Imaginary Numbers

Imaginary Numbers is an optional boss found at the end of Asymmetrical Cavern in the Legs of the Ancient Giant, accessible immediately after arriving. It is a chaotic boss that instills a feeling of panic and disorientation in Jimmy.

Imaginary Numbers, in addition to its regular attacks, has a persistent 30% chance to counter all physical attacks dealt to it, a 30% chance to reflect all magic attacks dealt to it, and a 30% chance to dodge physical attacks if not countered. It also has a set order of attacks it may use, that increases every turn before settling on the sixth phase. In every phase except the first, Imaginary Numbers will also have a chance to glitch out, dealing roughly 125 damage to itself and resetting the cycle.

## Attacks/Actions

### First Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will attack, dealing physical damage to one party member.
* Imaginary Numbers will freeze the air around you, dealing magical damage to one party member.
* Imaginary Numbers will fire a 138, dealing 138 damage to one party member.
* Imaginary Numbers will space out, doing nothing.
* Imaginary Numbers will ER#&&T7, dealing physical damage to one party member, with their current HP substituted for defense.
* Imaginary Numbers will lunge forward as if to slash, and bash you with a hilt instead. This will deal 50% physical damage to one party member and inflict Startled.

### Second Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will sink his fangs into your neck, leeching physical damage from one party member.
* Imaginary Numbers will hock up something gross, inflicting Sick on all party members.
* Imaginary Numbers will whiz by with an open palm, dealing physical damage to all party members.
* Imaginary Numbers will attack your MP, dealing magical damage to it.

### Third Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will release a terrible thunderstorm, dealing magical damage to all party members and inflicting Startled.
* Imaginary Numbers will seek out your weaknesses, inflicting Weakpoint on one party member.
* Imaginary Numbers will attack with a random number generator, dealing 0-350 damage to one party member.

### Fourth Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will go on a rampage, dealing 150% physical damage to 3 party members (450% total).
* Imaginary Numbers will PRZ\*(XX)@, dealing physical damage to one party member, with its attack substituted for the attack of the party member being hit.

### Fifth Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will +nnnnnn(27), dealing physical damage to one party member, with its attack substituted for the current HP of the party member being hit.

### Sixth Phase

* Imaginary Numbers will initiate Program Omega, dealing 400% physical damage to all party members. It will continue to use Program Omega until it glitches out and the attack counter is reset.

## Lore

* Imaginary Numbers are quantities that are not "real": being composed √-1, they exist only as an abstract concept.
* The body of this Anomaly is made by warped mathematical symbols: the ∋ ("back epsilon", which means that a set contains something as an element), the ⋮ (vertical "ellipsis", which indicates omitted values from a pattern), □ ("tombstone", it marks the end of a proof), the ∌ (a slashed "back epsilon", it means that a set does not contain something as an element), the ∏ ("Cartesian product", the association between the numbers of two sets) and the ∀ ("universal quantification", it implies that property is valid for all the elements indicated).

## Strategy

Due to Imaginary Number's ability to deflect most attacks, and its chance to wipe your party using Program Omega, this fight is somewhat dependent on luck. That said, with the right strategy, it's possible to defeat it.

* Due to Imaginary Number's ability to deflect or flat out ignore damage dealt to it, a good strategy is to poison him using both toxicosis and toxic sludge at the same time, since Imaginary Numbers cannot deflect the damage dealt by these attacks.
* This fight is essentially on a timer; this enemy will eventually start using the Program Omega attack, which can easily wipe your party. Andrew's Analysis attack combined with a strong move such as Rampage from Jimmy can deal a large amount of damage while only risking a 30% chance to counter a few times due to the concentrated attacks. However, this path is risky, and can result in Jimmy being countered by his strong attacks; therefore, it's important to keep Helga alive in this fight as much as possible. It is also possible to toxicosis/toxic sludge the enemy and wait it out, however, this relies heavily on Helga's ability to heal the party and is not necessary with the correct equipment.
* A major problem eventually arises: Imaginary Numbers' Program Omega attack. If you aren't at a high enough level, this attack has the potential to wipe out your party, and even at high levels, it is dangerous. If Imaginary Numbers doesn't glitch out by the 5th turn, you run the risk of facing this attack. Pay attention to when it uses +nnnnnn(27), and either guard or use the bird transformation to startle Imaginary Numbers. This will give you a bit more time for glitch to proc. Note that you may still be unlucky and get another Program Omega.
* However, there is an easier way to survive Program Omega, as long as you're willing to spend cash on a lot of alarm clocks. When Imaginary Numbers uses +nnnnnn(27), make sure Lars is at full health and have him use Metabolize, then have him guard. Keep guarding until Program Omega ends, it's about a 50% chance for Imaginary Numbers to glitch out during this. After it ends, everyone else is probably dead so have Lars use an alarm clock on Helga, and have Helga revive everyone else in the party. Note, you're also going to need lots of choca-colas or an MP regenerating item on Lars since metabolize uses lots of MP.