Mastered Ultimate Ex-death.
So I decided that maybe I should make use of Sentinel Grimoire rather than relying on someone else's, so I leveled up Tyro, grinded for his RM3 as well as Cloud's, and decided to put him to use.
Team looked something like this:
Bartz: Rune Axe+, Crystal Mail+, Some FF5 +15 Attack Accessory, Dismissal R3, Steal Power R2, Gunblade
Gilgamesh: Giant's Axe++, Genji Helm (FF6), Omega Badge, Pound R3, Armor Break R4, Freedom's Wish or whatever Vaan's is called
Tyro: Aevis Bow, Ninja Chainmail+, FF5 Protect Ring, R3 Blizzara Strike, R3 Magic Breakdown, Dr. Mog's Teachings
Yuna: Lullaby Rod, Minerva Bustier, Some Defensive Accessory **** if I can remember, R5 Curaga, R2 Shellga, Mako's Might
Krile: Storm Staff, Mystery Veil, Crystal Orb, R2 Firaja, R3 Thundaja, Devotion
RW: Runic Blade
I tried a Carbuncle Strategy a while earlier, but that didn't work, and figured I'd like healing to remain so decided a Runic RW may be better. Anyway, strategy for each is this:
Bartz deals with physical mitigation and Dismissal is there because a turn Ex-death doesn't take is that much helpful. Gilgamesh is mostly just straight up damage though Genji Helm also has Divine Majesty as a back up just in case I don't have a Shield Grimoire ready. Tyro is using Faris' Weapon for Synergy and so he can go back row; obviously, his Record Materia is there so I can throw Shield Grimoire up ASAP, and he should be able to recharge his gauge in time to cast another. Additionally, he covers Magic Breakdown, as well as the Ice Elemental requirement. Yuna is a healer and has Shellga, with Hymn of the Faith being emergency healing, with Mako's Might there to insure it'll be ready at all points. Krile mostly there for raw damage and hitting the two other elements, as well as Mystery Veil is there for the added "oh ****" back up just in case. She also has Calm in case I need an emergency Power Down effect when Bartz runs out.
Wait 2 turns before casting Shellga and Shield Grimoire since his opening turns are weak and highest chance of Dispel then. Tyro and Bartz set up their debuffs in the meantime, Krile and Gilgamesh just attack like mad, Yuna casts Curaga because someone is bound to take damage. After the 2nd turn, it's just a case of keeping everything together and hoping he doesn't do something like Counter Dispel -> Earthshaker + Vacuum Wave. Shield Grimoire #2 goes up around 60%, since that should kick in right before the first one wears off. Krile uses the first Runic RW, because she's going to need a recharge on damage. Gilgamesh is a bit "eh" until he uses Morphing Time, then starts hitting really hard! Yuna heals and recasts Shellga, Tyro alternates between his two attacks, sometimes throwing up the Shield Grimoire. Bartz uses the 2nd RW for two reasons I'll explain later.
In the winning run, Krile and Yuna both got doomed (as well as Gilgamesh but he was so late it wouldn't matter since by the time it'd kick in, I'd have either won the fight, or it'd be a lost cause), Krile first. I was considering having Bartz throw the 2nd Runic later on, but with Krile's Doom status and how she was definitely going to die before the fight was over (thank god there's no "No Deaths!" requirement, and 1 death doesn't cost a medal), it was obvious and it turned out to be the absolutely right decision, as Bartz got recharges on everything he needed. I did probably waste a turn with Calm since Bartz was getting a Steal Power up soon after, but I didn't know if it'd be recharged; all what would have changed is he'd have died one attack earlier. Krile manages to sneak in one last Thundaja before dying, and he's at about 10%, so things look good. A bit of good luck happened earlier when Bartz was relying on his physical for like 2 turns, Gunblade did kick in, so I got a free 9999 when I was expecting like 4000.
There was a scare moment earlier on when right after Yuna uses her last Shellga, he fires off Counter Dispel. Luckily, the 3rd Shield Grimoire didn't seem affected I fired off, and the Earthshaker that followed didn't hurt TOO much since I was well healed, Yuna still had a Soul Break left in her, and Tyro had one Magic Breakdown. I luckily recovered and pulled through.
So it turns out that one impulsive 900 Gem Pull I did on the 2nd Phase Banner that landed me a Sentinel Grimoire has already paid off, as I don't think this fight would have been do-able relying on someone else's Sentinel Grimoire given my current team. At least not without grinding, getting massive levels, and trying to scrounge up for extra hones. Still nice to be caught up on events 100% now right before the FF10 event drops and not sure how that's going to...
*looks at Brotherhood*
*looks at Lullaby Rod*
*looks at Heat Lance*
*Looks at Shimmering Blade and a level 65 Auron*
...shutting up...
