Key art of Trials of the Dragon King DLC
Trials of the Dragon King is the first of three downloadable episodes in Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's Season Pass. It takes place immediately following the end of the main game, beginning with the battle between Jack Garland and the Warriors of Light in the Ancient Chaos Shrine, and detailing the Strangers' first meeting with the Dragon King Bahamut.
The episode is later followed by Wanderer of the Rift and later by Different Future.
Story[]
The story resumes as the Warriors of Light confront Jack Garland as Chaos in the Ancient Chaos Shrine. Testing the Warriors' mettle, Jack releases a wave of darkness that immediately incapacitates three of them, leaving only one to face him in direct combat. However this warrior falls easily. Jack laments the faintness of the Warriors' light, only to notice the intrusion of a strange presence.
Venturing into the Dragon's Cave in the north, the Strangers encounter the Dragon King Bahamut, who introduces himself as a Master of Trials and promises to grant them power in exchange for proof of their courage.
After receiving proof of the Strangers' courage in the form of a Rat's Tail and conversing with them at length, Bahamut challenges them to a battle to test their strength himself. Upon his defeat, he grants them new power in the form of Job Class Trees, and after they provide him further proof of their strength and resolve, he grants them the ability to summon him in battle.
After seeing what Bahamut has to offer, Jack asks him to assist with their plan by offering his trials to others. Bahamut agrees, and promises that those who prove their courage to him will be granted power so that they may become Warriors of Light worthy of the name, capable of one day becoming strong enough to kill Chaos.
In a following cycle, the Warriors of Light once again confront Jack in the Ancient Chaos Shrine. Though the Warrior puts up a much better fight than their previous bout, in the end he is no match, and is slain. Jack recognizes that Bahamut was true to his word, and looks forward to seeing more progress in the next cycle.
Gameplay[]
Trials of the Dragon King introduces the locations Ancient Chaos Shrine and Dragon's Cave for its main story missions, as well as the Pilgrim, Evoker, and Summoner Jobs. The Staves weapon class was added to the base game in an update alongside the DLC, and can be utilized by the new Jobs.
Trials of the Dragon King introduces the Bahamut difficulty level, a step above the maximum level Chaos difficulty in the base game with a higher minimum item level in exchange for offering higher level equipment and enemies. Missions under this difficulty start at a base Level of 200 and a maximum of 400. All missions under Bahamut difficulty allow the opportunity to acquire Rat Tails to upgrade Job Class Trees and Dragon Treasures to both buy gear and progress through the story.
Furthermore, by utilizing the Dragon Trials feature, the player can input additional handicaps (like increase enemy stats, decrease the number of potions, etc.) during missions. The player is granted greater yields in Dragon Treasure, Rat Tails amongst others the greater the rate set via Dragon Trials. By replaying main missions on Bahamut difficulty and spending Dragon Treasures, you can also unlock Job Limit Releases to increase the maximum levels of each Job.
Bahamut Mode is only unlocked once the "Light of Possibility" story mission is completed. This mission is only accessible on Chaos difficulty. After completing the "A Strange Presence" mission, Bahamut Mode is required to play all further story missions in this DLC.