I was able to play Dissidia at my friend's house today and I was able to beat Chaos in Shade Impulse (only having to retry twice). Either Searchlight to Paladin Force is really that effective or I got used to how his attacks work from youtube videos. Anyways, I'm quite suprised about that (and happy). I also tried Duel Colosseum (only with villain characters, specifically Golbez and Jecht, since they don't have any decent game modes to level up in). I did quite well with Golbez (I think I got around 50 medals) but I only around half as far with Jecht (due to Jecht doing insanely bad against Terra and Cloud of Darkness).

Anways, character progress: I haven't really changed much with Cecil, but I'd say if anything I slightly improved with him. I'm back in business with Golbez. I suppose it was a mindset problem (I had a similar problem with the Emperor) in thinking his slowness hindered his effectiveness as a character. His speed is decent enough to get close enough to use his mid-range attacks. As for a bread and butter brave attack, Attack System was good at mid range and Rising Wave is too, but it's insanely more effective starting it at melee range. I also managed to get Cosmic Ray A and it really added to his already insane HP game. I also remembered my Gravity Force to Genesis Rock Combo. If only I could get Glare Hand so I could do the Glare Hand to Nightglow Combo. I also got both Float System and Gravity System, though I barely notice any difference between the two. I can't remember how I equipped them (in terms of equipping them both, or equipping one twice to master it quicker). Also, I knew that moves could be equipped twice, but I had no idea that it made mastering them twice as fast. If only I knew that before. Oh well. Also, I've become really good at using Black Fang against CPU's and it sure is useful, especially when they got the stage bravery. Golbez is back to being my second best (quite fitting, seeing how he's my second most favourite FF character of all time).

As for Jecht, I've become quite a bit better at using Jecht Block (though I mostly use it for moves which can be normal blocked. Still, it'll help give me practice against HP attacks). But more importantly, I've pulled off his Jecht Stream to Triumphant Grasp Combo!!

...I find that I have a 1 in 7 chance of pulling it off. Anyways, what I heard about charging up Jecht Stream for the timing circles to appear was true, though it makes hitting with Jecht Stream a bit trickier. After the second follow up, square needs to be pressed right away, somewhere before or during the first hit (so that the text for Triumphant Grasp shows during the second follow up attack). It feels so good to pull off! I'm like "I can't believe it! I was actually able to pull off those crazy Jecht combos on youtube for myself!" Getting the timing down felt insanely satisfying. As for Jecht Rush, I could not do any of his follow up attacks whatsoever. I suppose that's okay since I prefer fighting in the air in Dissidia. Jecht would probably be my third or fourth best now.

Warrior of Light I've improved quite a bit with, seeing how I'm better with hitting with Shining Wave. I still can't hit with Rising Buckler all that well, though I'm insanely good at hitting with Shield Strike (maybe even better than hitting with Ascension). I was able to get Blue Fang, but I can hardly hit with it (I only managed to connect once with it today). Firion, I've began to use his magic and his Reel Axe and Rope Knife more often so not having a brave and butter attack with range isn't an issue anymore. I guess I was paranoid about his ranged attacks leaving him open. Straightarrow is still a pain to hit with though. At least I know how to enter chase sequences with Lance Combo now, so I can do HP strikes then. It's strange, I instinctively press O after launching the opponent with Lance Combo, it said X, and I kept asking myself why I shot the bow instead of chasing the opponent, when the X that was displayed explained pretty well why. I thought it had to do with the timing, but I should've realised a year ago that I could never get Firion to chase because I was pressing O instead of X. Yeah, silly me. The Emperor I'm also back in business with (as I mentioned before, it was a mindset issue). I forgot just how useful Flares were, and for the first time, I've been able to use both mines that come out as melee attacks. I also forgot how effective the Thunder Crest to Flare combo is. Garland attacks were tricky to get down, but I've at least become decent with all of them. Round Edge and Twin Swords made for good area of effect attacks. Deathblow was one of those attacks that are best used for punishing. Though my favourite Brave move with him is definitely Bardiche. It's tracking and range are deceptively good, it's powerful, and it comes out really fast.

As for questions I have right now, how to do Jecht Rush combos is one of them, though I suppose there aren't any Jecht users here that can help me out with that (and I prefer Jecht Stream combos over Jecht Rush combos). Well, I suppose if you guys have suggestions on stuff that I should do after defeating Shade Impulse, I'm interested in hearing it. How to get Diamond equipment for AP boosts piqued my interest, and it would definitely help Firion. Since I likely won't be able to ge the Fat Chocobo play plan, what are some good accessory setups to get exp. easily? I thought my setup for Golbez was good (Chocobo Down, Level 10-19, and HP 100%), but I only got around 800 Exp per HP attack. I'm wondering because I'm wanting to use villain characters for Distant Glory (and get them around level 50 for it), seeing how they don't have their own story modes to level up in.