Shinryu Studies
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Quick FAQ
What's changed?
Shinryu stages are Lv300+! In addition to more HP than Lufenia+, they introduce consistent HP DMG taken down, BRV Retain down, BRV gains and Retain limits and mechanics are now based on the enemy FR gauge!
What do you get for beating a stage?
We get 1 High Powerstone (used to MLB Force weapons) in addition to the Force Stone Fragments (used for Force Enhancement). Check out our explanation of Force Enhancement and Sinewave's breakdown on budgeting on our Enhancement Points page!
I just started, can I do Shinryu?
Take your time and don't sweat it, there's endless content for you to do, this content can be punishingly difficult. If you can get to it, try out the limited time Event Shinryus but understand you will need an understanding on how to optimize damage to make the most of a good Force Time! Permanent ones can be done later but still need the knowledge of how to interact with bosses and do big damage without dying.
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!
For older Lufenias or Lufenia+ fights see:Β
Act 4 Chapter 5 Part 1 (Selh'teus debut)
Strago BT Raid
Enna Kros IW
Leviathan Spiritus
Kelger Lost Chapter
Queen Raid
Jihl Lost Chapter
Act 4 Chapter 4 Pt 2 (Reno BT/Vincent FR Debut)
Act 4 Chapter 4 Pt 1 (Weiss Debut)
Dorgann Lost Chapter
Act 4 Chapter 3 Part 2 (Rosa Debut & D4RE to Defy VII)
Act 4 Chapter 3 Part 1 (Astos Debut & D4RE to Defy VI)
6 Warrior Area 7 (D4RE to Defy V)
Sephiroth IW (D4RE to Defy IV)
Ifrit Spiritus (D4RE to Defy III)
Lightning IW (D4RE to Defy II)
6 Warrior Area 6 (D4RE to Defy I)
Shantotto IW
Act 4 Chapter 2 Part 2 (Iris Debut)
Act 4 Chapter 2 Part 1 (Leo BTFR Debut)
Reks Lost Chapter
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:
All : Edgar (LD needed and in party)
Melee: Auron (both calls)
Magic: Hope (LD needed, but both calls), Terra FR (in party)
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:
Fight start - They each try to petrify a party member each
89% HP - Howl triggers
59% HP - They try to petrify a party member each (they wait until after BT/Summon phase)
49% HP - Howl+ triggers
29% HP - They try to petrify a party member each (they wait until after BT/Summon phase)
19% HP- Howl+ triggers for the last time. They cannot die unless you meet the mechanic conditions at least 3 times (see above).Β
Cor Lost Chapter (Dar3 to Defy 5)
6 Warrior Area 5 (Balthier BT/Twins FR & Dar3 to Defy 4)
Paine IW (Dar3 to Defy 2)
Act 4 Ch 1 Pt 2 (Quina Frogs)
Act 4 Ch 1 Pt 1 (Dar3 to Defy 7)
Rubicante Lost Chapter
Mog Intersecting Wills
Bahamut Spiritus
Six Warrior Area 4
FOCUS THE DRAGON! It is the actual lose condition of this fight. Raijin LDCA, Cater LDCA or Setzer LDCA all heavily mitigate the Knight's danger, however nothing can take away the Dragon's immortality in Force Time if the Knight is already gone. Aggressive teams can utilize a FR Gauge charger like Penelo or Hope and Cancel FR time on the Knight. Defensive/off-turn teams are already handling the Knight so no worries there.
Act 3 Interlude (Neon Debut)
Warrior of Light IW
Kuja IW
Ramuh Spiritus
Sice Lost Chapter
Machina IW
Act 3 Finale Pt 2 - CoD 6 Warrior (Iroha BT/OK FR debuts)
Rydia Mission Dungeon
π’ Xcaliblur's and Destroth's F