Phantom Dust/Defense is the Key


 * Message: Defense skills are spawning on the Highway. Reports indicate that when Defense skills spawn, Attack skills don't.
 * Mission: Research Defense skills.
 * Partner(s): Edgar
 * Opponent(s): Scoto, Vestio

Scoto's Strategy
Scoto will focus only on Edgar until he is killed. Scoto only has Bullet of Fire in its arsenal and will generally save up aura to fire two in a row. Although Scoto has no defensive skills it can dodge ranged attacks without much difficulty.

Vestio's Strategy
Vestio will focus on you until you are killed. Vestio will primarily use Bullet of Fire, but if its aura is full it may use Blaster instead. It only has one defensive skill, Flash Barrier, and it is very good about blocking incoming attacks. Vestio may retreat to long range after an assault but it will usually stay close to medium range.

Edgar's Strategy
Edgar has some type of brush defensive skill but he will use it obsessively, sometimes using it when an attack isn't even directed at him. Edgar has one short-range offensive skill but he doesn't move in to attack very often and his attacks aren't very accurate. If he has enough aura he will usually attack twice, knocking down his opponent. Although Edgar will focus mainly on Scoto he may also attack Vestio if they cross paths. Edgar is most useful as a decoy for this mission.

Your Strategy
You should concentrate on defeating Vestio first as quickly as possible. Edgar won't be much help if you defeat Scoto first. Defeating Vestio depends on the effective use of reversal skills and using Flash Barrier to save up aura for counter-attacks. Capturing Blaster through the use of Learning can also help greatly. If you hit Vestio with Blaster it will break its defenses. Then it just comes down to timing.

While Edgar is alive Scoto will pay no attention to you so you are free to fire away. If Edgar does die you can walk over his body and collect him like a capsule. You can then revive him with half of his life and Scoto will again ignore you.