Soul Calibur IV Boss-Style Character Creation FAQ
By Carlo Santos (Carlo31)
1st Edition - October 21, 2008
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0 - Edition History/Future Updates
1st Edition - October 21, 2008
- The Angel Line (my non-bonus female boss-style builds) published
- Boss Builds By Others published, up to date as of October 20, 2008
Later Editions
- The Eagle Knight Line (my non-bonus male boss-style builds)
- The Joker Line (my boss-style builds for Algol, Nightmare, Yoshimitsu,
Voldo, Lizardman, the sub-bosses, and the Star Wars guest characters)
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1 - Introduction
If you've challenged the Tower of Lost Souls, then you've seen computer-
controlled characters with seemingly absurd skill sets who also are
stronger than usual.
If you want to use those skill sets, I've got good news and bad news for
you. Bad news first - because those skill sets have S-level skills and
often impossibly high amounts of Skill Points in certain areas, those
aren't re-creatable, so that's a no-can-do.
Now for the good news - all of the characters do have boss-style builds and
setups that have both incredible skills - including some revved-up big
skill combos - and improved stats, that are yours to use!
In this FAQ, I'm going to tell you what I define as a boss-style build,
give you tips on how you can design your own, and then give you the boss-
style builds I've found for each character that I've discovered myself as
well as my favorites by other players. I'm not promising that you'll be
able to totally rip everything and everyone in your path with these builds,
but I've received nothing but positive feedback about these builds, so I
know these are some very solid setups!
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2 - Table Of Contents
(To search, use CTRL+F or Command+F and search for the heading of the
section you're looking for)
0 - Edition History/Future Updates
1 - Introduction
2 - Table Of Contents
3 - Boss-Style Character Creation 101
4 - The Angel Line (My Ladies' Boss Builds)
4-I --- Introduction
4-II -- At A Glance (Table)
4-III - Character By Character
4-IV -- Rankings (Vs. Life Gauge, Vs. Soul Gauge, & Defensive)
4-V --- Recommendations Based On Preferred/Most Needed Skill Type
5 - The Eagle Knight Line (My Men's Boss Builds) - Coming Soon
6 - The Joker Line (My Bonus, Star Wars, & Other Boss Builds) - Coming Soon
7 - Boss Builds By Others
8 - Acknowledgements/Special Thanks/How To Contact Me/Legal Section
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3 - Boss-Style Character Creation 101
Okay, let's get down to business. I imagine the first question you have for
me is "I figure a boss-style build is supposed to be real good, but just
what is it?"
Well, let me start that answer with a question. You remember when you
create a custom character, you get asked if you want Maximum Attack,
Concentrated Skill Type, etc., which means it seems that it looks like you
have to choose between killer stats and great skills? Truth is, you do
indeed have to strike a balance between them, but you also don't have to
sacrifice one for the other. A boss-style build combines the best of both
worlds - here's my criteria for one:
- No attributes (Attack/Defense/HP) below 100%
- 4 skills (3 for Algol, the sub-bosses, and the Star Wars characters) that
are either explicitly A-rank or can be A-rank-worthy if used correctly.
Here is the list of skills in those categories in my opinion:
Power
- Shave Damage A
- Auto Unblockable Attack A
- Auto Counter A
- Nullify Aerial Control
- Guard Breaker
Impact
- Nullify Counter A
- Auto Impact A
- Impact Heal
- Impact Edge
- Strong Impact
- Master Impact
- Soul Repel
Boost
- Hysterical Strength
- Start Dash A
- Will Power
- Soul Gauge Recovery A
- Strengthen Horizontal (for at least Astaroth and Ashlotte)
- Strengthen Vertical (for Hilde, Amy, Raphael, and Scheherazade)
- Hyper Mode
Gauge
- Soul Gauge Boost A
- Soul Gauge Damage A
- HP Drain A
- Soul Gauge Rate Up A
- HP Recovery A
- HP Burst
Special
- Switch Speed Up (for AMB only)
- Auto Grapple Break A
- Double-Edged Sword
- Nullify Ring Out A
- Venom Fang A
- Invisible
- Charge Cancel
- Step Speed Up
- Run Speed Up
Now that you know what a boss-style build is, I know the next thing you're
going to ask me is, "How do I make one?" Well, here are my rules and tips:
1) If you can customize the costume, do it - just a weapon and an accessory
don't give you builds that are as potent. Plus, more often than not, it's
simply more fun.
2) It's definitely not a bad idea most of the time to start with a
legendary weapon and then try to make a boss-style build. Mitsurugi is an
exception because his legendary weapon, Oniyukiyasu, has Auto Unblockable
Attack B, and Yun-Seong, Lizardman and Tira are also exceptions because
their legendaries are Soul Edge forms with Evil Sword Berserk and Slow Feet
attached, but chances are, if a character has multiple boss-style sets
available, the ones that involve the character's legendary weapon are the
most potent because not only do they have the legendary weapon's big stat
bonuses backing them up, but with only 3 slots left to fill with your own
skills if you use a legendary, you can concentrate your Skill Points with
less difficulty and get combinations you couldn't get otherwise. For
example, the boss-style Nightmare I'll talk about later has Auto Counter A
and also Auto Unblockable A, which is the Soul Edge ultimate broadsword
form's native skill - a whopping 270 points worth of Power Skills!
3) If the weapon has a native ability, try going for a skill that
complements it. For example, if Hyper Mode is the native skill, go for Soul
Gauge Boost A or Soul Gauge Rate Up A to make sure you get the chance to
use it often, and going back to Nightmare, go for abilities that capitalize
on that Auto Unblockable A such as Auto Counter A and HP Drain A.
4) Look for these combinations:
- Skill combinations
- Combinations between skills and stats
- Combinations between skills and a character's style
- Combinations between skills and your personal play style
5) If you have leftover skill points once you have your four in place, try
to tweak your build so that you trim or eliminate them and see if that
helps your attributes (Attack/Defense/HP), because more often than not,
that will enhance them.
6) You don't always need a health-replenishing ability, but I strongly
recommend having one on each of your builds. The fact that my builds have
health-replenishing abilities whenever I can fit them in reflects that.
7) Avoid these skill combinations:
- Auto Unblockable Attack A + Soul Gauge Damage A (because if you're trying
to Soul Crush an opponent, Auto Unblockable A could kick in and target the
opponent's Life Gauge instead - swap Auto Unblockable A out for Auto
Counter A.)
- HP Drain A + Venom Fang A (Venom Fang A saps health on knockdown, but it
also means less health for you to steal.)
- HP Drain A + Shave Damage A (HP Drain A doesn't work with block damage.)
- HP Burst + any Impact Skill (When you use HP Burst, you have to use the
opportunity that it offers as a second wind to win the round as fast as
possible.)
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4 - The Angel Line (My Ladies' Boss Builds)
4-I - The Angel Line Introduction
I discovered my very first boss-style build when I was experimenting with
Talim in Character Creation mode trying to see if I could get a build with
all A-rank skills along with attribute upgrades. Once I discovered it, I
tested it in the Tower Of Lost Souls to see if I had a real winner and
found myself amazed at how much stronger she became!
Naturally, this made me very curious about the boss-style builds on other
characters that became undiscovered, and so I chose to start by finding
boss-style buids for other girls. Within a week, I had discovered boss-
style builds for Seong Mi-Na, Xianghua, Sophitia, and Amy, and together
with Talim, they became the first five characters I posted boss-style
builds for here on GameFAQs (I used the message board, and I still do use
it!) Within a few days of the intial post, I had struck gold again with
Taki and Cassandra, and soon after, I got one for Hilde before fulfilling
my first two requests from the message board by finding boss-style builds
for Ivy and Setsuka. After I had done builds for most of the other non-
females, I came back and got one for Tira to finish it out. I've since then
upgraded some of the builds a few times, and what you're seeing here is the
latest edition. This line is called the Angel Line because it includes all
11 non-bonus ladies and all of them have the Feathered Wings equipped.
Photos of the Angel Line are available at this address:
http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/SantosPhillipCarlo/SC4%20Boss-Style
%20Builds%20-%20The%20Angel%20Line/?albumview=slideshow
4-II - The Angel Line At A Glance (Tables)
Before we start, here are a couple of tables so that you can look over the
whole Angel Line quickly. (One quick note - SDA-A is Start Dash A.)
Name | ATK% | DEF% | HP% | Skills (in abbreviations)
==============================================================
Talim | 116% | 105% | 165% | HPB, SGD-A, SDA-A, VF-A
Sophitia | 127% | 101% | 100% | SGB-A, HM, AI-A, IH
Seong Mi-Na | 116% | 105% | 160% | SGR-A, HM, HS, HPD-A
Amy | 126% | 100% | 150% | SDA-A, SV, HPD-A, HS
Xianghua | 116% | 107% | 135% | SDA-A, WP, HPD-A, NRO-A
Taki | 126% | 110% | 104% | I, VF-A, SGD-A, IH
Cassandra | 134% | 100% | 125% | NAC, AI-A, IH, HM
Ivy | 119% | 107% | 145% | HPB, HPD-A, AC-A, NRO-A
Tira | 138% | 103% | 115% | AC-A, AI-A, IH, RSU
Setsuka | 124% | 112% | 104% | CC, AI-A, IH, VF-A
Hilde | 112% | 103% | 130% | AI-A, IH, VF-A, SV
==============================================================
Name | Vs. Life | Vs. Soul | Defense
==============================================
Talim | A (5th) | A (1st) | A (5th)
Amy | A (6th) | B (5th) | A (6th)
Seong Mi-Na | A (7th) | A (6th) | A (1st)
Sophitia | A (1st) | A (4th) | A (2nd)
Xianghua | B (11th) | B (10th) | A (3rd)
Taki | A (4th) | A (2nd) | C (11th)
Cassandra | A (8th) | B (3rd) | B (8th)
Ivy | A (2nd) | B (8th) | A (4th)
Tira | A (3rd) | B (6th) | B (10th)
Hilde | A (10th) | C (11th) | B (7th)
Setsuka | A (9th) | B (10th) | B (9th)
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4-III - The Angel Line Character By Character
Because the Angel Line features a boss-style setup for every non-bonus lady
in the game, I'd be crazy if I didn't lay out what each girl brings to the
table now so that you can see what I found for your favorite(s). Don't fear
- you've got the total scoop, from the weapons, armor, and clothing that
they need to the attributes and skills that they get, plus my comments.
4-A - Talim - "The Firestorm Angel"
Weapon: Soul Edge & Soul Calibur (elbow blade forms)
Attributes: 116% Attack, 105% Defense, 165% HP
Skills: HP Burst (native to weapon), Soul Gauge Damage A, Start Dash A,
Venom Fang A
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 80 Boost, 220 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
worth of skills for 40 Power, 80 Boost, 90 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
Armor & Clothing: Head Dress, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons,
Atalanta's Stockings, Voodoo Breastplate, Ashigaru Gauntlets, Tiger Lily
Fauld, Laced Stockings, Huayin Shoes
Comments: Arguably not just the best build in the line, but the best build
I've made period! Her skill combination makes her capable of winning both
by jumping ahead and by outlasting opponents, and she can also get after
both Life and Soul Gauges. One of the three characters I beat the top floor
of the Tower Of Lost Souls with and also the one who finished Algol off
there.
4-B - Sophitia - "Athena's Angel"
Weapon: Soul Edge (sword and shield form)
Attributes: 127% Attack, 101% Defense, 100% HP
Skills: Soul Gauge Boost A (native to weapon), Hyper Mode, Auto Impact A,
Impact Heal
Skill Points & Costs: 30 Power, 170 Impact, 120 Boost, and 130 Gauge Points
worth of skills for 30 Power, 170 Impact, 70 Boost, and 30 Gauge Points
Armor & Equipment: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Goddess Spaulders, Full
Leggings, Velvet Jacket, Goddess Gauntlets, Pleated Skirt, Huayin Socks,
Huayin Shoes
Armor & Equipment: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons, Full
Leggings, Velvet Jacket, Goddess Gauntlets, Belle Skirt, Huayin Socks,
Huayin Shoes
Comments: Don't let the mostly normal-looking stats fool you - this build
is absolutely sick and also now the first build that I can think of who can
compete with Talim for Angel Line and overall supremacy among builds I've
made. With the Soul Gauge Boost A + Hyper Mode combo, her Soul Gauge
becomes a super/power-up bar that's practically stuck on max, especially if
you keep up pressure well and guard well so that Auto Impact A can help
refill that Soul Gauge. According to my tests, she can boost up to 5-6
times per round (!), and the Auto Impact A-Impact Heal combo also allows
her to defend very well. She hits hard even when not boosting, and when she
is - which, keep in mind, can happen absurdly often - her power starts
going through the roof and she gains the ability to attack opposing Soul
Gauges very well.
4-C - Seong Mi-na - "The Burning Spirit Angel"
Weapon: Soul Calibur (halberd form)
Attributes: 116% Attack, 100% Defense, 160% HP
Skills: Soul Gauge Recovery A (native to weapon), Hyper Mode, Hysterical
Strength, HP Drain A
Skill Values & Costs: 30 Power, 170 Boost, and 160 Gauge Points worth of
skills for 30 Power, 120 Boost, and 120 Gauge Points
Comments: An excellent boosting build. Her super-bar Soul Gauge doesn't
start maxed, but it refills very quickly, allowing her to boost often. A
17% Attack boost and a 60% HP boost means that HP Drain A becomes even more
potent, meaning opponents either have to go for a Soul Crush - which Soul
Gauge Recovery A and Hysterical Strength help prevent - or a Ring Out,
which can be avoided if you're just aware enough.
4-D - Amy - "The Whirlwind Rapier Angel"
Weapon: Soul Edge (rapier form)
Attributes: 126% Attack, 100% Defense, 150% HP
Skills: Start Dash A (native to weapon), Strengthen Vertical, HP Drain A,
Hysterical Strength
Skill Values & Costs: 190 Boost and 120 Gauge Points worth of skills for
110 Boost and 120 Gauge Points
Armor & Clothing: Head Dress, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons,
Bordered Suit, Gorgon Cuirass, Gorgon Gauntlets, Belle Skirt, Huayin Socks,
Huayin Shoes
Comments: With this setup, Amy hits so hard, you need to see it to believe
it. It's another build that focuses on exploiting boosts, being ring-aware,
and forcing opponents into an uphill battle to try and knock her out. When
she's in danger of being Soul Crushed, some of her moves can take off
thirds or even halves of an opposing Life Gauge and give her a lot of that
health back.
4-E - Xianghua - "The Inspired Angel"
Weapon: Soul Calibur (longsword form)
Attributes: 116% Attack, 107% Defense, 135% HP
Skills: Start Dash A (native to weapon), Will Power, HP Drain A, Nullify
Ring Out A
Skill Points & Costs: 170 Boost, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special Points worth of
skills for 90 Boost, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
Armor & Clothing: Head Dress, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons,
Bordered Suit, Frilled Drape, Princess Gloves, Belle Skirt, Bandages,
Huayin Shoes
Comments: Yet another terrific boosting build, as Start Dash A is always a
good skill and HP Drain A makes her Will Power boost even more potent by
allowing her to get to higher ground once the boost is triggered, while
Nullify Ring Out A assures that opponents can't always take the easy way
out. I've gotten a review saying she's helped in online Spec. Ranked.
4-F - Taki - "The Angel Of Death/The Assassin Angel"
Weapon: Kris Naga
Attributes: 126% Attack, 110% Defense, 104% HP
Skills: Invisible (native to weapon), Venom Fang A, Soul Gauge Damage A,
Impact Heal
Skill Points & Costs: 40 Power, 50 Impact, 120 Gauge, and 230 Special
Points worth of skills for 40 Power, 50 Impact, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special
Points
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons, Bordered
Suit, Breastplate, Belle Gloves, Belle Skirt, Bandages, Huayin Shoes
Comments: Impact Heal bolsters her defense, but her forte is using her
speed, increased Attack, and Invisible to win rounds quickly - which she
can do with assaults on either the Life Gauge (with help from Venom Fang
A), or the Soul Gauge (with Soul Gauge Damage A). Her B out of Possession
becomes unbelievably powerful, as it either takes off a good chunk of Soul
Gauge if it's blocked or does big damage and poisons if it hits.
4-G - Cassandra - "Hermes' Angel"
Attributes: 134% Attack, 100% Defense, 125% HP
Skills: Nullify Aerial Control (native to weapon), Auto Impact A, Impact
Heal, Hyper Mode
Skill Points & Costs: 100 Power, 170 Impact, 70 Boost, and 30 Gauge Points
worth of skills for 170 Impact, 70 Boost, and 30 Gauge Points
Armor & Equipment: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons, Full
Leggings, Clergy Clothes, Goddess Gauntlets, Pleated Skirt, Night Butterfly
Socks, Huayin Shoes
Armor & Equipment: Head Dress, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily Pauldrons, Full
Leggings, Clergy Clothes, Lily Armlets, Belle Skirt, Huayin Socks, Huayin
Shoes
Comments: Cassie's got some nasty stun and stun juggle combos in no small
part thanks to Shield Buster, and Nullify Aerial Control allows you to take
full advantage as long as you can master the Just Input needed for Shield
Buster. Auto Impact A not only combos with Impact Heal to give her very
good health recovery, but also with Hyper Mode, allowing her to boost more
often.
4-H - Ivy - "The Adamant Angel"
Weapon: Soul Calibur (snake sword form)
Attributes: 119% Attack, 107% Defense, 145% HP
Skills: HP Burst (native to weapon), HP Drain A, Auto Counter A, Nullify
Ring Out A
Skill Values & Costs: 130 Power, 250 Gauge, and 100 Special Points worth of
skills for 130 Power, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
Armor & Clothing: Head Dress, Right Eye Monocle, Feathered Wings, Tiger
Lily Pauldrons, Bordered Suit, Voodoo Breastplate, Cloth Armlets,
Atalanta's Skirt, Laced Stockings, Menghu Boots
Comments: I gave Ivy a shot off a request from Wandermeyer on the SC4 360
version's GameFAQs message board and was glad I could pull off another
strong one. She was the first Angel to sport a Power Skill - and a big one
at that in Auto Counter A, which not only deals increased damage, but
regularly enables her nastiest combos! HP Drain A, which combos nicely with
Auto Counter A, protects HP Burst, and Nullify Ring Out A locks down a
potential avenue of escape for opponents.
4-I - Tira - "The Black Cat Angel"
Weapon: Ixion
Attributes: 138% Attack, 101% Defense, 100% HP
Skills: Auto Counter A, Auto Impact A, Impact Heal, Run Speed Up
Skill Values & Costs: 130 Power, 720 Impact, 30 Gauge, and 70 Special
Points worth of skills at no discount
Armor & Equipment: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Voodoo Pauldrons, Kunoichi
Tights, Voodoo Breastplate, Goddess Gauntlets, Pleated Skirt, Night
Butterfly Socks, Menghu Boots
Comments: A fab package of power, defense, and speed, as she runs quicker,
gets arguably one of her two best offensive abilities in Auto Counter A
(which works very nicely with her 38% Attack boost), and the always-nasty
Auto Impact A + Impact Heal combo. Made after a suggestion from
Unknown_Gamer11 on the message board that Auto Counter A might be the best
Power ability for Tira.
4-J - Setsuka - "The Cobra Angel"
Weapon: Soul Calibur (umbrella-concealed Iai Blade form)
Attributes: 124% Attack, 112% Defense, 104% HP
Skills: Charge Cancel (native to weapon), Auto Impact A, Impact Heal, Venom
Fang A
Skill Points and Costs: 40 Power, 170 Impact, 30 Gauge, and 250 Special
Points worth of skills for 40 Power, 170 Impact, 30 Gauge, and 100 Special
Points
Armor & Equipment: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Voodoo Breastplate, Voodoo
Pauldrons, Goddess Gauntlets, Bordered Suit, Pleated Skirt, Night Butterfly
Socks, Huayin Shoes
Comments: I imagine Guilty Gear fans will salivate a little at this, as
Charge Cancel essentially turns her Soul Gauge into a Tension Gauge and
gives her the power to do Roman Cancels provided she has enough Soul Gauge
to spare. Even more importantly, it really complements her style, and Venom
Fang A combos with it to give her quite a bit of added punch thanks to her
array of knockdown moves. Auto Impact A gives her more chances to score
knockdowns, helps refill her Soul Gauge even more for Charge Cancel and
also combos with Impact Heal to give her a solid health-replenisher.
4-K - Hilde - "The Royal Lancer Angel"
Weapon: Eisonowaki and Kandachi
Skills: Auto Impact A, Impact Heal, Venom Fang A, Strengthen Vertical
Attributes: 112% Attack, 103% Defense, 130% HP
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 170 Impact, 60 Boost, 30 Gauge, and 100
Special Points worth of skills at no discount
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Voodoo Pauldrons, Bordered
Suit, White Shirt, Goddess Gauntlets, Pleated Skirt, Night Butterfly Socks,
Huayin Shoes
Comments: A very distinct makeover from my first big build for her, with
two skill combos featuring largely. First, Strengthen Vertical + Venom Fang
A makes for a very unique but potent combination, because even though her
sword attacks lose direct power, it doesn't matter if the sword hit happens
to be a knockdown, while her big lance moves get even stronger! Auto Impact
A + Impact Heal is always potent, and Auto Impact A also makes Venom Fang A
potentially even deadlier by momentarily giving her more chances to knock
down and poison opponents.
4-IV - The Angel Line Rankings
(Vs. Life Gauge, Vs. Soul Gauge, & Defensive)
But let's say you don't really need to work with a single character - you
just want a solid build or two. No worries - to help you decide, I've
personally ranked all 11 Angel Line members in 3 areas: ability against an
opposing Life Gauge, ability against an opposing Soul Gauge, and defensive
ability. Keep in mind that if a build is low in the rankings, it's not
necessarily because it's bad in that department - there's just a bunch in
the line who are better in that area.
Ability Vs. Opposing Life Gauge (for those who like solid power)
1st - Sophitia - Excellent w/127% ATK and SGB-A + HM.
2nd - Ivy - Excellent w/119% ATK, AC-A, and those crazy combos.
3rd - Tira - Excellent w/138% ATK and AC-A.
4th - Taki - Excellent w/126% ATK, VF-A, and I.
5th - Talim - Excellent w/116% ATK and VF-A.
6th - Amy - Excellent w/126% ATK, SDA-A, SV, and HS.
7th - Seong Mi-Na - Excellent w/117% ATK and SGR-A + HM.
8th - Cassandra - Excellent w/134% ATK and NAC.
9th - Setsuka - Excellent w/124% ATK and VF-A.
10th - Hilde - Excellent w/112% ATK, VF-A, and SV.
11th - Xianghua - Very good w/116% Attack, SDA-A, and WP.
Ability Vs. Opposing Soul Gauge (for those who like versatility)
1st - Talim - Excellent, as SGD-A complements her big Guard Break arsenal.
2nd - Taki - Excellent, as SGD-A makes her Possession haymakers deadly.
3rd - Sophitia - Excellent w/AI-A and often-boosted powerful haymakers.
4th - Seong Mi-Na - Excellent w/boosted Guard Breaks and haymakers.
5th - Cassandra - Excellent w/AI-A and boosted haymakers.
6th - Amy - Very good w/limited haymakers but highly boosted attacks.
7th - Tira - Very good w/138% ATK and a good Guard Break/haymaker arsenal.
8th - Ivy - Very good with 116% ATK and punishing Sword haymakers.
9th - Setsuka - Very good w/124% ATK and some fast haymakers.
10th - Xianghua - Very good with some good haymakers and a fast GB.
11th - Hilde - Good w/112% ATK, AI-A and some good lance haymakers.
Defensive Ability (for those who want tried-and-true tough characters)
1st - Seong Mi-Na - Excellent w/160% HP, SGR-A + HM + HPD-A, HS, big range.
2nd - Sophitia - Excellent w/101% DEF, AI-A + IH, and SGB-A + HM.
3rd - Xianghua - Excellent w/107% DEF, 135% HP, SDA-A + HPD-A + WP + NRO-A.
4th - Ivy - Excellent w/107% DEF, 145% HP, HPB + HPD-A, and big max range.
5th - Talim - Excellent w/105% DEF, 165% HP and HPB.
6th - Amy - Very good w/150% HP, SDA-A, HS, and HPD-A + SV.
7th - Hilde - Very good w/103% DEF, 130% HP, AI-A + IH, and good range.
8th - Cassandra - Very good w/125% HP, AI-A + IH, and HM.
9th - Setsuka - Very good w/112% DEF, 104% HP, CC, and AI-A + IH.
10th - Tira - Very good w/103% DEF and AI-A + IH.
11th - Taki - Good w/110% DEF, 104% HP, and IH, even if it's manual.
4-V - The Angel Line Recommendations
Based On Preferred/Most Needed Skill Type
Still don't know which one you might like to use? No sweat - I've still got
you. Let's say you like working with a certain skill type a lot or you
really feel the need to use a certain skill type more often. In that case,
here are some recommendations for those looking for skills of a certain
type:
- Power (dealing increased damage with increased frequency)
My recommendation here depends on how you like to do your damage. If you
like juggles and stun juggles, I'd recommend Cassandra, while if you like
to bring the pain with combos requiring counter hits, I'd recommend either
Tira if you like being up close or Ivy if you want to be able to work at
each range (if you don't prefer either Tira or Ivy, I recommend Ivy because
her Auto Counter A combos with HP Drain A.)
- Impact (reducing damage and making things happen with Guard Impacts)
If you just want do be able to pull Guard Impacts more often, then I
suggest either Sophitia, Cassandra, Tira, Setsuka, or Hilde, who are all
armed with the Auto Impact A + Impact Heal combo. If you're very confident
in your manual Guard Impacting, then Taki's also up for consideration. Note
that if you're a skilled at manual Guard Impacts, then you can swap out
Auto Impact A with Impact Edge or maybe even Master Impact if you can work
it in.
- Boost (swinging fights with terrific bursts)
There are quite a few good boosters here, but I'd recommend either Sophitia
if you love manual boosting or Xianghua if you play your best at the start
and at the end.
- Gauge (controlling both your own and opponents' Life and Soul Gauges)
You have quite a few good choices here, but I would recommend either Ivy -
who has HP Burst, HP Drain A, and also enough power to dent a Soul Gauge
consistently, especially in Sword Stance - or Talim, who has HP Burst and
Soul Gauge Damage A.
- Special (getting especially unconventional abilities)
Either Taki or Setsuka, as they both gain a lot of punch due to Venom Fang
A and also have a big Special Skill each that combos with it (Invisible for
Taki, Charge Cancel for Setsuka.)
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7 - Boss Builds By Others
When I started posting my builds, to tell the truth, I thought I was on to
things that no one else was on to, but boy, was I wrong! Some had already
made boss-style builds, and now I and a few players bounce ideas off each
other on the GameFAQs message boards. Many builds from others have now been
posted on the topic I started, and I've included the ones that I feel pack
some real punch. I certainly learned a thing or two when I saw them,
meaning I couldn't have made some of the improvements I made without seeing
what they brought to the table.
7-A - Sophitia by andjosh12 - "The Angel Of The Underworld, Version II"
Weapon: Soul Edge (sword and shield form)
Attributes: 137% Attack, 114% Defense, 125% HP
Skills: Soul Gauge Boost A (native to weapon), HP Drain A, Auto Impact A,
Start Dash A
Skill Values & Costs: 120 Impact, 130 Boost, and 220 Gauge Points worth of
skills for 120 Impact, 80 Boost, and 120 Gauge Points
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Oval Glasses, Feathered Wings, Tiger Lily
Pauldrons, Full Leggings, Prayer Robe, Gorgon Gauntlets, Belle Skirt,
Shinobi Tabi, Polar Boots
Comments: When I posted my first boss-style build for Sophitia, andjosh12
had already made a build for Sophie with the same skill set, only with
improved stats. A very good build - with this setup, she can survive
anything but Ring Outs and also deal a lot of damage while she's at it.
7-B - Cassandra by Arthalin - "The Angel Of Panic, Version II"
Weapon: Dark Blade
Attributes: 130% Attack, 122% Defense, 115% HP
Skills: Auto Impact A, Impact Heal, Soul Gauge Damage A, Nullify Ring Out A
Skill Values & Costs: 170 Impact, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special Points worth
of skills at no discount
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Tiger Pauldrons, Bong-Seon
Underwear, Menghu Cuirass, Goddess Gauntlets, Tiger Lily Fauld, Shinobi
Tabi, Goddess Greaves
Comments: An improved version of my first boss-style setup for Cassandra,
this one is a terrific Soul Crusher thanks to Auto Impact A and and Soul
Gauge Damage A. The Auto Impact A + Impact Heal combo is also present, and
Nullify Ring Out A often prevents opponents from taking the easy way out.
7-C - Algol by Alex - "The Unstoppable Force"
Weapon: Soul Edge & Soul Calibur (ultimate embedded forms)
Accessory: Life Gem Sun
Attributes: 119% Attack, 117% Defense, 195% HP
Skills: Hyper Mode (native to weapon), Start Dash A, Soul Gauge Damage A,
Hysterical Strength
Skill Points & Costs: 30 Power, 200 Boost, and 90 Gauge Points worth of
skills for 130 Boost and 90 Gauge Points
Comments: This was the first boss-style build for a sub-boss or boss
character that I saw. A Russian friend named Alex, who like me likes to
chill at the Talley Student Center Games Room at NC State, made this after
starting to play Algol a lot, and he came up with what I thought at first
was impossible: a boss-style build for an actual boss or sub-boss character
- and one for Algol at that! Start Dash A and Soul Gauge Damage A give him
even more power against Life and Soul Gauges, and Hyper Mode and Hysterical
Strength form a potent combo that makes the stat boosts, especially the
almost doubled HP, even more prominent.
7-D - Amy by darkwingxx - "The Deadly Rapier Dancer"
Weapon: Soul Edge (rapier form)
Attributes: 140% Attack, 107% Defense, 135% HP
Skills: Start Dash A (native to weapon), Auto Impact A, Impact Heal, Venom
Fang A
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 170 Impact, 80 Boost, 30 Gauge, and 100
Special Points worth of skills for 40 Power, 170 Impact, 30 Gauge, and 100
Special Points
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Voodoo Pauldrons, Kunoichi
Tights, Short Shirt, Goddess Gauntlets, Goddess Fauld, Night Butterfly
Socks, Voodoo Greaves
Comments: Extremely impressive. Incredibly powerful against an opposing
Life Gauge thanks to the 40% Attack boost, Start Dash A, and Venom Fang A,
which I consider to be the best damage-dealing ability for Amy, and 107%
Defense, 135% HP, Start Dash A, and Auto Impact A + Impact Heal mean that
she's not a half-bad defender, either.
7-E - Amy by sportzfreak7 - "The Venom Tornado"
Weapon: Soul Edge (rapier form)
Attributes: 159% Attack, 114% Defense, 155% HP
Skills: Start Dash A (native to weapon), Venom Fang A, Shave Damage A,
Hysterical Strength
Skill Values & Costs: 140 Power, 130 Boost, 40 Gauge, and 100 Special
Points worth of skills for 140 Power, 50 Boost, 40 Gauge, and 100 Special
Points
Armor & Clothing: Voodoo Crown, War Cloak, Voodoo Pauldrons, Kunoichi
Tights, Voodoo Breastplate, Voodoo Armlets, Gorgon Fauld, Shinobi Tabi,
Tiger Lily Greaves
Comments: Sportzfreak has posted an impressive online win streak and beaten
the Tower of Lost Souls with this Amy build, and it's not hard to see why.
On top of Venom Fang A, the really souped-up stats make for an incredibly
potent Start Dash A + Shave Damage A + Hysterical Strength combo, meaning
she does big damage even while her attacks are being blocked.
7-F - Angol Fear by Unknown_Gamer11 - "Indefatigable Thunder"
Weapon: Lucifer Spear Black V
Accessory: Repel Gem Plover
Attributes: 124% Attack, 124% Defense, 130% HP
Skills: Soul Gauge Recovery A (native to weapon), Soul Gauge Damage A, Auto
Impact A
Skill Points & Costs: 120 Impact, 40 Boost, and 140 Gauge Points worth of
skills for 120 Impact and 90 Gauge Points
Comments: Very well-rounded. 124% Attack and Angol Fear's natural strength
boost means that she can get after a Life Gauge, Soul Gauge Damage A allows
her to really get after a Soul Gauge, and Soul Gauge Recovery A and Auto
Impact A, along with 124% Defense and 130% HP, help her survive anything
but Ring Outs.
7-G - Yoshimitsu by sportzfreak7 - "The Immortal Assassin Manji"
Weapon: Soul Calibur (dual katana form)
Attributes: 141% Attack, 126% Defense, 200% HP
Skills: Invisible (native to weapon), Will Power, Venom Fang A, Auto Impact
A
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 120 Impact, 90 Boost, and 230 Special
Points worth of skills for 40 Power, 120 Impact, 90 Boost, and 100 Special
Points
Armor & Clothing: Phoenix Kabuto, Juok Chaplet, Lusca Spaulders, Leviathan
Gauntlets, Warrior Trousers, Death's Boots, Mechanical Hands Yang
Comments: Invisible + Venom Fang A is an extremely nasty combo, Auto Impact
A allows for increased knockdowns for poisoning as well as increased
cloaking, and Will Power is a nasty surprise for anyone who thinks they've
finally got him down when his double Life Gauge is almost spent. Throw in
141% Attack and 126% Defense, and it's an unquestionable terror for
opponents.
7-H - Ashlotte by Unknown_Gamer11 - "The
Weapon: Krnielk Earth
Accessory: Life Gem Jade
Attributes: 124% Attack, 110% Defense, 140% HP
Skills: Auto Counter A (native to weapon), Start Dash A, Will Power, Auto
Unblockable Attack A
Skill Points & Costs: 270 Power and 170 Boost Points worth of skills for
140 Power and 170 Boost Points
Comments: While she has less range than Astaroth, Ashlotte is incredibly
even stronger, and that makes this skillset even scarier. With this build,
she can frequently do unblockables that are often critical hits with little
or no charge, and she also gets a 24% Attack boost plus boosts at the start
of the round and when she's in trouble! All said, a real sick build (in a
good way, of course!)
7-I - Yoda by Unknown_Gamer11 - "The Might Of The Jedi"
Weapon: Lightsaber Usk
Accessory: Repel Gem Iron Shell
Attributes: 134% Attack, 116% Defense, 110% HP
Skills: Impact Edge, Impact Heal, Run Speed Up, Hysterical Strength
Skill Points & Costs: 130 Impact, 50 Boost, and 70 Special Points worth of
skills at no discount
Comments: With this, his Force Parries become very deadly, as he can
recover health, and then deal damage both with the Impact and with the
follow-up attack. Run Speed Up makes him even harder to hit, and Hysterical
Strength is there in case he gets in a pinch with his Soul Gauge. 134%
Attack also lends some added oomph to those Force Cancel combos.
7-J - Voldo by Unknown_Gamer11
Weapon: Soul Edge (dual katar form)
Attributes: 130% Attack, 127% Defense, 125% HP
Skills: Will Power (native to weapon), Venom Fang A, Soul Gauge Damage A,
Start Dash A
Skill Points & Costs: 40 Power, 170 Boost, 90 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
worth of skills for 40 Power, 80 Boost, 90 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
Armor & Equipment: Imprisoned Face, Thief's Mask, Dueler's Necklace,
Usurper's Spaulders, Usurper's Suit, Dueler's Jacket, Ryukyu Gauntlets,
Guimian Yecha, Shinobi Tabi, Paladin's Greaves
Comments: Voldo hits surprisingly hard, especially if you know what moves
to use, and of course, not too many know how to defend against him, which
makes the 130% Attack and Venom Fang A that much more important. Soul Gauge
Damage A works well with him because he has good haymakers and a good quick
Guard Break in Blind Dive. Start Dash A is always a good skill to have, and
127% Defense also allows him to make more use of Will Power when he's in
trouble. Definitely a terrific build.
7-K - Kamikirimusi by Unknown_Gamer11
Weapon: Denryu Bakuha Pine
Accessory: Spirit Gem Nonuple Heads
Attributes: 127% Attack, 149% Defense, 100% HP
Skills: Auto Unblockable Attack A (native to weapon), HP Drain A, Hyper
Mode
Skill Points & Costs: 170 Power, 70 Boost, and 120 Gauge Points worth of
skills for 30 Power, 70 Boost, and 120 Gauge Points
Comments: When it came time for me to try and find a boss-style build for
Kamikirimusi, this is exactly what I came up with, meaning I couldn't
better this. Of course, that means it definitely gets my approval, because
it allows for boosted unblockables with little or no charge that both do a
lot of damage and recover a lot of health, which makes the 149% Defense
that much more imposing.
7-L - The Apprentice (Starkiller) by Unknown_Gamer11
Weapon: Lightsaber Usk
Accessory: Life Gem Sun
Attributes: 110% Attack, 114% Defense, 190% HP
Skills: HP Recovery A, Hyper Mode, Start Dash A
Skill Points & Costs: 30 Power, 150 Boost, and 100 Gauge Points worth of
skills at no discount
Comments: The first build where I really approve of HP Recovery A. With
Start Dash A and Hyper Mode added, that means that you have to rely on
haymakers, throws, and 2-hit combos to knock down that 190% HP with 114%
Defense, which is definitely no easy task given how fast the Apprentice can
be.
7-M - Scheherazade by Unknown_Gamer11 - "1001 Nightmares"
Weapon: Alf Layla Wa Layla Khamsa
Accessory: Repel Gem Iron Shell
Attributes: 143% Attack, 109% Defense, 130% HP
Skills: Impact Edge (native to weapon), Auto Impact A, Nullify Ring Out A
Skill Values & Costs: 200 Impact and 100 Special Points worth of skills for
120 Impact and 100 Special Points
Comments: With a 43% Attack boost and Auto Impact A + Impact Edge, she can
deal big damage even when she's blocking, which is always something to be
feared. Nullify Ring Out A just about closes off a potential avenue of
escape, and 109% Defense and 130% HP mean she can take some punishment and
still keep coming.
7-N - Tira by Unknown_Gamer11 - "The Angel Of Fury"
Weapon: Bifrost
Attributes: 124% Attack, 112% Defense, 115% HP
Skills: Auto Impact A, Will Power, HP Recovery A, Venom Fang A
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 120 Impact, 90 Boost, 100 Gauge, and 100
Special Points worth of skills at no discount
Armor & Clothing: Cat Ears, Feathered Wings, Pince-Nez, Tiger Lily
Pauldrons, Kunoichi Tights, Wonder Jacket, Gorgon Gauntlets, Slacks, Night
Butterfly Socks, Honor Boots
Comments: Unknown_Gamer11 took a page out of my book - not that I mind at
all - when she made this build for Tira, which takes advantage of an
interesting combo using HP Recovery A and Will Power. Once Will Power is
triggered, opponents need to use throws, 2-hitters, or haymakers to finish
the job or risk seeing her get to higher ground with the boost in effect.
Auto Impact A gives HP Recovery a chance to work its magic a little more,
and it also combos well with Venom Fang A to give her more knockdown
opportunities. When you add in the solid stat boosts, this is another great
package.
7-O - Talim by twiggywales - "Inexorable Poison"
Weapon: Soul Edge & Soul Calibur (elbow blade forms)
Attributes: 130% Attack, 134% Defense, 140% HP
Skills: HP Burst (native to weapon), Venom Fang A, HP Drain A, Start Dash A
Skill Values & Costs: 40 Power, 80 Boost, 250 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
worth of skills for 40 Power, 80 Boost, 120 Gauge, and 100 Special Points
Armor & Clothing: Classified
Comments: Venom Fang A + HP Drain A is one of those combos that I frown on,
but the big stat boosts, the inclusion of Start Dash A and her best
offensive ability in Venom Fang A, and HP Drain A protecting HP Burst make
this a build so powerful that its recipe remains classified!
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8 - Acknowledgements/Special Thanks/How To Contact Me/Legal Section
SOULCALIBUR®IV & © 1995-2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
LucasArts, the LucasArts logo, and the STAR WARS characters, names and all
related indicia are trademarks of © Lucasfilm Ltd. © 2008 Lucasfilm
Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. ® or TM as indicated.
All rights reserved.
This FAQ is copyrighted by Carlo Santos (Carlo31) 2008.
This FAQ is only allowed on GameFAQs.com, GameSpot.com, and IGN.com. If you
would like to reprint it on your site, just let me know and be sure to
credit me.
You can contact me at pcsantos@ncsu.edu, but the fastest way for you to get
in touch with me (and therefore the way I'd prefer for you to hit me up) is
on the Xbox 360 version's message boards. Look for the topic entitled
"Boss-Style Skill Sets". That's the topic you can post on to review my FAQ
and builds that I and others have posted and also put your own builds up
for consideration. I'll take a look at them and let you know what I think
(some others might as well), and if I really like them, I'll add them to
this FAQ!
Hope this helps, and also hope to hear from you soon!
Special Thanks To...
-GameFAQs/GameSpot for hosting this FAQ
-Namco Bandai for helping make Soul Calibur
-Project Soul for helping make Soul Calibur
-LucasArts/LucasFilm for allowing the Star Wars characters' appearance
-NC State University's Talley Student Center Games Room for being my "lab"
-Alex for helping me with the Honors/Achievements so that I had everything
at my disposal and for his Algol build
-Unknown_Gamer11, darkwingxx, sportzfreak7, twiggywales, andjosh12, and
Arthalin, the other GameFAQs boss-style build researchers besides myself
-Our gracious reviewers
-You the reader!
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