Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII-2 boss)

Lightning is a downloadable content "monster" from Final Fantasy XIII-2. As the Arbiter of Time reveals, this is only an exact copy of the actual Lightning that lacks a soul. Her specific stats are unknown as she, being post-launch content, does not appear in the official guides.
If the player has completed "Lightning's Story: Requiem of the Goddess" and obtained this version of her monster crystal, the player may include it in their Paradigm Pack for this battle, thus having Lightning battle herself.
==Stats==
== Battle ==
The fight begins with Lightning alone. At first, she only uses basic Commando attacks. However, at about 80% HP, a brief cutscene introduces Amodar, and the fight restarts.
Lightning and Amodar will Paradigm Shift periodically. Both have access to Commando and Medic, while Ravager and Synergist are exclusive to Lightning, and Sentinel and Saboteur are exclusive to Amodar. Both often pummel the player party with Ruinga and Blitz as their primary forms of damage while together. At times, Lightning executes Ravage instead of Blitz, and she can cast Curasa and Curaja as a Medic.
Looking at their role lists, one might think that Lightning should be the primary target as she can heal. If the player struggles dealing enough damage to make her single-cast healing spells worthless, they should take her out first. However, Amodar is among the most bothersome Saboteurs faced in the game, throwing grenades that can do damage and inflict multiple debuffs at a time, and can give the party a long list of debuffs in a matter of seconds in this mode. Fog, Pain, and Slow are the most problematic, though Deshell, Deprotect, and Poison are threatening as well.
Both opponents can be launched when staggered, rendering them harmless while airborne.
When one falls, the other gets stronger. If Amodar is the one left, he will gain Protect, Shell, Regen and Veil. If Lightning is the one left, she will gain Haste, Bravery, Faith and Vigilance. They also gain access to their full ATB abilities. Amodar's Iron Bear Claw will deal massive damage to one party member, while Lightning's Army of One will deal a long string of small physical hits. The latter sends the target flying, leaving them helpless for a few extra seconds. The player will be unable to act during these skills.
The drop rates on their crystals are low, so the player can expect to fight them many times before acquiring either.
=== Strategy ===
It is recommended to enter the fight with a high-level party. The fight is still a challenge for a party with maxed-out Crystarium, full-fragment Odin weapons, a generic paradigm deck (no Tortoise required), and fully developed Gold and Silver Chocobos. Ribbons can help immensely in this fight, especially on a healer. Otherwise, the party should alternate between chain building and healing.
Recommended paradigms are:
Paradigm 	Noel	Serah	Monster
Cerberus 	COM 	COM 	COM
Tri-Disaster	RAV 	RAV 	RAV
Diversity 	COM 	RAV 	MED
Evened Odds 	SYN 	SAB 	MED
Salvation 	MED 	MED 	MED
Saboteurs speed up the fight with the use of Deprotect and Deshell, which can stick moderately fast as opposed to Poison and Imperil. Both Lightning and Amodar are immune to Dispel (among other things) and sticking Deprotect and Deshell once one of the two is down becomes harder. Casting Imperil on Amodar can help immensely, as he becomes weak to Ice, Wind, Lightning and will turn his Fire resistance to normal.
The player should start with Evened Odds (SYN/SAB/MED) to cast Vigilance, Protect, Shell and Veil on the whole party (using their -ga variations makes things faster). During this time, it is recommended to inflict Imperil on Amodar. Using Tri-disaster (RAV/RAV/RAV) the player can pummel away at Lightning using fire, wind and ice-elemental abilities. If player needs to heal, it is recommended to switch to Diversity (COM/RAV/MED), and then return to Tri-disaster.
Once Lightning is staggered, the party should keep on pummeling at her until she gets at least 500.0% on the stagger gauge, then switch to Cerberus (COM/COM/COM). Launching her during this time proves an immense aid. She probably won't die in one stagger, so player should repeat the process. It is essential to buff the party.
Amodar is a greater problem as he can inflict serious debuffs. Going into Tri-disaster and hitting him with wind, ice and lightning attacks is especially effective when he has the Imperil status.
== Paradigm Pack ==
The chance of acquiring Lightning's crystal is 7% and can be boosted via high-sync Feral Links, e.g. Red Chocobo's Kweh (up to 400%), Twilight Odin's Zantetsuken (up to 999%) or PuPu's Items Please! (up to 999%). It is only possible to get the crystal if Lightning is defeated after Lieutenant Amodar has been eliminated.
Lightning has a fast attack and spellcasting animation, has access to the full range of elemental strikes and Blitzes, and the ability to inherit all Ravager spells. Against out-of-reach opponents, her blade becomes a gun to fire off -strike abilities.
===Monster stats===
===Abilities===
Ability 	Level 	Type 	Infuse
Attack: ATB Charge II	Initial	Passive	
Fire 	Initial	Command	
Blizzard 	Initial	Command	
Thunder 	Initial	Command	
Aero 	Initial	Command	
Flamestrike 	Initial	Command	
Froststrike 	Initial	Command	
Sparkstrike 	Initial	Command	
Galestrike 	Initial	Command	
Overwhelm 	3 	Auto 	
Electric Blitz 	4 	Command	
Aero Blitz 	5 	Command	
Ice Blitz 	6 	Command	
Heat Blitz 	7 	Command	
Fearsiphon 	8 	Auto 	
Thundaga 	10 	Command	
Siphon Boost 	13 	Passive	
Lightning's maximum level is 13, which may be an allusion to number 13, a recurring theme in both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2. When tamed, she says lines from her playable counterpart at certain occasions in battle. For example, when an enemy is staggered and she's active in the Paradigm Pack she may shout "The storm is here!" from when she uses Zantetsuken, and when her HP turns critical she utters "How can it... end like this?!" from being KO'd while the party leader in Final Fantasy XIII. Sometimes, when she's been tamed and is KO'd in battle, she can fall to her knees like her KO model from the previous game before she is dismissed. Monsters commonly only disappear without animation.
== Gallery ==
FFXIII-2 Lightning Introduction.png|Introduction screen.
FFXIII-2 Lightning Introduction Snow DLC.png|Introduction screen in Snow's Story: Perpetual Battlefield.
FFXIII-2 Lightning and Snow Arena.png|Lightning and Snow in the Coliseum.
== Related enemies ==
* Lieutenant Amodar
* Nabaat
* Snow
Category:Bosses in Final Fantasy XIII-2
Category:Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ravager Monsters