DFFOO [JP][Mog IW][Alt run] Double countering counters: Gladio, Desperado and double Fated Circle
15Originally planned to release a run with WoL + counter for the alt run for Mog IW when it came out, but that is too obvious and not needlessly complicated. Since Squall is also a synergy character for this one and to celebrate getting his FR/BT once more, I got him and Laguna together for a counter play with Gladio.
Recap on key boss mechanics:
The boss would start a snowstorm whenever one of them gets below 70%. They would do it again at 30% if you stop this field aura with a range FR attack that inflicts one debuff or more. (e.g. WoL/Mog FR)
The boss counters with an AOE BRV attack and inflicts two debuffs (Ice resist down and freeze (which you definitely don't want)). They counter whenever the snowstorm has started and takes BRV dmg. Both of them would counter if your attack is an AOE.
They would also inflict two 5T framed debuffs at 30/80% FG. Once it is inflicted, it is very likely that you would get hit with that again or get the freeze from counters once they are done. Since the debuffs ignore debuff evasion, it is simply easier to just stuff yourself with 6 framed debuffs and avoid the hassle.
Concept on countering their counters:
Laguna's Desperado only triggers when a specific boss is targeted by your characters and it is counted individually. Since both of the bosses counters when they get hit by an AOE, your counter character would react to them individually and trigger two off-turn explosions instead of one.
Besides Gladio, characters like Yang, Galuf and Auron react similarly. Gladio, Galuf and Auron has a slight handicap because Squall uses the same greatsword UW.
My original plan was to use Cor/Machina, since they have a different UW type and Machina has BT. Machina's EX counter behaves the same as Gladio's, but his LD off-turn attacks don't trigger when boss counters in their off-turns.
Cor unfortunately does not react to boss counters that do not have a specific target. While he is great with Squall and provides the necessary support, he is not the best for this strategy.
Gladio on the other hand has party HP regen to counteract the constant HP poison (so I don't need something like Cait Sith CA), DEF down and party mBRV up and 4 buffs on himself + 1 framed Royal Guard buff on alliesy to deal with the problems caused by the debuffs. So he is quite good in this stage.
On the other hand, he has stack buffs to work with Squall's FR. Doubly so. Despite Squall's FR does not give % to off-turn attacks, the more generic conditions, high HP cap and high% are actually great for situations in which you can trigger off-turn dmg during your active turns.
To go even further:
Additionally, instead of a second Squall friend you can use someone like Tifa for her melee FR(e). Tifa does not have stacks, but just like other characters that do not have stacks, you can use a Rydia LDCA to add a 3-stack evasion buff onto them to make them qualify. Since the boss counterattack is a guaranteed hit (that is why the debuffs cannot be evaded after all) and Gladio is absorbing all of the ST attacks, the stacks would never dissipate until 3 generic on-turn AOE attacks.
Regarding this on-turn counter strat, with someone like Tifa you can opt for repeatedly charging the FR% with her instant turn rate S2 a few times to get big counters really quickly. It is very unlikely that they would survive beyond one Squall FR, so front loading some FR% is not really that bad even though Tifa can only use ST attacks and trigger one counter.
The only problem was I couldn't find a half decent 5T Tifa friend.