+++EDIT2+++
Drake Castle to Golem
http://youtu.be/bczNeLaRb2c
==EDIT==
Power-On to Drake Castle
http://youtu.be/CGMn9qvfBiw
I'm through the castle. Playing as Noa now. You are required to kill 3 enemies in this area. There are two types easy(red)75hp and hard(black)85hp. Both types take 2 attacks to kill. The black enemy blocks maybe 4x as many attacks. I'm thinking of killing 2 easy and 1 hard. That will give me a level before golem. It shouldn't cost much time. Plus I think it will save me 1 turn for golem. I will be at the same level regardless for Caruban. Should be similar to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzC37O6eWd4 but without the weapon.
edit 4/29: The last battle in this area sets the battle counter in the next area. Except I can't change it no matter when I enter battle. The only option is to try to fight the 3 battles in a different order. And this random battle area is terrible. Highest encounter rates I've seen thus far. So I really want to maximize my encounter value before I get there. Skipped Gimard and Tornado Flame so far.
edit 4/29: The center enemy allows me to choose the battle counter. I will kill him last. I am curious why none of the other enemies act this way...
edit 4/29: I was wrong. After I killed the east enemy the center one no longer produced random encounter values. Oh well. It's still a higher value than before (1008) Can't do much about it.
edit 4/30
GOLEM
Health=640
220frames Spirit(+32AP)
273 Dolphin Blow(-24AP)70-81 damage
546 Dolphin Blow[2x](-48AP)140-162 damage
748 Spirit+Tempest Break(+32AP-36AP)(First use)133-149 damage
608 Spirit+Tempest Break(+32AP-36AP)133-149 damage
204 Wolf Attack 25-39 damage
386 Wolf Heal(This will happen if I get hit once. So no gaining AP from taking damage)
36 knockdown enemy after attack(Health <25%,160HP)
65AP I start with
+8AP after each turn
Dolphin Blow does the best damage per turn.
The problem is after 3 turns I no longer have enough AP.
dolphin+wolf x3 1431frames (79+34dmg)
dolphin+heal 659fr (79dmg)
dolphin+wolf x2 954fr = 3044(79+34dmg)
Possible but many frames of manipulation.
The other option is:
dolphin+wolf x3 1431fr (76+32dmg)
Spirit+wolf 424fr (32dmg)
tempest+wolf 732fr (144+32dmg)
dolphin+wolf 477fr = 3064(76+32dmg)
This gives me much easier manipulation. Plus it's only 20 frames slower before manipulation. Should save 100's in manipulation