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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uoJn6F9.png[/img] [size=5]A Kelp Beds No-Wait Meditate-Hate Build[/size] [i](codename: Caligula fights the sea)[/i] I hate Meditate builds. It's slow, makes my little dyscalculia brain hurt, and my fingers are too trigger-happy to play nicely with Meditate. I crave immediate damage! So I scoured the forums a year or so ago looking for anyone who had a two-fodder Kelp Beds build that [i]wasn't[/i] using Meditate (or Anticipate), and it seemed to be slim pickings. And then I found one, buried like treasure in the sand, and I want to share that bounty with everyone. This build is based on a [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/2450522/1#post_33495975]build [/url]posted by Rhabdo in FeDogs' [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/2450522/1]Kelp Beds Kraken[/url] trainer guide, which FeDog themselves took inspiration from and which Rhabdos' build has not, to my knowledge, gotten a stand-alone thread showcasing it. I have tested this build against the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/ann/3117415#post_3117415]Kelp Beds Expansion[/url] and it's all good. Thanks to @/Angelch17 for the name of the build! [center][size=6] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/3320928/1#post_56339676]STATS [/url]- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/3320928/1#post_56339677]STONES [/url]- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/3320928/1#post_56344560]STRATS [/url]- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/3320928/1#post_56344562]BOSSES[/url] [/size][/center] [center][i]Useful Tools: Sylvandyrs' [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/gde/967048]Coliseum Stats Tool[/url] and [url=https://syl-fr-coli-stat-preview.firebaseapp.com/]Stat Preview Tool[/url][/i][/center] [center][emoji=ping size=1]Read me![/center] This is an "advanced" build, meaning, you can't just jump in and expect success with this build. Knowledge of enemy spawn groups, elements, and attack patterns is beneficial and often only gained with experience. There will be lots of resetting, there will be lots of dying, and there will be lots of boss killing. It's a fun alternative to a Mire grinder, but it isn't a replacement.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GMJTTnu.png[/img][/center] [center][size=7]-[u]Stats[/u]-[/size][/center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/gZLP261.png[/img] [center]STR: 126 // QCK: 57 [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87791158]My [s]test subjec[/s]t fighter, Wintergreen[/url][/center] There's only two stats you need to worry about; [b]Strength[/b] and [b]Quickness[/b]. A Tincture of Dissolution may or may not be required depending on your starting dragon. Use the [url=https://syl-fr-coli-stat-preview.firebaseapp.com/]Coliseum Stat Preview tool[/url] to determine if one if needed for your dragon. Any leftover stats get dumped into [b]Vitality[/b] to take more hits. With 126 STR your dragon is able to Scratch/Eliminate or Sap/Eliminate every enemy in the Kelp Beds except for the boss mantas, and with 57 QCK you'll get minimum 2 turns before the enemies. As for element... [center][b]Recommended Element[/b]: [emoji=ice rune size=1][size=5]Ice[/size] [b]Potential Elements[/b]: [emoji=light rune size=1]Light [emoji=plague rune size=1]Plague [b]Worst Elements[/b]: [emoji=water rune size=1]Water [emoji=wind rune size=1]Wind[/center] Ice is strong against Wave Sweepers and Water mobs and resists Mantarunes, so it's the top choice. Plague resists Wave Sweepers and is good against Water mobs, but is weak to Mantarunes. Light is strong against Wave Sweepers only. Water and Wind are weak/resisted by many mobs and are not good at all for this zone.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/KXPb4DC.png[/img][/center] [center][size=7]-[u]Stones[/u]-[/size][/center] [center][item=Scratch] [item=Haste][item=Eliminate][item=Sap][item=Reflect] [item=Berserker][item=Berserker][item=Berserker] [item=Ambush][item=Ambush][/center] No Meditate! Your dragon will be set up similarly to a standard Mire trainer with Scratch and Eliminate being your damage dealers. Haste ensures you get your breath up as fast as possible to minimize hits taken, and Sap is great for topping up your health if you have excess breath (ie greater than 40). Berserker stones give you the stat boosts you need, and Ambush gives you the extra turns over your opponents. You could probably swap out Sap for an elemental slash or Shred to help against bosses, but the turns it might save you probably aren't meaningful enough to matter in the long run.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jHVMiFL.png[/img][/center] [center][size=7]-[u]Strats[/u]-[/size][/center] The ideal start is always on a mob of only magical enemies. There are a few mobs with one physical enemy and one to two magical enemies that you can try at your discretion, but the ideal group will be only casters. Even groups of two physical attackers are not recommended to start on. Look for these mobs to start on: [center][item=Abyss Striker][item=Cloud Chaser][item=Jeweled Octoflyer][item=Octoflyer][item=Kelp Caretaker][item=Maren Ambusher][item=Maren Harvester][item=Maren Wavesinger][item=Ruche Slug][item=Ruched Sojourner][item=Spotted Seastar][item=Seastar] [item=Mantarune][item=Wave Sweeper][/center] That's right, you can start on a boss if you want! It's harder and more risky, but doable. I'd only recommend it after you've gotten a feel for the overall build and flow of battle (and read the Bosses section further down). Here's how a start against 3 casters might play out: [LIST] [*]Turn 1> Haste Dragon [*]Turn 2> Scratch Enemy 1 [*]Turn 3> Scratch Enemy 1 [*]Enemy 1 Meditates [*]Enemy 2 Meditates [*]Enemy 3 Meditates [*]Turn 4> Scratch Enemy 1 [*]Turn 5> Scratch Enemy 1 (Enemy 1 should perish) [*]Turn 6> Scratch Enemy 2 (you now have 35+ breath for Eliminate) [*]Enemy 2 Meditates OR Attacks [*]Enemy 3 Meditates OR Attacks [*]Turn 7> Eliminate Enemy 2 [*]Enemy 3 Meditates OR Attacks [*]Turn 8> Scratch Enemy 3 [*]Enemy 3 Meditates OR Attacks [*]Turn 9> Eliminate Enemy 3 [/LIST] Now that you won your first round, the next one is simple: Haste yourself, then Scratch/Eliminate to victory! Remember to always aim for physical attackers first. While you can take a few hits always aim for physical enemies first as magic casters will always "waste" their first turn with Meditate. [b]Always try to keep enough breath for Eliminate or Reflect, so at least 35-40.[/b] [i][emoji=subscription update size=1]Tip!: Got 2 turns and you only need one to finish the battle? Use that first turn to build some more breath with an extra Scratch or Haste.[/i] If you're low on health, but have over 40 breath, use Sap instead of Scratch to regain some health. Sap/Eliminate works against all non-boss enemies as well. [b]If in doubt, reload![/b] This build can't last as long as a Mire trainer can, and that's ok, because...

[img]https://i.imgur.com/aslZJjy.png[/img] [center][size=7]-[u]Bosses[/u]-[/size] [item=Mantarune][item=Wave Sweeper][/center] You fight both bosses the same way; though tedium. This is where Reflect comes in. As both bosses are casters they both have the same main moves: Meditate, an elemental bolt, and their elemental ability of either Contaminate (Plague, Wave Sweeper) or Congeal (Ice, Mantarune). Contaminate is a non-factor as long as you don't use heals when it hits. Congeal is worse as it can make you lose three turns in a row, and that's typically a death sentence. Mostly though these moves hit harder than an isekai truck and will easily end your run, especially if they crit, which they like to do. Now boss fights typically start the same way, assuming you are coming into the fight with at least 35-40 breath. [LIST] [*]Turn 1> Haste Dragon [*]Turn 2> Scratch Boss [*]Turn 3> Scratch Boss [*]Boss Meditates [*]Turn 4> Reflect Dragon [/LIST] After this turn is where things pick up. The boss will either Meditate again or attack, but with Reflect you'll just send their damage right back to them! Unfortunately, the bosses resist their own attacks, so it does minimal damage, but the important fact is that you take [i]zero damage[/i]. With Reflect keeping damage at bay, it's Scratching time. Scratch away for 4-5 turns and then consider where you're at. You want to ensure you always have at least 40 breath to cast Reflect. If you're starting out on a boss fight this can be a bit hard as you won't get enough Scratches off to cast Reflect before the boss is ready to deal damage Now unfortunately this is the part where there's not really any guide you can follow that tells you exactly what to do just because RNG from here on out. You'll have to keep your eye on your turns and status of your Reflect and determine how to fight based on those. I do have some tips and tricks though. [i]Please note these are simple generalities that I've noticed.[/i] [LIST=1] [*]Reflect and Haste last for 5 turns each. [*]Bosses tend to attack, then meditate. It's uncommon to attack twice in a row, but can happen, especially later in the battle. [*]If a boss attacks twice in a row you may have time to cast a Haste and Reflect, if the situation allows, as the boss will likely Meditate afterwards. [*]If a Mantarune Congeals itself it skips 3 turns. Enjoy! Then plan appropriately for when the spell wears off. [*]You can Haste the boss by casting Haste on yourself when you have Reflect active. Now the boss has double the turns to hurt itself. As Reflect is based on your dragons' turns, not the number of attacks received, this is a valid strategy for those that like to live in the fast lane. [*]Watch your turns when Haste ends! The game isn't the greatest at calculating turn order with Haste, so if you're not paying attention your next 3 turns might end up being only 2 turns. [/LIST] And that's that! The best way to learn is to get in there and do it. Once you get a feel for the boss battles you'll be better prepared to survive them.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/VrjA7WB.png[/img] [size=7][u]F.A.Q.[/u][/size] [b]Can this build be used against Night of the Nocturne enemies?[/b] Not effectively. All NotN enemies take 2 Scratches before you can Eliminate them, so while it's possible you'll be resetting even more due to taking more hits. [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/3019973]Resources[/url][/right] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/emoY36p.png[/img][/center]

Reserved.

Yee first guide let's go. Happy Spring Swarm!

Bookmarking because I wish to be free from the mire and this looks fun to try!

This is perfect for a dragon I was levelling for lore reasons, it's gonna take me a while to get to L25 but I think it'll be worth the effort! Thank you for this!