Shattering Stars (Limit Break 5)  

Summary

Maat has issued a final challenge to test your limits. Return with the items he has requested and the trial will begin.

Walkthrough

Talk to Maat at level 66 or higher to receive this final test. He will ask you to bring him a testimony of your job. These are Rare/Ex items that are dropped by various mobs depending on job.

Prior to a March 26, 2012 software update, a job Testimony was only good for one attempt and had to be manually dropped by the player after the attempt was over. After the software update, each testimony possessed will grant players three attempts at the corresponding battlefield: Shattering Stars / The Beast Within / Breaking the Bonds of Fate / Achieving True Power / A Furious Finale / Survival of the Wisest. The item will disappear upon trading it for the third time.

After you win the fight, make sure you go back and talk to Maat one last time for a cut scene, after which your level cap will be lifted to 75.

Testimonies

Warrior

• Ancient Quadav (Level: 62 - 66) (Beadeaux, Qulun Dome)
• Antican Consul (Level: 75) (Quicksand Caves)
• Antican Triarius (Level: 62 - 69) (Quicksand Caves)
• Blood Demon (Level: 64 - 66) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Goblin Mercenary (Level: 64 - 69) (Cape Teriggan, Gustav Tunnel, Ifrit's Cauldron, ...)
• Jotunn Gatekeeper (Level: 65 - 69) (Delkfutt's Tower Upper)
• Orcish Dreadnought (Level: 63 - 67) (Davoi, Monastic Cavern)

Monk

• Jotunn Hallkeeper (Level: 65 - 69) (Delkfutt's Tower Upper)
• Orcish Champion (Level: 64 - 68) (Davoi, Monastic Cavern)
• Shore Sahagin (Level: 62 - 69) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Yagudo Flagellant (Level: 62 - 66) (Castle Oztroja)

Thief

• Goblin Bandit (Level: 66 - 69) (Ifrit's Cauldron, King Ranperre's Tomb, Kuftal Tunnel, ...)
• Platinum Quadav (Level: 64 - 71) (Beadeaux, Qulun Dome)
• Tonberry Pursuer (Level: 61 - 67) (Temple of Uggalepih)
• Tonberry Trailer (Level: 62 - 65) (Den of Rancor)

Red Mage

• Aura Pot (Level: 75 - 80) (Shrine of Ru'Avitau)
• Dustbuster (Level: 73 - 76) (Ve'Lugannon Palace)
• Hover Tank (Level: 64 - 67) (Temple of Uggalepih)
• Magic Pot (Level: 68 - 70) (Delkfutt's Tower Upper)
• Ruby Quadav (Level: 69 - 70) (Qulun Dome)
• Sprinkler (Level: 70 - 73) (Ru'Aun Gardens)

White Mage

• Coral Sahagin (Level: 72 - 74) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Diamond Quadav (Level: 75) (Qulun Dome)
• Goblin Alchemist (Level: 65 - 69) (King Ranperre's Tomb, Kuftal Tunnel, Labyrinth of Onzozo, ...)
• Lagoon Sahagin (Level: 62 - 69) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Yagudo High Priest (Level: 72 - 74) (Altar Room, Castle Oztroja)
• Yarr the Pearleyed (Level: 0) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Za'Dha Adamantking (Level: 85) (Qulun Dome)

Black Mage

• Antican Quaestor (Level: 62 - 69) (Quicksand Caves)
• Doom Demon (Level: 64 - 66) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Dread Demon (Level: 71 - 73) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Orcish Hexspinner (Level: 72 - 74) (Monastic Cavern)
• Sapphire Quadav (Level: 65 - 69) (Beadeaux, Qulun Dome)
• Tonberry Imprecator (Level: 62 - 64) (Den of Rancor)
• Tonberry Jinxer (Level: 61 - 69) (Den of Rancor, Yhoator Jungle)
• Tonberry Maledictor (Level: 61 - 67) (Temple of Uggalepih)
• Yagudo Prelate (Level: 65 - 69) (Castle Oztroja)

Bard

• Abyss Sahagin (Level: 72 - 74) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Coastal Sahagin (Level: 62 - 69) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Denn the Orcavoiced (Level: 64 - 65) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Yagudo Conductor (Level: 63 - 67) (Castle Oztroja)

Beastmaster

• Goblin Shepherd (Level: 64 - 69) (Ifrit's Cauldron, King Ranperre's Tomb, Labyrinth of Onzozo, ...)
• Goblin Tamer (Level: 66 - 69) (Kuftal Tunnel)
• Jotunn Wildkeeper (Level: 65 - 69) (Delkfutt's Tower Upper)

Dark Knight

• Adaman Quadav (Level: 74) (Qulun Dome)
• Antican Legatus (Level: 72 - 74) (Quicksand Caves)
• Arch Demon (Level: 64 - 66) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Doom Guard (Level: 75 - 77) (Gustav Tunnel)
• Doom Soldier (Level: 65 - 70) (Cape Teriggan, Gustav Tunnel, Toraimarai Canal, ...)
• Orcish Warlord (Level: 72 - 74) (Monastic Cavern)

Dragoon

• Delta Sahagin (Level: 62 - 69) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Ocean Sahagin (Level: 75) (Sea Serpent Grotto)
• Orcish Dragoon (Level: 65 - 69) (Davoi, Monastic Cavern)

Ninja

• Tonberry Slasher (Level: 67 - 69) (Den of Rancor)
• Tonberry Stabber (Level: 61 - 67) (Temple of Uggalepih)
• Yagudo Assassin (Level: 64 - 72) (Castle Oztroja)

Paladin

• Antican Antesignanus (Level: 62 - 69) (Quicksand Caves)
• Antican Legatus (Level: 72 - 74) (Quicksand Caves)
• Darksteel Quadav (Level: 63 - 71) (Beadeaux, Qulun Dome)
• Orcish Protector (Level: 69 - 72) (Monastic Cavern)

Ranger

• Antican Aedilis (Level: 62 - 69) (Quicksand Caves)
• Jotunn Wallkeeper (Level: 65 - 69) (Delkfutt's Tower Upper)
• Orcish Farkiller (Level: 62 - 66) (Davoi, Monastic Cavern)

Samurai

• Blood Demon (Level: 64 - 66) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Yagudo Templar (Level: 72 - 74) (Altar Room, Castle Oztroja)

Summoner

• Abyssal Demon (Level: 64 - 66) (Zvahl Castle Bailey)
• Tonberry Dismayer (Level: 61 - 67) (Temple of Uggalepih)
• Yagudo Avatar (Level: 75) (Altar Room, Castle Oztroja)

You'll likely need a party to beat these mobs efficiently as the drop rate, as for any required quest item, leaves much to be desired. (getting flashbacks of sub job or genkai 1 yet?)

Once you bring Maat the testimony, he will challenge you to a fight to prove once and for all you have ultimate mastery over your job.

Maat assumes your job and has all the abilities of it including your 2hr. Regardless of job however, he fights with his fists and can use asuran fists which could snuff out your hopes of winning in one fell swoop if you don't play your cards right, not to mention he hits pretty hard. Oh yes, your sub job is disabled for this fight so you can expect no help from that. You have 10 minutes to beat Maat and prove yourself to him. Watch out because the old man is WAY tougher than he looks!

Some general tips

-Maat does not attack until you do. Use this to your advantage by buffing yourself and resting to full before fighting.

-melees, buy an opo-opo necklace (TP regen when sleeping) and some sleeping potions. Put yourself to sleep with the necklace on to build up TP to 100% or so.

-Maat is not to be underestimated! Make sure you have any piece of equipment you think could help, use food, carry some medicine supply and have a battle strategy planned out. Do nothing but your very best!

-I'm not 100% sure on this but I'm told that Maat has the same stats as you do when you ENTER the fight. meaning, if you strip yourself (or maybe even equip stuff that lowers your important stats) and then equip your regular gear before fight him, it will give you a statistical advantage on him. Since Maat doesn't attack until you do, there's no real harm in trying this. Can anyone confirm?

Job strategies

Warrior

You'll need the opo-opo necklace, 4 sleep potions, a meat mithkabob and an icarus wing to do this. Be a good idea to macro your warrior abilities along with using the icarus wing as you must do this very smoothly. Enter the arena, eat your food, and put yourself to sleep until you have 100% TP. Once you're all ready, head over to meet and stand right in position. Now, turn on Aggressor, Berserk, Warcry and Mighty Strikes and pull out your weapon. Hit Maat once or twice and then use Raging Rush, immediatly use your icarus wing and then another Raging Rush. If all goes well, you'll do a fragmentation SC (who says only samurai can do one man SC's?). Maat won't know what hit him! If it doesn't quite kill Maat, start praying you finish him off fast as he will whip out his big guns right away which could quickly finish you.

Monk

When you enter the arena, eat a meat mithkabob and then do the usual sleep to 100% TP trick described above. Similar to warrior, engage Maat, use your best weapon skill, icarus wing and then use it again for mega damage. This will prompt Maat to use Hundred Fists, use yours as well. Pound away at Maat until you're at 100% TP again and then quickly use another WS which should take him down.

Thief

Thieves have another option if the player has not already beaten Maat while on another job. Instead of full out assault (described below), you can win by using your Job Ability to Steal a Scroll of Instant Warp from him.

>>> Steal Strategy <<<

• A Scroll of Instant Warp is a Rare/Ex item, which you can only have one at a time. Be sure that you do not have one anywhere in your inventory when you face Maat (including your Mog House) otherwise you will not be able to Steal the item from Maat.

• There is a 10 minute limit to this fight, and Steal has a five minute job ability timer, so the first Steal attempt needs to occur immediately upon entering the arena if there is any hope for there to be enough time for a second chance if Steal fails (which it often will).

• If Steal is attempted without alternate preparation for a full melee fight, this is an all-or-nothing shot and the player should not expect to survive through the job ability timer. Plan on using some form of re-raiser (Scroll, Potion, Earring, or Hairpin), rest until the job ability timer expires and reattempt immediately before the event timer expires.

• Maximize your stealing skill (Steal+) and equip quested Artifact (AF) gear (Rogue's Armlets -- +1, Rogue's Bonnet -- +1, Rogue's Culottes -- +1, Rogue's Poulaines -- +2) along with anything else you can find that improves stealing like Thief's Kote -- +3 (replaces Rogue's Armlets), Rabbit Charm -- +1, Rogue's Ring -- +3 (effect active when HP is 75% or lower) and Key Ring Belt -- +1 (all of these items are available at 70 or lower).

• Only items that modify Steal will influence the chance of success or failure of the Job Ability ... the results are not affected by frequency of use (cannot be "skilled up") nor by any other modifier (STR, DEX, INT, and so on). While there are items above Level 70 that modify Steal, the player cannot wear them without having previously beaten Maat and broken the level limit. (A successful Steal will not end the fight if the player has previously beaten Maat on another job).

>>> Melee Fight <<<

• Cap your skills for your level, particularly Dagger and Evasion and consider capping Parrying and Shield.
• Use food -- Squid Sushi (HP +20, Accuracy +15%) and Persikos Au Lait (Regen 4 hp/tick and effect lasts 10 minutes = 800 HP)
• Use equipment -- Opo-Opo Necklace, Blink Band, Spartan Hoplon (optional - casts Phalanx), Bomb Core / Fire Bomblet / Viking Shield (Attack+)
• Stock up on medicines - Icarus Wing and Potions -- Vile Elixir (restores 25% HP), Vile Elixir +1 (restores 55% HP), Max-Potion, X-Potion, Hi Potion, Potion (consider using the NQ, +1, +2 or +3 versions). Carry as many potions as you feel you need and macro their use.
• Equip as much Accuracy+ and Strength+ gear you can find. Macro in any gear that will increase Sneak Attack effectiveness.

>>> Battle Plan <<<

• Equip your weapon(s) and the Opo-Opo Necklace, Sleep Potion x 4 (or Mary's Milk x 2) for 100% TP (do not change weapons or you will lose your TP).
• Use Reraise, Blink, Phalanx, Squid Sushi and Persikos Au Lait.
• Approach, use Sneak Attack, and then attack Maat from behind
• After the first hit, immediately use Dancing Edge
• Consume Icarus Wing (to regain 100% TP). This will give a Medicated Status Effect for two hours.
• After gaining 100% TP, immediately use Dancing Edge. If this is done rapidly enough, it will cause a self skill chain resulting in additional damage from a Detonation effect.
• Evaluate the situation ... If the player is in the yellow for HP, attempt Steal for best effect (Rogue's Ring is active under 75% HP) and then use a HP+ Potion.
• After the second Dancing Edge, Maat should have used either Perfect Dodge or Asuran Fists. If Asuran Fists, use Perfect Dodge and then Flee until his Perfect Dodge wears off.
• Re-engage Maat and build TP to 100% and use the third and final Dancing Edge.
• At this point Maat should give up if he hasn't already.

• An alternate strategy is to skill up Marksmanship and use Ranged Attack and land Sleep Bolts, particularly while Maat is under the effect of Perfect Dodge. This will give the player the chance to execute one or more additional Sneak Attack(s) while Maat is asleep. (Note: If you equip the Bomb Core or Fire Bomblet in the ammo slot for Attack+, be sure to macro in a safety to unequip the item before executing the Ranged Attack to avoid actually throwing the hard-to-get / expensive Attack+ item at Maat and losing it permanently.)

• Be sure not to change weapons until after the second Dancing Edge otherwise you will waste the benefits of the Opo-Opo Necklace and the Icarus Wing.

White Mage

White mage? Solo a tough guy like Maat? Well, fortunately, White Mages don't have to actually beat Maat either. You must simply take a certain amount of damage from him and survive. (how much? It appears to be random from what I've seen, best hope you get the low end of the range). Some re-equipping will be in order here. Now you must equip yourself for defense. Some items of note are phalanx rings, earth staff (Ask your paladin friend if you can borrow his. ^^), and bat earrings. Drink a blind potion to give yourself +30 evasion from the bat earrings (you won't be actually attacking so being blinded makes no difference). Bring along a couple bottles of Yagudo drink, plenty of healing potions, some echo drops and a fish chiefkabob (heh, eating tank food. Never thought you'd see the day?) Now, when you enter, cast all your buffs. Protect, Shell, Stoneskin, Aquaveil and Blink and then rest back to full. (you need all your MP for healing so don't waste it recasting these if they wear off). Eat your food and blind yourself then use Yagudo drink and Regen III on yourself. Now cast Paralyze on Maat to get his attention (if it actually sticks, great! But don't fret if it doesn't) Maat should be hitting you for two digit damage so you should have no trouble keeping your HP up. Don't actually attack him, that gives him more TP which is not good. Don't spam lower cures, wait for HP to get somewhat low and use high end cures. More HP for your MP. Basically, you're doing what a paladin would do. But if you're a taru, mind you don't use cures that heal for more HP than you have either. Don't try to enfeeble Maat and only Cure, Silence, or Paralyze if they are cast on you. If all goes smoothly, you likely won't need Benediction but it's good to keep in mind if Maat gets lucky shots in and you need healing NOW. Just keep taking hits and healing them and Maat will eventually give up.

Black Mage

Do this right, you'll win easy. For good measure, get your INT as high as possible with food and equips. Enter Area, cast your favourite ancient spell, quickly use elemental seal-sleep II on Maat before he can retaliate. Now get him with another ancient spell while he's asleep. Now, bind him so he can't smack you around for nuking him and fire off a regular elemental spell (best one you have). That should finish him off. If all goes well, Maat will never get a shot off at you. ^^

Red Mage

Very commonly considered the hardest of all the Maat fights and for good reason. Chainspell in the hands of an enemy is never a good thing and this time, you don't have the chainspell-stun solution to fall back on. I guess the best defense against a master of cheatery is another master of cheatery. ^^; What's a red mage to do? Luck plays a big role in this fight so say your prayers before doing this. First and foremost, get a wind staff. You'll need it. Get your INT as high as you possibly can, every last point counts. Enter, dash towards Maat, dispel and sleep him immediately. While he's asleep, cast your own buffs, and dispel any and all he has on himself. Nuke Maat with Aero III until you're out of MP, convert, heal youself back up with hi-potions. Now the big guns. Chainspell aero III as fast as you can, Maat will do the same. Chainspell should finish him off. If it doesn't, continue to nuke and hope it's enough. Good luck!

Paladin

Time to show Maat who's the real defender of truth and justice! Mwa ha ha!! (Yes, I'm a paladin. How'd you guess?) Like white mage, some changes in equipment is in order here. You'll want damage dealing equipment instead of tanking but keep the sword and shield, you'll need them. Bring along an Opo-opo necklace, sleep potions, hi-potions, vile elixer or two, yagudo drink and meat mithkabob. Now, when you enter the arena, do the usual routine. Sleep yourself to 100% TP, drink your drink, eat your eats, cast your buffs and move in. Use Sentinel as soon as you engage Maat and then use Rampart when that runs out. Like warrior and monk, use your best WS right off the bat, use the icarus wing and then immediatly hit Maat again with another WS to get some good early damage. But watch out! If he flashes you right away, hold off the WS until the blindness wears off. Now, duel Maat, healing yourself along the way and shield bashing him if he tries to cast Banish III. Maat will eventually use invincible, flash him and kite him when he does this. (don't disengage, that takes too long. Just push L3 to break targeting and run around the room) Just try to stall until Maat's Invincible runs out. If you get a chance to nuke him, do so but watch your MP. When his invincible runs out, now it's your turn! Activate your own invincible and fearlessly charge back in! Attack Maat mercilessly and take this chance to heal yourself up with items. (wouldn't it just rock if Maat used Asuran fists right now? Heh heh!) By the time invincible runs out, you should have another WS ready. Use it and hopefully it will finish him off. If it doesn't, hopefully you brought enough medicine to hold your ground until another WS is ready.

Dark Knight

This is a pretty straightforeward fight actually but it's very important to carry lots of hi-potions and macro them. You'll be using a lot. Like the other melees, use an Opo-opo necklace, sleep yourself to 100% TP, use ws, icarus wing, ws right away. Use def or atk food, your choice. Most of your spells won't be very effective against Maat so don't bother. Just focus on hacking Maat up good. (but always hope he wastes turns using stupid spells like Absorb-CHR) Drain might come in handy but I wouldn't bank on it. Use your hi-potions to keep up your HP as you fight and your attack up skills should be done at your own discretion. The biggest threat is Blood Weapon. When Maat activates it, push L3 to break target lock and run around the room to reduce the number of times he attacks you. You DON'T want him regaining lost HP. once his blood weapon runs out, activate your own take back some of the punishment he's dealt you. (if your HP are still in good shape, this wouldnt' be a bad time to use souleater too) Use WS when they're ready and you should be okay as long as you are ready for anything Maat throws at you. Just beware not to use Guillotine when soul eater is activated or you could very well end up digging your own grave.

Ranger

Another fairly straightforward fight. Only thing to take note of is that Maat will either use Eagle Eye Shot right away or in retaliation to a WS. Moral: if he hasn't used Eagle Eye Shot yet, be careful not to use a ws if you haven't got the HP to take it. Your best bet is to try and tempt him to use it right away while you're still at full HP. Use Shadowbind so he can't melee attack you (and thus possibly use Asuran Fists). Other than that, do the usual Opo-opo necklace sleep to 100% TP, icarus wings and stock up on hi-potions. Fill him up full of firepower and be done with it. A Tracker's Earring helps.

Beastmaster

Not too hard. Bring along a Panzer Ghalad for this fight along with the usual Opo-opo necklace, sleep potions, hi-potions and some def up food (I personally like fish chiefkabobs as a dedicated tank but it's up to you). Okay, sleep yourself to 100% TP, summon your pet and sic it on Maat while you fight Maat's pet but don't use your WS on Maat's pet, that's for Maat himself. once you kill Maat's pet, run out of range, heal yourself back up with hi-potions and let your pet fight Maat to the death. Now run in and hit Maat with rampage. That should send him packing. (as for your 2hr, I suspect using it will prompt Maat to use his as well which could give you trouble. If you don't need to use it, then don't. No need to risk it)

Bard

Max out your sword level for this as Spirits Within will be your best friend here. Bring along the usual melee stuff, Opo-necklace, sleep potions, hi potions along with def food and a stack of Selbina milk. When you enter the arena, watch Maat and see what he's buffing himself with. Eat your food, sleep yourself to 100% Tp and then use your icarus wing which should bring you up to 200% (yeah, little different set up this time). Now, drink your Selbina milk. This is your "finale blocker." If Maat finales you, it will remove the milk effect instead of your songs. Drink another milk if Maat finales you. Use soul voice along with your best songs. Now, use finale on Maat if he has any potentially threatening buffs on (that's why I said to watch what he does when you enter.) and debuff him. Now, hit him with Spirits Within for a strong early hit. Now it's just a matter of fighting him, using WS as they come up. Finale any buffs Maat puts up and drink milk if he finales you.

Samurai

Get ready to amaze even yourself with some fancy WSing. Bring along a few pear au lait, meat mithkabob and some hi-potions. Enter the burning circle and use meditate, making sure to wait for it to recharge before you enter to confront Maat. When you enter, use third eye and use your food and drink. Now, use the following skills: Tachi: Yukikaze > Meikyo Shisui > Tachi: Gekko (Fragmentation) > Meditate > Tachi: Yukikaze > Tachi: Gekko (Fragmentation) > Tachi: Gekko. After the smoke clears, simply continue to duel Maat, drinking potions to keep health up and drink another pear au lait when the first one runs out.

Ninja

Cast Utsusemi: Ni, sleep yourself to 100% and eat your food as normal. The biggest threat is Maat's 2hr for which you must keep your HP above 700 in preparation for. Enter the arena. Maat will have Utsusemi: Ni on so don't unleash your WS until you've killed his shadows. Hit Maat with Blade: Chi or ten then proceed to Paralyze, Slow and Blind Maat. At all times, keep your HP above 700 so Maat's 2hr doesn't kill you. Once that's past, it's straightforward from there on.

Dragoon

Bring along a fish chiefkabob, a stack of hi potions,sleep potions and some Selbina milk. Use the sleep potions and Opo-necklace to get your TP up like always. Summon your wyvern and use your food and drink. Now, engage Maat and hit him five times or so and he will summon his wyvern. By this time, you should have 100% TP. Penta thrust Maat's wyvern but don't change targets, this will prompt your wyvern to breath on Maat. Jump and high jump, hit Maat a few times then use super jump and then immediatly break target and turn away from Maat (so you're engaged still but not attacking Maat). Maat and your wyvern will be locked in battle and with some luck, your wyvern will finish him off for you. If it doesn't, turn around and take him out yourself. He should be near death by now.

Summoner

Short fight but it's all or nothing. When you enter, use Earthen Ward and Aerial Armor on yourself and get your MP back to full before confronting Maat and drink a Yagudo drink. Bring out whichever avatar is strongest on the current day (or Fenrir if you have him) and immediately use Astral Flow, refill your MP with ethers quickly and use Astral Flow again as soon as it's ready. That should take out Maat. If Maat uses Astral Flow himself, you will not survive. You simply have to be quicker at the draw, nothing more to it.

Quest Series

This quest is part of the Limit Break quest series. The complete series includes:

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