Does skills that ignore defense, block abilities, ect cut past his shield block? I'm asking because I'm still having trouble with this dungeon. I'm currently using apothecary x 2, grandmaster (all three of these have 3 hit a1 attacks, elhain, and the last spot I'm still playing with, mostly using jizoh because I can set the counter on grandmaster and that gives me a starting 3 hits on the shield at the start of each turn. I have also put in sorceresses, or some of my glass cannons like hexia, or I buff with spirithost. I can clear stage 7, but my team doesn't hit hard enough to clear 8, apothecary just can't hit very hard. I wish I started with athel, she's the only starter I haven't pulled yet still. 

However back to the original question, I'm wondering if I can scrap this plan and start to lvl up some of the champs who have skills that ignore defenses. If they do, that's would make the fight so much easier. Thank you in advance for your time.