Tips For Gulcasa [SUPER OLD DON'T READ THIS], (Updated 9/3/08) Options

[Rhiannon]

First, there are going to be spoilers here. Gulcasa spoilers. Spoilers up to battlefield 45. It's mostly just gameplay-related stuff, but this is your warning.

Basically, this is just a list of things to help people with Gulcasa. And it actually has less to do with Gulcasa, and more to do with making Genocide bearable or preventing it altogether. Because, you know, getting killed by Genocide has a rather nasty damage bonus...

• 1-on-1 = win
  You can get this effect from various items (Kill Blade and Zolfy, for example) It will pretty much ensure your victory when he uses Genocide, so of course that's useful.
• Ace Guard
  You can use Ace Guard at the start of a union to start with an advantage against Gulcasa in later clashes in the union. Having more members in your unit is always useful, since you won't die quite as fast. Meaning, you may kill him before he can kill you.
• Banshee's Cry
  It lowers the enemy's attack to one star while it's activated. Like Ace Guard, it will help your units survive for longer, and hopefully through Genocide if it doesn't allow you to kill him before he uses it.
• Bloody Claw
  Since you often fight Gulcasa at night, you'll be able to use Bloody Claw. Bloody Claw kills off the head unit for the enemy, so they can't use skills or anything. That means no Genocide.
• Bow users
  When bow users attack, the opposing side cannot counter. This makes them somewhat useful against Gulcasa. Just be sure to move them away so they wont end up in a union when he's attacking you.
• Chariot
  Only somewhat useful. It's more of a thing to soften the blow once he uses genocide. It really has limited usefulness because of how it works and the fact that Gulcasa is a large unit type, but it's better than nothing. Plus, it can equalize the battle if you get unlucky in the initial charge.
• Dragon Eater
  This axe for Milanor is good against dragon-mounted units like Gulcasa.
• Dragon Killer
  Dragon Killer lets you do more damage to dragon-mounted units, which Gulcasa is. Simple enough, right? It should be noted that Dragon Killer gives a huge bonus for morale damage if it's still in effect by the time you beat the battle. You definitely want this if Gulcasa is giving you trouble.
• Durant Class Change
  With Durant's class change, you should no longer be at such a large disadvantage to Gulcasa. At least, Durant wont be.
• Earthquake
  Earthquake halves the enemy's units and it rounds down, so just use Earthquake and Gulcasa should be down to two units. Not as useful as it was in the GBA version, where he would be down to 1, but still worth considering in the PSP version.
• Equipment
  Equipment can raise stats and bestow various effects, so you should not overlook it if you're having problems with Gulcasa (or any other hard battle, for that matter).
• Fortune
  Gulcasa tends to have average luck. If you send in a bunch of high-luck characters (Nietzsche, Rosary) and keep Fortune in effect for as long as you can, you should fare better than if you hadn't used it. But keep in mind that his luck isn't always so low. Check his stats before using Fortune if you don't want to end up making a huge mistake.
• Frozen River
  If you freeze a river in a battle with Gulcasa and lure him onto it, he'll get a negative terrain effect, which is good. Trap him on the ice (it's actually probably not necessary to trap him since the enemy AI likes to start unions as soon as possible) and you'll be getting rid of his morale faster. Which means less "Oh god, kill him before he uses Genocide. Please. KILL HIM QUICK ARGH YOU SUCK <insert character here>" outbursts.
• Item Break
  Removing Gulcasa's weapon is useful. It will put down his stats. Simple. Plus, Item Break gives you a bonus if you win the clash you break the enemy's weapon in.
• Jihad/Crusade
  I really don't see any need to explain how Crusade will help you. Insant win.
• Kiss of Death
  Kiss of Death is, essentially, your Genocide. The good thing: It prevents the enemy from using any skills until Kiss of Death ends, it weakens the enemy, it strengthens you, and you can still use the aggression bar. The bad thing: If you don't end the skirmish within 7.77 seconds your head will die. That is why you should use it with caution. But it's probably one of the most useful things you can use against him. Especially since you can delay Genocide (and any card skill) with it. Really, just try not to use this when you have low REP/NV except as a last ditch effort to stop him from using Genocide when you would probably lose anyway. It's better to die from Kiss of Death than to die from Genocide, generally.
• Lump-users
  They aren't weak to scythes, so they will not have to deal with any weapon disadvantage.
• Mind Change
  Stealing a few of his units and taking them as your own should give you an advantage. But keep in mind that only Durant and Gordon can use Mind Change on Gulcasa.
• Nietzsche on water
  Nietzsche on water is great because of her effects. She's better on water. Just watch out for Gulcasa when he's in Rage, since Nietzsche is weak to fire. If you give her an item that voids fire, she will be fantastic.
• Oblivious Dawn
  Oblivious Dawn is wonderful against Gulcasa. Since it lowers the Rage gauge, you can use it to prevent Genocide altogether.
• Scythe Users
  Of course, scythes aren't weak to scythes. Characters such as Mistel will definitely have an easier time against Gulcasa.
• Shield Barrier
  Use Shield Barrier at the start if possible. You wont take any damage while it's in effect, so all of your units will be safe for when he uses Genocide.
• Status Effects
  Gulcasa is vulnerable to status effects (except for Sleep and Petrify) until battlefield 44. Cursing him with Gravity Chaos or Poisoning him with Poison Breath are your best options and are the most likely to help you win.
• Staff Users
  Staff users do not have any weakness to scythes. Therefore, they'll be a bit more useful against Gulcasa since they wont be quite as weak.
• Steal
  Removing Gulcasa's equipment will usually lower his stats. Plus, if you win in that union skirmish, you'll get a damage bonus from successfully stealing.
• Void Fire
  Rosary always has this effect, and there are some items that give it, as well. It will save you from everything except for Flash Attacks when he's in Rage, because his Rage element is fire.
• Battlefield 32-specific help
  
  » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
  I don't remember who exactly discovered this, but it's extremely useful during the part where Yggdra is leaving with Joachim. Simply move Gordon one space to the left of the bridge he starts on. You'll notice that Gulcasa will move all of his units into position for a massive union, but will not move forward to attack you. So you can wait this part out safely and be ready to take him on when he loses High status.

Feel free to add to this list and such if you think of anything else.

[Dr Strum]

Roswell is just as useful against him as Rosary. Roswell has the higher ATK, and can use his aggression without elemental nullification.
And a little more to add onto equipment; anything with the "Strong Counterattack" effect will be utterly useful. Russel has a two-or-three battlefield sword with the skill from the battle just before the second with Gulcasa, if that long obfuscated sentence made any sense.
Steal and Item Break should also be noted; stealing or destroying his equipment will make him weaker, and easier to survive.
Revolution COULD be useful under the proper circumstances, but more to soften the blow than to actually win, since if you're down to just Yggdra, you're probably not going to survive. However, if you end up in a situation such as, say, Gulcasa killing all your members on first or counter strike, you can take out his to lower the morale damage.
One last thing; Poison Breath. Just like cursing Gulcasa to make him slow, you can poison him if you have Roswell and have summoned a skeleton. Take out his Morale auotmatically.

[Rhiannon]

I SAID ROSARY BECAUSE OF THE ELEMENT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.

And I'll add some of the other stuff. Not Roswell. Skeletons.

[Dr Strum]

You should add Roswell anyways. Scythes and Staves have no strengths over each other.
Also, another thing I just remembered. Put Roswell or Rosary at the end of a five person union to be nearly guaranteed a win, since it'll be just his head, and neither of them would be weak against his attacks.

[ChefMKT]

And just for extra info: When you activate Dragon Killer with Milanor, anyone else in the union after can also use it. Also, if Gulcasa falls whilst Dragon Killer is in effect, he takes an extra +70% damage. So that's 120% of your card to his morale. OOH THAT STINGS EH?

[Dr Strum]

Nice pun.
Anyways, another thing to help with Gulcasa:
The Dragon Eater. An Axe for Milanor, that you can pick up in BF26. But, there are some not-so-fun requirements for it; first, Milanor has to get it. Second, You must have 20 T.N.V. With the variety of units in that battelfield, it can be kind of hard. At least there are no boss enemies, and there's no time limitation.
But, anyways, as the name implies, it'll make you stronger against Dragon enemies, and, its stats ain't too bad either; +6 for ATK and TEC. And it's pretty much useless to eat, since only one character can eat it, and only for 1000 morale...
So yeah. Use it to pwn Gulcasa.

And a little thing, I'm pretty sure you DON'T fight him at noon, I believe it's always either perpetual night or evening, so that knocks Mirage and Sanctuary out. Which is sad, because Gulcasa almost always has a terrain advantage (unless he's keeping on the move), and he's almost always in your base killing your guys.

[ChefMKT]

The +6 ATK and TEC are rather useless if MILANOR HAS FULL STATS. >_>; Well, mine does anyway. I've always liked getting the +2 MVP Bonuses. Although, that's nice to know that such an item exists. I might use it next time.

This post has been edited by ChefMKT: Jun 23 2006, 04:06 AM

[Dr Strum]

Because you cheat MKT.
I've seen your saves. MAXED ATTACK IS NOT POSSIBLE AT LEVEL 11 NO MATTER WHAT.

[ChefMKT]

Yes it is. XD You just have to keep getting the +2 ATK MVP bonus on each stage. >_> Yeah ok, under normal circumstances that'd never happen.

[Dr Strum]

Yes, you are cheating. Because the only way to get enough would be if EVERY stage gave out ATK MVP, which it doesn't.

[ChefMKT]

Well, whatever stat you get as an MVP bonus is random. It is just very, very, very, very, unlikely that you can get it that way. But yeah, save state >_>;

[Dr Strum]

Cheater.
But anyways. Back on topic.
It does seem to be perpetual night in all the battles against Gulcasa, so Mirage and Sanctuary are regretfully useless.

[Dr Strum]

Some additions:
Kiss of Death, since it blocks them from using skills, will be ungodly useful. Pull it out right when he's gonna' reach MAX, and you'll weaken him and strengthen yourself for seven seconds, and you will have the Aggression bar for another seven seconds of the battle.
Nietzsche, I don't know EXACTLY how many battles have water, but the ones that do, place her on the water to lure Gulcasa's attention (+50% terrain bonus and Gulcasa's weakness to Ice is more than awesome) while you deal with the other units. Nietzsche's LUK is rather nice too. Freezing the river and luring him onto it can be nice as well, but it pretty much nullifies Nietzsche's terrain bonus, and since time doesn't seem to change fighting him, it will stay frozen.
Medusa Eye is potentially very useful against him, but it requires some testing.
Chariot is KIND OF useful, but really only as an effort to lessen Genocide's effect.
Earthquake; halving the amount of enemies is nice, but really, Golems are quite useless.

[Rhiannon]

Alright, I added all of that except for Medusa Eye. I also added Revolution since you just HAD to mention Chariot.

Now, translate that bit about Flame in his effects. I want to make sure it's not more than I first thought it was.

[Rhiannon]

Oooh. You CAN fight Gulcasa at noon in one battle. Although, his stats are the lowest they'll ever be at in that battle...