Chapter 3: The City of Perland

Epic Seven Chapter 3 walkthrough, with tips for defeating Executioner Karkanis and team recommendations.

Welcome, Heir, to Chapter 3: The City of Perland! This chapter marks a significant step up in your journey through Epic Seven, introducing more complex mechanics, tougher enemies, and a deeper dive into the world's lore. Perland, a bustling human metropolis, will challenge your team composition and gear optimization more than previous chapters. Expect to encounter a wider variety of human-like adversaries, including knights, mages, and assassins, alongside some early introductions to concepts that mirror PvP strategies.

To navigate Perland successfully, your main adventuring team should ideally be between Level 25-35, equipped with at least +6 to +9 enhanced 4-star gear, or well-rolled 5-star gear if you've been lucky with drops. Pay close attention to elemental advantages and disadvantages, as this chapter begins to punish generic team compositions.

Key Objectives and Progression

Chapter 3 is structured across 10 main stages, each offering unique challenges and rewards. Your primary goal is to progress through these stages, defeat the stage bosses, and ultimately confront the chapter boss, Executioner Karkanis.

Stage-by-Stage Breakdown & Strategy:

• Stages 3-1 to 3-3 (Perland Outskirts): These initial stages serve as an introduction to the new enemy types. Focus on efficient clearing and maintaining your heroes' health. You'll primarily face Human Warriors and Mages.
  • Recommended Heroes: Any strong single-target DPS to quickly eliminate threats, and a reliable Healer.
  • Notable Drops: Tier 3-4 equipment (Common-Rare), Small Sun Badges, Small Blazing Souls.
• Stages 3-4 to 3-6 (Perland Residential District): Here, you'll start encountering enemies with more annoying debuffs, such as Silence or Defense Break. Ensure your Soul Weaver can cleanse or your team has high effect resistance.
  • Recommended Heroes: Heroes with cleanse abilities (e.g., Angelica, Montmorancy), or a strong frontline Knight to absorb damage.
  • Notable Drops: Tier 4 equipment (Rare-Heroic), Blazing Souls, Small Sun Badges, Small Nightmare Masks.
• Stages 3-7 to 3-9 (Perland Commercial District): These stages often feature mini-boss encounters or waves with higher HP pools. This is a good place to test your team's sustained damage output.
  • Recommended Heroes: Strong AoE damage dealers (e.g., Vildred, Sez) to clear waves quickly, and a dedicated Defense Breaker.
  • Notable Drops: Tier 4-5 equipment (Heroic-Epic), Nightmare Masks, Sun Badges, Blazing Souls.
• Stage 3-10 (Perland City Hall - Boss Stage): The culmination of the chapter, featuring the formidable Executioner Karkanis.

Boss Strategy: Executioner Karkanis (Stage 3-10)

Executioner Karkanis is a Dark element Thief, making him neutral to all elements but weak to Light. He is notorious for his stealth mechanics, which can make him frustrating if you're unprepared. His key abilities include:

• Stealth: Karkanis frequently enters stealth, becoming untargetable by single-target attacks. This is his most defining mechanic.
• High Single-Target Damage: When visible, he can deal significant damage to your squishier heroes.
• Self-Buffs: He often buffs himself with Attack Up or Critical Hit Chance Up.

Recommended Team Composition:

• AoE Damage Dealer (Crucial): Heroes with powerful Area-of-Effect (AoE) attacks are paramount. AoE attacks will hit Karkanis even when he's in stealth, revealing him and allowing your single-target damage dealers to follow up.
  • Examples: Vildred, Sez, Bellona, Lena, Specter Tenebria (if you have her).
• Dispel/Buff Blocker: Heroes who can dispel buffs (especially his stealth or attack buffs) or prevent them from being applied are incredibly useful.
  • Examples: Fallen Cecilia (S3), Basar (S3), Romann (S3), Iseria (S2).
• Defense Breaker: As always, a reliable Defense Breaker will significantly speed up the fight once Karkanis is revealed.
  • Examples: Furious, Tenebria, Tywin, Bellona.
• Soul Weaver/Tank: A robust Soul Weaver or Knight to sustain your team through Karkanis's bursts of damage.
  • Examples: Angelica, Montmorancy (Specialty Change), Krau, Fallen Cecilia.

Strategy Steps:

1. Prioritize revealing Karkanis: As soon as he enters stealth, use your AoE attacks. Don't waste single-target attacks on him while he's stealthed.
2. Apply Defense Break: Once revealed, immediately apply Defense Break to maximize your damage window.
3. Focus Fire: Unleash your strongest single-target attacks while he is visible and Defense Broken.
4. Manage Debuffs: If Karkanis lands a critical debuff on your main damage dealer, cleanse it quickly.
5. Soul Burn for Damage: Save your souls for powerful Soul Burns on your main damage dealers' ultimate abilities to burst Karkanis down.

Common Pitfalls & Tips:

• Ignoring Stealth: Do NOT try to wait out his stealth. You'll take unnecessary damage and prolong the fight.
• Lack of AoE: A team without sufficient AoE will struggle immensely against Karkanis.
• Elemental Disadvantage: Avoid bringing Earth heroes unless they have a specific utility that outweighs the elemental disadvantage. Light heroes are ideal.
• Artifacts: Consider artifacts that boost AoE damage (e.g., Daydream Joker for damage, Portrait of the Saviors for general damage) or provide healing/cleanse utility.

Rewards and Notable Drops

Completing Chapter 3 offers a wealth of valuable resources crucial for your progression. Beyond the initial clear rewards (Skystones, Gold, Stigma), you'll gain access to more advanced catalysts and higher-tier equipment.

Chapter Clear Rewards:

• Skystones: ~200-300 for first-time clears and stage rewards.
• Gold: Significant amounts for stage clears and quest completion.
• Stigma: Used for promoting Phantasmas and enhancing heroes.
• Covenant Bookmarks: A few scattered throughout the chapter for hero summons.
• Molagora Seed: Often awarded for completing the entire chapter.

Specific Catalyst Drops (Farming Locations):

This chapter is an excellent source for several crucial catalysts needed for skill enhancements and awakenings of many popular heroes.

Catalyst Name	Rarity	Best Farming Stages	Common Uses (Examples)
Small Sun Badge	Rare	3-1, 3-2, 3-3	Angelica, Krau, Vildred, Sez
Sun Badge	Epic	3-7, 3-8, 3-9	Angelica, Krau, Vildred, Sez
Small Blazing Soul	Rare	3-4, 3-5, 3-6	Lena, Cidd, Karin, Tenebria
Blazing Soul	Epic	3-7, 3-8, 3-9	Lena, Cidd, Karin, Tenebria
Small Nightmare Mask	Rare	3-4, 3-5, 3-6	Assassin Coli, General Purrgis, Luluca
Nightmare Mask	Epic	3-7, 3-8, 3-9	Assassin Coli, General Purrgis, Luluca

Equipment Drops:

You will primarily find Tier 3 to Tier 5 equipment in Perland. While most will be Common to Heroic rarity, there's a chance for Epic drops, especially in the later stages. Look out for:

• Attack Set: Good for your main damage dealers.
• Health Set: Essential for tanks and healers.
• Defense Set: Another option for tanks.
• Crit Chance Set: To boost your damage dealers' critical hit rate.
• Speed Set: Always valuable for almost any hero.

Focus on equipment with desirable main stats (e.g., Attack% on Necklace, Speed on Boots, Crit Chance% on Ring) and useful sub-stats (Crit Chance, Crit Damage, Speed, Effectiveness, Effect Resistance). Don't be afraid to enhance good pieces to +9 or +12, even if they aren't perfect, as they will significantly boost your team's power.

By carefully planning your team, understanding Karkanis's mechanics, and using the farming opportunities within Perland, you'll successfully conquer Chapter 3 and be well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead in Epic Seven!