While journeying through Metaphor: ReFantazio, you might have come across a peculiar book titled The Book of Apocalypse in Akademia. What you may not have realized is that this book holds a hidden boss encounter. To gain access to this book and challenge the boss, you’ll first need to finish the game itself.
During your initial playthrough of Metaphor: ReFantazio, trying to engage with the Book of Apocalypse tucked away in the back of Akademia will only yield frustration, as it remains locked. Regardless of how many times you attempt to interact with it, it won’t budge, and all you’ll receive is a warning to steer clear of its dangers.
Since the book is secured throughout your first journey, you will have to wait until you finish Metaphor: ReFantazio and dive into New Game+ (NG+).
Once you progress far enough in NG+ to return to Akademia, you’ll notice that the Book of Apocalypse is now positioned to the left of More’s desk, and it is no longer locked away.
At this stage, simply interacting with the book will trigger a boss fight against the formidable Redscale Apocalypse Dragon. However, be aware that in NG+, your character levels will reset, leaving you somewhat unprepared for this notably challenging foe. It’s advisable to hold off on confronting the dragon until you’ve made significant progress closer to the end of your NG+ journey.
While being in a NG+ file is one prerequisite for battling this boss, there’s another important condition: regardless of the difficulty level you played in your first run, you cannot set the game to Storyteller difficulty. To take on the Redscale Apocalypse Dragon, you must play on at least Easy difficulty or higher. This fight is intended to be tough, and playing on the Storyteller mode would undermine that challenge.
First and foremost, to make this battle manageable, it’s crucial to reach at least level 70. While it may take extra effort, entering the fight under-leveled can lead to an unnecessarily frustrating experience. The higher your level, the smoother this encounter will be. Regardless of whether you hit the suggested minimum, you’ll still need to strategize effectively to emerge victorious against the Redscale Apocalypse Dragon, as highlighted in various Trophy Guides on YouTube.
Regarding gear and items, prioritizing the best you can access is essential. Pay particular attention to equipment that offers fire and slash resistance, as well as items that enhance your attack power. While specific gear will vary based on what you possess and who it’s for, consider equipping the Reverent Crown and Knight’s Last Stand if possible.
Knight’s Last Stand is a pair of boots that lets you survive a hit that would normally be fatal, allowing you to stay alive with just 1 HP. It’s compatible with any Archetype and boasts a defense rating of 165. The Reverent Crown is unique to the protagonist, granting an extra turn icon at the beginning of your turn, which becomes crucial as you need every advantage you can muster. Additionally, bring along as many Sublime Spoonfuls as you can for extra support during the fight.
For your Archetypes, you have some room to play based on how you want to utilize skills, assuming you have previously unlocked all Archetypes when approaching this clash. Focus on enabling passive buffs for your team and attacking moves that can weaken the enemy or provide healing. At least one party member should concentrate on supporting your group.
As you prepare, avoid bringing items that drain or repel attacks unless you’re ready to face the consequences. During the actual battle, make it a priority to buff your party and debuff the Redscale Apocalypse Dragon first. After setting yourself up with these advantages, unleash your attacks while those buffs are active.
If you’re after the achievement or just want to complete the task without focusing on the actual battle, you can make things easier: grind for a surplus of Sublime Spoonfuls. This way, you can potentially negate any chance the Dragon has to retaliate.
Once your buffs wear off, promptly reapply them. Keep an eye on your health, especially mid-battle, as you might find the fight escalates once you start taking damage. When your party is on the brink of defeat, begin using your Sublime Spoonfuls to maximize your turns and finally overcome the Apocalyptic Dragon. After achieving victory, you’ll earn the Closing The Book achievement and acquire the Gaius Regalia.
The Gaius Regalia is an invaluable item that fully restores both HP and MP after each battle. This item can be equipped with any Archetype, making it one of the most beneficial items for the remaining challenges in your New Game+ playthrough of Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Source: YouTube/Trophy Guides
