Walkthrough the Fire & Flames, with Breath of Fire II (Retranslation)!

[Fionordequester]

Fun Fact: The "Tiga Dies" dialogue can be viewed immediately after Tiga dies, despite it also referring to Daisy's death.  It's evident they didn't expect you to leave in the middle of it all.

PARTY CHAT (Tiga Dies...):

Bosch: First of all, I'd like to go on the record by saying I've always believed that every dispute can be resolved peacefully... But that bastard High Priest of theirs has to pay! In blood! I'll throttle him myself if I ever get the chance!

Rand: So...what do you need of me?

Lin (in the lobby): Tiga...Claris...Daisy... They were all good friends... And I'm going to make that bastard High Priest pay for what he did to them!

Lin (in her room): Hi, Ryu! I'm home! ...Heh...hard for me not to think of this place as home all of a sudden...

Reminder that she's been gone for a bit.

Nina: The Church of Eva is like a tidal wave, sweeping our friends and loved ones away in its zealous frenzy...

Sten: This is intolerable! There are so many people who still pray to that so-called 'Lord' Eva...what would it take to un-convert them all?

Aspara: I can only imagine the devious means by which they carried out their foul plans while keeping the faithful ignorant...

Deis (in the lobby): That Habalk guy...running away like a big, fat chicken... I wanna kick his ass just for that!

She says that, but... I swear, half the problem with the story is that the villains DON'T do that.  Everyone that could've been a good recurring villain just dies shortly after.

Tapeta: C'est horrible that so many people continue to pray to Eva, not knowing the wickedness lurking behind his smile. They shall feed his evilness until the day they die...unless we, my friends, can stop the foul creature first!

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PARTY CHAT (Ganer Lives!):

Bosch: Isn't it awesome, partner? Your pop's alive, after all this time! I'm sure your baby sis is doing fine herself...somewhere out there!

Rand: So these bastards think they can get away from using innocents like batteries, do they? They've got another think coming!

What is that, like...two typos at once? "Get away from" and "another think"?

Lin (in her room): I can't imagine what Ryu's father had to go through. First betrayed by his own religion, then forced to help it destroy the world... Nothing I've gone through could come close to that.

What HAS she gone through, anyway?  Before we first met her?  I wish the game expanded on that..

Nina: We can't be too careful how we confront the Church. What good would our triumph serve if we merely sank to their level?

...I feel like this would've been better placed in the "Tiga Dies" section—where everyone's all angry.

Sten: The Cathedral is gone, but I doubt that loathsome High Priest went with it. Keep an eye out for him...cockroaches like that Habalk have a habit of popping up right where you don't need them...

Tapeta: I am so happy for you that you have finally found your long-lost father, Ryu. Know that I feel this from the bottom of my heart!

Aspara: With their Cathedral destroyed, the Dark God can no longer gather energy from the Church of Eva... But he can still leech the life from this world, bit by bit, just like he's doing to the forest near Gate. He will continue to grow, unless we can thwart him...

Deis (in the lobby): Your father's a great man, Ryu. If you can be even half the man he is, you'll be set for life!

And yet, Ryu is the one she'll keep on dreaming about .

[Fionordequester]

Here it is at last!  The next episode, complete with a new mic and everything!  Also an apology to the lovely Word on the Wind for accidentally calling her a "guy" in the last bonus episode (that comprises the first minute).



Bonus #7: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Shamans, Boombada, Nympho's Love, & Other Things!

TIME STAMPS:

0:00-1:00: Apology to Word on the Wind

1:00-2:06: Setting up Angel Nina (Wind & Holy Shamans)

2:06-2:48: Whoopi (Township tenant at Hometown/Newhaven—shows off Nympho being in love with Jean, if you talk to her after curing the Queen)

2:48-3:20: Remington (Township tenant at Capitan)

3:20-5:01: Summoner & Farlan (Township tenants at Tunlan/Melodia

5:01-5:48: Sollo the Earth Shaman (must have donated 2000z to Namanda before Daisy's death)

5:48-6:10: Reminder of where the Holy Shaman is (if you didn't recruit her in Part 25)

6:10-9:19: Sesso the Water Shaman (where Angel Nina shows off Banish!)

9:19-13:16: Flavor Text (Elder trees, silly signs, and cameos from BoF1 characters)

13:16-14: 35: 3x C.Sludges/Goo Champions (an Epic mob on the Isle of Giants)

14: 35-16:21: x2 N.Riders/Ragnariders (an Epic mob on the Isle of the Hidden Armory)

16:21-17:15: The hidden armory (Endgame-tier equipment is sold here!)

17:15-21: 34: Boombada mini-game (avoid at all costs...)

21: 34-23:57: Elfarlan's Love (secret conversation at Township with Sten)

23:57-25:00: Nympho's Love (Obscure text at Township that reveals her feelings)

25:00-27:00: Sub request and ending words.

PLOT POINTS:
1. Break Nimufu's curse
2. Recruit Seso.
3. Get Tier 2 dragons.
4. Expanding Township.
5. Defeat Jailer.
6. Finish SimaFort cooking contest.
7. Defeat Kuwadora.
8. Defeat Trout
9. Defeat Munmar.
10. Defeat M.C.Tusk.
11. Complete Highfort.
12. Learn of the Queen of Tunlan's condition.
13. Defeat the monsters inside the Queen.
14. Defeat Aruhamel.
15. Receive permission to enter SkyTower.
16. Clear Daisy's field.
18. Talk to the guard outside Namanda.
19. Defeat Paladin.
20. Defeat Guardian.
21. Acquire the Great Bird.
22. Talk to Claris.
23. Acquire ThvsTomd's treasure.
24. Recruit Seny.
25. Defeat Necroman.
26. Incorrectly answer the guard's question in Evrai.
27. Defeating (spoiler).
28. Trigger the trap in Evrai
29. Recruit Solo the Earth Shaman
30. Defeat Guardeyes.

MONSTER AI:
K.Sludges/Goo Kings (Immune to status ailments; Perfect accuracy with Death; Will always outspeed unless Deis is LVL 58):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Death with probability 17/256 (if over 50% HP), 33/256 (if over 25% and at most 50%), 65/256 (if over 12.5% and at most 25%), or 129/256 (if 12.5% HP or under)

N.Riders/Ragnariders (50% Critical Hits; Immune to status ailments; Will always outspeed unless Bleu/Deis is LVL 52)
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%) or Cast a Spell (25%)
Spell list: Typhoon (50%), Fireball/Inferno (25%), Hail/Blizzard (25%)

DESCRIPTION NOTES:
—You MUST donate 2000z to get Sollo the Earth Shaman, and it must be before *Daisy's* death, not Tiga's.
—The Wisdom & Mother Robes both make you immune to status ailments, and the Sun Mask gives Fire resistance.

[Fionordequester]

What's our next step? What's going on with the forest at Gate, and when are we gonna deal with Father Habalk? Find out, TODAY!



Part 28: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Critical Moment (Halkamania & Bad Ending)

THUMBNAIL ART BY: 「せいはち」(Check the uncropped version in his art gallery!)
せいはち's ART GALLERY: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/3498832/artworks
Special thanks for giving me permission to use it!

PLOT POINTS: (All 31 have now been covered! No more after this!)
1. Break Nimufu's curse
2. Recruit Seso.
3. Get Tier 2 dragons.
4. Expanding Township.
5. Defeat Jailer.
6. Finish SimaFort cooking contest.
7. Defeat Kuwadora.
8. Defeat Trout
9. Defeat Munmar.
10. Defeat M.C.Tusk.
11. Complete Highfort.
12. Learn of the Queen of Tunlan's condition.
13. Defeat the monsters inside the Queen.
14. Defeat Aruhamel.
15. Receive permission to enter SkyTower.
16. Clear Daisy's field.
18. Talk to the guard outside Namanda.
19. Defeat Paladin.
20. Defeat Guardian.
21. Acquire the Great Bird.
22. Talk to Claris.
23. Acquire ThvsTomd's treasure.
24. Recruit Seny.
25. Defeat Necroman.
26. Incorrectly answer the guard's question in Evrai.
27. Defeating (spoiler).
28. Trigger the trap in Evrai
29. Recruit Solo the Earth Shaman
30. Defeat Guardeyes.
31. Recruit Shin.

GOOD ENDING CONDITIONS:
1) Visit the Well
2) Talk to Eichichi/Gigi Kapp in Guntz (find a hidden stairwell in the upper building—she'll be hidden by the foreground in the room below)
3) Save Ganer in Evrai
4) Visit the Well again

HABALK/BABARUKU[sic] AI:
If at exactly 0 or 256 (max): 75% to Drain AP on the character with the highest current AP
Otherwise, if the party leader has at least 625 HP: AoEs (31.25%), Buffs (25%), Debuffs (12.5%), Healing (31.25%)
Otherwise, AoEs (56.25%) or Debuffs (44.75%)

AoEs: Bolt X/Valhalla, Hail/Blizzard, Fireball/Inferno, Missile/Sirocco
Debuffs: Hush/Silence, Def-Down/Weaken, Pwr.Down/Blunt, Ag-Down/Slow
Buffs: Def-Up/Protect, Shield/Barrier
Healing: Cure 2/Rejuvinate, Cure 4/Restore, Sap/Drain (targets HP), Drain/Leech Power (targets AP)

The current AP condition is a bug. The condition is intended to be “if at most 12.5% AP”, but this check is done in 8-bit mode.

The HP threshold is probably meant to apply to Habalk/Babaruku[sic], not the party leader. In fact, there are two more thresholds, but the highest HP any party member can have is 828. The intended attacks at higher HP are:

1875 HP or higher: AoEs (50%), Debuffs (25%), Buffs (25%)
1250-1874 HP: AoEs (37.5%), Debuffs (25%), Buffs (25%), Healing (12.5%)
625-1249 HP: AoEs (31.25%), Buffs (25%), Debuffs (12.5%), Healing (31.25%)
Less than 625 HP: AoEs (56.25%) or Debuffs (44.75%)

THE ROUTE:
Township:
—CHANGE PARTY: Make a Ryu/Sten/Aspara/Nina party
Visit the well to unlock the good ending!
Snag the Wisdom Fruit from the middle building
Warp to Gate for scenes!
Enter Abyss Tower from the left and cast Exit (recruit Synne, if you wish)
Warp to Kotto to talk to dude
Warp to Township & meet Patty in the middle room on 2nd floor of PC Chat building
Warp to Gate

---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Habalk (2500 HP): (Defensive)
Turn 1: Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, while Aspara & Rand use Wisdom Seeds on him
Turn 2: Same as Turn 1, except Sten heals as needed (use Moon Drops or Hardtack/Biscuit, if an AoE was used last round)
Turn 3: Ryu finishes with Kaiser Dragon, while Sten heals as needed
---------------------------------------------------------

[Fionordequester]

The next video is almost here—in the meantime, have the final set of party chats!

PARTY CHAT (Patty & Halk):

Bosch: Feels like we're moving into the endgame now... Whatever's lurking behind that dragon, god or devil, I know you can handle it!

You know, Bosch, at LVL 33, is actually a really good choice for a final party member—if you didn't pick the cooking carpenter. He learns Vitalize then, which heals 120 HP to your whole party.

Sadly, he's obsolete if you DID pick that carpenter.

Rand: The world beyond the gate... All right, let's move out! This one's for all the marbles!

This basically means "putting it all on the line". Ryu and friends have everything to gain, and everything to lose.

Lin: I'll do everything I can to help! ...The sooner we get this over with, the better. No one else should have to suffer because of these maniacs...

Nina: I wonder where the Church of Eva priest in Gate stands in all this. He may be simply another blinded fool like the rest, but I can't help but wonder...

Sten: It gives me the shivers to imagine what might be lurking behind those gates... Swarms of foul beasts...like locusts...

Tapeta: Why does not the priest understand that our enemy is not the dragon? C'est incomprehensible...

Aspara: I heard that the dragon in the town of Gate saved the village from a monster attack over a decade ago. Why would they now be trying to destroy it?...

Probably one of the memories Alzheimer wiped.

Deis (in the lobby): This is the end of the line, people! Only thing left to do now is to get down there and kick some ass! Gahahaha!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PARTY CHAT (Final Voyage):

Deis (in the lobby): [Same as before]

Bosch: I'll go anywhere you want to take me, as long as you can call me 'partner'!

Rand: I understand how the Dragonbrood must've felt. 'With great power comes great responsibility' and all that...

Lin: Even an idiot like me can lend the Fated Child a helping hand! ...Right, Ryu?

The fact Lin thinks of herself that way hurts my heart

Sten: Whatever happens, we have no choice any more but to push onwards!

Tapeta: It is the happiest thing I have ever done, to see the Fated Child through his venerable mission. Merci beaucoup.

Aspara: In my travels with you, I believe I have discovered something... I find hard to explain. When our final battle has concluded, I believe you, too, will understand...

Ryu vs Aspara! Coming to you live, on Pay-Per-View!

Nina: I shall bind my fate to yours, Ryu. And together, we shall see that the destiny of this world is a bright one!

Loyalty, or a declaration of love? You decided!

[Fionordequester]

In any case, welcome to the final dungeon! Whoisthisgit calls it one of the worst final levels in video game history—but is it really? Find out, today!



Part 29: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Crooked Ladder (Infinity/Abyss Tower)

THUMBNAIL ART BY:
The cover of "Pandemonium: Devourer of the Lost" (by "Derek Edgington"). This is a cropped version of the full cover.

WARNING:
The overlays for the Bighands and Wraith Guards are slightly off, regarding their AI and attacks. Find them this description, instead.

RE: "I INVENTED THIS SPEED RUN STRAT" STATEMENT:
My memory was a bit self-serving—the truth is that it was a team effort. A GameFAQs member called "DrugsRBad" discovered that dead PCs did not add to your run chance. I realized the possibilities of that—so I made a test video to confirm that it was true. It was! My Djinni Sten could run from enemies with near impunity!

I brought up the idea to Xujhan (the main Glitchless runner), who then battle-tested the strat. He found that Devil Lin would often outrun things even at LVL 17, hence...the strat! See our conversation, here:

https://lpix.org/4159360/Screenshot.png

WISDOM FRUIT RECIPE (have at least two before the final dungeon):

x2 Stamina Ups + x2 Tunas (If you got Daiye)
SprRib/Sirloin + Fire Spice + x2 Vtmns/Sacred Dews (If you don't have Daiye)

Sirloin is earned by killing a Grizzly Bear in a hunting spot—I recommend fusing Saynie + Synne to Bosch to create Robo Bosch. He has great range, and a fast enough rate of fire to stun-lock the animals you hunt (though you don't want to mash too fast or too slow).

Fire Spices are buyable from Guntz (x2 Fire Spices + x2 Tunas = Stamina). Vtmns/Sacred Dews are buyable from every early-game shop, up to SimaFort/Fort Nageur.

THE RUN FORMULA:
Subtract the average enemy Vigor from that of every living PC, and you'll get these run chances...

-33 or less: 8/64
-32 to -9: 10/64
-8 to -1: 16/64
0 to 7: 22/64
8 to 15: 28/64
16-31: 32/64
32-55: 36/64 (where Solo Djinni Sten is)
56-95: 40/64 (where Djinni Sten + Devil Lin would have been)
96-143: 44/64 (where Devil Lin might have reached)
144-199: 48/64
200-255: 52/64
256-511: 30/64 (*shrug*)

Check your current HP, and see if it's more than 70% of your max HP:

more than 70% HP: x1.0
70% or less: x1.4

Finally, you will gain an additional multiplier (or penalty) depending on where the internal clock was at (viewable via Address $CAC, in RAM Watch on your emulator of choice). Take this graph...

0-3: 32
4-7: 32
8-11: 96
12-15: 96
16-19: 160
20-23: 224
24-27: 160
28-31: 96

And then add it to the average Luck of everyone in your party. Compare the result to this chart here:

0: x0.95 (will only happen if you're Cursed)
1-63: x1.0 (Will not realistically happen, with the party in this video)
64-127: x1.05
128-191: x1.1
192-255: x1.3

Unfortunately, there's not a precise way of observing this on console—but a similar process is used for determining what each character's Condition is. Check Ryu's Condition, and see if he's in Super/Great. If he is, you'll be guaranteed the 10% or 30% boost, with my party—otherwise, it's a crapshoot. With Djinni Sten + Devil Lin alive, and nobody else, that's a 96-100% chance of running away from every single enemy, besides the Ganymedes & Charons.

MONSTER AI:
Humus/Hypnos (Weak to Holy; Halved damage from most else):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%), SwtBrth/Dream Breath (12.5%), or Death (12.5%; Never has enough AP)

Bighand (Weak to Fire; Resists Ice; Moderately weak to status ailments):
75% to Attack Twice
Otherwise, 1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack Once or Def-Down/Weaken

G.Rider/Cavalrider (50% Critical Hits; Weak to Holy & Fire):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%) or Death (25%)

Racegude/Wraith Guard (Weak to Holy; Halved damage from most else; Immune to Status Ailments):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, cast a spell with probability 17/256 (if over 50% HP), 33/256 (if over 25% and at most 50%), 65/256 (if over 12.5% and at most 25%), or 129/256 (if 12.5% HP or under)
Otherwise Attack
Spell List: Sap/Drain (Steal HP) or Drain/Leech Power (Steal AP)

Ganymede (Always goes first; Full immunity to all spells—but not weapons or items):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (50%), Cure 2/Rejuvenate (12.5%), Atk-Up/Might (12.5%), Def-Up/Protect (12.5%), or Hush/Silence (12.5%)

Daedalus (Always goes last; Immune to Status Ailments):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, with probability 100% (turn 1), 62.5% (turn 2), 25% (turn 3), or 0% (turn 4+), Atk-Up/Might
Otherwise attack

[Note that in a lead-off attack, the first enemy action occurs on turn 2. As with all enemies who target one of their allies with a spell, if the intended target of Atk-Up/Might is dead, Dadelous will instead attack a random party member.]

Ifeleet/Ifrit (Weak to Ice; Resists Fire):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (25%), Fire Breath (56.25%), or Fireball/Inferno (18.75%)

Evil Dragon (Weak to Wind):
75% to Attack Twice
Otherwise, 1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (50%), Fire Breath (25%), or Curse (25%)

Skeleton (Weak to Holy & Fire; Full Immunity to all spells—but not weapons or items):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (50%), Poison Attack (25%), or Zombie Attack (25%)

Dragoon (50% Critical Hits; Weak to Ice; Resists Fire):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (25%) or Fire Breath (75%)

Carm/Charon (50% Critical Hits; Weak to Holy; Halved damage from most else):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%), Freeze/Iceblast (12.5%), or Hail/Blizzard (12.5%)

Conch/Zircon Shell (Weak to Lightning; Full Immunity to all spells—but not weapons or items):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%) or Def-Down/Weaken (12.5%)

Magicmas/Magic Master (50% Critical Hits; Weak to Wind):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%), Typhoon (12.5%), Fireball/Inferno (6.25%), or Hail/Blizzard (6.25%)

Dark Paladin:
If any monster is under 75% HP, Cure 4/Restore on whoever's most hurt. If there is a tie, choose the last monster slot among those qualifying. If no AP, attack instead.
Otherwise, 1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack or Hush/Silence

Amom/Ammon (Weak to Wind):
75% to Attack Twice
Otherwise, 1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (25%) or Typhoon (75%)

-----------------------------------------

THE ROUTE:
Newhaven:
—Buy a weapon for Ryu so you can remove the Emperor's Edge

Township:
Re-do Djinni Sten and create Devil Lin with Synne
Find a Wisdom Fruit in the middle house
—Cook another Wisdom Fruit if this doesn't bring you up to two—or don't. It's not essential.
Warp to Gate

Gate:
—CHANGE PARTY: Ryu/Rand/Lin/Sten
—EQUIP: Speed Shoes + Speed Suit + all your mightiest armor on Sten. Equip Tiara + all Vigor boosters to Lin, or the weakest armor you have (depending on if you allow optional fusions). Equip the weakest armor you have on Ryu & Rand.

Infinity/Abyss Tower, Part 1:
Slay Ryu & Rand (and Lin, if you're banning optional fusions).
Collect the Shiny Helm, Shadowstitch, & Final Blow on your way down
—Get the DreamBR/Hell Brace, if you plan to solo the semi-final boss.
Flee from every random encounter, except for those with Ganymedes—possibly Bighands, Evil Dragons, & x2 Cavalriders too, if you want to be safe.
—Ganymede Swarm: Use Emperor's Edge to ORKO
—Ganymede + Daedalus: Switch
—Bighands, Evil Dragons, or x2 Cavalriders: Switch if you want to be safe—you're not reaching 100% Flee rates unless the game's internal clock was in the right spot before entering. These foes can do enough damage in one round to undo your fusion. x1 Cavalrider can be OHKOed via Ares Shield + Sten Attack (w/Crimson Dirk/BananaDR equipped).

Dologany/Dragnier:
AVOID TALKING TO MEN WITH ORANGE HAIR!
—SELL: Vitamins, Restoratives, Ammonias, Blast Fist, Holy Tears, Ice Shield, Earth Armor, Fire Spices, Crimson Dirk, Rainbow Robe, Circlet, & Bare Knuckle
—BUY: Vitamin & Ammonia stacks till you have 9 open slots left.

Infinity/Abyss Tower, Part 2:
Avoid Infinity for now—that will undo fusions, and we can death warp here later.
Get Riot Staff, Dragon Armor, & Dragon Sword on the way to the dark room
—Switch out Charons & Ammons—maybe Dragoons for safety.
Do your equipment swapping outside the dark room, lest you risk crashing your game :\ ...

---

Kept you waiting, eh? Well, here's the fated rematch with Barbaroi, at last! Who will come out on top this time? Find out, today!



Part 30: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Nightmare (Barbaroi: Team & Solo)

LEFT PART OF THUMBNAIL ART BY: Unknown Artist
RIGHT PART OF THUMBNAIL ART BY: 「せいはち」
せいはち's ART GALLERY: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/3498832/illustrations
Special thanks for giving me permission to use it!

BARBAROI AI (16%, 31%, or 47% Counter-Attacks, depending on HP thresholds. Also increases its attacking, according to these same thresholds):

Code:

Attack All (50%)
Fire Breath (25%)
Ice Breath (12.5%)
Bolt X/Valhalla (12.5%)

2500 HP or higher: 380 Attack & 16% Counter-Attacks
1250-2499 HP: 473 Attack & 31% Counter-Attacks
1249 HP or less:  511 Attack & 47% Counter-Attacks

Round 1 ends after 1250 Damage. Barbaroi then starts the next with 5000 HP (if you fight him as a team) or 3750 HP (if you fight him alone).

Barbaroi was also supposed to have a 12.5%, 25%, or 37.5% chance to score Critical Hits, according to the HP thresholds... But you cannot crit on either Attack Alls or Counter-Attacks. Thus, the boost is effectively dummied out.

EXTRACT/RESTORATIVE RECIPE:
x2 HelpBLs/Vitamins (available in every Item Shop)

WISDOM FRUIT RECIPE (I forgot about the Sirloin recipe, at the time I made the video slides):
x2 Stamina Ups + x2 Tunas (If you got Daiye)
SprRib/Sirloin + Fire Spice + x2 Vtmns/Sacred Dews (If you don't have Daiye)

Sirloin is earned by killing a Grizzly Bear in a hunting spot—I recommend fusing Saynie + Synne to Bosch to create Robo Bosch. He has great range, and a fast enough rate of fire to stun-lock the animals you hunt (though you don't want to mash too fast or too slow).

Fire Spices are buyable from Guntz (x2 Fire Spices + x2 Tunas = Stamina). Vtmns/Sacred Dews are buyable from every early-game shop, up to SimaFort/Fort Nageur.

You could also fish out Tunas from many mid-late game locations, but I wouldn't recommend it—too much hassle.

-----------------------------------------

THE ROUTE:

EQUIPMENT SETUP (Team Fight): Two pieces of Thunder resistance to Lin, as well as one piece to Ryu & Sten. Make sure Ryu can switch between having at least 90 Vigor, and having less than that.

EQUIPMENT SETUP (Solo Fight): Make sure Ryu has a Dream/Hell Brace equipped—this sometimes nullifies Bolt X/Valhalla. Make sure he can switch between having at least 90 Vigor, and having less than that.

ITEMS WANTED (Solo Fight): x45 HelpBLs/Vitamins, x1 Biscuit/Hardtack, & as many Extracts/Restoratives as possible.
---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Barbaroi, Round 1 (1250 HP): (Defensive, then Normal)
Turn 1: Buff Ryu while using Emperor Edge (Lin & Sten), Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Seed
Turn 2: Two Wisdom Seeds on Ryu, while he Attacks in Normal Formation.
---------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Barbaroi, as a Team (5000 HP): (Defensive)
Turn 1: Speedy pair use Emperor Edge while healing all, Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Seed
Turn 2: Speedy pair uses a Wisdom Seed while healing all, Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Seed.
Turn 3: Speedy pair use Emperor Edge while healing all, Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Fruit
Turn 4: Speedy pair use Emperor Edge while healing all, Ryu equips Life Armor before using Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Fruit
Turn 5: Speedy pair heal Ryu & Rand with Vitamins, Ryu uses Kaiser Dragon, Rand uses Wisdom Fruit. Make sure
Turn 6: Make sure Sten & Lin are unfused. Ryu puts the Dragon Armor back on, then finishes with one last Kaiser Dragon!
---------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Barbaroi, in a one-on-one (3750 HP):
Strategy: Get off a Kaiser Dragon at the start, then equip the Medusa/Ares Shield and use a Biscuit/Hardtack for boosted defense. Use HelpBLs/Vitamins to heal off Breath Attacks and Unboosted Melee Attacks—Use Extracts/Restoratives to heal off Boosted Attacks & Bolt X/Valhalla. Keep healing until you either dodge a Melee Attack or nullify a Bolt X/Valhalla, then restore your AP and/or use another Kaiser Dragon. Repeat until dead (swap to heavier armor for one turn before the 2nd & 3rd Kaiser Dragons—this way you take less melee damage).
---------------------------------------------------------

Aftermath:
—Lin smashes the hidden boulder to her right, Sten gets you across a gap in the invisible pathway, then you collect the Life Brace!
—Go into the next room and save.

[Fionordequester]

And sure enough, here's the last bonus episode—the flashback sequence we skipped in Part 29! After this will be the final boss himself!



Bonus #8: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Valerie (Ryu's Mother)

CLARIFICATION ON THE "POORLY IMPLEMENTED" COMMENT:

I've always thought this flashback would've made more sense while Ryu was actually talking to Valerie... Perhaps just after she had reverted from her dragon form. It wouldn't have been missable, it would've been more directly relevant to what was happening on-screen, and it also would've explained why it was being narrated in the 1st-person... Though it also may've dragged out the scene for too long.

I don't know. I just always found it a bit jank, the way it just pops out of nowhere, then spends 12 minutes on mostly known information (the only real revelation being that the dragon of Gate was Ryu's mother...which was already pretty heavily implied anyway).

OTHER QUESTION:

This could be me taking things too literally, but... I was also confused by the stated objective of "Watch for signs that the Dark God may be awakening", as Valerie states in 2:10. It implies that she's going to investigate and report back what she finds... But there's such an air of finality to the goodbyes, like they're not expecting to see her again. She never goes back to visit, either...

It seems like it would've been simpler to just directly state "the seal's gonna start breaking any day now. Go out there, wait for however long that takes, then stand guard once it does".
That is what she ends up doing anyway...

THE ROUTE:

Dragnier:
Talk to the orange man in Dragnier's lower-right house, then walk out to become Valerie.
Go down to the lower floor, enter its rightmost house, then talk to the old woman.
Go back in the house Ryu was in to move on.

Gate:
Go down to the village, then enter the lower-left church for the next cutscene.
Go back inside the house, go upstairs to talk to Ryu, then go back downstairs for the next cutscene.
Go all the way back up to the sealed door, then go through the last cutscene.