Arknights IS3 No Relics Guide ~ Ending 1 Boss Using ONLY ONE 6s
SORRY FOR THE AUDIO. I changed some settings on OBS for another game and forgot to change back to AK settings. So I just put Ceobe dankimist jazz over.
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The purpose of this guide is to give people a framework for which to work with when dealing with this boss.
My goal was to minimize relics (apparently IS3 loves giving me free relics... I literally had to trade away the improved healing one and luckily got +2 squad from it) as well as only use 1x 6s to represent a borrowed unit (which I actually borrowed Horn).
None of the relics had great impact on the run. I intentionally left 3 squad slots empty in the run to represent the +3 squad I had from relics. Horn does a good job of dumping damage from range to be able to deal with this boss. Unfortunately I didn't really like Goldenglow for the "borrowed" unit. I will still be experimenting with other alternatives as I don't find Horn that great at dealing with the rest of the maps leading up to the boss, but most of them are not terribly difficult with respect to these teams. Once I decide on a simple enough to use strategy for Ending 1 I'll post the relevant no-relics clears of every single map.
Mistakes made in the run:
The first time Texas is used to drop the boss should be later when the boss is hovering over Nearl. This would let Horny attack during phase 1 too. This removes any need whatsoever from Bestcone which allows for that slot to be used for something else. Project Red is a good choice as you can drop her in to bait some damage + stun the boss while Horn is dealing damage. Note that the boss would have to get pushed to the right side of Nearl for that and then you could use the Texas position or just to the right. I BELIEVE if boss is clipped to the right of Nearl then Silence will not get targeted. This will help with the survivability of the run as well. You can position Highmore in phase 1 to accomplish this so right at the start of phase 2 you just drop the Texas S2 and chill.
Alternatives for units presented:
Texas obviously prefers being Texalter. Just a much stronger unit throughout the entire run.
Silence is pretty nice (using the drone for Horn / Cliff) but Warf S1 / Tuye should also be very good for Nearl surviving phase 2. That being said, Amiya would want to be someone like La Pluma / Highmore as without the Silence drone you would not be able to heal her. Unfortunately as you can tell by the team, Guard vouchers don't exist in my runs. 5x No Relics runs and total of 3 guard vouchers (0 in the run in the video, Amiya comes from caster voucher).
Pinecone was an early floor pickup. Replaceable with other utility as mentioned before. PRed would be good. Using Texalter over Texas means you probably don't need PRed at all either.
Shamare is REALLY nice for this run. Skalter is another option, or with relics Shamare will not be needed.
Horn is good as she's dealing damage outside of the boss -aspd and damage range while also becoming a bait for Cliffheart lane. Passenger unironically does well as his S3 isn't aspd limited. He makes a really good burst option if you can get a couple of relics as you can clear the boss extremely quickly even without dropping her to the ground. Chalter is good too but the -aspd will be felt for sure. Goldenglow is mediocre as she will waste time targeting other units with S3. My first runs were centered around GG and while the other maps were easier, it didn't accomplish much on the boss.
Cliff can be so many people. Chosen as she's an incredibly easily accessible unit for players. Thorns would be more than sufficient to take care of that lane + help with the vortex of fish in the mid.
Amiya would ideally be a self-sustaining melee damage. Reapers work pretty well (highmore / la pluma).
Nearl is much better off being Saria (tankiness). Gummy also works. Cuora / Hoshi / Nian are probably fine as well.
