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Phantom Dust Mod For Custom Arsenals and Improved AI

Why would I want to read about or use this?  

You'll be able to play any single player mission with a Cartwheeler or other preferred playable character.  We can also swap your online arsenals into single player mode.(and still use online)  The game's original AI is not always programmed that intelligently and this patch improves a lot of that.  For example, the original AI will use Reincarnation with only 2 aura, exhausting it.  Other skills are programmed not to be used at all.  I was able to change AI instructions on lasers to spam more agressively, giving you challenges more like you have to deal with in facing human players.  

On top of this we'll go through how to edit or import arsenals into different stages to make them more challenging.  I have also created "Zmart" Skills which help the AI fight you more intelligently.  With "Zmart" Skills, they won't do something like throw a Reincarnation with only 2 aura.  One Reincarnation "Zmart" Skill version won't ever use it unless they have 6 aura to make it survive erase shields.  

The only real major newly created skills is an experimental Tiger's Strength without animation.(But has other penalties)  The true Tiger's Strength is also still in the patch in its regular location.  I thought having these variants in the mod so AI can intelligently use Tiger's Strength was worth the possible trade off of someone cheating with a Tiger's Strength in this way. There are penalties and limits built into these versions to make it obvious someone's not using the real Tiger's Strength.(and to discourage its use)  Tiger's Strength is the backbone of a lot of arsenals and I think the trade off of players getting better AIs vs someone cheating with it in a small obvious way is worth it.  

Do not play people online with the mod enabled.  It is cheating.  Your games could crash out and skills that were patched out could lead to weird effects.  It is easy to switch back and forth between the official set and a modded one and we'll go through how.  

Getting Started

I know this is big, but some of these steps are just things you need to set up once, and then you'll be able to set up pretty quickly.  

To make use of this mod you will need to dump Phantom Dust.  

Offsite link for help on dumping PD if you haven't done it yet:  https://phantomdust.miraheze.org/wiki/Help:Dumping_the_game_files

It's very easy to swap back and forth between the normal skill game data and the modded set.    

So don't be lazy about swapping back and forth between the mod and the official set.  I will have listed all the changes later on.  You will be able to use nearly all uncut skills as normal.  I have cut close to 30+ skills and remade them into "Zmart Skill" variants the AI should use. You'll find most of your skills are exactly the same.  Every skill thats modded and meant for AI only will have the letter Z before it's name.  They're meant for AI use.  The only modded skills outside of AI instructions is Empty Hand and Fairy Ring. The only mod to them are that Empty Hand isn't usable if you have only one capsule left and Fairy Ring will not activate if you have less than 5 life.( I did this to prevent having to mod out another 2 skills)  Binding Needle has now been moved to slot 303.  

Did you dump PD yet?  If not, go do that:  
https://phantomdust.miraheze.org/wiki/Help:Dumping_the_game_files

Here is the full file sets for AI arsenals and the mod patch:  Click here to download the patch and arsenals files.

Unzip it somewhere.  The file that contains the patch data is:    gsdata_enMOD.dat

Applying the Patch and Switching Back and Forth Between Official Patch

Once you dump Phantom Dust you want to find its GSTORAGE folder.  Once in it, rename the gsdata_en.dat file already in the folder to gsdata_enBAK.dat.  This is your back up of the official game patch that you should use when playing online.  Now put the gsdata_enMOD.dat file that you just downloaded in that GSTORAGE folder. Now rename gsdata_enMOD.dat to gsdata_en.dat.   When you want to play people online, just go to gstorage and rename gsdata_en.dat to gsdata_enMOD.  Now rename gsdata_enBAK.dat back to gsdata_en.dat.  Then just restart the game you'll be playing on the official game patch.  It's that simple.  


Why You Want to set up Debug Mode

Once you've dumped Phantom Dust, we want to set up the Debug Mode as your default mode because it will allow us to import online Skills, arsenals, the mod, and switch characters in Single player mode, and unlock a few extra challenging missions.  Your offline single player skills will not get deleted, but we're going to make use of your online arsenals, because that's what you're going to tend to use and it beats remaking them all the time.  Without using that set, you will not be able to use the 301+ skills in single player.  You can still create AI arsenals, but they don't take advantage of the intelligence improvements I made.  You have to play PD from Debug mode in order to use the Intelligence Patch.  

How to set up Debug Mode

If you you're having trouble finding your Phantom Dust files' path you could try searching for "DECK_AZIER" 's location .  Wherever you find it you want to go to the folder called "Data".  Then you want to open the "Menu" folder.  As an example I named the dump path to my desktop with the folder "Target3" with "Path3" inside it.  An example that will differ from where you put it :  C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\Desktop\target3\

Once in the Phantom Dust folders, you want to select the folders Assets, then Data, and then Menu.  

In the menu folder:

1.  You want to rename mainmenu_en.ssb to mainmenuX_en.ssb.  

2.  Now rename menu1_en.ssb to mainmenu_en.ssb.

3.  Now rename mainmenuX_en.ssb to menu1_en.ssb

4.  If you still want access to splitscreen mode, rename the file title_en.ssb to title_enBAK.ssb.  Now make a copy of the file vsmode_en.ssb.  Rename the copy of vsmode_en.ssb file to title_en.ssb.  To access it in Debug Mode menu, scroll to the bottom right and choose the option called Title Test.  It will take you to splitscreen mode.  

5.  Now that you made those file renames,  load up Phantom Dust and select a save.  You'll be taken to the Debug Mode Screen after hitting start and choosing a profile:




If you want to revert back to the regular menu settings, just repeat the first 3 steps above again.  

We'll go in to the advantages and how to make use of your online arsenals in the single player mode and the multiplayer mode in the next 2 steps.  

1. Change Your Character in Single Player Mode - After you choose a profile, the debug menu opens up.  If you select "Character" from the menu, a menu of character names shows.  Just push up or down to select different Character names.  When you go down this menu, make sure you select a character that is actually playable or the game will crash out. Push A to choose your character.  This takes you back to the title screen and seems like it did nothing.  Just pick a profile and when you start stages in single player mode, you'll be the character you chose.(including cartwheelers)  


2. Loading up Xbox Live Arsenals into Single Player mode to use All Skills Possible  -  YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THESE NEXT STEPS EXACTLY IF YOU WANT ACCESS TO YOUR ONLINE SKILLS in Single Player mode and on Xbox Live.  So the way we can load up your online arsenals into single player mode is by Selecting the Chapter 6 menu option in the debug menu.  It's on the right half in Japanese, but you can clearly pick it out by the number 6 showing:(highlighted below):




This will jump you into Chapter 6, but don't worry if the time line Chapter 7 appears.  You can get to the simulation room quicker with Chapter 6 instead of choosing Chapter 7 and the game works as normal. (There won't be issues either if you've cleared Chapter 7 already or haven't cleared any missions)

3.  Swapping your online arsenals into single player- Once you start single player mode here, hit start and then select Go To Xbox Live.(You have to do it this way from Single Player mode)  Don't use the debug xbox live menu options to do this or the trick won't work.   Once you're on the live menu and loaded up, just hit B to back out.  You'll return to the debug screen but doing this swaps your online arsenals into the single player mode.(They won't leave online mode either) Now select the Chapter 6 option again and  you should start in the simulation room and be able to use online arsenals and all skills.  


4.  Debug menu's "Quest Test" option -




This menu option will let you see what the Quest number is for a stage.  It shows each mission title too.  We need these quest numbers if we want to change the Arsenals used at those quests.  Also there are a few debug stages you might want to unlock by selecting the quest from the list here and beating it.  Some are unique and good challenges.  Once hidden missions are beaten, you can replay them on the computer simulator in regular Single Player mode.(They'll be each be named
 "Placeholder")   Debug Quests that are particularly notable to unlock are Quest 133, 144, and 145.  Quest 135 and 131 are also possible to unlock for more Lane and Sein stages but they're not particularly notable.


Actually Setting Up and Editing AI arsenals

Alright, now that you've got those cool things set up, we're finally getting into how to install or even create and edit arsenals for the AIs to use!  

From the dumped Phantom Dust folder go to the "Assets folder", then "Data Folder", then "com" folder, and then select the "deck" folder.  I would put the Arsenals folder you get from the zip file into this folder.(the "deck" folder)  This folder is where the AI arsenals are stored for each stage.  You'll probably notice some of these files say DECK_EDGAR_0 or other character names.   These are the arsenal files these characters use when partnered with you.  If you want you can customize your teammates now.  Or if you want to make things more challenging, give them arsenals that don't do anything.  So you can get challenged by the AI more.  You could also make them use support skills.  Have them Quantum Amp, Friendship, Alleviate,  or whatever.  I like to take partner arsenals mostly out of the equation because you'll find being disadvantaged against multiples AIs as good practice.  

What about the arsenals for the AI enemies?  Well their labeled things like DECK084_X.  Where the X is usually 0-3.  There can be up to 8 arsenals per quest.  I don't understand 100% the logic but its easy enough to save copies of arsenals and then see which ones get assigned to the AI or not.  

The numbers shown like DECK084_X is the quest number which you can find a list of in the Quest Test debug menu option. Don't worry, I'm going to give recommendations for each stage you'd likely want to play against enemies at.  But if your looking to mod AI at a particular level you can always find the Quest number / Deck number you want to mod for the stage with the debug menu's Quest Test option.  

Sometimes the stages will use the character arsenals instead of the stage number decks.

Ok so we need to be able to edit or overwrite arsenals.  You'll have to use a free hex editing program like HxD or another one.  So download one of those.

Ways of Overwriting Deck Files With a Preferred Arsenal File

Ok now you know where AI arsenals are.  Now I'll show you a method I use with HxD to import arsenals into certain missions.  Afterwords, we'll go into editing them.  

Importing Arsenals

In the zip file you downloaded, open one of the Arsenal files with HxD.  I'll use the Burden Abnormal Rain arsenal as an example:






I select the Burden Abnormal Rain arsenal and open it.(deck files have no format type)  It will look like this:


So this is where you can edit the file.  We'll get to doing that later.(you don't need to know how to program really to do it)  For now lets just use this pre made Burden and Rain focused arsenal.  Remember the City quest with JD "Gaze of Interest" where you have to fight a bunch of monsters?  Let's say we want to give all the monsters at this stage the same arsenal.  You definitely can mix arsenals used by enemies,  and I'd encourage that.  But let's just go through how to give every monster the same DECK real quickly.  So this missions is Quest #97.  

Now in HxD, with the Burden Rain arsenal open, hit Alt + F and then hit A to bring up the "save as" Menu.  You need to navigate to Phantom Dust "DECK" folder.  So we now are looking to overwrite the file DECK097_0, which is the first possible enemy AI arsenal in Quest 97.  (The _0 represents the first AI enemy arsenal at Quest 97)  You'll have to scroll down your list till you reach DECK097_0:




Double click 
DECK097_0 and choose yes to replace DECK097_0 so it is now the Burden Abnormal Rain arsenal you want.  Now hit Alt + F, then A again.  It will look like this



Now just hit the End key on your Keyboard.  Delete the 0 at the end and change it to 1.  Then hit enter, you'll be asked if you want to replace DECK097_1, choose yes and now you've overwritten the file.  Do the same thing for overwriting DECK097_2 except change the end number to 2 and the same for 3 and overwrite them each time.  Now every enemy in that mission will use that arsenal.  Of course you can mix and match other arsenals.  But I wanted to show a quickish way on how you can do that.  You'll have to experiment to see which arsenals are actually getting assigned to each character in a a mission.  


Overwriting Ally Arsenals




You can edit Ally arsenals, but it's also useful to know how to do this because some missions use the Ally arsenals against you instead of  DECK_XXX_X like we just went through.  I don't know why there's multiple ones per character, but you can always overwrite them all to ensure they use the skills you want them to use.(It seems like they use the first one usually like DECK_CHUNKY_0 for example.  

So just look carefully at what you have in the ally arsenal vs what you might have assigned at actual stages where you fight them and see if you're encountering the arsenal you expect to encounter.

 Some neat things you can do with Ally arsenals are to have them bring assistant skills like Friendship which they will use on you.  You can also just give them arsenals with just aura to create 2 v 1 quests of you vs the AI Missions.  Other options like Quantum Amps could pick up the pace for stages started.  Or Blessed Rain to prolong battles.  The AIs have been trained to use Frighten repeatedly so you can experiment with landing offensive hits with AI Frightening your enemies.  The AI is also set to repeatedly use Fairy Ring till they drop to 4 life.  This can let you use arsenals that practice Fairy Ring loops.  Remember you can give these arsenals more than 3 of a certain skill.  


How to read and modify arsenals 

Ok, what is this gibberish?


This is the file information of an arsenal.  Each skill in your arsenal is represented by 4 hexadecimal characters.(Characters that are either 0-9 or A-F)  If you see "FF FF" for example, that is considered an Aura Particle.  In the picture below, in the red rectangle, you'll see where a "FF FF" is located.  It is one of the aura particles in your arsenal.  A list has been made of all the skills and what hexadecimal set equals what skill.(It's in the zip file named PDPatchHex.txt)


Where the green Rectangle is, is the representation of the first skill in your arsenal.  "DF 00" happens to be the value for the first Burden skill in this arsenal.  Ignore the data in the previous spots.  The start of your arsenal always starts in the 2nd row(000000010) at column 04.  You'll see the last skill in your arsenal is located in the 5th row(00000040) in the Blue Rectangle "FF FF".

If you're worried about putting in a skill value that doesn't exist by accident, don't worry, the arsenal will just put an aura particle in its place if the value doesn't exists.  Its also something to look out for if the arsenal you made never seems to use a certain skill you put in there, it's likely you put an incorrect value inside it.(Or the AI was never programmed to use it, and I havne't figured out a better instruction for it!)  

Pasting Advice 

Ok,  so you can cut and paste values into these files.  But you have to either use Ctrl + B to paste or select "Paste write" :



You don't want to do Ctrl + V or Paste Insert.   Just use "Paste write" or Ctrl + B for pasting and you'll be fine. Once you like how the arsenal is set up, save it with a name.   Arsenals do not have a file format so don't put one in.  

Finding the Hex Values of Skills

So  how do we get the Hex values for a skill we want in an arsenal?  Luckily we have a file listing every skill avaiable.  You want to open the file called PDPatchHex.txt  In this file hit Ctrl + F and then enter in part of the name of the skill you want.  It should find it and will list the Hex value of that skill.  Then simply put that value into a skill slot location in your Hex editor.  

If you want to look up what a Hex value is from an arsenal file,  Just enter 4 character Hex with a space between 2 characters.  If your skill Hex is 14 01.  You'll search for "14 01" and you'll find it matches up with the skill Crush.  


 Create an Arsenal Starting from 30 Aura Particles

In the arsenals folder there is a file called __AuraOnlyCase.  If you open it, it will have an entire arsenal of auras.  You can Save it as a different file name and then start editing from where the first FF FF appears inside to the last FF FF:

 



Already Built Arsenals you can use.  

In the file you unzipped are a bunch of premade arsenals for one type of things or another.  You'll find all the Arsenals within the Arsenals folder.  Most of them are in a subfolder.  

There are a lot of arsenals built.  They're in the Arsenals folder.  I'd recommend putting the Arsenals folder you downloaded  into Phantom Dust's "deck" folder.  You can open them and overwrite stage decks easier starting from there.  

The file named "Main Arsenal Data Listing.docx"    lists a lot of plotted out Arsenals in the arsenals folder.  You can read the file for the contents of a lot of arsenals.  There are a few I didn't bother making listings of that are in the arsenals folder.  

Your also going to see a Variant Mixes folder.  There is a separeate document file "_ContentsOfFolder.docx"  listing of thoose.  They're not really well built, but more a variety of moves.  I'm not sure if it can really do much but their there if you want to try them.  Definitely not the first place I would look for things to use.


Stage Recommendations And Details on some new special AI skills Are Detailed Next.  First We'll Start With Stage Recommendations.

After the stages listing here,  will be all the details on what I was able to change to make the AI smarter, along with a listing of all the "Zmart" skills you can use with AIs.  

Stages with potential - 
To update the AI DECK you want to take the number from the stage and edit the file that will be named DECKXXX_X.  Its weird. There are often 4 files in DECKXXX_X, but not all of them always get used.  Human characters sometimes have to have their character arsenals edited to face them in certain missions.  

So if I want to edit the “Legendary Man” AI DECKs, I look up the stage number listed below.  It is 48.  The DECK ID will be DECK048_X where X is going to be a number that is either 0, 1, 2, and 3 most of the time.




Stage Recommendations

Not all of these recommendations have the best testing of.  I think City and Refinery probably have some of the easier challenging stages to set up.  Lane and Sein recommendations probably also offer good challenges.  So I'd give those stages a spin if you're not feeling great about the earlier stage options.  I list the deck names to change and the mission Partner name you can change.  Giving them a deck with just aura, healing moves, or shields will make it easier to challenge yourself against multiple AIs.  


Palace
  - I’m especially not crazy about the options  I’ve found at Palace.  Probably not the first stage you want to see what this patch can do things with.  The Ais tend to be more passive for some reason, but I'll try to highlight some that might be worth looking at.

67 The Gyne Sisters Return - Gyne's tend to be a little more challenging, so maybe they will be harder for your here.  ((DECK067_X)  No ally for mission.  2 v 1 plus an extra enemy.  

114 - A Single Mistake - You face off against 2 rollers.  Maybe their aggressive with melee???  (DECK114_X)  Ally arsenal should be DECK_MEISTER_0.

51  Stray Eyes
- Sammah with 2+ enemies to fight.   (
DECK051_X)  Ally arsenal DECK_SAMMAH_0 can be edited to be passive for more challenge.  

79  Melee place - That's the mission's name!  Optimization Automatically Gets Put out for Quick action.  AI is kind of passive though.  (DECK079_X)  Ally arsenal is DECK_JD_0.

74 Mayday  - 2 v 1 This mission lets you choose your partner set (DECK074_X)  Your partner will probably use their first DECK like DECK_JD_0 for example.  Still leaves a bit desired.  

134 - Desire to meet - Its a palace 1 v 1 match, but the AI does seem a bit aggressive in some ways.  

48  Legendary man
- 2 v 1 - If you edit JD's arsenal to be something useless, you can put yourself into a 2 v1 situation.  Possibly claustro blader arsenal???? (DECK048_X)  JD's arsenal is DECK_JD_0




Highway – Decent Laser Spam testing opportunities


77
 Question of Destiny - Gynes seem a bit better than others and you'll face 3 of them.(DECK078_X)  Tsubutaki can't die though.  Her arsenal is DECK_TSUBUTAKI_0.  You can  make it defensive or heal heavy.  To keep her somewhat out of the way.


56
Edgars memory - Fight 2 Rollers. (DECK056_x)  Chunky ally DECK_CHUNKY_0

87 Secret business - Starts you at an exposed spawn for laser dodging practice potentially.(DECK056_x)     Chunky ally DECK_CHUNKY_0

 99 Book ban _ I don't know... Ceno and Roller(DECK_99_X) vs you and JD DECK_JD_0.

 39 Emergency signal 2 v 1. (DECK_39_X)  Edgar partner DECK_EDGAR_0.

58 Highway 2 Gynes at once but you have to beat one up first.  DECK_58_X.  Kind of a slow build though.

60 To those that pass - (DECK_60_X)  JD DECK_JD_0  Starts you in a 2 v 2 on a different location than other stages.  I guess you could have enemies bring crawlers to challenge you at a difficult spawn for them.  

64 Medication choose partner vs
scoto + claustro - (DECK_064_X)  Kind of weak choice honestly.  It does let you pick your partner for the mission.


Panorama

82 Red Rose of Passion (DECK_82_X)  - Sometimes the AI stands around a bit, but other times their pretty aggressive here.    Ally pH (DECK_PH_0)

10 Recipe for recovery (DECK_10_X)  aggresive optimatch – 2 Roller enemies.  Edgar Ally:  DECK_EDGAR_0.  

66 Message in a bottle – (DECK_66_X)  Fight against 2 rollers.  You can choose your ally.

55 Sky colored paints (DECK_55_X) Roller can dodge well sometimes???  Catoptro practice available in mission.  Ally Meister (DECK_MEISTER_0)

54 Sleepland AI Saw (DECK_54_X) Andro and Catoptro.  Can choose starting ally.

16 Red Haired Woman - 
Full 2 v 2 stage with  Outside spawn Start (DECK_16_X) DECK_EDGARD_0


113 Omen of change
2 v 1 (DECK_113_X) – This is a closed in outdoor only mission.  Perhaps good quick pressure practice potential?  Ally JD (DECK_JD_0)

118  1 v 1 pano Chunky  (DECK_118_X)  (DECK_CHUNKY_0) – I guess if you want a Cage match 1 v 1 this would work.  Only out door Pano section playable in this mission.


City – Pretty good variety of missions

125  Writer Again  - 2 v 1 in high pressure difficult spawn.  (DECK_125_X)

97 Gaze of Interest – Stage has multiple monsters to challenge endurance.  (DECK_97_X) Ally JD:  DECK_JD_0

84 Claustro fall  - More than 2 enemies.  (DECK_84_X)  Ally Chunky.  DECK_CHUNKY_0

52  Young Writer – Another 2 v 1 scenario.  Writer mission (DECK_52_X)

85 Invisible trap -  2 v 2 potential  (DECK_85_X)  You can choose your ally.  blah monsters though.

140 Gaze Phobia  (DECK_140_X) .  Ally sammah dies quick.  DECK_SAMMAH_0.

65  Scraps of memory (DECK_65_X) It's possibly a decent set up.  Tsubutaki can die here without issue.  Ally DECK_TSUBUTAKI_0 

139 Angry counter attack (DECK_139_X)  Not great, but still a bit different.  Ally DECK_SAMMAH_0

119 secret thought ph  (DECK_119_X) – Good 1 v 1 stage.  Even the game’s default deck is actually good for highlighting some weaknesses in player arsenals. 

Refinery

120 Guard and Know Inversion Refinery elite – Guard’s (DECK_139_X).  DECK_KNOW_0 is Know’s arsenal in the match.  A good 2 v 1 match level to have.  This was the classic confused gravity mission.

123 Refinery ommato break out ph  - Possibly the stage with the most enemies in a mission.  It seems like some decks duplicate even though this one contains more arsenal files than usual.  ((DECK_123_X)  Ally deck is DECK_PH_0

98 Overflowing Tab – Has multiple enemies. (DECK_98_X) Ally deck is Sammah DECK_SAMMAH_0

95 Mikan and the red head refinery – 2 rollers. (DECK_95_X)  Lets you choose your partner. 

115 Price of admiration - Fight a Catoptro and a Roller.  (DECK_115_X).  Cuff Button is your partner with DECK DECK_CUFFBUTTON_0.  

94 Angel in white refinery –  Catopto and Claustro are used here if you want to face uncommon melee enemies.  (DECK_94_X)  If ally Tsubutaki is knocked out here, she can still be resurrected.  (DECK_TSUBUTAKI_0)


Lane

126 Memory Wedge – This is a solid match.  Taking care of Tsubutaki is a bit annoying without getting her shielded or armed with heals.  (DECK_126_X)  Ally (DECK_TSUBUTAKI_0)


133  Placeholder  – (that's the stage name)  This is actually a 4 v 1 match that is on a bad spawn point.  One of the more challenging situations and gives you a Lane match with no partner needing to defend.  (DECK_133_X)  You have to choose Mission 133 in the Quest Test Debug mode and beat the stage to unlock it in the Single Player mode Simulator.  

24 Continue: City of Memory - You can only select this directly from Quest  Test menu and can't unlock it like the other hidden Quest Missions that are hidden.  It's pretty good in that you fight 2 v 1 against 2 Freia's with a 3rd one showing up. Don’t have to worry about a partner and has a decent spawn.  (DECK_024_X)   You can technically access it in Single Player mode by Choosing City’s “City of Memory” stage and completing that, but it’s probably easier to just choose this from Quest Test stage 24. 

131 Placeholder - It's a 1 v 1 match against know.  It's the only one available on Lane.  Not great but it's your only 1 v 1 option.  You have to choose Mission 131 in the debug Quest Test menu and beat it to unlock in Single Player mode.    (DECK_131_0)

Sein

144 “Placeholder” - (that's the stage name)  Know + 2 Guards match  3 v 1 – This is one of the hardest matches in the game.  Partly due to a disappearing spawn point.  Still good for pressure practice.  It appears one Guard uses Know’s Arsenal while the 2nd Guard uses a different arsenal.  (DECK_144_0)  Know’s is DECK_KNOW_0.  You have to choose Mission 144 in Quest Test Debug menu and beat it to unlock it in Single player mode.

145 “Placeholder” -– The is the only Sein level with multiple enemies to fight at immediately against pH and Chunky.  You have to beat this stage in the Quest Test menu(145) to unlock in the simulator.  (DECK_145_X)  Ally is JD (DECK_JD_0)

25 "And now to the future" – Its nice that you can 2 v 1 Freia and Edgar, but still it’s a bit of a wait having to deal with a doppelganger 1 v 1 first.  (DECK_025_X)




The logic of AI arsenal builds and special modded skills.  List of Skills Removed.  List of "Zmart Skills" added.  

You're going to find that some of the arsenals I've made here break the rules on the number of skills of a certain type.  Also the ability to go 3 school without regen penalties.  I will explain why I've done this.  If you don't like my reasoning behind this, you can always make your own AI arsenals or modify the ones included.  I did things like throw 4x Dance of Deaths in a arsenal in that style.  This is because the AI is stupid and limited.  They can't use Mephisto's Pact.  They're not always intelligent enough to hold onto Dance of Deaths.  Because of their tendency to dig from arsenals every so often, this makes up for their stupidity or inability to use Mephisto's Pact.  Its not possible for them to use that skill.  Even if you force them to use Mephisto's Pact, they aren't even able to get an Aura Particle with it!  So throwing extra skills in is meant to make it closer to playing an intelligent opponent.  Usually it's done for just one extra of a move. (which they will probably just overwrite once anyway)  

Up to 6 Recalls are used in some arsenals because the AI is not intelligent enough to use Relearn effectively.  Whenever they pick up Relearn they will immediately use it instead of waiting to use one up with something useful like Recall or Violent Change.  They'll Relearn an aura particle even if you've got a Recall loop going already.  I keep it within 6 Recalls because Relearns serve that function.  It's not perfect but the AI doesn't get to use Relearns in flexible ways with things like Violent Changes which humans can.  

A custom Mist Laser skill was created that doesn't actually hit for damage or get erased by shields...  It is used for DECKs that intentionally lower their levels.(Like Vicious Balance, Swift Punch, and Aura Cannon)  This simulates the way humans would use Mist moves to lower level, and not shoot them carelessly into erase shields.  What about Downcast? The truth is that move is inferior because its Turbulenced easily and Mist Laser manuals away from shields have the same effect.(That's why Downcast was replaced by this)  There are 2 types created here.  One will lower level to 2. Another will lower level to 6, meant for Aura Cannon arsenals.  

Stimulates are in quite a few arsenals that are actually 3 school without lowered regen rate penalty.  The AI doesn't use Tiger's Strength and Trance that well.  By default they just use them very little if at all. Stimulate at least simulates those moves that you would find in their DECKs and have to deal with.  The game lets you build 5 school arsenals without penalty for the AI arsenals.  I usaually don't go 5 school unless its to test different combinations of moves.  I have made 3 experimental custom Tiger's Strengths varaiants without animation, that follow limits or have penalties.  One gets a temporary aura regen penalty.  Others require you to have max aura, 6 or more aura, or 8 aura to use the move.  This is done to discourage using these moves and simulate the aura you don't get when Tiger's Strength animation normal activates.  I couldn't figure out a way to get the AIs not to carelessly Tiger's Strength, so this was a realistic workaround.  Unfortunately, I don't have a better option for Trance.    

Beta

This is a beta build.  The original intent was to set up arsenal combinations that test dodging ability or dealing with heavy pressure.  Things you have to do more in tag.  It kind of drifted from that, but there's a lot of building blocks laid down for now.  Whether its a better solution to use Heats, Turbulences, and 5+ shields here like some players use is certainly something you can look into trying out.  Defaults I've went with generally are 4 shields, Stimulates and some varying Tiger's Strengths.  Because of the limits the AIs have to intelligently use certain moves its hard to know what mimics closer to "real" matches.  Sure I could go 5+ erase shields but you might find AI just overwrite them too because that's what they tend to do.(Not saying more shields is a bad idea, just that they won't be used optimally by AIs...) The AI is probably not going to be the smartest about handling your Armaros' either.  Arsenals could be more tuned to undodgeable effects like Judge of Ares and Turbulences.  

You will probably be able to take advantage of environmental placement.  I did not give much thought to the process of adding anti enviro fail safes.  Keep in mind Orb and Amulet won't protect your Environmentals in Single Player mode!  That's just how it's programmed.  


The Intelligence Updates Detailed

The patch updates the AI instruction values to try to make them better.  They don't change how they work, just how the AI uses them.  I also created "Zmart" Skills the AIs could use and their listed past this list of general AI changes.



Lasers - AI instruction modified to spam lasers more repeatedly. 

Auto Activate Moves – The AI will use these moves as soon as they are able to:

Graceful Woods,  Aura Particles, Void, Opitcal Camo, Place of Invisibility, Demon’s Wing, Quantum Amp, Mobilize, Chill Breeze, Blessed Rain, Heat Devil.  

“Zmart Skill” Auto Use – These moves will auto use themselves, but check out the Zmart Skills section for versions that are more intelligent you might want to use instead:  

Bravery Decision, Vicious Balance, Quantum Decay, Rebirth,

Copy  - Move was previously unused by AI.  Medium range attack instructions used now.

Recollection – Move was previously unused.  Now treats them like close range attacks.

Empty hand – AI will immediately use it.  Just like you mostly would running auto capture Memory of Battle arsenals.  Move was modded so it can’t be used if you only have one capsule left.  Throw 9 of these into an AI auto capture MoB arsenal in place of Sky Pursuit and Hyperpunch which regular players would use. 

Fairy Ring – AI will repeatedly use it.  Good for Fairy Ring loop practice.  Can’t use if you have less than 5 life. 

Levitate, Jump, Skywalk - will activate at close range use.  Previously unused could use levitate with parabola moves I guess.

Annoying Gift – Partner will gift things to you.  Unclear if original AI instruction ever did anything. 

Charge – Will sometimes use if target is long distance away.  (Old laser AI instruction used)

Retreat -  Will use if enemy is in close range.

Sword Slap – Used as close range move. 

Frighten -  Set to repeatedly use so you can practice timing with a teammate using Frighten. 

Disintegrate and Calamity changed to other hole value moves like Earthquake.  Meant to try to help AI understand them, but not sure it does.  You probably want Amulets on AIs using these moves.  Can’t count on them to use shields against themselves.  

Ricochet Laser –  Move is set to follow an instruction like Scream of Evils.  This makes the AIs sometimes use Ricochet Laser on Panorama through walls like real people do!  The previous version activates Ricochet Laser when they visibly see you.  I created a “Zmart” skill version ZRicochet Visual which still follows the older instruction.  I think their both worth practicing against in Panorama.  There are 2 folders in the Arsenals folder that either follow one version of Ricochet Laser or the other.  Who knows you could mix both in if you really want. 

Pin Down – This move is also given the Scream of Evil instruction.  Makes its pressure with Optimization out difficult to deal with.  AI will target you in more difficult situations.  

Rail Gun – AI will be willing to use even at long range. 

Some of 360+ skills had their AI instructions altered to what I thought they should traditionally be, based on other skills I’ve seen in action.  I’m not going into the details with them.  Those skill’s AI instructions  are trickier to modify/see what they were originally set to.  Because things like Tiger’s Previals were set to long range I decided to just update them to clear AI instruction values.  Another example is they used to automatically waste Rafflesia's Fang.  

Level baton – Will target their ally but not good about stopping or hitting. Sometimes does it at medium range.   I guess if you want to experiment with arsenals where an ally level batons you while you have little to no aura is a thing you could try??


Dash
– Set to value that is unreliably used.  Previously was set to never use. 
 

"Zmart Skills

You may want to use these custom skills in in your own AI arsenals but they're not meant for your own arsenal's use.  But definitely check them out for building your own because they fix certain AI issues.  Like the AI will throw away Reincarnation by casting it with only 2 aura.  So if you want to have your arsenals really take advantage of this, check out the "Zmart Skills".  

Here's the list of custom AI "Zmart Skills"

You'll see everything starts with a Z so you know its not meant for a player to use.  You can search for the skill names in the PDPatchHex.txt file included to find out what hex code equals a skill when trying to build thse into your own arsenals.  

1. ZAura Limit 2 L AI – These are aura particles that have a limit on them that makes them unusable if you have 2 or higher Level.  Meant for Vicious Balance and Swift Punch/Blow/Kick arsenals.

2. ZAura Limit 6 L AI – These are aura particles that have a limit on them that makes them unusable if you have 6 or higher Level.  Meant for Aura Cannon arsenals. 

3.  ZMist Laser D to 2 – The AI uses a modified Mist Laser that can’t be erased.(That does 0 damage)  AI will use it  till they drop to 2 Level.  (Meant to simulate people manual aiming lasers away from erase shields to lower Level.) Meant for Vicious and Swift style  arsenals.  

4.  ZMist Laser D to 6 – The AI uses a modified Mist Laser that can’t be erased.(Does 0 damage)  Till they drop to 6 Level.  (Meant to simulate people manual aiming lasers away from erase shields to lower Level.) Meant for Aura Cannon arsenals.

5. ZMist Laser 11 AI – Mist Laser is unusable until level is 11 or higher.  Meant for Recall or Level  Boost /Berserk arsenals.

6.  ZReincarnation 4 AI – Will only use Reincarnation if you have 4 aura.  Stops AI from overusing Reincarnation.

7.  ZReincarnation 6 AI – Will only use Reincarnation if you have 6 aura.  Guarantees Reincarnation isn’t erased by an erase shield.

8.  ZPhoton Barrier 4AI – Photon Barrier is only usable at 4 aura.  Meant to make it always retain.  Downside is Can’t block for 2 against moves that don’t break Photon Barrier.

9. ZBravery Decision 5 AI – Will use Bravery decision only if you have at least 5 level.

10. ZBravery Decision 7 AI
– Will use Bravery decision only if you have at least 7 level.

11.  ZRebirth 11 SK – Rebirth can not be used once you are down to 10 skills remaining in arsenal.

12.  ZRebirth 5k AI – Only usable if you have over 5 skills left in arsenal.

13.  ZPiece of Thunder Cr AI – Move is unusable except as a Piece move to hold to boost Crystallization.  So AI doesn’t throw piece moves away as attacks.

14.  ZPiece of Fire Cr AI – Move is unusable except as a Piece move to boost Crystallization.  So AI doesn’t throw piece moves away as attacks.

15.  ZBloody Ritual 8 – Move can’t be used if you have less than 8 life.  

16. ZVic Bal 8S AI – Vicious Balance done if user has 8 or more capsules left in arsenal.

17. ZEL Bomb 11L AI – Will only use EL Bbomb if you have 11 or more Level.

18.  ZScream of Evil 7AI  - Can use till you are down to 6 life.

19. ZChrg Part 11 AI – Charged Particle is unusable until level is 11 or higher.  Meant for Recall or Level  Boost /Berserk arsenals.

20. ZCharged Particle 7 AI – Unusable unless level is above 6 Level.  Meant for Aura Cannon arsenals.

21.  ZArrow of Artemis – Must have 6 aura to use.  Guarantees normal retain.  Can’t avoid erase shields though unless you have 18 aura!  I wish I could make it more intelligent to always retain, but it's the best I can do.  

22.  ZRestrain 7 AI - Unusable unless level is above 6 Level.  Meant for Aura Cannon arsenals.

23.  ZRestrain 11 AI  - Restrain is unusable until level is 11 or higher.  Meant for Recall or Level  Boost /Berserk arsenals.

24.  ZQuantum Decay 12Sk – Will only be able to use if you have 12 or more skills left in arsenal.

25  ZQuantum Decay 20Sk – Will only be able to use if you have 20 or more skills left in arsenal./

26. ZRicochet Visual AI – The regular Ricochet Laser had its AI instructions updated to use Ricochet Laser more like Scream of Evil, simulating the way regular players shoot Ricochet Laser in real matches.(Sometimes through objects!)   This ZRicochet Visual AI is PD's original AI version, where it's willing to fire it only if they directly see you past an object.  I don't think this is bad, but I wanted to give players 2 different versions they could realistically encounter in matches.(Especially Panorama)  Heck you could mix both types into an arsenal if you want!

27.  ZSwift B DoD – Unusable Swift blow.  Guarantees AI won’t waste it when at 2 Level.  Meant for Dance of Death Arsenals.

28.  zSplshdn DOD AI – Unusable Splashdown.  Guarantees AI won’t waste it at 2 Level.  Meant for Dance of Death Arsenals.

29.  ZMist Blade 11 AI – Mist Blade is unusable until level is 11 or higher.  Meant for Recall or Level Boost arsenals.

30.  ZMist Blaster 11 AI - Mist Blaster is unusable until level is 11 or higher.  Meant for Recall or Level  Boost /Berserk arsenals.

These next 3 skills are a drastic modification.  The skills are Tiger’s Strength without the animation but still a sound.  This is done because there is no intelligent way to get the AI to use Tiger’s Strength.  But since this skill is such a major arsenal skill, I think it’s important enough to have something closer to human opponents.  People shouldn’t be playing with this patch online in the first place.  There are drawbacks to having them even in regular play.  It will be fairly obvious that they are doing something “off”.  And then you either don’t play with people doing this or demand they change back to the regular games skill data.  (gsdata_en.dat file)  It's still experimental.  I thought to make it cast automatically when a condition is met.  But then it makes any skills that cost that amount, hard to use.  Currently I tried tailoring the AI instructions for Charged Particle with it.  It makes the AI use these moves a decent amount still.  If you really don't like the idea of it, then most arsenals have some form of Stimulate or Lunar Force/Heat.  Maybe I'll figure out a better way to control it.  

31.  ZTiger’s St2– Will repeatedly activate at max aura. 
Get + 2 Strength for 15 seconds.  Meant for low 2 cost DECKs.  There is a penalty to -45% aura regen, but it avoids the tiger’s strength animation.  AI arsenals also seem to regen decently still, while I hope this discourages real people from using it.  

32.  ZTiger’s St6 – Will be able to activate T/S at 6 aura. 
Get + 2 Strength for 15 seconds.  Potentially for Aura Cannon use, but it's a bit mixed in working.  

33.  ZTiger’s St8 – Will be able to activate T/S when at 8 aura. 
Get + 2 Strength for 15 seconds.  The theory here is to make Tiger's Strength activate after all most other moves could be used.  So the AI doesn't repatedly Tiger's Strength to the point they can never cast other skills.  

34. ZEL Bomb 11L AI - Will not use El Bomb unless you have over 10 aura.  ( I did not make a 6 aura version, because you're kind of unlikely to use this in an Aura Cannon deck)


Other AI Notes


They don’t know how to use Dash. I couldn’t get them to use it consistently intelligently with mods I tried.

They don’t block their own holes well. They will only block with Shelters against holes, not Absorb shields which are capable of blocking holes.

Consider Amulets and Orbs if you want to count on AI avoiding Disintegrate or Calamity.

Mine planting somewhat arbitrary.

Fake outs work.

Dumb with paralyze when hit. Keeps trying to move.

Mephisto Pact doesn’t work.

Won’t stop Refreshing if an Enviro stat is out.

Invulnerability set to not use. Doesn’t Play Dead intelligently.


Updates

Got some good arsenal builds for the AIs?   There might be some updates and if I catch your email I can try and add your arsenals to the group.  Email me at pdfaq2@gmail.com.  I don’t always keep up with it, but if I do, I’ll  update it and let you know.  If I didn't respond to it and you contact me elsewhere, don't be afraid to mention it.  


The following Skills were modded out so we could have more intelligent AI skill uses:

Power, Timer Mine, Bend, Confusion Gas, Reduce Gravity, Brain Concussion, Return, Surprise Attack, Trench Mortar, Reflect Barrier, Tremor, Abyss, Swift Kick, Leg Throw, Snap, Mind Reading, Dhampir Claw, Dhampir Fang, Succubus

Tempt, Thieving Imp, Vacuum Bullet, Vast Mayhem, Downcast, Failing Wall, Martial Arts Scroll, Dark Protection, Withering Curse, Venom Drip, Regenerate, Blessed water, Fast Bomb and Auto Shell, Anti Gravity Trap. 



Future Adds/Mods
-  I could make Joke of Anubis not work unless user has 6 or more health.  Could make Healing Water not usable to use till AI has 17 or less life.  Limits on using life penalty skills?

Wimp and Accuracy Mod – I might make this mod which would lower all damage defaults to 0.(and not buffable)  It would set all skills to infinite use.  This would let you practice dodging things safely repeatedly.  Homing buff skill like Traveling Thought but higher and infinite time could be set for max difficulty dodging.  

Betrayal Mod -  This would be tricky to set up but a mod could be made where ally arsenals will attack you, so you could play more matches as being triple teamed against.  Would have to selectively mod skills the “Betrayers” would use.  Still could be neat.  Our betrayer probably can't use Melee moves well. But long and medium they can be a menace with.  So custom skills of those would give you more triple team match ups too.  Not sure how well AI will handle your own betrayals on defense.  Let's just say I eye JD more warily when I had him shooting Blasters and Vibration Lasers at me after experimenting with this idea.  


Credits, thanks to the following players for providing help in some way of getting things done:  Ales4Dvran, Algol Mantis,
BlasianBlazy,  Bregan, Gaignun, Ell, Evolution, HunterRedTalon, Murder Mastodon, NuIon, PDDCM, Phlsphr420, SilverSaint, Toaf, and Torph.  Some DECKs say playernameish.  It means they kind of follow something these players used or posted, but there might still be some changes.  If you don't like them, blame the AI or stupid modifications I made.  Having them makes it easier to make DECKs for reference instead of digging into the cobwebs of whatever I've got laying around.  So thank you!  If I forgot someone that helped with this let me know at pdfaq2@gmail.com.  


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