Bosses and Special Encounters

Three encounters I plan around instead of improvising. Hub context: Phase VIII. Support systems: aircraft, capture, repair kits.

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Huntsman — #48 / #49 Abducted Chairman

Punishes every SRPG reflex. Shock Whip — not parryable, ~140×1, 100% counterattack on melee initiate.

Mechanic	Value
Parry	Does not work
Counter	100% if you trade melee
Plan	Attrition, not duel

Fight plan:

1. Aircraft only for damage — attack, retreat out of melee reach.
2. Never end turn adjacent unless unit is expendable.
3. Optional capture: stealth confuse → Hold Back to 1 HP → roll (~53% in my run). Fail = destroy anyway.

Pickup Shock Whip in this area — player version is strong; boss version is the unparryable nightmare — items route.

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Alien Worm — #22 Xenoform Invasion (worm lair chain)

Spawns one worm per turn. Kill spawns for XP while boss stays alive. Boss hits ~4000 — kits mandatory.

Loop:

1. Accept mission, stock Repair Kits.
2. Engage boss — do not rush boss HP.
3. Kill spawned worms each turn.
4. Stay under ~20 total kills — mission can end if you exceed.
5. Aircraft soften boss, melee finish → Crossbow mech unlock.

Bank XP with margin. One worm past the cap is not worth losing the faucet.

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Instant Kill and Fencer

Not a boss — a passive that shows up on bosses and your roster. Target under 1000 HP → 15% instant destroy per attack (~20% with pilot skills). Not reduced by Beam Coating.

Rule	Detail
Threshold	Under 1000 — exactly 1000 does not qualify
Trigger	Any attack — chip and burst same roll chance
Risk	Enemies have it — your pilots die to the same flip
Carriers	Fencer (volume), Musketeer (ranged chip)

Recruit Fencer on the field pickup route — items. Multiple Instant Kill units = more rolls per turn.

vs coated targets already below 1000 HP, sometimes faster than swapping damage types — beam matchups.