One of the first optional side quests you might come across in Metaphor: ReFantazio is 'A Bullish Embargo', which sees you traveling to the Belega Corridor to defeat the Grotesque Guptauros that dwells there. This boss is at the very end of the dungeon and there's plenty of formidable foes in between, we recommend your party be in the double digits before you attempt this one.

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Because of the nature of this area and how the enemies don't take kindly to anyone with a staff or a mace, you're limited in terms of what your party can be. Here's what you need to know.

Pre-Battle Prep

Before you head out onto this quest, stock up in town to ensure you have plenty of healing items as there are no vendors throughout the dungeon. We recommend ensuring your party is at least Level 10 (if on Normal difficulty) before attempting this.

Make sure you conserve your MP and items as much as possible throughout the dungeon to help you in the boss battle.

Once you reach Plateau's Mirage, you are at the boss battle doors. You can go to Akademeia and save here, as well as ensure your Archetypes and inherited Skills are properly set.

Recommended Party Setup

As we mentioned before, taking Mages or Healers into the Belega Corridor will enrage all the monsters in there, including Grotesque Guptauros, which means it'll induce anger and use Frenzy more often to decimate your party.

In terms of Archetypes and Formation, we recommend the following:

Character

Archetype

Formation

Strategy

Protagonist

Seeker

Back

Healing with Dei as needed, buffing Hulkenberg with Tarukaja, and using Blizz if you have inherited it.

Strohl

Warrior

Front

If his Turn Icon comes up first, pass so that Hulkenberg can use Synthesis on her Turn Icon. On any bonus Turn Icons, attack or use items as you see fit.

Hulkenberg

Knight

Front

Using Synthesis to use Jump Thrust with Strohl as often as possible, and if not usual Pierce attacks.

It's worth ensuring the Protagonist has inherited Blizz from Mage to use on their recommended Archetype. You get it at Level 2 and can easily rank up by using some Hero's Incense before the boss if you haven't already.

We've written this guide based on Archetypes and party members we had available at the time as we tackled this quest almost immediately. You may have other viable options available to you, but the main strategy will largely be the same.

Fire Grotesque Guptauros Moveset And Affinities

Affinities And Weaknesses

Slash

—

Pierce

Weak

Strike

—

Fire

Resist

Ice

Weak

Electric

Wind

—

Light

—

Dark

Moveset

Charge

Powers up next attack.

Attack

Physical damage to one party member.

Powerful Pulverizer

Physical attack to one party member.

Slam Shatter

Physical attack to all party members.

Heavy Rush

Physical attack to one party member.

Frenzy

Sever physical damage to all party members.

Reckless Charge

Buff effects on Grotesque Guptauros fade. (It uses this instead of Frenzy on Easy Mode.)

Battle Strategy

Open by buffing Hulkenberg with Tarukaja as she does Pierce damage, which Grotesque Guptauros is Weak to. Hulkenberg should use Synthesis to perform Jump Thrust, which deals medium physical Pierce damage and lowers the enemy's defense for three turns. This is essentially the move we want to be using the most.

If Strohl's Turn Icon comes up before Hulkenberg, Pass to yield his Turn Icon so that Hulkenberg can use Jump Thrust.

Grotesque Guptauros uses a lot of heavy damage physical attacks, so the strategy here is to keep your party healed up at all times while hitting its weaknesses. If you leave your party on low health, one bad attack can wipe them all out.

When Grotesque Guptauros takes aim and uses Charge, you should Guard on the next Turn Icon with all party members as it will release Frenzy next, attacking the whole of your team, and then following up with another attack.

It does not use Frenzy on Easy Mode.

I recommend using the Protagonist to heal using Dei, and Strohl with items (or Dei if he has inherited it) as needed on any subsequent Turn Icons that aren't used by Synthesis with Hulkenberg.

On subsequent moves with the Protagonist, or if no healing is needed, use Blizz as much as possible as this is another weakness for Grotesque Guptauros. For Hulkenberg, if you've already used Synthesis that round, just use her default Pierce attack, or items if you need to.

You'll earn yourself the Falchion weapon for defeating the Grotesque Guptauros, as well as receive a Brute's Horn as proof of your conquest to complete the 'A Bullish Embargo' quest.

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