Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon

* Lājackal
* Malamaowl

* Initial
* Intermediate
* Final

**Stats**

 555
 535
 431
 393

 250
 295
 191
 171

**Status Effect Effectiveness**

* Initial
* Intermediate
* Final

**Stats**

 535
 555
 418
 402

 250
 295
 191
 171

**Status Effect Effectiveness**

### Immune

The **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** is an enemy in *Octopath Traveler II*. It is the final boss of Ochette's story. Depending on the story, The Darkling is a cursed form of Ochette's companion (Akalā or Mahina) if they didn't got chosen, befriended and named.

## Story

One day, during training in the ruins, Juvah presented Ochette with two rare animals, allowing her to pick one as a companion. After she selected and befriended one, the other immediately was consumed by a dark aura, attacking the young hunter before leaving the ruins.

The darkness manifesting in the animal Ochette didn't choose attracts the attention of the Moonshade Order as their acolyte Petrichor captures the animal. They give the animal to Harvey and commission him to augment that darkness, with the animal turned into the Darkling over years of torture. Once the Darkling is fully consumed in rage and hatred, Petrichor offers herself to the beast as a sacrifice to extinguish one of the sacred flames. Sometime after, the Darkling ran off and eventually reunited with the terrified beastling in person.

During the battle, the Darkling becomes increasingly mutated by Harvey's experiments, until it finally defeated by Ochette, lays on the beach, dying of the wounds it sustained. Ochette's partner says that they believes that if she chose the Darkling over them, they would've been the Darkling in their stead. Ochette gives the dying beast some jerky to give the animal some peace before its body dissipates.

## Battle

The battle with the Lājackal of the Sorrowful Moon and Malamaowl of the Sorrowful Moon generally follows the same pattern, with the **Lājackal** being generally more physical damage oriented and the **Malamaowl's** being more elemental damage inclined.

At the start of battle, a scripted event will force Ochette to act first and summon Acta on a full boost. This counts as her action, and as such she won't be able to do anything else during the first turn and will also go into her next action with her BP expended unless other travelers intervene.

The **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will begin the battle with two actions per turn.

At ##% of its maximum health, the **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will begin to prey upon the travelers, and the following effects occur:

* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** gains a permanent effect and perform an additional ability based on which traveler is preyed upon.
* The **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon'**s form will change to become more eldritch as additional eyes and tendrils appear.Its weaknesses will also change to its second set.

At ##% of its maximum health, the **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will prey upon Ochette, changing its form to become consumed by darkness. Its weaknesses will also change to its third and final set.

### Abilities

* Lājackal of the Sorrowful Moon
* Malamaowl of the Sorrowful Moon

## Lājackal of the Sorrowful Moon

* **Attack:** Physical attack, single target.
* **Dark Fang:** Physical attack,. single target.
* **Dark Claw:** Physical attack,. targets entire party.
* **Night Howl:** Elemental damage. targets entire party. Inflict  **Decreased Elemental Attack** for 2 turns.

At ##% of its maximum health, **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will prey upon one of the travelers present, with the exception of Ochette. The following occur:

* Target traveler's health is reduced to 1 HP. This effect is automatic, ignoring effects that negate damage and evasion.
* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will changes its appearance to one more sinister. Weaknesses change to its second set.
* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** gains a permanent effect and ability, depending on the traveler preyed upon.
* It will never devour twice in a row, nor will it target Ochette until all other travelers have been devoured first.
* The **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** cannot die until after the scripted event activates upon devouring Ochette (fatal damage will leave the Darkling with 1 HP).

* ***The beast preys upon Castti.* // *Its healing powers were enhanced!*:** Gains permanent  **Vim and Vigor** buff, 1,000 HP/turn, and the ability to use **Formula for Misfortune**.
	+ **Formula for Misfortune:** Physical damage, targets entire party twice. Each hit may inflict a random debuff or status condition for 2 turns.
* ***The beast preys upon Throné.* // *It can now take more actions!*:** Gains an additional action per turn and the ability to use **Blacksnake**.
	+ **Blacksnake:** Inflicts  **Decreased Physical Defense** and  **Decreased Elemental Defense** on entire party for 3 turns.
* ***The beast preys upon Osvald.* // *Its elemental attack powers have grown!*:** Gains permanent  **Increased Elemental Attack** and the ability to use **Shadow Magic**.
	+ **Shadow Magic:** Elemental damage, , targets entire party. Hits twice.
* ***The beast preys upon Partitio.* // *It can now inflict terror!*:** Gains the ability to inflict  **Terror** with each physical attack and the ability to use **BP Deficit**.
	+ **BP Deficit:** Physical attack, targets entire party. Reduces BP by 1 on hit.
* ***The beast preys upon Agnea.* // *Its normal attacks will reach all!*:** Gains the ability to hit the entire party with each normal physical attack, and the ability to use **Song of Despair**.
	+ **Song of Despair:** Elemental damage, , targets entire party.
* ***The beast preys upon Temenos.* // *Its shield was strengthened!*:** Base shields increased by 10. Also gains the ability to use **Scarlet Moon Prayer**.
	+ **Scarlet Moon Prayer:** Applies the buffs  **Increased Physical Defense** and  **Increased Elemental Defense** for 3 turns each to itself.
* ***The beast preys upon Hikari.* // *Its physical attack powers have grown!*:** Gains permanent  **Increased Physical Attack** and the ability to use **Aggressive Strike**.
	+ **Aggressive Strike:** Physical attack, targets random allies 5 times.

At ##% of its maximum health, **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will prey upon Ochette. The following occur:

* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will changes its appearance further, becoming almost completely covered in darkness. Weaknesses change to its final set.

* ***The beast preys upon Ochette.* // *It has recovered its strength!*:** **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** recovers 10,000 HP. Enables the *Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon* to enter boost mode.

* **A sorrowful howl echoes into the night...:** **Lājackal of the Sorrowful Moon** enters boost mode for 1 turn. Uses **Malevolent Bite** if not broken before the **Lājackal's** next action.
	+ **Malevolent Bite:** Physical attack, reduces entire party down to 1 HP.
* **The beast wails into the night...:**

## Malamaowl of the Sorrowful Moon

* **Attack:** Physical attack, single target.
* **Dark Ice:** Elemental damage, . single target.
* **Dark Wind:** Elemental damage, . targets entire party.
* **Rend Night:** Physical attack, targets entire party. Inflict  **Decreased Physical Attack** for 2 turns.

At ##% of its maximum health, **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will prey upon one of the travelers present, with the exception of Ochette. The following occur:

* Target traveler's health is reduced to 1 HP. This effect is automatic, ignoring effects that negate damage and evasion.
* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will changes its appearance to one more sinister. Weaknesses change to its second set.
* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** gains a permanent effect and ability, depending on the traveler preyed upon.
* It will never devour twice in a row, nor will it target Ochette until all other travelers have been devoured first.
* The **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** cannot die until after the scripted event activates upon devouring Ochette (fatal damage will leave the Darkling with 1 HP).

* ***The beast preys upon Castti.* // *Its healing powers were enhanced!*:** Gains permanent  **Vim and Vigor** buff, 1,000 HP/turn, and the ability to use **Formula for Misfortune**.
	+ **Formula for Misfortune:** Physical damage, targets entire party twice. Each hit may inflict a random debuff or status condition for 2 turns.
* ***The beast preys upon Throné.* // *It can now take more actions!*:** Gains an additional action per turn and the ability to use **Blacksnake**.
	+ **Blacksnake:** Inflicts  **Decreased Physical Defense** and  **Decreased Elemental Defense** on entire party for 3 turns.
* ***The beast preys upon Osvald.* // *Its elemental attack powers have grown!*:** Gains permanent  **Increased Elemental Attack** and the ability to use **Shadow Magic**.
	+ **Shadow Magic:** Elemental damage, , targets entire party. Hits twice.
* ***The beast preys upon Partitio.* // *It can now inflict terror!*:** Gains the ability to inflict  **Terror** with each physical attack and the ability to use **BP Deficit**.
	+ **BP Deficit:** Physical attack, targets entire party. Reduces BP by 1 on hit.
* ***The beast preys upon Agnea.* // *Its normal attacks will reach all!*:** Gains the ability to hit the entire party with each normal physical attack, and the ability to use **Song of Despair**.
	+ **Song of Despair:** Elemental damage, , targets entire party.
* ***The beast preys upon Temenos.* // *Its shield was strengthened!*:** Base shields increased by 10. Also gains the ability to use **Scarlet Moon Prayer**.
	+ **Scarlet Moon Prayer:** Applies the buffs  **Increased Physical Defense** and  **Increased Elemental Defense** for 3 turns each to itself.
* ***The beast preys upon Hikari.* // *Its physical attack powers have grown!*:** Gains permanent  **Increased Physical Attack** and the ability to use **Aggressive Strike**.
	+ **Aggressive Strike:** Physical attack, targets random allies 5 times.

At ##% of its maximum health, **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will prey upon Ochette. The following occur:

* **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** will changes its appearance further, becoming almost completely covered in darkness. Weaknesses change to its final set.

* ***The beast preys upon Ochette.* // *It has recovered its strength!*:** **Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon** recovers 10,000 HP. Enables the *Darkling of the Sorrowful Moon* to enter boost mode.

* **A sorrowful hoot echoes into the night...:** **Malamaowl of the Sorrowful Moon** enters boost mode for 1 turn. Uses **Malevolent Lightning** if not broken before the **Malamaowl's** next action.
	+ **Malevolent Lightning:** Elemental damage,  reduces entire party down to 1 HP.
* **The beast wails into the night...:**

## Strategy

Team composition is highly important for this boss, as it does *VERY* different things depending on who you bring and in what order it decides to devour them. However, bringing some travelers can be more dangerous than others. Furthermore, depending on who you chose at the start of Ochette's story, this boss will either have a more physical or more magical moveset.

In particular, there are three travelers you DO NOT want to bring if avoidable. These are Throné, Osvald and Hikari. Bringing all three... is a recipe for a swift and utter defeat.

* Throné gives the boss an extra action and the ability to cripple your defenses, which can easily spell disaster considering the boss' access to attacks that instantly reduce party members down to 1 HP.
* Osvald gives the boss +50% damage to all magic as well as a strong 2-hit group-targeting magic attack; don't bring him if you fighting the Malamaowl.
* Hikari gives the boss +50% damage to all physical attacks as well as a 5 hit random-target physical attack; don't bring him if you fighting the Lājackal.

Castti gives the boss 1000 HP regen, which can be trouble if you don't have good firepower. However, it also gives the boss a 2 hit group-target physical attack that inflicts random debuffs/statuses on hit. This can also be disastrous if it tosses out too much  **Sleep**/ **Unconsciousness**. If you keep  **Rehabilitate** up throughout the fight, this is a safe pick.

Partitio and Agnea have some of the least threatening abilities to give the boss. They both give the boss a mediocre group-target attack, though they are much less threatening than what Hikari/Osvald give. Likewise, neither  **Terror** nor an AoE Normal Attack are much of a threat. They're safe picks if you have trouble surviving.

Temenos gives the boss purely defensive buffs, being permanent shield increase and the ability to cast defensive buffs. Neither of them make the boss more dangerous, as Ochette will always have access to good shield-breaking options to burst shield if needed.

The other thing to watch out for is when the boss gets consecutive actions. This happens one of several ways: Your party is too slow, your party is too fast, you used Leghold/Hired Help Guards, or you broke the boss. In any case, letting the boss get consecutive actions is extremely dangerous. If the boss gets 2 turns in a row, it can devour somebody with the first action, and (unless the target is Throné or Temenos) then follow up with an attack that will kill them. Furthermore, since the boss will likely be taking lots of damage during break, it is basically guaranteed to come out of break with enough damage sustained to force it to devour someone the instant it comes out of break, resulting in a death sentence. Expect travelers to die often and as such, don't rely on high-duration buffs, as they will be lost on death.

Also, since the boss recovers 10000 HP upon devouring Ochette and triggering the scripted event that enables it to die, you can't "cheese" this boss by dealing fatal damage during an earlier break and applying poison. You have to endure its last phase no matter what.

## Trivia

* The face of the Mahina version of the Darkling looks as if it’s wearing an owl version of a kabuki mask. In kabuki theater, red kabuki masks represent heroes while blue masks represent villains. This acts as a visual representation of the heroic sidekick Mahina could’ve been if Ochette chose her.
	+ More to the point, Mahina’s transformation shows her head cracking open as her body becomes monstrous. This shows how what’s left of Mahina is literally breaking down until her body, and identity, becomes more Darkling than Mahina, only coming to what’s left of her senses after the fight was over.