Mastering Undead Grius in ReFantazio: A Complete Battle Guide

ReFantazio delivers an unforgettable gaming experience, filled with complex characters, intricate storylines, and exhilarating combat mechanics. One of the standout moments early in the game involves a challenging boss battle with Undead Grius, an enemy that will test your strategic abilities. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to prepare for and defeat Undead Grius, ensuring you emerge victorious and ready to continue your adventure.

Understanding the Setup: The Prelude to the Battle

In the early hours of ReFantazio, you are introduced to Grius, a pivotal character whose tragic death at the hands of Louis leaves a lasting impact on the story. The game sets up this emotional narrative arc, culminating in a battle where Grius returns as an undead puppet controlled by a nefarious necromancer.

This boss fight serves as a critical checkpoint, forcing players to master the game’s mechanics and think strategically about party composition, abilities, and tactics.

Party Setup and Strategy: How To Prepare for Undead Grius

Before diving into the heat of battle, your party composition and preparation are crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the essential members and their roles:

1. Protagonist (Seeker Class)

As the Seeker, you are the backbone of the party, capable of dishing out significant damage while providing support. The protagonist should be levelled up to at least level 4, where they unlock Tarukaja, a vital ability that boosts party members’ attack power. This buff is crucial for maximizing damage output.

2. Strohl (Warrior Class)

Strohl is your primary damage dealer, capable of using powerful abilities like Diagonal Slash to chip away at Grius’ health. Ensure that Strohl learns Heat Up, which further boosts his attack power and complements the buffs from the Seeker. You’ll want Strohl to be at his best, so stock up on healing items to keep him in the fight.

3. Hulkenberg (Knight Class)

Hulkenberg is the linchpin of this battle, and her role is vital. Just before the encounter with Undead Grius, Hulkenberg awakens to her Archetype, unlocking Knight’s Proclamation, an ability that draws all of Grius’ attacks toward her. This is a game-changer, as it allows the rest of the party to focus on offensive manoeuvres without worrying about taking damage.

Step-by-Step Battle Guide: How To Defeat Undead Grius

Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to tackle the boss battle itself. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you take down Undead Grius without breaking a sweat.

1. Utilize Light Attacks

Undead Grius has a pronounced weakness to Light-based attacks, so make sure your party is equipped with abilities that can exploit this vulnerability. The key is to consistently target Grius’ weak points to maximize damage and keep him off balance.

2. Hulkenberg as the Tank

Right from the start, have Hulkenberg activate Knight’s Proclamation every turn. This ability forces Grius to focus solely on Hulkenberg, who can withstand his attacks thanks to her resistance to slashing damage (Grius’ primary attack type). With Hulkenberg tanking, the rest of your party can focus on pure offense.

3. Buff and Heal Effectively

While Hulkenberg is tanking, your Protagonist should switch between using Tarukaja to buff Strohl’s attack and healing Hulkenberg. This creates a loop where Hulkenberg absorbs damage, Strohl deals it, and the protagonist ensures that both are operating at peak efficiency.

4. Strohl’s Role as Damage Dealer

Strohl’s main job is to spam Diagonal Slash, which deals consistent damage to Undead Grius. As the Protagonist buffs Strohl’s attack, you’ll quickly find that his damage output increases significantly, making the battle more manageable.

5. Alternative Strategy: Rider of the Blade

If you prefer a more aggressive approach, you can pass Strohl’s turn to the Protagonist and use the Synthesis attack, Rider of the Blade. This powerful attack leverages Hulkenberg’s abilities without interrupting her Knight’s Proclamation. While it requires two press turn icons to execute, it hits Grius’ Light weakness and restores those icons, making it a potent tool in your arsenal. With this strategy, buffing with Tarukaja becomes less critical since the Synthesis attack deals significant damage on its own.

Fine-Tuning Your Approach: Adapting to Grius’ Patterns

Though Undead Grius primarily uses slashing attacks, he has a few tricks up his sleeve that you’ll need to watch out for. Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind during the fight:

• Critical Hits: While Hulkenberg can tank most of Grius’ slashing damage, you’ll need to be cautious of his critical hits. These hits allow Grius an extra turn, meaning he could deal additional damage to Hulkenberg. Keep her health topped up to avoid any surprises.
• Managing Resources: This battle is all about resource management. Make sure you have a healthy supply of healing items in case Hulkenberg or Strohl take too much damage. Strohl can assist with healing, when necessary, but his primary role should remain focused on damage dealing.

Post-Battle Reflection: What’s Next?

After defeating Undead Grius, you’ll be rewarded with significant story progression and valuable loot that will aid your journey further into the world of ReFantazio. The narrative stakes are heightened as the game delves deeper into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption.

The battle with Undead Grius not only serves as a test of your strategic capabilities but also as a pivotal moment in the storyline. You’ve mastered the mechanics, formed tight bonds with your party members, and proved your worth as a leader.

Why This Battle Matters: A Deeper Dive into ReFantazio’s Gameplay

ReFantazio stands out from other RPGs by offering a combat system that feels dynamic and rewarding. The game’s balance between offense and defense requires careful consideration, much like a well-executed chess game. This balance is evident in the Undead Grius fight, where proper party management and skill usage are the keys to victory.

Compared to other games like Persona, ReFantazio’s combat feels less reliant on spamming the same moves over and over. Instead, it encourages players to think critically about each action, making each battle feel fresh and engaging.

A Promising Game on the Horizon

The demo of ReFantazio has left many players eagerly anticipating the full release. With its rich character development, exciting gameplay, and immersive world, it promises to be a standout title in the RPG genre. Whether you’re a fan of Persona or simply love turn-based combat, this game is likely to captivate you from start to finish.

As you continue your journey through the world of ReFantazio, remember that strategy and preparation are your best friends. The battle with Undead Grius is just the beginning of what promises to be an epic adventure filled with unforgettable moments. Stay sharp, keep your party strong, and you’ll conquer whatever challenges lie ahead.

Can’t wait for the full release? You’re not alone! The ReFantazio demo has shown incredible promise, and the final game is shaping up to be something special. Keep honing your skills, and when the full game drops, you’ll be more than ready to dive in and take on whatever the game throws at you.