Going in Blind - Scorn of Gilgamesh

Welcome to another edition of Going in Blind. For those of you not familiar with this series:

I'll be doing all my esper and trial battles without any outside information. That means no reading of the wiki or trial megathreads on this sub. I'll be relying on what little information is provided in-game, my knowledge of previous battles (especially for esper and scorn fights), general FF lore, and knowledge of Alim's/Gumi's trial gimmicks. The goal is to figure out all the fight mechanics not just simply clearing the fight.

Also, I am putting a few extra requirements on myself. I cannot simply overpower the boss. I need to develop a strategy that allows me to survive indefinitely (barring damage races) and whittle down the boss. I'll also require myself to try using at least one unit I haven't used before (I won't necessarily clear the trial with that unit though).

The purpose of this is two-fold: I get to enjoy the challenge and I get to help others learn how to develop their own strategies. This is NOT a clear guide so I will not go into the nitty gritty details of rotations and builds. I will however call out the key skills.

So I'm really far behind trials and we're getting them faster than I'm clearing them so I thought I'd do Antenolla and Gilgamesh to unlock the newer fights which should be more "interesting." I went in blind for Antenolla using Rydia as my attacker and somehow managed to clear the fight on my first run (we get variations of that fight often enough that I knew to attack the flower last) so I'm not bothering doing a full write up for it. Also, due to the sheer amount of time spent gearing units (it took 3-4 times as long gearing them than everything else put together), I'm letting myself use FFBEEquip to sort out my gear from now on (previously, all gearing was done manually).

So on to Gilgamesh! This fight is going to be a major pain in the ass. I know from the previous fight that element sealing is a thing for this but I have no idea what elements. So I'll start off by sealing all elements to figure out his rotation with everything sealed. Then I'll seal 7 elements to figure out what each sealed attack should be. This is going to require a lot of time and energy...

Here's what we can expect based on the moogle hints:

• He is strong to non-elemental attacks
• Attack patterns changes based on remaining HP
  
• Two possible patterns: elemental attacks seal moves and elemental attacks trigger counters
  
• Bushido - Freedom is used when HP falls below a certain point. I know if whether that means threshold move or script change after a threshold.
  

And we also have the usual suspects as possibilities:

• Fixed type attacks that go right through covers or both magic and physical AE attacks.
  
• Stat breaks on me and stat buffs on self.
  
• Summoning minions.
  
• Pre-emptive attacks.
  
• Instant death attacks including death moves that can't be resisted.
  
• MP drain (AE or ST).
  
• Retaliation/counters for certain types of attacks (usually elemental or magic/physical).
  
• Gimmicks like sealing attacks.
  
• Attack type immunities or mitigations.
  
• Status ailments and status ailment resist breaks.
  
• Stop/charm.
  
• Imperils.
  
• Dispels self.
  
• Dispels me.
  
• Elemental imbues (usually coupled with the ability to absorb that element).
  
• DOT attacks (usually elemental).
  
• Moves that ignore cover or evasion.
  

I'm just going to jump in with the team I have saved from my Antenolla run: Kydia, Lenna, Charlotte, Edgar, SS Nichol. Kydia has Summer Whip equipped to seal all elements. Let's give this a whirl and see how it goes. I'm guessing a physical tank would probably be better but whatever. I'll bring along an Elena friend since she has good elemental coverage so I can selectively seal elements.

Fight 1

Preemptive

Gilgamesh used Barrier and Wall. He has buffs to ATK/MAG/DEF/SPR and mitigation for phys and magic.

Turn 1

Libra:

• Human
  
• No elemental weaknesses
  
• Resists all ailments
  

Dispel only removed stat buffs and left both mitigations.

Only ATK/MAG breaks work

I used Rainbow whip to seal all elements.

Gilg's attacks:

• Tsubame Gaeshi. This was a ST counter that hit Rydia. It's not magic because Charlotte didn't cover it. Must be phys, hybrid, or fixed.
  
• Bunch of standard attacks
• Genji Bow - AE magic (Charlotte covered). Charlotte has high elemental resists and it didn't show a resist so this must be non-elemental.
  
• Excalipoor - ST and elemental. Charlotte fully resisted it so it has to be ice, water, wind, earth, or light. It's ST so can't tell if it is a magic attack or not.
  
• X Slash - AE non-magic attack. Doesn't appear to have an element.
  

Rydia died so I'll be testing other elements a bit early.

Charlotte's counters did no damage so he must be immune to non-elemental damage.

Turn 2

Elena used water/lightning/ice/light.

Elena dodged Tsubame Gaeshi so it is either physical or hybrid. Unless I learn more or he stops using the counter, I won't mention it again to save some typing.

• Bunch of standard attacks. Unless the timing of them changes, I won't mention them again.
  
• Whirlwind Blade - ST and imperils fire/water/wind/earth/light. Guessing wind element based on the name.
  
• Zantetsuken - ST and not magic.
• Muramasa - ST, not magic. Partially resisted by Charlotte and the animation looked like it was fire. Looks like it breaks ATK/MAG too. MP drain also.
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Excalipoor x2

Turn 3

Rydia sealed earth and wind, Elena sealed water/lightning/ice/light.

I expect to get hit with Muramasa since I didn't seal fire. I expect not to get hit with Whirlwind Blade since I sealed wind.

• Excalipoor was used as a counter twice on Rydia
• X Slash
  
• Muramasa
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Genji Blade - Looks like an AE attack but so hard to tell with all the skill spam. Charlotte didn't cover it so not magic.
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Genji Helm - Buff but I forgot to check what it did.
  

Turn 4

Rydia sealed everything again.

• Genji Bow
  
• X Slash
• Excalipoor
  

I quit the fight at this point because Rydia keeps dying and I have enough info to test theories.

Fight 1 lessons learned

His unsealable attacks appear to be Genji Bow, Excalipoor, and X Slash. Genji Blade might be an unsealable attack too. I'll need to fight longer to be sure.

Muramasa can be sealed with fire. I'll need to either always seal this or keep up break resists.

Whirlwind Blade can be sealed with wind. As this includes imperils, it is a high priority to seal.

There does not appear to be any attacks sealed by dark (no attack appeared in both turns where I didn't seal dark).

Zantetsuken only appeared in the only turn where earth wasn't sealed. Could be a coincidence though as there was only one turn with earth sealed.

Excalipoor was only used as a counter on the turn where I used magic. It also targeted Rydia so it is most likely a magic counter. That means Tsubame Gaeshi is probably a counter to physical/hybrid attacks. I'll need to test out Rydia's summoner skills to see if fixed attacks are countered.

Next fight I'll need to test out ice, lightning, water, and light.next.

Fight 2

I'll stick to the same team since I'm only figuring out the fight mechanics. I'll worry about making a proper team when I'm ready to attack thresholds.

Turn 1

Only sealing earth/wind/lightning/water this turn

I'm 99% sure Excalipoor is a magic attack and used as a magic counter. Unless things change I won't list counters again.

• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• X Slash
  
• Excalibur - ST elemental magic attack. This is the sealable light or ice attack. Based on the name, most likely light.
  
• Muramasa
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Excalipoor
  
• X Slash
  

There's probably no ice attack to seal.

Turn 2

Sealing earth/wind/lightning/water/ice. I expect to still see Excalibur.

• Muramasa
  
• Excalibur
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Excalipoor
  
• X Slash
  

This confirms Excalibur is light.

Turn 3-4

I had to stop for a bit after turn 2 (this is what happens when you do a trial run during lunch break at work) and I accidentally tested ice and light again instead of lightning and water. I quit after this turn thinking that I had tested all the elements and didn't realize my mistake until I reviewed the video later that evening.

Fight 2 lessons learned

Pay more attention to what I'm doing...

Fight 3

Same team. Going to confirm lightning and water sealing then attack the thresholds.

Turn1

Sealing earth/wind/ice/light.

• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Muramasa
  
• Masamune - ST attack. Hit Charlotte so no idea on attack type other than it is elemental (resisted).
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Excalipoor
  

Looks like Masamune is tied to either water or lightning.

Turn 2

Adding water seal.

• X Slash
  
• Muramasa
  
• Genji Bow
  
• X Slash
  

No Masamune so it is sealed by water. Time to attack the thresholds.

Turn 6

Genji Helm showed up again. It always shows up on turn 3 so I'm guessing it is 3n turns. It looks like it dispels my breaks (but not other enfeeblements) and puts up break resists for 2 turns. I was able to dispel the buffs on turn 7.

Turn 8

I got him down from 81% to 75% and his attack pattern changed so either 75% or 80% is a threshold. That's kind of early so probably 3 or 4 thresholds total.

• Gilgamesh Transform - did nothing.
  
• He's reversed his way of thinking! - Also did nothing.
  
• Bushido - Freedom - AE attack that didn't trigger Charlotte's cover. Non-elemental based on a lack of resists. .
• Genji Shield - Most likely phys/magic mitigation. Could be the next skill but this one makes more sense given the name.
  
• He's begun to wield a new weapon! - Looked like a buff animation but unless it's doing one of the mitigations and Genji Shield is doing the other, it's did nothing.
  

Turn 9

Accidentally auto-attacked with Elena so I only sealed wind and earth this turn.

• True Whirlwind Blade - AE version of the attack. Seems to imperil all elements now.
  
• True Zantetsuken - ST either really strong attack or instant KO. I couldn't see any big damage numbers hidden under the damage spam from True Whirlwind Blade but it killed Charlotte so probably instant death.
  
• True Zantetsuken
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Genji Blade
  
• X Slash
  
• Excalipoor
  
• X Slash
  
• Excalipoor
  

Kydia, Charlotte, and friend Elena are dead. Everyone else is super low on health. I'm probably not going to survive another round.

The only elements I sealed were earth and wind. But I got stronger forms of the attacks that I would seal with those elements. Could be coincidence. I guess I'll find out next fight when I'm better prepared.

Turn 10

Only attack was Edgar's LB (non-elemental attack which did no damage since Gilgamesh is immune to non-elemental)

• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Genji Blade
  
• Excalipoor
  

Hmmm... no stronger versions of sealable attacks. I guess this is what the moogle hints were referring to when it said Gilgamesh will switch from sealing moves to countering moves.

Somehow I'm alive. Praise RNGsus!

Turn 11

Based on the last two turns, attacking with an element will trigger a stronger version of an attack that was sealed by the same element before the threshold.

Let's test this by using Rainbow Whip. I expect to see a true version of Whirlwind Blade, Zantetsuken, Muramasa, Excalibur, and Masamune. I also expect to die a horrible death...

• True Whirlwind Blade
  
• True Zantetsuken
  
• True Zantetsuken
  
• True Muramasa - AE and includes an MP drain and ATK/MAG break (assuming this did the MP drain and break since that's what the weaker version did)
  
• True Masamune - AE and SPR/DEF break
  
• Excalibur II - Surprisingly still ST.
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Genji Blade
  
• X Slash
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Genji Helm
  

Well I was right about the counters to the elements. Somehow Lenna and Charlotte are still alive. I noticed on like the 12th review of this turn that there was an HP drain too. Reviewing the turn I tested water sealing Masamune drains HP so it should be True Masamune draining HP.

Genji Helm didn't appear on turn 9 and I expected turn 12. Either I was wrong about the 3n pattern or it changed after threshold.

Turn 12

Couldn't attack so expecting no "True" versions of attacks.

• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Genji Bow
  
• Genji Blade
  
• Excalipoor x3
  

Kydia and SS Nichol are dead.

Turn 13

Didn't attack with any element (I probably should have let Elena use a couple elements to better test my theory).

Attacks were as expected.

Turn 14

Only attacked with water and got attacked with True Masamune as expected.

Finally wiped out this turn.

Fight 3 lessons learned

Okay, looks like before the threshold (75% or 80%) elements seal attacks. After the threshold, elements trigger retaliation.

Some attacks have a chance to be used every turn:

• Excalipoor
  
• Tsubame Gaeshi
  
• Genji Bow
  

Genji Blade seems random before threshold and every turn after threshold.

X Slash and Genji Helm seems to be random when it appears.

Fight 4

Okay, time to form a new party. The attacks that happen every turn are mostly physical so I should switch to a physical tank. Excalipoor is probably light element since Excalibur is. I'll want to either give everyone some light resist or just a provoke tank.

All of the retaliation moves other than Excalibur II are really nasty so the only safe elements are light, ice, lightning, and dark. I'll be gearing for light resist anyway so I'm going to make that my attacking element. I can still opt for ice, lightning, or dark as my primary attack element if light doesn't work out for me.

Tank

Charlotte is out and Wilhelm is in. Giving him 100% passive provoke, 100% light resist, and death immunity.

Healer

Sticking to Lenna although I probably could make due with any other decent healer.

Breaker/Buffer

NE Hope has decent 60% breaks which should be good enough for this fight. The breaks have defensive buffs too which is a bonus since I almost never bother buffing stats. He also has general and magic mitigation which should help if the breaks are too weak.

Attacker

I'm going to go back to a 5 man team. Looking at units that can make use of the Summer Whip... Let's go with Nagi! The whip has good stats for a hybrid unit and she has a light attack with an imperil. I've never used her so there's that too.

If NE Hope works out, I actually have a second slot open. I'll be bringing along my 6 star Elena for some elemental flexibility in case Gilg's pattern changes again after a threshold. In my kill run I'll probably use Reberta.

I'll also bring whatever friend unit is around that can cover wind and earth in case I need to test seals again after the next threshold.

For this fight I'll exclude Excalipoor, Tsubame Gaeshi, and Genji Bow unless their patterns change.

Turn 1

Confirmed that mitigation from Wall and Shell cannot be dispelled but the stat boosts can be.

Turn 3

He dispels himself then gives himself break resists (Genji Helm). On turn 4 I was able to dispel it.

Turn 9

Triggered threshold at 80%. Switching to light attacks only.

Turn 13

Triggered threshold at 60%. Bushido - Freedom instant killed Elena (looks to be KO move, on top of AE damage).

Turn 14

Only attacked with light and wiped out.

• Excalipoor
  
• Flayer: ST and hit Wilhem so no idea if phys or magic. It has a lightning animation so probably lightning element
  
• True Whirlwind Blade
  
• True Muramasa
  
• Apocalypse - This or Murasame has an AE ice animation.
  
• Murasame
• True Zantetsuken

Flayer, Apocalypse, and Murasame are new attacks. One has a lightning animation, another has an ice animation, and presumably the last is a dark attack. I'm guessing in this phase I need to seal all 8 elements.

Fight 5

Got to 60% threshold and made sure I had AE reraise from Lenna's LB before crossing. That worked well.

Had Elena seal lightning, ice, and light. Nagi sealed water. Friend Randi sealed fire and earth.

Got hit with True Whirlwind blade as expected and Apocalypse with easily killed Wilhelm (he has dark weakness due to gearing for light resist...) so that is the dark attack and it is ST.

Tried again without sealing lightning and that confirms Flayer is lightning and it also dispelled Wilhelm.

Attacked once more but this time without sealing ice and that confirmed Murasame is AE ice magic(?).

I had problems surviving but I managed to reach another threshold at 40% (same threshold moves). Used Rainbow Whip to attack and got hit by everything (no stronger forms for Flayer, Apocalypse, and Murasame). Needless to say I wiped out.

Fight 6

With the issues I had surviving below 60%, I'm readjusting the team a bit. NE Hope is out. His 60% breaks are just a tad too weak. Also, switching to an evade tank should greatly reduce the amount of damage I'm taking. Since I've never used her yet, let's have AI Katy handle breaks and physical cover. A Lassie will be provoke tank with 100% light resist. Both will be equipped with light weapons so they can help speed up the killing with some shitty broken chaining.

Sticking to Lenna and Nagi. Elena isn't needed since A Lassie can help with damage so I can bring along Folka to help keep everyone alive. I finally got her to 7 star very recently so I'll be able to use her full skill set ~~and her enhancements~` (I forgot to enhance her before I started the fight...). I'm loving the fact that I can pull off a 5 man team and still have 2 tanks, a breaker, 2 healers, and 2 attackers.

I brought a friend Randi that just defended every turn (that is until he died so I left him dead for much of the fight) until I crossed the 20% threshold that I was expecting. Randi helped confirm that pattern <20% was the same as < 60% (I only tested a couple elements and just assumed it'd be the same based on the rest of the fight).

I ended up not bothering with any mitigation and just kept reraise on A Lassie and Nagi who died every turn after I crossed the 60% threshold. I just had AI Katy break, cover, and attack every turn out of sheer laziness (yay repeat). It was a slow but easy win in 29 turns.

Final Thoughts

The main fight mechanics aren't too hard to figure out but looking at the wiki, it was a bit more complicated than I thought. There were attack replacements that I didn't figure out (but didn't really matter in practice) and I probably could have figured out the timing of Genji Blade and Genji Helm (but that doesn't really affect strategy either). I did achieve my standard goal of being able to survive indefinitely and cleared it with only 5 units so I'm calling this a success. Overall, this one was more of a pain to verify the sealing/counters after each threshold than figuring out the AI.

Here are the builds I had for my teams:

First team

Second team

Next Up

I'm trying to do all the SBB fights within a month of their release so Emperor will be next. I've done a couple runs already and so far it's been... annoying.