Impending Darkness Event/Guide

This writeup is intended to be mobile-friendly as the UI can make switching difficult. Thus, there will be a focus on limiting the amount of switching necessary, from gear to prayers. Using a web browser or PC will help, as you will be able to swap gear much faster, but is not required. Using a PC will allow you to switch prayers, gear, or spells to optimize DPS, but these will not be discussed in depth.

This section is still a work in progress to account for new items in the Throne of the Herald Expansion. It will be updated as the meta changes and more strategies are discovered.

Event Mechanics

Event mechanics are explained on the Impending Darkness Event page. In summary, you will need to clear 4

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Slayer

areas a total of 5 times to complete the entire event. At the end of every area cleared, a harder Boss monster will spawn - it is simply a regular monster with extra combat modifiers. At the end of every round of 4 slayer areas cleared, Bane will spawn. You will have time to swap gear before starting the fight with Bane. You must defeat Bane 4 times, and the next time you finish all of the slayer areas you will be faced with Bane, Instrument of Fear.

Controlled Affliction: Each phase of the event will add this modifier to all standard enemies, it grants +500 Maximum HP and as well as a 30% chance to apply Affliction. Each Bane defeated changes this modifier by adding +500 additional HP and 5% additional chance to apply Affliction.

Affliction: For each stack of affliction, the player's max HP is reduced by 1% until the player is at 50% of their original maximum HP. Critically, this will also impact the player's Auto Eat threshold, making each attack successively more dangerous. Affliction stacks are cleared after each monster is defeated or when the player leaves combat whether due to death or fleeing.

Equipment Sets

Unhallowed Wasteland, 100% Slayer Negation Sets

This is the most important set and is targeted for

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Unhallowed Wasteland

. You can use this set for the remaining Slayer areas, but it will be helpful to swap to the other sets to optimize your damage output. The important part about this gear set is reaching 100% slayer negation, no matter how you reach it.

If the Ultima Godsword has not been obtained yet, the Infernal Claw and Tidal Edge are alternatives. If these are to be used, the Dragonfire Shield should be equipped in the offhand.

When using the Ultima Godsword, your attack style should be set on Slash and not Stab as the bonuses are significantly higher.

Slot	Melee	Ranged	Magic
Head	Slayer Helmet (Master)	Slayer Cowl (Master)	Slayer Wizard Hat (Master)
Body	Slayer Platebody (Master)	Slayer Leather Body (Master)	Slayer Wizard Robes (Master)
Leggings	Ragnar God Platelegs	Aeris God Platelegs	Glacia God Platelegs
Boots	Ragnar God Boots	Aeris God Boots	Glacia God Boots
Hands	Ragnar God Gloves	Aeris God Gloves	Glacia God Gloves
Cape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape
Passive	Slayer Cowl (Master)	Slayer Wizard Hat (Master)	Slayer Helmet (Master)
Neck	Fighter Amulet	Deadeye Amulet	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs
Ring	Hunter's Ring	Hunter's Ring	Hunter's Ring
Weapon	Ultima Godsword	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shockwave	Ocean Song
Offhand	Ultima Godsword	Scaled Shield	Earth Layered Shield

Dark Waters, 40% Slayer Negation Sets

This set is targeted for

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Dark Waters

,

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Shrouded Badlands

, and

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Perilous Peaks

. If you choose the "Slayer Area Effects are 5% Stronger" Modifier, wear a Hunter's Ring in the Passive Slot for all 3 styles.

If the Ultima Godsword has not been obtained yet, the Infernal Claw and Tidal Edge are alternatives. If these are to be used, the Dragonfire Shield should be equipped in the offhand.

When using the Ultima Godsword, your attack style should be set on Slash and not Stab as the bonuses are significantly higher.

Slot	Melee	Ranged	Magic
Head	Slayer Helmet (Master)	Slayer Cowl (Master)	Slayer Wizard Hat (Master)
Body	Ragnar God Platebody	Aeris God Platebody	Glacia God Platebody
Leggings	Ragnar God Platelegs	Aeris God Platelegs	Glacia God Platelegs
Boots	Ragnar God Boots	Aeris God Boots	Glacia God Boots
Hands	Ragnar God Gloves	Aeris God Gloves	Glacia God Gloves
Cape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape
Passive	Elder Crown	Elder Crown	Elder Crown
Neck	Fighter Amulet	Deadeye Amulet	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs
Ring	Fighter Ring	Deadeye Ring	Ring of Spirit Power
Weapon	Ultima Godsword	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shockwave	Ocean Song
Offhand	Ultima Godsword	Scaled Shield	Earth Layered Shield

Bane, 0% Slayer Negation Sets

This set is targeted for Bane, here we remove all extraneous Slayer Area effect negation as we want maximum damage reduction and damage output. Remember that the game pauses before you fight Bane, so you do not need multiple copies of FEZ.

If the Ultima Godsword has not been obtained yet, the Infernal Claw and Tidal Edge are alternatives. If these are to be used, the Dragonfire Shield should be equipped in the offhand.

When using the Ultima Godsword, your attack style should be set on Slash and not Stab as the bonuses are significantly higher.

Slot	Melee	Ranged	Magic
Head	Ragnar God Helmet	Aeris God Helmet	Glacia God Helmet
Body	Ragnar God Platebody	Aeris God Platebody	Glacia God Platebody
Leggings	Ragnar God Platelegs	Aeris God Platelegs	Glacia God Platelegs
Boots	Ragnar God Boots	Aeris God Boots	Glacia God Boots
Hands	Ragnar God Gloves	Aeris God Gloves	Glacia God Gloves
Cape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape	Maximum Skillcape
Passive	Elder Crown	Deadeye Amulet	Elder Crown
Neck	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs
Ring	Fighter Ring	Deadeye Ring	Ring of Spirit Power
Weapon	Ultima Godsword	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shockwave	Ocean Song
Offhand	Ultima Godsword	Scaled Shield	Earth Layered Shield

Equipment Choices

The Maximum Skillcape is non-negotiable, as fights take place in Slayer areas with an item requirement to enter. Taking the cape off in the middle of an area, for example during the pause before Bane, will cause all of your attacks to miss.

Shield of Melee Power, Shield of Ranged Power, and Shield of Magic Power should be equipped as soon as they are obtained.

For melee, if the Ultima Godsword is equipped, the Shield of Melee Power should be equipped in the passive slot. This however, is not possible for

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Unhallowed Wasteland

as a master slayer piece must be equipped in the the passive slot to reach the 100% slayer negation.

Ring of Power is typically better than the other DPS options, but as you only get one, it may be inconvenient to use it for anything but Bane, Instrument of Fear.

In general, the ring and passive slot options are quite flexible outside of Unhallowed Wasteland, if you don't own any of the listed options, you won't be missing too much. Some alternative options are:

Wasteful Ring - Ring/Passive, large survivability increase, good for Bane.
Fighter Deadeye - Passive, allows you to wear an amulet with DR in the amulet slot.
Fighter Deadeye Warlock - Rings, extra damage
Elder Crown - Passive, lifesteal and faster attacks.
Red Party Hat - Passive, allows you to have 1 more Bragging Rights than the monsters.

Melee:
- If you choose the immune to stun modifier or are fighting Bane, substitute Fighter Amulet for FEZ, Elite Amulet of Glory, or Elite Amulet of Defence.
- Terran God Armor can be used if you're worried about dying, but is generally not recommended for anything except Bane.
- Use Ring of Blade Echoes or Relentless Fury Ring. Note that Blade Echoes should not be used in conjunction with Ultima Godsword
- Relentless Fury Gloves and Relentless Fury Ring can be used in place of their un-upgraded equivalents if you own them.
Ranged:
- Poison Virulence Gloves and Poison Virulence Ring can be used in place of their un-upgraded equivalents if you own them.
Magic:
- Burning Madness Gloves and Burning Madness Ring can be used in place of their un-upgraded equivalents if you own them.

Buffs

Agility

#	Obstacle	Reason
1	X
2	X
3	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pipe Climb	No particular reason beyond being the only obstacle that grants any combat benefits.
4	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Coal Stones	No negative modifiers, technically saves some food.
5	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cliff Balance	+20 HP.
6	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lake Swim	+3% Damage, +1% DR. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rocky Waters can be used instead.
7	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Boulder Trap	No negative combat modifiers.
8	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pipe Crawl	+8% Damage. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Raft Building grants less damage in exchange for more HP.
9	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ice Jump	+20 HP.
10	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ocean Rafting	Free damage!
P	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pillar of Combat	Lots of beneficial combat bonuses.
11	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pipe Maze	More damage.
12	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Boulder Balance	Lower attack interval and more damage for the low price of lower accuracy.
13	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rope Trap	More damage.
14	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Freezing Climb	More evasion, accuracy and damage.
15	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Waterfall Crossing	Is the equivalent of a permanent diamond luck potion, which frees up a potion slot for Damage Reduction Potion IV It is highly recommended to have this obstacle at 99 mastery to halve the -100hp modifier.
EP	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Elite Pillar of Conflict	Lots of beneficial combat bonuses.

Astrology

Maximized combat-focused

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Astrology

bonuses will help the most. The difference it makes is moderate and it is worth getting majority of the combat bonuses. The most beneficial constellation is

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Ashtar

which provides many beneficial combat bonuses.

Consumables

Food:
- Whale or similar, you want a food item that heals for a large amount all at once, so that one click heals you for the vast majority of your HP no matter what.
Potions:
- Diamond Luck Potions for the entire event. if you are using
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  Waterfall Crossing, the diamond luck potions should be substituted for other potions, but preferably Damage Reduction Potion IV.
Summoning Tablets:
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  Dragon and
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  Minotaur,
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  Centaur, or
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  Witch.
- Fox and
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  Minotaur,
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  Centaur, or
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  Witch can also be used, if unlocked. Fox and
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  Dragon is a powerful combination against Bane when using
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  Incinerate.
Prayers:
- These will be outlined on a case-by-case basis for each slayer area below.
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  Protect Item will not be recommended so as to not plan for failure. There are many ways to ensure you do not die, and losing the power of one of your prayers can actually increase your chance of death.
Ammo:
- Whetstone
- Jadestone Bolts
- Wizard's Scroll - These can be skipped as they don't give any DPS benefit
Spells:
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  Fire Surge is the generally recommended spell.
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  Anguish III and
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  Surge II are not required but do provide better DPS; however, they will have to be selected every time you swap to your
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  Magic set.
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  Incinerate is a decent alternative that works especially well with the
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  Dragon and
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  Unicorn synergy ("You now heal for all BURNING damage you or the Dragon Familiar applies") to make eating a fair bit easier. Incinerate also pairs well with Fox and
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  Dragon, like stated above. You may wish to switch to any normal spell and start relying on Ocean Song once the enemy reaches less than half HP, as the burn damage will drop off as it is based on the enemies HP%. Using this spell will also allow you to use Damage Reduction Potions instead of Diamond Luck as your hits are already guaranteed at 20k+ Accuracy Rating, however, this potion should generally only be used when you won't need to swap to the other combat styles (ie. only during Bane fights)

Fight Details

Modifier Tier List

Listed from best (choose it) to worse (avoid it). All modifiers apply to the enemies, not the player. You can start and stop the event when beginning to fish for a decent first modifier. If you receive choices of modifiers or a series of modifiers after a few rounds that are completely awful, you can always restart the event for better RNG.

+100% chance to ignore Stuns and Freezes and Immune to Sleep
+20% Maximum Hit and -10% Maximum Hitpoints
+20% Maximum Hit and +20% Accuracy Rating
+2000 Maximum Hitpoints and -10% Maximum Hit
+50% chance to apply poison when hitting with an attack and +10% Maximum Hitpoints
+15% Damage Reduction and +15% Global Evasion
+50% Chance to apply burn when attacking and +50% chance to apply frostburn when attacking
+100% chance to ignore Slow effects and -5% Attack Interval
+10% Maximum Hit, -10% Attack Interval, and -10% Global Evasion
+15% chance to apply affliction when attacking and +15% Lifesteal
Slayer Area Effects are 5% Stronger
Heal 4% of current hitpoints every 2 turns and +40% of Maximum Hit added to Minimum Hit

Area Order

The recommended order of areas to clear is as follows:

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Unhallowed Wasteland
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Dark Waters
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Shrouded Badlands
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Perilous Peaks

You can clear in any order you wish, but the recommended order minimizes gear swaps and optimizes Bane fight locations. It is strongly recommended to never clear

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Unhallowed Wasteland

and

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Dark Waters

last.

Unhallowed Wasteland

Wear the Slayer Negation sets outlined above, having 100% slayer area effect negation is mandatory, as the area effect is extremely detrimental to your ability to kill anything. Swap each set for Combat Triangle advantage.
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Incinerate can be used to quickly proc
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Dragon burns against each melee UW monster if you wish, though Ocean Song and normal magic should be used when the enemy has roughly 50% of its health remaining.
Prayers:
- Use
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  Battleheart (
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  Battleborn) and
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  Protect from the combat style the enemy is using.
Dangerous Enemies
- All of them, if you get to high stacks of affliction.
- Spiked Red Claw's Savage Spike ability is the most dangerous ability, if you are bleeding when this attack is coming out, eat to full.

Dark Waters

Wear the Dark Waters 40% negation sets outlined above (ie. as much DPS gear as possible excluding Max Cape and Master Slayer Hats, if you choose the "Slayer Area Effects are 5% Stronger" Modifier, wear a Hunter's Ring in the Passive Slot. Swap each set for combat triangle advantage.
Prayers:
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  Battleheart and
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  Piety,
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  Rigour, or
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  Augury.
  - If the Throne of the Herald Expansion is purchased, the level 99+ equivalents should be used if possible (
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    Battleborn,
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    Valor,
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    Avidity, and
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    Divination) respectively. This goes for all slayer areas, even though it isn't required by any means.
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  Battleheart and
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  Protect from Ranged if fighting Rokken.
- Replace
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  Battleheart with
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  Battleborn if possible. This goes for all slayer areas, even though it isn't required by any means.
Dangerous Enemies:
- Rokken: multiple Shockwave attacks connecting with you will be a bad time, keep your health above the damage value of shockwave when stunned, but be careful not to interrupt your attacks too often so you're able to drop the stun effect. Mist Boss Rokken is incredibly dangerous as it almost always attacks faster than you.

Shrouded Badlands

No additional Area Negation is required anymore, Maximum Skillcape is enough to sufficiently cover the accuracy loss and the enemies aren't difficult enough to warrant full negation. Swap each set for combat triangle advantage, or don't, these enemies aren't difficult.
Prayers:
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  Battleheart and
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  Piety,
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  Rigour, or
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  Augury.
Dangerous Enemies:
- None!

Perilous Peaks

Same as above, no area negation is required, wear as much DPS equipment as you can manage. Swap each set for combat triangle advantage.

Prayers:
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  Battleheart and
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  Piety,
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  Rigour, or
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  Augury.
Dangerous Enemies:
- None, if you use the appropriate gear based on the combat triangle.

Bane

Bane's attack style randomly rolls when he spawns. Similar to

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Into the Mist

, you must fight him with the same combat style he is using, as he is immune to all attacks from other combat styles. If you don't want to fight with a particular style, you can run - do not stop the event as this will reset all progress - and re-clear the last slayer area to roll a new Bane spawn. Bane has the same abilities no matter his combat style. Use

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Protect from

depending on which Combat Style Bane is using. This is why we fight Bane in Perilous Peaks, the Area effect (-Evasion) does not matter since the prayer sets the boss' chance to hit to 20% regardless of how much you negate the effect.

Abilities and Eating Methods

This fight is not that much more complicated than most other areas, there are less gear swaps required, so you can focus entirely on keeping yourself alive. It is recommended to make a notecard with your effective auto-eat threshhold at various stages of Affliction build-up, typically every 10 stacks or so. This means write down what 40% of your HP is at 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50% Maximum HP, then write down or pay attention to the maximum damage values of each of the bosses attacks so you can make more informed decisions than the general advice given below.

If in doubt at any time, try to eat immediately after one of your attacks finishes, don't rely too heavily on this, as resetting your attack also removes any chance of using special attacks on the next attack.

If possible, if Bane is not casting Fragile Mind, you can swap your Protect Prayer for the DPS Prayer of your respective combat style to hopefully squeeze in a little more damage, this is not necessary, but might make the fight a little quicker.

Suffocate: Eat once after each of your own attack turns finishes to proc a bit of lifesteal/damage, also eat at around 60% HP or earlier. You want to avoid the sleep completely while still doing as much damage as possible, if you do get slept, it may be safer to simply run from combat than to try to drop the effect.
Fragile Mind: If you are debuffed by Fragile Mind, eat before the attack lands if your HP is low.
Unknown Threat: Typically not dangerous.
Mist Walk: Does no damage, however, if Bane tries to use it twice in a row he will use a Normal Attack instead, the damage value of which changes based on the modifiers you have selected. Typically not dangerous, but if the damage is more than your HP at any time, eat to survive.
Overwhelming Power: Exclusive to the final Bane. If you are debuffed by Fragile Mind, or if this attack can deal more than your auto-eat threshold based on your affliction, hold the food button to keep yourself healed. Typically not dangerous at low levels of Affliction.

Melee Bane

Probably the hardest style as the modifiers stack up. Just let the Tidal Edge or Ultima Godsword do the work as you pay attention to his attacks. In some of the modifier variations, the final Bane will be extremely difficult, and will require more effort overall than any other Bane.

If he proves to be too much of a challenge, remember that you can re-roll his attack style by re-clearing the area. With good sense for eating and appropriate gear, this fight is not so much more difficult that it requires a re-roll.

Ranged Bane

Decent fight due to the

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Dragon

+

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Centaur

synergy adding a lot of extra damage. Nothing special, as

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Shockwave

is a strong weapon.

Magic Bane

Often the easiest style as

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Incinerate

and the

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Dragon

and

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Unicorn

(

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Dragon

and Fox too) synergy make the beginning of this fight very simple, and Ocean Song special attacks along with the general power of magic clean him up nicely.