Panzer Dragoon Saga FAQ: Part 3 (Corrections and additions)

'ey yo. Back again? Just as well really, because the last FAQ, supposedly the best on the web, was completely wrong in some areas and lacking in some information which has just come to light in the previous few weeks. So, without further ado, let's get on with it.

********Astral Phantoms Correction********

As you remember, in the first part of this FAQ, I blasted the Astral Phantoms berserk attack as being a complete waste of time, guages and BP. In actual fact, I just didn't understand it completely.

Thanks to certain individuals (or in-duh-viduals as Dilbert (trademark Scott Adams) would say) I now know the truth. And here it is.

The Astral Phantoms differs from the Vengeance Orbs in one simple, but very important way. Instead of causing damage relating to the strength of the enemy attack, it causes damage relating to THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE PHANTOMS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. Example: You're up against an Annihilator. You fire up Astral Phantoms and you get hit immediately by their "Reaper" attack. The Phantoms attack and 3 damage is done. Now, imagine you fire up the Phantoms again, and they decide to switch to Plague Rocket mode. Obviously, this move can only fire forwards, so you go to the side. When they reactivate their Reaper cannon, and you dodge it all the way through the next run of that and Plague Rockets, when you next get hit it will do around 800+ damage! It's quite an incredible thing really, and I'm glad someone explained it to me. Bear in mind, though, that your dragon's spirituality level still affects the damage; more spirituality = more damage in less a space of time. Lastly, beware the fact that the Phantoms can time out, just like the Orbs and Shield, and they STILL won't stop Sestren's "Through the Heart" attack.

And now, just for your amusement, some updated fight tactics, baring in mind the newly discovered (from my point of view anyway) Astral Phantoms power. This FAQ bares in mind the fact that the earliest I've ever discovered the Astral Phantoms is before I activated the Black Ruins at Uru for the first time (middle of Disc 2).

**Lathum**
(Mid-Boss, Garil Desert)

It seems that the Lathum's Scalding Breath attack actually kills your shield, just like Sestren's "Through the Heart", UNLESS you fire it up about 2 seconds before he attacks, unlike TTH.

**Basilius**
(Boss, end of Uru Underground Ruins)

After the Basilius throws the Absorbora at you (you should have vengeance orbs up for the first attack), fire up the Astral Phantoms. Avoid his Claw attack at all costs during the next part, constantly shooting the Energ (on top of the Basilius) with the High Vulcan gun attachment. If he resummons Absorbora, then watch in delight as the Absorbora smash into the Astral Phantoms. They've up for ages, and even though the Basilius doesn't take much damage from berserks, the Energ will. Bye. You can now concentrate on the Basilius, switching to Sniper attachment for the shots to his *weakpoint*.

**Behemoth**
(Mid-Boss, Imperial Air Base)

Fire up the Astral Phantoms right after you've disabled the Subcannon for the first time. Switch back to 200 ATT, then rain in the lasers on the weak engine. When the Deadly Rain attack is used against you for the first time, one of the Phantoms SHOULD hit the weakpoint, doing some fair damage. It isn't much of an improvement on the original tactics, but it is better than nothing.

**Infested Grig Orig**
(Boss, Forest of Zoah)

At the first chance you get in the fight, fire up the Astral Phantoms. When the Imperial Cannon hits you for the first time, the Phantoms should do some pretty spectacular damage....

**Anti-Stripe Wing**

In my last FAQ, I said he could only fire up Assault Wing 3 times. I was wrong. The other day he did it SEVEN times. He killed me in ONE shot. That was in the CLEAR area! 6000+ damage from one lot of lasers! The next time I fought him, he did it EIGHT times! This time though, I fired up Vengeance orbs at maximum spirituality and stayed in the red area. He fired his lasers, and the orbs hit him for 8000+ damage, wiping him right out!! It just goes to show how important the Orbs are.

**Sestren Exsis**

Fire up Astral Phantoms when you first meet Sestren Embryonic. When he first hits you (as long as it isn't TTH) then it should do some pretty awesome damage, seeing as you went through the bit with the flashback orbs, THEN you started the fight proper.
As before, I'll just repeat that TTH breaks your shield.

************Verato Side Quest***************

A missing feature of my last FAQ was the information about the "Verato" side-quest during disc 2. Here is the info about it.

As soon as you've finished Disc 1 and started Disc 2, return to An'jou's caravan. You'll see that they've been on a hunt (there's a carcass just to your left). If you've arrived during the day, change to night time by locking onto the gate.

At night, look for Raul, the hunter. He'll likely be round back, just behind Kou and Fei's tent. Talk to him a couple of times and he'll say "Aren't you that hunter?". He'll then ask you if you can do him a little favour. Say yes. He'll then give you a *Verato Pipe* (a non-sellable item) and tell you to find someone from the now-destroyed village of Verato. In return, he'll reward you.

The person you are looking for is Jubas, the girl who works in the Zoah bar. At night, she'll be on duty and won't want to talk about it, but visit Jubas during the day time (use the door opposite Aldo's house) and after a couple of talks, she'll recognise the pipe. Edge gives her the pipe automatically, making up a tale that he "just found it in some ruins".

Head back to the caravan and talk to Raul again. In return for your errand, he'll give you 1000 dyne. This might help you buy that Sniper Attachment you can't afford...Raul's tale of why he doesn't want to meet the other person is extremely touching, but I'll leave you to listen to it.

***********Palmer Amulet (UNCONFIRMED)***********

Like Tower Report 1 from the previous FAQ, I have yet to actually see this myself. Instead, here is what I have heard of this mysterious object.

Basically, if you talk to Fei (the young girl at the caravan) all the way through Disc 2, she'll eventually offer to give you the Palmer Amulet (named after Arnold Palmer, one of the people who worked on the game...same as Feener Armor, Gipson Lens, Kuo Pollen, etc). She won't just give you it for nothing, however. You must swap her something for it. According to the FAQ at Gamefaqs, she will accept either the Gem Lens (found erected in the post outside the main entrance (at night) to the bar in Zoah, next to the Zaal nuts holders, or the Amirkhan Ring, given to you by Bezer if you visit him at night in his "secret hideaway" on the other side of the Zoah well.

Once you obtain the Palmer Amulet, your bond with Fei grows. If you save Enkak from the Mechannia fever later in the game (by giving Baicah the Tobitama rock anytime before the end of the fight with the Infested Grig Orig in Disc 4) then Fei apparently becomes so close to you she offers you her hand in marriage! It's a weird thing then that Edge tells Azel he'll be back for HER at the end of the Tower in Disc 4, isn't it?!

**********Summary of Free Money**************

There are several occasions in the game where you can get free money and items In the last part of this update, I'll list them all in Chronological order.

****???? dynes****

If you have a save game from Panzer Dragoon Zwei on your Saturn's memory, you will be given dynes equal to the amount of time spent playing Zwei. For example, 8hrs 35mins in Zwei gives you 835 dynes when you start Saga.

****Stolarium/Dinys chip****

These can be found lying around at the Excavation site. The Stolarium is found at the box closest to the entrance (it's brown) and the Dinys chip is in the box beside Edge's captain.

****Verato Pipe/1000 dynes****

As above.

****Elixir Midis****

Simply reply "Yes" to the barman in Zoah the first time you taste the glowing drink. He likes a kid with guts, and gives you a free Elixir Midis.

****Amirkhan Ring****

Visit Bezer in his night time hideaway. It can be found by entering the well in the Liberal District of Zoah in either Disc 2 or 3. The well is right next to Radgam's house.

****Triburst****

Complete Radgam's quiz in Disc 2 or 3 to be given a free Triburst. If you do the quiz when you first enter Zoah, then that's the earliest you'll find a Triburst anywhere.

****Gem Lens****

Located in the Dual posts outside Jubas bar in Zoah. Lock onto it to find it.

****Recover****

This is located underneath the tree next to the Church in the Holy District of Zoah.

****2000 dynes/10000 dynes/Zaal nuts****

When you first arrive in Zoah, speak to Quitor (the guy in white selling the grains) a few times. When you later meet him in the Holy District, he'll be really apologetic and give you 2000 dynes to say sorry. Continue to talk to him and he'll ask if he can buy a Macral Jewel off you (you can't find these lying around; you can get one from getting an excellent from the Arachnoth battle, the Gigra Battle, or the Basilius battle. Alternatively, get an Excellent against Kolba (Uru, near the Tobitama nest.)) He'll offer you 9000 dynes. Decline and he'll up his offer to 10000 dynes. Sell it now. If you hold out again, he'll tell you to forget it. Finally, continue talking to him again and he'll eventually offer to sell you some Zaal nuts. Buy these and you can make a profit selling them at either the caravan or at Jared's shop in the Liberal District.

****Zaal Nuts/ Anorak Unit****

Talk to Rhona in the Holy District. Rhona is the little girl who plays Hide and Seek with you. After several conversations, she'll give you some Zaal nuts. If you have a save file from Panzer Dragoon Zwei on your Saturn's memory, she'll give you the Anorak unit, which is basically a music box. Use it in camp.

****1500 dynes****

Given to you by Vaiman simply for agreeing to destroy the Imperial Air Base.

****Dual Blast Chip****

Located in Aldo's house. Find Aldo during Disc 3, after the Imperial gits have left the village. Search the area where he's hiding and eventually he'll tell you to take the Dual Blast Chip that's lying around.

****Lamp Oil****

Found in Aldo's lamp in Disc 3.

****Tobitama Rock/2000 dynes/5 speed chips/Berserk Vampire****

When Enkak falls ill at the caravan, head to Uru. Fly around the map locking onto the Tobitama chicks. When all 3 return to the nest, the mother and chicks will fly away, leaving behind the Tobitama rock. Lock onto this, take it to the caravan and sell it to Baicah (choose the "talk" option). He'll give you 2000 dynes and 5 speed chips for it. If you get there too late with the rock, he'll still give you some money, but no speed chips. If you save Enkak, return after deciding to go back to the Tower in Disc 4 and talk to An'jou. He'll give you a Berserk Vampire gun attachment for free.

****Zoah Harvest****

Search the sacks to the right of the storage house in Zoah to find an item called "Zoah Harvest". It's not worth that much though. There's a second one somewhere, but I can't remember where...

****Assassin gun attachment****

Talk to Jared in the Seeker's Stronghold all the way through Disc 4. Eventually he'll give you a free assassin attachment! Sell it back to him for 10000 dynes if you want. There's other items all over the Stronghold, including blast chips and Elixir Minors.

And that's pretty much that! So until next time folks....see ya!

Arc'engal