1. Tech Building Methodology: Tech points are spent as they are accrued (so no saving up all the points until the best tech comes because they just makes you run at a deficit most of the time in game). I’m assuming all techs are leveled up on Wait and Speed (minus a few exceptions where the moves are just completely pointless- like MOMO’s transformed attack move).
For the most part, I’m trying to not pay too much attention to what element something is. XS is badly designed in that you have all these techs, but you’ll really never use any of them but the ones on “Short” and you can only switch out of battle (you could switch before every random but that seems incredibly annoying. So Shion may have need every once in a while to hit a Fire weakness in the DL, but she’ll just have to go with a mostly unboosted tech).
MT techs get strong priority for being raised. If a character has one MT and one ST, the MT gets 2/3 of the points. I’ve generally allocated them as they are accrued with 5 level break points (L15- 1,300 points, L20- 2,000, L25- 3,000, L30- 4,200; Final-7500, with 500 more for Shion and 500 less for KOS-MOS). Techs gained at the 5 level breakpoints (15, 20, 25, 30) can have points accrued up to that point spent on speed and wait, but not tech. 7,500 could be a little high but that getting a 10x boost bonus on a late game boss will put you there.
2. Non DL relevant note: Shield Armor (Full Status Blocker) also stops buffs (Boost works, but it seems like many pure stat boosters don’t work)
3. Buff/Debuff/Status Duration- These generally either lasts 5 turns (including the turn it was cast on) and wears off right after whatever character is afflicted takes their turn or last forever. Durations refresh if the move is used again against the same target.
4. Deathblows- May ignore evade in game, although I wouldn’t give it much credit in the DL (wow, they ignore the marginal enemy evade and everyone uses them for all their damage. If enemy evade wasn’t marginal, at least this feature would be more important in game. In fact, enemy evade is bad enough that I’m not sure that Deathblows are actually ITE).
5. Effective Stats
Def- Using an enemy mult of 4x (so each point cuts by 4)
EDef- Using an enemy mult of 4x (so each point cuts by 4)Eva- Subtracting 40 to find effective Eva (this is about what my testing showed the numbers came out to)
6. Enemy Stats
Damage is taken against 34 Vit and 20 Edef. Evade is against 46 Dex. Average ATK is about 100 and EATK (for enemies that use the stat), it’s about 80.
7. Speed:
Xenosaga speed is very weird. For example, a character with 9 speed seemingly will not double a character with 8 speed and 9 and 8 speed double 7 on the same turn. I would also say that turn 1 speed is pretty junky in game; the benefit is very muted (because you can’t kill quickly and you can’t be killed quickly) in addition to being semi randomized. So effectively, in terms of doubling, there’s no real difference between 8 and 9 speed. 8 and 9 speed 9-8 7 speed, but then after that it’s a 13-12 turn split. For DL purposes, I’m calling:
9 speed: 107% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
8 Speed: 101% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
7 speed: 95% Speed Turn 1, 92% Speed turn 2-8, 95% After
8. Status and Status Blocking
Xenosaga doesn’t have any storebought status blockers, but each character can extract skills from equipment. Note that you have to have a certain skill level. I think looking at 3 is reasonable for endgame (which includes all the single status blockers). Note that you have to get a lot of skills to get to the next levels, so you’ll pick up a good number of these in game just to unlock other skills
Level 1: PATK, PDEF, EATK and DEX Down, Poison, Slow
Level 2: Sleep, Lost (Silence)
Level 3: Special (Attack Disable), Confusion, EP Over (EP Costs Doubled), Instant Death, Stop, Boost Seal, Attack Poison (Weird alternate poison type that activates if character uses an attack).
In terms of status that PCs have:
Confusion- 50/50 of attacking enemy or ally in game with a basic physical attack (a Confused enemy can attack MOMO), 15% chance of wearing off when taking damage (Per FAQ) or wears off after 5 turns
Lost (Silence)- Shuts off magic. It should be noted that at least in the final 4 dungeons, there is no enemy whose magic damage can be shut off by this (only healing, pure status and buffing). I would be wary about seeing this get damage in a duel (nor am I sure that any ether damage in XS is classed as ‘Magic’ anyways since some of it is likely enemy ‘Deathblows.’)
9. Averages Up Top
HP: 1015
Str: 65.33
Vit: 94.67
EAtk: 51.5
Edef: 51
Dex: 52
Eva: 51.17
Damage: 823.67
-->2.5HKO: 2059
SHION
HP: 911……..(89.8%)
EP: 52
Str: 46
Vit: 93……….Takes extra 7 damage
EAtk: 49
Edef: 48…….Takes extra 12 damage
Dex: 48
Eva: 46……..-5.8% Relative (6% Raw)
Agl: 8………..101% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
Weapon: M.W.S
Ammo Choices: Status Attacks that are attached to deathblow Shock Blade.
Basic Attacks
Knuckle- 74 Hit Physical (70, 10% Crit Rate)
--Power Kick: 74 Hit Physical (70, 10% Crit Rate)
--Stun Stock: 152 Lightning Magic (145, 10% Crit Rate) Didn’t actually test this
Firecracker- 152 Magic (Non Elemental?) (145, 10% Crit Rate)
--Spin Kick- 70 Hit Physical (70, 10% Crit Rate)
--Cherry Bomb- 152 Fire Magic (145, 10% Crit Rate)
Deathblows
Lightning Blast (L1, S)- 160 Lightning/Hit Physical (142, 25% Crit Rate)
Spell Ray (L6, L)- 468 Beam Ether (390, 40% Crit Rate)
Shock Blade (L4, S)- 302 Pierce Physical (281, 15% Crit Rate) + 100% Chance of a Status (61/78% of Attack Down factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
--Attack Down is the only relevant ones. Attack down is Permanent.
--Stat Debuffs are Permanent, Slow lasts 5 enemy turns
--STR Down cuts enemy damage by about 135 against the most damaging move from the enemy with the highest attack it can cut (this is about a 45% damage cut. It’s even more effective against worse enemy attacks. Keep in mind that this attack does about 290, so it’s only 30% of MHP, but Xenosaga is a low damage-low healing game. This enemy in question has the highest base Str in game).
Thermal Blast (L1, S)- 223 Fire Magic (203, 20% Crit Rate)
Ether Amp (-, L)- Induces Ether Bomb (100% Chance)
Gravity Well (L2, S)- 326 Hit Physical (300, 17.5% Crit Rate), 100% Slow (33/42% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
--Slow lasts for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Slow sets an average speed target to 80% approx..
Lunar Blade (L5, S)- 616 Beam/Slash Physical (548, 25% Crit Rate)
Rain Blade (L7, L)- 604 MT Beam Ether (562, 15% Crit Rate)
Best Physical: 690 (Attack+Lunar Blade) (SR)
Best Magical: 756 (Attack+Rain Blade) (LR, MT)
Ether:
Medica (2 EP)- 245 Healing
Medica All (8 EP)- 392 MT Healing
Refresh (2 EP) - Heals Statuses/Cancels Stat Booses (Ally Target only)
Boost 1 (4 EP)- Raises Boost by 1 (Boost is good for preventing doubles, but not a lot else)
Medica Rest (8 EP)- 588 Healing
Safety Level (12 EP)- Auto Life (Returns with 1 HP), OPB
--Technically it stops 1 hit from killing (so other buffs/debuffs/status inflicted is kept intact)
Revert (12 EP)- 50% Revival
Quick (6 EP)- Raises Speed to 10 for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Not fast enough to double 8 speed (perhaps ever even if she kept casting it? Xenosaga speed is weird)
Queen’s Kiss (8 EP)- 0% Chance of ID, Steals item if ID fails
--Could just be that near everything is immune, but the low hit rate makes it horrible to test. Failed miserably in testing though.
Seraphim Bird (24 EP)- 685 MT Beam Ether, OPB
Throni Blade (16 MP)- 465 MT Slash Physical, OPB
Dominion Tank (20 MP)- 525? Hit Physical, OPB
**Please note that I didn’t get Dominion Tank. I would assume it’s a little better than Throni Blade, so I just guessed. Regardless Shion has better ST physical damage that’s free anyways.
KOSMOS
HP: 1149……….113.2%
EP: 58
Str: 84
Vit: 100………….Cuts damage by 21 (Takes extra 75! Under ModeA7)
EAtk: 58
Edef: 53…………Cuts damage by 8
Dex: 56
Eva: 54………….3.2% Relative (14% Raw)
Agl: 7…………….95% Speed Turn 1, 92% Speed turn 2-8, 95% After
Weapon: F Rshot
Basic Attacks
Punch- 121 Hit Physical (173 under Mode A7) (115, 10% Crit Rate (165 under Mode A7))
--S-Sault- 121 Slash Physical (173 under Mode A7) (115, 10% Crit Rate (165 under Mode A7))
--Sword- 121 Pierce Physical (173 under Mode A7) (115, 10% Crit Rate (165 under Mode A7))
Blaster- 184 Beam Ether (175, 10% Crit Rate)
--Needle- 136 Hit Physical (173 under Mode A7) (120, 10% Crit Rate (165 under Mode A7))
--Blaster- 184 Beam Ether (175, 10% Crit Rate)
Deathblows
RBLADE (L2, S)- 293 Slash Phys (250, 37.5% Crit Rate)
RCANNON (L3, L)- 476 Beam Ether (405, 35% Crit Rate)
RDRILL (L6, S)- 533 Pierce Phys (454, 35% Crit Rate)
--664 under ModeA7 (565 Phys, 35% Crit Rate)
XBUSTER (L6, L)- 762 MT Beam Ether (635, 40% Crit Rate)
SCHAIN (-, L) –100% Chance Inflicts DEX down (Accuracy buster), DEF down and Slow (65/74% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
--The stat busters are permanent, Slow lasts 5 enemies turns.
--Raises KOS-MOS relative evasion to just a hair under 50% (raw evasion to approx 55%)
--Adds a whopping 20 to each physical damage move (so 40 in a chain)
RHAMMER (L1, S)- 365 Hit Phys (314, 32.5% Crit Rate)
RDRAGON (L1, S)- 414 Hit Phys (360, 30% Crit Rate)
Best Physical: 654 (Attack+RDRILL) (SR)
Best Magical: 946 (Attack+X-Buster) (LR, MT)
Ether:
Mode A7 (2 EP)- Focus Physical Attack for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Down Dex (4 EP)-100% Dex Down 50% for non-mechs (Permanent?) (62/71% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
--Raises KOS-MOS relative evasion to just a hair under 50% (raw evasion to approx 55%)
Down Force (4 EP)- Str Down 25% for non-mechs (Permanent?) factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
--STR Down cuts enemy damage by about 135 against the most damaging move from the enemy with the highest attack it can cut (this is about a 50% damage cut. It’s even more effective against worse enemy attacks. Keep in mind that this attack does about 265, so it’s only 25% of MHP, but Xenosaga is a low damage-low healing game. This enemy in question has the highest base Str in game).
Down Ether (4 EP)- 100% EAtk Down 25% for non-mechs (Permanent?)
--Not a single magic using enemy in the final dungeon can be hit with this
--In Song of Nephilim, this makes an enemy normally doing about 90 to KOSMOS with Magic to do about 10. Take this as you will.
Gate (8 EP)- 25% CHP Demi+ 0% ID
--Could just be that near everything is immune, but the low hit rate makes it horrible to test. Failed miserably in testing though.
Ether Limit (16 EP)- Doubles Ether Effect and EP Cost for next 3 turns (including turn cast)
Satellite (16 EP)- 528 Beam Ether, OPB (480, 20% Crit)
Dex Ether Ra (12 EP)- 420 MT Ice Magic (400, 10% Crit)
Dex Ether Fa (12 EP)- 420 MT Fire Magic (400, 10% Crit)
Dex Ether Le (12 EP)- 420 MT Lightning Magic (400, 10% Crit)
CHAOS
HP: 1022……….100.7%
EP: 59
Str: 64
Vit: 93…………..Takes extra 7 damage
EAtk: 51
Edef: 54……….Cuts damage by 12
Dex: 48
Eva: 50…………-1.3% Relative (10% Raw)
Agl: 8…………..101% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
Weapon: Holey Gloves (16 Str)
Basic Attacks
Tornado Slash- 131 Spirit Hit Physical (125, 10% Crit Rate)
--Seraphim Rush- 131 Spirit Hit Physical (125, 10% Crit Rate)
--Electro Upper- 131 Spirit Slash Physical (125, 10% Crit Rate)
Arrow- 152 Ether Spirit Magic (145, 10% Crit Rate)
--Star Thrust- 131 Spirit Pierce Physical (125, 10% Crit Rate)
--Angel Shot- 152 Spirit Ether (125, 10% Crit Rate)
Deathblows
Angel Wings (L3, S)- 329 Spirit/Hit Physical (299, 20% Crit Rate)
Lunar Seal (L3, L)- 331 Spirit Magic (315, 10% Crit Rate)
Heavens Wrath (L8, S)- 549 Lightning/Slash Physical (511, 15% Crit Rate)
Angel Blow (L1, L)- 275 MT Spirit Ether (237, 32.5% Crit Rate)
Chained Blast (L1, S)- 333 Spirit Ether, Chance of KO versus M (310, 15% Crit Rate)
Arctic Blast (L8, L)- 775 MT Ice Ether (713, 17.5% Crit Rate)
Demon Banisher (-, L)- Curse on one G type enemy
Best Physical: 680 (Attack+Heavens Wrath)
Best Magical: 927 (Attack+Arctic Blast) (LR, MT)
Ether:
Protective Wear (4 EP)- Induces Veil (Ether Damage taken and Healing cut 25%) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Healing Dew (6 EP)- 212 MT Healing
Ice Wings (4 EP)- 185 Ice Magic
Flame Wings (4 EP)- 185 Fire Magic
Lightning Wings (4 EP)- 185 Lightning Magic
Purifying Storm (6 MP)- MT Status Cure+Dispel (Allies Only)
Best Ally (50 EP)- 100% MT Auto Life, OPB
Supreme Judgement (8 EP)- Inflicts a status that halves healing for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Didn’t test the hit rate on this
Cataclysm (12 EP)- 350 MT Ether Damage+Turn Delay
--Estimated Turn Delay effect of 33% (Chaos 4-3ed an enemy the same speed)
--Kind of weird because it doesn’t effect enemies whose turn indicators are on screen (only 3 are at max), but 33% is about what the effect averages in practice
Light and Wings (12 EP)- 350 MT Ether Damage+Dispel+Status Cure
ZIGGY
HP: 1280………..126.1%
EP: 45
Str: 70
Vit: 98…………….Cuts damage by 13 (Cuts by 111 under My Guard)
EAtk: 48
Edef: 49…………..Takes extra 8 damage (Cuts by 41 under Ether Shift A, Takes extra 57 under Ender Shift B)
Dex: 46
Eva: 44………………-8.1% Relative (4% Raw)
Agl: 7 (6 Base)……95% Speed Turn 1, 92% Speed turn 2-8, 95% After
Basic Attacks
High Kick- 110 Hit Phys (105, 10% Crit Rate)
--Jack Knife- 110 Slash Phys (105, 10% Crit Rate)
--Ignition: 121 Fire Hit Phys (115, 10% Crit Rate)
Laser Blade- 142 Fire Ether (135, 10% Crit Rate) (220 under Ether Shift B (210, 10% Crit)
--Jack Blade- 110 Slash Phys (105, 10% Crit Rate)
--Laser Swing- 142 Pierce Ether (135, 10% Crit Rate) (220 under Ether Shift B (210, 10% Crit)
Deathblows
Cyber Kick (L1, S)- 218 Fire Hit Physical (205 Base, 12.5% Crit Rate)
Lightning Fist (L1, L)- 237 Lightning Magic (220 Base, 15% Crit Rate)
--355 (330, 15% Crit Under) under Ether Shift B
Meteor Shot (L7, L)- 587 MT Fire Magic (522 Base, 25% Crit Rate)
--686 (610, 25% Crit Rate) under Ether Shift B
Cyclone (L1, S)- 287 Base Slash Physical (255 Base, 25% Crit Rate)
Cross Lancer (L2, S)- 378 Pierce Physical (340 Base, 22.5% Crit Rate)
Executioner (L1, L)- 356 MT Lightning Magic (320 Base, 22.5% Crit Rate)
--490 (440, 22.5% Crit) under Ether Shift B
Hell Fire (L4, S)- 522 Fire Slash Physical (459 Base, 27.5% Crit Rate)
Best Physical: 622 (Attack+Hell Fire) (SR)
Best Magic: 729 (Attack+Meteor Shot) (LR, MT)
Ether:
My Guard (2 EP)- Focus Physical Defense (Def up 25%, Str down 25%) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Likely cuts around 100 off most physical techs
Recharge (4 EP)- 480 HP Recovery
Ether Shift A (4 EP)- Induces Focus Ether Defense (Edef up 25%, Eatk down 25%) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Cuts about 100 off most Ether based techs
Ether Shift B (4 EP)- Induces Focus Ether Attack (EAtk up 25%, Edef down 25%) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Red Mark (4 EP)- ST Status that gives all allies 80% Critical Rate against target, Only Mechs are suspectible, 4 EP
--Hit all 5 of the random Mech monsters in the last two dungeons
--Only for 1 crit (or 1 attack?)
Speed Boost (10 EP)- Raises Speed by 50% for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Charge X (4 EP)- Doubles next shot of healing
JR...
HP: 992……….97.7%
EP: 50
Str: 64
Vit: 93………..Takes extra 7 damage
EAtk: 54
Edef: 52………Cuts damage by 4
Dex:57
Eva: 54………..3.2% Relative (14% Raw)
Agl: 8………....101% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
Basic Attacks
All basic Attacks- 142 Pierce Physical (135, 10% Crit Rate)
--184 (175, 10% Crit Rate) under Psycho Arm
Deathblows
Prelude to Battle (L1, L or S)- 319 Pierce Physicals (287, ~22.5% Crit Rate, Not Thoroughly Tested)
Moonlit Serenade (L1, L or S)- 328 Spirit Magic (312, ~10% Crit Rate, Not Thoroughly Tested)
Storm Waltz (L4, L or S)- 424 MT Pierce Physical (399, 12.5% Crit Rate)
Last Symphony- (L1, L or S)- 367 Pierce Physical (345, 12.5% Crit Rate)
Mystic Nocturne (L6, L or S)- 608 MT Spirit Magic (523, 32.5% Crit Rate)
Angelic Requiem (L5, L or S)- 474 MT Pierce Physical (446, 12.5% Crit Rate)
--569 (545 Base, 12.5% Crit Rate) under Psycho Arm
Soul Rhapsody (L1, L or S)- 401 Spirit Ether (369, 17.5% Crit Rate)
Best Physical: 616 (Attack+Angelic Requiem) (MT, LR)
Best Magic: 750 (Attack+Mystic Nocturne) (LR)
Ether:
Psycho Arm (4 EP)- Attack Up 20% for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Ether Flare (4 EP)- Induces Anti-Veil. Damage taken from ether attacks and Healing increase by 25% for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Chain (4 EP)- Induces EVA down on B or G (Evade down 50%) (Permanent?) (54%/62% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
Misty (10 EP)- Induces Lost (Silence) on B or G (Permanent?) (36%/35% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
Coin Lock (8 EP)- Induces Lock (Status and Buffs both have no effect) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Speed Machine (6 EP)- Boosts Speed by 25% for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Practical Effect: Puts speed to ~107%
Magnum Joe (6 EP)- 394 Magic Damage (375, 10% Crit Rate)
Buster Joe (12 EP)- 394 MT Magic Damage (375, 10% Crit Rate)
MOMO
HP: 738……….72.7%
EP: 57
Str: 64
Vit: 91………….Takes extra 15 damage
EAtk: 49
Edef: 50……….Takes extra 4 damage
Dex: 57
Eva: 59…………8.9% Relative (19% Raw)
Agl: 9….........107% Speed Turn 1, 104% Speed turn 2-9, 102.5% Speed After
Confuse Weapon
100% Infliction Rate (25%/36% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
Inflict Confuse for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
Any hits someone under Confuse takes has a 15% chance of cancelling Confuse (per FAQ).
Slow Weapon
100% Infliction Rate (33%/47% factoring all enemies and factoring modifiers)
Inflicts Slow (on Short Range attacks) for next 5 actions taken including casting turn (wears off right after 5th action)
--Slow sets an average speed target to 80% approx..
Basic Attacks
Stardust- 147 Hit Phys (105 w/ W Hammer Rod) (140, 10% Crit Rate)
--Twin Stars- 147 Hit Phys (140, 10% Crit Rate)
--Dream Whirl- 147 Hit Phys (140, 10% Crit Rate)
Melody Ray- 147 Ether (140, 10% Crit Rate)
--Cosmic Flip- 147 Hit Phys (140, 10% Crit Rate)
--Flower Storm- 147 Ether (140, 10% Crit Rate)
Deathblows
Star Strike (L1, S)- 252 Hit Physical (237 Base, 12.5% Crit Rate)
Floral Tempest (L9, S)- 646 Slash Magic (587 Base, 20% Crit Rate) (587)
Meteor Storm (L1, L)- 239 Ether (222 Base, 15% Crit Rate)
Star Cannon (L9, L)- 687 MT Hit Physical, Long Range, 40 (597 Base, 30% Crit Rate) (577)
Angel Arrow (L1, L)- 306 MT Pierce Ether, (275 Base, 22.5% Crit Rate)
MOMO’s KISS (L1, L)- 574 Beam Ether (Only under Starlight, 50% Damage Boost already factored in) (Didn’t test crits because this move is horrible)
Dark Scepter (L1, S)- 377 Hit Physical+40 (342 Base, 20% Crit Rate)
Best Physical: 834 (Attack+Star Cannon) (LR, MT)
Best Magic: 793 (Attack+Floral Tempest) (SR)
Ether:
Life Shot (2 EP)- 392 Healing
Refine (6 EP)- 25% Revival
Sheep Beam (4 EP)- Induces Pilot Asleep against M
Junk Beam (6 EP)- 100% Chance of Inducing Junk Heap on one M
--50% chance of action failing
--Works on every random mech in the final two dungeons
Star Wind (10 EP)- Transforms into Star Wind, Halves Damage Taken, Lasts 3 Turns Including Casting turn (4 below 50%, 5 below 25%)
--Star Veil (4 EP)- Induces Veil (Decrease Ether Damage taken and Healing 25%)
--Star Action (6 EP)- Induces AP MAX
Starlight (10 EP)- Transform into Starlight, Boost Damage by 50%, Lasts 3 Turns Including Casting Turn (4 below 50%, 5 below 25%)
--Star Bell (4 EP)- 495 Magic Damage (Factors in Bonus; Didn’t test crit rate)
--Star Bunnie (8 EP)- 495 Magic Damage (Factors in Bonus; Didn’t test crit rate)
