The New Spellcard Help Thread

[lmagus]

I want to know why is Ichirin hard so hard =(

I can't capture anything she throws at me

[Tinari]

Hello.  It's me again after a long hiatus.

I am still having MASSIVE trouble trying to get through Foggy London Dolls and most of Youmu's stuff.

I have watched replays.  I have practiced.  I feel like I have just hit a plateau.

So checking my history, here's how it goes.

Ghost Sword: Fasting of the Young Gaki,  1/11
Hell realm Sword: 200 Yojana in 1 slash, 1/11
Brute Sword: Karmic Punishment, 1/11
Heaven Sword: Five Signs of Deva, 0/11

The rest I have beaten more than twice and feel that I can predict when I need to bomb more readily, but on these four I am having one hell of a time trying to brute my way through and pray to heaven for at least a ghost of a chance.

I think with Hell Realm Sword, I am having trouble reading ahead.  I am getting lost in the mass of orbs on her third slash and feeling to claustrophobic and can't fit through.

Brute sword I think is a  reading problem because during the slowdown I think I get lined up to always be tagged by a stray bullet I wasn't aware was coming my way.  Bleh.

Heaven's Sword I think is all fluke.  I honestly think I have died almost all the times I have in WTF?! moments that I could have sworn I should have been perfectly fine at.  I can't help it. :/


And now for the most embarrassing one of all and the one that has made me feel the worst as someone once told me I shouldn't be dying or bombing on said card because it's a "static" card and apparently easy.

Darkness Sign: Foggy London Dolls,  0/15

What in the holy HELL am I supposed to do here?  I've seen some replays and it hasn't helped me at all.  Every time I swear I see a pattern emerge, BAM, I get myself trapped or screwed or choke or something.  This card drives me absolutely batty. :|

Any advice?  Should I upload a replay showing me practicing these?


*edit*

A quick replay upload of me vs Ms. Margatroid.
And also me fighting Youmu.  Ironic I did better than usual on the ones I ask for help with...

http://replays.gensokyou.org/download.php?id=6732
http://replays.gensokyou.org/download.php?id=6733

[ebarrett]

my, you don't like diagonal bullets, eh.

Foggy London Dolls: stay near the bottom and CALM DOWN. seriously. you were ramming the bullets for no reason whatsoever. keep cool and don't be afraid of waiting until late for the gaps to appear.

Fasting of the Gaki: don't retreat to the bottom, attack the gaps as soon as you can.

Hell Sword: eh, the normal version looks very tame, I don't see how to give a better advice than "read and dodge". Retreating to the bottom doesn't seem to be the smartest idea here as well, though.

Karmic Punishment: dodge at the center. Apparently you have serious problems with diagonal bullets; maybe you're focusing too much on your hitbox? Being bodyslammed by Youmu later also points to that.

Five Signs of the Deva: always stay under Youmu, this is VERY important. The distance she moves is the exact distance to the safest vertical path. Then do your best to move upwards, through the waves of bullets, it's a lot safer than staying in the bottom.

[Tarquinius]

For Hell Realm Sword, pick a side of the screen and stay on it. Remember that her large bullets have a considerable gap between sprite and hitbox. Avoid the bottom of the screen.

[yoshicookiezeus]

Any tips for Chen's second spellcard in the PCB Extra stage? It always results in me getting walled up in a corner...

Also, strategies for Hollow Giant "Woo" and Fujiyama Volcano would be helpful, as those two cards are the ones that usually end my runs of the IN Extra stage.

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

Fujiyama Volcano. This works for all teams and would be what would be suggested by others. Basically you alternate between circling her and streaming.

http://replays.gensokyou.org/download.php?id=6746


Hollow Giant Woo. Also circle around her since it helps to misdirect the shots. Also, you might need to use some unfocused movement to make sure you can continue the pattern.

http://replays.gensokyou.org/download.php?id=6528


Chen's spellcard is static/nearly static. Just remember a path.

[yoshicookiezeus]

Thank you very much. The strategies work just fine; now I just need to improve my dodging skills so that I can pull them off consistently without running straight into random bullets... At least I managed to capture Fujiyama Volcano for the first time after about ten tries, as opposed to my around a hundred failed ones from earlier.

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

Tengu Macro Burst and Great Whirlwind on Hard. Can't exactly ask for help on Terrifying Hypnotism because that's just trying to avoid clipdeath.

Nuclear Excursion. Either I don't bomb and it takes too long or I clipdeath or bomb and get through it easily.

[LHCling]

This is normally where I come in with a replay that solves everything.

...unfortunately, both fall under "read and dodge". Note that both also require you to predict a lot more than other Spell Cards due to the speed of the bullets.

For "Tengu Macro Burst", I would advise you use the top of the screen as much as you can. I would also avoid the center, but at the same time, use it as a "last resort" when you can't see any openings. Note that the bullets gradually speed up as time passes, so you may want to make an effort to end this as quickly as possible.

No additional notes for "Great Whirlwind", though more often than not, the bottom of the screen is the most safest spot. You may have to circle around when two whirlwinds converge to an extent of making a wall, so be prepared for that.
"Nuclear Excursion" just takes ages. To minimize clipdeath (I assume it's the blue bullets; unless you're clipping suns  :V) I would suggest using more vertical movements for more precise movements when you're at the sides. However, it can take a bit of practice to get used to it so be prepared to die a few more times learning.

[Helion]

Imperishable Night: Keine extra, first and last card, the mid one is just memorization I believe. Immortal fire bird: flying phoenix. What the hell is up with that one, I know how to misdirect the first two, but then the huge projectile waves force me to bomb. I still haven't figured it out.

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

Actually, Keine's second card is the one card she has that isn't static.

Keine's first is just some streaming.

Keine's third is just some more streaming.

Flying Phoenix is just making sure you don't get walled.

[Tarquinius]

Keine's first card has safespots for the blue bullets. Every odd wave is above the 'y' in 'Enemy' and every even wave is above the 'y' in the human/youkai bar. You need to be constantly focused to take advantage of the safespots. The red bullets are just streaming.

[Helion]

Ok, now I just have to stop running into the blue bullets while streaming the red ones  :V. Keine's second card is reflexes and pretty doable anyway. Immortal Fire bird still rapes me: I don't get where, in the huge waves, will the gaps between phoenixes be, it's not fixed, but are there guidelines to finding them?

[nintendonut888]

Ok, now I just have to stop running into the blue bullets while streaming the red ones  :V. Keine's second card is reflexes and pretty doable anyway. Immortal Fire bird still rapes me: I don't get where, in the huge waves, will the gaps between phoenixes be, it's not fixed, but are there guidelines to finding them?

Immortal Fire Bird...? Which spell card is that? I only know the translations on the English patch.

[yoshicookiezeus]

Actually, the waves of Immortal Fire Bird are aimed as well, so the whole card is just streaming while trying not to get walled up by the trails.

[Lybydose]

Immortal Fire Bird is awesome to screw around on.

Don't try that though.  All the birds are aimed.  The best method is to direct the first to a corner, direct the 2nd as close to the first trail as possible, then direct the 3rd as close to the 2nd as possible.  When the 3rd one fires, move to the other corner and dodge stuff.  Now repeat in reverse.  Actually it's probably best to move up a little bit in the corner rather than being right at the bottom so that you'll have more space.

I don't have a replay up of this, and I'm too lazy to go make one, but this replay captures it (and everything else too except Imperishable Shooting because I got hit with like 2 seconds left wtf).

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

As embarrassing as this is, any way to reduce clipping on 3 Treasures? I can capture it somewhat consistently in spell practice, but practice and normal runs, clip.

[Lybydose]

As embarrassing as this is, any way to reduce clipping on 3 Treasures? I can capture it somewhat consistently in spell practice, but practice and normal runs, clip.

Well you can Safespot it.

[Furienify]

Any tips for Chen's second spellcard in the PCB Extra stage? It always results in me getting walled up in a corner...

Also, strategies for Hollow Giant "Woo" and Fujiyama Volcano would be helpful, as those two cards are the ones that usually end my runs of the IN Extra stage.

An easy way to deal with Chen:

Follow her for the first cycle. She starts near the bottom of the screen, moves left and up in a counter-clockwise formation. The behind area is safe, just stay as close as possible and shotgun.

Eventually she will push you into the bottom left corner. Go there. Smash yourself right into the corner and it's a safe spot. As soon as it's clear, fly out and chase her down for the finish. You may have to stop and graze through a small wall of bullets for safety, but if you're at full power/using certain characters, she goes down pretty quickly do to tiny HPs.

[Jaimers]

Anything I'm missing on Lunasa's second non-spell?

Or is it just crazy dodging?

[Heartbeam]

Anything I'm missing on Lunasa's second non-spell?

Or is it just crazy dodging?

Nothing you don't already know.  Corner zone should give you a better chance for the second wave, not necessarily for the third but it's best that you aren't in a position to be assaulted by two of the extended bullet arms with everything else falling down. 

Actually, I take back the corner comment.  Just sitting in the corner across from her isn't always better than being directly under.  Something about the way the purple waves unfold that you could work with before the dense part finally comes down.

Or I don't have a clue.  Purple wave is almost definitely symmetrical, which means the opposite corner should be noted because whatever wave you're facing will be the same elsewhere, but without the same space to expand?  So when you get hit with *that* dense attack, what if you were instead positioned to dodge on either side of that section?  Then it goes back to whether or not you can tell by the preliminary waves or have to scan the last set of four or so.

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

But if I safespot it, it just ends up as a timeout card because I won't be able to hit her then. And if I get unlucky and she moves up too far, it's not a 100% safe spot.

[Hyperbole1729]

With about 300 tries on SA extra I'm getting really tired of it and I only made it to Philosophy of a Hated Person once on my last life and 0 power...

Ancestors and Paranoia are no big deal, I'm slowly getting the hang on the hearts, Youkai Polygraph and Embers of Love are relatively o.k...
But Rorschach in Danmaku and Genetics of the Subconcious eat so many lives and so many bombs... Especially Genetics. Just how does Koishi moves? And how do you actually hit her? I made it with 3 lives once and game over'd on it...

And a question in advance for Subterranean Rose; since I heard it doesn't have any special timeout phase and looks extremely hard in later phases, would it be a good idea to time it out?  :V

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

If you think 3 minutes and 10 seconds is worth doing it.

Subterranean Rose took me a little over 2 minutes 20 seconds because I entered it with 2 power and bombed/died a lot of times.

[Sen]

With about 300 tries on SA extra I'm getting really tired of it and I only made it to Philosophy of a Hated Person once on my last life and 0 power...

Ancestors and Paranoia are no big deal, I'm slowly getting the hang on the hearts, Youkai Polygraph and Embers of Love are relatively o.k...
But Rorschach in Danmaku and Genetics of the Subconcious eat so many lives and so many bombs... Especially Genetics. Just how does Koishi moves? And how do you actually hit her? I made it with 3 lives once and game over'd on it...

And a question in advance for Subterranean Rose; since I heard it doesn't have any special timeout phase and looks extremely hard in later phases, would it be a good idea to time it out?  :V

Unfortunately, Rorschach is basically all reading. I found it actually helpful to not sit at the bottom of the stage, but rather, around the vertical height you get put after a death. Maybe it's just me, but the gaps seemed easier to slip through.

Genetics is pretty much Koishi's hardest card. Koishi herself bounces from corner to corner, but when you hear the charging sound, she flies straight at you. So, not only do you have to dodge the bullets in their unorthodox unfolding patterns, but you have to make sure you dont' get Koishi-Kicked. Never be afraid to bomb this card.

For SR, sure, go ahead. I actually think the second phase is the easiest, since you basically sit in the middle of the area between Koishi and the bottom of the screen and move horizontally to go through the gaps, and the roses just totally ignore you :V

[Serela]

Genetics is pretty much Koishi's hardest card. Koishi herself bounces from corner to corner, but when you hear the charging sound, she flies straight at you. So, not only do you have to dodge the bullets in their unorthodox unfolding patterns, but you have to make sure you dont' get Koishi-Kicked. Never be afraid to bomb this card.

If you get Koishi to rush forward to the top of the screen for the aimed part, you can get a good bit of damage in on her. Its possible to end this card before the second charge noise if you memorize a path, and reach it at full power; its all about taking advantage of when you can shoot Koishi.

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

SA Stage 1 Lunatic. The entire stage(preferably without gapping as I don't always play ReimuA). I shouldn't be bombing this much and dying on a stage 1.

[Hyperbole1729]

If you think 3 minutes and 10 seconds is worth doing it.

Subterranean Rose took me a little over 2 minutes 20 seconds because I entered it with 2 power and bombed/died a lot of times.

That's one long timeout! Maybe if I get there with enough stock to last I'll do it normally else try the time out...

Unfortunately, Rorschach is basically all reading. I found it actually helpful to not sit at the bottom of the stage, but rather, around the vertical height you get put after a death. Maybe it's just me, but the gaps seemed easier to slip through.

Genetics is pretty much Koishi's hardest card. Koishi herself bounces from corner to corner, but when you hear the charging sound, she flies straight at you. So, not only do you have to dodge the bullets in their unorthodox unfolding patterns, but you have to make sure you dont' get Koishi-Kicked. Never be afraid to bomb this card.

For SR, sure, go ahead. I actually think the second phase is the easiest, since you basically sit in the middle of the area between Koishi and the bottom of the screen and move horizontally to go through the gaps, and the roses just totally ignore you :V

Not staying too much down in Rorschach helps really a lot. I used to get "randomly" killed without knowing what hit me but by always staying just a bit up it seems to not happen much. Thanks a lot.
That leaves only Genetics as problematic but it's pratice only I guess

If you get Koishi to rush forward to the top of the screen for the aimed part, you can get a good bit of damage in on her. Its possible to end this card before the second charge noise if you memorize a path, and reach it at full power; its all about taking advantage of when you can shoot Koishi.

I try to do that but I can never seems to end it before timeout since I usually reach that card with something like 2/8 of power (yeah MarisaA  :V)

[Helion]

Any help on Hollow giant woo, or is it just a deathbomb spam horribly random card?

[Chaotic Phoenixma]

Satori's nonspells and Terrifying Hypnotism on Lunatic. What the hell is up with these things?