Tips on the training fights:

-Honestly, it's hard to lose these. Your opponents do relatively little damage to you and have pretty easy attack markers.

-Pay close attention to their immediate counterattacks. These always come right after the beat board disappears and a circle appears in the middle of the screen.

-Try to completely dodge their attacks so you take no damage. You get a reputation point for each match you complete without taking damage.

-You can use potions if you really have to, but I would try to save them. Definitely don't waste potions by using them when you have 50 or more HP.

-Withdrawing is strictly preferable to losing a fight. It may even be preferable to using up your potions, as Myrina is worth more XP than all three of these guys put together.

Should I fight Myrina? I expect that the vast majority of players will choose to fight her simply because the episode is more fun that way. However, if you want to optimize your chances of surviving episode 2 and beyond, consider your chances of winning the fight.

-If you are a music game master and easily beat the 3 guys earlier in this episode, take her on. The ire you will earn from the king (and corresponding payroll deduction) is a small price to pay for earning 100 XP and leveling up, and there are plot advantages to having Myrina respect you.

-If you struggled through the training fights and used up most of your potions, you may be better off passing on this one. Myrina is a tough cookie, and if she wallops you, you'll lose XP and gain relatively little from this fight.

Tips on fighting Myrina: Many people have told me they can't beat Myrina, but with some basic pointers she should not be too hard.

-Use potions! It's easy to get caught up in the music game, but remember that you have options besides attacking her. You start off with 5 potions in this episode (2 more can be found in the barracks) and each raises your HP by 50. Also note that you can use potions from your character sheet, so heal up after battles.

-Be prepared for her counterattack. As soon as the beat board disappears, be ready to hit the defense arrows. For game balance reasons, defense arrows are much more difficult to hit than attack arrows, but make sure to hit at least 1 in each sequence so that you can use your shield. If you shield, Myrina does relatively minor damage, whereas she practically cuts you in half otherwise.

-Evaluate whether you should be using strong or quick attacks. The purpose of having two different types of physical attacks is so that you can "bet" on whether you are skilled enough to take on the sword-mastery of your opponent. If you are good enough at music games such that you can nail Myrina's red beat sequences, go with strong attacks. You'll take her down in about 5 rounds, no problem. If you find yourself missing more than 1 beat marker each round, switch to quick attacks.

-If you are losing and are out of potions, weigh the circumstances. If Myrina is at 49 HP or lower, do not withdraw. Even if you fail, you will lose relatively little XP (10), and she will respect that you put up a good fight. If Myrina is higher, withdraw to avoid losing XP.