Overcoming the Dread Comet – A Professional Gamer‘s Guide

The Dread Comet marks a seminal milestone in any Final Fantasy 16 playthrough. Veteran CLUX Gaming streamer Hidrax Imperious recounts his own quest to locate and defeat this magnificent crimson menace.

As a long-time Final Fantasy fanatic, few gaming achievements thrill me more than tackling these genre-defining superbosses. So when early FF16 preview footage revealed a new colossal Chocobo variant wreathed in fiery plumage, I knew my next livestream spectable awaited!

Exploring Valisthea‘s Northern Reaches

Pinpointing the Comet‘s location required extensive exploration through Valisthea‘s northern frontier. Most reported sightings originate near the Dhalmekian borderlands within an obscure, sickle-shaped canyon called The Sickle.

Teleporting to The Jaw obelisk, I ventured north through the Ivywood traversing towering Ancient Structures along the way. Eventually I reached a fork veering east into The Sickle proper.

Navigating The Sickle‘s labyrinthine crags on Chocobo-back, I uncovered clues indicating another pathway north from the Fields of Corava...one dotted with ominous red feathers leading towards the Norn Cliffs. This early breadcrumb trail set me on the trail towards a long-awaited reckoning!  

Fig 1.0 – Map of The Sickle Region with annotations

Sizing Up The Scarlet Menace

Initial reconnaissance revealed more about my scarlet-plumed quarry. Local rumors spoke of a particular orange-crested chocobo, larger and fiercer than any before seen.

Indeed, when finally glimpsed amidst The Sickle‘s higher summits, the Dread Comet‘s majesty stole my breath away. Fiery feathers trailing in the wind, it moved with predatory purpose. This regal warrior-king felt less common beast, more demigod manifest.

Fig. 2.0 – My fateful first glimpse of the Dread Comet

Biometrics scans during my [Tier 4] living battle indicated staggering statistics:

Dread Comet

• Health: ???
• Mana: ???
• Height: 9‘2"
• Weight: 1910 lbs
• Max Air Speed: 105 mph
• Kick Force: 3400 Newtons

I yearned testing myself against this magnificent creature, but braced for the battle of my life entering its lair at Lv. 78. Time to leverage every advantage before initiating contact!

Optimal Gear, Skills and Tactics

…[detailed guides on gear, character builds, ability loadouts, tactics…]

Dance of Destiny: The Battle Begins

Edging along the clifftops towards the Crimson Comet‘s aerie, I steeled my nerves in anticipation…

Palms sweating, flanked by my two trusty Red Mage allies, I stepped into the shimmering boss arena forcefield. A resounding call echoed amidst the canyon walls as the Dread Comet descended. Wreathed in blinding flames, eyes aflame, wings unfurled...this long-promised battle commenced!  

Phase 1: The Grounded Onslaught

My initial forays proved inadvisable. The Comet‘s grounded moveset reliance on viscious melee kicks and pecks forced constant evasive maneuvers. Each blow deflected by my shield resonated with the force of a sledgehammer!

But slowly patterns emerged in the dance. Telltale preparations in the Comet‘s stance forewarned incoming moves:

Flying Kick

• Charges legs before leaping directly towards player
• If hit suffer knockback and possible fall damage

Ultra Peck

• Rapidly pecks beak downwards up to 13 times
• Move sideways and watch for head movement to evade

I began reliably dodging these moves while my Red Mages pelted it with spells from afar. But soon the true battle commenced…

Phase 2: Choco Meteor

The Dread Comet‘s affinity with ruinous magic manifested as soon as it took flight. Gathering crimson energy between its feathers, the battlefield suddenly morphed into a torrent of flaming death.

[video clip showcasing the Choco Meteor attack in action]

No words fit to describe the Choco Meteor‘s sublime lethality. The Comet conjures a Carbuncle-summon‘s worth of colossal burning rocks from thin air, raining explosive annihilation below.

Surviving requires anticipating target zones telegraphed briefly beforehand. Fleeing the targeting circles immediately before they erupt in blazing detonations.

Pulse racing, I sprinted desperately between cascading meteors while fiery boulders larger than garulas grazed my heels. Never have I pushed my reflexes to such limits for so long without pause. But slowly, patterns emerged...

Brief windows to recover open whenever a set of Choco Meteors subsides. In these interludes I hurled spells towards the airbone Comet while healing and refreshing protective enchantments. Meanwhile my allies bombarding it with black magic pulled aggro, suffering devastating blows so I could sustain the assault.

The Bittersweet Taste of Victory

Only after three cycles of this punishing onslaught did the stream‘s donations counter reach our victory benchmark. Bloody but unbowed, I landed the final blow with a Pyroburst the instant the Comet touched down, too drained to unleash another Meteor barrage.

We tackled the Dread Comet 10 levels underprepared – but somehow, beyond all odds, these ambitious gamers prevailed to carry the day!

Sweeping my controller upwards, I loosed one last defiant yell of victory. This battle etched firmly into memory as the defining trial of my career...and the stream‘s new subscriber record cemented it eternally into CLUX lore!   

The Spoils of Triumph

Vanquishing the Dread Comet yielded weaponry and trinkets beyond my wildest dreams. But foremost came mastering this ultimate test of gamer greatness, cementing my reputation as the world‘s premiere Final Fantasy speedrunner!

Quest Rewards

• 92,300 XP
• 47,000 Gil

Loot

• Dread Scarlet Feather
• Phoenix Down x3
• Mark of the Bloodmoon insignia

Achievements

• "Starfall Victor"
• "Choco-Conqueror"
• "The One Winged"

Conclusion: A New Destiny Beckons

My realm first Dread Comet Ascension marked merely another waypoint on an endless road beyond limits. Already discussion brews over assembling a "Dream Team" to achieve the once impossible: no magic, no hit, Level 1 only kill of this cobalt colossus!

Yet gazing now from these lofty heights, I pause in bittersweet recollection of past glories and companions now absent. Our shared struggle etched into memory‘s immutable halls.

In these Burning Feathers‘ blazing plumes, glimpses shine of the shining road ahead. One chapter closes, but countless others await. My FFXVI livestream shall continue – now who else dares ride with me into legend?