Final Chapter: Those Who Protect the Hollow Heart

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Preparing at the Base

   When you arrive at the Central Halo Rail Station and reach the Axis Pillar Base on 1F, interact with the central terminal, recovery point, and teleport gate, then read the letter left behind by Georg Weissmann. You can stock up on gear and accessories from Payton, buy recovery meals from the Cafeteria Chef, and handle terminal data upgrades with Professor Russell. Clear out mob packs of Knuckle Spiders and Fortune Coins in the lower halls using high-damage neutral AoE arts like Death Scream paired with Earth Wall cycling.

   Key fight: Knuckle Spider Key fight: Fortune Coin

   Tip: Stock up on Skull Pendants from Payton now to guard against Deathblow effects later in the pillar.

2. 2

   Scaling 2F to Face Bleublanc

   Before ascending the winding platforms of 2F, arrange your roster to bring Olivier and Kloe for their custom rivalry interactions. Search the high-tier chests across this sector to secure powerful upgrades, including character-specific weapons, Aura Guard armor, Strega B1 boots, Long Barrel III, and defensive gear like Grail Lockets. Fight your way past the resident Knuckle Spiders and Fortune Coins to reach Enforcer X, Phantom Thief Bleublanc, and his Balancing Clowns to take down the barrier.

   Key fight: Knuckle Spider Key fight: Fortune Coin Key fight: Enforcer X: Phantom Thief Bleublanc & Balancing Clowns
   Endgame character-specific weapons: Axis PillarHow: High-tier chests throughout the pillarMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missAura Guard: Axis PillarHow: High-tier chests throughout the pillarMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missStrega B1: Axis PillarHow: High-tier chests throughout the pillarMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missLong Barrel III: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missGrail Lockets/Defensive orbs: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missBoss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.

   Tip: Apply Clock Down to Bleublanc right away so the lingering debuff reveals the authentic boss among his clones.

   Watch out: Failing to bring Olivier and Kloe to this floor permanently misses their unique dialogue and personal closure with Bleublanc.

3. 3

   Ascending the Catwalks for Walter

   Head through the mechanical catwalks of 3F and 4F, collecting Tear-All Balms and EP Charge II items from the treasure chests. Swap Zin into your active squad before triggering the arena showdown on 4F to resolve his history with Walter, Kilika, and the Taisetsu school. Keep up your buffs and defenses to survive Walter's devastating attacks before proceeding higher into the pillar.

   Key fight: Enforcer VIII: Walter the Direwolf
   EP Charge II: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missTear-All Balms: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missBoss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.

   Tip: Maintain Earth Wall, Gaia Shield, or Kevin's Grail Sphere alongside Clock Down to completely neutralize Walter's physical S-Craft bursts.

   Watch out: You will permanently lose Zin's personal story resolution if he is absent when you initiate the battle with Walter.

4. 4

   Piercing the Mists against Luciola

   Traverse the foggy pathways across 5F, looting valuable restorative caches of Zeram Powder and Zeram Capsules along the way. Switch Scherazard into your party prior to stepping into the 5F boss ring to confront Luciola regarding the circus troupe and Harvey. Equip your party with Sleep and Confuse protection before starting the battle against the Bewitching Bell.

   Key fight: Enforcer VI: Luciola the Bewitching Bell
   Zeram Powder: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missZeram Capsules: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missBoss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.

   Tip: Identify the genuine Luciola among her illusions by applying Clock Down or inspecting her stats and level.

   Watch out: If Scherazard is not in your lineup for this encounter, the closure regarding Harvey and her past will be locked out for the rest of the game.

5. 5

   Infiltrating the High-Tier Chambers for Renne

   Proceed through the security chambers spanning 6F and 7F while continuing to loot remaining chests for endgame weapons, Aura Guard suits, and defensive orbs. Ensure Tita is in your active battle party before stepping into the Enforcer XV arena to experience crucial emotional dialogue with Renne. Equip every active member with Skull Pendants or Deathblow-nullifying gear to withstand Renne's lethal attacks while taking on Pater-Mater.

   Key fight: Enforcer XV: Renne & Pater-Mater
   Endgame character-specific weapons: Axis PillarHow: High-tier chests throughout the pillarMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missAura Guard: Axis PillarHow: High-tier chests throughout the pillarMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missGrail Lockets/Defensive orbs: Axis PillarHow: Treasure ChestMissable because: Descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core Don't missBoss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.

   Tip: Focus your initial damage on Renne or cycle Earth Wall barriers to safely absorb Pater-Mater's heavy AoE physical strikes.

   Watch out: Entering the battle without Tita permanently locks you out of key emotional closure with Renne.

6. 6

   Confronting the Bladelord at the Apex

   Take the lift platform to the Top Level Apex of the Axis Pillar to confront Enforcer II, Leonhardt the Bladelord (Loewe). Form your party with Kevin to view additional lines foreshadowing Gralsritter lore. Equip anti-Confuse accessories on everyone to resist Silver Thorn, and rely on full barrier uptime to withstand Loewe's un-cancelable S-Crafts like Demon Flame and Deadly Tempest.

   Boss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.

   Tip: Keep Kevin's Grail Sphere or Earth Wall active at all times, and quickly wipe out Loewe's Doppelgangers with high-damage S-Breaks.

   Watch out: Passing the elevator behind Loewe creates a point of no return: you will be permanently locked out of shopping, re-equipping on the Arseille, or retrieving any unopened chests in the pillar.

7. 7

   Breaching the Aureole Core

   Ride the final elevator down into the Core Sector (The Hollow Heart) for the multi-phase showdown against Angel Weissmann. Bring Kevin along to witness further lore dialogue as the confrontation begins. Shatter the boss's absolute barrier nodes immediately, keep your members spread out against wide-area arts, and consume your Zeram Powders and Zeram Capsules to unleash burst S-Breaks during critical vulnerabilities.

   Boss dialogues permanently lock out character-specific closure once defeated if specific party members are not brought to their respective rivalries.Once descending past the final elevator after Loewe into the Aureole Core, you cannot return to the rest of the Ark or the Arseille to shop or change setups.

   Tip: Disperse your party across the arena floor so spatial erasure and sweeping elemental arts cannot strike multiple heroes simultaneously.

   Watch out: Once you descend into this chamber, you cannot return to the rest of the Liberl Ark or the Arseille.

What you decide here and what it leads to.