Notes

https://www.reddit.com/r/DFFOperaOmnia/comments/6kx15n/tips_for_chapter_8_garlandbahamut/

https://www.reddit.com/r/DissidiaFFOO/comments/8o4n6c/how_do_i_beat_dark_bahamut/
If you hit him with Setzer's Freeze ability when he's about to cast Megaflare (the All attack) its damage will be reduced significantly. In my case it reduced the Megaflare to about 150 hp damage.

First, use physical damage units instead of magic damage units. Dark bahamut keep countering magic BRV attack (Not BRV + HP) with Flare. And Be careful when you summon cause it counter with cure and megaflare at end of the summon. and don't forget it is resistant to all elements.

Final fight starts only summon when bahamut is about to do his second aoe and start spamming and praying that you can kill him before he melts with his second megaflare (he starts off with an aoe, so save your brave so that you won't get broken)
** OR use WoL and shield everyone before you kill Garland

Use Vincent to reduce his ATK, so Megaflare did 0 damage to my party everytime he used it (given that I broke him shortly before he used it). I thik his 35CP is necessary for that though. Also used Hope. Basically Livewire + Shell = watch Megaflare do 0 damage and laugh at Bahamut's godly face.

BATTLE NOTES
Dark Bahamut (DB) will counter all magic attacks with Flare, essentially making your mage's turn a wasted one, unless your mage uses an HP attack or acts as a bravery battery.

DB always starts the fight with Megaflare, so you want to get your defenses up and avoid getting broken. Afterwards, he'll try to break someone and then Megaflare / Flare Star again.

Bring Chocobo as all of the other summons will make your Brave attacks elemental, and DB is resistant to all those. Another option is Sylph to gain back your health. Note that DB always counters with Cure and Megaflare after the summon, so you want to kill him during the summon.

Your Rem is good for recovering HP. You should drop Vivi from this fight as he's a mage. Bring Hope or Yuna for their brave battery abilities (moreso Hope for Shell). You need to get another good physical character in the fight, as Warrior of Light is mainly a tank. Probably boost your Squall, Vincent or Cyan? Setzer is also good for mitigating Megaflare's damage with his Freeze ability. If you don't have a good physical attacker, try to make friends with someone who has a Squall / Tidus / Lightning support character so they can be in the fight for 5 turns instead of 3 turns.

Do level up your summons up to at least 11 so that they gain an extra turn and summon faster.




Recommended levels for EXP on HARD mode

Ch1: 1-2 Prairie Winds Part 2

Ch2: Ominous Shrine Ruins Part 2 (Top right of map green, W of 2 golden encounters

Ch3: 3-7 Somber Grove Part 2 -> Bottom of map SE of Edge

Ch4: 4-10 Snow-Fallen Path Part 2

Ch5: 5-9 Secluded Greenwood Part 4

Material Farming:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19IP-Igihv7GhmuxlWZYwihVpC7XgKdsNtpiaMVxsdPg/edit#gid=852555768

Spark Adamantite 4-10 (3 waves) 3 minitature magitek armor

Use Chocobo Summon
bring a strong squall friend (or lightning or tidus) to dps the boss down fast from about 75%-30% to set you up for the summon ( from 50% to dead with summons help) I think Rem and Vivi are holding you back a lot.

Cloud paralysis, Vaan