Dislyte Apep Guide: Best Budget 3-Star and 4-Star Team

To clear Apep in Dislyte's Ritual Miracle on a budget, replace multi-hit attackers with high-multiplier, single-hit burst Espers, turn manipulators, and immunity support. In milestones like Difficulty 7, running manual combat allows you to manage Apep’s retaliation counter, cycle defensive buffs before boss turns, and focus down targets in the proper sequence without relying on natural 5-star Espers.

Why Multi-Hit Attackers Fail Against Apep

Apep gains passive gauge ticks each time he takes damage. When that hit threshold is reached, he triggers an out-of-turn area-of-effect counterattack that deals heavy damage and applies multiple stacks of Poison.

Espers whose abilities strike multiple times—such as Mona or Tang Yun—fill Apep’s retaliation meter rapidly. This prompts frequent counterattacks that wipe fragile squads before healers can reset their cooldowns. Using single-hit burst damage dealers maximizes damage dealt per meter tick and keeps Apep's passive retaliations to a minimum.

Core 3-Star and 4-Star Apep Roster

A stable budget composition relies on accessible 3-star and 4-star Espers that fulfill distinct roles: single-target burst, DEF reduction, turn denial, and Poison prevention.

Sander serves as the primary carry because his AP reduction delays Apep’s natural turn, giving your team time to cycle healing skills. Pairing Sander’s burst with Drew’s DEF Down debuff allows your attackers to take large portions of the boss's health pool in very few hits.

Manual Combat Rotation for Difficulty 7

Running Difficulty 7 on manual prevents AI errors, such as hitting Apep when his passive meter is near full or targeting minions with high-damage burst cooldowns.

1. Clear preliminary waves cleanly: Use basic skills toward the end of waves 1 and 2 to ensure all major buffs and burst skills are ready for the boss encounter.
2. Open with teamwide buffs: Cast Dhalia or Fabrice’s ATK Up and C. RATE Up immediately upon entering the boss wave.
3. Neutralize side minions: If your team cannot survive armor breaks, eliminate or crowd-control the defense-reducing minions first. If your burst damage is high enough to burn the boss safely, keep minions controlled while focusing Apep.
4. Inflict DEF Down on Apep: Land Drew’s second skill on Apep before using your major damage abilities.
5. Execute burst skills: Fire Sander's and Drew's third skills into Apep while DEF Down and ATK Up are active.
6. Track the counter meter: Check Apep's hit counter before attacking. If a single basic attack will trigger a counterattack, spend that turn using a support heal or buff instead to prepare your team for the incoming blow.

Stat and Relic Priorities

Budget Espers need specific stat thresholds to survive retaliations and consistently land their debuffs:

• Damage Dealers (Sander, Drew): Aim for 70% to 80% Critical Rate so that Dhalia’s C. RATE buff guarantees critical strikes. Equip Sander with the Wind Set, as his damage scales directly with total Speed. Give both attackers ATK% or C. DMG primary stats on Mui II relics.
• Immunity and Healers (Chang Pu): Build high HP% and Speed. An Ocean Set helps reduce Chang Pu's ability cooldowns, allowing her to refresh Immunity before Apep applies new Poison stacks.
• Debuffers and Controllers: Aim for 40% to 50% Accuracy on units applying AP Down, SPD Down, or DEF Down. Missing these debuffs prolongs the fight and causes unavoidable wipes.

Key Survival Checks

• Preemptive Immunity: Chang Pu's Immunity buff prevents incoming Poison stacks, but it does not remove debuffs that are already active. Cast Immunity right before Apep acts rather than after he attacks. If timing manually is difficult, bring an active cleanser like Heng Yue.
• Trigger Management: Never hit Apep with non-essential attacks when his passive counter is primed. Pass the action to support skills until your team is topped off and ready to take the retaliation hit.