Wrack and Ruin

Your guide to navigating the Wrack and Ruin mission in Final Fantasy XIII. Learn about enemy tactics, recommended Crystarium upgrades, and essential paradigm shifts.

Alright, so you've just resumed control of Lightning, with Hope tagging along. Before we dive back into the action, let's get you prepped. If you've been hoarding your CP (and you should have plenty!), head to the Crystarium. Prioritize unlocking Aero for Hope's Ravager role, and then Shell for his Synergist abilities. Trust me, you'll want those buffs later. For gear, slap that Silver Bangle on Lightning and give Hope an Iron Bangle – more HP is always a good thing in this chapter.

You're back to a two-person team, which can feel a bit strange after running with three. Make sure your Paradigm setup is solid. Right by the Save Point, you'll see some debris you can jump over. Do that to grab a Librascope and a Thexteron. They're just tougher versions of Pantherons, so you can fight them the same way.

Head back to the area before the Save Point and take a right. A group of three enemies is blocking the path. Take 'em out, then keep moving. You'll need to hop and roll your way across to a circular platform, then do some more fancy footwork to get to the other side.

Up ahead, you'll encounter some Watchdrones at the top of a slope. Approach these guys carefully. Individually, they're not much, but their combined 'Electrokick' attack is brutal. If you're not paying attention, they can take out a party member in an instant. Be ready to switch to your 'War & Peace' paradigm if things get hairy.

Follow the path around, and try to get the drop on the next group of enemies. Sneaking up on Thexterons is tough because they've got sharp senses and a wide field of vision, but it's worth a shot! Just ahead, you'll meet a new foe: the Pulsework Soldier. Your top priority here is to stagger them. Once they're staggered, they're completely defenseless, letting you wail on them without any retaliation. After that, just jump down to the waypoint to continue the story.