One of the first optional side quests you might come across inMetaphor: ReFantaziois ‘A Bullish Embargo’, which sees you traveling to the Belega Corridor to defeat the Grotesque Guptauros that dwells there. This boss is at the very end of the dungeon and there’s plenty of formidable foes in between, we recommend your party be in the double digits before you attempt this one.
Because of the nature of this area and how the enemies don’t take kindly to anyone with a staff or a mace, you’re limited in terms of what your party can be. Here’s what you need to know.
Pre-Battle Prep
Before you head out onto this quest, stock up in town to ensure you have plenty of healing items as there are no vendors throughout the dungeon. We recommend ensuring your party isat least Level 10(if on Normal difficulty) before attempting this.
ensure you conserve your MP and items as much as possible throughout the dungeon to help you in the boss battle.
Once youreach Plateau’s Mirage, you are at the boss battledoors. you may go to Akademeia and save here, as well as ensure your Archetypes and inherited Skills are properly set.
Recommended Party Setup
As we mentioned before,taking Mages or Healers into the Belega Corridor will enrage all the monstersin there, including Grotesque Guptauros, which means it’ll induce anger and use Frenzy more often to decimate your party.
In terms of Archetypes and Formation, we recommend the following:
Seeker
Back
Healing with Dei as needed, buffing Hulkenberg with Tarukaja, and using Blizz if you have inherited it.
Warrior
Front
If his Turn Icon comes up first, pass so that Hulkenberg can use Synthesis on her Turn Icon. On any bonus Turn Icons, attack or use items as you see fit.
Knight
Using Synthesis to use Jump Thrust with Strohl as often as possible, and if not usual Pierce attacks.
It’s worth ensuring the Protagonist has inherited Blizz from Mage to use on their recommended Archetype. You get it at Level 2 and can easily rank up by using some Hero’s Incense before the boss if you haven’t already.
We’ve written this guide based on Archetypes and party members we had available at the time as we tackled this quest almost immediately. You may have other viable options available to you, but the main strategy will largely be the same.
—
Sever physical damage to all party members.
Reckless Charge
Buff effects on Grotesque Guptauros fade.(It uses this instead of Frenzy on Easy Mode.)
Battle Strategy
Open bybuffing Hulkenberg with Tarukajaas she doesPierce damage, which Grotesque Guptauros is Weak to.Hulkenberg should use Synthesis to perform Jump Thrust, which deals medium physical Pierce damage andlowers the enemy’s defense for three turns. This is essentially the move we want to be using the most.
If Strohl’s Turn Icon comes up before Hulkenberg, Pass to yield his Turn Icon so that Hulkenberg can use Jump Thrust.
Grotesque Guptaurosuses a lot of heavy damage physical attacks, so thestrategy here is to keep your party healed up at all times while hitting its weaknesses. If you leave your party on low health, one bad attack can wipe them all out.
When Grotesque Guptauros takes aim and uses Charge, you should Guard on the next Turn Icon with all party members as it will release Frenzy next, attacking the whole of your team, and then following up with another attack.
It does not use Frenzy on Easy Mode.
I recommendusing the Protagonist to heal using Dei, and Strohl with items(or Dei if he has inherited it) as needed on any subsequent Turn Icons that aren’t used by Synthesis with Hulkenberg.
On subsequent moves with the Protagonist, or if no healing is needed, useBlizz as much as possibleas this is another weakness for Grotesque Guptauros. For Hulkenberg, if you’ve already used Synthesis that round, justuse her default Pierce attack, or items if you need to.
You’ll earn yourself theFalchion weaponfor defeating the Grotesque Guptauros, as well as receivea Brute’s Hornas proof of your conquest to complete the ‘A Bullish Embargo’ quest.
