SMT: Nocturne Hardtype - Trumpeter (Low Level)

"...when any other number of breaths have been spent, it is then that I shall Mazandyne myself in the face."

Rules:

- This is a low level run of zombero's hardtype mod: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3299/
- The aim is to keep XP gain as low as possible without affecting my sanity.
- Hard mode, obviously
- No stat boosting items
- All other game mechanics are fair game!

Hardtype changes:

- HP: 11000 → 28000
- Makakaja → Cadenza (Raises magic + accuracy)
- He now has War Cry and always opens with it.

I don't know if this fight's scripting is a little more predictable than the original, or if I just never noticed. He of course alternates between Holy and Evil Melody every 4 rounds, but in addition he always follows up Evil Melody with Megidolaon and Holy Melody with Dekaja. The rest of the time he will use Cadenza, Ma-dyne spells or physical attacks. Without a full resist magic team it's essential to keep our defences fully buffed and his attack fully debuffed at all times to avoid KO's from Cadenza into a Ma-dyne spell.

Having at least one void of every element present is essential here, and innate repels are really nice to speed things along, but don't throw a magic mirror unless you want to get blasted with almighty spells. Bringing some pre-damaged demons to this fight can help too, and there's some nifty stuff with turn order. For Evil Melody I use a slow demon so it loses its turn when it switches in and I can attack with Setanta. Whereas for Holy Melody I use a fast demon so the following round I can immediately switch Phantom back in and start reapplying buffs.

Honestly, this may not be a totally optimal team but it works well enough and didn't require any additonal fusion (I already had Phantom, I need Setanta for later purposes and I wanted Mikazuchi to learn Dark Sword, which may be the best single target physical skill my demons can learn in this run)