Ibaraki is a good (debatable), strong (level 90!!) child (also debatable).

Also I guess while I’m here, my current support lineup for grinding time:

BEST BANANA even when compared to the very good reddit banana bot, which is the only reason I will ever go into the comments section when I scroll past the page picking out art and translated comics and event guides.

Anyway, this is my "I assume you're all grinding stuff," but if anyone wants some boss killers or something (like my NP2 level 90 grailed Ibaraki or a Euryale with level 10 Arts boost), hit me up.

I only threw the tickets I had left (I don't save them much) and two 10-pulls, so getting a second copy of Ibaraki is just amazing luck even if the only things I got other than that are a handful of 4-star CEs that I don't need and a couple of the new 3-star CEs like Fraggle Rock.

Ah, yes, good. I'm just going to be satisfied with my lovely NP2 Ibaraki for the rest of the week. This will be the light that gets me through the tough times. (I want to say I'm joking but actually FGO tends to be one of my main emotional duct tapes this year.)

I should grind Saber Training Ground this Sunday so I have an excuse to continue using Ibaraki and also using my 6/10/10 Martha who I've legitimately barely used I don't mean to but it took me until just recently to finish her and then the last event I did entirely with Caster Liz. It's her party so she can grind if she wants to.

One hour to Liz strengthening. I have been waiting for this moment.

Both because I like Liz and started with her, and because almost all of my Servants are female. Which is common given that this game is not kind to those who want male Servants but also I may be extra skewed since I only have four male golds, one being welfare and one being Orion.

This will fit my team comps very nicely.

Oops, a day early.

Belated congrats on the NP up for Ibaraki!

Thank you! I am delighted. She was already such a strong Swiss Army knife of boss killing and now she’s even stronger.

What a good horrible murderous rampage child.

I can’t really complain, because she got a super success on 20 4-star CEs, but also come on....

Between this and Altera ascending today, that just leaves Rider Kintoki (a monstrous oversight), Stheno, and technically my second NP5 copy of Caster Liz (I’m a ridiculous person) of my golds not fully ascended.

yosie

“What about Chloe?” Who? I don’t know who you’re talking about.

Look, I’ll save ascending second Caster Liz until I’m done everyone else, by which I mean everyone other than, like, Blackbeard and whatshername the gold.

IT IS FINISHED.

Level 90, NP2, 10/10/10, and Bond 10.

She's Powerful.

STRONG DAUGHTER

STRONG DAUGHTER

WHO MAKES OTHER DAUGHTERS STRONG

Luck A++ continues:

Also a good sign: my tendency to only truly fall for Servants after summoning them continues.
Pre-summoning: eh, I’d like to get her, but I have access to a level 100 maxxed Jalter, I’m happy. I’ll throw a couple more 10-pulls than I planned since she’ll be gone for two years soon, but it doesn’t really matter if I miss her.

Watching just her summoning line with that snide expression at the end: Oh, I love you.

Thanks!

Accomplishments of the 2x EXP day:
- Altera, an unexpected prize from the second summer gacha. I think I had ascended her once by now, but now she’s final ascended level 82.
- Raikou, the only one I got in about 300 quartz for Ibaraki (who thankfully appeared in the tickets round with Helena), finished. She’s been slowly climbing ever since.

- Tamamo Cat, who I got ages ago (I’d check when, but maintenance) was stuck at 40 for most of that, because I’m constantly out of lanterns. Now level 73, FA.
- I don’t think I was done Assassin Scáthach before now, but I now have an AOE for Rider Hands (muffled aureatian screams about my underlevelled Fuuma in the distance).

LET FUUMA BE STRONG!!!

- Jalter from NON-EXISTENCE to 77. Only 1/1/3 since I’m going to have to grind a lot of mats.....
- Hektor from something something to 70. He’s been my Lancer project for a bit to put the stuff from Lancer/Assassin day in for a while. Currently working on ROMA but I’m about to be blocked by Jalter taking the last of my spikey rocks (I always need more).

HE’S ON THE LIST. ........After Stheno.

Look, his boyfriend/idol crush isn’t finished either. They’ll get done together.

- Serenity finished at 70. ...Yes this could have been Fuuma but I decided on Serenity instead. Oops!
- Leonidas finished at 65. He, along with a bunch of others, got their Strengthenings done during the 1/2 AP.
- Kintoki to 65...from 60 I HAVE A LOT OF RIDERS.

how could you do this to Kintoki Rider

- Bedivere final ascended but Altera scooped up a lot of Saber EXP.
- Babbage would be final ascended if Jalter hadn’t put a premium on pages.
- And dribbles of levels to a half dozen others, INCLUDING FUUMA HE’S GETTING THERE

Mordred stole her dad’s shield and also my heart.

And then I thought I’d need to get Martha prepped for the challenge quests, but in the end I just used Saber Shiki for debuff clear instead, but by then I might as well finish.

THIS BLOODY EVENT.

EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT BRAVE LIZ IS SO CHARMING TO ME...EXCEPT FOR HER COSTUME.

AND THE COSTUME IS REALLY BAD.

I noticed last night the breastplate isn't even fitting on her properly, and it was really distracting.

If the costume were almost ANYTHING ELSE, Brave Liz would be one of my favourites ever. But because it’s this, I don’t want to like her.

Yeah, I know it’s supposed to be a joke about how the character the costume is based on being very busty, but the near constant almost nip slip makes it extra uncomfortable.

I still think I’d hate the costume if it was actually fitted properly, like on her battle sprite, but not quite as much.

I’ve joked before that I’d pay real people money to have a costume where Drake wears a shirt, but I mean it seriously that I would pay $50, no questions asked, immediately to have Brave Liz wear clothing.

I’m still using her in the story because I am excessively dedicated to story-relevant parties, but I can definitely tell from this that Liz and Astolfo have the same voice actor.

I love...Ibaraki..... (I’m in the glacier zone.)

(As Ibaraki rushes back at the promise of candy) I LOVE..IBARAKI....

(Also with Jalter’s aggressive My Room lines, I grow to love her more. ...I don’t know why it is that some characters I hate for being assholes but then there are ones for whom I fall head over heels for because they’re being assholes like Jalter and Ibaraki.)

(suggestion: because gorl)

(I mean. Probably.)

(There are some asshole gorls for whom I’m like “eh,” but also I’m 99x more likely to forgive gorl.)

Silvie linked me this and I'm simultaneously so happy and so angry.

WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THIS FGO

(I know why but I don't want the answer)

THIS EVENT IS A CONSTANT STATE OF BEING ANGRY ABOUT HER COSTUME BECAUSE IN EVERY OTHER WAY I ADORE BRAVE LIZ

HER ACTIONS IN BATTLE AND VOICE LINES ARE SO CUTE (you can really hear the astolfo coming through)

HER ACTIONS IN THE EVENT ARE HILARIOUS

A GOOD ALIGNED LIZ

SHE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN GRAILED IF SHE LOOKED LIKE THIS EDIT.

UGH.

otherwise I'm enjoying the event.

at least we have Ibachan saying love is scary.

It's true.

Ibaraki has not disappointed me this event. She speaks the truth.

I love her.

But not in the scary way.

ASIDE FROM THAT....

Ibaraki is showing a lot more cleverness in this event than I expected with the introduction of candy desire.

I love Ibaraki so muuuuuch.....

Not pictured: I also adore Liz but I can’t take pictures of Brave Liz.

N...not even close, babyyyyy (usually that’s Fran doing this)

I should have known Liz just assumes everyone loves being called "pig."

UGH THIS EVENT IS ABOUT LIZ LEARNING TO BE A RULER AND THAT'S WHEN THEY HAVE HER IN A MOSTLY FALLING OFF BRA??? BAD ILLEGAL NOT ALLOWED.

The outfit (definitely).

My reaction to realizing Tristan is in this event (but he hasn’t been annoying me like in Camelot).

NEVER MIND. BURN HIM.

You’re a good egg, Robin.

Oh my gosh, you pretentious loser.

IS IT THE TIME FOR THE RETURN OF MASH GIVING LANCELOT A HARD TIME, USUALLY OVER NOTHING? IT’S MY FAVOURITE SHOW ON THE CITADEL.

Oh my gosh.

Sometimes, I love FGO.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

For use if I ever have to review Camelot’s canon for whatever reason.

I probably should stop taking so many screenshots but: yes, good.

Please don't stop

It got better.

I chose option A

I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

How could anyone do anything other than support their kouhai on their life’s mission?

I was delayed in checking back here to see your responses because A] sibling Skype and B] I was setting up for:

GIVE HER BACK HER CHOCOLATE CAKE YOU MONSTER!!

And (with a change up of moves because Brave Liz got focused down):

MASHZERKER!!!!

In my first run, I got a ton of Mash Brave chains, but I messed up with not preparing for this version of Lancelot’s AOE NP, so I lost both Brave Liz and Nitocris, and while I did want to bring Ibaraki out for this, I didn’t want to do it like that so I started over with Ibaraki out immediately.

Yes, I agree, Mysterious Black Knight, Tristan is a loser.

Did Liz just shove a pumpkin over the knight’s helmet and call it a day?

UH, NITOCRIS, ISN’T THAT A BIT MUCH???

This event is showing sides of Nitocris I never knew before.....

I’m glad she and Liz have become good friends, though.

Is he legally allowed to say this????

The thing I want most in my life is to fix Brave Liz’s costume. The thing I want second most, though, is fan art of this moment.

— WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!

OH SHIT!!!!!

.......Ibaraki. Destroy him.

FUCK HIM UP!! FUCK HIM UP!!

i can't believe tristan's a fuckboi

I can.

I mean, granted, I wasn't aware his awfulness extended to his treatment of women but it's like, "why not?" at this point.

I KEEP TRYING TO GET A CERTAIN LINE OF DIALOGUE SCREENCAPPED LIKE THREE TIMES NOW BUT I KEEP AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING OVER TRISTAN'S DIALOGUE AS SOON AS I READ IT.

FOUR TIMES

Open your mouth and close your eyes and you will get a big surprise.

Fuck him up!! Fuck him up!!

FUCK HIM UP!! FUCK HIM UP!!

/blows off back of hand like an old-timey gun
Worth every Command Seal.

RITSUKA YOU ASSHOLE (I say, laughing)

ASMR voice

I mean, that seems to be the conclusion of a lot of the fandom.

I saw an amateur voice actor do a full ASMR video in their Shuten voice, though I didn’t listen to it.

I discovered from having to do this cutscene a couple of times that the first one is less effective. With the second one, she freaks out longer and ends up right in your face with Mash calming her down.

My voice acting career has far to go.

Ritsuka is an asshole, part two. The spirit of Halloween mischief is in the air.

Fou is good.

This is the most ridiculous motivator for learning how to bake well enough to make macarons ever, and yet.

I love Ibaraki part 72.

OH NO IT’S CUTE.

I’m proud of everything about Liz other than her current choice in heroic fashion.

And we end on Liz looking disappointed for a moment at not being allowed to sing.

I wonder if we’ll follow up on what Nitocris almost said to Mash. I wonder if it’s related to [early Camelot spoilers].

It’s like she hasn’t even been paying attention.

Though being too much like the Medjed aesthetic...I am always weak to Medjeds.

“Oh wow, there’s like double the story nodes! This is going to be -“

The pumpkin animations are cute but also WELP.

Well these are new.

Oh my gosh. The archer’s NP, Pumpkin Arrow, has their head flip around entirely when they are firing off the last arrow in the volley.

Another reason I wish we could replay battles.

The other two are less exciting with just some bobblehead action.

Whoops, I tabbed away and interrupted the knight’s move forward so they attacked from just offscreen. I saw the tip of the blade waving around and Mash acting like she was getting hit in the middle of the screen.

I really love that Fate doesn’t sweep Liz’s extremely horrible acts under the rug just because she’s cute and funny. And that she accepts these as sins even while she tries to be different in the now.

...But also as inspired by a picture Silvie shares of someone doing this:

WE’RE NOT STOPPING OLD MAN!!

HOW MANY TIMES DO WE GOTTA TEACH YOU THIS LESSON OLD MAN????

I was going to do a triple string of NPs, but I increased my attack too much.

IN MY HEAD IT WENT LIKE THIS:

LIZ’S SKILL WITH A LANCE OUTDOES YOURS UNCLE VLAD 2.0!!

“But, but even so...you’re still Uncle Vlad. ...Even though you may hate me.”
I KNEW PART OF THIS WAS COMING AND IT STILL WRECKED ME.

WHERE IS THE “THROW ROBIN’S MANTLE AROUND LIZ AND HUG HER” DIALOGUE OPTION???

This explains my Chaldea.

After all, returning to my favourite line in all of FGO:

IBARAKI IS A GOOD BAD CHILD.

...I FINALLY GET TO SAY SOMETHING NICE TO LIZ???? MIRACLE!!

Brave Sir Tristan ran away / Bravely ran away away / When danger reared its ugly head / He bravely turned his tail and fled / Brave, brave Sir Tristan.

(If Mordred learns of this song she will be insufferable to the other Knights of the Round Table.)

At least I know this time I’m SUPPOSED to be massively eyerolling when he says anything.

Insert that video of everyone yelling over how much someone got owned.

Knight of Owned.

Where did the Egg Her On option go this time? (Lancelot can’t whistle. Even as someone who also can’t whistle, this tickles me pink.)

Nitocris, thinking: GOD THIS IS WHAT OZY MIGHT DO IF HE WAS BORED.

So is she pre-grailed??

I do like that she’s fine with calling herself a “muscle-based idol” given how disinclined to reference muscles many people are when it comes to idol-like women.

(Let Kanan be buff!!)

She’s right about Tristan and she should say it.

Mash takes no prisoners.

........Cleopatra you’re slipping into Liz levels of weird.

I love Ibaraki part 253.

And I adore that, in an event that is silly plain through and introduces one of Ibaraki’s most harmless traits (doing anything for candy), this is probably the most clever I have ever seen her.

No wonder she likes Shuten so much.

...Huh. This is the first time I recall seeing Cleopatra look uncertain.

Which makes sense. Nitocris is a famous ancient pharaoh even from Cleopatra’s time period.

But I didn’t really expect it.

It can be rough but what about being judged on your ability to dangle upside-down while covered in poisonous spiders? That might be worse.

Also your art style could use some work for my tastes, Cleo, even if trying to judge a 14-year-old vs an adult in beauty is weird.

No one tell Nico this.

A good big bro.

“Accepted who I am and didn’t forgive me - ” I continue to love that concept of dealing with carrying on after doing things too terrible to fully atone for. Liz, you’re a good bad child.

I’m glad the knights retreat rather than die what with the paid leave knight and all.

Even when Nitocris procs death on them they don’t die. Shirou would be horrified.

I admire how Cleopatra just relaxes and all on her snake lounge couch. I’d check out her NP but I’d probably die.

Holy crap, she’s worth as much as L’Oréal!!

.....well that’s quite the NP!!

That’s unfortunate.

The first time I tried and it went down to 200-some, but then I used the cooldown reduction Mystic Code and got Mash’s second defence up and I survived Knight of Owner this time with someone besides Mash.

Idol wins! Not even close. (sweating heavily)

.............Oh no.

...Hu...h..... I expected “I don’t know how to,” but I didn’t expect someone else tossing the pyramid on there. Is this “that person” from earlier?

..........Caesar is the mastermind again, isn’t he.

NO NITOCRIS WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG

OF COURSE HE WAS THE ONE WHO THREW A PYRAMID UPSIDE DOWN WHAT A FOOL I AM TO THINK OTHERWISE.

Is. Is Ozy teaching Liz how to celebrate as a ruler?

HE’S NOT WRONG.

Ozymandias with the important information.

We need to get more Pharaoh Servants so we can end up with a trio and a quartet and a quintet of people yelling about disrespecting Ozy. maybe some men

Aw. Ozy, you softie. I like you.

Ozy just holding on to a Holy Grail like it’s no big deal - wait, given??

The second one is highly tempting.

(Not pictured: this was a good scene for both Elly and Ozy.)

No wonder Ozy likes Cleopatra.

IBARAKI YOU’RE GREAT!!

Sure.

IBARAKI YOU’RE GREAT.

(Not pictured: fat jokes because that’s 90% of Caesar content.)

Why is Ibaraki the wisest person in this entire event

I do appreciate we got a Holy Grail because Ozy was unable to stop laughing enough to pick it up (actually it might not be since it was a fragment that came after Cleopatra checked out, but this is what I want to believe).

Now I know why I don’t usually make reaction plurks like this. One mission took me an hour and a half!

Before London let her level to a reasonable spot and get her taunt skill, it was a difficult time taking Mash to all the story content (because I like to aim for story relevance in my team comps and there have been very little in the way of “story where Mash isn’t front and centre”).

After London, the extra levels helped her stand up to the content I was doing, and the taunt + invincibility combo was excellent for neutralizing one single target NP, since my playstyle tends to be a bit slow, with an excessive emphasis on NP gauge and a reluctance to use skills that I think may be more useful later.

She wasn’t a mainstay, but she was useful enough and her and Hans were good for trying to allow Servants to semi-solo their own interludes.

In the lead-up to the Ibaraki event, I read up on how to make sure I survived the event. Being that I pull for love rather than power and similarly raised skills based on love rather than utility, I felt nervous and followed advice that included levelling Mash’s skills to 10/10/10.

Given I didn’t have any gold supports outside of Irisviel at that point and only had Hans levelled, I was blown away by the power of support that Mash could do.

Especially since I only use support Wavers/Tamamos if it’s a challenge quest or a raid.

Now that I’m post-Camelot, I just automatically slap Mash into anything that gets slightly hard. “Challenge Quest? Mash/Tamamo/damage, immediately. Fran and Ibaraki went down in my grinding team that I was doing half-asleep with a level 77 1/1/3 Jalter as the third member? New team has Mash. Bond grinding? Ma - hmm.”

H...uh......

I've gotten one a day since Sunday. Is Brave Liz trying to convince me to forgive her visual design??

PREPARE TO WITNESS THE FORM OF A TRUE ONI

MY NP2 10/10/10 LEVEL 90 IBARAKI IS READY TO ROCK THIS EVENT WHERE SHE GETS 50% ATTACK BOOST.

I’m so proud right now that I wanna Grail her to 100, but I have too many people I want to Grail.

Maybe if I hadn’t done a couple of level 92 5-stars and had a couple more, I’d be tempted, but I know I’ve got a bunch left to Grail - including another Ibaraki in two years.

But this event has made my heart full of Ibaraki.