Final Fantasy XII Low Level Challenge (aka 122333 Challenge) FAQ Guide written by Garrett MacDonald (JustStep25) Last Revision: Saturday, July 21, 2007 Current Version: 2.2 Copyright 2007 Garrett MacDonald Email: juststep25@gmail.com This document may only be posted on www.GameFAQs.com Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction [IT01] – Rules of the Challenge [IT02] – Tricks and Tips [IT03] – Gil and LP Farming Methods Section 2: Storyline Walkthrough [SW01] – Rabanastre [SW02] – Nalbina Dungeon [SW03] – Barheim Passage [SW04] – Lhusu Mines [SW05] – Leviathan [SW06] – Sandsea [SW07] – Tomb of Raithwall [SW08] – Henne Mines [SW09] – Stilshrine of Miriam [SW10] – Sochen Cave Palace [SW11] – Archades [SW12] – Giruvegan [SW13] – Pharos [SW14] – Bahamut Section 3: End Game Introduction Section 4: Hunts [HU01] – Getting Headhunter (for Nihopalaoa and Reverse) [HU02] – Killing Antlion (for Fomalhauts) [HU03] – Getting Riskbreaker (for Bravery and Bubble Belts) [HU04] – The Rest [HU05] – Yiazmat [HU06] - Shadowseer [HU07] – Omega Mk. XII Section 5: Optional Espers [OE01] – Adrammelech [OE02] – Zalera [OE03] – Cuchulainn [OE04] – Exodus [OE05] – Zeromus [OE06] – Chaos [OE07] – Ultima [OE08] – Zodiark Section 7: Closing [CL01] - Version History [CL02] - Credits ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 1: Introduction Welcome to my guide to the FFXII Low Level Challenge! I’ve done low level challenges for all the 3D FF’s, but this is my first guide for one. The format of the FAQ will be like a list of directions. I prefer this format because the information is clear and simple. The table of contents can be used to quickly get to a specific area of the guide. Just hit CTRL+F and paste in the brackets of the section you want to get to. I tried to keep a sort of hands off approach to this guide because the LLC is really very easy if you understand the game. I'm trying not to play the game for you. If you've beaten the game normally you should be able to beat this challenge. [IT01] – Rules of the Challenge The rules of the Low Level Challenge are simple: Refrain from gaining any unforced EXP throughout the game. I say unforced because there are two times during the story when EXP is unavoidable. The main thing that makes this challenge possible is the godsend of an accessory known as the Firefly. With it equipped, a character can kill anything without gaining EXP. The Firefly can first be obtained in the Stilshrine of Miriam, and first bought at the Phon Coast. It should be noted that it is impossible to get the highest clan ranking in the game, Order of Ambrosia, in a 122333 Challenge. This is because in order to get Ashe in the Sky Pirate’s Den your party’s average level must be above 50. [IT02] – Tricks and Tips Immobilize Glitch Fleeing through areas can be difficult at a low level. Fortunitely, there is a glitch that allows you to run through areas easily. By casting Immobilize on a character and leaving them at the entrance to a zone, you can make any enemies disappear by switching to them while you're attacked. This works as long as you're far away enough from the Immobilized character. Immobilize is an area effect spell so make sure only the character you want Immobilized is in the active party when it's cast. Kiting Slow bosses can be abused with ranged weapons. When you’re fighting something slow, control the character that’s being targeted (his or her name will be in red) and run away from the boss. This allows your other characters to get free shots in while it’s preoccupied. Tanking This tactic comes into play more towards the end of the game. Tanking involves casting Decoy on a character so that the other characters don't get attacked. With the Ensanguined Shield or the Zodiac Escutcheon, the tanking character will oftain take no damage. Reverse combined with an Indigo Armlet on a tank is also great as long as you have an ample supply of Ethers. [IT03] – Farming Methods The Giza Plains Circuit (for Ethers) Available after defeating the Mimic Queen. 1. Starting at the Nomad Village, head west. 2. At the Toam Hills, open the chest on the bridge in the middle. Head south. 3. At Starfall Field, open the chest by the black rock. Head east. 4. At Gizas South Bank, head up and open the chest by the bridge.Head north. 5. At Gizas North Bank, turn left and open the chest in plain view. Head west back to the Nomad Village. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOiT1qxAN4w The Dustia Method (for gil and LP) Available after getting a Firefly. 1. Buy 5 Golden Amulets at the Babbling Vale in the Mosphoran Highwaste. 2. Bring 99 Phoenix Downs to the Westersand (Corridor of Sand) 3. Have one character out with HP under 10% and a Firefly equipped with a Foe: Undead -> Phoenix Down Gambit. 4. When Dustia spawns the gambit will kill him. Quickly grab his drop and leave the zone before his EXP and LP show up on the screen. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1wzSZft8lM The Arioch Method (for gil) Available after defeating the King Bomb. 1. Buy 3 Thief's Cuffs at Mt. Bur-Omisace and set up three *Foe: Nearest Visible -> Steal* and Haste Gambits. 2. Teleport to the Nabreus Deadlands and save at the crystal. 3. Zone in and out of the south exit from the crystal three times. 4. Follow the eastern wall south until you find Arioch. He has a 40% chance of spawning. Steal a Sage's Ring from him. 5. Zone two areas away and hit the crystal to heal. 6. Sage's Rings sell for 11000 gil each. *NOTE: Arioch will only spawn after you've activated the Hunt Club sidequest.* Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woS-xktOo3Y The Mom Bomb Method (for gil) Available after getting the Treaty Blade. Set up your characters like this: Balthier and Fran Equip Rod of Faith or Holy Rod, Crown of Laurels, Mirror Mail, and Firefly Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Ally: Penelo -> Decoy Foe: Status = Shell -> Dispel Foe: Any -> Death Penelo Equip Main Gauche, Zodiac Escutcheon, Dueling Mask, Mirage Vest, and Firefly Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Decoy Foe: Status = Shell -> Dispel Foe: Any -> Death 1. Activate the Scorpio Gate Stone by taking the up path from Way Stone VIII then take the new up path and use Way Stone IX. 2. Head forward to the next area past Way Stone XX and take the path across from you. 3. Run through the area with the Sagittarius Gate Stone and the two areas around it killing Mom Bombs with death. Because Balthier, Fran, and Penelo all have less than 25 Magick Power, Death has a 100% Hit Rate. Hit% = Base Rate + (MAG of user - VIT of target) The Base Rate is 35%, and Mom Bombs have 61 VIT. With less than 26 MAG, you get a negative percentage, which the game turns into 100%. 4. Continue to kill Mom Bombs until you have 99 Diamond Armlets. You shouldn't pick up the drops until you achieve Chain Level 4. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfbnLofyl20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 2: Storyline FAQ [SW01] – Rabanastre 1. The fight with the 3 rats is the first of two times you can’t avoid EXP in the challenge. Set the Battle Speed to Slow. 2. Complete the Rogue Tomato hunt. Avoid all other enemies in the Estersand. Remember to get the reward from Tomaj afterwards. 3. Go to Dalan’s and then to Giza to charge the stone. Leave the chest in front of Dalan’s alone if you want the Zodiac Spear. 4. Kill off Vaan and fight Dustia with only Penelo until you have 100000 gil. Buy Cure, Blizzard, 99 Potions, and 99 Phoenix Downs. Phoenix Downs can be bought from the trader in the Dalmasca Westersand (The Western Divide) You don't have to worry about Penelo gaining EXP here because her level will be reset when you get her on the Leviathan. You can buy Phoenix Downs from Lohen in the Western Divide. 5. Talk to Dalan again and run through the Garamsythe Waterway to the Palace. 6. Grab the map and do the shouting game. Make sure you don’t open any chests here if you want the Zodiac Spear. 7. When you’re back at the Garamsythe Waterway, run to the crystal. 8. BOSS FIGHT: Imperial Guards Vaan, Balthier, and Fran Ally: HP < 70% -> Potion Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Focus on whatever guard Amalia attacks. If she kills any of them you won't get the LP, so reset if she deals the final blow to any. 9. Save again at the crystal. 10. BOSS FIGHT: Flans Vaan, Balthier, and Fran Ally: HP < 70% -> Potion Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Control Fran and run around in circles to regain MP while spamming Fire on the flans. Focus on Flan B and Flan C first, as they have lower HP than the other two. 11. Run through to the next crystal. 12. BOSS FIGHT: Firemane HP 3571 Vaan Ally: HP < 70% -> Potion Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Balthier Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Fran Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 70% -> Potion Control Fran and cast Blizzard manually. Use Phoenix Downs manually and keep Balthier and Fran far away from him to avoid its special. [SW02] – Nalbina Dungeon 1. Teach Vaan White Magic 1 and save at the crystal. 2. Defeat the Seeqs. Use Vaan’s Cure when HP gets below 40. 3. Get your equipment back and save, but don’t open any of the chests if you want the Zodiac Spear. 4. In the next area run forward and look for a chest to the right of the stairs. There’s a chance that an Aero Mote will be inside. Reset until you get one. 5. Continue through the dungeon and grab any chests you pass. [SW03] – Barheim Passage 1. Save at the crystal, and then run back up the stairs for a few chests. 2. Talk to the Bangaa and turn the power back on. 3. Buy three Headguards and Leather Breastplates. 4. Run through the next two areas. In the third, turn right and go up the stairs. You have to kill a Battery Mimic here. Attack the closest one and lure him to the zone line. Take Vaan out of the party and beat him down. When he runs away to recharge, quickly throw the Aero Mote at him. This is the last time you’ll be getting EXP in this challenge. If you did this right, your EXP totals should look like this: Vaan - Level 1, 42 EXP to level Balthier - Level 2, 63 EXP to level Fran - Level 2, 63 EXP to level Basch (Guest) - Level 4 5. Hit the switch and then run back to the third area where the gate has been opened. Save at the next area. 6. Continue running through and save at the crystal at the end. 7. BOSS FIGHT: Mimic Queen HP 4073 Vaan Ally: HP < 70 -> Potion Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Balthier Ally: HP < 70 -> Potion Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Give him the Goddess's Magicite Fran Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 70% -> Potion *NOTE: You can't kill the minions because they give EXP.* Control Fran and stay behind it while spamming blizzard and running in circles to regain MP. Manually revive your dead with Phoenix Downs. This is another fight that you can let the gambits take care of. If it uses its special, be ready to heal/revive. If it targets Fran, kite it around the circle and shoot it with her bow. [SW04] – Lhusu Mines 1. Run back to Rabanastre and complete the story events up to before you first go to Bhujerba. Buy Immobilize from the Magic Shop and teach Fran Time Magic 1 so she can use it. You can now do the Immobilize Glitch to flee through areas. Test it out on the Leviathan. 2. Complete the Flowering Cactoid and Thextera hunts and talk to Monteblanc afterwards to receive two Warp Motes. 3. Go to Bhujerba and buy the following: Fran Aevis Killer Balthier (Needs Light Armor 3) Capella Horned Hat Ringmail Basch Buckler Sallet Scale Mail *NOTE: The Mythril Sword and the Mythril Blade are unique. Don’t sell them.* 4. Run through the Lhusu Mines. 5. Complete the shouting minigame and go talk to the Marquis after saving. [SW05] – Leviathan 1. Run through the door and trigger the explanation cutscene. Run back to the previous room and save. 2. Run through the door again and go straight south for a chest in the corner. This chest will have a Handaxe. Reset until you get one. 3. Run through the rest of the ship. 4. BOSS FIGHT: 2 Judges, 3 Imperials Balthier, Fran, and Basch Ally: HP < 50% -> Potion Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Throw ONLY ONE of the Warp Motes at two of the Imperial Swords to even the playing field a bit. Control Fran and run circles while focusing on the judges and don't attack the other Imperials. Use Blizzard manually if you want. Vossler is annoying during this fight and might kill the other Imperials if you don't win fast enough. The battle ends when you kill the two judges. 5. Save when you get the map and Ashe. Give her the Quickening above Accessories 4 and give Penelo the Quickening to the right of Accessories 9 when you get her. Also give Penelo Time Magic 1 so she can use Immobilize. 6. BOSS FIGHT: Judge Ghis HP 4120 Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Penelo Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Quickly run up and start a Quickening with Ashe and Penelo. Do this quickly and the finisher won’t hit the other Imperials. [SW06] – Sandsea 1. You’ll end up in the Westersand. Teleport back to Rabanastre and use the Giza Plains Circuit until you have at least 40 Ethers. Teleport back to the Westersand and head to the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea. Run southwest through the zones to find the teleport Crystal. You’ll get Vossler back on the way. 2. In the Nam-Yensa Sandsea, talk to the Moogle with the Urutan. This triggers the Eskir Berries sidequest. 3. Continue running west until you come across the Urutan Eater fighting a bunch of Urutans. Wait until it kills them all off and use a Quickening on him. 4. Return to the Moogle and complete the sidequest. Make sure you grab the Eskir Berries. 5. Start running west again and head past the traders. You’ll be prompted to save. 6. BOSS FIGHT: Garuda HP 6754 Balthier Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Penelo Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Enter with Balthier, Ashe, and Penelo. Throw the Eskir Berries with Balthier and use a Quickening. If it’s not dead use an Ether and another Quickening. [SW07] – Tomb of Raithwall 1. Return to the Tomb of Raithwall and buy 99 Hi-Potions and some Phoenix Downs. 2. Enter the tomb and run by the first Demon Wall. 3. BOSS FIGHT: Demon Wall (second) HP 10332 Balthier Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Penelo Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Control Balthier and use the torches along the way to stop the Demon Wall. Use Quickenings and Ethers to kill him. You shouldn't need more than 5 Ethers. Reset if either Ashe or Penelo is teleported. 4. Keep going to the main room. Teleport back to the entrance and save. 5. Back at the main room, go north and take the high entrance to reach the switch. Teleport back and go south and take the low entrance to hit the second switch. Return to the entrance to save. 6. Run back and take either side to get to Belias’ area. Don’t forget the Elixir on the way. 7. BOSS FIGHT: Belias HP 15943 Use the same strategy and Gambits that you used to defeat the Demon Wall. 8. Afterwards, grab the Nethecite and run back outside. Save in a different slot. 9. BOSS FIGHT: Vossler HP 9318 Balthier Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Penelo Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Throw the second Warp Mote and reset until it kills all three Imperials. Use Quickenings when Vossler’s alone. [SW08] – Henne Mines 1. Back in Rabanastre, go to the Gambit Shop and buy *Self*. Head through the Giza Plains past the Ozmone Plains to Jahara. You’ll get Larsa, aka Free Potion Boy. 2. Outfit your characters like so: Balthier (Teach him Light Armor 5) Sirius, Red Cap, Brigandine, Manufacted Nethicite Basch (Teach him Light Armor 5) War Hammer, Ice Shield, Red Cap, Brigandine, Dawn Shard Ashe (Teach her Light Armor 5 and a Gambit) Lohengrin, Bronze Shield, Red Cap, Brigandine, Orrachea Armlet Also teach Penelo Accessories 12 and buy a Main Gauche. It’s very useful for fleeing through areas. Buy 2 more at some point. *Note: Don’t sell the Ice Shield. You’ll want it for Mateus.* 3. Grab a chocobo and head for the Eruyt Village. Buy 20 Bacchus’ Wines from the Moogle there. Do the story event and teleport back to Jahara. Grab another chocobo and head to the Henne Mines. 4. Flee through the first area while hitting the switch. In the next area hit the switch and grab the map. Head back and hit the switch again. Run like hell through the next tunnel with all the bats. Go through the next area to the last area and hit the switch and then run back around to the crystal. 5. BOSS FIGHT: Tiamat HP 49993 Balthier Self -> Bacchus's Wine Basch Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Foe: Nearest Visible -> Bacchus's Wine Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Penelo Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Enter with Balthier berserked, Basch and Penelo. Have Penelo do a solo Quickening and Basch throw a Bacchus's Wine at Tiamat, then sub Basch for Ashe and do another Quickening with Ashe. From here take Penelo and replace her with Basch. Now have Basch use an Ether on Ashe and sub him for Penelo to do another Quickening with Ashe. The idea is to have Balthier pick away at Tiamat’s health with his gun while continuously swapping Basch and Penelo and doing Quickenings. Berserk will keep Tiamat easy to deal with. [SW09] – Stilshrine of Miriam 1. Elder Wyrm is very difficult at this point. Think Tiamat with 20000 more HP and bad status effects. Teleport back to Jahara and grab a chocobo. From the Eruyt Village go south down "The Needlebrake" and "The Rustling Chapel." In Feywood, just hug the north east wall in "Walk of Flitting Rifts" to the Paramina Rift. From there just keep going north east. 2. Complete the story event at the temple then grab a chocobo and head south to the Stilshrine of Miriam. 3. Save outside and equip Ashe with the Dawn Shard. Enter with her and use the pedestal to reach the next area. 4. You're now in the Ward of Velitation. There's a chest near you that should have a Megalixir. Keep running through the area. 5. Now in the Walk of Torn Illusion, run up and use the pedestal again. Keep on running through and you'll be back at the Ward of Velitation. 6. Run to your right down the stairs to the Walk of Reveltation. The save point is fake, so keep going. Turn left and run down to the giant sword. Check it then run back to the room that opened up. Use the Waystone here to get back to the entrance. Go out and save. 7. Video of the Firefly route: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6w_z5b-Q70 This will probably take you multiple tries as the Firefly is a percentage chest. It took me almost ten tries the first time I tried it. Go back in and take the stairs on your right. 8. There's only one door in this room. Keep going. 9. Turn right and run down the hall past the bombs and other mobs. Don't worry about the statue right now. Keep going down the stairs. 10. Run to your left and hit the middle chest. It might not even be there. If you get a Firefly (you probably won't on your first try) run back the way you came. If you didn't, Start -> Square -> Up -> X and try again. 11. On your way back from getting a Firefly, turn the statue counterclockwise. 12. Buy 5 Golden Amulets at the Babbling Vale in the Mosphoran Highwaste. To get past the guards in Nalbina Talk to the two guards, then July, then get a chocobo and talk to the two guards again. Keep going on to the Mosphoran Highwaste and northwest to the Babbling Vale. Spend the rest of your money on 99 Phoenix Downs and the *Foe: Undead* Gambit 13. Use the Dustia method for LP. I recommend maxing out the License Board right now. It takes about 13000 LP to do so, which means 24 rounds of him. Alternate the Firefly user for every run so LP is equally distributed. 14. Use the money made to buy out the Gambit, Magic, and Tech shops. Haste is especially important. *NOTE: Now that you have your first Firefly, I expect you to keep a good stock of Potions, Phoenix Downs, Remedies, and individual status curing items at all times. Also, I expect you to buy all the current Magic, Gambits, and Techs when they become available. This means checking the Magic, Tech, and Gambit shops frequently.* 15. Balthier and Penelo shoot guns .2 seconds slower than the other four characters. For this reason you may want to avoid equipping them with guns and use them for other roles. 16. Besides the point about attack speed, the six characters are interchangeable for the rest of the Storyline. I happen to use Fran, Basch, and Ashe as damage dealers and the others as support characters. 17. Complete enough Hunts to become a Headhunter and buy a Nihopalaoa, Reverse, and 99 Teleport Stones. Read the Hunts section for locations and strategies. 18. Go back to Mt. Bur-Omisace to buy 3 Betelgeuses, Headbands, and Jujitsu Gi's. Also go to the Mosphoran Highwaste and buy 99 Remedies. *NOTE: Remedies are expensive, so use individual status curing items on your characters unless they’re affected by multiple ailments, and if you only need one status ailment on a boss, use the curing item instead. Save your Remedies.* 19. Now go back to the Stilshrine of Miriam and take the same route you took to get to the Firefly chest. This time, go south and turn the statue counterclockwise. Go through the north exit and then to the east most room. 20. BOSS FIGHT: Vinuskar HP 15138 Balthier: Equip the Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self: Haste Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Enter with Balthier and throw Eye Drops at him to afflict Blind. Switch in your damage dealers and beat him down. He shouldn’t be a problem as long as you kite him with the targeted character. He tends to get stuck a lot in the gaps in the room. Use this to your advantage. 21. Afterwards move the last statue to face west and go back to the fake save point. Kill it this time and save. Use one of your reserves to make it to the room with the giant sword. 22. BOSS FIGHT: Mateus (HP 34259) and some Ice Azers Balthier: Equip the Nihopalaoa and an Ice Shield Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self: Haste Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Run in with Balthier and throw a Remedy at each of the Ice Azers to afflict Immobilize. If he gets killed switch to another support character and equip him with the Nihopalaoa and the Ice Shield. Make sure each Ice Azer gets hit with a Remedy. When they’re all neutralized kite Mateus away from the Azers and switch to your damage dealers. With the Ice Azers out of the way you’re free to kite him around the perimeter of the room. Blizzaja does good damage and afflicts Sap, but your Remedies and Hi-Potion Gambits will suffice. [SW10] – Sochen Cave Palace 1. Head back to Mt. Bur-Omisace, and back up to the temple. 2. BOSS FIGHT: Judge Bergan (HP 17200) + 3 Imperials Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self -> Haste Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Enter with Balthier and two damage dealers. Control Balthier and throw Remedies at all of the Imperials, and Chronos Tears at Bergan. It’s easy to kill Bergan after they’ve all been neutralized. Doom will take care of the 3 Judges, and Bergan will be frozen with Stop. 3. Go back to Rabanastre and accept the Antlion Hunt from Monteblanc. You should also take this time to get all the Monographs. Here's how: Talk to Gatsly in the Muthru Bazaar. Talk to the Magic merchant 30 times. Talk to the Armor merchant 20 times Talk to the Weapon merchant 35 times. Buy all the Forgotten Grimoires in Bazaar Goods. Keep talking to the Weapon merchant until another Forgotten Grimoire shows up. Go to the Hunt Board in the Sandsea and read it 50 times Buy the rest of the Forgotten Grimoires that show up in Bazaar Goods. The last one is the Canopic Jar, which can be obtained once you kill the Gil Snapper, Orthros, and Trickster, and sell their prizes. 4. Head north from the Mosphoran Highwaste to the Salikawood. Help the moogles out to get to the Phon Coast. 5. Run down to the Hunter’s Camp and buy 3 Aldebarans, Officer's Hats, and Barrel Coats. 6. You can buy Fireflies here. You’ll want 5 more. Make sure you always have them equipped on your party members if you’re not fighting a boss. 7. Teleport to Bhujerba and talk to Lady Niray. Run through the Lhusu Mines to the crystal and save. 8. Kill the Antlion. See the Hunts section for the strategy. 9. Run back to the crystal and save. Go back to where the Antlion was and look for a chest. Open it and if it’s a Fomalhaut run back to the crystal and save and reset. If not, just reset. Do this until you have a least 3 Fomalhauts. 6 Fomalhauts would be optimal. Equip them on your damage dealers for all of the remaining Storyline Bosses. 10. Teleport back to the Hunter’s Camp and run east to the Sochen Cave Palace. Run in through the double doors. 11. BOSS FIGHT: Mandragoras HP 9069 each Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self -> Haste Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack With Fomalhauts this battle will not last long. Just use Dispel to remove their Haste and chase each of them down one by one. 12. Continue on, kill the Crystalbug and save. Make sure you have a decent amount of items stocked up and head to the next area. 13. Stay on the east side through the next three areas and turn left and up when you get to a dead end. Head through a bunch of doors. 14. BOSS FIGHT: Ahriman HP 62149 Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self -> Haste Foe: Highest Max HP -> Attack Enter with Balthier and two damage dealers. Throw a Remedy with Balthier and swap him out. Ahriman will now have Slow. Ahriman is gun resistant so you won’t be taking HP in big chunks. Your damage dealers will only hit the real Ahriman because of their Gambits. When his health gets to 20%, he’ll summon six copies. At this time use a Quickening on the real one. If he’s still alive quickly use an Ether and repeat. [SW11] – Archades 1. Run through the rest of the Palace to Old Archades. Here’s the order of events here: Talk to the guards, pay Jules, talk to the Lucky Man, talk to Jules again, then Beasley, and finally back to Jules, who will be sitting on a couple crates. 2. Buy 3 Chakra Bands and Power Vests from the Weapon shop. 3. Talk to the Cab Guide in Nilbasse and pay Jules again. Head north to Molberry. You can get the 9 needed Chops here. Here’s who you need to pair: Ardent Woman to Ardent Man Avid Traveler to Traveling Gentleman Daughter-in-Law to Man from Giza Look-alike to Look-alike Poor Husband to Poor Wife Proud Mother to Tutor Reminiscing Lady to Family-minded Girl Talented Woman to Akademician Would-be Judge to Judge's Wife If you want to take the time to get the Sandalwood Chop, here are the pairs in the other areas: NILBASSE Aspiring Starlet to Faded Star Athletic Woman to Avid Reader Determined Researcher to Ex-Researcher Gentleman Onlooker to Eager Crier Senior Researcher to Failed Researcher Worried Husband to Materialistic Woman RIENNA Good Brother to Waiting Woman Greenseller to Vegetable Seller Lazy Profiteer to Researcher's Wife Lucky Man to Romantic Lady Philosopher of Cuisine to Dangerous Chef Tarot Reader to Happy Novelist Tour Leader to Bhujerban Lady TRANT Boutiquere to Moneyed Gentleman Builder to Artisan Architect Farce-Goer to Girl on an Errand Historian to Perceptive Man Music Appreciator to Lutenist Smitten Man to Smitten Woman 4. Head back to the Cab Guide and head to Tsenoble. Head forward for a cutscene, then talk to the Cab Guide again and go to Draklor. 5. In Draklor, use the elevator to get up to the 67th floor. Enter the C.D.B. room to the northeast and grab the keycard, and then enter Room 03 to change the door color to red. Fight your way to the elevator. 6. On the 68th floor, go to Room 03 on the east side. Change the color to blue here, and then head west to Room 04 and change the color to red. Finally, head to Room 11 in the south and change the color back to blue. 7. Take the elevator to the 70th floor. Save at the crystal. 8. BOSS FIGHT: Cid (HP 72989) and 4 Rooks Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> Hi-Potion Self -> Haste Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Focus on Cid until he becomes invincible. Kill his Rooks at this time. They give EXP, so have Fireflies equipped when you kill them. When he’s vulnerable again finish him off. Make sure to use Dispel to get rid of any buffs the Rooks give Cid. [SW12] – Giruvegan 1. In Balfonheim, buy Ninja Gears and Thief’s Hats at the Weapon shop. Buy 99 X-Potions from the Item vendor. This is the first and last time you will buy X-Potions straight up from a merchant. 2. Complete enough hunts to become a Riskbreaker. Read the Hunts section for locations and strategies. 3. Complete the Bank Village sidequest at the Estersand to unlock the Barheim Passage. Here’s how: Talk to Dantro’s Wife Talk to Tchigri Talk to Dantro Talk to Tchigri Talk to Tchigri’s father Talk to Dantro’s Wife and examine the flower behind her house Talk to the big cactoid You’ll also get a Wyrmfire Shot for reuniting the Cactoids. Remember though, the Great Serpentskin is a unique item, and the only reward for giving it up is another Golden Amulet. 4. In Barheim, activate the crystal and run north to get the map. 5. Teleport to Rabanastre and buy six Bubble Belts, two more Nihopalaoas, Faith, Bravery, and Bubble. Equip the Bubble Belts on your damage dealers for all the remaining Storyline Bosses. 6. Now that you have Bubble Belts, be sure to always have one equipped when you use a Phoenix Down on a character. This will make the raised character come back with twice as much HP as they would otherwise. 7. Teleport to Balfronheim and save at the crystal. Exit out to Cerobi Steppe and open the chest in the middle of the area for a Wyrmfire Shot. You need two from here because you already got one from the Cactoid sidequest. Save and reset until you get two. Chest Location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxYAaFlSL1U 8. Teleport to the Phon Coast and talk to the Huntmaster. He wants you to kill Thalassinon. Head east to the Vaddu Strand and run all the way east to the cliff overshadowing the beach. Face the beach to the west from the tree and wait for Thalassinon to spawn. Throw an Alarm Clock at him with a Nihopalaoa and steal an Adamantite from him before you kill him. Talk to the Huntmaster after you get the trophy. I recommend giving all trophies to Stok. 9. Now that you've killed Thalassinon, all the other Trophy mobs will become available. 9. It's time to check out Nabudis. Teleport to the Salikawood. 10. BOSS FIGHT: King Bomb (HP 27596) + Bombs Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa First thing to do is cast Dispel on King Bomb, then throw a Remedy with Balthier. The Remedy will give King Bomb Disease, so you won’t have to worry about Renew. He’s resistant to guns, so spam Quickenings until he dies. Make sure you have Fireflies on when you do so you don’t get EXP from his minions. 10. Run back and save, then run to the Corridor of Ages and enter Nabudis. In the Hall of Effulgent Light, run to the northwest area and look for a ??? in the small room. This is the Baknamy Merchant. Buy as many Ethers as you can and run back out of Nabudis. Heal up and run back in when you’re ready. Run south to the Cloister of Distant Song. Run northeast to the Cloister of the Highborn. Run east into the room with all the chests. The Zodiac Spear is the one in the closest row second from the left. Get out of there when you're done. 11. Run north to the Piebald Path and enter the Nabreus Deadlands to the north. Continue on to the Muted Scarp and save. Head east through the Vale of Lingering Sorrow and north through Echoes of the Past and the Slumbermead and you’ll come across a crystal. It’s really a Crystalbug, and it’s a lot tougher than the ones you’ve fought before. Activate it and quickly start up a Quickening, then run out of its range and use an Ether. Repeat this until it’s dead. 12. With the Nabreus Deadlands crystal activated, you can now use the Arioch Method for gil. 12. Teleport to Eruyt Village and run south to the Feywood. Head south down to Antiquity's End. 13. BOSS: Rafflesia HP 73393 Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack This battle really shouldn’t last more than a minute or two. Start off by throwing a Remedy at him with Balthier. This will pretty much cripple him. The MP drain is irrelevant because of how fast this battle is. 14. Continue south and hug the east wall in White Magick’s Embrace all the way down until you come across the map for this area. Exit to the south. 15. Here you’ll come to the shrine puzzle. Examine the glyph in the first shrine, then swing the camera around and go through the exit that looks like a forest. 16. Complete the second shrine puzzle and summon Belias to open the door. Save at the crystal and run back to the Feywood. Cast Libra and run directly northeast from the closest shrine and look for a chest with a trap on top of it. Open the chest for an Ensanguined Shield. Reset until you get one and run back to Giruvegan. 17. BOSS FIGHT: Daedalus HP 65644 Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Enter with Protect on your damage dealers. Throw a Remedy at him quickly with Balthier before he can cast Haste. This battle is easy as long as you kill him before he can get any serious damage out. 18. Use the new Way Stone to enter the dungeon. Zig-zag west through the next two areas while activating all the Gate Stones. Save at the third area and continue through. You can begin to use the Behemoth Method here. 19. Run up the ramp to your left and hug the right wall to activate the trail of light. 20. BOSS FIGHT: Tyrant HP 180428 Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack You can’t use Techs in this battle, but that doesn’t affect anything. Dispel his Protect and separate your characters to cut down the damage taken from his area affect spells. He hits pretty hard, but you’ll be alright with Bubble Belts and X-Potions. Tyrant tends to focus all his efforts on a single character, so use that to your advantage. 21. You have no map to rely on in the Great Crystal. Here’s how to get through: a. Keep taking down paths to Waystone VII. b. You're at Waystone VI. Go up to the next area then down the other path to the Cancer Gate Stone. Return to Waystone VI. c. Now take the down path to the right of the up path and the next down path to Waystone V. Teleport to Waystone IV. d. Here take the up path and then up again to reach the Aries Gate Stone. Hit it and return to Waystone IV. Go down this time. e. Continue down to reach the Pisces Gate Stone. Hit it and take the other path up to Way Stone III. Hit it for a scene. f. You're now at Way Stone II. Run down and save. Hit Way Stone I for a boss. 22. BOSS: Shemhazai HP 91136 Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Dispel her Haste first. Her strongest attack, Flare, will do around 3000 damage. When she gets to critical, your guns will start to do very low damage. You may want to finish her off with Gil Toss. [SW13] – Pharos 1. Teleport to Rabanastre and buy 6 Renewing Morions and Mirage Vests from the Traveling Merchant in the South Sprawl (Lowtown). 2. Teleport to the Estersand and buy a Diamond Armlet from the Unlucky Merchant. 3. Talk to Reddas at Balfronheim and take the Strahl to the Ridorana Cataract. *NOTE: Reddas is useless and he’ll mess up your Phoenix Down Gambits. My advice is to either turn them off or throw a Gold Needle at him with a Nihopalaoa equipped.* 4. Run east through the Ridorana Cataract and save at the crystal. 5. BOSS FIGHT: Hydro HP 203800 Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers: Equip Wyrmfire Shot Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Throw a Handkerchief at him with Balthier and Dispel his Haste. This is the first boss that you can really abuse with Oil. You’re shots will be doing 1.5x damage in this fight (because he halves fire damage and Oil triples it). His attacks hurt but you should kill him quickly enough. 6. Save at the crystal inside. Take the south exit in this first area and run towards the east exit and go up the stairs next to it. In these square rooms go right, right, left, and right to reach a long rectangular room. Run to the end for the map. 7. You need to kill enemies for three Black Orbs. Use them on the altars at the south, south east, and north parts of the main room. Head on over to the east room. 8. BOSS FIGHT: Pandemonium HP 116678 Balthier: Main Gauche and Ensanguined Shield Foe: Nearest Visible -> Dispel Self -> Protectga Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Damage Dealers Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Ally: Balthier -> Decoy Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Enter the battle with Decoy cast on Balthier. Although you can afflict Oil on him, he’s immune to Fire damage. Keep your party spaced apart to minimize area effect damage. His attacks will do around 1000 damage. He’ll use Perfect Defense at around half health. Bring out Balthier at this time to eat his physical attacks until his Perfect Defense wears off. 9. Return to the entrance and use the crystal to teleport to Balfronheim. Sell some Behemoth Steaks and make sure you're full on all items. Pharos is a long dungeon, and you don't want to run out of X-Potions while fighting Cid. Learn from my mistakes. 10. In this area you must kill the Brainpans to make bridges. Brainpans have 63 VIT, meaning if you cast Death on them with a character with 27 MAG or less it will have 100% accuracy. 11. Continue up the next three flights killing the Brainpans. You need to kill enough Deidars on the way so that you make red bridges on the 35th floor and the 25th floor.The 35th floor has the Dueling Mask and either the Muramasa or the Zeus Mace. The 25th floor has the Holy Rod. If the chests aren't there return after you’ve saved. 12. Save at Horizon’s Break, then continue up the stairs. 13. BOSS FIGHT: Slyt HP 92661 Balthier: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers: Equip Wyrmfire Shot Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Throw a Handkerchief at him with Balthier and Dispel him. You’ll be doing crazy damage with your Wyrmfire Shots. 14. Activate the Way Stone to reach Second Ascent. Save on the west side of this room then activate the south east altar and enter the door behind it. 15. You don’t have your Mini-Map, but you still have the Select map. Head up the stairs to the 61st floor. Go west until you see some stairs pointing north. You don’t even have to go into the main area on this floor. 16. On the 62nd floor, you need to go into the main area and then to the north west area. The big door can't be opened from this side, so turn right and run down the hallway until you can turn left and run back. This room contains the map for the Second Ascent. The big door can be opened from this side, so use it. The stairs are in the south east area of this floor. You can see them with your newly acquired map. 17. The stairs on the 63rd floor are in the north west area, but you can only access them from the north east area. Look for them on your map. 18. Save at the crystal, cast Lure on Balthier then head up the stairs. 19. BOSS FIGHT: Fenrir HP 189992 Balthier: Main Gauche and Ensanguined Shield Foe: Nearest Visible -> Dispel Self -> Protectga Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Damage Dealers Ally: Balthier -> Decoy Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Heal manually in this battle. Enter the battle with Balthier and two damage dealers. Dispel his Haste with Balthier. Fenrir can be Oiled, but he is immune to Fire damage, which is a shame. Balthier won’t be hit by Fenrir because of the shield. I only had to use one X-Potion in this battle, and that was because of Poison and Sap. 20. Go to the south east altar to get your mini-map back. Use the Dias to get to the 67th floor. Save here and use the Way Stone to get to Third Ascent. 21. If you mess up here you're toast. Start off with the Black Sigil to your left. Next head east and touch the Green Sigil. After the green run up and hit the Red Sigil. Finally hit the purple Sigil of Sacrifice. 22. Head north and break the Fool's Facade. The Way Stone will teleport you to another area with another Way Stone behind you. Go south and grab the map and use the Way Stone again then use the Dias. 23. BOSS FIGHT: Hashmal HP 209060 Fran and Basch Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Ashe Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Float Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Self -> Protectga Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Like Fenrir, Hashmal can be Oiled but is immune to Fire damage. Float will protect you from Quakeja and Roxxor. Hashmal’s physical attacks can’t be blocked so Balthier isn’t needed. As long as you keep Protect and Float up you’ll be alright. 24. Save on the 98th floor and cast Decoy on Balthier. Run up to the top. 25. BOSS FIGHT: Gabranth HP 64049 Balthier: Main Gauche and Ensanguined Shield Foe: Nearest Visible -> Dispel Self -> Protectga Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Penelo: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers: Equip Wyrmfire Shot Ally: Balthier -> Decoy Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Enter with Balthier, Penelo, and a damage dealer. Wait for him to cast Protect, then Dispel him. Have Penelo throw a Handkerchief at him then swap her for another damage dealer. At half health you’ll need to Dispel him again and throw another Handkerchief with Penelo. You’re guns will be doing 9999 damage and Gabranth won’t last long. 26. BOSS FIGHT: Dr. Cid HP 82093 + Famfrit HP 149060 Penelo: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers: Equip Wyrmfire Shot Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Dispel his magic and throw a Handkerchief at him with Penelo. His attacks can’t be blocked so Balthier isn’t needed. When Cid summons Famfrit Dispel them both and have Penelo throw a Handkerchief at Famfrit. Cid becomes resistant to guns after you kill Famfrit, so you can either tough it out or kill him quickly with Gil Toss. [SW14] – Bahamut 1. Buy 6 Crowns of Laurels from the armor shop at Balfronheim. Don't sell your Renewing Morions. 2. Restock on items and fly to Bahamut. 3. BOSS FIGHT: Gabranth HP 70719 Balthier: Main Gauche and Ensanguined Shield Foe: Nearest Visible -> Dispel Self -> Protectga Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Penelo: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Ally: Balthier -> Decoy Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack You can’t Oil him this time, but throw a Remedy at him with Penelo for Blind and slow. You can keep him occupied with Balthier while your damage dealers take him out. Dispel him again when he uses Renew. 4. BOSS FIGHT: Vayne HP 76755 Balthier: Main Gauche and Ensanguined Shield Foe: Nearest Visible -> Dispel Self -> Protectga Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Penelo: Equip Nihopalaoa Damage Dealers: Equip Wyrmfire Shot Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Ally: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Ally: Balthier -> Decoy Self -> Haste Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Dispel him and throw a Remedy with Penelo for Blind. Keep Lure up on Balthier for an easy fight. 5. BOSS FIGHT: Vayne Novus HP HP 104210 Same Gambits and Equipment Dispel him and throw a Remedy with Penelo for Oil and Slow. Vayne and his swords will all attack Balthier for no damage. His specials aren't that big of a deal with X-Potion Gambits. 6. BOSS FIGHT: The Undying HP 228299 Same Gambits and Equipment Dispel him then beat him down until he uses Perfect Defense. At this time turn off your Haste and Bravery Gambits because he'll just Dispel them. Wait out Perfect Defense with Balthier. Some of his attacks do over 2000 damage, but with X-Potions and Bubble Belts, this fight is nothing more than an annoyance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 3: End Game Introduction So you've just killed the Undying. Congratulations. Not to spoil your moment, but a quarter of the hunts are harder than him, as are a few of the Espers. Before beginning the End Game in FFXII, you need to do a few things: What you need to get: 1 Rod of Faith (Hit the dragon skull after killing the Behemoth King) 1 Zodiac Escucheon (Chest in the Great Crystal) 3 Dark Shots (1 from killing Piscodaemon, 2 from a chest in Cerobi Steppe [Crossfield]. The chest is in the southern part of the map between the two exits.) 2 Demon Shields (Buy from the Baknamy Merchant) 3 Black Masks (Buy at Balfronheim) 3 White Masks (Buy at Balfronheim) 3 Rubber Suits (Buy at Balfronheim) 3 Mirror Mails (Buy at the Phon Coast) 3 Sage's Rings (Steal from Arioch) Sage's Rings are useful for casting Renew out of battle to save X-Potions. 1 Indigo Pendant (Buy at Airship Flight from Balfronheim to Bhujerba) Indigo Pendants will make all Status Magic hit nearly 100%. With it you can save Remedies and other items by using magic to aflict statuses. It is also helpful in landing Decoy and Reverse. This is the order you should complete End Game quests: 1. Defeat Fafnir and Behemoth King so you can get the Rod of Faith from the Dragon Skull in Mt. Bur-Omisace. This will allow you to use the Mom Bomb method for gil. 2. While in the Great Crystal, grab the Zodiac Escutcheon. Use this map: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/459841/43190 3. Start using the Mom Bomb Method for gil. 4. Kill the rest of the normal hunts. 5. Kill all the Espers. It doesn't matter who you give the first 12 to, but Zodiark MUST be given to Balthier or Basch. This is because they have less than 75 MP so 1 Ether is enough to replenish them. 6. Kill Yiazmat. 7. Kill Shadowseer. 8. Kill Omega Mk. XII. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 4: Hunts [HU01] – Getting Headhunter (for Nihopalaoa and Reverse) These hunts should be completed after you get your first Firefly. Rogue Tomato, Thextera, and Flowering Cactoid hunts should have already been completed. 10 Hunts are required in order to obtain the Headhunter rank. Flowering Cactoid HP 755 Location: Dalmasca Estersands (Yardang Labyrinth) Strategy: Afflict Disable. Wraith HP 5146 Location: Garamsythe Waterway (Overflow Cloaca) Strategy: Afflict Disable. Cluckatrice HP 7509 Location: Giza Plains (Gizas North Bank) during the Dry Spawn Requirements: Kill everything and enter again. Strategy: Afflict Disable.. Rocktoise HP 17548 Location: Lhusu Mines (Site 2) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. Nidhogg HP 6079 Location: Lhusu Mines (Transitway 1) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. The Great Serpentskin is a unique item. Wyvern Lord HP 18669 Location: Nam-Yensa Sandsea (Simoon Bluff) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. Croakadile HP 19449 Location: Giza Plains (Starfall Field) during the Rains Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. Enkelados HP 18709 Location: Ozmone Plains (The Shred) Spawn Requirements: Kill everything inside and enter again. Strategy: Afflict Disable. [HU02] – Killing Antlion (for Fomalhauts) Antlion HP 106499 Location: Lhusu Mines (Site 9) Strategy: Use Quickenings on the Antlion. After every finisher quickly use an Ether on one of your characters and start one up again. You shouldn’t need more than 15 Ethers. [HU03] – Getting Riskbreaker (for Bravery and Bubble Belts) 16 Hunts are required in order to obtain the Riskbreaker rank. Gil Snapper HP 86956 Location: Giza Plains (Tracks of the Beast) during the rains after you examine the six withered trees. Exit and re-enter the area until Bansat tells you that it has appeared. Strategy: Afflict Immobilize, Blind, and Silence. Ring Wyrm HP 128648 Location: Dalmasca Westersands (Windtrace Dunes) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize and Blind. White Mousse HP 69469 Location: Garamsythe Waterway (West Sluice Control) Strategy: Spam Gil Toss. Orthros HP 87141 Location: Garamsythe Waterway (Southern Sluiceway) Strategy: Same as White Mousse. Make sure you steal a Slime Oil. Marilith HP 54921 Location: Zertinan Caverns (Invitation to Heresy) Spawn Requirements: Wait by the big area with the bright white light until it appears. Strategy: Afflict Silence and Blind. [HU04] – The Rest Ixtab HP 22562 Location: Henne Mines (Phase 1 Shaft) Strategy: Afflict Stop. Feral Retriver HP 22559 Location: Paramina Rift (Spine of the Icewyrm) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. Trickster HP 61321 Location: Paramina Rift (Frozen Brook). You have to exit and re-enter until Monid tells you that it has appeared. Clear out all the other monsters before you attack it. Strategy: Afflict Blind. Keep your party spread out to minimize damage from Choco Comet. You have to wait out its Paling. Vorpal Bunny HP 20010 Location: Golmore Jungle (The Rustling Chapel) Strategy: Afflict Berserk and Blind. Atomos HP 40020 Location: Mosphoran Highwaste (Northern Skirts) Strategy: Afflict Immobilize. Mind Flayer HP 31161 Location: Henne Mines (Phase 1 Dig) Spawn Requirements: Must have full MP when you enter. Strategy: Afflict Berserk and Blind. Braegh HP 43283 Location: Salikawood (Corridor of Ages) Strategy: Afflict Disable. Bloodwing HP 41171 Location: Barhiem Passage (West Annex) Strategy: Afflict Blind, Disease, and Immobilize. Carrot Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Roblon HP 177365 Location: Nabreus Deadlands (Overlooking Eternity) Strategy: Equip Rubber Suits to protect against Roblon's Thundara. Set your Attack Gambits to *Foe: Highest Max HP* and give one of your damage dealers a Nihopalaoa and another an Indigo Pendant. When you enter the area throw Chrono's Tears at all of the Dead Bones. Work your way up to Roblon and cast Slow on him with the Indigo Pendant user. Control the Nihopalaoa user and continue to throw Chrono's Tears at the Dead Bones as they recover from stop. Darksteel HP 111331 Location: Sochen Cave Palace (Temptation Eluded) Strategy: Afflict Blind and Slow then cast Decoy on a damage dealer and kite him around the room. Vyraal HP 106616 Location: Cerobi Steppe (the Northsward) Strategy: Afflict Blind and Slow. Lindwyrm HP 228468 Location: Tchita Uplands (Garden of Life's Circle) Spawn Requirements: Must be cloudy weather. Strategy: Afflict Blind, Silence, and Slow then beat him down. Dispel him after he casts Greater Barrier. Overlord Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Belito Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Goliath Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Deathscythe Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Gilgamesh pt. 1 Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Gilgamesh pt. 2 Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Deathgaze HP 184000 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NRnD3SODPE Location: Airship Spawn Requirements: Keep taking rides and talking to the kid until he spawns. Strategy: Dispel him, then cast Reverse on him and Renew. While Renew is casting cast Cure so that when he gets hit with Renew he's hit by Cure immediately afterward. That way he won't be able to use Restore in time. Diabolos Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Piscodaemon HP 49660 Location: Giruvegan (Gate of Fire) Strategy: Afflict Blind and Slow. He's gun resistant so use Gil Toss. Wild Malboro Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Catoblepas Location: Spawn Requirements: Strategy: Fafnir HP 1390378 Location: Paramina Rift (Silverflow's End) Spawn Requirements: Must be a snowstorm. You have to go around Frozen Brook from Mt. Bur-Omisace because the snowstorm will go away if you enter that area. Strategy: Stay behind the big rock on the southeast corner and shoot him with your guns. He can only hit you here with spells, which can be reflected. Behemoth King HP 1668491 Location: The Feywood (The Edge of Reason) Spawn Requirements: Kill everything in the Edge of Reason, then everything in the Icefield of Clearsight, then return to the Edge of Reason. Strategy: Equip your damage dealers with Rubber Suits, Bubble Belts, and switch on White Masks when he casts Holy, and Black Masks when he casts Darkga. He can still damage you with Fire and Ice attacks so be sure to have Shell up at all times. Because you get healed by Holy and Darkga, I suggest setting your healing Gambits to HP < 30% instead of < 50%. This is a long, drawn out battle and you don't want to run out of X-Potions. He won't chase you around the area so if something goes wrong just run out of range. Don't spend too much time out of range or else he'll start recovering. When he uses his Paling turn off your Bravery Gambits until it fades. Pylraster HP 493513 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ils7FNa_NiU Location: Pharos - First Ascent (They Who Thirst Not) Strategy: Equip your tank with a Main Gauche and the Ensanguined Shield and your two damage dealers with Indigo Pendants. He's weak to Fire so equip Wyrmfire Shots. You can also afflict Slow on him with a damage dealer. As long as you keep Lure on your tank he can't touch you. Ixion Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFlw6yQrDcQ Location: Pharos - Subterra (Penumbra) Spawn Requirements: Keep using the elevator until there are no monsters around. Strategy Penelo: Equip Rod of Faith, Dueling Mask, Rubber Suit, and Indigo Pendant Self: MP < 50% -> Ether Self: Bubble Foe: Nearest Visible -> Gil Toss Ashe and Basch: Equip Fomalhaut, Wyrmfire Shot, Crown of Laurels, Mirage Vest, and Hermes Sandals Ally: Any -> Phoenix Down Self: HP < 50% -> X-Potion Self -> Bravery Foe: Party Leader's Target -> Attack Foe: Nearest Visible -> Attack Dispel him right away and afflict Oil and Berserk. Control Penelo during the fight. Cast Reverse manually with Penelo and Decoy manually with Ashe (Equip an Indigo Pendant when you do). Lure will wear off every ~25 seconds and Reverse will wear off every ~12 seconds. Battle Speed doesn't affect status durations so set it to Fast. When Berserk wears Ixion will use Purify. At this time switch Basch and Ashe's Attack Gambits to Gil Toss and finish him off. [HU05] – Yiazmat [HU06] - Shadowseer [HU07] – Omega Mk. XII ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 5: Optional Espers [OE01] – Adrammelech HP 39330 Location: Zertinian Caverns (Arthroza Quicksands) Strategy: Afflict Slow. You might want to steal 3 High Arcanas from him if you want the Tournesol. [OE02] – Zalera HP 72248 Location: Barheim Passage (Terminus No. 7) Strategy: Afflict Slow. [OE03] – Cuchulainn HP 126165 Location: Garamsythe Waterway (No. 1 Cloaca) Spawn Requirements: In the Central Waterway Control, close the No. 3 and No. 10 Waterway Controls then close the No. 1 South Waterway Control in No. 3 Cloaca Spur. Open No. 3 and No. 10 back up and close No. 4 and No. 11 then close the No. 1 North Waterway Control in No. 4 Cloaca Spur. Finally, open No. 11 and close No. 3 to open up the battle area Strategy: Equip Main Gauches, the Zodiac Escutcheon, and Demon Shields. Spam Gil Toss while throwing Remedies to cure his status effects. You have to wear Fireflies because Foobars give EXP. [OE04] – Exodus [OE05] – Zeromus [OE06] – Chaos [OE07] – Ultima HP 258001 Location: The Great Crystal (Crystal Peak) Strategy: Equip Dark Shots, White Masks, Mirage Vests, and Bubble Belts. Afflict Blind and Dispel her then just keep shooting. Be sure to turn off your healing Gambits if anyone is Reversed. When she blocks the Attack command just spam Gil Toss. [OE08] – Zodiark ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 7: Closing [CL01] Version History 1.0 01/06/07 Full Storyline Walkthrough with lots of mistakes and bad strategies. 2.0 07/15/07 Complete rehaul of FAQ with new strategies for over half the bosses. 2.1 07/21/07 Some minor revisions and additions. 2.2 08/16/07 Now that I have a TV card I can use my own videos instead of relying on others. [CL02] Credits CJayC - For making GameFAQs Square Enix - For making FFXII Ashe10 - Videos as well as some strategies for optional bosses. flak76e (Youtube) - Immobilize Glitch, Arioch Method, and Behemoth Method. penelo060316 (Youtube) - Mom Bomb method and Yiazmat strategy. Split Infinity - FAQ/Walkthrough (Tons of information. His FAQ is the best.) Maltzsan - Game Mechanics FAQ (Technical information) trowabartan - Mark Hunting Guide (Locations and information for Hunts) sephirosuy - Maps www.ff12maps.com - More Maps If you think you deserve credit, contact me.