Patch 3.3 (Trailer) Discussion (2.x - 3.2 Spoilers)

[Matrinka]

The only difference being that he appears to draw aether from the eyes (due to them apparently being a nigh limitless source of aether) instead of the environment.
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I wonder if infusing the aether-eyes into Hydaelyn would bring back some of her strength.

[Alberel]

I don't recall him particularly caring when we killed Nidhogg the first time... Perhaps he knew Nidhogg would be back though, in which case... I really hate Midgardsormr...

I'm wondering about the actual chain of events at this point...

We start with Estinien on the bridge.
Then we have Nidhogg flying up doing his best Ifrit cosplay.
Then something happens in the sky...
Later it seems like the fight starts against Nidhogg.
Finally we get Estinien Deus Nidhogg...

So, what's that actual order there? I can perhaps see Nidfrit being a phase change to Estinien Deus Nidhogg, but I can also see that being his final defeat... I'm guessing we just wear him down though, we fight Nidhogg until he is overpowered, he flies up and turns into Estinien Deus Nidhogg, we beat him, then Estinien stands there giving the opening lines from the trailer ready for Alphinaud to run in and save him with the power of hugs... That sky really does strike me as too ominous to be a phase shift though...

There's also the question of how Hraesvelgr factors into everything. It's looking pretty clear that we're going to beg him for help and fight him to prove our worth (or knock some sense into him). Will he merelt give us the power to fight Nidhogg ourselves? Or will he show up and take part in the actual fight? Honestly I would love for it to be the latter, and have a phase in the fight where we fight alongside him much akin to the Promathia fight in XI.

I wonder if infusing the aether-eyes into Hydaelyn would bring back some of her strength.

Interesting point. What would happen to the aether released from the death of a dragon? It's worth noting that the dragons are originally from another world entirely, so would Hydaelyn be able to absorb that aether?

[PArcher]

I wonder...can someone with some artistic talent draw Derplander "fused" with Middy?

I am thinking this half-dragon transformation has more to do with him and the First Brood rather than Primals. I think you can see where I'm going with this assumption...

I don't recall him particularly caring when we killed Nidhogg the first time... Perhaps he knew Nidhogg would be back though, in which case... I really hate Midgardsormr...

Remember, he did make a comment about Nidhogg after he possessed Estinien in the Reactor (I'm not in-game, but its in the Journey). Also remember, he himself was "killed" and returned...

[Fenral]

That sky really does strike me as too ominous to be a phase shift though...

I was thinking "Didn't Griever do something like that?" but I found a video and the sky actually got lighter after Shockwave Pulsar...

Still, nothing says "This is The Last Battle" like special moves that affect the weather. Let's see how many times we can survive Safer Sephiroth destroying the sun...

[Balphagor_]

There's also the question of how Hraesvelgr factors into everything. It's looking pretty clear that we're going to beg him for help and fight him to prove our worth (or knock some sense into him). Will he merelt give us the power to fight Nidhogg ourselves? Or will he show up and take part in the actual fight? Honestly I would love for it to be the latter, and have a phase in the fight where we fight

Well we have seen that there is apparently a phase of the fight where we go against Nidhoggs minions, maybe at that stage Hresvalgr appears and they are circling the arena fighting, and maybe that is when he pulls out the fusion form to overpower his brother and then turns his attention back on us.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Let's see how many times we can survive Safer Sephiroth destroying the sun...

That's just him trolling you.

[DarthSanguine]

I wonder if infusing the aether-eyes into Hydaelyn would bring back some of her strength.

What, and have Nidhogg posess Hydaelyn? Are you insane!?

[Cilia]

It has everything to with resolve. You can't save someone if you expect you may have to kill them. That tiny bit of doubt allows despair to take root and grow until you decide it "must be done," whether or not that's truly the case. ("Manly resolve" was only meant as a jab at the Japanese script, where comparable phrases get thrown around right left and center, especially in Ishgard. I imagine Alphinaud is sick of it by now. I know I am.)

Ironically enough it was Hydaelyn Herself who gave us another way in the fight with Lahabrea-Thancred, and told us to stop listening to the cackling madman telling us there was no other way. Still betting on her being the "save everyone" goddess, she just needs to get her crap together. And fix her damn internet.

Resolve is important, but so too is looking at it from a different viewpoint.

While I am hopeful (believe, even) that there is a way to save Estinien, there may not be as well. We shouldn't just give up on saving him, but on the other hand, we have to accept we may be unable to. Letting (Estinien-)Nidhogg walk after the climactic Final Steps of Faith would be both a disservice to Ishgard and Estinien; we can't just let him roam free to continue terrorizing Ishgard, and if there is absolutely positively no way to free him, I would like to think Estinien would prefer the release of death to being used as Nidhogg's meat puppet. That too is salvation... after a fashion.

But still, I believe there is a way to save him proper. I just don't want to get caught off-guard again like during "The Parting Glass."

I was thinking "Didn't Griever do something like that?" but I found a video and the sky actually got lighter after Shockwave Pulsar...

I can't account for the swirly thing Alphinaud is shown during, but...

The sky seems perpetually dark and cloudy during the battle, as opposed to the normally sunny / snowy weather in Ishgard. However when Estinien-Nidhogg is shown readying and using his new super, the clouds have changed violet as per Nidhogg's "energy signature," such as it were.

Still, nothing says "This is The Last Battle" like special moves that affect the weather. Let's see how many times we can survive Safer Sephiroth destroying the sun...

That's just him trolling you.

Literally: despite the fact Supernova destroys about half the solar system and causes the sun to go... well, supernova, the attack can't actually kill you. It deals Gravity damage and inflicts negative status effects, but as a result of doing Gravity damage, you'll never die.

Yep, even if half the solar system is destroyed, the sun has gone supernova, and the Earth (Gaia?) is about half-destroyed by the time you get hit.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

Don't forget how he can destroy the universe over and over again with no ill effects.

[Cilia]

Don't forget how he can destroy the universe over and over again with no ill effects.

I thought that one was Ultimecia with her self-made Apocalypse spell...