The Index

Fought across three tri-platform sectors, The Index tests the raid with a relentless combination of elemental platform matching, rotating Predict AoEs, summoned adds, and extreme raidwide damage.

The boss will start off by casting Propulsive Prophecy, which will store a knockback that goes off just before Quadrilogy of Implements. The boss will then telegraph the order the weapons will go off in (each weapon goes off once):

• Weapon AoEs:
  • Harp: Move out.
  • Bow: Move in.
  • Sword: Go to the Number waymarks (1, 2, 3).
  • Bell: Go to the Letter waymarks (A, B, C).

The platforms will start glowing during this. Each platform will be assigned 1 Tankbuster and 3 Spread AoEs. Stay on your platform while these are given out.

• Positioning:
  • Tankbuster: Goes to the front of the platform.
  • Spread Targets: Simply spread out behind.
  • Unmarked Players: Everyone who is not given anything will go off the main platforms onto the connecting sections.

During various mechanics, you may see a set of two Elemental Rings appear around your character along with a timer above your head. Once this timer expires, you need to be standing on the element that is not around you:

• Safe Platforms:
  • Fire & Lightning Ring: Stand on an Ice platform.
  • Fire & Ice Ring: Stand on a Lightning platform.
  • Ice & Lightning Ring: Stand on a Fire platform.

• Ring Set 1:
  • Expanding Rings: The boss spawns 6 expanding rings around himself (2 Fire, 2 Ice, 2 Lightning in random order). As each ring reaches the outer element, all matching elemental platforms explode.
  • Predict: Near the end of the 1st ring set, the boss casts Predict, spawning 1 Donut AoE and 2 Circle AoEs. Each AoE rotates to the adjacent clockwise platform before detonating.
  • 1st Player Rings: The 1st set of player Elemental Rings expires simultaneously with Predict. Ensure you are on the safe element platform that dodges the rotating Predict AoEs.
• Ring Set 2:
  • Expanding Rings: A 2nd set of 6 expanding elemental rings travels outward across the arena.
  • Sealed Implements: The boss executes a weapon AoE (either Harp = Move Out, or Bow = Move In).
  • 2nd Player Rings: The 2nd set of player Elemental Rings expires at the exact same time as this weapon AoE.
• Ring Set 3:
  • Sealed Implements: Near the end of the 2nd ring set, the boss executes another weapon AoE (Harp or Bow).
  • 3rd Player Rings: The 3rd set of player Elemental Rings resolves simultaneously with this final weapon attack.

Blue puddles appear at the front of each platform while all players receive 3 stacks of the Elementary Deficiency debuff.

• Puddles:
  • Each puddle soak decreases your debuff count by 1 stack. You must cleanse all 3 stacks completely.
  • Start on your home platform. If the first element arrives on the Number platforms, rotate clockwise early.
  • After soaking a puddle, rotate clockwise to the next platform for each subsequent soak until your debuff is fully cleansed.
• Raidwide:
  • Immediately following the puddle soaks, the boss casts an extremely heavy-hitting raidwide.
  • Mitigate heavily using Phantom Dancer's Mesmerize, Tank Limit Breaks, party mitigations, and shields.

• Bombs & Exaflares:
  • Summoned Bombs: Adds spawn across both main platforms and connecting sections. Kill the Bombs on the Number waymarks first as they are closest to the boss.
  • Initial Preposition: Parties start on the Number waymark section immediately clockwise of their home platform.
  • Sundering Spellblade: Exaflares spawn at the end of each platform and travel either clockwise or counter-clockwise across the arena.
  • Letter Bombs: Follow behind the Exaflares onto the adjacent Letter platform and burn down the Bomb stationed there.
• Bird Adds:
  • Summoned Birds: The boss spawns 3 bird adds (1 per main platform). Tanks must pick up their assigned bird and face it out of the arena to direct its large conal AoE away from the party.
• Bladeblitz:
  • Line AoE Waves: Line AoEs telegraph across the floor in 3 sequential waves (2 on each half of every main platform square, and 1 on each inner section).
  • Dodge Sequence: Preposition safely outside the 1st wave of line telegraphs. As soon as the 1st wave explodes, step immediately into the safe area left behind.

• Evocation Wave 1:
  • Tethers & Rings: The boss spawns 3 Elemental Tethers (rotating clockwise) and 3 arena Elemental Rings. The tethers identify the 1st initial unsafe element, while the rings identify the 2nd.
  • Rotation Rule: Preposition on the remaining safe element. After each explosion, rotate counter-clockwise to the next platform.
  • Propulsive Prophecy: During this wave, the boss casts Propulsive Prophecy to store a knockback.
  • Sealed Implements: The stored knockback detonates simultaneously with a weapon attack (Harp = Move Out, or Bow = Move In).
• Evocation Wave 2:
  • Tethers & Rings: A 2nd set of 3 Elemental Tethers and 3 Elemental Rings spawns. Resolve using the exact same initial safe element positioning and counter-clockwise rotation.
• Player Rings & Weapons:
  • Predict: The boss casts Predict (1 Donut, 2 Circles rotating clockwise). The 1st set of personal Elemental Rings resolves simultaneously with Predict.
  • Sealed Implements: The boss casts another weapon AoE (Harp or Bow). The 2nd set of personal Elemental Rings resolves at the exact same time.

As this is a very mitigation-heavy fight, we will be providing a rough mitigation plan below.

Below is the waymark setup used for this encounter.

• Assignments:
  • Parties A & 1: A platform (Northwest)
  • Parties B & 2: B platform (South)
  • Parties C & 3: C platform (Northeast)