Chapter 12: Mars, Bringer of WarMinor spoilers

Advance with Dietrich and your developed front-line units, keeping Sofia as your main healer. Assign a self-sufficient main unit to the left and units who can handle combat independently to the right. Use Dietrich's combat art to enter the center and eliminate mages. Check incoming damage before approaching human-form Mars. If Fabio cannot survive the next hit, do not trade blows just to remove one life bar. After Mars transforms, let Dietrich duel him. Retreat from lesser enemies your allies cannot defeat, and use damage reduction to protect healers when needed.

Find Fabio to upgrade Answerer#

During free time, find Fabio in the alley to trigger the hidden conversation before starting the main battle. You do not receive the upgraded weapon immediately after talking. Check Answerer's upgrade in the main battle instead of looking for another entry point in town.

If you want Gaitz, recruit him during this free-time period and confirm he has joined before the final battle. His recruitment window is this chapter only; missing it closes the opportunity.

If your front-line unit has changed to an infantry class, remove Heavy Break before deploying because it can no longer trigger. Give Dietrich healing medicine as well. Discovering he has none only after the transformation leaves his sustain dependent on criticals or allies' ranged healing.

Keep enough combat strength on the right#

Have the main unit on the left kill the mage first. If that unit can handle the route alone, send the other capable fighters right. Leaving only underdeveloped units there means they cannot defeat the enemies ahead and the group stalls. Do not add more strong units to a left flank that already advances independently.

Sofia should prioritize healing before attacking. If your front line cannot survive the incoming damage, save her action for healing. Do not move your healer into danger alongside the main attackers.

Check artillery before entering the center#

Approach 1: Enter the center with a combat art. Send Dietrich directly into the mages after checking which casters are inside. The central Healing Circle restores 30, and allies can heal at range. Dietrich leads the advance on this route, supported by healing.

Approach 2: Wait a turn under heavy artillery fire. Dietrich's goal is still to enter the center and kill the mages.

Check magic-artillery coverage before advancing on any route. If four ranged shots can focus one unit, wait a turn and adjust positions so the left side takes one fewer shot. Check the endpoint before using charge-style movement, too. Cancel a charge if it would take you straight to the boss's entrance with no way back.

Identify the artillery type before assigning a Ranger#

Once you reach an emplacement, check whether the current class can operate it before choosing who stays. Ranger can use bows, but artillery still has class restrictions. Distinguish magic artillery from ballistae before assigning a user rather than reaching it and discovering they cannot fire.

Check whether each unit can survive human-form Mars#

Approach 1: Advance only with units who can survive. Check the boss's attack before committing Mikaela. Calculate next turn's damage before moving Fabio up as well. If Mars would kill him, do not trade blows even if he can remove the current life bar. Keep Sofia safe instead of entering attack range just to contribute damage.

Approach 2: Engage the boss in melee with Dietrich. Mars gains Avoid when fighting distant enemies, so have Dietrich engage up close. Check the boss's combat art's Might +20 and confirm you can survive the hit. Even if you live, it leaves you badly wounded, so keep enough HP before engaging.

Keep both wings alive after Mars transforms#

After Mars transforms, Dietrich keeps fighting him while the others handle nearby lesser enemies. Fall back from enemies you cannot beat and let durable units take over. Move Fabio right if that side needs help. Underdeveloped units may die to the lesser enemies first, so withdraw them promptly.

If allies cannot survive the next round, use Aurora's damage-reduction Blessing, prioritizing your healers. Repeated dodges cannot replace damage reduction. Healers face potentially lethal attacks, and healing after a hit is too late.

Do not have other units attack transformed Mars. Leave him to Dietrich one-on-one. Interference triggers a warning and spawns more enemy soldiers, increasing the pressure on your allies.

Sustain the duel with ranged healing or Levin Sword counters#

Approach 1: Sofia provides ranged healing. Once both wings stabilize, keep healing Dietrich with Sofia while he pursues and attacks Mars. Ranged healing remains possible during the duel sequence.

Approach 2: Wear him down with Levin Sword counters. To conserve Umbral Steel for repairing Answerer, switch to the Levin Sword and chip away with normal attacks and ranged counters. If using healing terrain, check that the tile still works. Mars's moves destroy it; change positions afterward instead of staying there waiting for recovery.

Finish Mars when you can defeat him. You do not need to prolong the fight to break every shield. Defeating him ends the battle.

Victory condition and free time#