Raid & Total Assault Strategies

Total Assault (Raids) are Blue Archive's premier end-game content, demanding highly optimized teams, precise execution, and deep understanding of boss mechanics. They are the primary source of high-tier crafting materials, unique rewards, and a measure of your progression.

• Pre-Raid Information Gathering: Before attempting any raid, thoroughly review the boss's details in the in-game raid information screen.
  • Armor Type: This dictates which attack type you absolutely must bring (e.g., Mystic for Kaiten FX Mk.0).
  • Attack Type: Understand if the boss deals Explosive, Piercing, or Mystic damage to your students, and plan your tanks/healers accordingly.
  • Unique Mechanics: Bosses often have specific gimmicks, such as summoning adds, creating shields, having vulnerable phases, or requiring specific crowd control. Read these carefully.
  • Terrain Type: Remember to select students with high terrain proficiency for the raid environment.
• Team Building for Raids:
  • Specialization is Key: Unlike general content, raid teams are highly specialized. Focus almost exclusively on maximizing damage against the boss's armor type.
  • Multiple Teams: You can deploy up to four teams (A, B, C, D) against a raid boss. This allows you to bring multiple sets of damage dealers and supports. Optimize each team for a specific role or phase.
  • Buffer Stacking: Powerful buffers like Himari and Ako are often essential, as their buffs can be stacked across multiple damage dealers in different teams.
  • Survivability vs. Damage: For higher difficulties, a balance is needed. While damage is paramount, your Strikers must survive long enough to deal it. Consider a dedicated healer or a strong tank if the boss's damage output is too high.
• Phase Management & Execution:
  • Boss Phases: Raid bosses typically have multiple phases, often triggered by HP thresholds. Each phase might introduce new attacks, vulnerabilities, or summon additional enemies.
  • Skill Rotation: Plan your EX skill rotation for each team. Know when to use buffs, when to unleash damage, and when to heal or use crowd control.
  • Restarting: Don't be afraid to restart a raid attempt if a critical skill misses, a student dies prematurely, or you make a significant mistake. Practice leads to perfection.
• Practice & Refinement:
  • Raids, especially at higher difficulties (Extreme, Insane, Torment), require significant practice. Experiment with different student combinations, skill timings, and team orders.
  • Watch community guides and videos for advanced strategies and specific boss mechanics. The Blue Archive community is very active in sharing raid strategies.

Example Raid Boss Strategy: Kaiten FX Mk.0 (Special Armor)

• Boss Type: Special Armor (Blue) - Highly vulnerable to Mystic (Blue) attacks.
• Terrain: Urban (often).
• Key Mechanics: Kaiten FX Mk.0 consists of multiple "Kaiten Rangers" that combine into the main boss. The boss often has a "guard" phase where it takes reduced damage, and a "vulnerable" phase where it takes increased damage. It also summons smaller enemies.
• Recommended Strikers (Mystic Damage):
  • Main Damage Dealers: Hina (Swimsuit), Iori, Cherino, Haruna (Swimsuit), Izuna.
  • Tanks: Yuuka (if survivability is an issue), Tsubaki (for evasion and CC).
• Recommended Specials (Support):
  • Buffers: Himari (Crit Damage/ATK), Ako (Crit Rate/Crit Damage). These are almost mandatory for maximizing damage.
  • Healers: Serina (spot healing), Koharu (burst healing/damage).
  • Damage Specials: Hibiki (AoE damage, can clear adds).
• General Strategy:
  1. Team A (Main Damage): Focus on your strongest Mystic damage dealers (e.g., Hina (S), Iori) supported by Himari and Ako. Use their EX skills during the boss's vulnerable phase for maximum impact.
  2. Team B/C/D (Secondary Damage/Clean-up): Use other Mystic damage dealers or students with strong AoE to clear the smaller Kaiten Ranger adds efficiently, generating EX cost for your main team.
  3. EX Skill Timing: Save your powerful damage EX skills for when the boss is in its vulnerable state. Use Himari/Ako's buffs just before your main damage dealers unleash their skills.
  4. Add Management: If the boss summons adds that overwhelm your Strikers, use AoE skills or a dedicated add-clearer to manage them.

Resource Management & Long-Term Progression

Efficiently managing your in-game currencies and materials is crucial for consistent long-term progression and ensuring your students are always battle-ready.