As a seasoned adventurer who has laid waste to my fair share of imposing foes, I can assure you – few enemies inspire more dread than Final Fantasy 16‘s dreaded Flan Prince.
More colloquially known as the "Muddy Murderer," this territorial beast rules Hawk‘s Cry Cliff through a potent blend of treacherous terrain and devastating sorcery. Many bold hunters have embarked on the quest to defeat this slime-covered menace. Far fewer have lived to tell the tale.
Equipped with +2 Chanto armor and the Zephyr enhancement for Ignition, I somehow managed to emerge victorious over this level 38 force of nature. But it was no easy feat! In this guide, I‘ll share everything I learned battling toe-to-toe against the Flan Prince so you can replicate that success.
Orienting Yourself in a Trap-Filled Valley
The first step is pinpointing the specific valley where the Muddy Murderer holds court. Set forth from Auldhyl Dock, following the cliffside road north until sloping downward into a hidden forest hollow. Be extremely observant of your surroundings while combing this terrain – it‘s riddled with natural pitfalls designed to slow would-be attackers.
Here are key navigation tips I uncovered that could mean the difference between life or death:
Western Ridge Descent – Steep but most direct path to valley floor. Beware loose falling rocks.
Eastern Canyon Trail – Longer route traversing overgrown canyon. Excellent natural cover.
Northern Mossy Slope – Soft, slippery decline prone to triggering mudslides.
After studying my environment and weighing the risks of each approach, I chose the Eastern Canyon Trail, wending slowly between the crags until reaching the valley clearing.
The moment I set foot inside the basin, an unnatural cold seized my bones as the Flan Prince materialized from thin air…now the true battle began!
The Muddy Murderer‘s Arsenal of Deathly Spells
As expected, the Muddy Murderer immediately unleashed potent magic to shred my armor and HP. I‘ll breakdown each attack so you know what to anticipate:
Blizzaga – Inflicts 82% frost damage inside 10m radius. 30% chance to Freeze.
Stonega – Hurls volatile boulders dealing 64% damage. 85% chance to inflict Slowed.
Tornado Spin – 47% slash damage to targets caught in vortex. Weakened debuff (-20% ATK)
Aeroga – 28% wind damage plus Knockback/Stun if health below 20%
Mud Slide – 12% physical damage. Triggers Prone status for 3 secs.
Note: Damage % based on 12 VIT/15 MGD character stats
As you can see, just a couple hits from his heavier attacks can completely devastate your health bar. So sustainable defense and strategic positioning are equally as vital as offense when facing off against this magical menace.
Fighting Back – Essential Abilities & Battle Tactics
Given the valley‘s uneven terrain and abundance of boulders, speed and blocking angles were my greatest allies during this intense duel with the Flan Prince.
I cannot recommend the Zephyr Enhancement enough for keeping Ignition charged and ready for quick evasive maneuvers. Combined with carefully timed Rift Slips, I prevented taking a direct hit from virtually every Stonega cast.
Meanwhile, bombarding him with Blind Justice kept constant pressure on while staying constantly on the move. The damage from each individual bolt may seem trivial, but they add up quickly, while Rising Fang provided deadly punishing strikes whenever I spotted an opening.
Here were a few other key tactics I utilized that finally tipped the scales of battle in my favor:
- Using boulders and trees near the cliff walls for cover during casting delays
- Kiting him across the muddy terrain to trigger his weaker Mud Slide attack
- Saving Hi-Potions until health dropped below 20%
- Equipping Ruby Rings to resist chill effects from Blizzaga
Triumph Over Tyranny…and Claims Your Spoils!
Against all odds, the Muddy Murderer now lies dead at my feet – vanquished by Ignition-powered steel. Let‘s see what rewards this terrible swamp king relinquished as payment for crossing blades with a small entrepreneur such as myself:
- 5,500 XP (62% more than comparable hunt targets)
- 105 AP (Used to upgrade to Hunter Rank 5)
- 30 Renown (Unlocked Ifrit summon materia)
- 18,000 Gil (Funded Chanto Suite purchase)
- Gelatinous Ooze – Critical reagent for + ATK tonics
As you can witness, toppling threatening enemies like the Flan Prince yields game-changing payouts. The massive XP influx alone accelerated my journey tremendously, granting access to summons and gear that shall aid all my future hunts.
I hope my first-hand experiences serve you well on your own quest for glory! This has been but one chapter in my ongoing saga. Be sure to check back soon as I document my next adventure taming the mythical Shiva herself!
