Easy Mode/ Story Mode For Stages 25, 30, and 31

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FireMage

And you should be in this case. There's nothing wrong with the Carnivale fights, the issue is you

---

Ok, I am doing everything people say, like making sure Azulmagia is not in the center so that there is a safe space to go to when he casts Meteor, and yet I still end up dying to his follow ups like Plaincracker. I seriously cannot understand what I am doing wrong.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

I think you misunderstood

---

Dont argue, he will just continue with bad arguments.

And in a story driven game, story must be prioritized, so if content is blocking progress through difficulty, that must be resolved. Seperating the hard content is on that generaly the best since it doesnt remove anything except an anoying blockade.

You dont even need to compare with elden ring, its a totaly diffirent game design.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Ok, I am doing everything people say, like making sure Azulmagia is not in the center so that there is a safe space to go to when he casts Meteor, and yet I still end up dying to his follow ups like Plaincracker. I seriously cannot understand what I am doing wrong.

---

By getting hit by things you shouldn't be. Duh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Ok, I am doing everything people say, like making sure Azulmagia is not in the center so that there is a safe space to go to when he casts Meteor, and yet I still end up dying to his follow ups like Plaincracker. I seriously cannot understand what I am doing wrong.

---

Since you mention Meteor, you're pretty much at the last part of the fight.

It's more about making sure you're standing near the edge of the arena, in between two of the Charybdis AoEs, by the time he starts casting Web. Once he starts casting Meteor, simply use Loom to teleport out of the Meteor AoE (you might have to cast Loom twice). This makes it so the lingering Meteor AoE covers as little of the arena as possible, giving you more room to dodge any abilities cast after it.

Alternatively, you can use Diamondback to soak the Meteor damage. You could even throw on Mighty Guard beforehand, if you want to be extra safe about the damage taken. Afterwards just White Wind, or Pom Cure (with Healer Aetheric Mimicry).

Also keep in mind that he switches between Physical or Magical Deflection (Repelling Spray/Ice Spikes) after each Meteor cast, so make sure to swap to a correct spell type based on his current buff.
Edit: Another thing to keep in mind, is that abilities that kill you (Final Sting etc.) won't cause you to fail the duty, as long as it also kills the boss. A simple combo of Moon Flute -> Whistle -> Final Sting, or Moon Flute -> Bristle -> Self-destruct (even better with Toad Oil up) will let you finish the fight a lot sooner. Just make sure to have his health low enough, and to not cast the combo with the damage type that he's currently deflecting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UkcsAlias

Dont argue, he will just continue with bad arguments.

And in a story driven game, story must be prioritized, so if content is blocking progress through difficulty, that must be resolved. Seperating the hard content is on that generaly the best since it doesnt remove anything except an anoying blockade.

You dont even need to compare with elden ring, its a totaly diffirent game design.

---

This is a completely optional side story, for a completely optional job that has content tailored to it. And this content isn't even that hard, especially Azulmagia. You can do this fight with literally three spells. A magic spell, a physical spell, and Loom. There's no auto-attack damage to worry about. I don't think the fight even has an enrage timer, so you have the full 30 min instance timer to just play it completely safe and prioritizing moving out of AoEs over dealing as much damage as possible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nezerius

Since you mention Meteor, you're pretty much at the last part of the fight.

It's more about making sure you're standing near the edge of the arena, in between two of the Charybdis AoEs, by the time he starts casting Web. Once he starts casting Meteor, simply use Loom to teleport out of the Meteor AoE (you might have to cast Loom twice). This makes it so the lingering Meteor AoE covers as little of the arena as possible, giving you more room to dodge any abilities cast after it.

Alternatively, you can use Diamondback to soak the Meteor damage. You could even throw on Mighty Guard beforehand, if you want to be extra safe about the damage taken. Afterwards just White Wind, or Pom Cure (with Healer Aetheric Mimicry).

Also keep in mind that he switches between Physical or Magical Deflection (Repelling Spray/Ice Spikes) after each Meteor cast, so make sure to swap to a correct spell type based on his current buff.
Edit: Another thing to keep in mind, is that abilities that kill you (Final Sting etc.) won't cause you to fail the duty, as long as it also kills the boss. A simple combo of Moon Flute -> Whistle -> Final Sting, or Moon Flute -> Bristle -> Self-destruct (even better with Toad Oil up) will let you finish the fight a lot sooner. Just make sure to have his health low enough, and to not cast the combo with the damage type that he's currently deflecting.


This is a completely optional side story, for a completely optional job that has content tailored to it. And this content isn't even that hard, especially Azulmagia. You can do this fight with literally three spells. A magic spell, a physical spell, and Loom. There's no auto-attack damage to worry about. I don't think the fight even has an enrage timer, so you have the full 30 min instance timer to just play it completely safe and prioritizing moving out of AoEs over dealing as much damage as possible.

---

Basically, I am doing exactly what you say, using Diamondback to avoid Meteor damage. The biggest problem I am having is the Plaincracker part, as both the Charybis and the smaller arena makes finding a safe spot harder.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Basically, I am doing exactly what you say, using Diamondback to avoid Meteor damage. The biggest problem I am having is the Plaincracker part, as both the Charybis and the smaller arena makes finding a safe spot harder.

---

Plaincracker is just an expanding aoe. You run away from the boss, wait for first circle, then run into it.

I have to ask, what control scheme are you using and have you spent any real time optimizing your UI and hotbars? When I started back at 2.0 launch I often had trouble doing Duties and Trials. At the time I was using a standard keyboard and mouse, pressing the number keys to access my skills/abilities. I eventually got an MMO type mouse just to try it out and within a few hours of practice it was like I had been handed god level powers. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy an MMO mouse, or switch to/from controller/PC/Console or anything like that. I am suggesting that it may not be you, or the Duty that is at issue but your input method or its configuration. For a game that offers as much customization for input as XIV does on both PC and console I observe very few people bothering with it, nor do they consider that it could be their core issue. People spend so much time fussing over every little thing in the game but run default hotbars or literally hunt and click their abilities with the e-waste mouse their PC came with all the while complaining the game is too hard. Not implying this is the case here so please do not take offence, but do consider optimizing your input method and/or hotbars if you haven't. It can make just enough of a difference in many cases if not totally revolutionize the game for you. Whatever you do just make sure it works FOR YOU. Everyone is different and we all benefit differently from different things.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arrhin

I have to ask, what control scheme are you using and have you spent any real time optimizing your UI and hotbars? When I started back at 2.0 launch I often had trouble doing Duties and Trials. At the time I was using a standard keyboard and mouse, pressing the number keys to access my skills/abilities. I eventually got an MMO type mouse just to try it out and within a few hours of practice it was like I had been handed god level powers. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy an MMO mouse, or switch to/from controller/PC/Console or anything like that. I am suggesting that it may not be you, or the Duty that is at issue but your input method or its configuration. For a game that offers as much customization for input as XIV does on both PC and console I observe very few people bothering with it, nor do they consider that it could be their core issue. People spend so much time fussing over every little thing in the game but run default hotbars or literally hunt and click their abilities with the e-waste mouse their PC came with all the while complaining the game is too hard. Not implying this is the case here so please do not take offence, but do consider optimizing your input method and/or hotbars if you haven't. It can make just enough of a difference in many cases if not totally revolutionize the game for you. Whatever you do just make sure it works FOR YOU. Everyone is different and we all benefit differently from different things.

---

I'm on PS4 and use controller, with the Cross Hotbar, with hotbars accessed by R2, L2, R2+L2, and L2+R2, giving me a total of 32 Action Buttons.

No joke the time you spent making this thread responding to it could have been spent progressing through the challenge you are facing.

I do believe keep at it and you will get it.

Honestly, just lowering the (visual) height of the Charybdis would help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

So, basically, unlike every other Job, if I can't do it I just can forget about progressing the story?

---

Yes.

And they are allowed to do that because it's a limited class.

I'm glad you understand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

I'm on PS4 and use controller, with the Cross Hotbar, with hotbars accessed by R2, L2, R2+L2, and L2+R2, giving me a total of 32 Action Buttons.

---

You have more than that. You have 10 of them, giving you 320, in addition to the default 8.


Okay, now, lets be serious about this, here

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...DDUZzklPXM954N

Guides on how to win against them with the fewest and weakest spells in the game.

General guides on blue mage

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...vwOm8no0CfXNRB

and stage by stage guides

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...RLaw3geFRJ0Okz

Goodluck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICountFrom0

You have more than that. You have 10 of them, giving you 320, in addition to the default 8.

---

Um, as I said play on controller, not keyboard and mouse. With R2 and L2 giving me access to CHB 1 (16 buttons) and R2+L2 and L2+R2 giving me access to CHB 3 (an additional 16 buttons, adding up to 32), with CHB 2 being used for universal actions like mounts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Um, as I said play on controller, not keyboard and mouse. With R2 and L2 giving me access to CHB 1 (16 buttons) and R2+L2 and L2+R2 giving me access to CHB 3 (an additional 16 buttons, adding up to 32), with CHB 2 being used for universal actions like mounts.

---

There's also a further extended hotbar by double tapping R2 or L2 for another 16.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

That is your opinion.

---

Only to some extent. Difficulty does have some aspects of objective, empirical measurement (such as time between mechanics, duration of those mechanics, penalties for errors on mechanics, and so on) and Masked Carnivale is pretty far down on that totem pole. It only seems difficult because the baseline difficulty of normals and MSQ content is so absurdly low, in that there are virtually no meaningful punishments for errors (even the twiggiest of DPS classes can easily soak multiple non-essential AOEs in normals before getting enough vuln stacks that the next one kills them.)

You have somewhat less room for error in the toughest encounters in Masked Carnivale, but still more than you'd have in a typical Ex. Most mechanics are one of two groups - it is a specific gimmick that must be performed, and is trivial once you understand what it is they want you to do; or failure is just taking additional damage or being affected by a debuff of some sort, which may or may not scrap the run. For the former, it's literally just identifying the gimmick. For the latter, you can often just Diamondback or even Pom Cure spam through it, or use Exuviation to cleanse the debuffs.

Charybdis is a pain in the ass and creates a lot of visual noise but you should still be able to identify a very clear ring denoting its active AOE. Once you've seen it enough times you'll be able to intuit where safe spots will be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Darkstride

There's also a further extended hotbar by double tapping R2 or L2 for another 16.

---

I can never get that to reliably work, unfortunately.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FireMage

Or you could git gud

---

Yes. But also no. With all the nerfs and trust and super easy story modes... i just dont see why even bothering... the true blue achievements are locked behind synced savage anyways...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kuroka

Yes. But also no.

---

Yes, but also yes, is the correct answer. Game has had enough casualization as it is

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Um, as I said play on controller, not keyboard and mouse. With R2 and L2 giving me access to CHB 1 (16 buttons) and R2+L2 and L2+R2 giving me access to CHB 3 (an additional 16 buttons, adding up to 32), with CHB 2 being used for universal actions like mounts.

---

Controller players get 10, there's even a "select hotbar" hotkey you can assign to any of the buttons on the controller. Try using L3 for it.

Just because you've not assigned them, don't mean they don't exist.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FireMage

Yes, but also yes, is the correct answer. Game has had enough casualization as it is

---

And what is wrong with casualization of solo content? How does this affect you? I think Blue Carnival should be like Raids, a normal mode (which is fairly easy), and a Savage mode (which is hard).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICountFrom0

Controller players get 10, there's even a "select hotbar" hotkey you can assign to any of the buttons on the controller. Try using L3 for it.

Just because you've not assigned them, don't mean they don't exist.

---

Let me rephrase then: with my setup I have quick and easy access to 32 buttons without having to switch to another set of hotbars.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

And what is wrong with casualization of solo content? How does this affect you? I think Blue Carnival should be like Raids, a normal mode (which is fairly easy), and a Savage mode (which is hard).

---

There’s little enough in the game that homer’s nodding bird couldn’t beat. Why should we be robbed of the satisfaction for solving/clearing it? Why even bother if the game plays itself? Why should every new player receive this trained helplessness and be woefully inadequate when encountering content that doesn’t immediately roll over?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fulminating

There’s little enough in the game that homer’s nodding bird couldn’t beat. Why should we be robbed of the satisfaction for solving/clearing it? Why even bother if the game plays itself? Why should every new player receive this trained helplessness and be woefully inadequate when encountering content that doesn’t immediately roll over?

---

All I'm asking is for it to be slightly more forgiving, not for it to be face roll. Why do people think anything easier equals face roll? Honestly, my biggest problem is my reaction time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

All I'm asking is for it to be slightly more forgiving, not for it to be face roll. Why do people think anything easier equals face roll? Honestly, my biggest problem is my reaction time.

---

Then work on your reaction time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

All I'm asking is for it to be slightly more forgiving, not for it to be face roll. Why do people think anything easier equals face roll? Honestly, my biggest problem is my reaction time.

---

Since I never got BLU that far, I'm not really versed in it. The only advice I can give since you seem to know the fight well enough, is to work on whatever "combo" BLU has, does it have one?? Optimize your cross hotbars for maximum efficiency -IN THIS FIGHT- Yes, sometimes you'll need to get this specific, it's why others mentioned the other 10 slots. Make sure your most used, important skills/abilities are grouped together and accessible. Make sure every action you perform is via muscle memory. With content of this type if you have to think you die. Those of us who have been or are in statics for progression content spent insane amounts of time committing this stuff to muscle memory. Hours spent tweaking hotbars and smacking training dummies. I remember when SCH still had sick DPS skills *eyes glass over*. I spent what felt like DAYS practicing my rotation so we could try to get past Foust in our A1S server first attempts. Sadly we failed, but not by much lol. And I was a walking murder healer after, I had no idea how much damage I could actually lay down prior to that since I never made it a priority. I just did the basics to get by while focusing on the healing aspects. Practice makes perfect! I hope this was in some way helpful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arrhin

Since I never got BLU that far, I'm not really versed in it. The only advice I can give since you seem to know the fight well enough, is to work on whatever "combo" BLU has, does it have one?? Optimize your cross hotbars for maximum efficiency -IN THIS FIGHT- Yes, sometimes you'll need to get this specific, it's why others mentioned the other 10 slots. Make sure your most used, important skills/abilities are grouped together and accessible. Make sure every action you perform is via muscle memory. With content of this type if you have to think you die. Those of us who have been or are in statics for progression content spent insane amounts of time committing this stuff to muscle memory. Hours spent tweaking hotbars and smacking training dummies. I remember when SCH still had sick DPS skills *eyes glass over*. I spent what felt like DAYS practicing my rotation so we could try to get past Foust in our A1S server first attempts. Sadly we failed, but not by much lol. And I was a walking murder healer after, I had no idea how much damage I could actually lay down prior to that since I never made it a priority. I just did the basics to get by while focusing on the healing aspects. Practice makes perfect! I hope this was in some way helpful.

---

It's more the reaction time of getting out of the spamming AOEs in the third act while not panicking because of the Charybdis.

It’s not what you asked for but it’s what we’ll receive. They only operate on monkey’s paw rules.

I found it helpful to start at the wall and overlap the aoes as much as possible, and to zoom out as much as I could while angling the camera down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

And what is wrong with casualization of solo content? How does this affect you? I think Blue Carnival should be like Raids, a normal mode (which is fairly easy), and a Savage mode (which is hard).

---

Casualization is the greatest evil to ever happen to gaming. There's nothing even hard in Carnivale

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gserpent

Then work on your reaction time.

---

There's nothing to even react to, it's a static fight

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Let me rephrase then: with my setup I have quick and easy access to 32 buttons without having to switch to another set of hotbars.

---

Given that blue mage has 20 spells that can be assigned, and less then 10 role abilities, they should all fit.
31 is for a mind potion
32 is for an elixir

Even IF you insist on making it harder on yourself by using 10% of the space you have, it all still FITS.

If you watch the vids, some of them he completes them with just WATER SPOUT.
Even the hard ones, in that other playlist, 4 spells, 5 tops.
You could do it in a SINGLE toolbar, if you'd watched it, if you'd listened to anything that people are trying to explain to you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICountFrom0

Given that blue mage has 20 spells that can be assigned, and less then 10 role abilities, they should all fit.
31 is for a mind potion
32 is for an elixir

Even IF you insist on making it harder on yourself by using 10% of the space you have, it all still FITS.

If you watch the vids, some of them he completes them with just WATER SPOUT.
Even the hard ones, in that other playlist, 4 spells, 5 tops.
You could do it in a SINGLE toolbar, if you'd watched it, if you'd listened to anything that people are trying to explain to you.

---

Uh, I think there was a mistake in communication, I was not saying I was lacking room to put spells/ actions in. In fact, what spells to use was never the problem I was having. Nor was knowing which spells to use when (like for example not using Sonic Boom when Repeling Spray is active and not using Abyssal Transfixion when Ice Spikes are active). It was trying get out of the AoEs in time on the last act.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FireMage

Casualization is the greatest evil to ever happen to gaming. There's nothing even hard in Carnivale

---

Are you serious? With all the monetization, loot boxes, and other crap to hit gaming, you think making things even slightly more forgiving is "the greatest evil to ever happen to gaming"?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Are you serious? With all the monetization, loot boxes, and other crap to hit gaming, you think making things even slightly more forgiving is "the greatest evil to ever happen to gaming"?

---

Yes. Yes it is. All the things you have listed are a direct consequence of gaming becoming mainstream. The money makers didn't care about videogames before. Inviting average Joes expanded the market exponentially and attracted the "businessmen" who only care about profits.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Azuri

Yes. Yes it is. All the things you have listed are a direct consequence of gaming becoming mainstream. The money makers didn't care about videogames before. Inviting average Joes expanded the market exponentially and attracted the "businessmen" who only care about profits.

---

There we go, the elitism, the idea that gaming needs to be an "exclusive club".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

Are you serious? With all the monetization, loot boxes, and other crap to hit gaming, you think making things even slightly more forgiving is "the greatest evil to ever happen to gaming"?

---

Casualization is the root of all of that

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Styrmwyda

There we go, the elitism, the idea that gaming needs to be an "exclusive club".

---

No, just one where if people want things they should earn them and not bring things down to their level. Rise up to the challenge, not bring it down to your level

Ok, I seriously am struggling on the last act. I have been doing everything the video guides have said. It always seems to be the part where he uses Plaincracker while Charybdis is active, specifically the overlapping AoEs. In the first act, it was fairly easy to find the safe spot, but in this act there is too much stuff on the screen. I wish it at least had checkpoints so I didn't have to start over at the beginning each time I died.

Like all problems, a dead enemy solves it

Well, finally was able to win it, by sheer luck it seems, as my strategies didn't change. So, still think they should at least allow us to start over at the start of each act.

You literally just proved that they don't need to change a thing. For all your gnashing of teeth and caterwauling, you followed a guide and got a clear. Congratulations.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Azulmagia is completely consistent and scripted, there is no randomnness to it. As someone else said, you can literally clear it with nothing more than a physical spell, a magic spell, and Loom. You just played slightly better on one attempt and got the clear.

The encounters themselves are at most a few minutes long, there is no need for checkpoints. Don't be such a baby about failures. Failures are opportunities to improve. Your impulse should be to seek out what you can/should do to get better, not demand things be made easier.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gserpent

You literally just proved that they don't need to change a thing. For all your gnashing of teeth and caterwauling, you followed a guide and got a clear. Congratulations.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Azulmagia is completely consistent and scripted, there is no randomnness to it. As someone else said, you can literally clear it with nothing more than a physical spell, a magic spell, and Loom. You just played slightly better on one attempt and got the clear.

The encounters themselves are at most a few minutes long, there is no need for checkpoints. Don't be such a baby about failures. Failures are opportunities to improve. Your impulse should be to seek out what you can/should do to get better, not demand things be made easier.

---

You must understand how frustrating it can be to keep on failing near the end despite following the guide, right (and this wasn't just a few tries and then I gave up, it was like 30 at a minimum, likely more)? And sometimes it felt like when he would cast Charybdis would be random, and until the last attempt I wasn't able to one shot him with the Moonflute + Whistle + Final Sting combo.

I wasn't very good at BLU when I started. And I'm still not good at it, but I got better by running 25,30,31 over and over until I cleared it. And it felt very rewarding to me when I cleared it. It was a nice diversion from the rest of the game. I know there's a lot more to BLU than just clearing those for the story ( I did it for the TT card) so there's much room for improvement still.