#Intro

It is recommended to watch the Easy speedrun tutorial first, as these notes will cover the differences between the categories. I do not recommend running Very Hard without learning Easy or Normal first.

Due to the higher level enemies, there is an increased possibility of bad luck and improvisational situations. The margin for error in Very Hard is rather low, particularly if one doesn't take safer approaches throughout the run.

While there are significant routing improvements that I've made, feel free to experiment and try different approaches for fights. Some areas could see refinement in approach (Triple Cyclops/Triple Mummy/Mountain/Hub). My goal is to have the most consistent strategies that are still relatively fast.

Major Changes from Easy: Increased range of enemy encounters, changes routing when avoiding fights Game Over doesn’t provide extra ammo for all subweapons

Major Changes from Normal: No repairs drop Jehuty takes the most damage (e.g. a burst slash from a Raptor or Viola will reduce HP by 75%) Bosses have the greatest HP/Jehuty deals the least damage (boss strategies are the most complicated) Enemies provide the least experience Enemy level scaling is the greatest No enemies are level one, except for Commander groups after the Commander is destroyed

#Factory.1 All raptors require a double slash into a burst slash, a burst slash into a dash slash, or a burst shot due to level 2. Everything except the end of the level plays out the same. After destroying the passcode group, fly directly towards the Global program. Angle the camera down. After the encounter begins, stop dashing and slowly float towards the program. Unknown why sometimes the raptor flies and sometimes it floats and throws javelins. If the raptor flies into view, change camera angle away.

#Tempest Angle yourself to float slowly backwards, 5 o’clock on your analog stick. You want tempest to destroy a particular building when you return. After 3 successful burst shots in phase 2, block near the tip of Tempest. The knockback is part of the setup. Go to maximum height. Charge a burst shot and release when Tempest shoots in the air. Float backwards for a second to avoid the drop attack. Charge a burst shot, wait for Tempest to land, wait a beat, and then throw the shot. Continue to chain together burst shots until Tempest dies.

MARATHON STRATEGY: Grab the metatron at the church to maximize your HP going into EPS.2.

#antilia Factory.1
Timing for the password is very particular. Burst shot the lead raptor, wait for the shot to land, then dash shot forward. Dash backwards for a second, then dash shot the 2nd raptor. Do the same for the 3rd. Then fly towards the program. If you mess up, make sure to fly wide to avoid encountering the group near the program.

#City.1 to Town.2 Sniper This plays the same as Easy, but instead of playing stealthily fly directly into the Mummies after the final porter. Angle the camera away and block to avoid taking damage. Slowly fly towards the Sniper to avoid the Raptor encounter. Wait until the Raptor squad is down the hill to open the Sniper.

#Triple Cyclops EPS.2
This is one of the worst fights in the whole run. Below is the safest approach I've found. Fly to the cliff edge near the Cyclops squad. Lead a burst shot on the leader of the group (Lv. 5). Attempt to kill the leader with another burst shot. Be aware that a Lv. 5 cyclops will either grab or burst attack if you block.

Stay in the green (long) range against a Cyclops. This forces them to dash attack or combo the air. If you stay in red (short) range, be ready to quickly dash or burst attack if they grab you.

IF YOU DIE - you do not need to go back to the tunnel, flip 180 degrees and retry the fight.

#Triple Mummy Town.1 Another difficult encounter! If you took a lot of damage and want to be safe, take the Metatron by the church.

Fly high over the building, going towards the right of the triple Mummy squad. Position Jehuty at the top right corner of the building Tempest destroyed, burst shotting the mummy back and to the left. Perform the burst shot AI manipulation.These Mummies can do the homing shot, be mindful of that. If they begin clumping together, fly right and backwards to reorient Jehuty’s position in the park. You can use your standard shot to delay an attack from a Mummy. When a Mummy goes red, finish with a dash stab or a string of standard shots.

#EPS.1 Raptor 1 | Burst shot into Dash stab Mummy 1 | Slash interrupt, Burst slash, Slash Interrupt, Burst slash Cyclops 1 | Burst slash x2 Cyclops 2 | Burst slash into dash stab Mummy 2 | Slash interrupt, Burst slash x 3 Raptor 2 | Fly centered into room, burst shot into standard shot into full slash combo, can also burst shot into flying to raptor’s left to burst slash (faster but riskier)

#Raptor Town.2/EPS.2
Dash fly up until Jehuty is over the bush near the traffic light, stop dashing and fly around towards the downed raptor. Make sure not to take the most direct path towards the Raptor, or an encounter will occur. Slightly delay if you want to make sure you do not encounter the group going up the hill. Hold descent (A or X) and then dash to dive bomb into the Raptor. Typically ADA’s dialog will occur but not always.

Raptor 1 | Slash interrupt, Burst Slash Cyclops 1 |Burst Slash x 2 (Burst Slash into Dash Slash works, but this Cyclops seems to block often) Mummy 1 |Slash interrupt, Burst slash x2 Cyclops 2 | Burst Slash x2

#detector EPS.2
For stealth raptor, burst shot into standard shot into slash interrupt into burst slash

#Virus/Sniping Factory.2 Sniping is no different from Easy, but unless you pick up the safety sniper ammo after Raptor sequence you have little margin of error (maximum 1 shot). Due to the wider range of encounters, you will have to exit an encounter as you turn around to pick up the Decoy ammo after gaining the vaccine.

#EPS.1 Return (OPTIONAL) The ? indicator means the Mummy subweapon exists on this map. A package of Mummy provides 20 ammo. The Mummy acts as a healing shield. Assuming you are at 25% HP, a max heal takes 4 ammo. Healing with Mummy is faster than taking a deep death on some of the upcoming segments. Just make sure to hold the subweapon button, as each initiation of Mummy loses 1 ammo. Try to heal when you are required to wait around, like after defeating a squad.

Fly directly forward and stop directly left of the Mummy pick up. If positioned perfectly, you will not encounter the Raptor above. If the encounter occurs, escape!

- Example

#City.2 Go directly right to the pillars, ending at the final row just above the gray/black stripe. Burst shot the raptor on the right side. Fly forward and throw the level 4 raptor into the structure on the left into a dash stab. Assuming the burst shot landed on the level 6 raptor, perform a triple slash into a burst slash.

IF YOU TAKE DAMAGE AND NEED A HEAL BEFORE TOWN.3 - Fly above to the bridge, and let the squad fly away so you can pick up the Metatron. Obviously, use the Mummy if you picked it up previously instead.

#Town.3 Fly to the left, ending up slightly below the building roof near the traffic light. Burst shot the invisible raptor on the left. Avoid fighting near the traffic light as the other squad can join. Either fight the Cyclops past the traffic light or to the left. Blocking can bait the Cyclops into an easy grab after a burst attack or dash attack, if it doesn’t grab you. A throw into a building followed by a burst slash will take out the Cyclops, or performing burst slashes instead after blocking followed by a dash stab (3 standard slashes into burst slash into 4 standard slashes is an alternative)

If a repair occurs, position Jehuty at the spawn point and prepare for a burst slash. If not, go for the mummy. Mummy 1 |Standard slash, burst slash x2 Raptor 2 | Throw into building, dash stab OR 3 standard slashes into burst slash OR burst slash into dash stab Cyclops 2 |Burs slash x2 OR throw into building, dash stab

#decoy Factory.2 If you took a lot of damage and need the heal, take the Metatron directly in front of you. Raptor guarding Decoy, 3 standard slashes into burst slash, 4 standard slashes

#Tyrant Fly to the nearest building on Tyrant’s left to throw a fast burst charge before the autoaim changes. Burst shot just before the third laser fires (this isn’t necessary for Normal, but good practice for Very Hard). You do not need to Decoy for the first laser, but it is recommended due to the risk in Mountain and the time loss from picking up Metatron at the start of Mountain. Maintain distance from Tyrant’s face to avoid getting grabbed.

In Phase 2, ideally you will perform one dash shot after taking the second charge from Tyrant. Assuming you positioned well and landing both burst shots on the left side, the most you will need to do in addition is a standard shot.

#Park.1 Return (OPTIONAL) Immediately re-enter the arena you fought Tyrant on the world map. In the middle of the park is an ammo package of Mummy. If you picked up the previous one in EPS.1, you have 40 total.

#Mountain.1 Unless you have Mummy, dash forward to pick up the Metatron. Technically you do not need this, but the risk of death is too high.

Group 1 | Fly directly into the group, dash shot to interrupt. Mummy |Burst slash x2 OR 2 standard slashes, burst slash, dash stab OR throw into wall into dash stab Cyclops | Burst slash, dash stab Raptor | Slash interrupt, burst slash Group 2 | [DECOY] You need 4 total slashes and 2 burst slashes on the Mummy Group 3 | [DECOY] Only difference between this and easy is a level 3 raptor requiring a 2 standard slashes into a burst slash Group 4 |[DECOY] After throwing the level 6 raptor into the wall, either burst slash (risky) or perform 4 standard slashes. Rather than decoying for the level 5, standard shot into 3 standard slashes into burst slash, finish with a dash stab or 4 standard slashes Group 5 | [DECOY] After throwing the level 6 raptor into the wall, either burst slash (risky) or perform 4 standard slashes.

#Nebula This fight plays out the same as on Easy, but Phase 1 is longer. If you take too many hits or miss burst shot, Nebula will fly away, forcing a backup involving burst shots. Practice avoiding the homing shots by flying back and forth or circling.

Phase 2 is longer but doesn’t require another cycle from Nebula.

#Hub.1 As you cannot snipe the bombs, pacing of fights changes. Always prioritize getting to the bombs as soon as possible, unless it is the final bomb. There is no need to decoy to avoid enemies attacking you while clearing a bomb as long as you move quickly. Use your decoys for fighting.

Cyclops Duo | [DECOY] Fly forward, decoy into burst slashes. Allow the duo to fly close before burst slashing. If one is still alive, finish with dash stabs. Fly backwards to defuse bomb 1.

Mummy Duo | [DECOY] Decoy to distract the mummies, fly behind and burst slash, dash stab to knock one of the mummies back towards the starting wall. After destroying one of the mummies, fly to the 2nd brown panel, bottom right corner to defuse bomb 2.

Raptor Duo | [DECOY] Decoy to distract the raptors, 3 standard slashes into burst slash one of the raptors. Assuming you are speedy, a dash stab into the back will destroy raptor 1. Depending on which raptor you destroyed, adjust strategy accordingly based on level. Fly to the opposite wall after defeating both raptors.

Mixed Trio | Take out the raptor with a slash interrupt burst slash. Clean up the Mummy left behind from group 2, either with standard slash into burst slash twice (level 5) or 2 standard slashes into burst slash twice (level 6). Destroy the level 2 mummy with 2 burst slashes. Fly towards the level 2 cyclops, finishing with 2 burst slashes.

Level 7 Cyclops | [DECOY] Fly forward to burst slash twice, followed by a dash stab. Defuse the final bomb.