is providing 30% BRV gain still, but she herself enjoys 40%.
Her EX now heals, batteries more. Her Holy Guardian buff and its effect is also combined with Holy Prayer now, so she has less buff bloat problems.