Touhou Chemblem - Low Turn Run: Chapter 9
4Another six turn clear. This map's enemy density is rather low (though the Cavaliers and Archers at the start can be pretty problematic, but that's why I've been training Reisen).
Hatate and Aya separate from the group in order to face the Peg Knights near the boss (Chen doesn't want to get into their range at all because Steel Lances kinda hurt). They still have one Wing Spear, even though you can buy more in this chapter. Hatate and Aya have no time to do it, but Yuyuko can once the group of Cavaliers and Archers is defeated and there's more breathing room for the "main" party.
Hatate and Aya give each other +10 avoid and accuracy which really helps when using Steel Lances (required for 2HKOing the Pegs). They have a really fast support and in a couple maps they'll give each other +5 crit as well. Can't go wrong with this duo, especially once they promote.
Reisen has proc'd defence a little bit before this chapter (you kinda expect to rely upon a 45% growth), so she is the bulkiest of the mounted units in the party. There's Yuyuko who received Dracoknight promotion bonuses but she doesn't want to be in Archers' range... Steel Bows penetrate her pretty badly.
I realise I should've given Reisen an Iron Lance instead of the Javelin for guaranteed 1RKOs against the Cavalry units on turn 1, and you can see why on this attempt when Javelin tosses kept missing. I still managed to keep everyone alive by positioning my healers in such a way that lures the Steel Lance Cavaliers away from my frontine attackers and fragile Thief!Sunny Milk, whom I brought here so that she could recruit Star Sapphire, another thief.
Besides Star Sapphire, there's also Parsee who can be recruited here. It is another Cavalier, and a bulky one at that, with 9 base defence - Reisen may not have so much at this point. Her growth in defence is just 30% though, so Reisen beats her in bulk assuming you train both equally (which is a bad idea). Parsee's power lies in her great Strength growth; however, with 8 base speed and a bad 20% growth it is an unwise investment to train her for endgame in spite of her great mobility, potentially devastating attack and above average bulk. She's necessary to recruit Satori though, and having 9 movement makes her a superior choice to Touhous with less movement so you should see more of her in the startegies to come.
The map is a good chance to proc some defence for Reisen as she really needs to gain some bulk at this point, as we'll be relying on her capability to take on several enemies at once in the next chapters. And she did proc Strength, Speed and Defence on both of her level-ups here (I even fed her a General kill with Keine's help), and other units gained defence and resistance, which is rare and very nice.
Although Hatate and Aya are in no rush to defeat the boss before turn 6, the likelihood to whiff one of the Wing Spear attacks exists so it's a good idea to try taking her down on turn 5, positioning Hatate so that Aya gives her the +10% support.
I also realise I could've been using my Physic staff more freely. It gives A LOT of exp for the healer using it, so I could technically have Luna Child or Kaguya ready to promote pretty early into the game. Promotion from Cleric to Bishop gives +1 movement, most importantly, but sadly no boost in staves rank (you get no rank bonuses upon promotion, which is why you'll never see my Dracoknights using axes - when you are close to B lances and the weapon triangle is so weak in this game, why bother?). But I guess I'd rather be safe and conserve my Physic staves instead. I'll get another one in the next map.
At the end, I promote Aya at lv. 10. She's capped speed and promoting to Draco gives her crazy boosts in physical attack and defence, so she's a killing machine now, like Yuyuko but better. Wing Spear and superior offensive growths make her the better Draco out of the two, but Hatate will be promoted soon too.
This is a short game, and we're playing it fast, so promoting things early is the way to go.