Shinryu Studies

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I just started, can I do Shinryu?

DISCLAIMER - The information below is not a list of meta characters or must pulls. Characters listed are "keys" to solving the puzzle of the Shinryu stage, and you should review our Roles page for alternatives if you lack them! Review the boss notes & character notes to understand the puzzle. You still need a balanced roster of damage dealers & supports work with your FR and key characters to complete the stage. We have done our best to give you information to make your transition to Shinryu difficulty more smooth, but this research is not necessarily holistic and is intended to be easily understood and actionable.

New Crystal Quests are out now! New Infographic, oooooo!

Read up on the Quests, the points, the Sparkles, THE DRAMA on our new Crystal Quests page! Thank you and taste the painbow!

Looking for guides on Dimension's End: Transcendence? Check out our Transcendence page!

"Beginner's Guide to Shinryu" video by ScottOng

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"Preparation For Shinryu Difficulty" by Destroth

(Click for infographic)

For older Lufenias or Lufenia+ fights see:Β 

Lufenia Archive / Lufenia+ ResearchΒ 

Arciela Heretics

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Diabolos Spiritus

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Jessie Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Ch 6 Part 2 (Yda BT Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Ch 6 Part 1 (Leonora Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Ignis Raid (Rags of Stigma)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Relm Heretics (Scarlet Witch)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Alexander Spiritus

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Kadaj IW

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

6 Warrior Area 8

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Fusoya Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 5 Part 2 (Fujin BT/Zidane FR)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 5 Part 1 (Selh'teus debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Strago BT Raid

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Enna Kros IW

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Leviathan Spiritus

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Kelger Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Queen Raid

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Jihl Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 4 Pt 2 (Reno BT/Vincent FR Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 4 Pt 1 (Weiss Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Dorgann Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 3 Part 2 (Rosa Debut & D4RE to Defy VII)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 3 Part 1 (Astos Debut & D4RE to Defy VI)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

6 Warrior Area 7 (D4RE to Defy V)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Sephiroth IW (D4RE to Defy IV)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Ifrit Spiritus (D4RE to Defy III)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Lightning IW (D4RE to Defy II)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

6 Warrior Area 6 (D4RE to Defy I)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Shantotto IW

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 2 Part 2 (Iris Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Act 4 Chapter 2 Part 1 (Leo BTFR Debut)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Reks Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Shiva Spiritus (Dar3 to Defy 7)

tl;dr - You need Melee, Ranged and Magic Imperils and DEF ignore to be able to finish the fight. DEF ignore can be handled by a Lv 50 Summon + Auron LDCA. Helpful units listed below.

Imperils List:

They will try to petrify you at the start of the fight and when their HP hits 59% & 29%. It can be evaded, but the petrification can be very nasty if it lands in Force Time (Irvine LDCA can help, Rydia LDCA is also great if you run Edgar in party)

At 89%, 49% and 19%, you cannot lower their HP until they use Howl/Howl+. Once they Howl (they will once you hit the HP thresholds listed so you don't have to do anything extra for this), you can lower their HP as normal. To beat the fight, however, you will need to deal Weapon Weakness DMG while they have all 3 Weapon Imperil types on them. Howl+ also asks for DEF ignore attacks (Edgar, Raines, Beatrix, Auron were popular choices. Locke BT effect can also enable DEF ignore which can also help cancel their FR should it trigger, but he has no FR atm.)

Simple timeline:

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Cor Lost Chapter (Dar3 to Defy 5)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

6 Warrior Area 5 (Balthier BT/Twins FR & Dar3 to Defy 4)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Destroth's Team suggestions

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Paine IW (Dar3 to Defy 2)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Destroth's Team suggestions

Act 4 Ch 1 Pt 2 (Quina Frogs)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Destroth's Team suggestions

Act 4 Ch 1 Pt 1 (Dar3 to Defy 7)

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Destroth's Team suggestions

Rubicante Lost Chapter

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Destroth's Team suggestions

Mog Intersecting Wills

ScottOng's Fight Cheatsheet

Xcaliblur's Infographic

Destroth's Team suggestions