Touhou Chemblem - Low Turn Run: Chapter 1
11A noticeably more interesting map. Pay attention to the aesthetics, because a lot of maps will look like this. For the lowest turn clear, a lot of variables matter (we're not just resetting for a Rapier crit like in the previous video, as a lot of things could go wrong), and every attempt is somehow different from the previous. We also level up a lot, meaning we start getting lucky and unlucky with certain stats.
First of all, let's have a look at who joins us in this chapter:
Yuyuko 2/0 Pegasus Knight
6 strength, 10 speed, 6 defence, D lances
Has an unimpressive Strength growth of 20%, however, knowing how early she gets and how useful you can make her in no time at all within the constraints of this challenge, she is more than worth training. Flight is very useful in this game, and for that reason Yuyuko is a good candidate for an early promotion because Dracoknight promotion gains give her +2 movement (the most important stat in the game), +4 in HP and attack and +5 in defence. On average, she gets that much attack in 20 level-ups and that much defence in 25 level-ups, so promoting her early as immediate benefits that exceed the minor advantages of gaining a few more levels unpromoted.
I should note that Pegasus Knights have nearly no Resistance gains, meaning their ability to tank magic grows weaker and weaker as mages start carrying better tomes, and promoting actually reduced Resistance by 3. But that's what Barrier staves and Paladins are for. Definitely a top tier unit.
Medicine 1/0 Cavalier
7 strength, 9 speed, 6 defence, E in both swords and lances
growths: 40% strength, 50% speed, 20% defence
Your first Cavalier, which is already reason enough to train her. She can't really take much punishment on enemy phase as her durability remains average (but then again, not many have a better one in this game without crippling themselves with low movement). She usually procs a lot of speed and has good attack as well, doubling enemies with no trouble if you give her a lot of action. Promoting to Paladin isn't a crucial one, as +1 movement and minor boosts in other stats (besides a significant one in Resistance) don't exactly turn her into a brand new unit. She should work on her lance rank ASAP so that she could use Javelins and Steel Lances.
So as you can see, we are introduced to two really great combat units who will see a lot of use.
Now, about this chapter. Chen can get to the seize point around turn 4 or so, but the problem is that it is highly unlikely the boss will be damaged to any extent by that point. This axefighter fairy is bulky indeed, and we need a certain oni alcoholic with turtle movement to reach her and put a good dent into her with her Silver Lance. Suika can get to the boss at turn 7, meaning Chen can seize at turn 8 earliest, and even then we'll need some luck.
There are two villages Chen could visit, the one in the north close to the starting point gives us 2K Gold (Yuuka can buy a couple of Javelins for this money right away), and the second one leads to Lily White's recruitment. Chen can still seize on turn 8 if she visit both the villages, so there's no harm in going the wrong way.
Lily White 1/0 Cleric
4 magic, 5 speed, 3 defence, 8 resistance, D staves
Your first Cleric, and one of the many you get in the game. Your sprite may creep you out, but if you've played FE Shadow Dragon you probably recognise Wrys being spoofed. It's a good idea to use her until she reaches C staves to use Warp (which has very limited but nevertheless important usage in this game) and then switch to better healers who proc the right stats quicker and have better starting staff ranks.
This map tends to turn out differently each time you play as we're facing less than perfect accuracies, especially when Yuyuko attacks stuff with a Javelin and when we get to the boss (who gets +20 evasion on her castle). If Suika whiffs the boss at least twice (she gets three chances), we will say goodbye to an 8-turn completion. It's good to give the bosskill to somebody else as Suika's growths and movement sucks. Either Yuyuko or Medicine will do.
Yuuka's role in this map is to not die (we're recruiting everyone and keeping everybody alive in this run) and provide some minor chip damage. We'll get a way better Archer soon.
The growths I got in this chapter were decent enough, I guess.
Completed in 8 turns. MVP: Suika (Medicine and Yuyuko did more but without the oni beating the boss takes way more than 8 turns).