Omg, Iku's fight wasn't pretty. This is pure luck bullshit and gambling on rng. I've beaten her on my ~20th attempt. Without Alice. =)
But on my final attempt it was a quite enjoyable if somewhat nervewrecking boss fight.
I remember Sakuya could probably solo this battle, but I am not sure if she can outdamage her 666 Regen when ELE Land is maxed, this of course is with base auto-attack damage (without damage stacking). I think it is possible if Iku runs out of MP in moderate time. Besides Regen and Physical Barrier she has 1 Million Amperes in her moveset and can summon Oarfishes. Setup (I wish I would have keep a save before every boss...):
Claymore: Negates Stun (includes Shock thus = Instant Death), Slayer (125%) on Aquans + Hunting, Damage is 250%.
Shield: Atmospheric Shield, if Iku runs out of MP fast Lancer's Shield is better (supposing she doesn't spam summon)
Thunderclap Breastplate: 40 HP ELE Regen when ELE Land maxed
Accessory: Stormhead Amulet or Raiden Ring (25% ELE Damage Received)
Commander: Sanae, aids healing, up Sakuya's World Activation significantly
Mikazuchi's Armor requires an Electric Crystal which only first appears in the following stage, even though the player should be able to synthesize 5 Electric Shards into an Electric Crystal after having defeated 2500 monsters, this synthesis isn't available until the post-game sadly (you can obtain these as rare drops prior so is mostly pointless).
I know no one would ever bother with this since an important point was to have Satori learn Mad Thunder early in this battle, but it comes to notice when all the equipment Sakuya gets up to that point showed as if it was given to battle Iku.
I have a question about those annoying barrier-changing skeletons, i.e. Heins. What triggers barrier change and is there some sort of pattern to the element they barrier change to? I've seen them use barrier change on the first turn or never use it at all through the fight. Is it based on land levels or something else? Or is it just random? Because it's not fun to fight them. At all.
Random, is just in their moveset and is usually their first move like many enemies who also have one, but in rare occasions they will choose another one instead. They can be inflicted with Instant Death and Petrify (though this last with less success I believe).
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There is also an advanced version with 4 times its HP and higher PDEF/MDEF.
Well, thanks. After some experimenting with party setups, skills, growth points and the like finally beat them.
Akame. Used Mokou, Sakuya, Youmu. Murdered by Fujiyama Volcano. Sakuya/Youmu were here just for some bonus damage.
Something funny from this is that damage isn't really needed, Alice can solo this battle and almost completely negate Akame's 10000 Needles damage, the highest damage skill up to that point and almost for the entire game (Alice barely takes damage above 1 digit), Akame will run out of MP and Alice is free to auto-attack her, she is unbeatable as long as she has Poison Immunity.
Of course again no one would waste Alice in this battle, even alone, she's just too valuable of a member, like Sanae later becomes.