FFXII - NLBLLG Part XX: Zalera
27I took a short break from the NLBLLG challenge for 2 or so weeks (after defeating Bergan, preparing for which was extremely tedious), but now I'm back and will continue recording new videos for the series, hopefully with shorter breaks between videos than before! Judge Bergan will be the next video, so don't worry - I'm not leaving anything out.
Thinking of an Esper to challenge, I quickly decided to tackle Zalera. He does have a lot of HP (72 thousand, if my memory serves me correctly), but you are actually able to fight him in a corner without having to face a bunch of dreadful minions AND have the chance to deal damage to him with X-Potions, making it the easiest Esper battle after Belias and the only one we can allow to take at this point (I'm guessing fighting Adrammelech without Reddas would be a mess).
Simply prepare a lot of X-Potions (stolen from Mirrorknights if done before Bergan, gathered in Cerobi otherwise): 50 should be enough. Set all characters' gambits to Foe: whatever - X-Potion and be as attentive as possible.
Reason: we are going to abuse either the CET (changing equipment trick) or the SO&IT (switching out and in trick), depending on whether the character in question is targeted by Zalera or not. This is more important than usually, since you actually save yourself twice the trouble and time: recovery after tossing an X-Potion is that long.
- by the way, thanks to RJ for reminding me in his latest vid that you can just do the switching out & in instead of changing equipment.
When you enter the area, do NOT run any further! Doing so will make the awful undead appear, which we do not want.
Zalera will be passive for a few seconds, bracing himself against physical attacks. This does not include items, so after eating a few X-Potions he'll come after you.
The battle speed should be set to the slowest as we don't have any interest in charging any kind of CT-based action. Our "real" actions will be limited to tossing X-Potions for 1600 damage a pop, reviving the fallen with Phoenix Downs and... that's it! Our "supportive" actions will include changing equipment and switching out & in to prepare for more X-Potion abuse AND to ensure safety.
Zalera has Piercing Magic, so none of his spells can be reflected back. Not that there is a need either: he can only be slowed and blinded, the former being impossible and the latter completely unnecessary. Why blind someone with Purify? That, and Mud Shot is earth-elemental, and Zalera is known to absorb all elements without an exception. This is the reason why Balthier's gun is not all that good in this battle for any purpose. X-Potion is the way to go!
When Prime Lv. Death is used, your party will die. It's a good idea to keep Vaan on the field to have one victim less.
Oh, one more thing. Zalera, unlike the previous two Espers, targets whoever is standing the closest to him. This means that when you need to revive one (or two) characters, you can manipulate the SO&IT/CET to ensure that the character standing the closest (and about to be put to death) is tossing an X-Potion, as opposed to reviving. This was a simple, yet effective discovery, as not paying attention to who is doing what may very well result in losing your entire party.
Zalera possesses quite an abundance of status magicks in addition to his leet killing techniques, but they hardly matter. If a character is stopped, just hide behind his back and make sure he gets killed next - no need for using your items when you don't have to.
Music: Ved Buens Ende - "Den Saakaldte" (taken from "Written in Waters"). This is the most fitting music I've found for this battle (dark, grim and stuff), but if you find out you dislike it, just turn the sound off.
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