Yak, geje.
Enjoy aja yah~ /PLAK
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I'm playing as Cloud and Squall, so this walkthrough is mostly dedicated to them.
About Cloud:
Cloud Strife
-An acerbic young swordsman with glowing eyes that wields a blade as large as he is-
Cloud is a close ranged fighter. His bravery attacks will work well in chase sequence especially near wall or ceiling. His fighting style is Buster Basher, depicted as 'Can sent his enemy flying with a single attack from his massive sword'. Cloud specializes in powerful, melee attacks that knocks the opponent on the wall/floor, dealing additional damage to opponent's bravery and HP. But his attack is rather predictable and can be easily dodged/blocked if the player cannot time his/her timing correctly. However, his attack, once connect, deals massive damage.
His EX-Burst is Omnislash, dealing fourteen slashes and if the player fills the gauge perfectly, he will end it with six slash overhead and apply HP damage. With his HP at maximum, Cloud has the strongest EX-Burst in the game, even overpowering Tidus and Chaos in his Soul of Oblivion that obviously hits player with an instant death.
In his alternate look, he gains "The power of mako" as one of his attribute and his First Tsurugi changes into the complete assembly of Fusion Sword, but this doesn't affect his EX-Burst.
Personally, Cloud is one of my favorite character in Dissidia. Not just that I'm a fan of his, but also his attacks. His alternate look features his attire in Advent Children, which I'm fond of. And for personality wise, both of us have many same traits. As gameplay-wise, I don't really like all muscle and no brain, so choosing Cloud as he's the most easiest to play with and some enemy with gusts, he's just the hitter.
His weak point while fighting is he's totally messed up when facing up against magic-user character such as Kefka, Terra, and Kuja. So to overcome this, both of the three have the same trait: slow movement, even if compared to Cloud that wields Buster Sword. Just rush over them and hit them mercilessly.
About Squall:
Squall Leonhart
-A cold, taciturn youth who wields a gunblade, a weapon part sword, part gun.-
Squall shares the same style fighting with Cloud. He is a close range fighter, cornering the opponent with his relentless combos. His style is 'Relentless Revolver', depicted as 'Cornering his opponent with massive combos'. Squall specializes in mid air battle as his Beat Fang can be used time and time again in the air and get tons of bravery drained. All of his attacks are melee, except Elemental Barrels. But his HP attacks require him to charge, and his Fated Circle both Aerial Circle ignores enemy defense so it's best to use his HP attacks near ceiling/wall to not giving the enemy chance to dodge.
His EX-Burst is Renzokuken, dealing eight slashes that ends with a slash past the enemy, leaving a pulse of shockwave behind if the player fills the gauge completely.
Personality wise, just like Cloud, I share some traits with him. Gameplay wise, I like him because he can chain his bravery attacks especially Beat Fang and get tons of bravery drained, like, 3/4 amount of enemy bravery into his by hitting them with Beat Fang again and again.
His weakness is while he can chain his bravery attacks, he cannot chain bravery to HP attacks. His HP attacks also require him to charge up, giving the enemy chance to dodge.
1.Shade Impulse 1-5
Boss: Exdeath
Recommended level: 20 - 25
Cloud: Since both of Exdeath and Cloud are close ranged fighter, equip Cloud with Aerial Fang to inflict mid-air damage on Exdeath. Rush over him by pressing R + triangle button and keep on hitting him with Aerial Fang and Climhazzard while on the ground. Exdeath's attacks are slow, but deadly, so keep your distance from him. If you can, take him to an area with wall (I suggest the gate, since it's the closest place if you want to reach EX-Core) and hit him with Aerial Fang again and again. Once the EX-Core is in play (the hint is, if you are not Beginner Tips, the EX-Force are drained by a 'force' not by the characters.) take it before he had any chance. His attacks to dodge are his teleportation, his Delta Attack and his Armalgam (duh, do I write this correct?) because it will kill you in no time.
I beat Exdeath at level 23 after mad grinding again and again. Since Exdeath's attack are deadly and slow, mastering the timing with Cloud is essential to get this battle over, or if possible, unscathed. Once he's low on HP, finish him with Omnislash.
Squall: Beating Exdeath with Squall is much easier because you can combo him with the Storm's Beat Fang, again and again, get his bravery drained, inflicting Break and prevents him from recovering by hitting him by Beat Fang again and again. I beat Exdeath at a level 20 Squall, with no difficulties [probably because I play with Cloud first then Squall]. If you have difficulties, then read below.
Exdeath, as mentioned, had deadly attacks but slow movement and also, his HP attacks require him to charge, so use this well to interrupt his chanting and smack him. After you hit him hard, move away from him as he will use his Delta Attack which is most likely kill you in a single blow if you is underleveled. Another way to drain his bravery and inflicting additional damage is Chase Sequences. But in order to do this, while in chase, you mustn't get hit by Exdeath because his HP attack will likely left you survive with 1 HP.
2. Shade Impulse 2-5
Boss: The Emperor
Recommended level: 35 - 40
Cloud: The Emperor is much easier compared to Exdeath mostly because he didn't have the teleportation abilty. But he is a nasty fighter putting all the trap kind attack so dodge all of his attack, move in and bombard him with your Climhazzard and Aerial Fang. The only attack you need to watch for is his Flare. It will chase you everywhere so lead it to the wall and quickly go behind the wall to destroy his Flare without taking any damage. Starfall is the worst above all, but it requires time to charge up so bombard The Emperor with HP attacks or bravery attack to interrupt the spell. If you don't have any chance to bombard him, do Quickmove and run on the wall horizontally to avoid the fall.
Squall: The difference between fighting The Emperor as Squall is that you can drain out The Emperor's bravery. But if you are about to interrupt Starfall, you need to use Fated Circle or either Aerial Circle because bravery attacks won't work on him.
Squall and Cloud description (c) Final Fantasy Wikia at http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Squall_Leonhart/Dissidia and http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cloud_Strife/Dissidia.
~The Metal Heart that Dreams of a Dramatic Night~