2nd Stratum Boss and Epilogue

Learn the Hippogryph's weaknesses, attack patterns, and strategies to defeat it and complete the 2nd Stratum in Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth. Includes epilogue details.

At the entrance of 10F, you'll meet Solor and Lili again. They've heard about your Master Exam. Proceed clockwise to a nearby shortcut, then head north to open a door. Inside a large room, Hippogryph will initially be unseen. A shrieking cry from above will alert you to its presence. Move forward a few steps, and after looking up, you'll find the beast.

Hippogryph

Stats / Weaknesses:

• HP: 6,254
• Loot: Gryphon Wingpaw, Transient Pick (conditional: defeat on first turn)
• Skills: Panic Glare (head), Bind Claw (arms), Back Kick (legs), Sky Dive (arms), Wing Shield (innate), Rest (head), Lightning Storm (legs)
• EXP: 23,000
• Weakness: Volt, Head Bind
• Resist: Panic
• Immune: Instant Death

Phases:

1. Opening: Hippogryph starts with Panic Glare, targeting one party member with a high chance of inflicting Panic.
2. Standard Attacks: Follows with random attacks including normal attacks (cut damage), Bind Claw (cut damage to a row, chance of Arm Bind), or Back Kick (line-piercing bash damage).
3. Below 75% HP: Uses Sky Dive (cut damage to all party members, inflicts ATK debuff for four turns), followed by Wing Shield stance at the end of the turn. Under this stance, physical damage taken is halved, and Hippogryph can only use Rest (restores 500 HP). Wing Shield lasts three turns unless 500 damage is dealt during that time.
4. Below 55% HP: Repeats the Sky Dive and Wing Shield combo.
5. Below 35% HP: Repeats the Sky Dive and Wing Shield combo.
6. Below 50% HP (after Wing Shield): Performs Lightning Storm (2-4 hits of volt damage to random party members, chance of Paralysis). After this point, Panic Glare and Lightning Storm become random attacks, and normal attacks are removed from the available moveset at lower thresholds.

Strategy:

• Preventing Panic Glare: Use Celestrian's Chain Blast on the first turn to bind its head and other parts, granting 2-3 turns of safety.
• Dealing with Sky Dive: This attack hits all party members, including summons. To protect summons, apply ATK debuffs to Hippogryph or use specific Union skills. The attack also debuffs the party's ATK.
• Exploiting Wing Shield: Since only physical damage is halved, INT-based attacks and skills (like Warlock spells or Celestrian's Tri-Magic) deal full damage. Inflicting Head Bind prevents Rest, allowing free turns for buffs/debuffs.
• Countering Lightning Storm: This move has a high paralysis chance. Dragoon's high-level Bunkers can redirect damage. Inflicting Leg Bind is also effective.
• Conditional Loot (Transient Pick): Requires defeating Hippogryph on the first turn, which is impossible at this stage. Stratum bosses can be refought later.
• Loot Usage: Gryphon Wingpaw can be sold for Gryphbreaker (ATK +72, MAT +55). Transient Pick can be sold for The Answerer (ATK +196, MAT +176), the strongest sword.

After the battle, climb to 11F to continue your journey. Save your game and return to the Council Hall to report. Your guild will be acknowledged as a master guild.

Mission Completed!

• Adventure Result: 6,000
• Money: 54,000
• EXP: 54,000

Ramus asks you to report new discoveries in the upcoming 3rd Stratum. Before that, visit the Explorer Guild to attain Master Titles. Egar will explain that characters can be assigned Legendary Titles (e.g., Fencer can become Chain Duelist or Phantom Duelist). Changing titles requires a Rest, which costs two levels but allows for better party synergy and strategic variety.