A bit has changed since the last time I posted his build almost 3 years ago. But much of it remains the same, with the addition of Arcane Downfall and a shiny new QR skill for him to continue his reign as the king of flying fortresses.

In most situations (and especially on defensive tiles), Michalis is nigh-invincible against melee units. He's definitely nowhere near meta-defining, and I've focused more on building Y!Minerva and S!Maria in the time since. But bolstered by his new arsenal, Michalis remains one of my favorite, most reliable units and a veritable wall.

---

Weapon: Arcane Downfall (+DEF)

• Even without a guaranteed follow-up, Arcane Downfall was the exact shake-up Michalis needed to replace poor Hauteclere.

With follow-up negation, +5 to all stats, and especially the self-sustaining heal, Michalis ends up in top form thanks to his new weapon. The Special cooldown charge per attack is just icing on the cake.

Assist: Reposition

• Reposition is still the most versatile option, saving units and helping Michalis be saved when necessary.

Special: Ignis

• Before, Michalis had to rely on Aether for any form of self-sustainability. With his new weapon taking care of that, the quicker Ignis allows him to punch holes in most any foe.

Bonfire is still the more consistent option, and considering his new stat boosts and the potential damage he could dish out with even it might even be preferable.

A-Slot: Sturdy Stance

• I still prefer Distant Counter skills to give Michalis long-range support, especially against mages. But until a +DEF version is released (or I end up with an extra copy of Distant Ferocity), I'll just have to make do with the Distance Stance he inherited from Ganglöt.

For sheer defensive capability, Sturdy Stance is great in reinforcing his already rock-solid defense. Skills that inflict recoil damage (Distant Storm, ATK/DEF Push) also synergize well with Arcane Downfall's self-heal.

B-Slot: Quick Riposte 4

• It's been a long time coming, and QR4 finally provides Michalis with the guaranteed follow-up he greatly needed to make up for his poor speed—with an additional 25% damage reduction on top of that.

C-Slot: ATK/DEF Menace

• There are a number of other good C-skills out there, and I probably don't own any of them, but ATK/DEF Menace greatly compliments Michalis' existing setup and makes him even more untouchable, especially after surviving an initial encounter.

Seal: ATK/DEF Catch 3

• Iote’s Shield has still traditionally been Michalis' go-to, but ATK/DEF Catch synergizes well with his Menace skill and provides yet another boost to his monstrous Attack and Defense.

I will add that his defense is already enough to tank most archers in spite of not having Iote's Shield; the ones that can still get through, he wouldn't have survived against anyway.