Feast of Swords 2016/Guide

Fête des épées 2016/GuideFest der Schwerter 2016/Leitfaden

n.b. the 2016 event seems identical to previous years, so credit for 99% of this guide goes to editors of those pages.

Moogle Locations
To begin, talk to one of the Moogles in the starter cities to receive your Ibushi Shinai: Then go to one of the following areas and speak to the event Moogle: This will place you under a level 1 Level Restriction and increase your Movement Speed (any buffs, Trusts or summoned pets will be removed/dismissed). In this state you will be able to engage the mobs for this event; you will not be attacked by or be able to engage regular mobs nor will you lose EXP from dying. In this state, you cannot be assisted by players who are not under the same Level Restriction.
 * Southern San d'Oria (J-9) / Northern San d'Oria (D-8)
 * Bastok Mines (I-9) / Bastok Markets (G-8)
 * Windurst Waters (F-5) / Windurst Woods (K-10)
 * West Ronfaure (I-6)
 * East Ronfaure (G-6)
 * La Theine Plateau (J-8)
 * Jugner Forest (I-8)
 * Batallia Downs (K-8)
 * North Gustaberg (L-8)
 * South Gustaberg (L-8)
 * Konschtat Highlands (I-6)
 * Pashhow Marshlands (K-6)
 * Rolanberry Fields (K-5)
 * West Sarutabaruta (J-8)
 * East Sarutabaruta (G-11)
 * Tahrongi Canyon (I-6)
 * Meriphataud Mountains (E-5)
 * Sauromugue Champaign (E-5)
 * Under the level restriction, you are still able to access and apply Field Support from Field Manuals, such as Regen and Refresh.

Armors and Malice
Your task is to track down one of the armors in the area and absorb "malice" from them. You can only deal damage to the armors through an Enthunder effect on the Ibushi Shinai. No other physical or magical attacks will inflict damage upon the mobs, and they are immune to any other spells such as Dia.

After tracking down and engaging the mob it will start to generate TP from its attacks upon you (attacks you make on the mob will not generate TP); after it lands its 8th successful attack it will use either Aetheral Toxin or Edge of Death, which you must absorb by using the enchantment on the Ibushi Shinai.

make a macro [ /item "Ibushi Shinai"  ] as Aetheral Toxin is relatively fast, and you have a very small period of time between its activation and when it connects.
 * When the Armor uses Aetheral Toxin, immediately activate your Ibushi Shinai. It's suggested to

If you accidentally activate it right away, quickly move to cancel the activation, wait a second or two, and then activate it again. Otherwise, you can run out of range (far enough that your character automatically disengages) to avoid the attack. (40.0 distance range)
 * When the Armor uses Edge of Death, count out ~5 seconds and then activate your Ibushi Shinai.

Successful absorption of malice will give you the message "A protective energy absorbs the malice of your enemy!", and the attack will be completely nullified. The amount of times you absorb a special attack with your Ibushi Shinai determines what tier of rewards you receive an item from.
 * You don't have to trade your Ibushi Shinai to the ??? after every battle. It will keep track of how many times you absorb malice, even if you die or zone.

After defeating an Armor, unequip your Ibushi Shinai and trade it to the ??? that spawns to receive a reward. The ??? disappears quickly, so unequip you Ibushi Shinai and trade it quickly. Ensure that your Ibushi Shinai is not in your Mog Wardrobe or Mog Wardrobe 2, as it can only be traded from your Inventory.

Armor Movement Behaviors
All armors displays a similar movement speed enhancement. They move slightly slower than the movement speed enhancement given by the moogle. However, to compensate, when an armor is engaged it is able to teleport directly on top of the current player with the most enmity.

Omodaka Armor
The Omodaka Armor (Mithra) is significantly more powerful than the other mobs (dealing ~55 damage on each attack, enough to instantly take out any player participating in the event) and is the only mob that will aggro players participating in the event by sight. It is strongly advised to approach with caution; you will probably die very quickly if not immediately.

Omodaka Armor (Mithra) is stronger than the other armors being able to effectively one-shot any players she sees. Also gives a special message from the moogle for defeating but no special compensation other than normal event rewards and typical malice absorbed.

Her detection range is about 40', and even a larger linking range with other armors. This is usually why it feels like the Omodaka Armor is invisible because she teleports in when within range and starts to kill anyone engaged with another armor.

Armor Locations
There are five different armors, each corresponding to one of the five races, and they usually patrol a certain region of the map:


 * {| border=1 width=80% cellpadding=3 cellspacing=2

!width=20%|Area !width=30%|Name !width=50%|Location
 * - style=background:#ffdead;
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" rowspan="5" align="left"|East Sarutabaruta
 * Omodaka Armor (Mithra)
 * Patrols all locations where armor may be found.
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hachiryu Armor (Galka)
 * Patrols lower left region around H-9
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hizamaru Armor (Elvaan)
 * Patrols lower right region around I-10
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Tatenashi Armor (Hume)
 * Patrols mid region around row 7
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Ubuginu Armor (Tarutaru)
 * Patrols top region
 * - style=background:#f5f9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" rowspan="5" align="left"|South Gustaberg
 * Omodaka Armor (Mithra)
 * Patrols entire zone
 * - style=background:#f5f9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hachiryu Armor (Galka)
 * Patrols west of Vomp Hill
 * - style=background:#f5f9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hizamaru Armor (Elvaan)
 * Patrols north of Vomp Hill
 * - style=background:#f5f9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Tatenashi Armor (Hume)
 * Patrols southeast of Vomp Hill
 * - style=background:#f5f9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Ubuginu Armor (Tarutaru)
 * Patrols Fumaroles
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" rowspan="5" align="left"|West Ronfaure
 * Omodaka Armor (Mithra)
 * Patrols entire zone
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hachiryu Armor (Galka)
 * H-7, H-8 along the road
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Hizamaru Armor (Elvaan)
 * I-10
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Tatenashi Armor (Hume)
 * G-9, H-9 around Jaggedy-Eared Jack area
 * - style=background:#d5d9ff; align=center
 * style="padding-left:1em;" align="center"|Ubuginu Armor (Tarutaru)
 * F-7, G-7, G-6, G-5
 * }

Rewards

 * 8 pieces of Hume Mochi
 * 8 pieces of Tarutaru Mochi
 * 8 pieces of Galka Mochi
 * 8 pieces of Elvaan Mochi


 * Ibushi Shinai +1
 * Shinai
 * Hardwood Katana
 * Lotus Katana


 * Republic Stables Medal
 * Federation Stables Scarf
 * Kingdom Stables Collar


 * Kabuto-kazari
 * Katana-kazari


 * Shobuhouou Kabuto - Absorbed 9 TP moves and received this regardless of how many other items were previously received.
 * ??? New for 2016 - a 'fabled blade' (as per the website info)? Didn't get a chance to find out, personally, as I got my kabuto with 8 secs to spare before the event ended. Anyone who did the event in full, please do delete this and confirm whether or not there was an additional reward this year.

Job Choices
Jobs that give you DEF, STR, or any stat boosts do not help at all. You will get hit for 1-4 HP regardless. It is better for you to use jobs that will give you MP and the chance to Cure yourself.


 * Samurai wearing your Myochin Armor Set OR Saotome Armor Set will add some level of authenticity to your character while participating in the event.
 * White Mage
 * It can help you Cure yourself at least 2 times while you are fighting the Armors.
 * You can buy a Copper Hairpin that will give you MP+5, HP-2, so you can use Cure 3 times.
 * Black Mage sub job + Melon Pie (+1) - When you do this event as WHM/BLM using melon pies, you will get close to double mp. This allows you to cure yourself and/or other adventurers for around 4 to 5 times. Combine this with Destrier Beret or Refresh and Regen from the Fields of Valor and you are almost invincible.
 * Puppetmaster
 * Equip Valoredge automaton head and frame with Strobe and both Auto-Repair Kits. It will be able to tank all armors except the Mithra indefinitely. DO NOT equip Shock Absorber, Armor Plates, or Accelerators, as the armor needs to be able to hit the automaton in order to build TP.

Tactics

 * Pull Armors to a location outside of Omodaka Armor's route to avoid death.
 * South Gustaberg (L-8), about 50' east of the moogle is a good location. Tatenashi Armor (Hume) spawns nearby.
 * Only 1-2 players should attack the mob, so that you can absorb many TP moves from the same pull.
 * You need to do an action on the mob in order to absorb TP moves and receive items from trading the Ibushi Shinai to the ???.