Vandal Hearts II/Chapter 4

Yuggor
Victory condition: Defeat friar Mahler Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 65.000 G Items: At the beginning of this battle the hero is isolated from the rest of the group. Make him move back immediately, to reunite him with the others, otherwise he will be extremely vulnerable to enemy attacks. In particular, there are two wizards who could attack him: one can cast Mini and heal enemy units, while the other has powerful attack spells. Other characters start the battle at a disadvantage. Quickly go up the stairs, defeating the enemies with swords that come your way. As soon as possible, eliminate the two wizards from the distance. Also keep an eye on the archer who is in front of the building: from his position he has a good range and can cause considerable damage. Mahler has 679 HP and is more dangerous than the last times you encountered him. He will start to come forward only when, apart from him, only one or two enemies remain. You can try to defeat him in the usual way, quickly healing characters who are hit by his attacks with Heal Max. However, there are also two items to collect here, one of which (the map) is very difficult to reach. You have to use the Blockmake skill many times, so if you want to collect the map already in this battle, you have to make sure to "entertain" Mahler while your usual character with the appropriate equipment builds the steps to reach the roof. It's not that difficult, you can actually take advantage of it to make Mahler waste MP so that he can no longer cast Fireburst, but be very careful, because his attacks are extremely powerful. A physical attack from him can even defeat a character with a low HP value in one hit. If you feel unsure, you can also come back here later. This time too, however, once defeated, Mahler will flee and you will meet him again.
 * Goblin (shield) - V19, H0 (chest)
 * Map-13 - V19, H25 (hidden)

Bazo Forest
Victory condition: Defeat Jamir, Manon and Jacob Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 75.000 G Items: It's time to finish off the Blood Knights once and for all. In this battlefield you will face the three leaders Jamir, Manon and Jacob (possessed by Kudur's magic) together. By winning, you will get rid of them forever, but the battle is really tough, also because in addition to them there are other enemies. The battlefield is almost entirely flat, apart from a step at the beginning and a high hill on the right. However, there are large areas of tall grass, which will limit your movements. The first boss to come forward will be Jamir (550 HP), who fortunately does not have spells to attack from a distance. However, be careful of his powerful physical attacks. Jamir will be joined by a few other enemies, including a wizard with offensive spells. Eliminate the wizard as soon as possible, then focus on Jamir. You shouldn't have too much trouble killing him. Manon (641 HP) will then come forward, who is decidedly more dangerous. Here too, Manon has three Recovermarks and next to her there is a wizard who can heal the enemy units, so eliminate him quickly. Manon can cast Dark Punish twice, so try not to get hit and make her waste MP. However, don't underestimate her physical attack, which can eliminate a character with a low HP value in one shot. You must also keep an eye on the archer who is on the hill: from his position he has a good range and can cause considerable damage. Last, but not least, Jacob (620 HP). He usually comes down from the hill only when you have eliminated Manon, but sometimes even before. He also can cause a lot of damage when he casts Maelstrom. Even more fearsome is his Helljab attack, which can cause devastating damage to four characters in a row and can kill characters with low HP in one hit, so surround him and finish him off only with your highest defense characters. Two other tips that can help you in this difficult battle are the following. 1) Use your mages only to attack enemy wizards, otherwise, given the power of the three bosses' attacks, it is better to conserve MP to heal the group. 2) You can use the tall grass to your advantage, to defend your characters. The three bosses, with their heavy armor, cannot in fact enter it. You can then place characters with light armor and less HP inside it, so that the bosses cannot reach them. As for the items to collect, two of them are easy to reach, but the L-vase is definitely out of the way. Almost certainly, you will have to "entertain" Jacob while your usual winged character reaches the chest. Be very careful not to make mistakes. Otherwise, you can re-enter this battlefield later to make everything easier. Don't forget the Plug, which allows you to access a secret battlefield.
 * G-hammer (special weapon) - V0, H23 (chest)
 * Plug (accessory) - V3, H7 (hidden)
 * L-vase (accessory) - V14, H19 (chest)

Lugusta Ruin
Victory condition: All enemies Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 80.000 G Items: Compared to the last battles you've faced, this one is relatively easy. Here you have two external helpers, Clive and Nicola. They are both equipped with heavy armor, a shield and a short-range weapon. At the beginning you have to climb a ladder to get over a wall. Three slow and predictable enemies will come your way but eliminating them shouldn't be a problem. Once on the top of the wall, you will have to watch out for a wizard who will attack you from below (as well as being able to heal enemy units): try to eliminate him quickly from a distance. You should also eliminate the archers who may be on the perpendicular wall from a distance, so that they cannot bother you when you are in the clearing below. Here are two infantry units. This clearing is largely overgrown with tall grass, so progress is a bit difficult for characters wearing heavy armor. The last enemies to face are another wizard, who can both attack you and heal enemy units, two wingers and another archer. The latter may attack you from above, so be careful. However, if you still have some spells and healing items available, eliminating them should be easy. There are two items to collect here, including a map that allows access to a secret battlefield. One is in a chest that you can easily reach with a winged character at the beginning (watch out for archers), the other in the clearing.
 * Map-14 - V6, H14 (hidden)
 * Tri-rake (spear) - V15, H11 (chest)

Note 1: After this battle, Clive will ask you a question. What you answer will influence the ending of the game (see specific section).

Note 2: Upon re-entering this battlefield after finding all seven prisms, you will witness a scene where a hologram of Saint Nirvath will give you the Vandal Hearts sword. It is the most powerful sword in the game. Possessing it or not before fighting Yuri will influence the ending of the game (see specific section).

Slate Convent 1
Victory condition: Defeat all enemies Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 90.000 G Items: A fairly easy battle, despite the terrain being against you. Here too you have the help of Clive and Nicola. The only enemies to fear are a wizard, who can both attack you and heal enemy units, and an archer who can cause massive damage from his position. Furthermore, they are both quite close to your starting position, so if you manage to get rid of them, the rest of the battle will be a joke. The remaining enemies are all infantry units and a winger and can be eliminated easily. Even the treasures to collect, despite being at the bottom of the battlefield, are quite easy for a winged character to reach.
 * Map-C – V12, H15 (hidden)
 * G-shot (bow) – V0, H25 (chest)
 * Clanger (special weapon) – V15, H25 (chest)

Note: If you want to face this battlefield again (for example if you forgot to pick up an item), you will have to re-enter from the south.

Slate Convent 2
Victory condition: Defeat Godard Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 110.000 G Items: You enter this battle from the same location as the previous one on the world map, but the interior will be completely different. The fight this time is more difficult and you have to deal with Godard himself. Here too, you can count on Nicola's help. If you answered Clive that he must protect Rosaly, he will also be present in the battle, otherwise he will be killed by Godard before the fight. Much of the surface is made up of lava fields; then there are three parallel paths, two on the sides and one in the center. Godard is at the bottom of the central passage and is surrounded by a few more enemies. At the beginning you should divide your group in two, sending some characters to the right and the others to the left, to eliminate the enemies on the side passages. Among them there is also a wizard, who can both attack you and heal enemy units, but eliminating him should be easy. It is not advisable to advance along the central path until you have eliminated all the enemies on the sides. The only enemy to really fear in this fight is Godard (762 HP). He has the devastating Exodus spell, which causes approximately 150 points of damage to each character hit. Luckily though, he can only cast it twice. So try to trick him and make him waste all his MP quickly. It shouldn't be difficult but be careful not to get hit. Once removed from his spell, Godard becomes pratically harmless. His staff has pathetic attack power. You can thus defeat him easily and you will have plenty of time to send the usual winged character to collect the two items at the bottom of the battlefield. To reach them you need the Blockmake skill or, even better, Doubleblock. Of course, even though you've apparently killed Godard, it's far from over.
 * Map-1 - V6, H24 (hidden)
 * Coffin (throwing weapon) - V9, H24 (hidden)

Note 1: If you want to face this battlefield again you have to re-enter from the west.

Mt. Buhho
Victory condition: Defeat Godeau and Thorpe Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 120.000 G Items: Despite the presence of two bosses and the terrain being against you, this battle isn't that difficult. In fact, Godeau and Thorpe are not much more powerful than the last time you fought them. In addition to them there are also some other enemies, but all quite easy to eliminate. Also, there are no wizards. At the beginning of the fight, you should be able to reach Godeau (550 HP) quite quickly. Try to avoid his attacks and eliminate the two enemies near him. If he hits you with Dark Punish, heal the group with your wizards, which in this battle are best reserved for healing. Then surround Godeau and finish him off, to finally kill him. Thorpe (520 HP), who is initially at the top of the hill, will then begin to come forward. You won't need to climb the hill, she will descend on her own. In the meantime you have to defeat the other enemies, but the only one you need to pay attention to is the archer, who can cause significant damage from above. Once eliminated, you can send the usual winged character to collect the two items present. If you have Doubleblock, climbing the hill and reaching the chests will be much quicker. To kill Thorpe, use the same strategy: attack her from a distance first, healing any characters who are hit by her thunder element spells. Then surround Thorpe to defeat her, this time definitively.
 * Nodachi (sword) - V7, H8 (chest)
 * Letter-2 (accessory) - V22, H0 (chest)

Gardeau 1
Victory condition: Defeat all enemies Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 130.000 G Items: An easy battle, but keep in mind that immediately after this you have to face another one, without being able to make purchases or change equipment between one fight and another. So organize yourself accordingly. The battlefield is divided in two by the high castle wall. At the beginning you also have to cross a ditch. The only enemy to fear is a wizard who can cast Mini on your party. Quickly take him out from a distance, using your spells on the other side of the wall. The other enemies are easy to eliminate and don't pose much of a threat, including the archers. In fact, from the top of the wall they cannot hit the characters who are near the wall. The only time they will be able to do this is when you are going up the stairs. You should be able to tackle the enemies a little at a time without any problems and, once you reach the top of the wall, eliminating the last ones will be a joke. The only item to collect is Map-5, which allows you to unlock the last secret battlefield. It is kept in a chest. To reach it you need the Blockmake skill, but Doubleblock will allow you to speed things up.
 * Map-5 - V22, H10 (chest)

Note: If you want to face this battlefield again later, you have to re-enter it from the north.

Gardeau 2
Victory condition: Defeat Doom Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 140.000 G Items: Here you must face and finally kill the last member of the Queen Mother's trio, Doom and his minions. The battlefield is rectangular, slightly sloping, with elevations on the sides. Doom has 715 HP and has powerful attacks that you should avoid, such as Thunderfall, Absolute 0 and Ax Storm. Unlike in other battles however, he is not at the bottom of the battlefield. After eliminating the first four enemies that come forward (all easy to defeat infantry units) you can face him directly, probably before the other enemies have reached you. If you manage to defeat him, preferably in a single turn, you will have already won the battle, without having to eliminate the other annoying enemies, including a wizard and an archer. To win the battle quickly, this strategy is certainly preferable. However, this way you will not be able to take the only item to collect, which is located in a chest at the bottom of the battlefield and which is necessary to obtain a 100% Weapon Find. Sending a winged character to get it while the other enemies are still there is too risky and he would almost certainly be killed. You should then re-enter this battlefield later. If instead, you want to do everything in a single battle, you should stay behind, wait for the enemies to reach you and finally, after eliminating them, face Doom in the usual way, sending your treasure hunter to open the chest in the meantime. It's over for the trio.
 * Breaker (dagger) - V10, H23 (chest)

Note: If you want to face this battlefield again later, you have to re-enter it from the east.

Natra Palace 1
Victory condition: Defeat all enemies Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 150.000 G Items: Premise: if you want Yuri to survive, you must enter this battlefield in possession of the Vandal Hearts sword. The battle is quite simple. The battlefield essentially consists of a long, slightly sloping staircase with columns on the sides. Your group obviously starts from the bottom. Clive will also help you if he survived. Enemies will come at you a little at a time and shouldn't cause you much trouble. There are only two to keep an eye on. One is a wizard with two attack spells, which you should be able to take out easily anyway. The other is an enemy with a thrown weapon, which has excellent range and can cause massive damage. However, you can avoid his attacks by hiding behind the columns on the sides. The only item to collect is at the bottom of the battlefield and easy for a winged character to reach.
 * Letter-3 (accessory) - V10, H1 (hidden)

Natra Palace 2
Victory condition: Defeat Yuri Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 160.000 G Items: none

If you entered Natra Palace with the Vandal Hearts sword you will not have to face this battle. Yuri will understand his mistake and will give up fighting, saving himself. If, instead, you don't have the sword, immediately after the previous battle, without being able to change equipment or make purchases, you will have to fight again and kill your old friend Yuri. Here too, you will have Clive's help (if he survived). The battlefield is rather small and symmetrical, also regarding the placement of the enemies. There is only one step about halfway up. Almost all enemies can be eliminated very easily. However, there are also two wizards and both can attack your group and heal enemy units, so try to eliminate them quickly. Yuri has 700 HP and will only come forward when you have eliminated most of the enemies. He can cast the very powerful Exodus spell three times, the same one Godard had, so you have to do everything you can to avoid his attacks and make him waste MP. As with all other bosses, weaken him from a distance, then surround him with your strongest characters and attack him until he is killed.

After the battles in Natra Palace, Adele's fate is revealed. If you have made amends with her and both Clive and Yuri survived, Adele will live. If you have not respected all the previous conditions, Adele will commit suicide or swear revenge on the hero and you will be forced to kill her in the next battle.

Nigran Cathedral 1
Victory condition: Defeat Mahler / Defeat Mahler and Adele Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 300.000 G Items: none

Here begins the final challenge of the game. From this moment you have to face four consecutive battles, without being able to make purchases or change equipment between one and the other. There are no more items to collect (also because you cannot use them), but strangely there is still a monetary reward. The first of these battles, set around the cathedral, changes depending on Adele's fate.

If Adele has reconciled with the hero or committed suicide, to win you only have to defeat Mahler, who is now a Kudur zombie. He is however a formidable opponent, with 782 HP, a powerful physical attack (he can use Triple Slash) and capable of casting Fireburst. However, this time Mahler is quite close to your group at the start of the battle. There is only one high step separating your units from him. You can even place three of your characters already at his level. If you act well, you can therefore end the battle very quickly, immediately concentrate on Mahler and attack him until he is killed, ignoring the other enemies. Place three characters with high HP at the same level as Mahler and the other characters immediately behind. Those with Wing Armor will be able to climb the step without any problems, while others will still be able to use their attack spells or items to hit the boss. As soon as Mahler makes his move, immediately start attacking him, don't waste time healing characters hit by Fireburst. The other enemies are in fact far away and cannot attack you for a couple of turns. At most, there will be a magician who will cure Mahler. Use all your spells first, then surround Mahler with your strongest characters and finish him off. If you do as described you should win already in the first round, or at the latest at the beginning of the next one.

If, instead, Adele has sworn revenge on the hero, things get more complicated. You must defeat both her and Mahler to win the fight. Furthermore, the two are initially found in front of the entrance to the cathedral, in a raised position, so you cannot use the strategy described above. Adele is not difficult to defeat, she only has 255 HP, but she can cast Heal Max to heal enemy units and also Magic Absorb. If you want to aim directly at the two bosses, you will be forced to use Blockmake to allow the group to overcome the steps, or Switcher, exchanging the position of a character with that of Mahler. Otherwise, you will have to follow the traditional route, progressively defeating the enemies you encounter along the way and finally facing Mahler and Adele. No enemy will create particular problems for you, the only one to eliminate as soon as possible is a wizard who can attack you and heal enemy units. The snow, however, limits your movements. In any case, try not to use many healing or attack items here, but save them for later.

Nigran Cathedral 2
Victory condition: Defeat Mohosa Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 380.000 G Items: none

Here you meet an old acquaintance, Mohosa, who has also become a Kudur zombie. The battlefield is quite sloped and obviously your group is at a disadvantage at the beginning. The first enemies to come forward are five infantry units. Unlike usual, however, they are probably the most dangerous enemies, after Mohosa. In fact, they are all capable of using Ax-vortex, causing massive damage to multiple characters. So try to arrange your group so that they can't hit more than one character at a time and eliminate them quickly, also using some spells if necessary. Besides them there are two wizards, one of which can cast Blackhole and the other can heal enemy units and two archers. Eliminate them however you like, reaching them is not difficult given the absence of obstacles on the ground, but save at least a healing spell or two for the boss fight. Mohosa will only come forward when you have defeated almost all the other enemies, as usual. He has 720 HP and is also capable of using Ax-vortex, in addition to Thunderstorm. As usual, attack him from a distance first, healing the characters who will eventually be hit by his attacks. Finally, surround him and kill him permanently. Last enemy to eliminate Godard.

Nigran Cathedral 3
Victory condition: Defeat Godard Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 400.000 G Items: none

The only enemy to face here is Godard himself. Better not to underestimate him though, because he has 999 HP and can cast the Exodus spell 11 times. The battlefield is very simple and rather small, with a hill in the center. Already in the first round, it is best to bring your group forward as much as possible, Godard will not attack you anyway. Then, on the next turn, some of your characters will inevitably be hit by Exodus, but the Heal Max spell has the same range of action and allows you to recover most of the damage suffered. Use it immediately to be safe and then start attacking Godard. First use the spells of the characters who are furthest from him, then surround him with your characters equipped with short-range weapons and finally use your archers. If you act well and have the best weapons available at this point, you might be able to defeat him already in the second turn, or at most at the beginning of the next one. Even his attacks, however powerful, if you have the best armor and have faced all the optional battlefields, in order to reach a high level, will never be enough to kill a character in a single hit. After defeating Godard in this form, you must make one last effort and face the final battle.

Final battle
Victory condition: Destroy all hearts Defeat condition: Death of the hero Basic reward: 450.000 G Items: none

The last battle is quite particular and surprisingly easy, if compared to other boss battles. The battlefield is small and simple, with no obstacles. At the beginning, your characters will have to start all in a row, at the bottom of the battlefield. You can only choose their location. The enemies to be defeated are four hearts, with 600 HP each, placed at a regular distance from each other. They cannot move from their position and there are two types. The one in front on the right and the one in back on the left (looking towards Godard) can cast Doomhowl, which has good range, but only around them and deals around 90 points of damage to each character hit. The other two can instead cast Doomflash, which can only hit the four adjacent positions but does more damage (around 115 points). So first try to eliminate the two hearts with a greater range. Attack them first from a distance with your archers, then, when their turn has passed, surround them and finish them off. Some of your characters will inevitably be hit, especially at the beginning, but you can easily compensate for this with Heal Max. In fact, it is better to initially reserve the magicians for healing here. Then focus on the other two hearts. After they make their move, surrounding them and defeating them before the end of the turn is really easy. When you have destroyed them all you will have completed the game and you will witness the final sequences and the credits, during which the fate of your allies will be revealed. The second part of the ending, however, in which the hero's fate is revealed, is different based on the choices you made in the game.