Original guide was written by someone called "MorphaSRDC" I have thus edited many things, but credit where credit, you know?
Step 1: Ensure your Quest Save File is New and unopened. Step 2: Check your Settings, having to change them mid run WILL cost you time. Step 3: Good luck, have fun.
Start Split: When you hit Start Quest
End Split: Black Screen showing "The Beast" Icon Glowing Red.
TLDR Guide: Know your skill level, and pick the songs you will get the most stars in. Pace yourself so you don't get tired. you will need "minimum" star counts per chapter to beat the section, the more stars you get, the faster the chapter. "Backups" are songs you will need to play, if you don't reach the count you wanted.
The hardest Chapter is an argument between Axel, Lars, Judy and Casey Both Axel and Lars have the harder of the songs. while Judy and Casey are both dependent on how well you can activate star power. These have the potential to be either fast chapters, or time killers. Lars has Ties that bind, which in the optimal run, is needed. Casey, if star power is not optimized, you are FORCED to play another song. Judy and Axel can be scary due to the sheer amount of stars needed for these characters.
What makes this run hard is the star power pathing: Sure, you may have skill, but can you remember to activate on time, whammy properly, and most importantly; keep it up for at least 3.5 hours? Echo will be the first proof of this, You need exact SP activation to get 7 stars on lasso.
Character Power Breakdown:
Johnny: "Speed Freak" - Multiplier is always x2. stay at x3 or more to gain extra stars over time. Transformed shortens the notes needed to increase multiplayer and 5 stars can be earned
Echo: "Star Power Generator" - For every 10 notes((Streak), you gain 5% star power. Transformed provides 10% star power for every 10 notes (streak)
Judy: "Crowd Hyper" - Starts with "Rock Meter" at green. once "Max", if you exceed the "meter" over time, you gain 2 stars. Transformed you stars at the top of the meter and you can gain 5 stars.
Austin: "Star Power Amplifier" - All star power phrases count as double phrases. (1 star power = 2 star power) Transformed once a star power phrase is hit, you fill the Star power gauge immediately.
Pandora: "Star Power Nova" - Anytime "Star Power" is active, you gain a "x3" boost rather than "x2". Transformed causes the boost to be a "x6"
Lars: "Multiplier Extender" - Increases Base Multiplier from x4 to x5. Transformed gives you up to a x6 Base Multiplier.
Casey: "Streak Guardian" - Provides a "Shield" that protects your streak from an overstrum or missed note. Keeping your streak without breaking it allows you to gain two extra stars. Transformed, you gain two shields instead of 1 and can gain 5 stars.
Axel: "Resurrector" - Gaining a star provides you with an "Ankh" (max 2). If your rock meter drops to the bottom, the Ankh will revive you immediately. Not using any Ankh during the song will convert to stars afterward. Transformed you can gain up to 5 ankhs.
Special power(s) (seen 4 times in any% and post story in Domination)
"All Powerful" - Combined powers of the Warriors. "The Guitar" combines Johnny, Judy, Echo and Austin. The beast fight is choosing your own 2 teams and Sudden Death [and post Beast] will combine all 8 heroes.
Ideally, this would be the fastest route, due to my skill though, I swapped out some songs to best suit me (not on this guide, but on my personal one)
Johnny Napalm: (needs 35 - 5 star/song min) Ideally: Try to aim for 7 stars per song. this way you only play 5.
What do i get? by Buzzcocks 2:57 We're not gonna take it by Twisted Sister 4:13 Cherry Bomb by The Runaways 2:21 Self Esteem by The Offsprings 4:21 Motivation by Sum 41 2:51
Backups: Re-Ignition Black Rain
Strat: Johnny really is playing the game and "normally" getting 5 stars, the other 2 will come from his power. nothing too strict on Star Power, but aim for 99%+
[Most Lenient chapter, use this as your warmup; you'll need it]
Transformation: Theme from Spiderman by The Ramones 2:07 Total Song Time: 18:50
Echo: (needs 27 - 3star/song min) Ideally: you want 7 stars for 4 songs.
Get Free by The Vines 2:05 Again by Flyleaf 3:05 Lasso by Pheonix 2:49 Slow Hands by Interpol 3:05
Backups: Bleed it out Tick Tick Boom I know what I am Wish Machinehead
Strat: Echo has two tough songs to get 6 stars here, specifically Get Free and Lasso. star power is KEY for those two songs, and so is getting a 100% FC. Again and Slow hands is a bit more generous, but try to get 99%+ on those too.
[A slightly tough chapter played optimally, good backups in time and song choice]
Transformation: Uprising by Muse 5:07 Total Song Time: 16:11
Judy Nails: (Needs 45; 5 star/song min) Ideally: you want 8 stars for a 6 song chapter [Requires Five 8 stars + One 5 star].
Seven Nation Army by White Stripes 3:51 Losing my Religion by R.E.M 4:30 No Way Back by Foo Fighters 3:26 Graduate by Third Eye Blind 3:09 Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots 3:17 How You Remind Me by Nickelback 3:46
Backups: Bohemian Rhapsody Fascination Street Tones of Home
Strat: No Way Back is TOUGH to get 8 stars (barely possible), requiring near perfect whammy and good activation. Try it without running first (quest mode). if you can get 8 consistently, do it, if not, Bohemian Rhapsody or Fascination Street is easy to get 8 stars in (played right) but you will sacrifice about 2:45-3:20 minutes. Only 1 song can be 5 stars, the rest MUST be 8 for a fast chapter
[Tough Chapter due to Stars and optimal points, MINIMAL room for errors in the songs. Backups are 2/3 backups are long, all three are good]
Transformation: Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction 3:34 Total Song Time: 25:33
Austin Tejas: (needs 27; 3 star/song min) Theoretical: If we could somehow get 9 stars per song, this would be a 3 song chapter. Ideally: Austin requires at least 2, 6 star songs, then the rest can be 5 stars.
Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider 4:23 Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival 2:21 Listen to her heart by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 3:05 Burning For You by Blue Oyster Cult 4:31 Free Ride by Edgar Winter 3:08
Backups: Cryin Money for Nothing Stray Cat Blues Rockin' in the Free World
Strat: It is Likely to get the two 6 stars on Lunatic Fringe and Burning for You. Ideally, you aim all of them for 6. Due to the way his power works [Fortnite Festival Style Phrases - use anytime once hit], there is space for error, but try not to, as you are closing in on the midpoint and skill level will shift.
[Decently hard and fun chapter. Great songs and backups]
Transformation: Children of the Grave by Black Sabbath 5:18 Total Song Time: 22:46
2112 Cave:(All you need to do is pass here) This is your chance to get some water, relax, eat some shacks, talk to chat... really, as long as you pass the songs.
[Since skill jumps here too, "The Guitar" will be the only place you are allowed to switch controller. You will only know this if you read this guide though, so thanks for reading!]
Part 1:Overture 4:43 Part 2:The Temple of Syrinx 2:13 Part 3:Discovery 3:30 Part 4:Presentation 3:42 Part 5:Oracle:The Dream 2:01 Part 6:Soliloquy 2:22 Part 7:Grand Finale 2:17 Total Song Time: 20:48
Pandora:(needs 24, 3 star/song min) Ideally: you want 6 stars for a 4 song chapter
Suffocated by Orianthi 3:04 I'm not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance 3:08 Dance, Dance by Fall out Boy 3:02 Feel Good Drag by Anberlin 3:10
Backups: There's No Secrets This Year It's Only Another Parsec... The Feel Good Drag The Outsider Savior
Strat: This Chapter has MANY chords in their songs, that is probably the best time to use Star Power. This is a fast chapter played optimally. you'll want to prioritize your star power for notes you can hit in a row (the chords are probably best for most).
[Fun Chapter, great songs. Hardest song is probably suffocated]
Transformation: Bodies by Drowning Pool 3:20 Total Song Time: 15:44
Lars Umlaut: (Needs 27; 3 star/song min)
Theoretical: 9 stars for 3 songs. Ideally: you want 6 stars for a 5 song chapter.
Dancing Through Sunday by AFI 2:28 Hard to See by Five Finger Death Punch 3:26 Bloodlines by Dethklok 3:31 Ravenous by Atreyu 3:38 Ties that Bind by Alter Bridge 3:20
Backups: Waidmanns Heil I'm Broken Psychosocial Calling
Strat: Dancing Through Sunday, Hard to See, and Bloodlines are the easiest ones to get 6 stars. Ravenous and Ties that Bind are hard already and getting 6 is a bit demanding due to the fact that there is no "bonus" aside from "x5" - You can swap out Ties that Bind and Ravenous for I'm Broken and Waidmanns Heil. Psychosocial and Calling should only be used for an emergency, or if you are craving the challenge, due to their length.
[This is arguably the hardest chapter - Practice mode is your friend, use it (outside) of the run for Bridge A-B (ties that bind) and Solo 1 (ravenous)]
Transformation: Paranoid(Live) by Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne 2:48 Total Song Time: 19:11
Casey Lynch: (needs 24: 3 stars/songs min) Ideally: Get 8 stars for a 3 song chapter.
Fast Route (8 Stars/ 3 songs) Love Gun by Kiss 3:16 No More Mr.Nice Guy by Alice Cooper 3:13 Aqualung by Jethro Tull 6:38
Safe Route (6 Stars/4 songs) Love Gun by Kiss 3:16 No More Mr. Nice Guy by Alice Cooper 3:13 Sharp Dressed Man (Live) by ZZ Top 4:21 Feels Like the First Time by Foreigner 4:14
Backups: Sharp Dressed man (Live) Scumbag Blues Feels Like the First Time Move it on Over (Live) Call me the Breeze (Live)
Strat: the original strat was to use 6 stars for 4 songs (safe), playing around with star power whammy, I found out that Love Gun, No More Mr.Nice Guy and Aqualung are all tough, but feasible 8 star songs. For the 3 song chapter, NO ERRORS must be made during the song, Aqualung, you can probably miss, but only the first few notes. Basically, FC required
[Safe Route = Challenging Fun Chapter | Fast Route = Tough Fun Chapter, at a cost of you locking in and may not enjoy the songs, because score]
Transformation: Renegade by Styx 4:27 Total Song Time: 17:34 (Fast Route) | 19:31 (Safe Route) [appx -1:57 time save]
Axel Steel: (needs 40; 5 stars/song min) Ideally: Get 8 stars for a 5 song chapter.
Pour some sugar on me by Def Leppard 4:26 Ghost by Slash Featuring Ian Astbury 3:36 Unskinny Bop by Poison 3:38 Modern Day Cowboy by Tesla 5:19 (You Can Still)Rock in America by Nightranger 4:21
Backups: Jet City Woman Burn Indians
Strat: Axel is Arguably the hardest. Most, if not all of his songs require FC's and good Star Power to even get 8 stars. Honestly, if you have the energy still, it's simple, but 3+ hours in, simple mistakes can happen - Likely to get 7 stars, I would recommend Jet City Woman and Indians, as those two are faster than Burn. (Burn however, I have more consistency, which is why I chose it over Indians in my run.)
[Tough Chapter, Demanding in skill and strategy. remain calm as after this, its the home stretch!]
Transformation: Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold 5:24 Total Song Time: 26:44
Final Battle: Not fully confident in your skill? Pick the teams that best suit you! (character breakdown in beginning of guide) Ideally: Just Press Green till both Teams are filled
Team 1: Austin Tejas (Star Power Amplifier+) Axel Steel (Resurrector+) Johnny Napalm (Speed Freak+) Pandora (Star Power Nova+)
Hoy Wars... The Punishment Due by Megadeth is not an easy song, but it can be with practice. Here is a small breakdown on how to improve this song (and the other two)
1.) Practice letting go of the strum bar - The best song for this practice is things with strumming triplets, such as Barracuda. Down, Up, Down, then let go of the strum bar. Repeat. Notice how it [almost] always ends on a downstru when you let go? thats now you know when. [You can use Practice mode to slow down and count the strums too]
2.) Practice Fret Hand Speed - This is not an "overnight" skill, and requires practice. Look for songs with hard solos, but 'simple' overall. (such as Cryin', Suffocated, Psycosocial). This helps build up higher skill, which is needed for difficult songs.
Team 2: Lars Umlaut (Multiplier Extender+) Judy Nails (Crowd Hyper+) Echo (Star Power Generator+) Casey Lynch (Streak Guardian+)
This Day We Fight by Megadeth is also not an easy song, but with practice can be done. Very similar Practice to Holy Wars however, this song is very fast paced, more that Holy Wars... The Punishment Due.
Team 3: Johnny Napalm (Speed Freak+) Echo Tesla (Star Power Generator+) Judy Nails (Crowd Hyper+) Austin Tejas (Star Power Amplifier+) Pandora (Star Power Nova+) Lars Umlaut (Multiplier Extender+) Casey Lynch (Streak Guardian+) Axel Steel (Resurrector+)
Sudden Death by Megadeth is the third and final 'Hat-Trick' of this Megadeth gauntlet. It's all the same practice as the other two, however, if you want to go for a GOOD run, practice the song, or like songs, such as Fury of the Storm, Chemical Warfare, and Black Widow of la Porte.
Part 1: Holy Wars... The Punishment Due by Megadeth [Team 1] (12 Stars Needed to pass) 6:38 Part 2: This Day we Fight by Megadeth [Team 2] (12 Stars Needed to pass) 3:29 Part 3 (Final Song) : Sudden Death by Megadeth [All Powerful] (30 Stars Needed to pass) 5:12 Total Song Time: 15:19
End Split when: Black Screen after Chart disappears. and Circle goes Red on the Final Battle Meter
Final Notes: Anyone can do this run. I bent the rules a bit to make it more accessible, but kept it's integrity. This is a high skill demanding run due to the fact that Multiple Fc's are likely needed, Optimal Star Power is a must. Stamina is Key as it's at LEAST 03:45:00.00 of runtime. Pace yourself. Keep water handy. In Between Character Chapters, STRETCH those wrists and Fingers. Keep in mind your star count, If you lost count, you can always check under the character song list to see how many stars are needed to complete.
For those Running anything NOT guitar (Vocals, Drums and Bass) Routes may slightly differ for score but overall: Good luck³! The Quest is NOT optimized for those instruments for some reason. For Example, Bohemian "Tier 3" on a Vocals run? o k a y... or a Drums run and on Tier "6" and its Bloodlines. Y i k e s...
Runners, good luck, have fun, and community members, remember to treat others with respect, we all have the same goal, so grow from each other.
All Songs Total Time: 3:18:30 [3:20:27 with Safe Route, Casey] (Time is without Cutscenes or Loads. just songs.)
