So, I beat Zidane's +++ fight today.
It took me two tries to actually have a set-up to beat it.
Then three more tries to have a set-up to actually master the fight. Between having a dozen tries where Eiko dies before I get a turn because I have a hat on her instead of armor... Yeah.
Mastery set-up:
Y'shtola L65 - Thyrus, Ninja Chainmail, Emerald Ring - Curaga R3, Faith R2 - Mako Might
Eiko L50 - Golem's Flute, White Robe, Rune Armlet - Curaga R3, Diaga R2 - Lionheart
Cloud L80 - Cobalt Katzbalger+, Adamant Bangle, Black Belt - Armor Break R2, Retaliate R5 - Light's Wrath (this probably could've been Dragoon's Determination for better results)
Vivi L60 - Poison Rod, Estharian Helmet, Amulet - Waterja R4, Thundaja R3 - Vow of Vengeance (I started off with Devotion, but that made Vivi too frail to survive anything...)
Zidane L50 - Rising Sun (6), Dragon Gloves, Fury Ring - Tempo Flurry R5, Dark Buster R3 - Thief's Code
RW: Sazh's Boon
I could survive one hit without mitigation, but aside from that? Pray that Zidane procced Blind early, get Shtola to pop off Stoneskin 2, Vivi runs the first RW, Cloud Armor Breaks, Eiko casts a pre-emptive Curaga... And then chaos ensues from there. Lionheart on Eiko meant I got to use Emerald Light fairly often, which helped the battle go faster. I picked the Cobalt Katzbalger for Cloud not only due to it being tied for my strongest Sword, but it also has Sword Oath as a Shared SB. Dragon Gloves on Zidane helped him mitigate the MT Fira for himself. White Robe on Eiko was pretty badass defensively.
So! I think it's about time I set up a list of my gear again. Maybe someone can help me figure out what the hell I'm doing.
5*+
Danjuro (Dagger, 12)
Zantetsuken (Sword, 6)
Butterfly Sword (Sword, 7)
Cobalt Katzbalger (Sword, 14)
Crystal Glove (Fist, 7)
Lominsan Bow (Bow, 14)
Rising Sun (Thrown, 8)
4*++
Nodachi (Katana, 10)
Trident (Spear, 12)
Empyrean Rod (Rod, 12)
Empyrean Rod (Rod, 12) (No, this is not a typo, I have two 4*++ Empyrean Rods)
Gravity Rod (Rod, 6)
Royal Crown (Hat, 6)
Ten-Gallon Hat (Hat, 8)
Thornlet (Helmet, 5)
Crystal Bangle (Bracer, 7)
5*
Behemoth Knife (Dagger, Core)
Air Knife (Dagger, 5)
Yoshimitsu (Dagger, 14)
Revolver (Sword, 8)
Flame Sword (Sword, 4)
Stoneblade (Sword, 4)
SOLDIER Sword (Sword, 7)
Shear Trigger (Sword, 8)
Gold Sword (Sword, 7)
Gungnir (Spear, 12)
Dragon Claw (Fist, 7)
Rune Rod (Rod, 10)
Thyrus (Staff, 14)
Golem Flute (Instrument, 9)
Fabled Harp (Instrument, 4)
Valkyrie (Thrown, 8)
Rising Sun (Thrown, 6)
Fujin's Chakram (Thrown, 8)
Running Fire (Gun, 8)
Evil Lantern (Thrown, 13)
Diamond Pin (Hairpin, 7)
Gatling Gun (Gun-Arm, 7)
Estharian Helmet (Hat, 8)
Circlet (Hat, 7)
Shinra Helmet (Hat, 7)
Defense Veil (Hat, 10)
Evoker's Horn (Hat, 14)
Witch's Hat (Hat, 13)
Ninja Chainmail (Light Armor, 14)
Ninja Chainmail (Light Armor, 14)
Ninja Chainmail (Light Armor, 14) (Again, not a typo. I could get a 5*++ Ninja Chainmail, but having the three separated is helpful.)
Diamond Armor (Heavy Armor, 4)
Minerva Bustier (Robe, 6)
White Robe (Robe, 9)
Chanter's Djellaba (Robe, 12)
Dragon Gloves (Bracer, 4)
Adamant Bangle (Bracer, 7)
4*+
Warrior's Sword (Sword, 10)
Sledgehammer (Hammer, 12)
Knight's Armor (Heavy Armor, 1)
3*++
Lilith Rod (Rod, 4)
Flail (Rod, 8)
Personal current character rankings (not counting Synergy stuff). Those I don't mention I can't really make use of due to not having the right tools.
White Mage:
1) Y'shtola - I have Thyrus for Stoneskin 2. 'Nuff said. Outside of that, Mako Might means she can throw it out as her first action, and she's a good White Mage besides.
2) Eiko - I drew the Golem's Flute, which is MT Cura + Haste. If I don't need a different pure White Mage in my party, she's in.
3) Aeris - Seal Evil has its uses. Otherwise, generic White Mage like all the others I have.
Black Mage:
1) Rinoa - I have both of her SB weapons, and one is even at 5*+. On top of that, she'll soon have Summoning 5, which makes her... An FF8-flavored Rydia.
2) Hope - He's #2 by virtue of being able to use Mage Throwing Weapons, and therefore Rinoa's stuff. If I need two Black Mages, I can stick the extra one on him.
2) Terra - Trance Flood is good times. Actually tied with Hope for ranking because of that.
4) Vivi - Focus Magic is functional. Otherwise generic.
Retaliators:
1) Cloud - He's the strongest. That's all.
1) Gilgamesh - Drawtaliate shuts down SO many enemies and stages, it's not even funny. The Crystal Glove even winds up being more powerful than any of my swords, and Morphing Time renders the argument for throwing the Katzbalger on him moot. Not quite as outright strong as Cloud, but good enough to straight-up tie with him in ranking.
3) Auron - He's a Retaliator that can use swords, so... Not bad.
Support:
1) Red XIII - Lunatic High, Support 5, and some Combat Levels. Yeah, he's good.
2) Edward - Fabled Song can see some use, as well as Support 5, maybe Bard 5 at some point. Can use better armor than Red, but his durability is overall worse.
2) Thancred - I have both of his SB pieces. Despite that, he winds up in a wierd spot between Red and Edward, having some of both of their traits, yet not being quite as useful as either of the specialists. Either way, having access to Dismissal means he can only be so bad, Death Blossom is a decent MT physical Slow, and Dancing Blades exists for bosses.
4) Bartz - While I have his Air Knife, he's in that strange spot that I don't really know what to do with him. When Tornado Blade comes out, he'll be even better with it, Celerity gives him Dismissal, and Thief has a few interesting moves, but I can't really place in mind how I should really be using him.