Eureka: The Fine Print

[Hasrat]

Pyros. Good job. You toughed it out in Pagos and made it to where things can start getting a little more fun, maybe. As I heard/remember it, devs had already put most of the work into Pagos when Anemos was released, so they didn't have the chance to implement any of the feedback they got from the start until this zone. I'm... actually not entirely really sure what all that would've entailed at this point. And obviously by now it's not super important.

Most players find this zone a vast improvement over Pagos. And, it is, sure. My own assessment, tho, is there's way too many mobs here. Soon as you step out of the gate, it's just a nest of them. There aren't so many cliffs here, which is good, but the zone is still divided into icy exterior and fiery caves, with one path between them. Oddly, I found the south half far more punishing than the north, despite the south being the starter zone. As an example, just trying to navigate to the southern-most aetheryte is a harrowing experience, weaving around so many mobs. I'm pretty sure it's even technically possible to get aggro as soon as you teleport there, the mobs are so close. By comparison, the north feels much less restricted. Due to the fact that many of the cave mobs are sound aggro, once you can sneak your way into the cave entrance, you're fairly safe to explore the majority of the top section. I'm also only just realizing that the zone is still sorta a bit restrictive, with all the narrow paths used. Anemos, and even Pagos, mostly, was fairly open, but here, there are a lot of effective "bridges" connecting the various sections of the map.

Otherwise, the mechanics here are still largely the same as Pagos. Sight aggro (and True Sight, whatever that is; I think I've heard that it just means NIN can't get away with Stealth or something), sound aggro, magic aggro, mutations, adaptations, dragons. Mutated mobs still drop special coffers, with a minion, a chocobo barding, an emote, and Tactical logograms. From the looks of it, Tacticals only ever drop from these boxes (in both Pyros and Hydatos), so if you're farming, good to be aware of that.

On the subject of logograms (I'm not using this as a place for a guide on it, those already exist in better forms), it will be worth noting that you can get every type except Obscure here in Pyros. Nothing is really clear on that, and, since you can technically just buy them on the MB, the game can't really restrict you in any way. What this will mean is that newer players will be faced with the opportunity to unlock more logos actions than when the zone was first introduced. You can, technically, unlock every action immediately, if you buy enough ahead of time. It gets you a little bit further ahead than where you're expected to be. That is to say, don't stress too much about unlocking everything right away. You weren't meant to, and you don't really gain the full benefit until Hydatos anyway. But, it is pretty nice having it done.

Additional point, since I didn't find the whole "umbral array" thing very clear to begin with, the idea is that, if you set up a combination of logograms in each array that would give you a logos action, you'll have access to both actions at once. I was personally a little confused by the whole mix-n-match idea, but it really is just as simple as "want to cast 2 things instead of 1? Tada!"

Back to loot. Various mobs just drop various logograms. It's not really entirely worth trying to farm until you're leveled/geared up, really. Bunny boxes, bronze is mostly materia, and only difference between silver and gold seems to be the potential logograms. From both, you can get a new mount, new hairstyle, and new glamour horns. I'm not entirely certain what difference, if any, there is between running the two different bunnny FATEs. I don't think either one results in only getting coffers in their respective north/south zones, but, I could be wrong. I also don't think gold/silver coffers are more or less likely with either FATE, but I could be wrong again.

The level 38 and level 47 FATEs both have a chance of minion rewards. Additionally, this zone introduces an option to upgrade your magia board to hold 6 magicite instead of the 5 you've had since Anemos. To do so, you'll need items from the level 45, 49, and 50 (Skoll) NMs. These seem to be very rare drops, so, good luck and all. On the bright side, since they are important upgrade items, you'll typically find players trying to spawn these at any time. Mostly the higher level ones. With the current buffs, and especially in an empty zone, it's fairly easy to spawn and kill the low level one solo. Gets more difficult when the spawn mobs are higher level. Additionally, these items can also be found on the MB, if you're feeling especially frivolous. Again, since the low level NM is fairly easy, that item will be fairly cheap. The other two will cost a fair sum each. These are wholly unnecessary for anything other than feeling overpowered in Eureka zones, so, judge whether it's worth spending that much gil. On the other hand, if you're lucky enough to get one to drop, but you don't really care for the upgrade, you're looking at a decent windfall.
There is also a minion to be had from the normal lockboxes. Mostly the same tat otherwise. Materia and 5 housing items.

There's not a whole lot here in Pyros to throw anyone for a loop after Pagos, really. Be aware that the Eldthurs mount drops from the bunny boxes, not from the Eldthurs NM. Have fun with the Logos actions, if that's you're thing. Is cool, but also, just usually ends up boiling down to more of the same "How can I deal even more damage, or take even less?" Since the logos actions are on the GCD, it kinda feels less fun wanting to experiment with odd ones, and most will probably never get much use.
The bunny boxes having bronze/silver/gold is new, I suppose. Hadn't really noticed previously. Still not clear on it myself, whether they depend on which FATE you do, or where the coffer is, or how long it takes to get there, or whatever else, or if it's all just RNG anyway. Obviously bronze is a bit trash. Not sure if gold offers better odds on the good stuff over silver.

While I'm at it, some NM notes:
Graffiacane: if you're targetted for Tag, start running. Don't stop. You're playing tag. You will be dead if you are tagged.
Lesath: be aware of the ground aoe positions; boss does a knockback body slam just before they go off. Be positioned so that you don't get knocked into them.
Eldthurs: Similar, but backwards. Boss scoops up slimes and will knock them back, then they explode. Be positioned so that you won't be close to where slimes will be knocked.
Lamebrix: Planny attack uses an indicator over boss' head for positioning. Red circle, close aoe spin, get away. Green ring, far aoe, get close.
Ying-Yang: Ideally, tanked in a position to keep the "awake" half facing a wall. One attack will slash on that side, dealing heavy damage and debuff. Stay on the sleeping side. Has a habit of spinning, and it can be hard to tell what's what, on top of fighting in a somewhat dangerous area to begin with. Deaths are common. I think there's also a "get within boss' hitbox" attack.
Skoll: Within/Without attacks indicate whether you should get close or far away. And I never can remember which is which until one has already hit me.
Penthesilea: again, another close/far mechanic attack, that I don't personally remember very well. Not very helpful, I know, but, maybe you're smarter or more observant, and maybe it's at least enough for you to know to watch out for the names of attacks, or watch for when most of the party starts moving.

Probably other things, but I don't remember them right now.