You’re finally there. After weeks of social links—sorry, Follower ranks—and dungeon crawling through the repetitive depths of the Kriegante Castle, the game finally stops pulling punches. The Metaphor ReFantazio Louis fight on 9/24 is, honestly, the first real "vibe check" for players who haven't been engaging with the game's deeper mechanics.
It’s personal. It’s loud. And if you aren't prepared for his specific brand of magical dominance, he’ll wipe your party before you even get to see his fancy winged form later in the story. This isn't just another boss. It’s the moment the narrative and the gameplay systems collide at high velocity.
Why the 9/24 Encounter is Different
Most bosses in Metaphor ReFantazio up to this point have a gimmick. One might be weak to ice; another might reflect physical attacks. Louis is different because he plays by the rules of a high-level Protagonist. He has access to a wide array of elemental spells and, more importantly, he knows exactly how to exploit your party's weaknesses to gain extra Turn Press icons.
If you bring a party member who is weak to Fire or Wind, you've basically already lost. Louis will spam those weaknesses, rack up eight turns, and leave you staring at a "Retry" screen before the music even kicks into the second verse.
The date itself—September 24th—is a major turning point in the Skyrunner's journey. You’re on the ship. The atmosphere is heavy. You’ve just dealt with the fallout of the Charadrius events, and now the "Hero of the People" is standing in your way.
The Composition Problem
Don't just stick with your favorites. I know, you love Hulkenberg's defense, but if she’s rocking a Knight Archetype that’s weak to what Louis is throwing, she’s a liability.
In this fight, the Masked Mage and Summoner lineages start to show their true worth. You need flexibility. Louis isn't just hitting hard; he's buffing himself and debuffing you constantly. If you don't have a way to "Dekaja" his improvements away, his damage scaling becomes exponential. By turn four, his basic attacks start hitting like ultimate spells.
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Basically, you’re looking at a fight of attrition where the goal isn't just to deal damage, but to deny Louis the chance to act.
The Strategy: Breaking the Prince's Aura
The most annoying part of the Metaphor ReFantazio Louis fight on 9/24 is his "Royal" presence. He has high evasion and a tendency to block or resist the very elements you want to use.
You need to lean into Synthesis Skills.
Standard attacks are a waste of time here. You should be looking at combinations that guarantee critical hits or bypass resistances. If you've been leveling the Brawler or Merchant lines, you might find some niche uses for them, but honestly, the heavy hitters are the high-tier elementalists.
One thing people often overlook: Status effects.
While Louis has high resistance, he isn't entirely immune to everything. Landing a hit that lowers his accuracy is a godsend. Every time Louis misses an attack, he loses two Turn Press icons. That’s huge. It’s the difference between him acting four times or only acting once.
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Gear Check
Check your accessories. If you haven't been visiting the shops in the various port towns, you're gimping yourself. You need items that nullify "Daze" or "Forget." Louis loves to shut down your ability to use skills. A party that can't use MP is just a group of people waiting to be executed.
Also, look at your armor. It is better to have lower defense with "Resist Fire" than high defense with a "Weakness to Fire." This is an absolute rule for this encounter.
The Phase Shift
Halfway through, the tone changes. Louis starts using his more signature moves. He’ll begin charging energy. When you see the prompt that he’s "gathering power," that is your cue to either Guard or hit him with everything that can cause a "Stagger."
If you let that big attack land, it’s usually a party wipe on Hard difficulty. Even on Normal, it’ll leave your healer scrambling to revive everyone while Louis just prepares his next volley.
- Priority 1: Keep your hit/evasion buffs up at all times.
- Priority 2: Keep Louis’s attack power down using "Tarunda" or similar debuffs.
- Priority 3: Ensure the Protagonist has a "Safety" Archetype equipped—something with no elemental weaknesses.
Common Mistakes People Make on 9/24
A lot of players try to "brute force" this fight using the Seeker’s physical skills. It’s a trap. Louis has high physical defense. You’re much better off using Almighty damage or specialized elemental pierce skills.
Another big mistake? Neglecting the back row.
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Metaphor ReFantazio uses a row system that actually matters. If your casters are in the front row, they are taking unnecessary damage. Keep your tank—likely Hulkenberg or a beefy Strohl—in the front to soak up the single-target hits, and keep everyone else tucked away in the back.
It sounds simple, but in the heat of a 15-minute boss battle, it’s easy to forget to move someone back after they’ve jumped forward for a Synthesis attack.
Preparation for the Aftermath
Winning the Metaphor ReFantazio Louis fight on 9/24 isn't just about the "Victory" screen. It’s about the massive influx of EXP and A-EXP you get. This is the moment you should start eyeing those "Elite" Archetypes. The jump in power required for the next section of the game is steep.
If you struggled here, take it as a sign. The game is telling you that your current build has holes. Maybe you're too reliant on one damage type. Maybe you've ignored the support skills in favor of "big number" attacks. Use the rewards from this fight to diversify.
Essential Checklist Before You Initiate
- Check Weaknesses: Ensure no one in the active party is weak to Fire, Wind, or Slash.
- Stock Up: You need MP recovery items. You will run out. The fight is long.
- Synthesis Prep: Make sure your party members have the right "Sub-Archetypes" to trigger your most powerful combo attacks.
- Debuffers: Bring at least two people who can lower Louis's stats.
Winning this fight is a rite of passage. It marks your transition from a ragtag group of rebels to a legitimate threat to the throne. Louis is testing you—not just narratively, but mechanically. Show him that the "power of imagination" (or whatever the Archetypes actually are) is stronger than his calculated elitism.
Once the fight ends, the story takes a massive leap forward. Don't rush through the dialogue that follows. The political maneuvering in the game gets really dense here, and if you're skipping text because you're stressed from the combat, you'll miss the context for the next three dungeons.
Take your time. Adjust your party. Don't let the Prince win.
To move forward effectively, prioritize unlocking the Elemental Master or Soul Hacker tiers for your primary casters immediately after the battle. These will provide the coverage needed for the late-game scaling that begins the moment you leave the ship. Also, revisit your Follower links for Neuras and Maria; the bonuses they provide to the Gauntlet Runner and general survivability are non-negotiable for the upcoming October arc.