If you are only going to read one PSC Assault guide, make it this one; this one has a luck factor, but more pressing and more importantly, it has a TREMENDOUS time factor. Another way of looking at this is, unless you know exactly where to go and what to do, you will likely lose or finish the Assault with very, very little time to spare.

Awards and a map

You’ll need this; print out, copy it, whatever, just make sure you are looking at it while reading this section. Also, this Assault takes place in Lebros Cavern

• ??? Box – Tsaura
• ??? Ring – Brass Ring
• Link to Items that can be purchased with Assault Points from this zone

The “short version” of the strategy

Cyclonus’s recommended* party setup: x4 melee (personally, I would limit the number of 2 handed weapons, but w/e), x1 support job and x1 healer or additional DD.

*This my own personal take on it; please do not limit yourselves or state that “Cyclonus said, blah blah blah,” any group that works well together can complete this Assault – with a bit of luck

NOTE: This “short version” does not cover the full Assault, it is only meant as an overview/high-level guide.

Strategy: Zone in, DO NOT BUFF, run to first wall @ G-10 and begin to beat it down. DoT magic and haste are nice here. BLMs need not waste MP on high tier magic. Knock wall down, kill Qiqirn, get mines, knock down other walls using mines.

The “Real” Guide

Cyclonus’s recommended* party setup: x4 melee (personally, I would limit the number of 2 handed weapons, but w/e), x1 support job and x1 healer or additional DD.

Strategy: Firstly, let us begin with an overview. The objective of this Assault is to eliminate “all obstructions.” All obstructions translates into 5 “Brittle Rock.”

Now you're probably, thinking, “Sweet, Brittle Rock, I can do this in 10 seconds.” Wrong. These rock walls are anything but brittle; they have an insanely high defense to both magic and melee attacks. However, as with most other Assaults there is a “gimmick.”

The walls can be “one-shotted” by using an item that is dropped from Qiqirn’s in this zone. The item, appropriately called “Qiqirn mine,” is vital to your success. In the 10 or so times I have done this Assault, I have honestly yet to notice a huge difference in drop rate by having a THF’s TH and not having it – but I digress.

Any way, the mines are not a 100% drop so, you can theoretically do everything correctly and still lose. To further compound the Assault, the first wall you face does not have the benefit of a Qiqirn type mob nearby; no Qiqirn mob, no Qiqirn mine.

Thus, upon zoning into the Assault, do not buff and run to the 1st wall at G-10; careful consideration should be given to the bomb-type monster on the way – cast invisible if you need to, but watch where you cast, bombs aggro magic :-P

At G-10, begin beating down on the wall right away. Do not wait for buffs, the wall does not hit you…it’s a wall. If you have a BRD, have him/her use the March Songs for added Haste. Mages should cast any and all DoT spells (these are godly on the walls). With your entire party hasted and melee’ing and DoT’ing you should clear this wall in 6-8 mins, anything more will be cutting it very close.

Immediately after the first wall is down, proceed to cast invisible and follow the path (it’s a one way street). Eventually, you will hit a fork and you should stay to the right (E/F-9ish).

“Oh noes!1 Ratz Mans!”

Once you have "taken the right fork", you may want to boot any person in your party that has trouble following directions… seriously, this can get rough.

Follow the path and you will see a Qiqirn*, engage it and beat down on it. From here on, you should engage any and all Qiqirn(s?). Further, tanks and players that have hate should be watchful for the move “Catpurse” in which the Rat Men remove a piece of your armor – make certain you reequip.

*Qiqirn DO NOT aggro, but DO link. Sleepga/Lullaby is your friend.

Any way, on this floor, you will find a total of 3 Qiqirn before another Brittle Rock, hopefully one will drop a mine and you can use it on the wall located at H/I-9ish.

If you DO NOT get a mine, you may be screwed… unless you work efficiently together. Head back to the main room at G-9ish and you will see a ramp that leads “upstairs.” Use invisible (WATCH THE BOMBS!) and head upstairs. Depending upon the cap selected there are 2-3 Qiqirns here, engage and clear the room.

If you get a mine drop, DO NOT USE IT ON THE UPSTAIRS WALL, you will pigeon hole yourself. Instead, the mine holder should cast invisible and head back to the wall downstairs at H/I-9ish. While the others continue to clear the room upstairs. If you obtain a second mine, blowup the wall upstairs. After the room is cleared, head back downstairs.

Proceed along the rest of the path after the H/I-9ish wall and clear all Qiqirns, all the while hoping you get more mines.

Use the mines sequentially on the remaining walls. If you have not already blownup the upstairs wall, or cleared the upstairs room, you should head back up there AFTER you have cleared the downstairs area.

Finally, when nearing the end of the Assault, a player should begin heading back to the Rune of Release @ E/D-10. Pop the Lockbox for your ??? item if you have time and QUICKLY cast losts; exit the zone and receive your points.

To recap:

Enter zone, DO NOT buff, beat down wall one.

Invisible, move to rat people and kill them all.

Get mine, use on wall downstairs.

If no mine, head upstairs, kill rat people, get mine and come back downstairs.

Continue along path downstairs, kill rat people, get mines, blowup walls.

Run upstairs, kill rat people, blowup wall, run to Rune of Release.