SE really?! really 99 cap boss this hard?!?!

[Alkimi]

Won with MNK BLU THFx2 RDM WHM, used one weakening item. Hardly a 'zerg setup' and it was close but we still won.

MNK died from back to back Asuran fists at about 30%. One THF died to hundred fists, remaining one used perfect dodge but died once it wore off. Kited it for a bit on RDM (Moves at normal speed and Horlais Peak is massive) until we could finish it off.

[Kincard]

At least on NIN, an evasion set really won't do you any good. Even ignoring his high accuracy, the real problem is that he can down you with chain-using victory smite or asuran fists.

[Unctgtg]

We won last night Standard xp set up. (that's old school style). Drk, bst, pld, whm, rdm, blm. No special items. Just put enspells on, and went to town, I had to stun after WSs, and had to watch my hate. Multihit WSs do the best on him.

[Finuve]

we won first try DRK PLD WHM SMN THF THF

we had one rarab tail, popped it during hundred fists then I stunned and everyone WSed, knocked a lot off there

besides that it was just a normal fight, two quick deaths when the taru turned and got a good WS off on someone other than the PLD but other than that it was a very easy fight

[Aleste]

1/1'd it as PLD/DRK, WHM/BLM, MNK/WAR, BRD/WHM, SCH/RDM (me) without weakening items... seriously, people are having trouble with this?

Wasted more time in sky farming the damn seasoning stone...

[Ravenmore]

People are forgetting how great stun can be thats all and the more people with stuin helps this fight.

[Zarchery]

I remember the Chains of Promathia missions back during the level cap days were sorta hard. Promyvion, Snoll Tzar, Mithran Trackers, Airship. I was fortunate that I had a linkshell full of trusted friends who I could rely on to farm the items needed for the fight, to show up for a scheduled fight, and to bring their "A" game to the fight. The end result was that the fights were challenging but still fun. We had 6 good players every time, and the confidence that if we lost, we could try again later.

But back in the capped CoP days, you pretty much had to have a static like I did to make any progress. Back then, you had thousands of people who were forced to rely on unreliable pickup groups, and just gave up on CoP while others got through because they were lucky enough to have the connections. You even had what you have now, people boasting about how "easy" the CoP fights were when really all they had was a combination of luck and great team unity.

I think people who call this an easy fight (when not being disingenuous because they used some gimmicky setup) aren't grasping the fact that a party fight is like a chain, and only as strong as its weakest link. I may be a great player who has good gear and didn't microwave my job through Abyssea leeching in a few days, but that doesn't matter unless the other 5 guys are too.

Also come on. It should be a challenge? Gimme a break. We're talking about breaking the level cap here, not getting a damn Mythic weapon. Maat is at least excusable because with him the entire success or failure of the fight is dependent upon you.

[Finuve]

I went on DRK and my group one, the fight is easy

[Zarchery]

I went on DRK and my group one, the fight is easy

Where did you get your group from?

[Mirabelle]

I think people who call this an easy fight (when not being disingenuous because they used some gimmicky setup) aren't grasping the fact that a party fight is like a chain, and only as strong as its weakest link. I may be a great player who has good gear and didn't microwave my job through Abyssea leeching in a few days, but that doesn't matter unless the other 5 guys are too.

Also come on. It should be a challenge? Gimme a break. We're talking about breaking the level cap here, not getting a damn Mythic weapon. Maat is at least excusable because with him the entire success or failure of the fight is dependent upon you.

Agree with this post. I did this fight with LS mates and tried with a conventional setup of Healers, PLD tank, Support, DD and failed several times despite the group having good gear and knowing their jobs. Then decided to go to a setup of SMN, MNK, MNK, THF, BLU, WHM and used PD, hundred fists then olde rarab tail/sudden lunge to finish him off. Went 1/1 with the unconventional setup.
Can't see how a pickup group of average jobs is going to easily win this fight.

And the big problem with a group fight over a solo fight is that a few bad members will kill you in this fight whereas a solo fight means only you are responsible for the outcome.

In the end I see this eventually coming down to people getting merc'd through it by Alexander wielding SMN and a few MNKs as this seems to be the most consistent way to get a win. While there seems to be some other ways to beat him, the playerbase usually settles on the most reliable and it becomes very much like the ACP fight a few years back.