The Ultimate Rondo Guide in Octopath CotC
Welcome to our complete guide on Rondo, the Young Knight Ardante from Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent.
In this article, we'll go deep into Rondo's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, along with recommended abilities and synergies.
Let's dive in!
Comprehensive Review and Guide for Rondo in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent
Basic Information
- Role: Attacker (Tier 1)
- Job/Class: Warrior
- Influence: Fame
- Weakness: Sword, Light
- Rarity: 5 stars
- How to Obtain: Limited (Memory Travelers Banner)
- Story: Memoirs
Strengths: Rondo's Arsenal
Versatile Sword Techniques
- Almost all of Rondo's sword abilities can exploit an enemy's light weakness.
- He has a five-hit AOE sword/light skill when max boosted.
- At max boost, he can deliver a powerful nuke with a potency of 290, which is guaranteed to be a critical hit.
Dual Weakness Exploitation
Rondo's sword abilities, with a few exceptions, can exploit both sword and light weaknesses.
When an enemy has weaknesses to both sword and light, Rondo will strike any of them when attacking.
However, it will only shave shields once per hit, and the damage is the same as a regular single weakness attack.
Special Light Weakness Calculations
For abilities with the Light Weakness Exploitation trait, damage is calculated based on physical sword attacks.
So, buffs/debuffs related to light or elemental attack/defense do not apply.
Only physical and sword attack buffs/debuffs are considered for the damage formula.
Rondo's Ultimate Aelfric's Judgement
At Level 1, it's a sword attack with a potency of 500 against a single target, exploiting their light weakness too.
This also grants Rondo a special effect called "Sacred Flame's Blessing," which lasts 4 turns and boosts BP recovery by 3.
At Level 10, the potency increases to 600 and can be used twice.
Weaknesses: Rondo's Limitations
BP Dependency
Rondo's most powerful abilities, "Holy Impulse" and "Sacred Charge," truly shine when used at max boost.
However, accumulating BP isn't always easy and there are not many characters that can help him with that (Alfyn is one example).
Though his ultimate technique can assist with BP recovery, in long battles Rondo will need to rely on other characters' BP recovery skills.
Support Abilities Mismatch
One of Rondo's support abilities provides automatic HP recovery when his HP drops below 50%.
While this can be a lifesaver in some specific scenarios, it doesn't align well with Rondo's primary role as an attacker.
Another damage buff or BP recovery-focused support ability in that slot would have been way better for his kit.
Recommended Abilities
For end-game content, the recommended kit would be:
- "Holy Smite" (65 SP reduced to 52): Targets a single enemy with four sword physical attacks (Power 65) and exploits light weaknesses.
- "Sacred Charge" (51 SP): A sword physical attack on a single enemy (Power 260 -> 290) that targets light weaknesses. When max boosted, it's a guaranteed critical hit.
- "Holy Impulse" (71 SP reduced to 57): An AOE sword attack that hits 3 times (Power 80) and exploits light weaknesses. At max boost, the attack hits 5 times.
- "Faith's Empowerment II" (27 SP): Grants Rondo SP auto-recovery (10% of his max SP) and a 15% physical attack buff for 2 turns.
If you don't have Rondo's A2, you can go for an attack-focused build with the 4-hit ST, 5-hit AOE and sword nuke skills.
Characters that Pair Well with Rondo
Sword Physical Attackers
When forming a team with Rondo, it's recommended to pair him with sword physical attackers, especially when facing enemies weak to swords.
Rondo's speed is slightly slower than other sword attackers, making him more suited for a damage role than a break role.
It's a good strategy to set up buffs early so that Rondo can unleash powerful attacks after the break.
Some great units that he can pair with are Richard (Sword + PAtk buffer), Lars (Best Sword breaker), A2 (DPS beast) or Tytos (can apply Intimidation to enemies), among others.
Light Damage Dealers
Rondo can also pair well with light damage dealers since he can be effective against enemies weak to light. Some examples include Varkyn, Odette, Alaune, Hasumi, Eliza or Ophilia.
However, keep in mind that Rondo's abilities are strictly sword physical attacks, so he won't benefit from elemental attack buffs or light resistance/elemental defense debuffs.
Characters with BP Recovery Abilities
Rondo's true potential is unlocked when using his MAX boost attacks.
Characters with BP recovery abilities are a perfect match for him, ensuring he can frequently access his powerful boosted attacks.
Currently, Alfyn is the best unit suited to help Rondo in BP recovery, but we'll get more soon.
Best Equipment for Rondo
As with most DPS units, Rondo greatly benefits from a high PAtk stat.
For Orsterra content, you should equip him with a Sword of Fortune focused on PAtk to deal as much damage as possible in Arena fights and Tower challenges.
For Hell content, you should equip him with a blade that maximizes damage against hellfiends and raises his damage cap. The Thorn weapon series is the best for Rondo and for most DPS units, and it's being introduced in the same patch as Rondo's banner.
Awakening Stone Priority
U10 is an important awakening for him. In order to make the most of his boost scaling abilities, his ultimate buff "Sacred Flame's Blessing" helps Rondo max boost for the next 3 turns.
In long battles, it's key to have this move twice in order to keep max boosting his strong abilities. Also, you'll be able to replenish your ultimate bar fast because he'll be using 3 BP for 4 turns in a row.
A1 is also a huge boost for him as he'll be one of your sword and light DPS.
Rondo's A4 accessory provides a 15% sword damage up, alongside a valuable BP recovery up for 3 turns at the start of the battle, making it a decent accessory to unlock.
A2 provides additional skill options, like bringing his self-buff or his team defensive buff, but he's perfectly fine without that fourth skill slot. A3 is a nice to have, but the HP is not key for him as he won't usually be your tank. While these awakening tiers are beneficial, they don't offer a huge battle advantage.
We currently don't have many BP regen units in the Global version, so U10 might be his best awakening at the moment (but this will change soon).
For the most efficient upgrade strategy in the long run, you should prioritize: A1 → U10 → A4
How would I rate him?
Rondo is a powerful sword attacker that is a great addition to any sword and light-focused team.
He's one of the best sword units we currently have in the Global version, and it's the first unit that can shave all enemies' shields by 5 for both sword and light weaknesses.
Rondo is a memory traveler unit, which means you can still pull him when the banner reappears once per month, but keep in mind his pity is 4500 rubies now and will be 6000 rubies in later banners.
There are better sword units coming, but as of today, Rondo is probably the most powerful one.
Rating: 9.7/10
Final Thoughts on Rondo
Rondo, with his versatile skill set, is a strong addition to any team in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent.
By understanding his strengths, weaknesses, and optimal skills, you can leverage his potential to the fullest.
Whether you're just starting your journey or diving into challenging boss battles, Rondo is a character worth mastering.
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