Faust

Faust

Faust is well known as a very challenging solo trial for a RDM/NIN and it is definitely a very painful rite of passage. There are quite a few Faust solo guides going around the internet so I'm not sure what this one could really add, but hey. Even though I have soloed Faust several times now, it's still not easy and I still don't feel like I'm absolutely going to win when fighting him, so don't expect a pushover. Faust also moves at flee speed so he's not easy to kite!

Preparation

• Very strong enfeebling magic build/merits. You are going to see resists unless your gear is top-notch but it is best to minimise them.
• Convert merits are very useful here.
  
• Tavnazian Tacos reduce damage taken by a significant amount and should be eaten.
• MND-heavy Paralyze build can be a lifesaver but is not necessary and many RDMs don't use it; largely a playstyle difference since Typhoon cannot be paralyzed. Note Faust CANNOT be slowed.
  
• Haste/fast cast build for Utsusemi/Stoneskin recommended.
• Physical damage reduction set HIGHLY recommended.
• Crimson Cuisses help to an extent but are not necessary. Still somewhat useful if you have them.
• Powder Boots for the initial pull.
• Bio3 speeds up the fight and weakens him more than Bio2 and so is recommended but not necessary (my first kill was done using Bio2).
• Knowing the arena - very important! I've used my artistic talents on some pictures below using MS paint to illustrate things for you;

You can cast directly through the "arms" of the teleporter, as represented by the arrows. This can be very useful (note that Faust will run straight through them when pursuing you though).

Similarly, you can cast through the "legs" of the teleporter either way. Faust will run around these.

Finally, you can stand on top of the teleporter and cast straight over it although this is a one-way thing (not that Faust will stand on top of the teleporter); just don't get trapped on top of it. Just for completion's sake I repeated the fact you can cast through the "arm" there with a green arrow.

The Fight

Okay, let's begin with the pull. Fully buff yourself and run to near Faust (note his vision range is about twice as long as usual: around 30'). When he faces away, start using Powder Boots and as soon as he's spotted you, run to whichever teleporter room is empty. DO NOT STOP. DO NOT STOP. He will rape you if you do. The moment you enter the room, either cast Bio3 or Bind and redo your defences/apply Poison et cetera.

When using composure, prioritise Haste over all else. Refresh and then Phalanx are luxuries.

Like most RDM solo fights, defence is more important than offence in this fight. Recast Stoneskin when you get injured and keep 3 Utsusemi shadows up AT ALL TIMES. Stoneskin is VITALLY important because it will prevent interruption when you get hit by Typhoon. Remember Bio breaks Bind but I don't think I should have to tell you this if you're feeling up to doing Faust.

In terms of using the arena to your advantage, learn those awesome diagrams above and stay on the opposite side of the teleporter to him as much as you can.

This will give you more time to manoeuvre if he unbinds early and generally make things easier for you. Unless your gear is very top-notch, expect resists. A lot of them in some cases. If you ever have him unbind on you without gravity at >~11s until next Bind or flatout resist a bind, Gravity him. He will decimate you if he gets half a chance.

While defence is more important than offence, you do ideally want to kill him before gravity starts resisting because Faust WILL be a bitch and he WILL resist your bind and/or gravity and put you in a horrible situation at some point in the fight. You want him dead before he can. Blizz3 works fairly well against him, doing about ~500-550 damage (4% of HP roughly) though he does resist a fair bit. Obviously don't put yourself in a bad position if you do this, and bear in mind he doesn't stand around much after Bind breaks: he will be after you immediately, and he will destroy you if he gets a chance.

As for TP moves, he only has one...

1. Typhoon - three shadows and damage potentially, knockback and medium range. Threat rating: high.
   

Typhoon CAN take all of your shadows and then do damage and this typically does a hell of a lot of damage if you don't have a full 3 shadows. This happens at random and will mess you up if he does it too often; just be ready for it. Blinking your gear during Typhoon can prevent the knockback effect which is very important and is what screws you up typically, not the damage of the move itself (which isn't THAT strong in a proper physical reduction set).

Note that Faust DOES sometimes stand around looking like an idiot after a Typhoon but not always.

With a bit of luck, Faust will look like this!

Oh, one more very important thing to note: the Faust glitch. This has only happened to me twice now but it's insanely annoying when it does. Occasionally for no reason a doll will come through the wall to attack you, triggered by magic aggro (way out of range though). Initially I thought this was the doll by the door but it happened to me just today when I was at the very back of the room, miles away from it.

How to deal with it? Solo, it's very difficult. You can sleep it but this is a very challenging ordeal.

Good luck; achieve this and you are on the top end of RDM soloists!

Difficulty rating: *****

What of the pieces that remain?

Suppose a fire steadily burning bright suddenly produces a violent flame, scorching the air. After the conflagaration in its place remains a smaller fire burning but not with any kind of heat like before. The remnants drift like embers.

What then does one do? There is unlikely to be enough material to relight the fire so do we continue to cultivate the one we have for stability? Or for hope that it will one day rekindle? Or do we leave the warmth and wander the cold wilderness of what once was searching for a new fire?

This fire was not one of passion but one of affection. A fire not of heat but of warmth. Losing such warmth can leave you colder but is among many ruined fires at this stage.

What of the pieces that remain?

To hold them in our hands, the shattered pieces of a once whole. Do we rebuild or do we destroy... this fire in its weakened state is somehow colder than it would be without... perhaps.