Taming the Trounce Domain: Assembling Your Dream Team to Conquer Scaramouche

So, you’re ready to face Scaramouche, also known as The Balladeer, and even more recently, The Wanderer, in the Joururi Workshop Trounce Domain. Smart move preparing beforehand! This isn’t a boss you can just waltz into and expect to win. He’s got tricks up his sleeve, and knowing who to bring along is half the battle. Let’s break down the best team compositions and strategies to ensure you emerge victorious.

The short answer is: For the initial fight against Scaramouche, you’ll want a team that leverages Pyro and Cryo elements to efficiently break down his shields. Include a Bow user for strategically targeting weak points, and definitely leave your Electro characters at home due to his high Electro resistance. Later in the fight, you’ll want to use Electro to paralyze him.

Cracking the Code: Understanding the Scaramouche Fight

Before diving into specific team compositions, it’s crucial to understand the two main phases of this encounter:

• Phase 1: Shield Breaking and Nirvana Engines: Scaramouche starts with a powerful shield. During this phase, energy cores will drop on the ground. Picking these up will power up the Neo Akasha Terminal. This terminal is your key to victory. It allows you to use Pyro and Cryo to break Scaramouche’s shield more effectively. A bow user is highly recommended to target the weak points that the Neo Akasha Terminal reveals. After breaking his shield, he begins channeling a devastating attack. To stop him, you must destroy the four Nirvana Engines that spawn around the arena.
• Phase 2: Paralysis and All-Out Assault: After destroying the Nirvana Engines, Scaramouche will become vulnerable. However, he continues to attack with deadly force. To gain a significant advantage, utilize the Neo Akasha Terminal to activate the Electro Matrix. This requires collecting Energy Blocks. Activating the Electro Matrix will paralyze Scaramouche for 15 seconds, providing a crucial window for dealing massive damage. Repeat this process as needed.

Assembling Your Anti-Scaramouche Squad

Given these phases, a versatile team is essential. Here are a few team composition archetypes to consider:

1. The Melt/Vaporize Masterpiece: This composition focuses on maximizing damage through Melt (Cryo + Pyro) and Vaporize (Pyro + Hydro) reactions.

   • Pyro DPS: Characters like Hu Tao, Yoimiya, or Diluc are excellent choices for their high Pyro damage output, crucial for breaking shields and dealing significant damage during paralysis.
   • Cryo Support: Ganyu or Rosaria can provide consistent Cryo application for Melt reactions, especially when off-field.
   • Hydro Enabler: Xingqiu or Yelan are indispensable for consistent Hydro application, setting up Vaporize reactions and adding significant off-field damage.
   • Flex Slot (Anemo/Shielder): Kazuha or Sucrose for crowd control and Elemental RES shred, or Zhongli for a near-impenetrable shield and universal RES shred.

2. The Freeze Frame: This team relies on freezing Scaramouche to control his movements and deal consistent damage.

   • Hydro DPS/Enabler: Ayato or Childe for consistent Hydro application.
   • Cryo DPS/Support: Ganyu or Ayaka for high Cryo damage and freezing capabilities.
   • Cryo Support: Rosaria or Diona for additional Cryo application and utility (Diona provides healing and shielding).
   • Anemo Support: Kazuha or Sucrose for crowd control and Elemental RES shred.

3. The Hyperbloom Havoc: While less conventional, a Hyperbloom team can be surprisingly effective, especially if you have Nahida.

   • Dendro Applicator: Nahida is the premier choice for her unparalleled Dendro application, enabling consistent Bloom reactions.
   • Hydro Enabler: Xingqiu or Yelan for creating Bloom seeds.
   • Electro Trigger: Raiden Shogun (built for EM) or Kuki Shinobu for triggering Hyperbloom.
   • Flex Slot (Shielder/Healer): Zhongli or Baizhu for survivability.

4. The Quickswap Aggravate Team: This team relies on Electro and Dendro to trigger Aggravate.

   • Electro DPS: Someone like Keqing or Yae Miko.
   • Dendro Core: Someone like Nahida or Dendro Traveler.
   • Flex Support: Someone like Kazuha, Bennett, or Xingqui.

Individual Character Spotlights

While team composition is vital, individual character strengths are also worth considering:

• Ganyu: Her charged shots are devastating against Scaramouche, and her Elemental Burst provides consistent Cryo application.
• Hu Tao: A top-tier Pyro DPS who excels at dealing massive single-target damage during Scaramouche’s vulnerability windows.
• Yoimiya: Another strong Pyro DPS with excellent single-target damage, particularly effective against a stationary target.
• Xingqiu/Yelan: These Hydro supports are essential for enabling Vaporize and providing substantial off-field damage.
• Kazuha/Sucrose: Anemo supports are crucial for reducing enemy Elemental RES, amplifying your team’s damage output.
• Raiden Shogun: Although Electro DPS isn’t ideal, Raiden Shogun, built with Elemental Mastery, excels in a Hyperbloom composition. Her ability to paralyze Scaramouche is also useful.
• Zhongli: His shield provides invaluable protection against Scaramouche’s powerful attacks, allowing your DPS to focus on dealing damage without interruption.

FAQs: Scaramouche Strategy Session

Here are some frequently asked questions to further refine your Scaramouche strategy:

1. Do I really need a Bow user? Yes, a Bow user makes targeting weak points revealed by the Neo Akasha Terminal significantly easier, allowing for faster shield breaking.
2. What if I don’t have the “meta” characters? Don’t worry! Focus on characters that can consistently apply Pyro or Cryo and those who provide supportive buffs or shields. Experiment and find what works best for your roster.
3. How important is the Neo Akasha Terminal? Extremely important! It’s the key to breaking Scaramouche’s shield faster and paralyzing him during Phase 2.
4. Should I focus on DPS or survivability? A balance of both is ideal. You need to deal damage to defeat Scaramouche, but you also need to survive his attacks. A shielder or healer is highly recommended.
5. What level should my characters be? Aim for at least Level 80 with well-leveled talents and artifacts for a comfortable experience. Level 90 is recommended for the character you will use as your main DPS.
6. Which artifacts are best for the Scaramouche fight? It depends on your team composition and character roles. Generally, artifacts that boost ATK, CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and Elemental DMG Bonus are beneficial. For Hyperbloom Raiden, focus on Elemental Mastery.
7. How do I dodge Scaramouche’s attacks? Pay attention to his attack patterns and telegraphs. Utilize dash and movement abilities to avoid incoming projectiles and AOE attacks.
8. Is it worth using food buffs? Absolutely! ATK, CRIT Rate, and DEF buffs can provide a significant advantage.
9. What if I’m struggling with the Nirvana Engines? Prioritize destroying them quickly. Use characters with strong AOE attacks or those who can target them from a distance.
10. Can I use the same team for both phases? While possible, you might want to adjust your team composition slightly for Phase 2 to maximize damage during the paralysis window.
11. Is Scaramouche really that hard? He can be challenging, especially for newer players. But with the right preparation and strategy, he’s definitely beatable.
12. Can I do co-op for the Scaramouche fight? Yes, co-op can make the fight easier, especially if you coordinate with your teammates.
13. What is Scaramouche’s real name? He was formerly known as Kunikuzushi, which was inspired by traditional Japanese theater called kabuki. He also took the name Balladeer. But as the Wanderer, he rejects all those names.
14. Is Scaramouche worth it to get? As The Wanderer, he is a versatile Anemo DPS, and he is valuable to a lot of players.
15. Who dislikes Scaramouche the most? Viktor in Mondstadt says that Scaramouche has a difficult personality which even most other Harbingers seem to dislike.

Final Thoughts: Victory Awaits

The Scaramouche boss fight is a challenging but rewarding experience. By understanding the mechanics, building a well-rounded team, and utilizing the Neo Akasha Terminal effectively, you can conquer this formidable foe. So, gather your allies, prepare your strategy, and venture forth to claim your victory! To learn more about strategy and team composition, consider exploring resources available through organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Good luck, Traveler!