SMT: Nocturne Hardtype - Specter (Low Level)
SpEcTeR wAs TyPiNg LiKe ThIs BeFoRe It WaS cOoL
Rules:
This is a low level run of zombero's hardtype mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3299/
The aim is to keep XP gain as low as possible without affecting my sanity.
Hard mode, obviously
No stat boosting items
All other game mechanics are fair game!
Hardtype changes:
HP: 148 → 160
This was hands down the most tedious and luck-based part of the challenge thus far. Specter can be dealt with by Megido Rocks just like in vanilla - almost. While the HP of the smaller Specters was barely changed, Megido Rocks are much weaker here. This means we need a tiny bit more XP beforehand so Pixie learns Rakunda, which gives us the damage boost we need to finish them off before they transform. I max evasion immediately and hope for dodges and/or Agi on Demi Fiend.
Of course, if we just had to win it wouldn't be so bad, but it's not quite that simple. Benched demons gain 75% XP in hardtype, and EVERY single demon needs to survive for a chain of fusions so convoluted I can't even begin to explain it here. Suffice to say it is essential to getting the skills required to beat Matador. There are just barely enough turns to kill the small Specters before they transform, and if any of our demons are dead at the end of the battle we have to retry. To make matters worse, we then need to get a successful Media skill change. This really isn't skippable, unless you fancy Pester farming 99 Aquamarines to trade in for Bead Chains I guess...
If you're wondering "why not get Media when you level Pixie beforehand", believe me I tried. Skill changes don't seem to trigger until Demi Fiend hits a certain level, a problem I've encountered in past LL runs. Unfortunately, this is the first and only realistic opportunity to get Media.
Incidentally, most of my attempts didn't end without casualty like this. Rather, the Specters have a small chance to survive the assault, so quite often a single Specter would be left alive on turn 3 which would give me as much time as I needed to revive everyone and end the battle appropriately. Very rarely, 2 of them would survive and transform. I tried to take the big boi on, but even in a weakened state he annihilated me :(