I got a IGT of 4h11 before the end and it's improvable,1h02 at the end of the third chapter.EDIT:4H01 since 31/08/2021.EDIT:1H00 and 3H50 are possible.
Ashe is better than Penelo,no dance but the XPbonus and the celerity spell for damage,it even helps to knockout the final boss quick enough at the last moment (when Bahamut appears,L activates his absortion manually).The celerity as gambit helps in 9-1.Her second weapon inflicts blindness which emasculates the lamias.
The Q of F is very strong(gambit recommanded for estocade and bashing after trap),the solution to trivalize the judge fights with Ramuh or Chaos+Atomos.
Bash replaces K in the graveyard,9-2,4 and the final boss.
Balt and his triple shot gambit replaces P in the aerial battle (he doesn't move,provoke the leaders by jumping,begin north,the last one in south will come by himself if you're too slow) and V againts Chaos,giving 2 Shivar rapidly (provoke him with 2 atomoses protected by F).He's good in 9-1 during a focused attack,K can beat some leaders by himself(the green is sensible to fire and resistant to ice),his SH are more useful againts another one.
Bag replaces P in the third chapter.Againts Shiva:direct the characters to the ennemies they are effective againts,K should have the wand from 2-1,keep the trap for the judge,make sure to remove every close fairies before he disapears.Xfocus on Shiva immediately,i don't see clearly how to avoid the temporary stop effect.The jump isn't weaker on a ranged target,still a better DPS in some case,skip the recovery as a final hit on a boss.
Fran can replace P for the three limited levels but not againts Mateus with the dance that increase the physical attack of everyone.She's good againts leaders and could have been very important in a multiplayer.
EQUIPEMENT FORGING(REDONE) You'll find some weapons and armors in chest before it.Scavenging in 2-2 and 3-5(only the fire crystal).Before 4-1:buy the Farmor with +5 of speed and the goblin pouch,(F collects crystals and accelerates to the south chest,drag down portrays and direct the monsters to fight),after it:craft a fire airboard M-2H(3L is a +5 of speed),water lance H-M-H and the saber that cannot be bought.Before Belias:open every chest except the farest and the water crystal,you'll be able to do the best electric wand L-M-L(a +4M/3S,H-M-L is the opposite) and the fire saber H-M-L(A PLUS SEVEN MULTIPLIED BY THREE,FOUR OR SIX!) that must be used since 5-3.Before Mateus:the sapphire airboard H-M-L and the best fire hallebard 3H.A Varmor after him,one for L and K before the aerial battle.Before Chaos:F goes to the end after L has opened the north chest,V opens the south one for her next armor(the third one contains a zombie dust),equip it with the one of Balt and the faster levelling of the monsters.Forge the superior pistol 3M,the smoke bomb M-2H and the earth airboard H-2M(from the skippable guide in the monster world where F scavenges the metal).Before entering the fortress:you will have to sell things so you can buy an armor for V,F,L,the superior sword of Bash,the faster spécial shot and the faster Q.The superior magic is stronger than the faster spell and should be equipped since the temple of 8-2.
Some debatable stuff like the absorbing saber and lance H-2L(maybe for 9-3 because of the resistance to fire)or the +5 of speed from an early Esaber L-M-L and lance L-2H,more like wasted potential sadly.THEORIC EDIT:the lava wand with L-2M has a +7,you'll need the extra material in the temple for the wood(the dragon is more sensible to the fire saber),magilith from the 2-2 scavenging and you rebuy the volatile compound for the smoke bomb.More damages on Chaos and the final gang beatdown,less speed in 9-1 and 3.
MONSTER UNLOCKING Take the fire side of course,the atomos is stronger than the wyverns or bombos,the electric one in second,that's because Cuchulain moves slowly and doesn't use his element on Belias(go on right,dismiss the AT,you can beat him before the extra lamias reach you)same for the golem,maybe in a multiplayer with an offense/defense duality.Ramuh damages Mateus a lot(Xpoint immediately the first ennemy group,K to the fairies,direct your bulb-heads north+east to provoke the second one that can removed with a spellchain.Group in front of Balt and provoke Mateus)the carbuncles are necessary only in 9-4 to give you the FQ,buy Ifrit againts Balt,buy Shiva for F with archers in the aerial battle,catching attackers,then,shivar againts Chaos.A and Mateus are certainly enough to destroy the reinforcement in 9-3(Q for V).
EXPLANATION ABOUT THE RANK 1 MONSTERS They help the early improvisation.You can still use them if you discover that the early goblins and cactuses are immune to the stop from the fairies who attack slowly and that you'll prefer them over the golems who are very défensive,not good for you in PVE.Their damages can be satisfysing but not their speed and endurance.While we're at it:the horses and flying gambases aren't good in the third chapter and with a low level.
