As players progress through the story of Bravely Default 2, it won't be long before they come face to face with Anihal in the town of Savalon. Though this boss fight happens relatively early on in the story, it can still be very difficult to defeat if players aren't properly prepared for it. By now, players should have a general understanding of how bosses work in the game, but each one is unique and requires a different strategy to defeat. Anihal the Beastmaster is no exception to this rule, so players will want to do everything they can in order to get an advantage.
The first thing Bravely Default 2 players need to be aware of are the different techniques that Anihal can use. All total, there are five different attacks that she will alternate between. Mercy Strike deals heavy damage to a single character but cannot take them below 1 HP, Mow Down deals moderate damage to the entire party, Muzzle causes all members of the party to be silenced, Animal Rescue is performed when Anihal is low HP and targeted by a physical attack, after which she summons a beast to deal damage to the party, and Off the Leash has Anihal command one of her beast companions to perform a special attack.
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Generally speaking, it's a good idea to have at least one healer job class on board before tackling this fight, and other magic damage dealers will be able to get past her physical counter without suffering the consequences. Unfortunately, she can silence the entire party, so Echo Herbs will be vital to keeping everyone in working order.
At the start of the fight, Anihal will have three beasts fighting beside her, a Gelaflan, an Undine, and a Peiste. Players should focus all their efforts into killing the Undine first, as it is capable of healing Anihal and her companions. After this is done, take out the other beasts one by one until only Anihal remains. The key to doing this successfully is to play as defensively as possible. Defaulting until the party is full on Brave Points and then unleashing death on one of her companions is the best way to get through this.
Once she's alone, Anihal is much easier to manage, but players should still be careful. Continue to play defensively and focus on healing above dealing damage and the party should be able to outlast Anihal assuming Undine is dead. With patience, a high enough level party, and a bit of preparation beforehand, Anihal should fall and the Beastmaster's Asterisk will belong to the player.
Bravely Default 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.