Buddy Rush: Raid Mode, SD-91

The major addition of the Mini-wave of October 2012 was the introduction of a new Raid Boss, SD-91 for characters of Diamond Level 5. The Raid is against an Eastern-style mecha-Betty in, ironically, the Western theme of Questern. SD-91 is a difficult opponent since it has high Att and Def.

With the right team, 15.0M is not much.

There are three Devilins guarding the path to the Raid arena. These baddies are considered mini-bosses so Silver-eyed Bullseye's 'One Shot One Kill' is not effective against them.

SD-91's front door guards.

Unlike previous Raid Bosses, SD-91 has two possible introductory scenes. If the scene with the Artillery Strike is chosen, the area of effect is long enough to leave a field of fire right at the feet of the buddies. To avoid this, do not approach him directly in the first try.
 
The Raid arena has five gem slots arranged in a cross pattern. Quite often, a purple gem will emerge from one of the slots. If the main character collects a gem, any one of the following bonuses or penalties may be activated:
* Attack Power up
* Defense up
* Defense Down
* Speed Down
* HP Regen
* MP Regen
* Wake up!! Buddy!

'Wake up!! Buddy!' brings KO-ed buddies back into the Raid. It seems to appear more often in SD-91's Raid compared to previous raids, probably because of the high difficulty.

There are also totems that appear once in a while in the game. These look like small pillars and may be activated by touch. The main character may run to a totem to activate it, causing any of the following damage effects:
* a fiery yellow cloud that does damage to targets in a large area.
* a frost field with snowflakes that slows (Wizz's Freeze).
* an expanding white cloud effect that does damage to targets in a large area (Flow's Earthquaker).
* spinning blades (Aikilu's Blade Typoon).

The totems appear quite often and SD-91 may also activate a totem to damage the buddies.

A purple gem above a gem slot at the back.

SD-91 has high Att and Def. Unless he is Cursed (available from Corrupt Botherella or Cynical Arpu, buy now!), attacks will do little damage to it. In addition to that, SD-91 is immune to Stun. However, it is still vulnerable to interrupts.

SD-91 is physically smaller in size compared to most Raid Bosses. This makes it easier to select a different target behind the Raid Boss. It also makes it easier to spot the Curse symbol on the Raid Boss.

Update 24 November 2012:
SD-91 is NOT totally immune to Stun. It merely has instant Stun recovery. What this means is that Stun can be used to cancel SD-91's special skills.
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SD-91 dodges a Lotus Blossom.

SD-91 has three special skills. It pulls off the skills quite quickly so there usually is no time to run.

The first skill is, what shall be called here, a Gun Barrage, which fires bullets in a fan-shaped area in front of it. It looks impressive but not very dangerous.

The second skill is unofficially called an Artillery Strike where bombs are dropped in a cross pattern. Sometimes, fewer lines of bombs are dropped. Each bomb will create a field of fire on the ground. Unless special steps are taken to reduce damage (see below), the fire can burn down HP fast.

The third skill is a Double Tailsweep where SD-91 will sweep its tail twice to damage buddies close by. This move is quite slow but each sweep does lots of damage if SD-91 has its full Att. And there is a chance that this skill will cause Stun. Although the Mini-wave reduced the Stun duration for buddies, skills may still be canceled when hit by Stun.

After an Artillery Strike.

Unlike the previous Raids, the extras in SD-91's Raid only appear when summoned by the Raid Boss. There are two entrances for the extras at the front and another two at the back of the arena. The extras are little versions of SD-91 with lots of HP. However, they are not considered bosses, so Silver-eyed Bullseye may have fun with 'One Shot One Kill'.

Extras may release red and/or blue orbs when KOed to replenish the buddies' HP and/or MP.

Which is the real SD-91?

SD-91 will not summon extras until it has lost almost third of its HP. This means that there will be no convenient supply of HP and MP during the early part of the Raid. Once the Raid Boss' HP reaches the 2/3 threshold, it will summon a large wave of extras.

SD-91 will be protected by a red circle during this wave and will be invulnerable until all extras are defeated. After that, SD-91 will summon waves of 2 extras shortly after a previous wave is defeated. SD-91 will not be invulnerable this time.

After the large wave of extras is summoned, on subsequent tries (after timeout or main character KO), SD-91 will summon the large wave of extras early in the raid.

When SD-91's HP reaches around one third, it will again summon a large wave of extras. After this happens, 4 extras are summoned in subsequent waves instead of 2.

SD-91 is invulnerable during a major wave.

By now, it should be clear that Curse is an important weapon against SD-91 since it reduces Att and Def. Corrupt Botherella and Cynical Arpu can cause Curse, so either of them should be brought for the Raid. In addition, Corrupt Botherella can summon Wolfgang, whose bite attack may interrupt.

Steps should also be taken to mitigate damage. Curse reduces SD-91's Att. Kind Healury and Nice Vivich can heal. Kind Healury's 'I Hate Getting Hurt' can prevent a lot of damage. Nice Vivich's Sanctuary also provides a Def boost to buddies in the area. Nice Vivich's Lotus Slap may interrupt SD-91's attack.

AI-controlled Kind Healury is notorious for being lazy to cast 'I Hate Getting Hurt'. Thus, it may be a good idea to bring Burning Worrier along as he is good at attracting the attention of baddies and surviving long enough to convince Kind Healury to be kind.

Damage-dealers should be brought along. Silver-eyed Bullseye and Light Skully can do lots of damage. If the main character is Burning Worrier, Mockery may be used to lure SD-91 closer to Silver-eyed Bullseye and/or Light Skully so their special skills will do more damage. Kind Healury's 'Arch Angelus' allows her to do lots of damage. However, it drains her MP very fast.

Despite its range armaments, SD-91 is a melee boss. Light Skully can use 'Don't Move' to prevent SD-91 from moving. After that, Burning Worrier can cast Mockery to attract SD-91's attention. Burning Worrier can then wander off elsewhere to do something else like hunt extras or collect gems. SD-91 will do nothing since it cannot chase Burning Worrier. The Raid Boss will not even use its special skills.

Nice Vivich's Aum boosts Skill Pow and Kind Healury can boost Att. These abilities help do more damage. Powerful Aikilu and her Roar will be helpful to boost Att too.

Silver-eyed Bullseye's 'Eyes of Boorseye' provides a constant Att aura. Light Skully's 'Keen Attack' provides a constant Critical aura. There are other buddies with useful auras. Though the bonuses are small, since 5 characters are allowed in a Raid, the effectiveness of auras is relatively greater.

Special consideration should also be taken to defeat the extras in this Raid, especially since SD-91 is invulnerable during a large summoning. Also, extras provide red and blue orbs. Buddies with great area effect damage skills is good. Silver-eyed Bullseye's 'One Shot One Kill' enables him to KO extras fast despite their high HP.

Finally, there is the loot, the main reason for Raid.

Nagne was here.

The following is the loot I received from the treasure chest after defeating SD-91. The number after is the number of tries.
Magical Bamboo Hat (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Ginseng Juice (blue) - 5
Golden Dress (green!?) - 2 (Yes, 2 - used scrolls for this.)
Shiny Boots (blue) - 4
Oblinium Fang (purple!) - 4
Enlarging Elixir (blue) - 5
Magical Bamboo Hat (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 4
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Magical Bamboo Hat (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3 (Nagne stole all the loot!)
Shiny Boots (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 4
Oblinium Claw (purple!) - 4
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Golden Dress (green!?) - 5
Rainbow Umbrella (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Red Gem (green!?) - 4
Oblinium Claw (purple!) - 4
Oblinium Fang (purple!) - 3 (Another!?)
All-use MacGyver Knife (green!?) - 5
Feather Shoulder Armor (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3 (Notice there are no reds yet.)
Red Lipstick (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Red Lipstick (green!?) - 4
Oblinium Eye (purple!) - 4
Hat of Wisdom (blue) - 3
Feather Shoulder Armor (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3 (Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Golden Dress (green!?) - 5 (Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Ginseng Juice (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3 (Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Enlarging Elixir (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3 (Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Sharp Fruit Knife (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 6 (Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Oblinium Tower (purple!) - 3 (Completed Oblinium set! 25 November 2012, 29 tries.)(Nov 23-25 3rd Epic Item Harvest, Epic Drop Rate x2)
Magical Bamboo Hat (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Sharpshooter's Crossbow (red) - 3 (The first red!)
Magical Bamboo Hat (red) - 3 (Nagne!!!)
Golden Bullet (green!?) - 3
(Updated 3? December 2012)

The following is the loot I have received after the Daily Quest mini-wave of the Eighth Wave:
Sharp Fruit Knife (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
(nothing) - 4 (Inventory full, oops!)
Feather Shoulder Armor (red) - 3
All-use MacGyver Knife (blue) - 3
Magical Bamboo Hat (red) - 3
Oblinium Eye (purple!) - 3
Magical Bamboo Hat (blue) - 2 (Nagne sure was here a lot!)
Shiny Boots (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Shiny Boots (green!?) - 3
Oblinium Claw (purple!) - 2
Rainbow Umbrella (blue) - 2
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
(Updated 3 February 2013)

The following is the loot I have received after the Ninth Wave:
Shiny Boots (blue) - 2
Sharp Fruit Knife (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2
Enlarging Elixir (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1
Golden Dress (green!?) - 2
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2
Rainbow Umbrella (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 3
Feather Shoulder Armor (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2
Sharp Fruit Knife (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2
Golden Dress (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1!
Golden Dress (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1!
Red Gem (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2
All-use MacGyver Knife (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 2 (Mar 1-3 2nd Anniversary Epic Chance Event, x2 Epic Drop)
Oblinium Eye (purple!) - 1! (Mar 1-3 2nd Anniversary Epic Chance Event, x2 Epic Drop)
Sharp Fruit Knife! (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1!
Ginseng Juice (green!?) - 1!
Oblinium Fang (purple!) - 1!
Oblinium Eye (purple!) - 1!
Golden Dress (blue) - 2
All-use MacGyver Knife (blue) - 2
Oblinium Claw (purple!) - 1!
(Updated 9 March 2013)

The following is the loot I have received after the Challenge Mode mini-wave of the Ninth Wave:
Magical Bamboo Hat (green!?) - 1 (Nagne!!!)
Golden Dress (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1!
Red Lipstick (green!?) - 2
Enlarging Elixir (colorless!!!?!?!?) - 1
Burning Sword (red) - 1
Red Gem (green!?) - 3
Red Gem (green!?) - 1
Shiny Boots (blue) - 1
Magical Bamboo Hat (red) - 2
Red Lipstick (green!?) - 1
(Updated 28 April 2013)

Buddy Rush: Contents

SD-91 hunts birds for breakfast!