Lord of Verminion

General Information

See also: Minion Stats and Minions

Lord of Verminion is a minion battle strategy game in Gold Saucer introduced in patch 3.1. It is a competitive mini-game in which a player engages an opponent using summoned minions. The objective for winning the game is to have your minions destroy "arcana stones" placed on the battlefield. Players can participate in matches against other players or the CPU.

Stats and ability types vary from minion to minion, making it possible to bring together different special actions for diverse battle strategies. The game is also conducted in real-time, which means the player will need to plan their minions' positions during combat, making Lord of Verminion an RTS game.

How to Participate

Unlock

Lord of Verminion will be available upon unlocking the Gold Saucer.

Location

Players can access Lord of Verminion in a new area called Minion Square, located inside Chocobo Square. Players can enter Chocobo Square by speaking with the lift operator Saethrith at the Entrance Square (X:4.4 Y:6.7).

Getting Started

Three minions or more are required to play Lord of Verminion. Before the match begins, players will select which minions to summon using the special minion hotbar. To edit the minion hotbar, select the Verminion tab in the Gold Saucer window under Character in the main menu.

Minions

Stats

Main article: Minion Stats

Each minion has its own stats and special actions. Players can view a selected minion's stats when editing the minion hotbar.

Types

Minions are separated into four types—monster, critter, poppet, and gadget. Three types will fight at either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the nature of their opponent. The strength and weakness affinities for monster, critter, and poppet are as follows:

• Monsters are strong against critters.
• Critters are strong against poppets.
• Poppets are strong against monsters.
• Gadget-type minions are neither strong nor weak against any type.

Cost

Each minion has a summoning "cost." Cost affects which minions the player can summon to the battlefield, and the player cannot summon minions, which exceed the set total cost. Cost also affects how much time it will take to summon the next minion. For instance, when a player summons a minion with a high-cost value, it will take a longer amount of time to summon the next minion to the battlefield.

Parameters

Parameter	Effect
HP	Hit Points. If HP is reduced to 0 during the battle, the minion will be unable to fight.
ATK	Attack Points. Affects amount of damage dealt by physical attacks.
DEF	Defense Points. Affects the amount of damage taken by opponent's physical attacks.
SPD	Movement Speed. The more stars (★), the quicker the minion can move.
Auto-attack	A minion's standard attack. Auto-attacks are separated into single target and area-of-effect.
Strengths	Each variety of minion is attributed with certain "strengths," which allow a minion to be particularly effective against certain structures

Special Actions

Each minion has a special action. Various actions deal damage, apply status effects or even set traps.

Each minion accumulates special action points over the course of the battle. The number of accumulated points is displayed in the circle beneath each minion. When four minions of the same type have filled their special action points and are close to each other, if one of these minions is selected, the special action button will flash. Pressing the special action button in this state will activate the special action.

Traps

Certain minions' special actions lay traps. Ten seconds after being set, traps can be triggered with the "Trigger Trap" button.

• Only one trap may be placed at a time.

Rank Points (RP)

Lord of Verminion uses a system based on Rank Points (RP) to determine your strength as a player. These points will increase or decrease in accordance with how well you do in battle. For every battle you participate in, you will be paired against players with a similar number of RP to you. Total accumulated RP can be viewed on the Verminion tab of the Gold Saucer window under Character in the main menu.

• You can choose to not play for Rank Points by selecting the Non-RP mode.

Registering for Battles

Lord of Verminion battles can be accessed from Chocobo Square (X:7, Y:6) and there you will be able to register for various battles through the LoVM tables.

Verminion Challenge

Campaign battles against the CPU. The rules and basic controls for LoVM can be learned by playing through the Verminion Challenges. There are 24 challenges. Players will obtain Clockwork Twintania after completing all 24.

Battles

Player Battle (RP) - Players can play against one another by selecting the Player Battle (RP) mode. For these battles, you will be paired against someone with a similar number of RP to you.

• Win 50 Players Battles (RP) to obtain Shalloweye.

Player Battle (Non-RP) - For Non-RP Player battles, you will be able to battle anyone of your choosing. By inviting your desired opponent to a group, you will be given the option of selecting them as your opponent.

• RP will not be affected by the outcome of these battles.

Master Battle - This single-player battle mode is divided into three levels of difficulty.

Battles

Briefing

Battles are divided into two stages: briefing and engage. After registration for a battle is complete, the briefing phase begins and will last for 20 seconds.

During these 20 seconds, you will be able to select the first set of minions you want to summon to the playing field. Minions can be chosen via the Minion Hotbar or Battle List and will go into the minion summoning queue once selected.

Your summoning gauge is capped at 60 during this phase, so you will be unable to queue up minions if the total cost exceeds this number. Players can check minion summoning costs by referring to the cost gauge, located on top of the Minion Hotbar.

• If you would like to remove a minion from the summoning queue, simply select the minion you wish to dismiss. Any costs incurred will disappear with it.

Engage

After the 20-second briefing period is up, the minions that both you and your opponent put in the summoning queue will spawn simultaneously, and the battle will begin. During this phase, you are afforded up to a total cost of 240 for summoning. Even when that limit has been reached, you will still be allowed to put up to three additional minions in the queue.

The green gauge represents the total cost for summoned minions, whereas those still in the summoning queue are represented by the orange gauge.

Battle Controls and Commands

The following are shortcuts that can only be used during LoVM battles.

Keyboard and Mouse / Gamepad

Command	Keyboard and Mouse	Gamepad
Selecting a minion	Left click	LB(L1)＋Directional Button
Selecting multiple minions (activating the target ring)	Drag left/space key	Y(△) Button
Selecting a minion to summon	Slots 1-12 of Hotbars 1 and 2	Directional Button
Specifying a destination	Select a minion and right click the destination	Select a minion + B(○) button
Cycling through HUD components/summoning gates	Z key (Draw/Sheathe Weapon)	Push in the right joystick
Cycling through HUD components/summoning queue	-	Push in the left joystick
Switching between action party displays (Ally/Enemy forces)	-	RT(R2) Button
Executing an Action	Slot 1 of Hotbar 3	LB(L1)＋X(□) Button
Triggering a Trap	Slot 2 of Hotbar 3	-
Withdrawing	Slot 3 of Hotbar 3	-
Battle List Display	Minion Guide (*)	-
In-game Help Menu	-	START(OPTIONS)

• While in battle, it is possible to pull up the Battle List by hitting the Minion Guide keybind.

Gamepad Only

Command	Gamepad
Select a nearby minion of the same type as the one selected.	LB(L1)+Y(△) Buttons （*）
Select all minions in the same area as the one selected.	LB(L1)+B(○) Buttons
Select all minions of the same type as the one selected.	LB(L1)+A(X) Buttons
Move the ground target pointer	RB(R1)+ Left stick

Map Jump Points

Keyboard and Mouse:

By left-clicking with the mouse on any location on the minimap, you can move the camera instantly to that location.

Gamepad:

This function is only available on gamepads(*). By holding down the jump point button, moving the jump point and then releasing the button, the camera will instantly move to the desired area.

Command	Gamepad
Display map jump point (releasing button will move camera to selected point)	Hold LT(L2)/Release
Move the map jump point	LT(L2)+Right stick
Reset the map jump point	LT(L2)+Right stick (R3) Press down

Structures

Four structures exist on the playing field: Arcana Stones, Gates, Shields, and Search Eyes. Each of these structures possesses special properties, and both combatants have access to them.

Arcana Stones

Both combatants have three of these on the playing field. Each stone has a set amount of HP, and they will shatter if the total reaches zero. Shattering all three of your opponent's Arcana stones is the key to victory.

Gates

Gates are used to summon minions, and both combatants have three gates. Minions inside the gates will restore HP. Minions cannot be moved outside of destroyed gates, nor can they enter them.

Shields

Shields add defensive strength to Arcana Stones. The stones will shatter more easily if the shields are destroyed.

Search Eyes

Search eyes reveal your opponent's minions on the playing field and minimap. If the Search Eye is destroyed, then you will only be able to see enemy units that are near your own minions.

Destruction and Structural Regeneration

Reducing a structures HP to zero temporarily destroys them. However, their functions will restore once a certain amount of time has passed, which can be hastened by positioning minions near the destroyed structure. A gauge will display the time required until reactivation starts.

• Arcana Stones will not reactivate.

Minion's Strengths

Each variety of minion is capable of inflicting greater damage against certain structures. Information about your minions' strengths can be found by going to the edit minion hotbar or battle list. The information can also be viewed from the window that appears when you hover the cursor over the minion hotbar.

Victories

Victory is achieved when all of an opponent's Arcana Stones have been destroyed. A match can also be won if an opponent retreats in the middle of battle. Your opponent's rank points will affect the number of rank points you receive but will not affect MGP rewards.

• If a winner is not decided within the time limit, the player with the most remaining arcana stones will be declared the winner.
• The number of rank points or MGP received may vary depending on the type of match selected.

Tournaments

The Manderville Gold Saucer will periodically host Lord of Verminion Tournaments. Compete against minion enthusiasts from across the datacenter for a chance to win large sums of MGP.

Participating in Tournaments

Players can sign up to participate in ongoing tournaments by speaking with the Tournament Recordkeeper NPC at the Chocobo Square in the Manderville Gold Saucer (X:7, Y:7).

• Players must first complete stage two of the Verminion Challenge before participating in tournaments.

Tournament Rules

Tournaments consist of multiple matches against other players, with victories earning you tournament points. Players are allowed to play up to 30 matches per tournament.

Tournament Rankings

Players can view the standings for ongoing tournaments at any time by either examining the Tournament Ranking Board at the Minion Square in the Manderville Gold Saucer (X:7, Y:7) or by accessing one of the Lord of Verminion tables and selecting tournament, then Rankings. Scores will be locked the moment the tournament ends, and these numbers will determine the final rankings. Redeemable rewards are acquired by speaking with the Tournament Recordkeeper.

Reward

Complete four different tournaments with double-digit victories for Penguin Prince.

Duty Finder

In patch 3.4, players can play Lord of Verminion through the Duty Finder. Matching will include all players within the same data center.

• Abandoning the duty, selecting Withdraw, or allowing the timer to run out will count toward the cooldown penalty for the Duty Finder.

Requirements

Players must first clear Stage 2: Hatching a Plan.

Duty Finder Categories

Players may choose from the following challenges found under the Gold Saucer tab of the Duty Finder. Please note these matches can only be accessed through the Duty Finder.

• The Verminion Challenge and battles against CPU opponents must be undertaken at the Gold Saucer.

Challenge	Requirements
LoVM Player Battles (Non-RP)	A party of three or fewer people.
LoVM Player Battles (RP)	Not in a party
LoVM Tournaments	Not in a party. A tournament must be ongoing at the time of registration. Must be registered in the tournament. All tournament matches are not yet complete.

Etymology

The game is named after Lord of Verminion, a series of collectible cards published by Square Enix, which features many Final Fantasy monsters.