So, I'm currently stuck in a battle against a vicious fal'Cie (and no, not Barthandelus), and cannot figure out how to get past him.  The strongest group I can come up with is Snow, Fang, and Vanille.  I've had Snow pretty strictly on Commando, Fang a Sentinel, and I switch Vanille between a Ravager and Medic...only to no avail.

 

Lightning seems to pretty much suck all the way around.  Her HP is low, and her strength and magic are both about 100-200 points below everyone else.  Same goes for Sazh.  Hope's the only other one I thought about switching out with Vanille, but Vanille has about 1000 more HP than Hope, so I'm not sure that would do me much good...  He has about 200 more MP than Vanille, though, which made me think his reduction in HP would be worth it.

 

So, anyway, I guess I'm just wanting to get a feel for what battle parties you guys deem strongest, and perhaps what Paradigm Shifts you've got set up as well.

I always like sazh hope and lighting, but thats just me.

I've found having a Synergist (Hope or Sazh) and a sabator (Fang or Vanille) is good to have in party and to switch to those roles every once in a while to strengthen the party and weaken the enemy.

I've found having a Synergist (Hope or Sazh) and a sabator (Fang or Vanille) is good to have in party and to switch to those roles every once in a while to strengthen the party and weaken the enemy.

Y'know, I partly wondered if I was making a mistake by not having either of those in my party (a Synergist and a Saboteur).  I was trying to aim for Paradigms that "packed the most punch" so to speak, though in doing so I'm afraid I'm just killing myself off.  Thanks for the tip!  I think I'll be trying that in a few to see if that works.

Y'know, I partly wondered if I was making a mistake by not having either of those in my party (a Synergist and a Saboteur).  I was trying to aim for Paradigms that "packed the most punch" so to speak, though in doing so I'm afraid I'm just killing myself off.  Thanks for the tip!  I think I'll be trying that in a few to see if that works.

One thing I always did was change up roles a lot during a big battle. Like leave Fang in Saboteur for a few curses then get her back to ripping up enemies in commando. It's all in what works for your play style.

So, I'm currently stuck in a battle against a vicious fal'Cie (and no, not Barthandelus), and cannot figure out how to get past him.  The strongest group I can come up with is Snow, Fang, and Vanille.  I've had Snow pretty strictly on Commando, Fang a Sentinel, and I switch Vanille between a Ravager and Medic...only to no avail.

 

Lightning seems to pretty much suck all the way around.  Her HP is low, and her strength and magic are both about 100-200 points below everyone else.  Same goes for Sazh.  Hope's the only other one I thought about switching out with Vanille, but Vanille has about 1000 more HP than Hope, so I'm not sure that would do me much good...  He has about 200 more MP than Vanille, though, which made me think his reduction in HP would be worth it.

 

So, anyway, I guess I'm just wanting to get a feel for what battle parties you guys deem strongest, and perhaps what Paradigm Shifts you've got set up as well.

Well it depends on who your fighting and what roles you have open to you.

 

I stuck with mostly Fang, Lightning and Vanille towards the end where they were stronger than the others(Hope and Snow would've caught up if i upgraded their equips). But at first i stuck with Fang, Vanille and Hope.

 

First of all, FANG IS THE BETTER COMMANDO, due to her high Strength stat, but once you give her the TAMING POLE, she gets 921 STRENGTH AND MAGIC AND SHE BECOMES A GOOD RAVAGER. SNOW IS THE BETTER SENTINEL, due to his high HP stat. Vanille is extremely useful as a Saboteur(I suggest using Poison when the enemy is not immune to it, as it takes down enormous amounts of HP) as she is a Healer and Ravager. I would recommend some paradigms like these if you only have the Primary roles:

 

Sab/Med/Med

Com/Rav/Com

Rav/Rav/Rav

Sen/Med/Med

Sen/Syn/Med

Med/Med/Med

 

I recommend these weapons for the characters as they give the highest stats towards end game:

 

Lightning: Gladius – > Helter-skelter - > Omega Weapon. This will finish with 723 Strength and 210 Magic. Or,

Lionheart - > Ultima Weapon - > Omega Weapon. This will finish with 508 Strength and 508 Magic.

I recommend Lion Heart, as Lightning is an ALL AROUND CHARACTER, which is why she sucks as she isn't efficient in most of her roles.

Sazh: Rigels - > Polaris Specials - > Total Ecplises. This will finish with 1,006 Strength and 1,014 Magic.

Towards end game, Sazh's ending stats will be around 800-900's while others will be in the 1,000's unless Sazh has a good weapon, and Rigels is the best for him. He rivals Hope as a Synthergist.

Snow: Power Circle - > Battle Standard - > Save the Queen. This will finish with 925 Strength and 202 Magic.

Snow is a better Commando and sucks as a ravager. He is the best Sentinel.

Hope: Hawkeye - > Eagletalon - > Nue. This will finish with 917 Magic and 202 Strength.

Hope is the best Ravager, only Vanille rivals him. But he sucks as Commando, plus he has the lowest HP in the game.

Vanille: Pearlwing Staff - > Brightwing Staff - > Nirvana. This will finish with 912 Magic and 201 Strength. Or, for a more balanced Weapon:  Belladonna Wand- > Malboro Wand- > Nirvana. This will finish with 403 Strength and 807 Magic.

(Has better Debuffing which is excellent for Vanille.

Vanille rivals Hope as a ravager, but is the best Saboteur, next to Fang, despite the fact that she has a lower Mag. Stat since she gets the Slow and Curse spells.

Fang: Taming Pole - > Venus Gospel - > Kain's Lance. This will finish with 921 Magic and 921 Strength.

She is the best Commando, a good Sentinel(second to Snow) and great Saboteur(rivals Vanille) i would recommend playing as her for the rest of the game, that's what i do. Plus her Highwind is EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR THE CIETH STONE MISSION BOSSES.

Hope this helps!!!!

So, I'm currently stuck in a battle against a vicious fal'Cie (and no, not Barthandelus), and cannot figure out how to get past him.  The strongest group I can come up with is Snow, Fang, and Vanille.  I've had Snow pretty strictly on Commando, Fang a Sentinel, and I switch Vanille between a Ravager and Medic...only to no avail.

 

Lightning seems to pretty much suck all the way around.  Her HP is low, and her strength and magic are both about 100-200 points below everyone else.  Same goes for Sazh.  Hope's the only other one I thought about switching out with Vanille, but Vanille has about 1000 more HP than Hope, so I'm not sure that would do me much good...  He has about 200 more MP than Vanille, though, which made me think his reduction in HP would be worth it.

 

So, anyway, I guess I'm just wanting to get a feel for what battle parties you guys deem strongest, and perhaps what Paradigm Shifts you've got set up as well.

Also here is a list of tips for FFXIII:http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/928790-final-fantasy-xiii/53941597

Fang, Sazh and Vanille

 

Why ? Because I loved them the most.

 

TBH I didn't bother with the battle tactics too much, If I loved them alot they were in. 

Fool. I stuck with Lightning, Fang, and Hope. The most well rounded character, the strongest Commando, and the strongest Ravager, respectively.

I always like using Lightning, Fang and Hope

Well it depends on who your fighting and what roles you have open to you.

 

I stuck with mostly Fang, Lightning and Vanille towards the end where they were stronger than the others(Hope and Snow would've caught up if i upgraded their equips). But at first i stuck with Fang, Vanille and Hope.

 

First of all, FANG IS THE BETTER COMMANDO, due to her high Strength stat, but once you give her the TAMING POLE, she gets 921 STRENGTH AND MAGIC AND SHE BECOMES A GOOD RAVAGER. SNOW IS THE BETTER SENTINEL, due to his high HP stat. Vanille is extremely useful as a Saboteur(I suggest using Poison when the enemy is not immune to it, as it takes down enormous amounts of HP) as she is a Healer and Ravager. I would recommend some paradigms like these if you only have the Primary roles:

 

Sab/Med/Med

Com/Rav/Com

Rav/Rav/Rav

Sen/Med/Med

Sen/Syn/Med

Med/Med/Med

 

I recommend these weapons for the characters as they give the highest stats towards end game:

 

Lightning: Gladius – > Helter-skelter - > Omega Weapon. This will finish with 723 Strength and 210 Magic. Or,

Lionheart - > Ultima Weapon - > Omega Weapon. This will finish with 508 Strength and 508 Magic.

I recommend Lion Heart, as Lightning is an ALL AROUND CHARACTER, which is why she sucks as she isn't efficient in most of her roles.

Sazh: Rigels - > Polaris Specials - > Total Ecplises. This will finish with 1,006 Strength and 1,014 Magic.

Towards end game, Sazh's ending stats will be around 800-900's while others will be in the 1,000's unless Sazh has a good weapon, and Rigels is the best for him. He rivals Hope as a Synthergist.

Snow: Power Circle - > Battle Standard - > Save the Queen. This will finish with 925 Strength and 202 Magic.

Snow is a better Commando and sucks as a ravager. He is the best Sentinel.

Hope: Hawkeye - > Eagletalon - > Nue. This will finish with 917 Magic and 202 Strength.

Hope is the best Ravager, only Vanille rivals him. But he sucks as Commando, plus he has the lowest HP in the game.

Vanille: Pearlwing Staff - > Brightwing Staff - > Nirvana. This will finish with 912 Magic and 201 Strength. Or, for a more balanced Weapon:  Belladonna Wand- > Malboro Wand- > Nirvana. This will finish with 403 Strength and 807 Magic.

(Has better Debuffing which is excellent for Vanille.

Vanille rivals Hope as a ravager, but is the best Saboteur, next to Fang, despite the fact that she has a lower Mag. Stat since she gets the Slow and Curse spells.

Fang: Taming Pole - > Venus Gospel - > Kain's Lance. This will finish with 921 Magic and 921 Strength.

She is the best Commando, a good Sentinel(second to Snow) and great Saboteur(rivals Vanille) i would recommend playing as her for the rest of the game, that's what i do. Plus her Highwind is EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR THE CIETH STONE MISSION BOSSES.

Hope this helps!!!!

Also here is a list of tips for FFXIII:http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/928790-final-fantasy-xiii/53941597

Thank you; this was immensely helpful.  I'm near the final stages of the game (well, the end of Chapter 11), and for some reason Lightning is one of the weakest party members I can recruit.  Her strength and magic are "okay," but her HP is incredibly low.  This was probably my fault in the way I leveled up her Crystarium, however, since I likely focused more on strength+ than HP ones.  But yeah, I've come to find the same thing about Fang; I'm convinced she's related to Mighty Mouse, haha!

 

The battle I'm currently stuck on is the fal'Cie, Dahaka, on Gran Pulse.  It does seem possible, just very, very tedious.

 

 

Fang, Sazh and Vanille

 

Why ? Because I loved them the most.

 

TBH I didn't bother with the battle tactics too much, If I loved them alot they were in. 

I'm with you.  For a great portion of the game, I pretty much solely stuck with Vanille, Hope, and Lightning because they were my favorites.

Thank you; this was immensely helpful.  I'm near the final stages of the game (well, the end of Chapter 11), and for some reason Lightning is one of the weakest party members I can recruit.  Her strength and magic are "okay," but her HP is incredibly low.  This was probably my fault in the way I leveled up her Crystarium, however, since I likely focused more on strength+ than HP ones.  But yeah, I've come to find the same thing about Fang; I'm convinced she's related to Mighty Mouse, haha!

 

The battle I'm currently stuck on is the fal'Cie, Dahaka, on Gran Pulse.  It does seem possible, just very, very tedious.

 

 

I'm with you.  For a great portion of the game, I pretty much solely stuck with Vanille, Hope, and Lightning because they were my favorites.

Glad i could help you Mystic. Also a tip for Fang, if you do give her the Taming Pole she gets the stagger lock passive ability(she can still raise the chain gauge, but once she gets it to the max, it won't stagger the enemy, so someone else has to do it) but if you give her one of the sashes as an equip(I.E. Speed Sash, Energy Sash) she gets Random': Instant Chain ability, which helps IMMENSLY. It instantly fills up an enemy's chain gauge, but doesn't stagger them, however the others can stagger it with one hit. This helps for Cieth Stone missions like against the Neochu for getting the Growth Egg.

 

Also another tip, Don't EVER rely on Vanille's death move, unless you have maxed out her Sab. Role, she has a High Magic stat, and is paired with 1 or 2 other Saboteurs, as Death rarely works, so i wouldn't recommend except for high damage against a staggered enemy. Death normally has a 1% chance of OHKOing the enemy, but for each Status Ailment your enemy has, it adds an extra 1% chance of Death working successfully. So if your enemy has 5 Status ailments, you have a 6% chance(this is counting the 1% chance you start with) of working. Its not that much better odds, but at least its something.

 

One last thing, Sazh and Lightning's Character Specific moves(Cold Blood and Army of One, respectively) are EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR FILLING UP THE CHAIN GAUGE WHEN THE ENEMY IS STAGGERED. Most of the time, when an enemy is staggered and you use it, it raises the chain gauge by 300%, or higher if you have them stay in Rav. paradigm. But if you want more damage for the move with Lightning, just use the move, and when the lines on the top and bottom of the screen appear, switch to a paradigm where Light. is a Commando, and she'll do more damage, while still raising the Chain Gauge by alot!

Mystic, i forgot, here is a video that'll for sure help you beat Dahaka:

 

From what I've heard, Hope, Vanille and Lightning.

Mystic, i forgot, here is a video that'll for sure help you beat Dahaka:

 

Aw, thanks, Spiderfreak.  Want to know the first thought that ran through my mind when I saw this?  "Damn, I *seriously* need an HD TV!  I can actually read the little HP numbers and their names!  Incredible!"   My TV's pretty old, and the words literally blur together and make it impossible to read, haha!

Edited March 10, 201312 yr by Mystics Apprentice

Aw, thanks, Spiderfreak.  Want to know the first thought that ran through my mind when I saw this?  "Damn, I *seriously* need an HD TV!  I can actually read the little HP numbers and their names!  Incredible!"   My TV's pretty old, and the words literally blur together and make it impossible to read, haha!

No problem mystic, i have a huge HD tv, which is great for PS3 games, and i can see everything clearly.