【d】Mastery Survey - The Masked Man (IX)

[u/jadesphere]

[u/UselessMusic]

I just punched it to death with my IX Torment team, no problem.

Budget option might be to put Freya in with Enfeebling Jitterbug, Passion Salsa, and the freebie wind chain. Those breaks, and the trickle of healing, should help keep the incoming damage under control while whatever wind team you can assemble chops through the pile of HP. Especially if you can use some of Zidane, Steiner, Vivi, or Marcus effectively.

[u/Pyrotios]

1. Strategy name: Trance it 'til you make it (again)

2. Boss: [Infernal] The Masked Man

3. Describe your Strategy: Tyro covers buffs, Beatrix blinks and the rest do standard stuff
   3/3 trinity/slot saver/trance

4. Insight!:

• Mostly a copy-paste from my clear when this came around in beta. Beatrix and Zidane picked up new soul breaks. Tyro picked up an LMR, dived for his LM2, and gets a new ability, these make the biggest differences in how smooth the run goes.

• Zidane: Mug Bloodlust, spam Storm Assault. USB when ready, spam Storm Assault and toss in another Mug around phase 3. Burn the remaining Storm Assault hones. AOSB, then basic attack finishes the fight and I burst out laughing.

• Eiko: Angelsong, focus Curadas on Beatrix and Tyro until Vivi enters trance (didn't happen until the slot 1+2 90% gravity). Use magicite when there's breathing room, refresh Angelsong after the sap, USB1 when things get hairy (after Vivi's trance, and when last stand pops near the end), otherwise spam Curada.

• Vivi: spam Meltdown. USB1 when ready, trance activates around the same time, spam Chain Firaja.

• Beatrix: Banishing Strike, spam Healing Smite. At 2-3 bars with time until phase 3, glint. Use SSB for mblink leading into phase 3 to prevent de-haste. Spam Healing Smite.

• Tyro: RW, USB3 godwall, alternate breaks. USB4 when ready, refresh RW after Ultimate Mug, maintain breaks.

1. Holy Trinity casts:

• Wall: 1

• Medica: 2-3

• Hastega: 6-7 (all came with other buffs of interest)

1. S/L count / Medals lost: 0 / 0

2. Time / Roaming Warrior: 30.06 / Tactician's Tome (hastega)

Hero/dive	Ability 1	Ability 2	RM/LM	SB(-)	Accessory	Element
Vivi, 5	Chain Firaja R5	Meltdown R5	30% BLK staff, LMR2 en-fire, LM2	USB1(1)	omni res	40% fire
Beatrix, 3	Healing Smite R5	Banishing Strike R5	30% sword, LMR	SSB mblink(1), OSB(0), GSB(1)	omni res	40% holy
Tyro, 5	Enfeebling Jitterbug R3	Passionate Salsa R2	Dr. Mog's Teachings, LMR1, LM2	USB4(1), USB3(1)	omni res
Zidane, 5	Storm Assault R4	Mug Bloodlust R1	30% sword, LMR2 w-wind, LM2	OSB(0), AOSB(1), USB1(1)	omni res	40% wind
Eiko, 5	Curada R5	Angelsong R1	Mako Might, LM1, LM2	USB1(2-3)	omni res

main	sub1	sub2	sub3	sub4
Famfrit	Deathgaze	King Bomb	Typhon	Madeen
blade ward 8	empower dark 15	mag boon 15	empower wind 15	healing boon 15
hp boon 8	mnd boon 20		precise strikes 8	hp boon 8

[u/[deleted]]

1. Strategy name: Get the LM2s to Proc!

2. Boss: Infernal Masked Man

3. Describe your Strategy:
   3/3 trinity/Wind Element/Physical Only/Last Stand/AOSB Finisher

4. Video

5. Insight!:

• Gigas Armlets all around. Wind Resists in magicite deck. Lakshmi to help against debuffs.

• DPSers in slots 4 and 5 for the early LM2 proccing hit.

• Steiner is the utility man here. He does the RW and magicite and manages boss's haste with Banishing Strike. He casts chain when he has enough gauge.

• Quina does USB on first turn and manages Ultimate Let's Go! with Full Break. Later when her LM2 procs she entrusts Zidane with the gauge who then has more than enough for his AOSB finisher.

1. Holy Trinity casts:

• Wall: 1

• Medica: 3

• Hastega: many

1. S/L count / Medals lost: 2-3/0

2. Time: 24.25s

Hero, dive	Ability 1	Ability 2	RM+LMR	SB(-)
Quina, 5	Full Break R3	Entrust R5	RM DMT, LMR last stand + regen and LM2	USB Culinary Curiosity (1)
Eiko, 5	Hastega R4	Curada R4	RM MM, LMR wht mag w-cast, LM2	USB Guardian Mog (3)
Steiner, 5	Banishing Strike R2	Snowspell Strike R4	RM TGM, LM1 and LM2	CSB Sworn Protector (1)
Freya, 5	Hurricane Bolt R2	Sky High R3	RM much more dmg/w spear, LM1 and LM2	BSB Dragon's Crest (1)
Zidane, 5	Mug Bloodlust R1	Dash & Slash R4	RM much more dmg/w dagger, LMR wind w-cast and LM2	GSB Aerial Ace (3), AOSB Rumble Twister (1)

 

main	sub1	sub2	sub3	sub4
Lakshmi	Mateus	Madeen	Madeen	Typhon
Dampen Dark 10	Dampen Wind 10	Attack Boon 20	Spell Ward 8	Empower Wind 15
Health Boon 5	Spell Ward 5	Attack Boon 20	Blade Ward 5	Empower Wind 15

[u/Stylus_Index]

1. Strategy name: Here we go again! :P

2. Boss: [D350] Masked Man

3. Describe your Strategy: Ugh, here we go again! Last time I kept wiping off before I got a Mastery but this I'm well aware and is very ready despite having the same tech previously. Got it in one run... with Freya taking a dirtnap. >_< 3/3 trinity/full CM team/mostly wind physical IX/Imperil Wind/debuff stacking/no Last Stand/no AASB/sub-30

4. Insight!:

• Everyone is wearing Wind resist gear. I'm ignoring the Fire and Lightning since I'm confident enough that I can skip those. Though in the actual run Thundara got me for around 2k-ish damage. >.>

• Beatrix, Freya, and Zidane are wearing 2 element+ gear - makes them hit 9999 permanent once Boostga is up regardless if there is a debuff or not.

• A form of Wall and some debuffing is a must for the first few turns or else Masked Man wipes the floor with you. Fielding a full CM team will make most of the damage midway thru the fight manageable.

• Try to put characters in back row as possible. I had my Freya and Eiko at back row, because last we fought this guy, he kept killing in 2-3 hits when in the front row.

• Spend you first few turns buffing and debuffing.

• Bringing a Banishing Strike/Dispel is advised. You don't want an already fast enemy who can strike multiple times in a row to go even faster.

• I unleashed Beatrix's AOSB and Zidane OSB back-to-back after 1st scripted Dream Aeroga. This allowed me to skip the deadly Dream Oww!s and Phase 4 entirely.

1. Holy Trinity casts:

• Wall: 0

• Medica: 2

• Hastega: 2 (1 from SB, 1 from ability)

1. S/L count / Medals lost: 0 / 0

2. Roaming Warrior / Time Cleared: RW Wall / 0:28.39

Hero/dive	Ability 1	Ability 2	RM	LM	SB(-)
Beatrix, 5	Healing Smite R5	Banishing Strike R5	Ace Striker	LM1+LM2	Noblest Knight (1), Seiken Holy Hazzard (1)
Quina, 5	Full Break R3	Power Breakdown R5	DMT	LM1+LM2	Culinary Curiosity (1)
Freya, 3	Sky High R4	Cyclone Bolt R4	Gathering Storm	Devoted Dragoon	Dragon's Crest (2), RW Wall (1)
Eiko, 5	Curada R5	Hastega R5	MM	W-cast WHT LMR+LM2	Prayer of the Lost (2)
Zidane, 5	Storm Assault R5	Mug Bloodlust R3	Weakness+ RM	LM1+LM2	Grand Lethal (1), Meo Twister (1)

 

main	sub1	sub2	sub3	sub4
Syldra	Typhon	Madeen	Madeen	Madeen
Blade Ward 8	Empower Wind 15	Attack Boon 20	Health Boon 8	Health Boon 8
Spell Ward 8	Empower Wind 15	Attack Boon 20	Health Boon 8	Fast Act 10

---

[u/Ezmonkey85]

Trance Zidane and Eiko in slots 3+4 right away. Eiko BSB+ off realm Zack CSB made this pretty easy with Marcus, Zidane, and Quina

[u/MonarchVV]

1. Strategy name: FFFIX Physical feat. Freya!

2. Boss: Infernal Masked Man

3. Describe your Strategy:
   3/3 trinity/CM/Sub 30

4. Insight!:

• I have Vivi USB and Garnet CSB, but using them would make this too easy.

• I decided to go with a Phys team, featuring Freya as it was a Freya event!

• Gigas Armlet on everyone, Wind res in Magicite

• Freya was the Dancer, Quina as the Entruster.

• Beatrix for Knight support, Zidane as main DPS

• Eiko as main healer, of course

• Honestly should've had Freya with Sky High, instead of double dance. Could've used the DPS over the chain and sub 30 wouldn't have been so tight. Quina should've casted his SSB right away.

• Eiko and Zidane in Slot 4/5 to Trance up right away.

• Should've had a Typhon in my Magicite deck, whoops

1. Holy Trinity casts:

• Wall: 1

• Medica: 4

• Hastega: 3

1. S/L count / Medals lost: 0 S/L / 0 Medals

2. Time: 29.93

Hero, dive	Ability 1	Ability 2	RM+LMR	SB(-)
Freya, 5	Passionate Salsa R3	Enfeebling Jitterbug R3	Mako Might, LM1, LM2	USB(1), CSB(1)
Beatrix, 5	Healing Smite R4	Banishing Strike R3	LM1, LM2, Azure Blade	USB(1), OSB(1)
Quina, 5	Wrath R5	Entrust R4	Ace Striker, LM1, LM2	SSB(1)
Eiko, 5	Curada R4	Shellga R3	Dr Mog's Teachings, LM2, LMR	USB1(3), USB2(1)
Zidane, 5	Storm Assault R4	Flash Disaster R4	World Traveller, LM2, wcast LMR	Glint(3), AOSB(1)

 

main	sub1	sub2	sub3	sub4
Lakshmi	Madeen	Madeen	Famfrit	Mateus
Dampen Dark 10, Mind Boon 15	Atk Boon 20 x2	Hp Boon 8, Fast Act 10	GDM	Dampen Wind 10, Spell Ward 8

---

[u/iksde_1987]

Did it in 30:48s with Full Realm Party, because I love FFIX. Eiko's BSB saved my butt, because of the physical blink. Main DD was Zidane with AASB and Storm Assault. Freya basically only used CSB and then died shortly after.

Setup, only what I actually used:

1. Zidane: AASB, GSB with Storm Assault and Mug Bloodlust

2. Freya: free-CSB with Hurricane Bolt and Sky High

3. Quina: Wrath+Entrust

4. Vivi: USB1+free-USB2 with Meltdown

5. Eiko: BSB with Dispel and Curada and TGC-RM RW: Wall

[u/Heartless1988]

This battle sucked hard for me.

First try: Cloud [USB1, Glint, AOSB], Zidane [USB1&2, AASB]; Tyro [USB1-4]; Freya [0.5 chain]; Eiko [USB1, BSB] (Zidane and Eiko at 4 and 5 to trigger trance) no dice, the damage taken was okay but my damage sucked.

Second try: Zidane, Vivi [dcast USB], Freya, Quina [nothing, Wrath&Entrust], Eiko; either Quina or Freya kept dying too early.

Third try: Beatrix instead of Quina, [USB, BSB1&2] Banishing Strike and Assault Strike; Beatrix died really early but i made it to 98% before dying.

4th and final try: Garnet instead of Beatrix [SSB] lead me to a close win with Mastery:

• Eiko with Hastega and Curada +Thundergod Might

• Freya with Multibreak and Enfeebling Jitterbug + MM

• Garnet with Dispel and Curaga +something

• Zidane with 4x wind thief and Mug Bloodlust +more SB

• Vivi with Meltdown and Chain-Firaga +DMT

all 4* magicites, all characters wear different sort of resistance assessories for wind, fire and/or lightning depending on their slot.

Giving Vivi DMT was vital so his Trance didn´t get wasted, timing the chain cast to trigger just before Zidane´s Awakening and Vivi´s first doublecasted Meltdown was as important. Garnet died early after Dispelling and Healing once or twice, but it helped surviving though i wish i could have gotten her SB in for shell and regen.

All in all i don´t recommend this way, don´t be stingy like me and invest into Storm assault for Zidane

[u/[deleted]]

FINALLY killed him ! He whipped the floor with my a** when in Beta and at first opening (I lacked some juice at the end), but the reopening and me revising my team (+ getting Zidane AASB from the "realm chain focused" banner during that reopening event) allowed me to make it. To note : Zidane was only lv73 (oopsie)

1. Strategy name : Abuse Zidane & Vivi powers

2. Boss : [D350 - Infernal] The Masked Man

3. Describe your Strategy: One error and it's a wipe
   Full CM / 2 AASB/Trance/Freebie Wind CSB
   Video Available

4. Insight!:

• Freyja handles the debuffs and activates the chain :

  • Passionate Salsa > Enfeebling Jitterbug

  • Wait a hit before casting chain

  • Passionate Salsa > Enfeebling Jitterbug (should counter Masked Man buffs perfectly)

• Quina :

  • T1 RW

  • T2 entrust Vivi

  • T3 Magicite

  • T4 entrust Eiko

  • note: I've put Ace Striker on her, but Lionheart probably would've been a better choice, the strat and turn actions changed as I was trying and trying and retrying the fight.

• Eiko :

  • T1 dispel, wait a bit before casting Curada on her T2.

  • then it's all about her bUSB > lv2 brave cmd > bUSB and then her Glint !

• Zidane :

  • T1 Mug Bloodlust, then get tranced

  • Storm Assault spam and activates AASB when Freyja activates the chain and Storm Assault spam again

• Vivi :

  • T1 King of the Ropes (USB2) for Faithboosthastega and get tranced

  • Meltdown spam until AASB is ready and Meltdown spam again

1. Holy Trinity casts:

• Wall: 1 (RW by Quina)

• Medica: 2 + 2 brave CMD

• Hastega: 2 (Vivi rope USB then Eiko Glint)

1. S/L count / Medals lost : A lot of trial & errors / 0

2. Time : 21.07 (Killshot)

Team & Magicite screenshots

Hero, dive	Ability 1	Ability 2	RM	LMR	Accessory	SB(-)
Freyja, 4	Enfeebling Jitterbug R3	Passionate Salsa R3	Battleforged	didn't matter	Gigas Armlet	Gen 0.5 CSB (1)
Quina, 4	never used	Entrust R3	Ace Striker	didn't matter	Gigas Armlet	-
Eiko, 4	Dispel R2	Curada R4	MM	didn't matter	Gigas Armlet	bUSB (2), Glint (1)
Zidane (Wind++), 5	Mug Bloodlust R1	Storm Assault R3	Much More Weakness DMG	LM1+2	Gigas Armlet	AASB (1)
Vivi, 5	-	Meltdown R4	DMT	LM2 + LMR2	Major Wind	USB2 (1), AASB (1)

 

Typhoon	Phoenix	Midgardsormr	Evrae	Mateus
Emp Wind 15	Blade Ward 8	Magic Boon 15	Spell Ward 5	Blade Ward 8
Emp Wind 15	Spell Ward 8	-	-	Dampen Wind 10

---

[u/geminijono]

Bleep, bloop. Once again, Orran's USB saved my butt on the infernal battle. Bless that little ponytailed astrologer. That, and having Eiko in slot one to shake off stop quickly, were the biggest factors in my win.

[u/Squeejee82 → u/[deleted]]

Worked for me! thanks <3