Guide to Ardyn Level 500
The main antagonist in the Final Fantasy XV game, Ardyn Izunia is the Chancellor of Niflheim. As he levels to 500, he gets some major boosts to Dark Mercenaries, including Dark Magitek Infantry, and gaining Synergy with the Astral Titan. Did you just level up the hero Verstael? Don’t worry, he is still useful since adding him to any order in the Order of Heroes will increase your Dark Mercenary stats even more. As a surprising addition to his combat stats, you’ll see Dark Earth Troops getting a hefty promotion. So, does that make him a good defensive hero? You’ll have to test it to find out.
Ardyn Hero Skills
Like always, the first few nodes are the monster-hunting skills you’ll need to conquer the beasts roaming around Eos. There’s also the Dungeon skill that brings his Guild Adventure Hall attack up to par as long as you have his abilities unlocked. Then starting at level 413 you get to the combat stats, and from what I see, they’re pretty good.
Hero Skills Tree
Max MP II: Increases-
- Max Ardyn MP Multiplier Bonus (max 4,000%).
Requires hero level 405.
Hero Critical Hit II: Increases-
- Hero Critical Hit (max 20%).
Requires hero level 401.
MP Recovery II: Increases-
- MP Recovery (max 2M%).
Requires hero level 405.
Hero Critical Damage II: Increases-
- Hero Critical Damage (max 75%).
Requires hero level 402.
Hero Attack II: Increases-
- Hero Attack Bonus (max 6,000%).
Requires hero level 401.
Hero Streak II: Increases-
- Hero Attack Streak (max 3).
Requires hero level 402.
Dungeon Dark Bonus II: Increases-
- Dungeon HP Bonus (max 800,000).
- Dungeon Physical Damage Bonus (max 2.5M%).
- Dungeon Healing Bonus (max 15,000%).
Requires hero level 405.
Dark Core Troop Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop Attack (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 415.
Dark Core Troop HP II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop HP (max 25T%).
Requires hero level 414.
Dark Core Troop Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop Armor (max 75T%).
Requires hero level 413.
Dark Elemental Troop Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental Attack (max 30T%).
Requires hero level 417.
Dark Elemental Troop HP II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental HP (max 15T%).
Requires hero level 416.
Dark Elemental Troop Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental Armor (max 45T%)
Requires hero level 415.
Dark Mercenary Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Attack (max 40T%).
Requires hero level 419.
Dark Mercenary HP II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary HP (max 20T%)
Requires hero level 418.
Dark Mercenary Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Armor (max 60T%).
Requires hero level 417.
Dark Mage III: Increases-
- Dark Mage Attack (max 125T%).
- Dark Mage HP (max 62.5T%).
- Dark Mage Armor (max 188T%).
Requires hero level 421.
Dark Titan Attack II: Increases-
- Titan Attack Bonus (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 423.
Dark Mount Attack: Increases-
- Mount Attack Bonus (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 422.
Dark Earth Elemental II: Increases-
- Dark Earth Troop Attack (max 35T%).
- Dark Earth Troop HP (max 17.5T%).
- Dark Earth Troop Armor (max 52.5T%).
Requires hero level 423.
Dark Mercenary with Hero: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Attack with Hero (max 15T%).
- Dark Mercenary HP with Hero (max 7.5T%).
- Dark Mercenary Armor with Hero (max 22.5T%).
Requires hero level 424.
Ardyn Mastery Skills
This is where Ardyn truly shines, his Mastery Skills offer up the basic troops stats as well as some extras that will benefit your empire whether or not he is active in combat. Although you will have to make sure you have an Ardyn Mirror Hero available and add Verstael to the Order of Heroes to take advantage of some of these skills.
Mastery Skills Tree
Dark Core Troop Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop Attack (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 418.
Dark Core Troop HP II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop HP (max 25T%).
Requires hero level 418.
Dark Core Troop Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Core Troop Armor (max 75T%).
Requires hero level 418.
Dark Troop March Size III: Increases-
- Dark March Size (max 750B).
- Dark Mercenary March Size (max 750B).
- Dark Elemental March Size (max 750B).
Requires hero level 420.
Dark Elemental Troop Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental Attack (max 30T%).
Requires hero level 422.
Dark Elemental Troop HP II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental HP (max 15T%).
Requires hero level 422.
Dark Elemental Troop Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Elemental Armor (max 45T%)
Requires hero level 422.
Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary: Increases-
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary Attack (max 15T%).
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary HP (max 7.5T%).
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary Armor (max 22.5T%).
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary Attack Resistance (max 50T%).
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary Cripple HP (max 25T%).
- Verstael Order of Heroes: Dark Mercenary Armor Piercing (max 75T%).
Requires hero level 440.
Dark Mercenary Attack II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Attack (max 40T%).
Requires hero level 427.
Dark Mercenary HP II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary HP (max 20T%)
Requires hero level 427.
Dark Mercenary Armor II: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Armor (max 60T%).
Requires hero level 427.
Dark Mage III: Increases-
- Dark Mage Attack (max 125T%).
- Dark Mage HP (max 62.5T%).
- Dark Mage Armor (max 188T%).
Requires hero level 433.
Dark Troop Rally Size III: Increases-
- Dark Rally Capacity (max 2.25T).
- Dark Mercenary Rally Capacity (max 2.25T).
- Dark Elemental Rally Capacity (max 2.25T).
Requires hero level 433.
Dark Earth Elemental II: Increases-
- Dark Earth Troop Attack (max 35T%).
- Dark Earth Troop HP (max 17.5T%).
- Dark Earth Troop Armor (max 52.5T%).
Requires hero level 433.
Dark Magitek Infantry: Increases-
- Dark Magitek Infantry Attack (max 25T%).
- Dark Magitek Infantry HP (max 5T%).
- Dark Magitek Infantry Armor (max 15T%).
- Disputed Realms Dark Magitek Infantry Troop Attack (max 35T%).
- Disputed Realms Dark Magitek Infantry HP (max 17.5T%).
- Disputed Realms Dark Magitek Infantry Armor (max 15T%).
Requires hero level 435.
Dark Titan Attack II: Increases-
- Titan Attack Bonus (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 435.
Dark Mercenary with Hero: Increases-
- Dark Mercenary Attack with Hero (max 15T%).
- Dark Mercenary HP with Hero (max 7.5T%).
- Dark Mercenary Armor with Hero (max 22.5T%).
Requires hero level 441.
Dark Mount Attack: Increases-
- Mount Attack Bonus (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 434.
Mirror Hero Ardyn: Dark Mercenaries Bonus II: Increases-
- Mirror Hero Ardyn: Dark Mercenaries Bonus (max 25T%).
Requires hero level 443.
Mirror Hero Ardyn: Titan Bonus II: Increases-
- Mirror Hero Ardyn: Titan Bonus (max 50T%).
Requires hero level 442.
Stats Boosts
Dark Core Troop
Attack: 100T% (Dark Mage: 350T% total).
HP: 50T% (Dark Mage: 175T% total).
Armor: 150T% (Dark Mage: 525T% total).
Dark Mercenary
Attack: 80T% (120T% total with Ardyn Mirror and Verstael in Order of Heroes).
HP: 40T% (72.5T% total with Ardyn Mirror and Verstael in Order of Heroes).
Armor: 120T% (167.5T% total with Ardyn Mirror and Verstael in Order of Heroes).
Dark Elemental
Attack: 60T% (Dark Earth: 130T% total).
HP: 30T% (Dark Earth: 65T% total).
Armor: 90T% (Dark Earth: 195T% total).
Titan
Attack Bonus: 100T% (150T% total with Ardyn Mirror).
Dark Ardyn Tier 2 Medals Chart
Combat Strategy
Before going out to set everything on fire, you’ll want to test out everything that Ardyn’s Mastery Skills has to offer. Even though his Mirror Hero gives you substantial boosts to both Dark Mercenary troops and the Astral Titan, you’ll want to test out the different setups and find which work out better for you. Now that we can add up to six Mirror Hero Troops into marches, you can have a different march preset for any type of battle.
Don’t forget to add Verstael in any of the Order of Heroes slots to further increase your Dark Mercenary buffs and debuffs. Remember that Attack Resistance, Cripple HP, and Armor Piercing subtract that exact number from your enemy’s stats (10T% Attack Resistance will lower your enemy’s 200T% attack down to 190T%).
Along with Ardyn, we have new Titan levels and Dark Mercenary troop tiers. Skilling Titan will give you a Titan/Ardyn Specialty which will multiply both stats by up to 250%. Titan’s skills also increase Ardyn’s Mirror Hero. The Dark Mercenary research has nodes that increase Dark Mercenary Stats (with Ardyn present), along with Titan Synergy and an added Titan Attack Bonus. Have all three present in your march for a TRIPLE WHAMMY!
Should You Level Ardyn?
If you love fighting in the Disputed Realms, Ardyn will give your Dark Magitek Infantry an added punch so you can grab as many Forts as you can. Also, with his Dark Mercenary and Dark Earth troop skills, it looks like he will make a great defender for all the traps out there (you know who you are). Since you most likely already have Ardyn unlocked, along with MP Carryover and Double MP, you may as well get as many medals as you can so you can fight among the best.
Join Our Chats
Have you tested Ardyn’s strength in combat and want to brag about how well you did? Or do you need a little help figuring out the best setup to use when attacking or defending? Join us on Discord or Line and chat with the group, everyone there is helpful and loves to share stories with each other. It would be great to see you there.
Check These Out
This Mirror Hero Guide will help you figure out which boosts are offered by each Mirror.
Check out the Verstael Hero Guide, especially if you just picked up that nice discount pack!
Compare all the Heroes’ abilities in this Guild Adventure Hall Guide.
Coming Soon
You’ll be able to see the winner of last month’s Community Member of the Month soon!!
